"My terms are simple."
Wu Liang's gaze swept calmly across the six Female Leaders, as though he were sizing up his prey.
"From this day forward, Great Desolate Mountain will know only one voice—the voice of Black Rock Tribe."
"Your six Tribes must be absorbed into my Black Rock Tribe and acknowledge Black Rock as sovereign!"
"Hand over every shred of power and land; every warrior will be re-assigned to the Black Rock Army."
"Your clansmen will become subjects of Black Rock Tribe, and you six will serve as its officers—and furthermore…"
Wu Liang paused, the corner of his mouth curling in playful amusement.
His eyes roamed with interest over the six strikingly different Female Leaders.
"You six leaders will become my women and pledge your loyalty to me."
"Put simply, I seek not alliance, but submission."
Having spoken, Wu Liang leaned back at leisure and fell silent.
The hall sank into deathly stillness.
The six Female Leaders stared, unable to believe their ears.
Merge into Black Rock Tribe? Accept him as master?
And they themselves… become his women?
They had expected harsh demands—perhaps vast tributes or command rights.
But never had they imagined such arrogance.
"In your dreams!"
"Wu Liang! Don't overestimate yourself! Make us submit to you—a man? On what grounds?"
Ignis slammed the table and sprang to her feet, her full chest heaving with the force of her movement.
"Wu Liang! We came to ally with you, not to become your slaves!"
"Well said!"
Suina of the Chuishi Tribe rose as well, fury written across her face.
"The eight Tribes share one breath. You swallowed Blood-Fang and now you covet us? You make an enemy of all Great Desolate Mountain!"
"We would rather die in battle than yield!"
Sa Lan of the Zhu Feng Tribe declared, her voice sharp.
Even the mild-tempered Alesha and Florgloria looked livid, their eyes blazing with anger and disappointment.
Only Lolia huddled lower, clutching her bleating lamb in fright.
Yet beside Wu Liang, Wei Xian, Eliza, and Akomann sat unmoved.
Wei Xian stroked her belly with the calm of one who had seen it all before.
Eliza shook her head slightly; though the brutal demand had surprised her, this was classic Wu Liang.
Akomann gave a snort of laughter, arms folded, enjoying the spectacle.
She was curious how Wu Liang would tame these proud women.
Facing their fury, Wu Liang remained unruffled.
He even picked up an apple slice and chewed it slowly.
In his mind, the system had already called up the dossiers on the six women.
[Ding! Host has triggered the quest: 'Unify Great Desolate Mountain'!]
[Objective: completely subjugate every female leader of the six remaining Great Desolate Mountain Tribes!]
[Detected six high-potential conquest targets; generating profiles and rewards…]
Target: Ignis (Leader of Ember Tribe)
Potential: S-rank
Racial Talent: Flame Affinity LV8—can command fire elements, resists fire damage, partially immune to flames.
Conquest Reward: double the racial talent after first Bloodline Linkage, chance to learn fire combat skill 'Ember Dance'.
military technology tree will unlock branches: Alchemic Gunpowder & Incendiary Weapons.
Target: Suina (Leader of Chuishi Tribe)
Potential: S-rank
Racial Talent: Innate Divine Strength LV7—vastly surpasses ordinary strength.
Conquest Reward: double racial talent; unlock Advanced Alloy Smelting & Heavy Forging Equipment in the industrial technology tree.
Target: Sa Lan (Leader of Zhu Feng Tribe)
Potential: A-rank
Racial Talent: Gale Step LV7—greatly boosts movement speed and reflexes.
Conquest Reward: double racial talent, large agility boost; military tech unlocks Scout Special Operations & Advanced Stealth.
Target: Alesha (Leader of Yuequan Tribe)
Potential: A-rank
Racial Talent: Life Spring LV6—can accelerate herbs and perform basic healing.
Conquest Reward: double racial talent, chance to gain Holy Light Heal; biotech tree unlocks Herb Cultivation & Improvement, Basic Biopharmacy, Antibiotic Cultivation, Surgery.
Target: Lolia (Leader of Muge Tribe)
Potential: B+ rank
Racial Talent: Beast Affinity LV6—easily befriends animals and can communicate simply with some beasts.
Conquest Reward: double racial talent, chance to gain Heart of Nature skill; Agricultural Technology Tree tier-2 module Advanced Animal Husbandry unlocks Livestock Genetic Optimization & Large-scale Farms.
Target: Florgloria (Leader of Salt Marsh Tribe)
Potential: B+ rank
Racial Talent: Tough Physique LV5—greater endurance and recovery than normal.
Conquest Reward: double racial talent, chance to gain Stone-Skin; industrial technology tree unlocks Chemical Tech: Salt Chemicals & Food Processing/Storage.
Wu Liang's heart pounded as he read the prompts.
These six women were literally walking treasure troves.
Fire, alloys, special ops, medicine, husbandry, chemicals—each vital to his future.
Motherf—
This is the jackpot!
His gaze at the six women burned even hotter.
These women were his—no discussion.
"Finished talking?"
He finished chewing, swallowed, then tapped the table with one finger.
"Then it's my turn."
"First, understand: I'm not begging you—you're begging me."
"Without me, the roland people will slaughter you like pigs.
"You and your clans will be slaves; Great Desolate Mountain will forget Ember, Chuishi and the rest; you'll vanish from the earth."
"Second, I'm not negotiating—I'm informing you."
"Accept my terms, or leave my territory now and wait for the roland blade at your throat."
"Spare me the 'rather die than yield' drivel—you already fought. Result?"
"Ignis, how many remain in Ember Tribe? A hundred? Two?"
Her body shook with rage, but she could not speak.
"You have no bargaining power."
He looked to the others.
"I give you time: submit, or perish."
"Choice? You call this a choice? You drive us to our deaths!"
Ignis roared.
"Heh… on the contrary!"
Wu Liang smiled, pointing at her.
"Leader Ignis, I offer you a chance to live—live better."
"Submit, and your people shelter behind my walls, fed and clothed, fear gone."
"And I will lead my army to drive the roland people out."
"If you refuse…"
His smile turned icy.
"Take your so-called pride and face the roland charge."
"See whether your bones outlast their blades."
"I'll count to three."
"One."