I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

Lu Ming knew the only way to quell his unease was through relentless training. Amang's dying threat likely held weight. While Lu Ming couldn't pinpoint exactly what made him and his companions special, Amang's words and demeanor hinted at a deeper agenda concerning the Nanxiang people—an agenda held not by Amang himself, but by the tribe behind him. This conflict was fundamental, and resolution seemed improbable.

Lu Ming understood that further encounters with the Black Feather Tribe were inevitable. His earlier threat to eradicate them had been genuine, born of frustration and determination. But the time for that was not now. Time, he knew, was his greatest ally. He needed it to grow stronger, to cultivate his attributes.

Thus, for the moment, he would not actively seek out conflict with the Black Feather Tribe...

The scene shifts to the previous evening, just as Amang and his companions fell victim to Lu Ming's fists. On a towering mountain near New York's gathering place, a police siren blared, sending a wave of alarm through the feathered inhabitants of the mountain.

More than ten Black Feather Tribe members of varying sizes emerged from different parts of the mountain, converging before a grand hall atop the peak. The hall, though roughly hewn, exuded an ancient and imposing aura. As the upper echelons of the tribe assembled, two figures emerged from the hall's depths.

One was a towering figure, easily surpassing three meters in height—a stark contrast to the average two-meter stature of his fellow tribesmen. His dark wings unfurled behind him, each feather standing erect like a sharpened blade. This was Apelo, the current chieftain and undisputed strongest warrior of the Black Feather Tribe.

Apelo surveyed the gathered members before him, his voice booming through the air. "The Prophet has something to say." He stepped aside, revealing an elderly tribesman behind him.

The elder, Ayu, was hunched with age, barely reaching 1.7 meters. His once-vibrant feathers were now sparse and gray. However, the occasional glint in his eyes warned against underestimating him. Ayu was the Black Feather Tribe's anchor, their spiritual leader.

After clearing his throat, Ayu's raspy voice, like a worn bellows, echoed across the mountaintop. "Amang's group has been completely wiped out!"

"They failed to fulfill the mission given by the tribe!"

A wave of murmurs rippled through the assembly. Amang wasn't particularly strong—Level 2 Physique Realm individuals were common enough in the Black Mist Zone, and even within their tribe, Amang was merely one of the stronger youngsters, far from the most formidable.

But context mattered. While Amang might not have been a top contender in the Black Mist Zone, he was undoubtedly a powerhouse compared to the newly arrived tribulation transcenders.

"Could they have encountered danger on the journey?" someone inquired. After all, the twenty-day trek passed through several hazardous areas, and casualties along the way weren't unheard of.

Ayu shook his head. "I don't know."

Silence fell once more. After a moment, Ayu continued, "Apelo and I have discussed the matter. While the nearby Tribulation Transcenders' Camp offers a decent number of individuals, more Blood Essence is always preferable."

"Therefore, we've decided to send stronger forces to the site where Amang's group perished."

The assembled members nodded in agreement. The Black Mist Zone was a perilous place, with the threat of extinction lurking around every corner. The Black Feather Tribe had struggled in recent centuries, and the arrival of the new tribulation transcenders represented a golden opportunity they couldn't afford to squander.

This was an opportunity they could not miss. Ayu surveyed the group, then raised a hand to point at two male tribesmen.

"Asmo, Alder, you two will lead this mission."

Asmo and Alder, both Level 9 Physique Realm experts and pillars of the Black Feather Tribe, nodded in unison. Ayu's choice highlighted the gravity of this task.

"Your route will take you through Dragon Spirit's territory, then Lizard Territory, and finally Bear Mountain," Ayu instructed, outlining the same path Amang's group had taken. "The Lizard Territory inhabitants might have seen Amang. Inquire there."

Asmo and Alder confirmed their understanding.

The Black Mist Zone was vast. Amang's journey from the Black Feather Tribe's territory to Bear Mountain had spanned twenty days, passing through two major landmarks—Dragon Spirit's territory and Lizard Territory.

The Dragon Spirit, a solitary beast of immense power, resided in its territory. Despite its docile nature, no intelligent being dared cross its path.

The other landmark, Lizard Territory, was home to a small tribe known as the Lizardmen. Their strongest warriors were merely Level 4 Physique Realm, placing them at the bottom of the Black Mist Zone's hierarchy, preyed upon by everyone except the wild beasts.

Fortunately, the Lizardmen possessed nothing of value to attract unwanted attention. Their meek demeanor allowed them to maintain their humble existence.

Now, on the 21st day of Lu Ming's arrival in the Black Mist Zone, a peculiar group—two corpses, a tree, and a lone figure—approached Lizard Territory. It was the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, cradled in Simba's arms, alongside Lian Jie and Xu Rufang.

Lizard Territory, much like the Nanxiang gathering place, had been built upon the ruins of an ancient city. Over a century of Lizardmen habitation had transformed it into a livable settlement. But today, they faced a monstrous threat.

"Let the feast begin!" cried the Blood Flesh Mother Tree from Simba's grasp.

It was famished, its hunger a gnawing void that had grown over time.

Simba, the Mother Tree, and their companions had entered the Black Mist Zone more than ten days before Lu Ming.

Hailing from Nanxiang, the Mother Tree and its companions had entered the Black Mist Zone through the same portal on Bear Mountain as Lu Ming's group. Their initial days were fraught with challenges, but the Mother Tree, surprisingly, did not embark on a killing spree right away.

Instead, it explored cautiously, observing Bai Tianyu's group as they constructed a city atop ancient ruins, intending to use it as a base.

This led the Mother Tree and Simba to a crucial decision: "Run! Let's get as far away as possible!"

Lu Ming had instilled a deep-seated fear in them. They knew they had to maintain distance from him at all costs. With Simba and Lian Jie only at Level 4 Mortal Realm, and the Mother Tree and Xu Rufang even weaker, their progress through the Black Mist Zone was slow.

Now, 21 days after Lu Ming's arrival, they had finally reached the outskirts of Lizard Territory.

But they were far enough from Lu Ming.

"This means I can finally grow a little," the Mother Tree rustled its branches, its sinister aura akin to a predator salivating at the sight of its prey. Lizard Territory, and the unsuspecting Lizardmen, lay before them.