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Book 8: Chapter 193: Upper (1)

The Upper Tribes. It was a generic term to describe those below Clans who had been powerful enough to keep their family’s original legacies, but were good enough to have named Tribes under their control.

While normal named tribes wouldn’t have more than 50-80 individuals within their territory, Upper Tribes took a large leap forward, housing hundreds to even tens of thousands depending on their ranks.

There were three main divisions of Upper Tribes. Inferior, Medial and Superior, with the superior upper tribes being direct subordinates of a Clan.

This tribe was ranked within the inferior tier, but compared to the living arrangements of the named and numbered tribes, they lived like kings.

The female population was overflowing, leaving at least 3 per male. The first instance of grass in this endless forest was seen, giving the area a lush and vibrant feel – respectively, that is. Even the structures were more developed. Weaved of twigs and leaves, it gave the area a minimalistic but warm atmosphere.

Compared to the ‘luxury’ one was used to on the Mortal Plane, this place would be considered a nameless, poor village. But within the Ancient Battlefield, it was an embarrassment of riches.

Deep within the ‘luxurious’ territory, a slightly sturdier treehouse stood, resting upon the strong branches of three adjacent trees.

BANG!

A man’s fist collided with a throne of vines. Despite his strength, the armrest only bent slightly, reverberating his strike through the dimly lit abode.

“Those tribes dare?!”

“Chief, this matter can’t be simple. All 18 named tribes couldn’t have simultaneously decided to turn their nose up at us. I suggest that we send someone to investigate. Another Region might be declaring war…”

Within the Upper Tribes gathering place of elites, a collection of 12 sturdy men sat. They were getting on in years, deep within their middle ages, but their bodies, despite the greying of their hair, were akin to ancient oak trees.

They glistened with a healthy deep bronze color and their movements shook the air. They were individuals that would have been capable of fighting a bull-bird head to head without being at a disadvantage. This wasn’t necessarily because they were more talented than those of the numbered and named tribes, but was in large part due to their better nutrition.

Cultivators had little need for food, but this was very much different for body cultivators, especially body refinement cultivators. To them, food couldn’t be more important.

Those who cultivated qi could ignore the need for food and even water with its help, but body refiners relied on the energies of the food they ate to grow. Even in Dyon’s mortal world, there was nothing more important to a body builder than their nutrition.

Thanks to their status, these men had more than their fill of food and could thus grow over time. Though they were lacking in comparison to the leaders of medial and superior upper tribes, and definitely far below true clans, compared to their subordinate tribes, they were gods.

“Another Region?…” The Chieftain calmed his anger. The words spoken gave him reason to pause.

Warfare was rare on the Ancient Battlefield, as ironic as that may sound, but it wasn’t as though it never happened. Every so often ambitious individuals would surge up. This was especially so when the time for the battlefield to descend approached.

The people of the Ancient Battlefield called this event ‘The Descent’. When it came time for this to occur, those with dreams of returning to the Mortal Plane began to fortify their own strengths. The best way to do that was to subdue the strength of others under your umbrella.

With The Descent approaching, a war wasn’t impossible. But for all 18 of their named tribes to lose contact with them… Wouldn’t that mean they had already lost?

Communication on the Ancient Battlefield was too difficult. Beasts very much ruled these lands. Their only real method of contact were foot messengers that usually also brought tributes to their tribe every month.

These leaders realized that this system wasn’t very good, especially in this sort of situation. But, there was a reason they never tried to improve it: doing so would make it more likely for their subordinate tribes to rise up against them. After all, the cumulative population of their subordinates surpassed them. Matters were made even worse when it was considered that most of their population was made of women.

“We should prepare for war.” Another leader spoke up. “It’s not necessary to panic. The disadvantages we face within this damned forest are the same disadvantages our opponents face. It’s impossible to move a large-scale army here. If anyone tried, they’d become meals for the beasts before they could even reach their goal.”

The other 11 nodded in agreement. This allowed them to place the stone weighing on their chests down. Even if this was a mutiny, they still held the upper hand.

“Should we inform the other upper tribes of our Region?”

The Chief snarled, causing the other 11 elders to fall into silence. They knew well why their Chief reacted this way. He had lost more concubines than he cared to count to those bastards. Their mere mention pissed him off.

Suddenly, loud sounds of booming and screaming caused the twelve to freeze.

“Enemy attack, enemy attack!”

The tribe’s best scout scurried up the tree, leaping into the meeting of 12 without regard.

“T-t-thousands of enemies spotted!”