Chapter 1666 The Path to the Middle Void
Therefore, Sun Hao believed that such a race must definitely have a way to enter the Middle Void. The Jianghe Tribe had no prior records simply because it was too low-level, too remote, and too barbaric.
If Sun Hao wanted to enter the Middle Void, he had to venture out from the Jianghe Tribe, conquer stronger barbarian tribes, and find the correct path for the barbarians to reach the Middle Void. As for the Human Clan, he had no intention of making any contact until his own power had truly grown strong.
After staying relatively quiet for over a hundred years, Sun Hao began to lead the Jianghe Tribe in conquests in all directions.
If the previous Saint King fought aimlessly, going wherever he thought to go, now with Sun Hao's main consciousness restored, the effectiveness of the battles was entirely different.
Moreover, compared to the separated spirit, Sun Hao’s main consciousness had one crucial distinction: an immensely powerful ability to command. The moment Sun Hao stood among the barbarian ranks, without even a gesture, the morale of the barbarian warriors instantly soared to its peak, entering a ferocious state that vastly amplified their strength.
Coupled with Sun Hao's virtually peerless, genuinely formidable strength in the Lower Void, no tribe surrounding the Jianghe tribe could withstand the iron tread of his conquest.
Within the Wilderness of Six Barbarians, the Sacred Savage Legion led by Sun Hao advanced powerfully. Like an unstoppable sharp sword, they thrust from the borders of the Six Barbarians straight towards its heart. Any barbarian tribes they encountered either submitted or were mercilessly slaughtered and their strongholds ransacked.
The prestige of the Jianghe Tribe spread wider and farther within the Six Barbarians.
An utterly savage style of combat, incredibly savage customs, and a wildly savage state of battle – such was the Jianghe Tribe.
After forging ahead relentlessly for over a hundred years, Sun Hao finally encountered the Nine Star Li Tribe, the mightiest tribe among the Six Barbarians. Also known as the Nine Star Barbarians or Nine Li Barbarians, it was a colossal tribe rumored to possess an ancient Barbarian Tent.
By this time, the surging Baleful Aura of the Savage Sacred Legion had long since reached the main territory of the Nine Star Li Tribe.
Proud and powerful, the main force of the Nine Star Li Tribe deployed for a decisive battle.
A duel between Sun Hao and Gong Jiang, the foremost warrior of the Nine Star Li Tribe, marked the opening of the great conflict.
Barbarian warriors who had never faced Sun Hao were perpetually brimming with confidence. Gong Jiang likewise did not believe a wild savage who had fought his way out of the backwaters could be his match, especially one missing a head – how could he have a functioning mind?
Yet, the outcome of the duel left the Nine Star Li Tribe utterly aghast.
In merely three moves.
The mighty tribal champion, Gong Jiang, was smashed to the ground with a single hammer blow from the ferocious Headless Savage.
Before Gong Jiang could rise, the headless fiend seized his feet and tore him apart in mid-air. Gong Jiang, who had once been mighty enough to rend heaven and earth, was ripped in two by the Headless Savage.
His shield swept aside a swath of foes, his hammer smashed down another. The Headless Savage was invincible wherever he fought.
The fierce fighting spirit of the Sacred Savage Legion also instilled fear within the warriors of the Nine Star Li Tribe. These were savage fighters whose morale had ascended to truly bloodthirsty heights. A truly savage race, utterly and brutally barbaric.
The huge and proud Nine Star Li Tribe collapsed like a breached dam, succumbing to an unstoppable rout.
The might of the Headless Savage sent shockwaves through the Six Barbarians.
A peerless terror had emerged, unstoppable.
The war raged on continuously until it reached the Sacred Mountain, the core ancestral seat of the Nine Star Li Tribe.
After ten days of fierce battle, the Sacred Mountain was forcibly breached. The Saintess was captured by the Headless Savage, the Tribal Shaman was slain by his hand, and the Nine Star Li Tribe was completely subdued.
The Saintess was claimed by the Headless Savage, and the Sacred Mountain became the headquarters of the Jianghe tribe.
Over the next hundred-plus years, the formidable Headless Savage thoroughly crushed all resistance within the conquered Nine Star Li lands, spreading his terrifying renown far and wide.
Having secured vast stretches of barbarian territory, deep within the expansive Wilderness of Six Barbarians, the dread-inspiring name of the Headless Savage spread endlessly.
Following this came a period of recuperation for the Jianghe tribe. The Headless Savage forcibly implemented the savage customs of the Jianghe people – particularly the Barbarian Rite and the Flower Dog Festival – throughout the tribes he now ruled.
In the wilderness, a unique Desolate Qi perpetually enshrouded the endless plains. Besides the tribal camps established by the barbarians themselves, powerful Desolate Beasts were constantly emerging at all hours out on the wilds. Deeper into the wilderness lay vast, untamed primordial lands yet to be reclaimed.
