Henry Brooks focused his mind, but no matter how he looked at the withered tree before him, it didn’t seem like an alien race at all—it was clearly an ancient, sentient, and demonic tree. Still, he trusted Stone Spear.

However, what worried him most at this moment was that he hadn’t gone far from the Qingyang Mountains—by his estimation, this place was only a few hundred li away—yet an alien race had appeared here!

You have to know, the last place the alien races want to show up is anywhere near the Qingyang Mountains. Within ten thousand li, Qingyang reigns supreme. Any ordinary alien appearing here is courting death!

Moreover, the Qingyang clan has the Qingyang Guard, all of whom are experts at the Divine Repository level. His second brother serves as a centurion in the Divine Repository Guard. Their task is to patrol the entire ten-thousand-li region, hunting down any aliens that appear. This is also why every year, members of the Qingyang clan fall in battle.

Yet, an alien race had still appeared here, and there was even a purple sable!

“This is a member of the Wood Clan. Countless ages ago, they belonged to the Demon Clan, but later became their own race. They are one of the great enemies of our human race!”

At this moment, Henry Brooks’s expression grew serious. He saw beneath the withered ancient tree a ground littered with white bones, many of which belonged to humans. Clearly, the Wood Clan had been here for quite some time.

“The blood essence of the Wood Clan is gentle, and the essence within contains the spiritual marrow of ancient wood, enough to rival precious medicines. Didn’t you want blood and flesh to nourish your body? This is your chance!”

Hearing Stone Spear’s voice, Henry Brooks’s eyes lit up, but he wasn’t foolish enough to charge in recklessly. Though men of the Wildlands are rough and direct, they’re not so direct as to throw their lives away!

After hearing Stone Spear’s words, a murderous glint flashed in Henry Brooks’s eyes. Between humans and aliens, there is no right or wrong—only life and death. Ultimately, it’s all about survival. The Wildlands may seem vast, but it’s a zero-sum game: when one race rises, it inevitably squeezes out the space for another to survive and reproduce.

He hunted fierce beasts, and even wanted to absorb the blood essence of the Wood Clan. Conversely, the alien races would also hunt humans for their blood essence. So, for the sake of survival and reproduction, all the great races are locked in constant struggle. For survival, there is no right or wrong—only life and death!

Sensing the fluctuations from Stone Spear fade away, Henry Brooks understood that today, he had no choice but to kill this Wood Clan member. It wasn’t just about enmity—more importantly, it would help temper his own flesh and blood, and that was reason enough.

But he didn’t rush to act. He hid himself beneath the ancient tree, waiting patiently. This was a swamp, and the Wood Clan was clearly prepared, positioning themselves within the swamp—neither too deep nor at the edge.

Boom!

The next moment, Henry Brooks’s entire body retreated backward. From the ancient tree where he was hiding, a blood-red branch suddenly shot out, flickering with demonic light!

“Human child, your blood and flesh essence excites me!”

The withered tree that had been standing in the swamp began to contract its branches, transforming into a middle-aged man with brown hair.

Henry Brooks, who had been sent flying, now had a bloody hole in his left shoulder—he had just been pierced by the Wood Clan. He had been careless. According to legend, the Wood Clan were evolved from some sentient ancient trees in the Wildlands.

Though it was just a legend, since they were called the Wood Clan, it was no surprise they could sense the plants of the Wildlands. Since Stone Spear recognized them as the Wood Clan, he must have known this, but hadn’t said anything—clearly wanting Henry Brooks to experience it for himself.

The strange, demonic Wood Clan middle-aged man finished speaking, and his two hands—like withered branches—reached out to grab Henry Brooks.

There was mockery in his eyes. He was about to reach the peak of the Body Forging Realm, possessing the strength of ten thousand jin. And this was just a human brat who had barely stepped into the Body Forging Realm.

Hmm, the blood essence really is delicious.

Ever since he first refined the blood essence of a human, he had become addicted to the sensation. Human blood essence was even purer than that of fierce beasts.

Henry Brooks quickly rolled to the side, blocking the withered hand with his Stone Spear. The backlash of force sent him flying again.

His arm holding Stone Spear trembled, nearly losing his grip. He crashed heavily to the ground. The gap in strength was too great. If only he had finished tempering his flesh and blood, he might have stood a chance.

Thud, thud, thud!

But the Wood Clan gave him no chance to catch his breath. The whole person pounced, both hands like sharp blades piercing the surrounding ancient trees, reaching for him.

At that moment, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. Henry Brooks’s body twisted slightly, and in an instant, those withered fingers pierced his shoulder again, causing him to drop his Stone Spear to the ground.

“Human brat, you know resistance is futile. Be good now. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle!”

Grabbing Henry Brooks and pulling him in front, the Wood Clan’s eyes glowed with a bloody light.

“Gentle, my ass!”

Just as the Wood Clan pierced his shoulder and was examining him up close, Henry Brooks shot out a hand, punching straight at his chest!

Chapter 7: Six Thousand Jin of Strength, Return to the Tribe!

Thud!

Though his shoulder was injured and he couldn’t unleash five thousand jin of force, the Wood Clan was only at the Body Forging Realm—not with copper tendons and iron bones. Henry Brooks’s sudden punch caved in his chest.

To make the Wood Clan drop his guard, he had even abandoned his Stone Spear. This was a chance fought for with his life—how could he hold anything back!

“Ah……”