novelapdf Chapter 144 Conflict Between the Three Clans
Chapter 144 Conflict Between the Three Clans
Chapter 144 Conflict Among the Three Clans
In the primordial world, the fortunes of the three races were at their zenith, and their spheres of influence continued to expand, inevitably leading to their eventual convergence and collision.
Those once desolate border areas have now become hotbeds of conflict and intrigue.
On the shore of the East China Sea, the fresh and salt waters of the Canglan River meet, forming a fertile waterway stretching for thousands of miles.
This place, once a migratory habitat for fish, has now become the front line of conflict between dragons and beastmen.
On this day, a one-horned dragon that had cultivated for a thousand years was leading a group of sea-patrolling yakshas to inspect the waters.
He was originally a dragon spirit who had cultivated to a high level in the Canglan River. After the dragon clan ruled the four seas, he submitted to their command and was appointed as the garrison commander of this thousand-mile water palace.
"General, please look," a Yaksha said, pointing to the riverbank. "Those pangolins are digging into the riverbank again."
Dozens of giant beasts covered in yellowish-brown scales were busy on the riverbank, their sharp claws easily digging through the hard rocks in search of the black iron ore buried underground.
Each excavation caused large amounts of soil to collapse into the river, creating turbid currents that scare away nearby aquatic life.
The unicorn dragon frowned deeply. These pangolins were vassals of the Qilin clan, specializing in finding underground mineral deposits.
Since they discovered the black iron vein here three months ago, they have been digging day and night, which has seriously disrupted the order of this body of water.
"Go, make them stop immediately!" the dragon commanded in a deep voice.
Several yakshas stepped forward, wielding water-splitting daggers, and shouted, "By order of the Dragon Clan, you must immediately cease fighting and retreat a hundred miles from the riverbank!"
The lead pangolin raised its head; it was a full size larger than the others of its kind, and had a tuft of white fur on its forehead.
It stood up, its voice deep and thunderous: "Our clan discovered the mineral veins here first, so why should we withdraw?"
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"The riverbank has collapsed, the turbid current has polluted the waters, and the aquatic creatures' cultivation has been disturbed. Isn't that enough?" the Yaksha retorted sharply.
"Hmph, you aquatic creatures are meddling too much!" the Pangolin leader sneered. "When did it become your place to interfere in matters on land?"
'
The two sides argued endlessly, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Suddenly, a yaksha was accidentally hit by a falling rock and fell into the river with a scream. This act ignited a fuse, and instantly the aquatic creatures and beasts engaged in a fierce battle.
The dragon roared and revealed its true form, which was a hundred feet tall, stirring up a monstrous wave.
The pangolin leader was not to be outdone, drawing upon the power of the earth's veins, its body radiating a brilliant earthy-yellow light. The power of the river and the earth collided violently, startling all living things within a thousand miles into a frenzy of escape.
The conflict lasted for three days, finally ceasing after both sides lost dozens of skilled fighters. However, the seeds of hatred had been sown, waiting only for the right moment to erupt again.
In the Southern Wilderness, at the Moyun Ridge, lies the Floating Jade Mine. This place is characterized by its rugged terrain and swirling clouds and mist, and is rich in a type of floating jade that can be used to refine magical artifacts for flight.
Since ancient times, this place has been a battleground for birds and beasts.
Today, a flock of blue phoenixes has been ordered to collect Floating Jade. They are vassals of the Phoenix Clan and are highly valued for their pure bloodline and swift flight.
The leader, Qingwan, had feathers that gleamed with a metallic sheen, clearly indicating that he possessed extraordinary cultivation.
"Be careful," Commander Qingluan warned her subordinates, "spirit apes often appear in this mining area; be careful not to fall into an ambush."
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As soon as they landed on the cliff of the main peak, rustling sounds filled the air.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of cloud-mist apes surrounded them from all directions. These apes were skilled climbers, traversing the steep cliffs as if they were flat ground.
"It's you hairy beasts again!" The Spirit Ape Clan Chief held a stone club engraved with mountain runes, glaring angrily. "We haven't settled the score for the theft of our clan's spirit jade last time, and you dare to invade again today?"
"The Azure Phoenix leader let out a clear cry, its voice carrying the unique arrogance of the Phoenix Clan: "Heaven and earth's treasures belong to the virtuous. This floating jade box should be used by my Phoenix Clan. How dare you apes covet it?"
'
"Insolence!" The Spirit Ape Clan Chief roared in fury, swinging his stone club at the attack. The stone club appeared simple and unadorned, yet it stirred the earth's energy throughout the entire mountain, unleashing astonishing power.
