# Chapter 8: Blood Iron Tribe
The portal deposited Xìng Huáng onto a circular platform of polished obsidian, surrounded by towering crimson cliffs that stretched impossibly high into a blood-red sky. This wasn't the chaotic fusion of merged realities he'd grown accustomed to—this was the Blood Demon Martial Realm in its pure, undiluted form.
The air itself felt different here, thick with spiritual energy that made his skin tingle and his newly acquired Basic Blade Work skill resonate with potential. Every breath seemed to contain power, and he could understand why the natives of this realm had developed cultivation techniques to harness such abundant energy.
TRIAL LOCATION: BLOOD IRON ANCESTRAL GROUNDS
OPPONENT: GRAKH THE EARTHSHAKER *(Earth Realm Overseer)*
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: BLOOD IRON TRIBE *(Hobgoblin Lineage)*
CULTIVATION LEVEL: GOLD - HIGH
TRIAL OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE FOR 300 SECONDS OR DEMONSTRATE WORTHY COMBAT CAPABILITY
The information that flooded his consciousness was overwhelming. Gold-High level cultivation—according to the power scaling Sarah's group had pieced together, that was equivalent to what might have been level 500+ in the old system. The gap between his current capabilities and his opponent's was so vast it should have been insurmountable.
But the trial objective offered hope: survive or demonstrate capability. This wasn't necessarily a fight to the death—it was a test of potential.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the cliffs above, and Xìng Huáng looked up to see his opponent descending. Grakh the Earthshaker was magnificent and terrifying in equal measure—a towering hobgoblin standing nearly three meters tall, his muscled frame covered in intricate tattoos that seemed to pulse with inner fire. His skin was the color of burnished iron, and his eyes glowed with the accumulated power of decades spent perfecting his cultivation.
Most impressive was his equipment. Unlike the improvised gear that human survivors cobbled together, Grakh wore armor that had been forged specifically for cultivation combat. Black iron plates covered vital areas while allowing maximum mobility, and the massive war-hammer in his hands radiated spiritual energy that made the air around it shimmer.
"So," Grakh's voice rumbled like distant thunder, "you are the anomalous one. The human with a trait that resonates with our realm's fundamental laws."
He landed on the platform with earth-shaking force, cracking the obsidian beneath his feet. "I am Grakh, War-Chief of the Blood Iron Tribe, Earthshaker of the Third Circle, and your trial overseer. Your Divine Greed trait has been judged... interesting."
Xìng Huáng steadied himself, fighting every instinct that screamed at him to run. "I'm here to prove that humanity can adapt to your realm's cultivation system."
"Humanity," Grakh repeated, tasting the word. "Your species appeared in our realm like a plague of locusts, consuming resources and disturbing the spiritual balance that took millennia to establish. Most of my kind advocate for complete extermination."
The hobgoblin began circling the platform, his movements deceptively casual despite his massive size. "But there are those among us who believe that any entity capable of surviving dimensional merger might possess qualities worth preserving. Your trait, in particular, suggests compatibility with our advancement philosophies."
"What do you mean?" Xìng Huáng asked, keeping his improvised weapon ready while tracking Grakh's movement.
"Observe," Grakh commanded, and suddenly information flowed into Xìng Huáng's mind—not through the system interface, but directly from the hobgoblin's spiritual presence:
BLOOD IRON TRIBE CULTIVATION PHILOSOPHY:
*"Power earned through struggle surpasses power granted through circumstance. Only those who prove their worth through adversity may claim the right to advancement."*
DIVINE GREED TRAIT ANALYSIS:
*"Resonates with fundamental realm principle: Maximum reward for maximum effort. Rare compatibility detected. Potential for accelerated integration assessed as HIGH."*
"Your trait," Grakh explained, "embodies the core philosophy that our tribe has followed for over a thousand years. Power gained through skill and perseverance, rather than inherited privilege or stolen strength."
He raised his war-hammer, spiritual energy crackling along its surface. "But philosophy without power is worthless. Show me that your compatibility extends beyond mere principle. Show me combat capability worthy of survival in our realm."
The trial began without fanfare. Grakh moved with speed that belied his massive frame, covering the distance between them in a single bound. His hammer descended with force that could shatter mountains, aimed directly at Xìng Huáng's head.
But years of fighting impossible odds had taught him that power meant nothing without proper application. Instead of trying to block an attack that would pulverize him instantly, he activated his Dodge ability and rolled sideways, feeling the displaced air from the hammer's passage ruffle his hair.
The obsidian platform cracked under the impact, sending spider-web fractures radiating from the impact point. Grakh's casual swing had done more damage to the environment than Xìng Huáng's entire fight with the Corrupted Fenris.
