Near the Black Forest, a throng of people stood in the murky waters of a small stream, washing their bodies. The once crystal-clear stream had turned muddy and frothy from their cleaning.

"Lan Xie, what exactly do these people want?" Song Gou muttered softly to Lan Xie, as they used soft brushes to scrub their bodies.

After bypassing the traps, a group of Sparks warriors had emerged, wielding ferocious weapons, and swiftly dispatched the charging wild bulls. What intrigued the survivors the most was that many of these individuals were regular folk, not awakened warriors. While their individual combat prowess might not match that of warriors, their cooperation was enough to subdue the rampaging wild bulls.

This demonstration left a profound impact on everyone. They saw hope; if even ordinary people could be so capable, then surely they could defeat the Fang Tooth Tribe. Regrettably, the toxic gas prevented them from entering the Black Forest, where they could have exacted vengeance on the cannibalistic demons.

The Sparks warriors quickly eliminated the scattered demons and gathered the survivors all together.

"Are you willing to join the Sparks Tribe?" the leader asked them.

No one could refuse, as joining the Sparks Tribe was their only option. Their homes had been razed, and this distant and perilous land was their sole refuge.

The majority of survivors were ordinary people who were strangers to one another. The Fang Tooth Tribe had raided and enslaved those from failing tribes, gradually bolstering their numbers. Along the way, they had captured many people, far more than what remained now, but those individuals had been devoured.

People from various tribes made unity difficult. Without weapons and unfamiliar with everything in this land, survival was a challenge. Hence, even if this tribe might be another group of demons, they had to take the risk for their survival.

Lan Xie believed they would be taken back to the tribe, but they were placed in an open area not far from the Black Forest. Subsequently, someone with sharp metal knives came and shaved the hair of everyone, even those with thick body hair.

Initially, they thought the knives would be used to draw blood or crack open their skulls to consume their brains, as the Fang Tooth Tribe had committed such gruesome acts before. The first group of people chosen for haircuts trembled in fear, as if facing impending death. Some even considered fleeing or surrendering to despair, even to the point of contemplating suicide. The stark contrast between the perceived hope and the reality they faced left them in deep despair.

Soon, they discovered that the horrifying scene they had imagined didn't unfold. The individuals with knives swiftly shaved their hair and long beards, occasionally impatiently urging, "Next, hurry up."

Lan Xie was befuddled as he lost his hair. Although it felt odd initially, the absence of fleas and lice made him feel much cleaner and refreshed.

He didn't have much time to think before he was led to a nearby stream and instructed to clean himself thoroughly. The cleanliness requirements were stringent; if not sufficiently clean, they weren't allowed ashore.

No one comprehended the purpose of this, including Lan Xie. However, he noticed that most Sparks tribe members didn't have long hair. Those with longer hair had it meticulously groomed, giving them a very clean appearance. Perhaps this was their tradition?

"Could they want to clean us up and then roast us to eat?" Song Gou's imagination grew more and more terrifying. Apart from this possibility, he couldn't think of a reason for this.

"Unlikely. If that were the case, they wouldn't use such precious items on us."

Lan Xie rinsed the soft brush in the stream and picked up a piece of yellowish substance about three fingers wide, known as sulfur soap. He brushed it with the brush and then used it to scrub his body.

The dirt on his body was easily scrubbed away, forming foam with a faint fragrance. The scent didn't seem pleasant at first but grew tolerable over time.

Lan Xie had never seen or heard of this sulfur soap before, but he knew it was valuable. He didn't know what it was made of, but it looked exquisite and felt smooth. It could possibly be used as decoration for those unaware of its purpose.

According to the Sparks tribe members, this sulfur soap could cleanse the body of dirt and parasites, offering a preventative and therapeutic effect on skin conditions. It wasn't just for cleaning; it was also a type of medicine.

Lan Xie wasn't sure if that was true, but it felt comfortable using it. It was the first time he had ever cleaned himself so thoroughly. If the intention was merely to eat them, there would be no need for this effort.

Even those Sparks tribe warriors with blood and grime on them were washing themselves in the stream, using the sulfur soap as well.

"Lan Xie, am I hallucinating from hunger? Have you smelled something?" Song Gou abruptly sniffed, as a new aroma began to blend with the scent of sulfur soap enveloping the stream.

