"The bright spear is easy to dodge, but the hidden arrow is hard to defend against. Heroes are often brought down easily because there are always villains lurking behind them."

　　The competition wrapped up, and as the table was arranged for another round of drinks, Gong Kang ushered Huamei to sit beside him.

　　"Young Master, as you know, I'm not one for drinking. If it's a drinking contest we're having, you'd surely come out on top."

　　"Haha, I admit defeat. It's not often I get to win one. You're the first to beat me and earn my sincere admiration. But as a vanquished warrior, I have one more favor to ask, if you'd be so kind."

　　"Young Master, you're too humble. Please, go ahead."

　　"I feel a strong kinship with you, and I deeply respect your martial prowess. I'd like us to become sworn brothers of different lineages. What say you?"

　　"Young Master, you honor me greatly. To become sworn brothers with you of different lineages is truly a privilege."

　　Huamei, a synthetic being crafted by humans, had always served humanity in his world. To be regarded so highly by a human was a deeply touching experience for him.

　　Amidst the curious gazes of the onlookers, the two knelt before the statue of the Yello Clan celestial gods."In the presence of the heavenly gods, I am Gong Kang."

　　"I am Huamei."

　　"Today, Huamei (Gong Kang) and I become brothers, pledging before the celestial gods. We may not be born in the same year or month, but we vow to die in the same year and month!"

　　With a solemn nod, the two bowed and swore to become brothers. Gong Kang's laughter filled the air as he rose to his feet, gently pulling Huamei, who remained kneeling, up alongside him.

　　"Huamei, how old are you?"

　　"Young Master, you're certainly older than me. From now on, you're my elder brother."

　　Huamei's words resonated with sincerity. If indeed they had traveled back at least tens of thousands of years, wouldn't Gong Kang be thousands of years older than Huamei?

　　"Today is simply wonderful. I've gained another brother."

　　"I never expected to gain another son." The Great Chief Gong Dian's joy was palpable. "Come, let's rearrange the drinks and celebrate properly." "In the presence of the heavenly gods, I am Gong Kang."

　　"I am Huamei."

　　"Today, Huamei (Gong Kang) and I become brothers, pledging before the celestial gods. We may not be born in the same year or month, but we vow to die in the same year and month!"

　　With a solemn nod, the two bowed and swore to become brothers. Gong Kang's laughter filled the air as he rose to his feet, gently pulling Huamei, who remained kneeling, up alongside him.

　　"Huamei, how old are you?"

　　"Young Master, you're certainly older than me. From now on, you're my elder brother."

　　Huamei's words resonated with sincerity. If indeed they had traveled back at least tens of thousands of years, wouldn't Gong Kang be thousands of years older than Huamei?

　　"Today is simply wonderful. I've gained another brother."

　　"I never expected to gain another son." The Great Chief Gong Dian's joy was palpable. "Come, let's rearrange the drinks and celebrate properly."Once again, the lively sounds of celebration filled the air around the banquet table, where glasses clinked together and voices rose in animated conversation, most of them already imbued with the warmth of alcohol.

　　Nearby, a minstrel began to strum an ancient tribal melody, setting the scene for Gong Kang as he confidently strode to the center of the hall. In his left hand, he held a rustic pottery jug brimming with wine, while his right hand gracefully drew forth the Dragon Flame Sword.

　　As he took a sip from the jug, Gong Kang's movements became fluid and graceful, matching the rhythm of the music. With each step, his sword danced through the air, catching the flickering light and casting mesmerizing shadows. The audience watched in awe as he seamlessly combined drinking, dancing, and singing, earning thunderous applause and admiration from all around.Gong Kang's sung lyrics were as follows:

　　"In this world, things are hard to predict,

　　As I, from my home star, fall.

　　Into a desolate and savage land,

　　Where demons and monsters roam.

　　In chaotic times, bones lie dry,

　　On a cold night, no rest to find.

　　A true man stands between heaven and earth,

　　With a three-foot sword in hand.

　　To cut down the villains of the world,

　　And restore order to the vast expanse.

　　To build an unparalleled achievement,

　　And establish a breathtaking legacy.

　　With a bold and unyielding spirit,

　　Even in death, the scent of heroism lingers."As they listened to Gong Kang's bold and spirited singing, Dong Yifeng and Huamei exchanged a silent thumbs-up in admiration. "Gong Kang truly is a hero," they thought to themselves.

　　"Huamei, it seems that our robotic robot designed and manufactured in the 21st century is quite formidable, as it has earned the admiration of the killing machine Gong Kang from over ten thousand years ago," Dong Yifeng remarked with a hint of humor in his voice.

　　"Professor Dong, you don't understand. I actually lost the match," Huamei replied, his tone tinged with humility.

