179: Chapter 179 One Herb Surpasses All Others

The third floor of the stronghold, a wide balcony.

Qi Yun leaned his hands against the cold metal railing.

Not far behind him, Xia Jin, Chen Xiaolin, and Shu Qianxue stood quietly.

"Are you sure you've thought this through?" Xia Jin walked to Qi Yun's side.

"Twenty people—even if you split it over a few days, this is a crazy plan."

Qi Yun naturally knew what this meant.

In the Tribe, besides the core dozen or so with a Unique Class or rare class, there were exactly twenty girls who possessed ordinary classes.

In the crisis-ridden Land of Beginning, Qi Yun knew well that relying solely on their dozen high-end combatants would make it difficult to protect everyone.

Especially when potential enemies might include unknown behemoths from the central region.

"We can't wait any longer," Qi Yun finally spoke, his voice low and firm.

"The Land of Beginning is more cruel than we imagined."

"The clan leaders blessing is currently one of our fastest and most effective ways to enhance individual potential and strength."

"I want to participate too." A voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone was startled and looked toward the source of the voice—it was Shu Qianxue.

Qi Yun's lip twitched slightly, and he felt several black lines appear on his forehead.

"Xiao Xue, don't mess around. You already have a Unique Class; you don't need this."

"If you go in too, it'll be the death of me..."

Hearing this, Shu Qianxue's eyes flashed with disappointment.

Chen Xiaolin stood to the side, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Cough," Qi Yun cleared his throat, forcing the topic back on track as he looked at Chen Xiaolin.

"Has everyone been notified?"

Chen Xiaolin immediately stopped smiling and said seriously, "Yes, according to your instructions, they've all been called to the third-floor hall."

"Good. Then... I'm going in." Qi Yun nodded and took a deep breath, as if he were about to step onto a battlefield.

Xia Jin patted his shoulder, her eyes complicated. "Do what you can."

Chen Xiaolin made a 'fighting' gesture, but her eyes were full of mockery.

Qi Yun no longer hesitated. He turned and pushed open the heavy wooden door leading to the third-floor hall.

The third-floor hall was spacious, with a ceiling five or six meters high and the floor covered with thick animal skin rugs.

At this moment, a wide open area had been cleared in the center of the hall.

Twenty slender figures were either standing or sitting, some talking in low voices.

When Qi Yun pushed the door and walked in, all eyes instantly focused on him.

"Qi Bao, why did you call us all here so late? Is there an important announcement?"

A girl with shoulder-length short hair and dimples when she smiled spoke first: Lin Yao.

"Could it be that you've discovered some treasure? Or has someone blind come looking for trouble again?"

"Qi Bao's expression looks a bit serious. Surely it's not bad news?"

"Hehe, I think Qi Bao calling so many of us sisters here alone and clearing out the place..."

"Could it be... he wants to play something exciting? Like 'one blade of grass overwhelming a garden of flowers'?"

"Pfft—!"

"Sister Lan, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"But... it doesn't seem impossible? Qi Bao is the Tribe's only 'male god' now!"

"Oh, stop talking nonsense. Clan Leader Qi Yun definitely has serious business!"

Qin Lan's words were like a bomb, instantly making the girls in the hall explode into chatter.

Qi Yun's gaze slowly swept over the girls before him.

They each had their own merits, truly a garden of competing beauties.

There was the lively and cute girl-next-door type like Lin Yao;

There were sexy older-sister types, cold and literary girls, heroic tomboys, and shy, delicate beauties... They might not compare to Chen Xiaolin, Xia Jin, or Lin Le.

But in any university, they would absolutely be department or campus beauties, never lacking for pursuers.

The blonde Katya and the red-haired Anna were also among them.

Facing the girls' teasing and burning gazes, Qi Yun didn't feel helpless or embarrassed as he usually did.

He walked to the front of the hall and raised his hand, pressing down.

The noisy voices gradually subsided.

Qi Yun's gaze swept over every familiar or friendly face once more, and he spoke slowly:

"Since the first day we were inexplicably thrown into this game until now..."

"A long time has passed. We've experienced despair, and we've fought and survived together."

"Today, we stand in the Land of Beginning. The dangers here far exceed our previous imaginations."

"As the clan leader, my greatest responsibility is to lead everyone to live, and to live better."

"I have to admit, I've begun to doubt whether I truly have enough ability to protect every single person."

The hall was silent, with only Qi Yun's voice echoing.

"Qi Bao, just say it straight."

"Why go in such a big circle? What do you actually want to say? What do you need us to do?"

Qin Lan crossed her arms, exuding an 'older sister' aura as she looked directly at Qi Yun.

Qi Yun looked at Qin Lan, then at the others, took a deep breath, and stated his earth-shattering idea:

"One of you was right just now."

"I hope to have all of you trigger the 'clan leaders blessing' here today."

Boom—!

It was as if a silent thunderclap had struck the hearts of every girl!

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's expression froze in an instant.

"You... you mean... you alone... with... all of us...??"

A usually shy girl stammered, her face turning red all the way to her neck.

"Qi Bao, there are over 20 people here! Can you handle it?"

Another girl cried out in surprise.

"Haven't you always said that the Tribe respects individual will and that these things are on a voluntary basis?"

Various voices rose one after another.

Qi Yun waited quietly for the initial shockwave to pass before he continued speaking:

"That's right, it's voluntary."

"I'm stating my idea and my reasons. But this does not mean coercion."

He turned sideways and pointed to the heavy wooden door of the hall.

"The door is right there. If anyone is completely unwilling, feels it's unacceptable, or has any doubts..."

"You can leave now. Afterward, I will continue as always to do my best to protect everyone in the Tribe."

"The choice is in your own hands."

After saying this, Qi Yun spoke no more, merely standing there calmly, waiting for their decision.

The hall fell into silence once again.

Time passed minute by minute.

No one walked toward that door.

The twenty girls lowered their heads in thought, exchanged glances, bit their lips, and their cheeks flushed, but not a single one turned to leave.

Tap, tap, tap.

Qin Lan, the 'older sister' who first told Qi Yun to 'say it straight,' started walking.

Her face still carried that sexy, slightly teasing smile.

Step by step, she walked toward Qi Yun, who was standing at the front.

Her red skirt swayed with her steps, outlining heart-stirring curves.

She stopped a step away from Qi Yun, tilted her head back slightly, and her flame-red lips curled into an arc:

"Right here, isn't it?"

Qi Yun looked at the unyielding light in her eyes and nodded. "Yes."

"Fine. Don't disappoint me, my Lord Clan Leader."

Qin Lan laughed, her smile bright and bold, her tone carrying a hint of provocation.

After saying this, she pressed herself against Qi Yun, waiting for the other girls to make their choice; she had already shown hers.