The ckwood family had been given a much-needed reprieve, but they dared not waste a moment.


    Every ckwood descendant was diligently honing their psychic abilities.


    For the ckwoods, ten years slipped away like sand through their fingers.


    The Azure Cloud border, the site of the great battle, had undergone a dramatic transformation.


    Just as initially nned, a thousand-mile wall now stood between the border and the heart of the Endless Forest, significantly hindering the Druids'' advance.


    The defensive pressure on Cloudview County had eased considerably.


    Large-scale battles were rare in the past decade, reced by smaller skirmishes involving less than ten thousandbatants.


    More often than not, it was the Azure Cloud army engaging in these conflicts, both sides tacitly agreeing to a measured approach, treating it as an exercise in military training.


    Ethan emerged from his secluded meditation beside Daoist Bill, where he had been immersed inprehending thews of the universe.


    This time, the istion didn''t carry the same weight of loneliness as before.


    He had grown ustomed to the feeling.


    It was as if, after reaching the Competent Force stage, a decade felt like a mere half-year.


    During this period, he had only awakened once, during a grand family ritual, taking the opportunity to return to the mortal realm.


    He brought back gifts and, in turn, received a wealth of treasures.


    Over the years, Daniel, through hismand in the great battle, had sessfully navigated several special events, earning him a measure of family destiny.


    Ethan''s own reserves of family destiny had only slightly diminished.


    [Family Destiny: 42]


    [Congrattions! After a decade of cultivating psychic powers alongside Daoist Bill, you have acquired a vast array of psychic abilities and gained insights into thews of earth and mountain. This potent force ofw will enable your Competent Force to break free from its embryonic form and transform into a nascent soul!]


    Ethan''s consciousness delved into his inner being, where he beheld an infant, seated in meditation, within his core.


    Upon reaching the Competent Force stage, it took the form of an infant.


    During this phase, it not only absorbed the psychic energies of heaven and earth but also assimted thews of the universe as nourishment, integrating them into the Competent Force.


    Ultimately, when the Competent Force became an exact replica of himself, it would signify the birth of his nascent soul!


    The challenge in cultivating a nascent souly in merging thews of the universe into one''s being.


    This was the very hurdle that prevented countless psychics from attaining the nascent soul stage.


    Of course, there were those blessed with extraordinary fortune, stumbling upon mystical realms or other unorthodox methods, enabling them to forcefully assimte thews and achieve Basic Mastery.


    However, achieving Basic Mastery in Cloudview County was an arduous feat.


    Ethan could sense that thews of heaven and earth avable for assimtion in Cloudview County were scarce, exining hisck of progress despite a decade of cultivation.


    "I can only take it slow."


    Ethan had no other recourse.


    He had never dared to dream of surpassing the Competent Force stage, and now he was already seeking ways to break through to Basic Mastery.


    All he could do was his best and leave the rest to fate.


    Ethan proceeded to check on the progress of his ckwood descendants.


    His gaze fell upon Nathan and his wife.


    Ethan''s face darkened.


    [Your descendant, Nathan, attempted the fifth level of the Death Coffin but was unsessful. He has spent the past decade dual cultivating with Luna within the Death Coffin, emerging only for grand family rituals and to check on the well-being of the Azure Cloud during critical battles. Apart from addressing matters concerning their children, they rarely ventured outside the Death Coffin.]


    Ethan surmised that the couple shared his sentiment.


    With their extended lifespans, the concept of time held less significance.


    They had even reached a point of indifference towards the birth of new ckwood children.


    It was no wonder that many powerful individuals grew detached from worldly affairs.


    Ethan then shifted his attention to the offspring of his second-generation descendants.


    A decade had passed, and Lucas was still entangled with the Celestial Star Swordmaster.


    [Your descendant, Lucas, and the Celestial Star Swordmaster have been journeying together, seeking opportunities toprehend the essence of swordsmanship.]


    Their so-called journey across the world amounted to roaming around Cloudview County.


    However, whenever they encountered children with a passion for swordsmanship, they would impart their knowledge, hoping that these youngsters would grow up to join the Azure Cloud army and defend their homnd against the Druids.


    [Your descendant, Lucas, has acquired the trait: Swordsmanship Mentor]


    [He travels throughout Cloudview County, recounting tales of the great battle against the Druids, ensuring that the Azure Cloud psychics'' fearlessness in the face of death is passed down through generations. Each year, there is a 0.1% chance of triggering an epiphany.]


    "Once a sword-obsessed maniac, now a swordsmanship mentor."


    Ethan marveled at the unpredictable nature of life''s journey.


    The Celestial Star Swordmaster, his beard now long and his appearance weathered by time, habitually murmured to Lucas, "Brother Lucas, I must ask again, where is Olivia?"


    Choosing to ignore the peculiar duo, Ethan turned his attention to Olivia.


    After a decade, she had transformed back into an elderly woman!


    William, who had be Olivia''s devoted follower, remained by her side, his demeanor as sincere and dependable as ever.


    The two of them were...selling meat on a street corner that clearly belonged to a Druid settlement!


    [Moon Dragon Totem - Fallen Stars n]


    William, looking as if he had just returned, approached Olivia with a cheerful expression, assisting her in hawking their wares.


    In a low voice, he murmured, "Great-aunt Olivia, we''ve been stationed here for a decade. Haven''t we found a suitable opportunity yet? I miss my brother."


    [Your descendant, William, has spent the past ten years selling meat alongside his great-aunt Olivia in the Moon Dragon Totem, finding sce only in selecting individuals to kill for amusement each day. He has acquired the trait: Daily ughter.]


    [Unable to bear a day without killing, William appears no different from ordinary people when engaged in regr ughter. Each missed daily kill quest increases his inner darkness by 1%.]


    Olivia responded to William''s words with a calm smile, "Patience, child. Ten years is but a blink, and a century is hardly enough. We will find our chance eventually. William, try to curb your bloodlust. Excessive killing will only lead to formidable tribtions when you reach the Competent Force stage."


    As she spoke, Olivia sold a piece of meat to a Druid.


    At first nce, the meat seemed unremarkable, but then Ethan froze.


    [Your descendant, Olivia, has sold a piece of meat and gained a minuscule amount of Druid destiny.]


    Examining her past actions, Ethan found it filled with instances of selling meat...


    As for what destiny entailed...