The people of the Southern Sun tribe all raised their heads. Some stunned, others were awestruck, while most of the girls just stared without even blinking, once. Hong, Min Hao and Min Su all raised their heads to take a look as well.

Swoosh! The man jumped down from his position atop the giant bird hovering mid-air, landing gracefully like a feather. Then, he walked directly towards Min Hong.

​​

"Young master." When he reached Hong, he bowed slightly. This scene caused all the members of the Southern Sun tribe including Piper, turn dumb. This was because that sword Qi just now simply classified this person as a Dan Formation expert in the 'One with Dao' level in swordplay!

This calibre of expert, in any tribe, no matter how large, would definitely be a person of a very high status. Even in the Min Family, they were high level, key figures.

Generally speaking, the adventuring Min Family members who encountered an expert of such strength all had to pay their respects first. But this person in front of them was actually paying his respects to this youngster? And he was even bowing? This life was indeed not balanced.

"Please forgive me! Young master please spare me!" Piper threw himself before Min Hong's feet as he begged for his life. "Mighty young master, all those things I said earlier were just the ramblings of an old fool. I've never done such a thing! In addition, once, when I was collecting taxes from some smaller tribes, I acquired a special treasure!"

"As to what kind of treasure it is, I don't know either…as long as you are willing to spare me, young master, I am willing to give you this magic artifact…" But before he could finish speaking;

Shua! Piper abruptly dashed towards Min Hong, his right palm making a claw, he went for Hong's jugular, wanting to rip it off. At such close range, even a 2 Star Dan Formation expert would find it extremely difficult to evade.

"Hmph!" With a casual strike of his palm, despite attacking a little later than Piper, Hong slapped down on Piper's head before he could land his attack. Piper's body stiffened as his skull cracked, before he started bleeding from his four orifices.

"He's really a sly one." Hong said casually as he dusted his hands in an unfazed manner.

This Piper was really cunning and vicious, bipolar and diabolical. He dared to do anything. Even when he knew fully well that his chances of dealing with this new Dan Formation expert was low, he instantly tried to use the allure of a magic treasure to lure Hong and then try to capture him.

Then he would take Min Hong hostage and have a chance to live.

Unfortunately for him…Hong was someone who could already kill Dan Formation spirit beast.

"So, he was with those guards." The Dan Formation expert said with a laugh. "Those guards were half armoured, while he was dressed in furs…I actually didn't notice him."

"Thank you for your assistance, senior" Hong said with a laugh. This man in front of him was one of the two personal guards protecting his grandfather, Min Tian. His name was Min Lao, and he was actually in the 4 Star Dan Formation stage.

Within the Min Family, his status was fairly high, but at his current level of power, he wasn't quite eligible yet to take command of a squad of soldiers, whilst Hong who was a direct descent of the current family head, had an extremely high status.

"If young master had acted instead, things would have gone just as easy." Min Lao sheathed his sword whilst laughing. "But I came here on a different business."

"Other business?" Hong's face fell. He had kept in touch just as he was instructed, and the person who had come this time was his grandfather's personal guard. One could only imagine what important business it was, for a Dan Formation expert to personally make this journey.

"Let's chat inside." Hong said hurriedly, as he glanced at the Southern Sun tribesmen who were still awestruck by the events which just unfolded in less than twenty minutes.

"Dispose the corpses and clear the area. As for the Ironwood Tribe, I would ask senior to make a trip there in a while…you naturally won't have to worry about them anymore."

"Thank you, young master." The tribe leader and the folks hurriedly fell to their knees and bowed. Now they truly grasp the status of this young master. For a Dan Formation expert to greet him with respect…even the leader of any tribe would have to kneel before him.

Hong and Min Lao quickly entered the room to discuss.

"Quick. Clean it up." The tribe leader ordered his tribesmen who were still on their knees.

The tribesmen of the Southern Sun Tribe felt the blood in their veins rush in pride, as they looked at the corpses of the Ironwood guards on the ground. Normally, they had to worship these guys every time they came around. But now, they all lay dead at their feet.

"So even you could not escape a tragic demise of this calibre." The one-armed man gave a savage kick to Piper's face, his heart filled with hate and rage.

--------------------------------

Within the room.

Only Hong and Min Lao were present.

"Senior Lao, what is the matter?" Hong asked nervously. "Why did you have to personally make this trip?"

"It is because of the 'Central Region Battle!" Min Lao's face became extremely serious at this point, as he replied with a solemn tone.

"Right. It's almost time" Min Hong nodded. "Give me the details."

"About nine months ago, you mother, Elder Rou got an information that the Zhou Family Head had a meeting with the Royal Guard sent to preside over this event. The purpose of the meeting was to make the younger generation of each family, under the age of eighteen be the stars of this competition." Min Lao explained.