The new fragrance grew stronger and captured everyone's attention.

"What's that smell? It's so delightful!"

"Is this the smell of food? Have they got food? Maybe they don't intend to eat us?"

"I've never smelled anything like this before. Even if I could just have a taste, no, just a lick, I'd consider my life well-lived!"

"..."The Sparks who were supervising them by the shore raised their voices and shouted, "Wash yourselves thoroughly, everyone will have their share!"

"Is it true!?"

"This can't be possible! That's fresh meat!"

What? This was for them to eat?!

No one could believe their ears.

"Since you're willing to join the Sparks Tribe, you'll become our kin and share the same food as us," the Sparks tribe supervising them said, a hint of pride in their expression.

"I can guarantee that the food of our Sparks Tribe is a delicacy you've never tasted before!"

The freshly cleaned group of people stepped onto the shore and were led to another location.

"Line up, no cutting. There's enough for everyone, no need to rush."

A slightly chubby woman shouted, and in front of her were two metal buckets filled with delectable food, accompanied by woven baskets filled with various fruits.

She held a large ladle in her hand, swiftly scooping from the pot and placing portions into the large bowls in everyone's hands, ensuring each person had a similar amount.

As people were drawn to the food, their attention was also captivated by the woman herself; they had never seen someone so plump. According to Earth's standards, she would be considered just slightly overweight, but here, such figures were extremely rare. To have a physique like this meant being well-fed without excessive physical exertion – a symbol of affluence.

"Is this, is this black pottery for us?" The person at the front, receiving the exquisitely crafted black pottery, trembled as they held it, anxious not to grip it too tightly and risk shattering it, appearing quite nervous.

The food distributor responded, "It's for serving your dishes. We didn't bring much, so after you finish eating, make sure to wash them for the next person."

Everyone stood dazed in line, dazed as they received their food, and dazed as they moved to the designated area. Although they were incredibly hungry, they didn't immediately devour the food in their hands.

"Hurry up and eat! What are you staring at? There are many people waiting behind you!" The Spark Tribe individual urged.

It was only then that everyone snapped back to reality. Ignoring the possibility of burning their mouths, they lifted their bowls and hungrily consumed the large chunks of meat, soup, and vegetables within.

Blessings from the heavens!

What kind of delicacy was this? Were they truly alive? Wasn't this too dreamlike?!

If this were a dream, they hoped they would never wake up.

Lan Xie also took a while to react after receiving his portion of food. In fact, they had already heard about the food in Sparks Tribe from Hua Sui earlier. Back then, Hua Ban had described it while swallowing saliva in between. However, they believed it was only for the purpose of manipulating Hua Sui– after all, they thought, once Fang Tooth Tribe was defeated, they, as outsiders and ordinary individuals, would never receive such treatment.

Being taken away would mean becoming the lowest-ranked slaves, performing the most arduous tasks and receiving the least and worst-quality food.

However, they never expected that they, too, could enjoy such good food. A bowl filled with meat, vegetables, and tubers wasn't just a taste test, but a substantial portion!

"Those who can't eat their fill will also get the entrails and soup. No snatching allowed, otherwise, you'll be expelled from the tribe!" The food distributor warned.

Many people's eyes turned red upon hearing this. Previously, they had worn hollow expressions of despair. Now, those expressions transformed into anticipation for their future lives.

In their former tribes, they had never been allocated such a substantial and high-quality meal. As ordinary people, they were usually given entrails or the stale, moldy meat they had preserved from before. The meat served now was fresh, slaughtered today, although there was plenty, they were still many in number.

Placing such a bounty in front of them was something that would've been unthinkable back then.

The sight of the abundant resources – metallic weapons, containers, stoves, and other items – left them awestruck. The Sparks Tribe was far more advanced and prosperous than they had imagined.

While they felt awe, they considered themselves distant from this level of affluence. However, when they received such ample and high-quality food, the shock was immediate.

Lan Xie secretly glanced around and noticed that the Sparks Tribe warriors were eating the same food as them.

"It's so delicious, incredibly delicious! I've never eaten anything this good before," Song Gou  was moved almost to tears, struggling between devouring quickly and fearing the food would run out, his emotions tangled.

After enduring a journey fraught with danger and deprivation, surviving on wild fruits, small animals, and insects, and sometimes even having to chew on grass when they were hungry, they never imagined they could experience such a feast.