　　"Huamei, why do you say that? I didn't see any signs of your defeat. Instead, you seemed to have the upper hand," Dong Yifeng countered, his voice filled with curiosity.

　　"That's just superficial. In the match just now, everyone was just testing the waters. But if it were on the battlefield, Gong Kang's kick just now would have surely been delivered with full force. Even if my foot is made of steel, it wouldn't have been able to withstand it," Huamei explained, his tone reflective and sincere."The punch I used to turn the tide of the battle was delivered with full force in an instant. It was just luck that it happened to graze Gong Kang's left shoulder, and the momentum it generated only caused him to fall down. It didn't inflict much harm on Gong Kang," Huamei explained calmly.

　　"Professor Dong, with one leg broken and unable to stand, while the other is unharmed, it's clear who has the upper hand," he added.

　　Meanwhile, Ge Xiong and Gong Dian were engaged in a hushed conversation at the table.

　　"Great Chief, I heard from Ge Wu that Lian Kui has invited you to accompany him to the capital city. Does this mean that the Green Clanof Evil Gods are willing to intervene and mediate the dispute between our tribe and the Baihuo tribe regarding human sacrifices and labor?" Ge Xiong inquired.

　　"That's correct. Lian Kui informed me that the Green Clanof Evil Gods have received a joint petition from our two tribes. His Eminence has ordered the King of the Eagle God Tribe to arbitrate the issue of human sacrifices and labor," Gong Dian confirmed.

　　"I see. So, the Green Clanof Evil Gods don't intend to meet with you personally, but rather delegate the resolution of the dispute to the demigod Eagle God Tribe. It's been quite some time since you last met with the Green Clanof Evil Gods, hasn't it, Great Chief?" Ge Xiong remarked, reflecting on the past. "The last time was after the War of the Gods when the Green Clanof Evil Gods summoned all tribes and factions to the capital city for a summit. It's been over ten years since then," Gong Dian reminisced, recalling the grand assembly that marked the Green Tribes' complete dominance over the Mu Continent. "Chief Ge, I'm preparing to bring some gifts as offerings to the gods. The gods favor crystals, and the Bear Tribe has been mining crystals from Crystal Mountain. Can the Bear Tribe provide some as offerings?"

　　"Great Chief, that's not a problem. As a member of the Gong You Clan, the Bear Tribe should offer contributions. But do you think the King of the Eagle God Tribe will reduce the number of human sacrifices and labor for our two major tribes this year?"

　　"I'm not certain about that, but I believe we must make our stance clear. We need to convey through him to the gods that the numbers for human sacrifices and labor cannot continue to increase year by year!"

　　"Indeed, we're facing a critical moment now. Our young people are becoming increasingly unwilling to reproduce, and our population is steadily declining. It's only a matter of time before we perish. When do you plan to leave?"

　　"After I return and settle the affairs of the tribe, I'll arrange a time to depart with Lian Kui."

　　"Great Chief, I suggest we deliberate carefully. In the War of the Gods, so many minions of the Green Tribe died at the hands of our tribe, and the grudge between the two sides runs deep."

　　Although Ge Xiong had long coveted the position of Great Chief, he still voiced his own opinion from the perspective of the tribe: "As the head of the Gong You Clan, you should stay in the Southern Gorge Forest and not venture northward lightly. Moreover, since the Green Clanof Evil Gods are not coming out this time, I suggest sending an envoy to the capital city to meet with the King of the Eagle God Tribe."

　　"Chief Ge, 'to live is to die, and to die is to live' is the motto of our clan. How could I refuse to go out of fear of death? Besides, it was I who promised to contribute human sacrifices and labor to the Green Clanof Evil Gods back then, so it should be me who ends this matter."

　　"If by some stroke of luck, I get to meet the celestial gods, I'll definitely tell him about our tribe's hardships and hope he will be merciful and give our hunting people a way out."

　　After hearing this, Ge Xiong couldn't help but admire: "A hero is one who considers the greater good despite knowing life and death! Great Chief, I toast to you with this bowl of wine."In Stone City, there are two gates, one to the east and one to the west. To the north stands a grand mountain known as Crystal Mountain, where the Bear Tribe's deepest secrets lie hidden.

　　In this very moment, within the cavernous depths of Crystal Mountain, the military strategist of the Bear Tribe, Qi Ming, is concealed, tirelessly training the troops in secrecy. This mountain is renowned for its abundant natural crystals, once mined by the human tribe in ancient times and offered as sacred offerings to the gods of the Yellow Clan, hence earning the name "Crystal Mountain." The stones excavated from these very grounds were used to construct the magnificent Stone City.

