Ye Qin once again probed the mountain range caves with his divine sense, examining them meticulously. Save for a few spots shrouded by the strange sorcery of the Earth Clan, rendering them undetectable, he mapped out the majority of the cavern system in his mind, gaining a deeper understanding of this Shamanic Tribe’s strength.

“These medicinal herb fields, the alchemy workshops, and the weapon forges must be the greatest secrets of this Shamanic Tribe!” Ye Qin mused internally. This Shamanic Tribe, numbering over a hundred thousand souls, must have expended countless years, effort, and dedication to construct such a vast and intricate subterranean base.

To achieve this level of sophistication, this tribe would undoubtedly rank among the strongest Earth Clan groups in the entire East Sea. Yet, outside the island, these hidden facilities were completely invisible.

When Ye Qin first arrived, he had only noticed the excavated pits on the exterior, guarded by a few dozen mid-level Earth Clan Warriors, with some lower-tier members engaged in hunting—he hadn't considered anything deeper. “Bing'er was right; this Shamanic Tribe is certainly ambitious.” “And they have been exceptionally good at concealing that ambition.” “Elder Wutu of this tribe is quite familiar with East Sea cultivators.

He must know that cultivators possess divine sense for long-range detection. Allowing Bing'er and me into these caves would certainly expose the tribal secrets they have been desperate to hide.” “That leaves only one possibility… they are willing to risk exposure to achieve a greater goal.

That goal must be related to Xiu'er.” Ye Qin’s face remained as placid as ever, but his thoughts ran deep. He wasn't fearful of the tribe’s ambition.

Perhaps this Shamanic Tribe could even be useful. “We have arrived, Immortal Ye, please!” The luxurious carriage, drawn by eight antlered beasts, rolled into the main cavern passage and halted before a majestic grand hall.

Ye Qin, Huangfu Bing'er, and Bai Xiu'er alighted from the carriage. Ten massive stone pillars, each a zhang thick, soared from the hall entrance straight to the ceiling.

In front of the hall stood a line of extremely robust Warriors in armor, grasping long spears, each radiating a palpable aura of battle-readiness. Ye Qin nodded inwardly; as the island harbored no enemies of the Shamanic Tribe, this killing intent likely stemmed from life-and-death struggles against sea beasts in the nearby waters.

This tribe had done a fair amount of sea creature hunting. The palace interior was far from the rough hewn exterior caves.

All the walls were exquisitely carved with murals depicting Shamanic Priests and Warriors slaying sea beasts. The walls were inlaid with colossal, dazzling sea pearls.

The floor was carpeted with hides from high-tier sea beasts, complete with cushions made of animal pelts for seating. Compared to East Sea palaces, this setting was somewhat rustic.

But for an Earth Clan tribe inhabiting a remote island, this hall was an undeniable extravagance. Within the spacious hall, the attendees of this banquet were few: only the Chieftain of the Shamanic Tribe, more than ten Shamanic Elders, and a select few high-tier Warriors.

The Chieftain sat at the head of the hall. He too was an old Shaman, possessing a stern countenance and a somewhat gaunt frame.

He was taciturn, an old Earth Clan member whose emotions were impossible to read. Ye Qin could not fathom the Chieftain’s true depth.

Elder Wutu was merely one among the elders, though he appeared to hold a high position. Ye Qin gave only a cursory glance to the Chieftain and the assembled Earth Clan Elders before taking seats with Huangfu Bing'er and Bai Xiu'er in the guest section on the right.

The Shamanic Chieftain, the Shamanic Elders, and the few stout Warriors—their respect for Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er largely stemmed from reverence for Immortals, lacking any genuine fear. One must remember that a high-tier Warrior, matched in rank, held nearly equal strength to a Golden Core cultivator.

This tribe possessed no less than a hundred high-tier Warriors; their overall strength far surpassed that of Ye Qin and his two companions—unless Ye Qin revealed his Nascent Soul skeleton demon or the Great Wing Warship. It was only due to their awe of the East Sea Immortals, and their complete ignorance of Ye Qin’s background or potential powerful backing, that they dared not act rashly.

The gazes of most Earth Clan Elders were fixed upon Xiu'er, showing immense satisfaction and delight. A few of the burly, imposing men looked toward Bai Xiu'er, adding a layer of admiration and reverence.

Over the past year, they had been the strongest Warriors in the tribe, and each had fought Bai Xiu'er, only to lose. In an Earth Clan tribe, strength commands respect; defeat demands submission.

Both host and guest harbored their own agendas, and little was said initially. Soon, dozens of graceful, agile Earth Clan maidens began serving a lavish feast, flowing like water onto tables set on either side of the hall.

In addition to aromatic dishes cultivated with spiritual energy, there were delicacies made from precious sea beast meat, and superb vintage brewed by the Earth Clan, served in cups fashioned from various precious jades. The Shamanic Tribe had clearly put considerable effort into preparing this banquet.