"To give themselves an initial advantage, they later bribed the Royal Guard to announce this change six months before the competition begins, thus, earning them about eighteen months of additional preparation. But even that wasn't enough to them." At this point Min Lao was already fuming and his eyes were red, while Hong only listened on.

"About seven months ago, several talented members of the Min Family went missing. After that about another thirty youths went missing in the following month. This prompted an investigation on our part, and our findings showed that the Zhou Family were indirectly behind it." Min Lao explained

"They started paying smaller tribes and mercenary groups to search for and kill all Min Family youths they came across. What the Ironwood guard leader said earlier was an example of what's going on. That girl who was used and fed to their beasts was an outer Min Family member." Hong thought in fury.

"Since that began, our Family Head had us monitor the movements of any tribe the Zhou Family came in contact with, in recent months. Such tribes would most likely be the ones doing the killings." Min Lao paused and allow Hong to process everything he just heard.

"The Zhou Family are a really wretched bunch. To think they actually cheated by changing the competition format through bribe, and now they're also killing innocent people. The future talents of every family or tribe. They all deserve to die." at this point Hong's started fuming in pure hate, as a thick murderous aura started to leak from his body.

This aura was so thick and potent that not only did it startle Min Lao, it even reached the Southern Sun tribesmen, who were still cleaning their environment, and gave them the fright of their lives.

"Young master, calm down. Restrain your rage and control your emotions." Min Lao spoke solemnly.

A murderous aura of this magnitude could only belong to a battle-hardened warrior who had taken thousands of lives in the battle field.

He couldn't bring himself to understand how a child of about ten years could produce such killing intent.

"Thus, the Family Head and the Elders have instructed every member of the Min Family currently training outside the wall, to return with immediate effect. Then they deployed soldiers to every land under the Min Family's control, to help them return safely."

"So, I was specifically sent here by the Family Head to give you this information and escort you home safely. That is all there is to the report." Min Lao finished as he waited for Hong's response.

"Understood. We would leave the Southern Sun tribe after you're done dealing with those hateful Ironwood Tribe." Hong gave his reply. He was still trying to restrain his fury.

"Just leave everything to me." Min Lao nodded and left. About a day later, he returned. That very day, he left the Southern Sun tribe with Min Hong, Min Hao and Min Su in tow.

As to where they were headed…they told no one. That way, it would make it easier to avoid running into one of the mercenary group or tribesmen, paid by the Zhou Family.

-----------------------------

In an empty tribe village within the wilderness, where many damaged structures stood. This tribe was deserted. Clearly the tribesmen had abandoned this place long ago.

But at the edges of the tribe, there were a few structures that were absolutely spotless, where a group of armour-clad guards were gathered together. Min Su was currently seated on a bench, quietly staring into the distance in anticipation.

Previously, due to the report brought by Min Lao, Hong had instantly led Min Hao and Min Su out of the Southern Sun Tribe…but after the killings died down, Hong had permitted both of them to temporarily stay here with these armour-clad guards of the Min Family.

"Young master." Min Su stood up in delight. The armour-clad guards and Min also turned to gaze into the distance. They saw a distant blurry figure blink thrice and appear within the ruined tribal houses, then approach them with a captivating smile.

"Huh?" Min Su was slightly startled. She could sense something different about her approaching young master. She couldn't sense any aura from him at all, he was like an ordinary person who doesn't cultivate!

But of course, only Min Lao could accurately sense what was going on within him, due to him being in a much higher cultivation level compared to Hong. But even he could only sense that Hong had just stabilised his cultivation at the 5 Star King stage.

But Min Hong had also stabilised his cultivation at the 5 Star Qi Sea stage and achieved 'One with Dao' in his footwork technique. He had discovered that the Yuan Qi, although very slow and extremely difficult to form was very beneficial to his Qi cultivation.

Over the past two weeks, he had always left to go train away from the camp, since he was trying to keep a low profile and didn't want anyone to know his exact cultivation level.

"Young master." Min Hao, Min Su and the armour-clad guards all fell on one knee, except for Min lao, who only bowed slightly to pay his respects.

"Make your preparations. It is time for me to return." Hong laughed as he spoke.

Min Su was shocked. "Return? Go home?" "Young master, you…" she revealed a look of surprise when she noticed Hong had broken through. She could somehow catch a whiff of it due to her close proximity to Hong.

She also knew that this was most likely because of the 'Central Region Battle.'

"Right." Hong nodded in affirmation.

Min Su didn't say anything else, she only nodded repeatedly before turning to Min Hao. "Min Hao, hurry, gather our things. We're heading out,"

Moments later, Min Lao left with the Min Hong trio, while the armour-clad guards followed.