　　Ever since the Bear Tribe's previous attempt to assert dominance over the Dragon Tribe ended in failure, Ge Xiong has patiently awaited his moment, quietly honing the skills of his troops within the caverns of Crystal Mountain, harboring hopes of a triumphant return.

　　Soldiers, under the guidance of their standard bearer, meticulously practice formations with disciplined precision, while another group diligently trains in combat techniques. Qi Ming observes their progress with a nod of approval, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he strokes his goatee. By his side stands a young man, his loyal assistant Xiao Shitou.Xiaoshitou, known by his full name Shi Lei, was just sixteen when he lost his father. Raised in Chief Ge Xiong's mansion by his mother, who served as a nanny, he grew up in the shadow of the chief's influence. Qi Ming, the military advisor, took note of his sharp mind and kept him close, entrusting him with various tasks.

　　"Will the Chief be joining us tonight?" Qi Ming inquired about Xiaoshitou.

　　Eyes sparkling with anticipation, Xiaoshitou responded, "Military strategist, tonight the Chief is hosting Chief Gong Dian and his group."

　　"Gong Dian? Hmph!" Qi Ming scoffed, his disdain evident in his tone.

　　Had it not been for his masked face, Xiaoshitou would have surely noticed the intensity of Qi Ming's expression.

　　At that moment, Qi Ming's mind wandered back to the past. Once known as Zhang Lin, he had served under High Priest Fang Mu.

　　During a Human Sacrifice Tournament held in Gong You Clan's territory, High Priest Fang Mu had recommended Zhang Lin to Chief Gong Dian, tasking him with receiving guests from the Baihuo Clan.

　　Zhang Lin's exceptional organizational skills and hospitality earned the admiration of Lian Kuí, the Baihuo Clan's leader. Lian Kuí recognized Zhang Lin's talent and held him in high regard.

　　On the tournament's final night, Lian Kuí had visited Zhang Lin's home with gold and meat, seeking to enlist him for his own purposes and offering him the esteemed position of High Priest of the Baihuo Clan.Zhang Lin stood his ground, firmly refusing Lian Kuí's offer, declining the gold but reluctantly accepting the meat as a symbolic gesture.

　　However, under the shroud of night, Zhang Lin and his family found themselves betrayed by High Priest Fang Mu, accused of colluding with foreign tribes, and swiftly apprehended by the authorities, casting them into the dark depths of imprisonment.

　　High Priest Fang Mu's envy of Zhang Lin's remarkable talents had festered for quite some time, leading him to burden Zhang Lin with arduous tasks and subject him to constant surveillance by spies, all in a desperate bid to uncover any leverage against him.

　　The clandestine visit by Lian Kuí to Zhang Lin's abode was swiftly reported to Fang Mu, who wasted no time in fabricating treasonous allegations against Zhang Lin, prompting Chief Gong Dian to order the arrest of Zhang Lin's family by the guards of Windwood Citadel.

　　Caught up in the throes of official duties, Chief Gong Dian, unable to delve into the matter personally, readily accepted Fang Mu's distorted narrative, condemning Zhang Lin's family to face the executioner's blade.

　　In a touching display of friendship, Hu An, the prison head and Zhang Lin's confidant orchestrated a daring plan to spare Zhang Lin's life, substituting a deceased prisoner bearing a striking resemblance to Zhang Lin on the eve of their scheduled execution.

　　To everyone's astonishment, Fang Mu himself attended the execution, only to realize upon closer inspection that Zhang Lin had vanished into thin air, prompting an immediate citywide manhunt to capture him.

　　Determined to seek retribution, Zhang Lin, scarred and silenced by swallowing hot coals, stared grimly at the remnants of his family hanging from the gates of Windwood Citadel, vowing silently to avenge their unjust fate.

　　Collapsed by the wayside, weakened by exhaustion, Zhang Lin was unexpectedly rescued by Ge Xiong, the revered chief of the Bear Tribe, who, in a spontaneous act, christened him "Qi Ming."

　　Finding solace and purpose in the Bear Tribe, Qi Ming's exceptional abilities earned him the trust and respect of Ge Xiong, enabling him to flourish in his newfound sanctuary.Qi Ming, with his keen ability to understand human nature, could sense the hidden ambitions of Ge Xiong and the lingering bitterness from their past defeat by the Dragon Tribe. Without hesitation, he encouraged Ge Xiong to train his troops in secret, strategizing to seize the right moment to rebel against the Dragon Tribe once more. His goal was to regain the supremacy of the Gong You Clan and seek retribution for his family's tragic fate.

　　Observing the disciplined soldiers before him, Qi Ming couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Gong Dian, Fang Mu, one day I'll settle the score with both of you!"