Ye Qin had no interest in the dishes but sampled a sip of the Earth Clan brew. A single small swallow unleashed a fierce, dominating heat that surged from his abdomen, startling Ye Qin.

This wine, too, contained potent Fire Spiritual Energy. “Esteemed Immortals, please forgive any prior offenses by our tribe’s Warriors.

This old man offers an apology and will drink first to show my sincerity.” Elder Wutu was the first to raise his cup, draining it in one gulp as restitution. “Miss Xiu'er, in just one short year, you have defeated all the high-tier Warriors of our tribe.

All of us hold you in high esteem. If Miss Xiu'er could obtain the High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills, her divine power could advance by leaps and bounds, making it highly possible for her to become an even higher-tier Warrior!” Elder Wutu clapped his hands as he finished speaking.

Two Warriors soon emerged, carrying a wooden chest. “What is this?” Ye Qin asked calmly.

“Immortal Ye, here are three thousand High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills. Our tribe is poor and has little of true value to offer!

We can only present these spirit pills as a meager gift, barely presentable. With these High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills, we believe Miss Xiu'er can quickly reach the very pinnacle of a high-tier Warrior within a few years.

Allowing Miss Xiu'er to become a peak high-tier Warrior is the greatest honor for our entire tribe. Please, Miss Xiu'er, accept them!” Although Elder Wutu spoke with humility, a discernible hint of pride colored his expression.

Not only him, but all the Shamanic Elders present, as well as the few high-tier Warriors, looked extremely proud. These were High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills.

Across the entire East Sea Earth Clan tribes, very few could casually offer three thousand Blood Spirit Pills as a gift. Even if they could, it would likely severely deplete their resources and impact the tribe’s finances.

However, their Shamanic Tribe could afford this: every high-tier Warrior could save a few pills through intense austerity, allowing them to assemble these three thousand pills as a gift without damaging the tribe’s foundation. To call them wealthy and influential would not be an overstatement.

This massive hoard of High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills was enough to drive any Earth Clan Warrior into ecstatic madness. Even for Immortals, this represented a considerable fortune, which they could exchange for other spirit pills in the marketplace.

But they were destined to be disappointed. After listening, Ye Qin remained as serene as before, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

Huangfu Bing'er also maintained an impassive expression, seemingly waiting to see if they would offer anything better. Bai Xiu'er showed little interest in the pills in the chest, finding the delicious food and fine wine on the table far more appealing.

Elder Wutu and the other Shamanic Elders were taken aback, exchanging bewildered glances, unable to comprehend why Ye Qin’s trio showed no reaction to the three thousand High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills. It made no sense; this treasure was staggering, taking their entire tribe nearly half a month to refine.

If these were distributed to their own tribe’s Warriors, they would likely go mad with joy on the spot. Ye Qin glanced at the chest, then at Bing'er seated beside him, offering no comment or further reaction.

In his heart, he felt a degree of pity; whatever this Shamanic Tribe was plotting, they needed to present something substantial and worthy. To put it bluntly, three thousand High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills were barely enough for Xiu'er’s casual consumption.

“Elder Wutu, High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills are refined from High-Grade Blood Spirit Fruits and the demon cores of high-tier sea beasts. I occasionally refine a few batches in my spare time for Xiu'er’s consumption.

The pills I previously made have not run out yet,” Huangfu Bing'er remarked with a faint smile. She reached into her own storage pouch and produced a jade bottle, pouring out a pill shimmering with potent blood energy.

This pill was indeed a High-Grade Blood Spirit Pill, used to strengthen a Warrior’s vital spiritual power. “Elder Wutu, Xiu'er appreciates your kindness, but I still have quite a few High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills.

I consume them frequently; otherwise, why would my divine power increase so rapidly? These three thousand High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills should be reserved for your tribe’s Warriors.

I observe that your Shamanic Tribe is not overly affluent.” Bai Xiu'er nodded seriously as well. “High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills!” Elder Wutu’s expression shifted dramatically.

Seeing the spirit pill in Huangfu Bing'er’s hand, the expressions of the other Elders quickly deflated into resignation. These two Immortals, whose origins were unknown, were clearly so powerful that they could procure High-Grade Blood Spirit Fruits and even perform the refinement themselves.

The alchemy practiced by Immortals was far superior to their Earth Clan methods; they held no need for the High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills offered. The aged Chieftain’s usually stern and rigid face finally betrayed astonishment and deep contemplation.

“Immortal Ye, what is it you desire?… You must have anticipated all this before you arrived, yet you still chose to visit our tribe, suggesting you did not wish the journey to be in vain. Whatever our tribe possesses that is worthy, Immortal, please state your terms,” the Shamanic Chieftain said slowly.

“The Chieftain is straightforward. While adventuring in the East Sea, I once heard tales of an Earth Clan elixir called the ‘Innate Sacred Pill’ (Tianfu Shengdan).