The steaming soup contained large chunks of meat and vegetables, and the distinct salty flavor invigorated them, filling them with strength.

Salt is extremely precious. Every time they add just a little, nothing like the salt here, where they are sprinkling it desperately.

Lan Xie is similarly ravenous, his gaze intense, bursting with a brilliant light.

Zheng's words are correct. That man is kind and generous, not discriminatory towards ordinary people. Under his leadership, they will surely live very well!

This shock is only the beginning. When they arrive at the Sparks Tribe, they can't believe their eyes.

Everyone widens their eyes, reluctant even to blink, fearing they might miss something.

First in sight are lush fields. They don't know what those are, but the neat divisions make it clear that they're man-made.

Especially for some tribes who also cultivate, their eyes shine.

Rows of neatly arranged houses, strange contraptions that can spray water with a touch, running chickens, ducks, and geese...

The whole tribe is vibrant, filled with things they can't understand.

What shocks them the most isn't the hardware, but the people working.

No whips, no scolding. Everyone works with smiles. Each person does something different, but everyone is at ease.

They can genuinely feel the environment, so free, with no oppression or humiliation.Even though everything is unfamiliar, coming here magically dissolves that tense emotion.

"Congratulations on your triumphant return."

A tall man walks over to greet them, his loud voice reaching everyone, exuding a strong sense of pressure. This is an immensely powerful warrior!

Everyone is extremely shocked. Many thought that Tu was the strongest warrior of the Sparks Tribe. After all, they faced the Fangs, so they must have sent their strongest.

But they didn't expect there to be such a presence within the tribe.Even from a distance, you can feel the intimidation emanating from this man.

It's a crushing power, though not directed at anyone, his strength makes people involuntarily lower their heads.

Even Lan Xie, who was prepared, is astonished.

Besides fear, there's more fanaticism.

Powerful individuals are always admired and revered, making people want to submit at their feet.

"I did not fail my mission." Tu clenches his fist in response and then turns to Yang Yi beside him, his attitude becoming respectful.

"Divine Envoy, we have brought back new tribe members."

Only now does Lan Xie notice the man standing beside the mighty warrior. He's actually quite striking. Although his build isn't as imposing as the warrior's, he exudes a distinct aura.He appears gentle and unique.

If the mighty warrior makes people aspire to be like him, making them think that although he's strong, they might also have a chance, this man referred to as the Divine Envoy, even though his strength isn't palpable, still makes people feel hesitant to offend.

He is a special existence, very distinct.

"Who is this?" Song Gou asks softly.

Lan Xie shakes his head; Zheng didn't mention such a person.

He thinks of the strange things in the hands of the Sparks Tribe. An idea crosses his mind.

Are those things related to this person?

Yang Yi looks at the crowd and feels very pleased. These are all laborers!

At the same time, he begins to worry. So many people, so many mouths to feed, food will be a big issue.

"Are they all willing to join our Sparks Tribe?"

"Yes, I've already eliminated those demons that infiltrated."

According to Black's instructions, Tu spent three days killing the demons hidden among the crowd.

In fact, even without investigation, you can pick them out with the naked eye.

The captives treated as meat are skinnier and weaker than the others.

They had no way to hunt or find food on the journey. The people of the Fang Tribe didn't provide any food, so they survived on grass and insects.

Those who couldn't find food would become food for the Fang Tribe if they couldn't hold on.

Those who survived were all pale and emaciated.

Especially after cleaning, the differences are clear.

The degenerate cannibals had food throughout the journey, so their overall condition is vastly different.

Plus, nobody wants demons like them around. Now that the Fang Tribe is gone, there's no longer any restraint. Without Tu having to act, people rush to tear them apart.

"Assign them into groups and provide them with ideological education before starting work. They must know the tribe's rules. They need to know what to do and what not to do, and they must strictly follow them."

These captives have been tormented by the Fang Tribe all the way. Their concepts must be corrected, not influenced by the demons.

There are a total of 1,635 captives, of which only 38 are warriors. Their combat strength is weak, with only one being a Level 2 warrior; the rest are Level 1.

The closer they are to the Black Forest, the more the demons eat the warriors, causing their numbers to drastically decrease.

If it weren't for the intervention of the Sparks Tribe, these 38 warriors would have been eaten that night.