The Azure Phoenix leader dared not meet the attack head-on, soaring high into the sky while unleashing a barrage of azure wind blades. The other Azure Phoenixes also displayed their unique abilities, engaging the spirit ape in battle.
This battle was even more intense than the Battle of Jiangkou. The Azure Phoenix held the aerial advantage, unleashing a rain of wind blades; the Spirit Ape, relying on the mountain's terrain, hurled boulders like meteors falling from the sky. The entire Moyun Ridge trembled, countless rocks tumbled down, startling countless birds and beasts.
In the end, taking advantage of its aerial superiority, the Azure Phoenix forcibly collected some of the Floating Jade and flew away. The Spirit Ape Chieftain, watching their departing figures, angrily pounded his chest and immediately dispatched a messenger to Qilin Cliff for help.
The newly discovered innate spirit jade vein in the Jinsha River of the Western Wilderness, located at the intersection of the three races' forces, immediately became a new focus of contention.
The dragons first dispatched the burrowing earthworms, skilled in burrowing, which could silently dig hundreds of feet underground. These earthworms had slender bodies and heads as hard as iron, and were specifically responsible for finding and mining underground mineral deposits for the dragons.
However, the Phoenix Clan had already dispatched treasure-hunting sparrows to monitor the area day and night. These sparrows, though small, were extremely intelligent and quickly discovered the activity underground.
They immediately reported back to the Phoenix Clan, and several fire crows were dispatched. Their flames could melt rocks and directly extract minerals.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, the Qilin clan arrived after hearing the news.
A large contingent of stone-armored rhinoceros engineers marched into the mining area. They were incredibly strong, covered in heavy stone armor, and prepared to forcibly seize the ore vein.
The three parties unexpectedly met deep within the mine and a chaotic battle ensued.
Dragon earthworms burrowed underground, attempting to disrupt the mineral vein's structure; fire crows spewed flames in the air, blocking the rhinoceros's advance; the rhinoceros, relying on brute force, charged recklessly toward the core of the mineral vein.
This underground battle lasted for seven days and seven nights, causing the entire Jinsha River to change course and resulting in landslides and earthquakes on both banks. Ultimately, the three parties each occupied a portion of the mineral veins, creating a stalemate.
However, everyone understands that this balance is extremely fragile and could be broken at any time.
The Crafty Dwarf Tribe, located at the crossroads of three factions, is renowned throughout the prehistoric world for its exquisite forging skills. Now, this neutral tribe has become the object of vying for favor among the three races.
On this day, the dwarf tribe welcomed three uninvited guests.
The dragon envoy brought a chest of deep-sea black iron, a metal refined by water essence over millennia, an excellent material for crafting water-attribute magical artifacts. "If your tribe is willing to forge weapons for the dragon race, you may take any treasures from the East Sea."
The Phoenix Clan envoy then displayed a box of Fiery Refined Gold, a metal nurtured deep within the Undying Volcano, containing pure Yang fire. "The Phoenix Clan is willing to assist you with the Nirvana True Fire to enhance your clan's forging techniques."
The Qilin tribe's gift was the simplest—a land deed, promising to permanently grant the dwarf tribe a piece of fertile land. "As long as your tribe is willing to relocate to the vicinity of Qilin Cliff, our tribe will provide permanent protection."
The three envoys each held their own version of events, refusing to yield. The dwarf elders exchanged bewildered glances, caught in a dilemma. Agreeing to any one side meant offending the other two. However, if they didn't make a choice, it seemed unlikely that any of the three races would let the matter rest.
This also caused a division within the tribe. The young dwarfs yearned for the dragons' treasures, the middle-aged dwarfs valued the phoenixes' skills, while the older generation trusted the promises of the qilin tribe. A small, neutral tribe was thus involuntarily drawn into the vortex of power struggles among the major tribes.
These conflicts are just the tip of the iceberg in the increasingly tense situation. Similar events unfold daily across the vast wilderness:
In the Northern Sea, the Dragon Clan's patrol force clashed with the Snow Wolf Clan, who were attempting to establish a stronghold on the icy plains.
In the Eastern Greenwood Plains, the Peacock Clan, affiliated with the Phoenix Clan, and the Deer Clan under the Qilin Clan compete for habitat.
In the southern swamps, the dragon navy and the Qilin crocodile army clashed fiercely over the elixir.
Small-scale conflicts, border skirmishes, and struggles for resources and vassal races are playing out more frequently and are slowly escalating in intensity across the prehistoric world.
Today a few shrimp soldiers die, tomorrow a few wolf riders are lost; hatred, like a trickle, keeps gathering and will eventually become a raging torrent.