I’ve only heard of it but never seen it myself. Does your tribe possess this item, and if so, do you possess the refinement formula?” Ye Qin inquired in a low tone.

“The Innate Sacred Pill! How do you know of this item!” “Who exactly are you, to know the deepest secret of our Shamanic Tribe!?” In the hall, all the Shamanic Elders and the burly Warriors recoiled in shock, standing up, their tension palpable.

This was a core secret of the Shamanic Tribe, a secret they had painstakingly sought for tens of thousands of years. The Shamanic Priests had continuously engaged in alchemy, striving to create elixirs that could enhance the strength of Earth Clan Warriors.

And the Innate Sacred Pill was one such creation. Furthermore, it was the most effective one, rumored to unlock the inherent talents of the Earth Clan, potentially increasing their strength tenfold or a hundredfold.

However, due to various constraints—either a lack of spiritual herbs or insufficient alchemists capable of refining it—the Innate Sacred Pill was exceedingly difficult to manufacture. The formula for this elixir had been researched for tens of thousands of years since the first Shaman proposed the concept, yet no successful instance had ever been observed.

“This is not surprising. I once entered the Langya Secret Realm, one of the three major secret realms of the East Sea tribes.

There, an East Sea Shamanic Tribe was refining elixirs, and on incomplete fragments of their refinement records, this Innate Sacred Pill was mentioned, along with a spiritual object called the Ziyou Lotus. However, the records contained no inscription of the formula for the Innate Sacred Pill.

The reason I came today is to ascertain if your tribe holds the formula for this elixir!” Ye Qin stated calmly, addressing the agitated Shamanic Elders. His detailed explanation was sufficient to prove he wasn't fabricating stories to bluff them.

“This is the greatest secret of our Shamanic Tribe; whether we have it or not, why would we possibly hand it over to you Immortals!” “This is the hope for our tribe’s ascendancy; we will never give it to you!” “The Immortals of the East Sea have always treated us Earth Clan as mere laborers, slaves, or concubines. If a Sacred Warrior emerges, our Earth Clan can stand as equals to the Nascent Soul Immortals of the East Sea.

Why would you wish to see the emergence of an Earth Clan Sacred Warrior!” “The East Sea Immortals are notoriously cunning; they surely intend to trick us out of our formula!” Immediately, several Shamanic Elders rose, shouting sharply. As the hall devolved into an uproar, the atmosphere turning fierce and the situation nearing a physical confrontation—even the line of high-tier Warriors guarding the entrance prepared to rush in— “All of you, shut your mouths!

Immortal Ye has shown kindness towards the East Sea tribes, evidenced by how diligently he has cultivated Xiu'er. Anyone who dares speak further irreverently will be severely punished according to tribal law!” The old Shamanic Chieftain slammed his chair, roaring a command.

The elders and high-tier Warriors, cowed by the Chieftain's authority, finally fell silent. “Esteemed Immortals, since you are capable of refining High-Grade Blood Spirit Pills, you must be highly skilled alchemists.

If the spiritual medicines can be found, combined with this formula, you would have a greater chance of refining the Innate Sacred Pill than our tribe does. However, what are you prepared to offer in exchange for our Shamanic Tribe’s supreme treasure?” The Chieftain’s stern, cold gaze swept over the assembled elders before he continued addressing Ye Qin.

“Regardless of whether this endeavor succeeds, the ultimate beneficiaries will be your East Sea tribes! I will offer no compensation, nor make any promises.

If you agree to proceed, perhaps the East Sea tribes will have the chance to see a Sacred Warrior emerge. If not, consider this matter unmentioned.” Ye Qin stood up and spoke.

“That is all. I came to your tribe for this specific purpose.

My cultivation demands much of my time, so I shall not linger here. Chieftain, and all Elders, take time to consider my proposal.” If not for this matter weighing heavily on his mind, he would currently be busy refining Spirit Root Potential Pills and preparing for the Great Heavenly Tribulation; at such a juncture, he had no desire to deal with a Shamanic Tribe.

With that, he prepared to leave the Shamanic Tribe hall with Huangfu Bing'er and Bai Xiu'er, who was still enjoying the remnants of the feast. “Immortal Ye, wait!

I can give you the formula for the Innate Sacred Pill right now! However, I have one small request.” The old Chieftain also rose at that moment.

He pulled several bone-carved plaques from his sleeve, then looked at Bai Xiu'er with a deep, probing gaze. “Given Xiu'er’s age and aptitude, her potential is boundless.

If she can obtain the Innate Sacred Pill and awaken her talent, there is a high probability she could become a Sacred Warrior. This is the hope not only of our Shamanic Tribe but of all East Sea tribes.

I have a small personal wish: that she might learn the sorceries of our Shamanic Tribe. That way, even if she does not formally join the Shamanic Tribe, she would still be considered cultivated by our people, and in the future, she might retain some sentiment toward our Shamanic Tribe.

These bone plaques contain numerous sorceries, which I will also entrust to Immortal Ye!”

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