Wearing a brown robe, he looked mighty and imposing.

His build was not particularly burly, only about 1.75 meters tall, but he appeared especially solid and strong.

On his back, he carried a large black hammer.

“Young talents from afar, it is my Stone Race’s honor to welcome you,” the middle-aged man said with a smile as he approached.

“This is our Stone Race’s Patriarch,” Rock Solid quickly introduced from the side.

“Greetings, Patriarch of the Stone Race,” Xu Zimo and the others all offered their respects.

“I heard the Stone Race is in trouble. Yuyan and I come from the same sect. Though our strength is small, we are willing to help the Stone Race with all we have and share in your trials,” Lu Ze said with a smile from the side.

“Many thanks to you young heroes,” the middle-aged man replied with a smile. “I heard from Yuyan that you are Elder Mortal Cloud’s grandson. If there’s ever a chance, please send my regards to your grandfather. Back in the day, we once met and had a very pleasant conversation.”

“Of course, of course,” Lu Ze quickly nodded.

“Yuyan, Rock Solid,” the middle-aged man turned and instructed, “Since he is your fellow sect brother, that makes him one of our own. There’s no need for formality. Take them to rest at the Stoneheart Pavilion for now. If you have any needs, come to me directly.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Patriarch,” Lu Ze replied with a smile.

As he watched Shi Yuyan lead the group away, the smile on the middle-aged man’s face slightly faded.

He fell into silent thought.

“Patriarch,” an elder behind him asked, “Do you think this could be the will of the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground?”

“This should be their personal decision. I don’t think the Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground would get involved,” the middle-aged man shook his head. “But as long as there is even the slightest possibility, we cannot give up. I’ll handle this matter personally.”

“Alright,” the elder nodded, then asked, “If the Feather Race comes to challenge us again tomorrow, who will we send to fight?”

Hearing this, the middle-aged man felt a headache coming on.

After a moment’s thought, he looked at the elder behind him and said, “Elder Shi Po, you will take the field.”

“I am willing to give my life for the survival of the Stone Race,” the elder replied solemnly without hesitation.

…

The Stoneheart Pavilion, this was the highest-level guest accommodation the Stone Race could offer.

Under normal circumstances, people of Lu Ze and the others’ level would not have the qualifications to stay here.

But now that the Stone Race was in a life-or-death crisis, the meaning of such arrangements was different.

When they arrived at the Stoneheart Pavilion, everyone was slightly surprised.

The decor of the pavilion was beautiful, completely different from the architectural style they had seen along the way.

If one word could describe it, it would be “elegant.”

Azure-colored walls stood at the mountainside.

The location of the Stoneheart Pavilion was very special.

Halfway up Sacred Stone Mountain, there was a ledge that jutted out like the branch of a giant tree.

Its surface was smooth as a mirror, and the Stoneheart Pavilion was built right there.

From above the ledge, looking down gave the feeling of standing at the summit of the world, high among the clouds.

Inside the main gate of the Stoneheart Pavilion was a lotus pond at the center.

Lotus flowers bloomed unstained in the middle, decorating the greenish-blue water.

All around were pavilions, towers, rockeries, and streams, arranged in perfect order.

The Stoneheart Pavilion was built entirely from bamboo.

It was a bamboo palace, though from the outside one could hardly tell.

“You can rest here for now,” Shi Yuyan said as she led the group inside.

“What about you, Yuyan?” Lu Ze asked.

“I have my own home. Don’t worry about me,” Shi Yuyan smiled. “I’ve been away for so long, I should visit my parents.”

Lu Ze nodded at this.

Rock Solid also briefly explained a few things to Xu Zimo and the others before leaving.

According to Rock Solid, once the Patriarch was free, he would personally discuss the matter of the Supreme God Hammer that afternoon.

He told Xu Zimo not to worry.

…

As evening fell, the night passed quietly.

During this time, Xu Zimo and Lu Ze had little interaction.

The next morning, just as the first light of dawn appeared, a sudden “boom boom boom” of drums came from the distance.

The sound of the drums was deafening, as if the whole of Sacred Stone Mountain could hear it.

It wasn’t an ordinary drumming sound, it was like an explosion of thunder.

“What’s going on?” The group walked out of the Stoneheart Pavilion, puzzled.

Outside, many members of the Stone Race looked anxious and were hurriedly gathering.

“What’s happening?” Xu Zimo casually pulled someone aside and asked curiously.

“It’s the Feather Race. They’ve come to issue a challenge,” the person quickly said.

“A challenge?” Xu Zimo was still puzzled.

After the man explained briefly, Xu Zimo understood.

It turned out that some time ago, after the Ancient Dragon Dynasty joined the war, the balance of power between the two sides had been broken.

The Stone Race was defeated and forced to retreat to Sacred Stone Mountain.

The Feather Race had surrounded many areas outside the mountain.

But instead of attacking, they made an agreement with the Stone Race.

Every day, both sides must send one member to fight in a one-on-one life-and-death battle.

The chosen participant must be an Empyrean Meridian realm cultivator or higher.

It had to be a fight to the death, no surrender allowed.

As long as the Stone Race agreed, the Feather Race would not attack Sacred Stone Mountain.

This situation had already lasted for nearly half a month.

…

After hearing this, Monk Great Wisdom was surprised. “The Feather Race is strange. Why bother doing something like this?”

“You don’t understand. This isn’t pointless, it achieves multiple goals at once,” Xu Zimo smiled.

“How so?” Monk Great Wisdom asked, frowning in thought.

“Let me ask you, why is the Feather Race attacking the Stone Race?” Xu Zimo said.

“Didn’t Rock Solid say so? The Stone Race has a talent for forging weapons. The Feather Race wants them as a subordinate race to craft weapons for them,” Monk Great Wisdom replied.

“Then think about it. If the Feather Race directly attacked Sacred Stone Mountain, enraging the Stone Race, and the Stone Race refused to submit, choosing to fight to the last man, what would the Feather Race get?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“First, they’d get nothing and would only lose their own people.”

“And the second?” Monk Great Wisdom asked.

“Think about it, how many Empyrean Meridian realm cultivators and above can the Stone Race have?” Xu Zimo smiled. “By killing one every day, it won’t take long before the Stone Race’s upper echelon is in ruins, like a leaking ship with only one-tenth of its crew left. When the high-ranking members are gone, both attacking Sacred Stone Mountain and controlling the ordinary clansmen will become much easier. This is called winning without a battle.”

“Then why would the Stone Race agree?” Monk Great Wisdom finally realized.

“They have no choice,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “Do you think they really have any options? They can only cling to survival for as long as they can. Actually, there’s a third reason, but I’m not sure if I’m right, so I won’t say it yet.”