Seven days had passed.


    Inside the ckwood residence, the people of Gratitude Vige were ecstatic in the streets. They had heard rumors that the ckwoods were still the same as before. Not only had they in the cursed Druids of Gratitude Vige after thirty years, but they had even ventured to the rk territory and achieved glorious battle honors!


    Even throughout the entire Cloudview County.


    All the forces emerged from hiding, seeking revenge after thirty years of concealment. They struck swiftly at the rk, Harris, and White tribes, which had once suffocated Cloudview County, forcing them into a desperate retreat. Their main forces had fled back to the Endless Forest.


    The remaining Druids in Cloudview County could only struggle to survive under the relentless pursuit of the major powers.


    The situation had reversed so quickly.


    They could even foresee that, in the near future, no one would call the people of Cloudview County spineless. No one would call the people of Gratitude Vige cowards; they would only praise the ckwoods for leading the entire Azure Cloud to amendable victory for humanity!


    But they didn''t know.


    At this moment, deep in the Silver Iron Forest, not far from Boar Monarch Pete, a statue had been erected.


    It was the statue of a young man riding a donkey,ughing heartily. The youth''s spirited demeanor was unaffected by the donkey, instead, he appeared utterly carefree, and anyone could see his ease andfort.


    He was poised to charge forward, holding a silver spear and a map, his eyes fierce, as if no one could block his path.


    A...


    Warrior without burdens, acting on his whims.


    Behind the statue was a coffin, which held no body, only blood-stained clothes, a magical spear, the Great River Dragon Map, and a set of heavy armor. This was the armor Nichs had worn in the Thunderfire Demon Cave, where he had grown stronger step by step.


    A light rain began to fall from the sky.


    The people of ckwood stood before Nichs''s grave, gazing long at his statue and his tombstone.


    The tombstone was empty.


    Dennis sighed deeply, tears mingling with the rain, "Do not record everything Nichs went through. When you handed him over to me, I watched him grow up bit by bit. He used to be carefree, saying he wanted to be a great hero like you all, to live freely, but he chose a different path."


    "Let him... walk away from all this, freely."


    Hearing this, the people of ckwood bowed their heads.


    Nathan stepped forward to Nichs''s tombstone, his hand caressing it. He still remembered the day Nichs knelt before him on the city walls. He had reached out his hand, but ultimately, he did not strike Nichs.


    That day, Nichs had knelt before Luke, struck his face, and said little. He was even prepared to face the entire Emerald Empire and all the Druids.


    Until now...


    Nathan realized that whether in life or death, Nichs was no longer a child, nor a coward. He had carried a great mountain forward. It was they, the elders, who were the real cowards, hiding in the deepest parts of the family, cultivating psychic powers, and enjoying the happiest and most peaceful thirty years.


    As Nathan''s psychic powers emerged.


    The tombstone recorded Nichs''s life, but not the burdens he had borne.


    [Nichs, the most respected member of the ckwoods. He grew up in the Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion during difficult times and became a hero there. As an adult, he followed in the footsteps of his elders, living freely. In the Thunderfire Demon Cave, he faced countless demonic cultivators, never showing fear, and even drinking and reveling with them.]


    [He participated in battle after battle for the ckwoods, never showing fear. At the Azure Cloud Martial Pavilion, he faced the strongest talents of Cloudview County, charging forward with augh, bing the pride of the entire county.]


    [He made the entire Druid rk tribe submit to him, making the high priest Luke kneel before him.]


    [He is...]


    [The proudest, fearless warrior of the ckwoods!]


    Nathan slowly turned his head, looking at Luke kneeling before Nichs''s grave, and asked, "Lord Luke, take a look, isn''t the life of my Nichs spectacr?"


    Larry stared nkly at Nichs''s tombstone.


    After a long silence, he suddenly smiled, "I pay my respects to him. I didn''t lose to the ckwoods, I lost to him."


    "Thank you."


    As Nathan''s words fell, Luke closed his eyes, his wish also fulfilled. His people were fleeing, his defeat inevitable, and he wanted to honor his opponent in his final moments, a pride of his status as high priest.


    Luke''s head fell, and his blood flowed towards Nichs''s grave.


    The soil of the grave closed, and the people of ckwood lingered for a long time.


    In the misty rain, the statue seemed toe to life, Nichs, just as he had wished,ughing heartily as he roamed the world.


    [Congrattions, your descendants have, with the strength of their n and the will of Nichs, in a million Druids, earning the trait: Druid yer]


    [Damage against Druids increased by 30%]


    Seven days passed in the game world, and the people of ckwood gradually moved away from Nichs''s grave. Ethan''s screen still lingered there, his eyes closed in the room.


    From the start of this game until now, the children of the family had grown up, and unknowingly, all of them had entered the most important ce in his heart.


    He nced at the skill item, looking at the astronomical number of Spiritual Tribute points, Ethan shook his head.


    They still had much to do, they had to follow the path Nichs had left for the family, to build the strongest ckwood, ensuring thisnd would never again be troubled by Druids, or... by anyone!


    ...


    In just half a month, Gratitude Vige had regained order and was now more prosperous than it was thirty years ago, despite being upied by Druids for many years. The infrastructure had been improving every day. Now, the people of Gratitude Vige could instantly enjoy a better life than they did thirty years ago, truly a case of hardship followed by relief.


    During the war, the people of Gratitude Vige had spread out to various ces, each household disying white silk ribbons. Despite the pain of losing family members, they took pride in those who had died in battle, defending theirnd. Their loved ones had once fought against the Druids!


    Thisnd was built over generations with the blood and flesh of their ancestors. They had no other way to repay but to live and thrive on thisnd, to grow stronger, and to continue the will of their forebears and family members, protecting their homnd at all costs.


    Fortunately, they had the support of the ckwoods behind them.