Ge Guang rode beside his father, while Chang Shan Yin advanced a hundred feet ahead of them. Ge Guang could no longer restrain his excitement and turned toward his father as he asked.
"Father, do you truly intend to marry little sister to Lord Chang Shan Yin?!.."
His father smiled lovingly before glancing cautiously toward Fang Yuan. "This Chang Shan Yin is not like the young Chang Shan Yin… in his youth, Chang Shan Yin was arrogant and overbearing, looking down on everyone. But it seems that after his defeat, and after sleeping while hovering at death's door for twenty years, he became wiser, more cunning, and more humble… his political skills are truly on another level, and more importantly, he is a genuine righteous path man!"
"Father, what do you mean?.. Lord Chang Shan Yin is the hero of our righteous path, and he saved Northern Plains from Ha Tu Gu and his bandits!"
"Son, you still do not understand what the righteous path truly is. The righteous path is merely a method for us to settle disputes through certain rules, unlike the demonic path where killing is needed to resolve conflicts or obtain benefits… as for justice and honor, they are worth very little to most righteous path men. Although there are some people who truly believe in them… I think Chang Shan Yin is one of those people. He did not refuse my gift despite not needing it, and he supported our Ge tribe when Man tribe invited us. Had it not been for that, we would have been placed in a dangerous… or even fatal situation!"
Ge Tribe Leader's expression was filled with admiration toward Chang Shan Yin, while also pitying his son for still not having learned enough.
"Father, do you mean Man tribe intended to harm us?!" Ge Guang was filled with anger and fear.
"Yes. Don't you understand why Man tribe wanted to marry Ge Yao?.. Your sister's escape and her encounter with Chang Shan Yin was a heavenly arrangement meant to save us!.. Only a righteous man like Chang Shan Yin could uphold justice. Without him, Ge tribe would have been destroyed by Man tribe and become the greatest shame in our history!.."
"And even better, he went along with the situation during the banquet and did not embarrass me by rejecting the engagement. He even presented a betrothal gift for your sister. Who knows, perhaps he truly likes Ge Yao, hehe… who would have thought that little Yao would find a husband she loves, and that husband would be none other than the Wolf King Chang Shan Yin?"
Ge Tribe Leader smiled happily. He held Fang Yuan in extremely high regard! Not only had Chang Shan Yin stood beside Ge tribe during their most difficult moments, he had even taken the initiative to resolve their conflict with Man tribe and slapped them across the face in the middle of their own camp!.
And by binding such an expert to their tribe through marriage, Ge tribe had become like a tiger that had grown wings and soared into the heavens. What truly delighted Ge Tribe Leader was that his daughter Ge Yao held feelings toward Chang Shan Yin.
Before becoming a tribe leader, he had first been a father. It was only natural that he wished for his children's happiness.
Ge Guang took out the ten Snow Wash Gu and held them in his hands as he stared at them in a daze. These Gu worms were worth more than a million primeval stones!. And yet they had merely been a betrothal gift for his sister. From this alone, Ge Guang understood just how wealthy Chang Shan Yin was, and even more so, how lofty and indifferent his attitude toward spending truly was!.
Ge Tribe Leader raised his head and looked toward the sky, only to see a crimson meteor streaking through the distance. "What a beautiful sight… hmm? Why is that meteor approaching us?". Ge Tribe Leader observed it for a moment before suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine and instinctively activating his defensive Gu.
Fang Yuan also raised his head and watched the meteor descending toward them. With a dry laugh, he activated his own defensive Gu as well.
Booom!
The ground trembled violently as the weaker Gu Masters within a twenty-meter radius were smashed into pieces by the impact of the crimson meteor crashing into the earth. The more distant Gu Masters suffered varying degrees of injuries, but Fang Yuan and Ge Tribe Leader, who stood at the center of the explosion, remained unharmed.
Fang Yuan's hump wolf had died, forcing him to stand on his own feet as he lazily observed their attacker. On the opposite side, Ge Tribe Leader looked somewhat pale as he ordered Ge Guang to retreat from the battlefield.
Fang Yuan raised his head to look at the massive man who had attacked them. He stood nearly nine feet tall, with a muscular body that screamed power. His bare torso resembled an unbreakable tree trunk.
Ge Tribe Leader roared furiously. "Man Tu, you ignore the rules of the righteous path and launch a sneak attack against your guests after their departure. This is a demonic act!.. You and your clan have drowned yourselves in greed and begun walking toward the demonic path!"
Ge Tribe Leader attacked Man Tu from afar, while behind him Fang Yuan unleashed dazzling and brilliant attacks. Man Tribe Leader snorted angrily, activating his defensive Gu as he targeted Fang Yuan and shouted.
"Wolf King, I will repay today's humiliation! Let us see your strength without your wolves!". Man Tu swung his fist, causing the surrounding air to twist and create a sonic boom. At the same time, a fist-shaped qi blast flew toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan narrowly dodged and continued attacking from a distance, causing Ge Tribe Leader to grit his teeth and confront Man Tu head-on. Man Tu's fists crashed against Ge Tribe Leader like a flood, shattering his ribs and causing blood to gush forth.
Ge Tribe Leader clenched his teeth as he activated healing Gu and attacked with even greater force. "Chang Shan Yin primarily cultivates enslavement path, and without his wolf pack his combat strength is at its lowest. Meanwhile, Man Tu cultivates strength path, and his primeval essence consumption is far lower than mine!"
