Summoners: One Golden Term per Level

Shen Fei merely smiled. In war, everything is permissible as long as it benefits victory.

As long as it doesn’t go against the natural order, it’s fine.

Moreover, it’s not an underhanded tactic, it’s just that Gonggong didn’t notice it.

If it were anyone else, Shen Fei wouldn’t bother explaining, but he plans to absorb the Lie Mountain Tribe.

If Gonggong leads them, he will surely draw the power of many tribes to their side.

By the time they attack the final heartland, they won’t have to exhaust too much power.

”This is war in itself, and besides, it’s just something you didn’t notice. I didn’t use any underhanded means.”

”Surely, when you led your soldiers against Exotic Beasts and even other tribes, you employed the strategy of a two-pronged attack?”

Gonggong was rendered speechless by Shen Fei’s barrage of words, meaning his skills were inferior.

And at that moment.

The wind and rain intensified in the sky, and a figure stepped through the rain—it was the Empress.

As the Empress passed by, she just glanced over and went to assist Can Gang.

Compared to Gonggong, Zhurong posed a greater threat to Can Gang, with the Ancient Steel Python being a type of serpent.

Serpents naturally have an aversion, even fear of fire.

But the Ancient Steel Python is an Exotic Beast and naturally wouldn’t fear ordinary fire, yet the fire Zhurong wields is not ordinary.

When Can Gang was maneuvering the Ancient Steel Python, he was cautious and hesitant.

It wasn’t until the Empress arrived, wielding the Emperor Flame to collide with Zhurong’s True Fire, that Can Gang could attack Zhurong freely.

In an instant.

The once disadvantaged Can Gang began to suppress Zhurong after the Empress appeared.

Shen Fei said calmly to Gonggong, ”Your defeat is certain, will you continue this futile resistance?”

”If you don’t surrender, the result will be more soldiers dying needlessly.”

As soon as the Empress appeared, Gonggong was already destined to lose.

Now it was just a matter of whether Gonggong would lose big or small.

Gonggong remained silent, but soon his aura slowly grew, and his gaze was filled with anger, ”The first time I surrendered for my soldiers, the second time I fell victim to your deceit. This time I won’t run.”

”The Gonggong Tribe does not have a tradition of surrendering to others.”

Shen Fei frowned, was this guy truly so unyielding in character?

Yet inside, Gonggong was filled with despair, even if he wouldn’t admit it, the Jiu Li were indeed stronger than the Lie Mountain, and they had their Holy Virtue.

But the Lie Mountain had shown him kindness, and the Common Lord had nurtured him personally. How could he betray the Common Lord?

Given that.

He might as well prove his resolve through death.

Shen Fei felt helpless, initially he didn’t want to use the backup method given by the Medicine Ancestor.

It was the poison placed by the Medicine Ancestor within Gonggong’s Immortal Pill, named ’Soulbreaking Aconite.’

That’s right, it was the same Soulbreaking Aconite that nearly poisoned Shennong to death, just a weakened version.

Otherwise, Ma Shihuang and the others wouldn’t be trying to control Gonggong, but to kill him directly.

A living Human Immortal has to be more useful to the Youxiong Tribe than a dead one.

The ’Soulbreaking Aconite’ had been improved by Ma Shihuang, not directly ingested into the body.

If Soulbreaking Aconite had entered his body, Gonggong would have sensed something was wrong long ago.

He was only gravely injured, not dead.

After Shennong’s pharmacological analysis, the poison had been weakened.

It can also be used in medicine, helping tribesmen strengthen their physique, which is why these exotic plants must be tried.

These exotic plants, like Exotic Beasts, inherently contain special powers.

To utilize them, one must know the medicinal properties of these exotic plants.

Their power is concealed, and even a Human Immortal would find it difficult to discern their nature without actual harvesting.

Moreover, these exotic plants possess self-defense mechanisms, which is why they survive.

Poison is the most common among them.

But poison and medicine are not distinct, Shennong intended to turn poisons that are hard to utilize into medicines that could enhance cultivation or physique.

Previously, the Skills or rather the Immortal Techniques the Medicine Ancestor used on Gonggong were indeed capable of healing him.

Yet they contained one component related to the Soulbreaking Aconite.

If during the healing process, he did not encounter another clashing exotic plant.

The healing effect would indeed be substantial.

But if encountered, issues would arise, causing excruciating stomach pain in a short period, rendering the Immortal Pill’s power unusable.

His strength would be as a common person.

If used, Gonggong would certainly realize the Medicine Ancestor was in collusion with him.

This way, if the Medicine Ancestor returned, hidden dangers would remain.

But who would have thought Gonggong was so steadfast, displaying such caution previously.

And his emotions for the Human Race seemed more significant than those for the Lie Mountain.

Yet human nature is fickle, even Tier Ten is no exception, perhaps he just couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

Shen Fei casually waved out a Spiritual Light, and countless mists spread around him.

Gonggong, whose aura was still rising, instantly stalled, his expression shifted from silence and anger to surprise.

”Why can’t I activate the power of my Immortal Pill...”

Gonggong, whose surprised expression fell, was suddenly overtaken by intense stomach pain, and all his strength rapidly waned.

As a high-ranking member of the Lie Mountain Tribe, Gonggong knew of Soulbreaking Aconite even without practicing Medicine Immortal, having even tasted a slightly weaker version before.

He suddenly realized.

”There must be an insider within Lie Mountain, it’s that Shen Yao...”

Gonggong wasn’t a fool. The only one he had been in contact with during this time was the Medicine Ancestor, who was now the true inheritor of Shennong, naturally having access to Soulbreaking Aconite and its weakened version.

Meanwhile.

Considering all factors, the only one capable of manipulating him should be the Medicine Ancestor.

”Indeed, Shen Yao is one of mine, but it’s not me who employed this strategy against you. If it were, would I have let you go the first time?”

Gonggong remained silent, finally asking a question he’d pondered over for a long time since his return.

”Why did you let me go back then?”

Shen Fei had Little Pu extend a force to support Gonggong, who could no longer wield mana.

Hearing Gonggong’s inquiry, he countered, ”What is the significance of Shennong and Lie Mountain to you?”

”Virtue nourishes the world, and the Dao oppresses the Human Race.”

Gonggong pondered a moment before speaking.

He wasn’t wrong. Back then, Shennong tasted a hundred herbs, amended medical texts for the Human Race.

Allowing the use of exotic plants to heal injuries from Exotic Beasts for both common tribesmen and cultivators who reaped the benefits.

Later, establishing the path of Medicine Immortal ensured the warriors of the Lie Mountain Tribe did not fear death.

Indeed, it deserved the phrase ’Virtue nourishes the world, Dao oppresses the Human Race.’

”Then why could Shennong be the Common Lord of the Human Race, and not Chi You?”

”Chi You was after all...”

Gonggong was about to call him a barbarian but realized Chi You was also part of the Human Race.

”Chi You smelted metals to enhance the Human Race, even creating his law, laying down regulations, now with weapons.”

”Can it not be said to embody virtue that nourishes the world?”

”Chi You and Duan Xiu’s joint creation of Witchcraft, in just a few years, was able to contend with the long-standing Immortal Techniques.

Could it not be described as Dao oppressing the Human Race?”

Shen Fei leisurely stated, ”Then why couldn’t Chi You be this Common Lord?”