Chapter 097: Power is Justice

Time: Around 3 PM

Location: Entrance of the Xieding Tribe's Cave

Luo Chong held his breath, steadying his aim as he drew back the bowstring.

A fixed target, a straight shot, 115 meters away—a clay jar no larger than a human head.

He adjusted his aim slightly higher and released.

Twang—whoosh—

The bowstring sang as the arrow shot forward. Luo Chong didn't wait to see the impact—he immediately threw the longbow aside, crouched down, covered his head, and pressed his hands tightly against his ears, mouth wide open to reduce the pressure from the blast.

A split second later, the arrow, tipped with a rounded bronze head, zipped through the air in a shallow arc, striking the clay jar's upper rim.

The impact point was slightly high, but that didn't matter. The arrow was traveling at incredible speed—at this distance, it could pierce through two layers of iron armor with ease. A mere clay jar posed no obstacle.

Crack.

BOOOOOM!!!

The jar shattered instantly, triggering an explosion that roared through the mountains, a sound more deafening than any thunderclap. The earth shuddered violently as a wave of pressure erupted outward, transforming into a devastating shockwave.

The shockwave obliterated the surrounding granite, and the entrance to the salt deposit collapsed into a massive crater, revealing massive chunks of mineral salt under the open sky. The explosion blasted the entire cave ceiling into the heavens.

The core of the explosion ripped apart the cave, sending massive boulders hurtling hundreds of meters through the air before crashing down with earth-shaking force.

At the entrance, the blast wave surged outward, hurling dirt and debris with terrifying speed. The impact slammed into the trench where Luo Chong had taken cover, burying him instantly under a cascade of soil and rubble.

The shockwave swept across the landscape, a force of pure destruction. Within a 500-meter radius, every bird in flight dropped dead mid-air, their delicate bodies unable to withstand the pressure. Trees groaned and snapped, young branches torn away like leaves in a storm.

Animals fled in terror, their instincts screaming of imminent death. The sky darkened with panicked flocks, only for the pursuing shockwave to crush them in mid-flight.

One Kilometer Away – Tuogu Ridge

At the designated safe zone, the entire Han Tribe stood watching the distant cave. Anxiety gripped them as they stared toward the explosion site.

Then, the earth shook.

Mouse Shaman, leaning on his wooden staff, lost his balance and fell to the ground.

A moment later, the world detonated.

BOOOOOOOM—

A blinding explosion tore through the mountain, hurling boulders into the sky like fireworks.

Massive rocks, as large as millstones, sailed over 400 meters, while fist-sized stones rained down on Tuogu Ridge itself.

The wild oxen bellowed in terror, straining against their bindings, desperate to flee.

Benben, caught off guard, lost his footing and crashed to the ground.

Meatball and Huishan bolted downhill, pressing their ears against their heads, seeking refuge.

"Get down! Take cover!" Dazhu roared, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.

Mouse Da stood frozen, disbelief plastered across his face. His entire being trembled in shock.

Mouse Shaman sat paralyzed, his lips quivering as he mumbled incoherently:

"He's not human… He's not human… He's a god. A true god…"

The pressure wave rolled across the land, kicking up a colossal dust storm, scattering debris in all directions.

Even at the Han Tribe's settlement, miles away, they heard the explosion.

The elder's grip tightened around his staff as he watched a massive flock of birds take flight in the distance.

"It's the chief!" he cried, eyes wide with awe. "He did it! He really split the mountain open!"

A cheer erupted from the villagers.

"Yes! We'll never run out of salt again!"

"The chief is amazing! Like a god walking among us!"

East of the River – Li Tribe

At the same moment, the Li Tribe's chief, Maoli, was out hunting with his warriors.

Suddenly, the sky lit up, and a thunderous roar shook the land.

His warriors froze in fear, gripping their weapons as a dust storm bloomed on the horizon.

"What was that?" Maoli muttered. "A god's wrath? But there's no storm, no rain… how is this possible?"

"That came from beyond the river."

"We should consult the shaman," a warrior suggested. "He communes with the gods. He will know."

Maoli hesitated, then nodded. "We return immediately."

They slung their freshly caught game over their shoulders and set off for their village, the unease growing heavier with every step.

South of the Cave – 15 Kilometers Away

Far away, a nomadic group of fifty travelers were making their way through the dense forest.

Then, the explosion hit.

A rolling boom like thunder tore across the sky, rattling the trees.

A man dressed in rough animal skins stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. "What was that?"

A tall, muscular young man stepped forward, pulling out a primitive map drawn on animal hide.

The hide displayed rivers, mountain ridges, and crude landmarks. He studied it closely before speaking:

"Over there—a small tribe, barely a hundred people. Their leader is bald. We passed through there last spring."

"Brother, should we check it out?" a younger man asked eagerly. "We were going to notify them about the Spring Gathering anyway."

The leader thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's see what's going on."

This group was from the Nomadic Tribe—wanderers who never settled, constantly traveling between villages, carrying news and facilitating trade between isolated tribes.

They would soon witness firsthand what had transpired at the mountain.

Back at Tuogu Ridge

Seconds stretched into eternity. Then, the dust settled.

The Han Tribe warriors, driven by overwhelming curiosity, sprinted toward the blast site.

Dazhu, riding Huishan at full speed, was the first to arrive.

He stared in shock.

The landscape was unrecognizable.

The once solid cave had collapsed into rubble. Giant trees lay flattened, their trunks snapped like twigs.

And the salt mine?

The explosion had turned the entrance into a tunnel—blasted clean through to the other side.

"Chief! Chief! Where are you?!" Dazhu shouted, scanning the wreckage.

His eyes fell on Luo Chong's longbow, lying abandoned near the crater.

Then, he remembered Luo Chong's words from earlier.

"I'll be in the trench."

His stomach dropped.

The trench was gone.

Dazhu's eyes darted to the spot where the trench had been, now filled with soil and debris.

Panic surged through him.

He threw himself to the ground and began furiously digging.

Soon, his hands struck something solid.

Luo Chong's back.

Nearby, Huishan and Meatball watched curiously. As Dazhu dragged a dirt-covered figure out of the ground, the two elephants stepped forward, sniffing the motionless body.

Then, Luo Chong gasped for air.

He spat out dirt, coughing violently, as fresh oxygen filled his lungs. His mind cleared, and he blinked against the sunlight.

Huishan and Meatball staggered back in shock.

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

What the hell?

Did their master just… dig himself out of the earth?

Had he mastered some kind of underground escape technique?