After defeating the Nine Star Tribe and ruling the immense wilderness, large tracts of still-primitive, only partially developed Desolate Plains fell under the Headless Savage's control. With the need to stabilize his newly absorbed territories, the elite Savage Corps of the Jianghe Tribe focused their efforts on developing and assaulting these plains. The pace of outward expansion naturally slowed.
The Wilderness of Six Barbarians finally settled into a period of relative calm.
In truth, barbarian tribes dwelling in such hazardous wilderness, constantly pressured by surrounding Desolate Beasts, were rarely as aggressively expansionist as the Jianghe Tribe had been.
Even the Nine Star Barbarians, once reaching a certain level of power, ceased their expansion. Struggling just to fend off the Desolate Beasts encircling them, they had little energy or inclination to attack other tribes wantonly. Tribes like Jianghe were truly a rarity.
Fortunately, after absorbing the Nine Star Li Tribe, even the excessively energetic Headless Savage became quiescent. The Desolate Beasts surging from the wilderness on all sides gave the warlike Jianghe Tribe enough trouble to occupy them fully. Thus, the larger tribes (“caves”) within the Six Barbarians finally found respite.
Having conquered the Nine Star Li Tribe, and after subduing its Saintess, Sun Hao located the barbarian method to enter the Middle Void. Naturally, he halted further expansion, turning instead to consolidating his gains. He implemented his savage policies, calmed his body's Yin-Yang balance, and began preparing for his entry into the Middle Void.
Unlike the Jianghe, who lacked any written history or tradition, the Nine Star Li Tribe possessed record keepers holding numerous tribal archives. They also maintained a long-distance Teleportation Array that thrilled Sun Hao immensely.
Records indicated that the long-distance Teleportation Array activated once every millennium. At that time, tribes within the barbarian 'caves' could dispatch their elite warriors to Ancient Barbarian City to participate in the Champion Selection. True barbarian champions would stand out during the selection and might gain entry into the Middle Void.
Records showed that more powerful barbarian warriors were not necessarily more likely to succeed. Often, relatively less powerful fighters were chosen, while truly formidable warriors were passed over.
Though it possessed the Teleportation Array and was among the tribes permitted access to Ancient Barbarian City, the Nine Star Li Tribe's standing amongst the barbarians was actually quite low. Neither its strength nor its influence was significant. The Saintess's records showed that it had been countless years since any Nine Star Li warrior had managed to enter the Middle Void.
For the past ten thousand years, the Nine Star Li Tribe hadn't even bothered sending participants to the Champion Selection. Going was futile – merely an expensive way to observe the spectacle. Opening the Teleportation Array every thousand years was costly, draining enough resources to severely weaken a tribe of inadequate strength.
Yet, this was precisely Sun Hao's goal. It was an essential path he had to pursue for his cultivation.
Therefore, after conquering the Nine Star Tribe, Sun Hao focused on developing the strength of the Jianghe Tribe. He led his Savage Corps on campaigns across the territory they ruled, slaughtering vast numbers of Desolate Beasts to accumulate the resources necessary for his journey to Ancient Barbarian City.
All of Sun Hao's schemes unfolded silently, without fanfare. The Jianghe Tribe showed no signs of noticing anything unusual.
The plans and battle instincts of the Headless Saint King were known to be wildly unpredictable. The ordinary warriors had long grown accustomed to this, so they sensed nothing amiss.
The only one vaguely aware of Sun Hao's purpose was the Saintess of the Nine Star Tribe.
Subjugated and ruled by Sun Hao for centuries, new generations of barbarians had fully assimilated into the tribe. Sun Hao had not ill-treated the Nine Star people; even the Barbarian Rite and Flower Dog Festival applied equally. Gradually, the Saintess began actively cooperating with Sun Hao, advising him on the matters pertaining to Ancient Barbarian City's grand ritual.
Among the barbarian tribes, it was a shared understanding that having a warrior selected to enter the Middle Void was among a tribe's greatest achievements. Not only did it bring glory, but the tribe would also receive significant rewards from Ancient Barbarian City, enabling faster and better development.
As the millennium mark drew nearer, Sun Hao consciously reduced his appearances, fought less himself, and allowed the Jianghe warriors to fight autonomously. He delegated the management of the tribal warriors and prepared for his departure from the tribe.
Though initially conquered by force, the Saintess had developed genuine affection for Sun Hao over the centuries and was somewhat reluctant to part. The two Barbarian Matriarchs, originally from the Jianghe tribe whom Sun Hao had brought along, also sensed something unusual, stirring unease.
Though Sun Hao remained unmoved, the Witch Soul aspect of his Spirit Separation stirred with deep attachment. Ultimately, unable to overcome its persistence, Sun Hao summoned the Saintess and the two Matriarchs. He made elaborate arrangements for the governance of the Jianghe Tribe and restructured the command system for the Savage War Division, finally placating his Witch Soul and genuinely readying it for his departure.
That day, bright white light burst forth atop the Sacred Mountain of the Jianghe Tribe.
The Saintess and the Matriarchs led the Jianghe warriors kneeling reverently at the base of the mountain, bidding farewell as the Invincible Saint King journeyed forth to participate in the Champion Selection.