Chapter 1667 Ancient Barbarian City
Beside the teleportation array, Sun Hao’s body emitted a series of light cracking sounds as it gradually shrank. The red hue on his body also began to fade, but a head extended outward.
After a short while, Sun Hao’s body became shorter and smaller by about thirty to forty percent. It stabilized at a height just slightly taller than an ordinary Barbarian Warrior. The color of his entire body turned a touch brighter than that of a normal barbarian and could change no further. At this point, his originally grown head, placed atop this now massive frame, looked somewhat out of place, appearing a little too small.
Sun Hao turned his head, looking his body up and down, a faint bitter smile appearing on his face.
The lingering influence of Xingtian’s remnant soul was truly astonishingly powerful. Many years of cultivating the Yin-Yang Fusion Art still couldn’t completely neutralize the excessive Yang energy within his body. Or perhaps, the true physique of Xingtian itself was inherently earth-shattering. Even though it had become his own Witch Soul, it had still subtly affected his main body. If he didn’t forcibly use the collarbone secret technique, it wouldn’t be easy to shrink this large body anytime soon.
Moreover, after the head grew out, although it was initially small, the blood and vital energy surging within his body caused Sun Hao’s head to enlarge drastically. In less than five breaths, it had become a head proportionate to his massive frame. Though Sun Hao’s appearance still vaguely bore traces of his Human Clan state, anyone who wasn’t extremely familiar with him would find him very difficult to recognize.
Casually picking up a barbarian vine basket woven from green vines, Sun Hao called out, "Border Collie! Do you stay in the Jianghe Tribe to continue your carefree pleasures, or do you come with me to roam outside?"
Border Collie leaped from somewhere, landing into the vine basket on Sun Hao’s back. It barked, "Naturally, I follow the boss’s footsteps! Only by sticking with the boss can one eat and drink to one’s heart’s content, right, boss? Congrats on finally getting your head back! Woof woof woof! I’m so touched..." Though it seemed moved, even tearful, its eyes darted around furtively. To be honest, it knew its own business; it wasn't sure if the boss could recall that dark chapter. If he could remember, things could get very awkward.
Walking towards the teleportation array, Sun Hao said, "Hmm, I've been awake for centuries now. And what I remember most vividly is... something about a whip being very nourishing for me. But I can't quite recall it clearly right now. Border Collie, do you know what that was?"
Inside the basket, Border Collie instinctively clamped its hind legs together. It barked, "No! Such a profound question, how could I know? Boss, my memory’s actually not great; I forget things quickly. Without realizing it, stuff just slips away..."
Sun Hao chuckled, patting its head. "Forgetting is good. Saves me trouble. But if you do remember something one day, I’ll catch you and ask about the situation back then. Then I’ll see if I need some serious nourishment." Border Collie barked with flattery, "Boss, you’re in the prime of your life, strong as a dragon and mighty as a tiger, unbeatable in every battle! Why would you ever need tonics? Woof woof woof! Rest assured, boss, I’ve forgotten everything clean..."
Before it could finish speaking, a flash of white light burst from the teleportation array. Sun Hao’s towering figure, carrying Border Collie, vanished.
From beginning to end, no warrior in the entire Jianghe Tribe witnessed Sun Hao with a head. Within the Jianghe Tribe, Sun Hao was known simply as the unparalleled Headless Savage. According to the Jianghe Tribe's recorded texts, this Headless Savage rose amidst the wilderness and disappeared into the Ancient Barbarian City. His origins were mysterious, yet he fostered the tribe’s prosperity. Later generations hailed him as the Saint King. His spirit to battle heaven and earth, his boundless fury, the Barbarian Rite, and the Flower Dog Festival were passed down through the ages within the Jianghe Tribe, becoming an enduring spiritual legacy.
Sun Hao felt a momentary dizziness. When he reappeared, he stood within a vast and majestic stone city. Scanning his surroundings, his first impression of this massive stone city was one of roughness. It was crudely constructed; huge blocks of stone piled up in the boundless wilderness to form this immense barbarian city. Rough and towering structures lined the wide, uneven Great Paths. Bustling with all kinds of barbarians coming and going, most were burly and bare-chested. Many sported brightly colored markings—tattoos on their faces and torsos. Some swung broad axes; others carried spiked clubs on their shoulders.
