Crow Scout Earth Priest
The Crow Scout Earth Priest, also named Wu Han, is one of the Tribe's two High Priests. He administers contests and sacred rites, recognizes Meng Hao's value earlier than several other elders, and helps protect his Greenwood Tree branding.
Biography
Fair witness to the Dragoneer contests
The Earth Priest presides over Wu Chen and Wu Ali's neo-demon duel under the Greatfather's decree. Although he sympathizes with Wu Chen, he treats the order as binding and studies Meng Hao's Greenwood Wolves without prejudging the result. Hairy #5's impossible speed turns that reserve into intense interest. (Chapters 400–401)
When Mo Fang proposes a wager intended to seize Meng Hao's wolves, the Priest serves as witness. He recognizes the meaning of Meng Hao's larva totem, prevents the Tribe's agitated totem beasts from breaking loose, and enforces the agreed transfer after Mo Fang loses. His unusually polite support prompts the Grand Elder to reconsider direct obstruction. The episode establishes him as procedurally fair but also strategically aware that antagonizing Meng Hao would damage the Tribe. (Chapters 402–405)
Sacred tree and defense
The Priest personally delivers Meng Hao's official-vassal medallion and, with the Sky Priest, presents the opportunity to gain enlightenment from the Greenwood Tree. When the Treant recognizes Meng Hao and the resulting branding produces vast life force, he watches in disbelief and then takes a position above the courtyard to stand guard. He also participates in the Tribe's shield when the Spirit Severing Outlander Beast attacks, suffering the same backlash when the defense breaks. (Chapters 406–409)
The Parrot's attack on the Outlander Beast exposes the Priest's comic naivety. He interprets its depraved fixation as heroic loyalty and tactical insight, follows it after the beast retreats, and returns so shaken that he enters secluded meditation. He has not emerged by the time of the Ancestor Rite. (Chapters 410 and 418)
Appearance and personality
The Earth Priest is an old man who initially wears the enveloping green robe of a High Priest. He is observant, compassionate without being openly insubordinate, and careful to make rulings through established tribal procedure.
His earnestness is both strength and weakness. It lets him recognize sincerity and talent in Meng Hao, but also leads him to invent a noble explanation for behavior everyone else understands very differently.
Abilities and cultivation
Mid Nascent Soul cultivation
The Priest is explicitly at mid Nascent Soul, placing him among the Crow Scout Tribe's peak living powers. He contributes cultivation to the large defensive shield but cannot withstand the pressure of a Spirit Severing Outlander Beast once it breaks the formation.
Totem and Dragoneer perception
He recognizes the implications of the Eyeless Larva, mutated Greenwood Wolves, Demonic qi, and the early stages of Meng Hao's Wood branding. This is diagnostic expertise used to judge contests and protect the Tribe; the source does not show him commanding Meng Hao's beasts.
Ritual and legal authority
The Priest can validate wagers, deliver vassal status, receive participants at the sacred Tree rite, and interpret tribal rules. His authority is substantial but subordinate to the Greatfather's decrees except in matters important enough to justify opposition.
Area shielding
When Tribe members' totemic neo-demons become agitated, he releases cultivation power to create invisible shields that prevent them from charging. On a larger scale he joins the Tribe's tree-shaped defensive formation. The first is effective crowd control; the second fails against Spirit Severing power.
Relationships
- Meng Hao: Contestant, vassal, and sacred-tree recipient whom the Priest increasingly supports.
- Crow Scout Greatfather: Senior leader whose decrees the Priest administers.
- Crow Scout Sky Priest: Fellow High Priest and partner in ritual and defense.
- Parrot: Misidentified as a supremely loyal neo-demon, with personally traumatic consequences.
- Mo Fang: Rank-five Dragoneer whose failed wager the Priest enforces.
Items
- Vassal command medallion: Official token the Priest personally delivers to Meng Hao.
- No separately cataloged combat item is assigned to the Earth Priest.