Chapter 387 - 138: The Barbarian God Descends, a Good Opportunity to Fish in Troubled Waters, Trust Him?

The mountain range stretched on, endless and vast, a primeval, ancient vista.

However, a high platform had already been constructed within. Seemingly built from Cyan Jade, it stretched for hundreds of miles, its beams carved and its rafters painted, adorned with gold and crimson blossoms. Enveloped in a rosy mist, it was a bright and magnificent spectacle, like a Celestial Palace from an ancient era.

Emperor Xia, clad in a bright yellow Dragon Robe and wearing a crown, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He was flanked by numerous palace maids and eunuchs, some holding Golden Lamp Incense Burners, others carrying Jade Plates, all showcasing the majesty of the Emperor.

Court officials, the Nobility, Elders from various Immortal Sect Lineages, and ceremonial guests from overseas nations were all gathered here. The crowd was immense and extraordinarily lively.

Squads of soldiers and Knights, radiating killing intent, descended in unison from all corners of the sky. They patrolled the area, completely encircling the vast mountain range ahead.

Given the grand scale of the event, Jiang Lintian, as the Prime Minister, was naturally in attendance. The various princes, Commandery Princes, and Dukes also arrived in succession with their families. They were followed by many highly skilled retainers and Tributors, whose gazes were sharp as lightning and whose strides were powerful and confident, a divine radiance faintly shimmering around them.

On the surrounding mountaintops, viewing stands had been erected long ago. Guests from all factions descended, creating a teeming crowd. The scene resembled the Celestial Court hosting a banquet for the Immortals, with ethereal mists wafting through the air. Beautiful palace maids, all accomplished cultivators, gracefully weaved through the guests, carrying trays of various Spirit Fruits and wines. Their long sleeves fluttered, their figures captivating.

Meanwhile, among the mountains ahead, prisoner carts were rolled out with a RUMBLE. The Barbarian Race death-row inmates inside had ferocious expressions. Their bodies were several heads taller than an average Human Race member, but their limbs were disproportionately short. The vast majority were uncivilized, exuding an aura of bloodlust and cruelty.

The Barbarian Race inhabits the Southern Wilderness Province. They worship Barbarian Gods and beasts, and they delight in cannibalizing members of the Human Race. To make matters worse, they reproduce at an incredible rate.

Even a small tribe of just a few hundred thousand can birth several thousand new Barbarians in a single year.

Furthermore, most Barbarians possess innate brute strength. They live alongside wild beasts, eat raw flesh, drink blood, and are completely uncivilized.

They have an innate desire to possess and violate the fair-skinned, beautiful women of other races. They frequently lead their tribes to attack Human Race cities bordering their territory, where they rape, pillage, and commit every imaginable evil.

There isn’t a single member of the Human Race who doesn’t utterly despise the Barbarians. Even the other races regard them with nothing but hatred and disgust.

At that moment, the guests observing from the distant high platform all frowned. Many of the accomplished cultivators even conjured a gentle breeze to swirl before them, warding off the foul air drifting their way.

Even from a distance, one could sense their savage and ferocious cruelty, as well as a foul odor. Uncivilized and unhygienic, the Barbarians constantly carried a rank, musky stench.

The Barbarians in these prisoner carts were all commoners, not particularly powerful.

In recent years, Great Xia had dispatched numerous generals to the Southern Wilderness Province to defend against the Barbarians, and there were even plans to construct War Fortresses. For this Southern Hunting drill, many Barbarian death-row inmates had been specially transported from that very region.

Then came the rumble of war chariots as numerous Knights from the Observatory appeared. They were pulling a series of immense prisoner carts. It was impossible to see inside them, but one could faintly make out flickering Runes that constantly gathered and absorbed the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

In the tribes of the Barbarian Race, Sacrificial Priests hold the highest status, followed by nobles, commoners, and slaves.

The Barbarians imprisoned in these massive carts were nobles captured by the Observatory. Among them was even the younger brother of a major tribal chieftain.

"There are over one thousand Barbarians here, including more than ten nobles. These are all influential figures from their tribes, individuals of intelligence and power. In three months, Your Majesty intends to launch a campaign to eradicate them, personally leading the Southern Hunting expedition to drive the Barbarians out..."

"Today, we conduct this drill, offering the blood of Barbarians to the Heroic Spirits of Great Xia’s ancestors. We pray for their blessing upon the Southern Hunting and seek to proclaim the might of our Great Xia..."

A eunuch had appeared silently upon the high platform, reading from an imperial edict. Though his voice was not loud, it was imbued with a Secret Power that carried it far and wide.

The observing guests from all factions remained calm-faced, though many were more focused on surveying the Qianyuan Cave Realm itself.

Seated high upon his Throne, Emperor Xia’s gaze was deep and tranquil. "Release all the Barbarians," he commanded. "Let them flee into the Qianyuan Cave Realm."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The assembled Knights of the Observatory responded in unison and opened the prisoner carts. The moment the Runes dissipated, a ferocious aura shot toward the heavens, and dark, roiling clouds seemed to churn and gather in the sky.

Like beasts bursting from their cages, the Barbarians all rushed out at once. The unintelligent ones immediately fled into the depths of the dense forest.

But a few of the bolder, more savage ones did the unexpected. They charged toward the viewing platforms, bestial totems flashing on their skin as they unleashed an incredibly powerful aura.

Their animal-hide clothes ripped apart in an instant, revealing powerful, muscular physiques. But before they could take more than a few steps, arrows with Feathers glowing like fire shot out from the nearby forest. The shafts pierced through their bodies, which carried forward a few more steps from momentum.

Then, with a BANG, they exploded into a mist of blood that filled the air. The flames swiftly consumed the mist, leaving not even a trace behind.

In another direction, many members of the younger generation were already waiting, fully equipped. Some were lightly outfitted for mobility, while others were clad head-to-toe in impenetrable armor.

Aside from the young elites of Great Xia’s Nobility, the rest of the younger generation were prodigies cultivated by the Royal Family, hailing from the Soaring Dragon Academy or from among other Royal Clan Relatives.