"Divine Envoy, I will take care of all this." Jiao says.

Tu's mission is complete; now it's the work of the others.

Yang Yi surveyed the group of people in front of him, these captives who had no fur on them, using leaves to cover themselves.

They had discarded their previous coverings and now wore newly crafted ones. They seemed to be in relatively good spirits, but their eyes held a sense of caution.

"In the temple, there are coral fleece blankets. Distribute them to everyone."

The weather here was chilly at night, and leaves were far from sufficient for warmth.

Although the people here were quite resistant to the cold, their bodies were weak now and susceptible to illness.

Lan Xie's keen ears caught these words, even though he didn't quite understand the Divine Envoy's intentions.

Coral fleece? Why give these to them? What use does it have for them?

Only when Lan Xie saw those brightly colored coral fleece blankets did his eyes widen.So beautiful, so soft, so warm!

The arrival of over a thousand people made everyone's work busier.

They needed to establish their records, understand their skills, family relationships, and so on.

"The pottery workshop doesn't need to send anyone over for now. This group still needs further assessment. Once we're sure they're loyal, only then can they truly become part of Sparks Tribe. Right now, they are in an internship phase."

Yang Yi was a cautious person. Even though Tu had cleared them once, and there were fewer ambiguities here, he still didn't dare to fully trust them from the beginning.

Black pottery was going to be an important trading commodity for them; its secret couldn't be revealed easily.

Black pottery was different from ordinary pottery; it required a certain level of technical skill. If they hadn't stumbled upon it accidentally and the soil composition had been just right, they wouldn't have been able to produce it so quickly.

Precious things could be exchanged for more of what they wanted. They couldn't rely on producing everything themselves; mutual exchange was still possible.

The resources near the Sparks Tribe weren't as abundant as those of the Green Python Tribe. The crops in the ground wouldn't grow for a while, and the poultry were still young. With so many people joining, the food issue became more severe.

Especially since most of them were ordinary people, without any training. For a while, they wouldn't be able to hunt, and their ability to gather food was weak.

For a time, the original members of the Sparks Tribe had to find ways to gather food for everyone.

The Green Python Tribe wasn't willing to send people over to work, but they were willing to exchange some food with them.

The wild fruits they had been eating were all obtained through exchanges with the Green Python Tribe using black pottery and the complimentary cosmetic sets, resolving their urgent needs.

The Green Python Tribe had plenty of food and wasn't particularly interested in the wild fruits scattered all over. They were willing to make this trade.

The Green Python Tribe favored black pottery; their tribe was larger and had a higher demand for it.

For a while, they could use black pottery and the Green Python Tribe for trading.Black also agreed with this approach, but for a different reason.

"Even if they are trustworthy, they should be put at the back of the line. Pottery-making is easier compared to other tasks. The newly joined members don't have the qualifications for this job right now."

"You're right." Yang Yi praised, "You've been learning a lot recently."

"I admire the principle of 'to each according to their contribution'. I think it can be extended to many areas, more effective in mobilizing everyone's enthusiasm, and a means to unite everyone."

"Although I believe in the members of our tribe, who are all very diligent and willing to contribute, the concept of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need' still has its drawbacks."

Yang Yi chuckled, "You even know about 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need'?"

"It has given me a lot of inspiration. Starting from allowing personal possessions, some ideas and phenomena are difficult to control, so we might as well make use of them. Some things are indeed hard to avoid, and it doesn't mean they're bad; it all depends on how they're handled."

Black recalled the past and sighed, "During my time in the Blackstone Tribe, I and the chieftain unconsciously formed two factions. I just didn't realize it then, and that's a crucial reason why he saw me as a thorn in his side."

"Who doesn't have their youth?" Yang Yi laughed, "Our tribe will grow larger and more diverse; it won't be easy to have everyone on the same page. We must guide them based on practical benefits."

"The greater the contribution to the tribe, the more conveniences one gains. This is our principle." This is what Black thought, "But it can't be solely about profit. That would breed many who value profit over honor. You, as the Divine Envoy, need to provide spiritual solace and cohesion."

Yang Yi understood this point too. He sighed, "I'm afraid I'm not as good at it as you."

"Jiao will handle everything well." Black laughed, "You just need to focus on building the city in your mind. Everyone will see you as a deity."

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