Nichs had no idea that the Forebearer had been following him all along.
"Ethan sighed deeply, having watched and questioned himself: Was Nichs truly a coward?
Everyone has their own convictions, just like Nathan insisted on having the family''s descendants stand tall, fighting the Druids despite the generations of effort that built their homnd.
Nichs chose topromise, to ept humiliation. Ethan believed that no one would choose to bow down if there were better options avable.
"In the end, it alles down to power."
Ethan leaned against the wall, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nichs, looking over the thousands of lights in Gratitude Vige. He believed that the descendants of the family would understand Nichs''s reasons just as he did.
"So, my children, admit it," he said, his eyes bright as stars and as promising as the soon-to-rise sun, whispering into the night, "Admit that we are the weak. But one day, we will stand before the Druids, alongside Nichs, and face Luke in a different way."
"Face... all of this."
Ethan jumped down from the wall and returned to sit cross-legged under the Primordial Blood Tree.
He focused intently, sensing thews of the natural energy around him.
As the energy of Developing Skill gathered to form a Pinnacle Apprentice, he awaited the day he would break through to be a Competent Force, ready to rebuild and fight for his family once more.
As time passed, the ckwood n secluded themselves, cultivating psychic powers.
Ethan''s view was limited to the ckwood grounds. He asionally walked around, checking the family''s information on a semi-transparent panel as usual.
Now and then, Druids visited the ckwood grounds, brought by Nichs.
He handled it well; even in cooperation with the Druids, the ckwood''s pride was intact. Facing ordinary Druids, he had his ways.
Ethan also saw Luke''s true form visiting ckwood.
He resisted the urge to return to reality and kill the old man with the help of his n.
They needed Luke alive.
A year quickly passed.
[ckwood Year 131]
[Your descendant Nichs, with the Druids, went to persuade the Sky Sect to surrender. Your descendant Marcus learned of this in advance. With the Grand Elder Warren Daoist missing and unable to resist, he had to take most of the disciples and leave the Sky Temple. Some elders and disciples who chose to resist to the end detonated the sect.]
Seeing this message, Ethan also looked at his Core of Power.
Inside the Core of Power, the form of a Pinnacle Apprentice was taking shape, soon to be a Competent Force!
This great battle saw the entire Cloudview County in turmoil, yet ckwood remained unscathed.
This year, the n seemed to have forgotten everything before.
Within the family, they continued cultivating psychic powers, doing everything possible to increase their skills.
A semi-transparent screen caught Ethan''s attention.
[The family''s guardian beast, the Thunderfire Raging Python, is undergoing a transformation. It requests that you allow the n to take it to another ce to await the heavenly tribtion!]
"Thunderfire Raging Python? It''s transforming?" Ethan''s face lit up with joy. Since the Thunderfire Raging Python had devoured a demon king on the verge of transformation, it had grown tentacles, and its next step was to transform into a dragon-like creature—a significant phase for mythical beasts.
With joy, Ethan instructed his people to protect the beast.
Soon, the ckwood people and the Thunderfire Raging Python arrived at the Forebearer''s shrine.
The n members looked excitedly at the Thunderfire Raging Python, though their eyes still held worry.
"Guardian beast, where do you n to undergo your tribtion?"
Nathan looked solemn, his years of cultivating psychic powers had taught him the terror of the Competent Force''s heavenly tribtion. Many psychics, even those who had reached the Pinnacle Apprentice stage, dared not break their core to face it, as few below that level survived the tribtion.
The Thunderfire Raging Python spoke gravely, "Let''s head to the Thunderfire Demon Cave. Although the power of thunder and fire there is somewhat weak, it can still offer me some assistance and increase my chances of survival."
As it spoke, it chuckled, "If I don''t make it back alive, please find a stronger guardian beast for the master."
The ckwood n remained silent for a long time.
Suddenly, Olivia suggested, "Don''t go to the Thunderfire Demon Cave. I know of a ce called ''Chilling Gorge.'' The power of the icy rocks there can counteract some of the heavenly tribtion''s force."
"This..."
The Thunderfire Raging Python seemed to understand something, its eyes narrowing, "Chilling Gorge must be the ce you''ve chosen for your own tribtion, right? I can''t..."
Before it could finish, Olivia smiled, "It''s okay. Your contributions to the family are well known. When the timees for my tribtion, I have my ways. I won''t let it fall, and it wouldn''t dare!"
Despite its doubts, the Thunderfire Raging Python, reassured by Olivia''s confident demeanor, led the ckwood n members away.
This journey included Amelia, Gary, and a few other n members. With them present and the location being remote, it was sufficient.
Before departing, Nathan gifted it a top-tier ability weapon from the family''s treasury to help it withstand the lightning tribtion.
Ethan seemed to understand Olivia''s words, as if he alone could see the thunder still lingering above Olivia''s head, and beneath it, countless souls... The thunder would strike down, first annihting these innumerable souls.
Days of cultivating psychic powers always flew by quickly. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
Ethan had grasped a part of the wood attributews, which were also the intrinsic power of the Primordial Blood Tree. He then delved inch by inch into the ground next to the Rootless Soul Soil, finding it easier than ever toprehend thews of the earth attribute.
During his spare moments, he also kept an eye on his descendants'' progress. Since everyone was diligently cultivating psychic powers, there were few other distractions, with most activities rted to their cultivation.
[ckwood Year 133]
[Your descendant Edward is in seclusion, refining his earth pill with sword formations and the ground-level technique ''Azure Cloud Unfalling''.]
[Nathan has made a breakthrough to the peak of Developing Skill after umting experience over time!]
[George, having be more skilled in the Competent Force phase after thest great battle, with the help of many elders, has gradually advanced to the mid-stage of Developing Skill.]
While the descendants were hard at work cultivating psychic powers, two pieces of information stood out.
[Your descendant Jeffrey, diligently practicing ''Dual Cultivation Techniques'', is expecting a daughter with his partner...]
[Joseph, after intense cultivation, has finally at the age of 41, fallen to the mid-stage of Emerging Ability...]
Jeffrey, well, that guy. Aftering back, hepletely indulged in beauty... No, he has always been indulged in beauty. Recently, he has fathered four children with his partners, and two more are pregnant.
It seems he''s quietly expanding the family, then nning to astonish everyone.
As for Joseph?
Ethan slightly lifted his head, this odd fellow, 41 years old but not showing signs of aging, was asleep on the Primordial Blood Tree.
This guy is different from the others!
[Your descendant Joseph, having gained insight into the heavenly technique ''Dream Return of the Ancient God'' from ''ancient god blood''. Only those with ancient god blood can use it, the great technique of the ancient god dream, falling from the peak of Emerging Ability to a mortal, the great technique can be achieved!]
Ethan was envious.
"Work hard, my children. Someday we''ll capture an ancient god and extract its blood, then we can practice this technique!"