The slightest disagreement could spark a brawl between two big Barbarian Warriors right on the street. Onlookers would gather, shouting, cheering, howling with strange excitement. This was the Ancient Barbarian City. Barbarism and roughness were its defining traits. Occasionally, casualties among Barbarian Warriors were not uncommon.
The moment Sun Hao stepped into the Ancient Barbarian City, his body suddenly felt heavier, sinking under an unseen force. In his heart, he felt an odd sense. A unique barbaric power permeated the Ancient Barbarian City. Any Barbarian Warrior entering here lost the ability to levitate; flight was impossible. Moreover, Sun Hao could perceive that the Five-Element True Essence within his body stopped circulating and lay dormant. The Ancient Barbarian City was indeed as the records described, possessing a miraculous power. Here, the only thing that worked was the Barbarian Tribe’s formidable physique and immense physical strength.
Sun Hao attempted to activate the Barbaric Decapitated Deity Art. His true nature was actually from the Human Clan; this current state resulted from his Xingtian-derived Witch Spirit’s incomplete digestion. He wondered if his abilities would be entirely sealed within this city. If sealed, he truly would struggle to enter the Middle Void through barbarian means. To his delight, within the Ancient Barbarian City, his Barbaric Decapitated Deity Art worked exceptionally well. Waves of pure power surged through him as he circulated the technique, filling him with an urge to find someone to test his strength against.
Taking a deep breath, Sun Hao wore a faint smile as he calmed the Barbaric Decapitated Deity Art. The immense force vanished within his body, leaving Sun Hao feeling completely devoid of notable strength.
He found the Barbarian Warrior guarding the teleportation array. After providing the resources required for the teleport, the big barbarian guarding the array scanned Sun Hao twice and muttered, "Another young master come for the spectacle. Brother, a word of advice: don’t go huddling among those bellicose barbarians. You’d best find a tavern to settle in; that’s the only way to ensure basic safety."
This was a reasonably helpful big barbarian. Sun Hao gave a brilliant smile and asked casually, "Big brother, are taverns good sources of information? I don’t want to visit the Ancient Sacred City only to know nothing and then slink away. How could I have any credibility for tall tales later?" The big barbarian looked at Sun Hao, who stood taller and more muscular than himself when fully erect. He nodded, "Yeah, taverns are where news spreads. Stay inside one, and you’ll definitely get plenty of updates. Might I recommend the Savage Power Tavern? Their Desolate Blood Wine is damned potent!"
Sun Hao smiled, inquired about the directions, and strode purposefully towards the Savage Power Tavern. Watching Sun Hao walk away, the big barbarian shook his head with a sigh. "The kid’s build is impressive, strong hereditary bloodline. Pity his strength is sparse, all bark and no bite. Wasted that fine physique."
Sun Hao heard this clearly but just smiled silently without comment. From the vine basket on his shoulder, Border Collie’s head popped out, looking around curiously, letting out sharp barks. The big barbarian was slightly startled and muttered again, "A second-generation young master bringing a pet. Now that’s rare." Barbarian Warriors also had mount beasts, but those were usually colossal and ill-suited for entering the Ancient Barbarian City. It was truly unheard of to bring a mere little earth dog like Sun Hao had.
Following the big barbarian’s suggestion, Sun Hao soon found the Savage Power Tavern. It was extremely rustic: simple construction, vast space, teeming with people and noise. The millennial grand event had just begun. Many big barbarian tribes had yet to arrive, and spectators were also missing. Sun Hao was relatively early. Consequently, within the Savage Power Tavern, he secured a dwelling area behind the tavern and found a relatively permanent drinking spot inside. Naturally, it also cost him considerable Desolate Beast resources.
Within the Ancient Barbarian City, Spirit Stones were still a currency. However, Spirit Stones from the Wilderness naturally carried a trace of Desolate Qi. While fine for Barbarian Warriors, they were unsuitable for most other races. Due to this Desolate Qi influence, Spirit Stones in the wilderness were of lower grade and harder to form naturally. Among the Six Tribes, the Jianghe Tribe was comparatively large. Sun Hao had only located two Spirit Stone Mines, both exhaustively mined with the stones now carried on his person. Additionally, resources like Desolate Beast pelts, crystals, horns, etc., could also circulate within the city. Over the years, Sun Hao had prepared thoroughly; he could comfortably reside here until the grand event concluded.