Ge Tribe Leader retreated behind Fang Yuan as he shouted, "Chang Shan Yin, defend me for a moment!"
"Brother Ge, I shall try!". Fang Yuan charged forward and attacked Man Tribe Leader once more as he shouted.
Hundred Ghost Gu!.
A hundred vengeful ghosts appeared and assaulted Man Tu with immense hatred. Their ghostly blades slashed through his soul and heavily injured him. Man Tu staggered backward, and for the first time Ge Tribe Leader and Fang Yuan gained the upper hand.
A glint flashed through Ge Tribe Leader's eyes. "Hundred Ghost Gu, a rank five soul path Gu, what a good choice!"
Man Tu's retreat gave Ge Tribe Leader and Fang Yuan time to prepare themselves. After destroying all the vengeful spirits, Man Tu charged once more toward Chang Shan Yin with a pale face.
Ge Tribe Leader was still preparing his trump card, but at that moment Fang Yuan retreated behind him!.
"Chang Shan Yin, what are you doing?!". Ge Tribe Leader roared as he was forced to endure both the backlash and Man Tu's assault at the same time!. Yet he still managed to activate his trump card, causing his arms to transform into iron vines that bound Man Tu and pierced deeply into his body.
"Brother Ge, my soul was injured from using Hundred Ghost Gu. After all, I am merely a rank four enslavement path Gu Master, not even a rank five expert capable of properly activating a rank five Gu worm!". Fang Yuan spat out his words alongside mouthfuls of blood, his condition appearing utterly miserable.
Man Tu tore apart the iron vines and laughed madly as he roared. "Old Ge, taste this!"
Man Tu suddenly transformed into a four-meter-tall crimson giant, steam pouring out from every pore on his body. Along with it, his combat strength rose to a terrifying level. Man Tu leapt from the ground, causing cracks to spread beneath him, before smashing Ge Tribe Leader into the air with overwhelming force!.
Ge Tribe Leader flew through the air before crashing onto the ground with a thunderous sound, drenching the earth with blood. Laughing viciously, Man Tu jumped toward Ge Tribe Leader and rained down punches upon him!.
Behind them, Fang Yuan attacked frantically, but Man Tu simply ignored the attacks even at the cost of suffering injuries!. The lower half of Ge Tribe Leader's body transformed into a bloody ruin as flesh, blood, and bones scattered everywhere.
Chang Shan Yin and Ge Guang shouted sorrowfully as they unleashed desperate attacks, forcing Chang Shan Yin to activate his method.
Killer Move—Wolf Soul Manifestation!.
A wolf emperor formed from the foundation of Chang Shan Yin's soul appeared and gazed at Man Tu with primitive hunger. Cold sweat erupted throughout Man Tu's body and instantly turned to steam as a single thought screamed within his mind.
"Dangerous! Dangerous!.. I must avoid it!"
Man Tu transformed into a crimson meteor, desperately attempting to flee, but Chang Shan Yin blocked his path while tears streamed down his cheeks. Behind him, the Wolf Emperor shot forward with terrifying speed and, in a single instant, clamped its massive jaws onto half of Man Tu's body.
Ge Guang approached his father's corpse while tears poured endlessly from his eyes as he shouted.
"Father!.. This son still has so much to learn… don't leave!"
Ge Tribe Leader opened his eyes with difficulty as he looked toward Ge Guang, then toward his own mangled body. "Fool… how could I possibly remain here?… even if you tried to heal me, cough!. Cough!" Ge Tribe Leader spat blood before speaking once more. "…Guang er, you are still young, but you will become tribe leader. You must learn from cruel reality… become a man and do not disgrace the Ge name. Keep our tribe alive!.. Father knows this is cruel, but Heaven blessed us with Chang Shan Yin, who is now our son-in-law. You must rely on his strength to ensure survival during the snowstorm!"
Ge Tribe Leader spoke those final words with difficulty and doubt, yet he did not wish to voice his suspicions and leave his son in a state where he trusted no one. It was better for him to rely on Chang Shan Yin's strength to survive rather than clash against him and destroy Ge tribe. During the battle, Ge Tribe Leader had seen through Chang Shan Yin's mask… but he was not certain.
"Guang er, step aside. Let this father witness the death of his killer."
The Wolf Emperor's jaws clamped onto Man Tribe Leader and tore apart half of his body. Blood splattered across the ground as Man Tribe Leader roared furiously and struck the Wolf Emperor with enough force to shake the earth.
Chang Shan Yin laughed weakly as he spat blood. "Man Tu, it is useless. This wolf was created by consuming my soul foundation and it will not disappear until you die!"
Man Tu felt pity for himself, yet he faced death bravely as he charged toward Chang Shan Yin. A crafty light flashed through Fang Yuan's eyes as he pretended to be afraid. Seeing Chang Shan Yin's expression, Man Tu laughed in painful ecstasy.
"Chang Shan Yin, you are dead!.. Ah… what is this?"
Man Tu suddenly felt extreme weakness within his soul. Looking toward Fang Yuan, he could see a tiny thread through which his soul was leaking away. Man Tu stared at Chang Shan Yin with frozen terror before his body collapsed onto the ground and shattered.
Fang Yuan released a cold breath before flying toward Ge Guang and Ge Tribe Leader.
"Brother Ge, come! I will heal you, don't die, brother!". Fang Yuan shouted as he pressed both palms against Ge Tribe Leader in an attempt to heal him. Ge Tribe Leader weakly looked toward him, seemingly wanting to say something before his eyes rolled back and he died.