"Good reflexes," the hobgoblin acknowledged. "But survival requires more than evasion."
His next attack came from an impossible angle—the hammer somehow changing direction mid-swing to sweep horizontally. Xìng Huáng's Gaming Prodigy talent screamed warnings, but his body was already moving, years of pattern recognition guiding him through a combat flow that felt almost supernatural.
He ducked under the horizontal sweep and darted forward, his improvised blade seeking gaps in Grakh's armor. The Divine Greed trait activated automatically, guiding his strike toward the only weak point within his reach—a small gap where the armor plates met at the elbow joint.
His kitchen knife scraped against spiritual energy-infused metal and did essentially no damage, but the precision of the strike made Grakh's eyes widen with surprise.
"Remarkable," the hobgoblin rumbled. "No cultivation training, yet you instinctively target vulnerable points with accuracy that would be impressive even among our tribal warriors."
The next thirty seconds were a masterclass in controlled violence. Grakh's attacks came faster and from increasingly complex angles, each one capable of ending the fight instantly. But Xìng Huáng's combination of Gaming Prodigy pattern recognition and Divine Greed-enhanced precision allowed him to thread impossibly narrow windows of survival.
He couldn't hurt his opponent—the gap in their cultivation levels made that impossible. But he could demonstrate something more valuable: the ability to learn and adapt in real time. Each exchange taught him more about Grakh's fighting style, and his responses became increasingly sophisticated despite his lack of formal training.
When the 300-second timer hit zero, both combatants were breathing heavily—Grakh from the effort of precisely controlling his overwhelming power, Xìng Huáng from the desperate intensity of perfect evasion.
"Fascinating," Grakh said, lowering his weapon. "In five minutes of combat, you've shown more tactical evolution than most cultivators achieve in years of training. Your trait doesn't just provide rewards—it accelerates learning itself."
New notifications flooded Xìng Huáng's vision:
TRIAL COMPLETED - SURVIVAL ACHIEVED
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: EXCEPTIONAL COMBAT ADAPTATION
VERDICT: WORTHY OPPOSITION STATUS GRANTED
BLOOD IRON TRIBE EVALUATION: POTENTIAL RECRUIT
TRIAL REWARDS GRANTED:
BLOOD FURY MANUAL *(Cultivation Technique)*
*Tier: Black Iron to Azure Bronze*
*Description: Foundation cultivation method of the Blood Iron Tribe. Emphasizes power gained through combat adversity.*
BLACK IRON TOKEN *(Tribal Recognition)*
*Status: Probationary Member*
*Authority: Access to tribal territories, basic resource sharing, protection from hostile factions*
CRIMSON BOAR FUR ARMOR *(Spiritual Equipment)*
*Defense Rating: Black Iron - Mid*
*Special Property: Spiritual energy conductivity for cultivation enhancement*
But the greatest change was in his character sheet:
XìNG HUÁNG - STATUS UPDATE
Cultivation Level: BLACK IRON - LOW *(Advanced from Level 1)*
Integration Status: PROVISIONAL NATIVE RECOGNITION
"The manual will teach you our tribe's foundational cultivation method," Grakh explained. "The token grants you limited membership in our clan—protection from other tribes and access to our territorial resources. The armor will help channel spiritual energy as you begin proper cultivation training."
Xìng Huáng examined the Blood Fury Manual, feeling the knowledge contained within press against his consciousness. Unlike the simple skill downloads he'd experienced before, this was a complete system of advancement—meditation techniques, combat applications, spiritual energy manipulation methods, and the philosophical framework that tied it all together.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked.
Grakh's expression grew thoughtful. "Because the Blood Iron Tribe values potential over pedigree. Your Divine Greed trait suggests you could become a powerful cultivator if properly trained. More importantly, you've demonstrated the adaptability that our realm demands."
The hobgoblin gestured toward the portal, which had reappeared at the platform's edge. "The integration period ends in fourteen hours. When it does, the full weight of our realm's native population will be unleashed upon the surviving humans. Most will die. But you... you might just have what it takes to bridge the gap between species."
"And the cost?" Xìng Huáng asked, knowing there had to be one.
"Simple. Prove that humans can be valuable members of cultivation society, or watch your entire species be classified as an invasive pest requiring elimination."
As Xìng Huáng stepped toward the portal, the weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders. He wasn't just fighting for his own survival anymore—he was potentially the key to humanity's long-term existence in this harsh new reality.
But for the first time since the merger began, he had real tools to work with: a cultivation manual, protective equipment, and most importantly, recognition as something more than just another refugee from a dead world.
The game had evolved again, but he was finally starting to understand the rules.