In the Fire Ant Tribe's martial arts arena, the air was thick with tension.
Lie Xin arrived just as the place was ablaze with activity.
Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan stood on the sidelines, their subordinates engaged in a chaotic battle. The three factions were evenly matched, each trying to claim the position of tribe leader. None of them were willing to give an inch, which had led to a prolonged stalemate.
The moment Lie Xin stepped in, she immediately caught the attention of all three brothers.
Lie Tang, the eldest, stared in surprise. "Xin'er? Is that you?"
It had been five years since Lie Xin returned, and they had seen her back then. But now, after such a long absence, the once lively and youthful sister seemed much more mature. However, her petite frame had not changed—she was still slender and delicate.
According to the traditional mindset of the Cave World, the ideal woman's body was one that was strong and plump, with ample curves, much like their mother's robust figure, which was considered the ideal for childbearing. Lie Xin, with her slender form, was not what most people would favor.
All three brothers approached her.
"Fourth Sister, you've actually come back." Lie Song said with a hint of nostalgia.
"Xin'er, it's good that you're back. Don't stay in the Holy Ant Tribe anymore. It's better here in our Fire Ant Tribe, far better than any place else," Lie Yuan said with a deep voice, his tone earnest.
Lie Xin glanced at her three brothers, all of whom had fiery tempers, but their faces were now filled with surprise and perhaps a bit of confusion. She couldn't help but smile faintly.
"I brought Fifth Brother back with me."
The three brothers froze.
Fifth Brother?
They could not accept that child.
While outsiders might not know the details, they, as sons of the tribe leader, knew full well about the minor conflict between their father and his official wife. The two younger brothers, Fifth and Sixth, were not their father's biological sons. They were only considered his children in name, but their maternal family came from the Holy Ant Tribe.
It was an uncomfortable truth that they couldn't deny, but they kept silent about it because it was not a topic that could be openly discussed.
"Still not done fighting?" Lie Xin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"At this rate, how long are you planning to fight?" She shook her head slightly.
Lie Tang spoke calmly, "We will keep fighting until they submit. Only the one with the strongest fist can inherit the position of tribe leader."
Lie Song sneered, "You have more subordinates, so you're just playing the numbers game. But my subordinates are stronger than yours!"
Lie Yuan scoffed, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you're both wrong. Yes, the one with the strongest fist can become a tribe leader, but the number of heirs matters too. You two only have one heir each, but I have four!"
In the blink of an eye, the three brothers were at each other again.
Lie Xin knew that none of them were inherently bad. It was just that their vision had been clouded by personal interests. That was why they remained locked in a stalemate.
Dealing with these three brothers was simple: beat them. Beat them until they yielded.
With a determined look, Lie Xin rolled up her sleeves and raised her hand, summoning two giant ants to join the fray.
Each of these ants was as large as a small mountain.
The moment they charged in, it was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Everything in their path was sent flying. All the magical insects were knocked back violently, and the unsuspecting insect masters were sent soaring through the air, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.
As the dust settled, the crowd took a moment to focus and realized that the small, delicate figure standing in the center of the battlefield was none other than a woman!
Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan quickly snapped out of their daze.
Lie Xin had actually charged in!
"Come on," she called out mockingly, her voice dripping with challenge. "Aren't you all skilled fighters? Isn't this Fire Ant Tribe full of brave warriors? Why can't you even beat a single woman?"
She surveyed the battlefield, her eyes flashing with disdain. Her raised brow was full of provocation.
The insect masters were immediately furious.
Damn it! How dare this delicate woman taunt us?!
"Brothers, attack! Beat her down!"
The insect masters unleashed their insects all at once. At least twenty fire ants charged toward Lie Xin in a coordinated assault.
"Stop!" Lie Yuan shouted in alarm.
Lie Xin sneered. "Stop? What for? They're just a bunch of useless pests."
With a firm stamp of her foot, the giant ant on her left sprayed a cloud of purple mist from its mouth. The mist spread quickly, enveloping the attacking fire ants in seconds.
The fire ant swarm's momentum immediately faltered. The insects staggered, their movements slow and erratic, as though they were drunken. Within moments, they collapsed to the ground, disoriented and dizzy.
Lie Xin gave a swift jump, landing on the back of the other giant ant.
"Speed up! Charge!" she commanded.
At her order, the giant ant barreled forward, crashing through the remaining fire ants. The few that were left had no power to stop the assault and were sent flying in all directions.
If the first wave had been a surprise attack, then this time, it was clear: it was a sheer difference in power.
The insect masters lay sprawled on the ground, their eyes no longer filled with contempt but full of awe.
Such strength!
The three brothers—Lie Tang, Lie Song, and Lie Yuan—were also stunned. How had their little sister gained such power in the years they had been apart?
They could tell that these two giant ants were likely close to reaching the golden level of strength.
"Would you three be willing to spar with me?" Lie Xin called out, her voice light but full of challenge.
"My two giant ants are formidable, but to make it fair, how about I fight you all hand-to-hand, without using any magical insects?"
Perched on the back of one of the giant ants, Lie Xin laughed aloud.
Lie Yuan rubbed his wrist and grinned wryly. "It seems our little sister is no slouch after all!"
"I'll go first!" he declared, rushing forward.
But in less than a dozen breaths, he was kicked several zhang away by Lie Xin. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
Lie Song's eyes widened in shock. "I'm next!"
Before he could even blink, Lie Xin's punch hit him square in the chest. He was sent sprawling, unable to rise for a long time.
Lie Tang narrowed his eyes. "Xin'er, you're strong, but you can't defeat your elder brother."
"Then we'll have to see!" Lie Xin coldly retorted.
Lie Tang's frame was more massive than his brothers, even larger than Lie Song and Lie Yuan. His arms alone were thicker than Lie Xin's thighs. It seemed impossible that she could win.
Yet, within thirty breaths, Lie Tang was felled by a sweeping kick from Lie Xin.
From her slender arms and legs erupted a force that didn't belong to her body, sending the burly elder brother crashing to the ground.
The three brothers, clutching their wounds, slowly staggered to their feet. Their gazes toward Lie Xin had changed completely.
This was no longer the cute little sister they once knew. She was a true powerhouse.
Lie Xin called back her two giant ants and, with a sly smile, narrowed her eyes. "I've defeated you three and your subordinates. Can you now listen to me?"
"Yes." The three brothers replied in unison.
"All this fighting," Lie Xin began, her voice calm but resolute, "and not even a single incense offering in the ancestral hall. Is that right?"
"No," they answered in shame.
"You've fought and fought, disturbing the peace of the Fire Ant Tribe. The tribespeople cannot even go about their work properly. Is that right?"
"No..." they muttered, embarrassed.
"Now, can you listen to me?"
"Yes..." they replied, begrudgingly.
Lie Tang couldn't help himself. "Sister, you're not thinking of taking the position of tribe leader, are you?"
"Although your strength is undeniable, you could certainly do it..." he trailed off, the words faltering.
"But as you know," Lie Song cleared his throat, "no tribe allows a woman to take the position of leader. It's the rule of our ancestors."
Lie Yuan nodded. "In the end, it should be one of us three who is chosen to be the tribe leader."
Lie Xin smiled lightly. "Who said I want to be the leader?"
Her tone turned serious. "You three—fighting over the position of leader while the tribe has suffered years of losses—are not worthy of the position."
She paused, her gaze sharp and piercing.
"The position of leader should go to our fifth brother, Lie Qing."