"We got a different male Immortal — he's a demon who wants to enslave us all!"
"And that's not all! He wants to scour our stone people tribe for handsome men to toy with!"
"We stone people are born of heaven and earth, free and unrestrained — how can we bow and scrape under his tyrannical boot!"
"We fought back on the spot, but the Immortal was far too powerful! Still, we stone people don't fear sacrifice. Without a shred of hesitation, we fought until we wounded him and drove him into retreat!"
"The others all sacrificed themselves — only I made it back. I'm going to die, but that Immortal is still alive. When he fled, he said he would lead his fox army and wipe out our entire stone people tribe!"
Yan Yong spoke weakly, his voice carrying a tragic weight as he delivered the devastating news to his people.
The stone people were struck with both shock and terror, grief and fury. Some demanded war, others spoke of retaliation, some proposed migration, and still others advocated for negotiation.
They were leaderless — both the heir and the old patriarch had fallen at Fang Yuan's hands. The stone people comprised eight tribes in total, and chaos reigned among them.
Some stone people wanted to question Yan Yong for details, but his injuries were far too severe, and he had fallen into a deep coma the moment he returned with his warning.
Before they could reach any conclusion, just as Yan Yong had foretold, wave after wave of fox packs began attacking the stone people tribes.
The stone people rose to resist, but the fox packs vastly outnumbered them. The situation grew increasingly dire, and the eight great tribes were forced to unite, retreating underground to mount a defense.
But the fox packs refused to let them be, launching repeated assaults on their underground shelters. Though each attack cost the foxes dearly, they kept coming in an endless stream.
The stone people cursed Fang Yuan's name in agony. Their hatred and fury for him could not be quenched even by emptying the rivers of heaven. The situation grew worse with each passing day. Despair spread like poison among the stone people.
But just then, Yan Yong awakened.
Stone people could heal through sleep, and his condition had greatly improved. He immediately rallied the others and led several brilliant counterattacks.
"We stone people are a courageous tribe — we do not fear death at the root!"
"Even an Immortal cannot humiliate us!"
Yan Yong traveled among the tribes, delivering rousing speeches. Morale surged under his leadership.
"Don't be fooled by the Immortal's apparent strength. In truth, he is all show and no substance. He can only send foxes to die in his stead — he's already been wounded."
At the same time, he spread word of the Immortal's injuries, bringing hope to the stone people.
In their despair, the stone people clung desperately to this sliver of hope, like drowning men grasping at a straw.
Yan Yong then shifted his tone, turning to speak of the old patriarchs.
"He was wounded by the combined efforts of our old patriarchs. The sacrifice of those patriarchs is our greatest sorrow."
"Especially Patriarch White Stone — he died right in my arms. With his dying breath, he entrusted the entire tribe to me. I watched as his soul dissipated into nothing. My heart is heavy with guilt — why was it not me who died, but him!" At this, he beat his chest and stamped his feet, the picture of grief and anguish.
Immediately, the stone people tried to console him: "Lord Yanyong, don't be sad. The fact that you survived, brought us a warning, and led us to victory is already remarkable enough."
"That's right. We of the Iron-Stone tribe all admire you."
"Since the old patriarch entrusted the tribe to you, then please lead us White-Stone people."
Stone people loved nothing more than sleeping soundly and had no enthusiasm for positions of power. Especially now, at this life-or-death moment, when they lived in constant fear, the stone people desperately needed a strong and courageous tribesman to lead them.
And so, Yanyong first inherited the position of patriarch of his original tribe, then took control of the White-Stone tribe.
After more than a month, he gradually brought the other tribes under his command as well, becoming the common leader of the eight great stone-people tribes.
Half a month later, he successfully led the stone people to drive the fox horde away, defending their homeland.
"But this is not enough. As long as the Immortal lives, we have no future. The fox horde will regroup and invade our homes once more."
"The only way is to attack — to storm that Immortal Mountain and kill the Immortal for good. Only then can we obtain a peaceful and prosperous life."
Yanyong immediately proposed an assault on Danghun Mountain.
Some of the stone people hesitated.
"We've just suffered through the horrors of war and want nothing more than to sleep."
"Our numbers have been greatly reduced. I'm afraid we don't have the strength to attack that demon's lair."
"We have a great many children who were born during the brutal war. They need to be properly raised and allowed to grow into adults."
Yanyong had no choice but to invoke the old White-Stone patriarch.
"My people — would I really be leading you to your deaths?"