《Reincarnated and Reject My Humanity: Creating the Unrivaled Lineage of All Ages》


 Chapter 1 – Sacrifice!

    "One bow!"


    "Two bows!"


    "Three bows!"


    "Kowtow!"


    ***


    Amidst the clamor surrounding him, Noah Ji struggled to open his eyes, eager for a glimpse of his situation.


    Gradually, his blurry consciousness began to awaken. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before him was a peculiar ancestral hall, and below, rows of figures knelt on blue stone slabs, bowing towards him.


    Noah murmured to himself:


    It made sense, given the runaway truck, survival seemed impossible.


    Yet, in the last moments of consciousness, he had managed to drag himself to the middle of the crosswalk. There should be a substantial compensation for his family.


    At least he had done something for his family before dying.


    Noah sighed, but then he sensed something amiss.


    He was young, without children. Surely not so many would kowtow at his funeral?


    Besides, if he was dead, how could he still have consciousness?


    Before Noah could ponder further, a murky stream of consciousness surged into his mind.


    It was the inheritance of memories!


    His once hazy awareness quickly sharpened, and his vision cleared.


    When Noah looked down again, he noticed something different. He didn''t recognize any of the bowing people, who were dressed in strange, primitive animal skins.


    Noah looked down to check his own state. Had his soul ascended?


    But upon seeing his body, no taller than two meters and no thicker than a bamboo pole, resembling a withered tree, he was at a loss for words.


    This wasn''t a metaphor.


    Although he couldn''t identify the species, the withered and yellow branches indicated the tree was not in good shape.


    Meanwhile, the rush of memories in his mind plunged Noah into deep thought.


    ***


    "The ceremony is complete!"


    "Sacrifice!"


    As the crowd rose, several people brought forth the carcasses of unknown animals and placed them on the bare earth.


    After the offerings were arranged, an elder in coarse clothes stepped forward, holding a yellowed animal hide aloft, uttering a string of strange and convoluted words:


    "Great Sacred Tree, bestow upon us your supernatural power! Grant us the hope of life! Reveal your endless radiance..."


    Noah understood the foreign language clearly, piecing together the fragmented memories that had flooded his mind, and the mysterious events before him now made sense.


    He had not only become a tree but also the totem of this small clan!


    He was the target of this sacrifice.


    From the tree''s original memories, Noah learned that this was not his own world but a new one, a high martial world where clans were prevalent.


    People had perfected the use of their Qi and Blood to great effect, establishing a unique cultivation system!


    In this world, some could shatter mountains and soar through the skies!


    What was impossible in his previous life was now reality!


    Beyond this unique cultivation system, there was something called a totem for worship.


    Noah''s memories on this were scant, and he only had a vague understanding.


    However, it was clear that he was now the totem of this clan!


    As a talent of the new century, Noah quickly accepted the fact that he had transversed, but the idea of becoming a tree, even a revered Sacred Tree, was still somewhat repellant to him.


    Noah tried to stretch his body, but no matter how hard he tried, his branches remained motionless, only swaying slightly in the breeze.


    After several futile attempts, Noah resigned himself to silently observe the actions of the people below, watching the unique ritual unfold.


    Following the elder''s worship, the animal carcasses in the soil were slit at the throat, and blood gushed out, staining the ground crimson.


    Though he lacked a body, the sight still made Noah involuntarily frown.


    What good could come from such a ritual?


    But then he remembered that they were worshipping him, so it was fine!


    As the blood seeped into the ground, Noah felt a strange sensation in his body.


    Uncertain whether it was good or bad, but as the blood reached the roots underground, a tremor ran through Noah''s soul!


    It was a craving, an instinctual longing.


    The next moment, the roots absorbed all the blood from the soil until not a drop was left.


    After the sacrifice, the elder looked up at the Sacred Tree, saw no change as usual, and his eyes revealed a hint of disappointment and confusion before he bowed his head to pray again.


    Aside from the elder, the expressions of the others varied, with some even looking at their Sacred Tree with a hint of disgust and hatred.


    But Noah was oblivious, lost in a peculiar euphoria.


    After the roots absorbed the blood, a crisp ding sounded by Noah''s ear.


    Then, several floating captions slowly formed before his eyes like patterns.


    Seeing the ethereal captions, Noah, well-versed in various web novels, instantly understood.


    This was his golden finger!


    But why the ''weak'' before Sophora Tree?


    Eye of Insight (able to discern basic information about a target), was Noah''s only skill.


    Vitality, undoubtedly, represented Noah''s lifespan. A Vitality of 0.5 indicated his limited time left.


    The status column made this abundantly clear!


    As for Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power, Noah was unclear, but the recent sensation gave him a rough idea of their origins, likely from absorbing the blood of the animal carcasses.


    Qi and Blood could be converted to Vitality, meaning he could extend his lifespan. He wouldn''t have to be a short-lived tree?


    Feeling his poor condition, Noah didn''t hesitate and directed his consciousness towards the Qi and Blood column.


    The moment Noah made his selection, a bold, red caption appeared before him.


    Faced with this sudden choice, Noah hesitated.


    While selecting it could indeed strengthen his Vitality, the red letters and the twofold ''cannot'' were warning him of the gravity of the situation.


    If he chose the wrong clan or location, he would be utterly doomed.


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    As Noah was about to delve deeper into his golden finger before deciding, a frail figure rushed in from outside, shouting:


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 2 – Clans Peril

    Upon these words, the faces of everyone in the ancestral hall darkened with murderous intent and indignation, and they all turned their gaze towards the elder holding the beast hide.


    "Clan Chief, let''s fight them!"


    "That''s right, our Chen Clan won''t be bullied so easily!"


    ***


    Under the intense gaze of the crowd, Ethan Chen, who was well into his sixties, also showed a grim expression. The amiable and respectful look on his face was gone, replaced by a hint of outrage:


    "Hmph, the Li Clan thinks our Chen Clan is defenseless!"


    Ethan Chen''s body tensed, revealing strong muscles beneath his loose clothing, making it hard for Noah Ji, watching from above, to believe that this man was a sexagenarian.


    Buoyed by the momentum, the others in the ancestral hall also responded fiercely:


    Emotions running high, they quickly exited the ancestral hall!


    In an instant, the ancestral hall was quiet once more!


    All that remained were a withered tree and several bloodless beast corpses beneath it!


    Looking at the empty Chen Clan ancestral hall, fragments of Noah Ji''s memory resurfaced.


    ***


    The Chen Clan, a small clan established near Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Due to the abundance of resources in Disordered Burial Mountain, there were many small clans like the Chen Clan.


    But resources were limited, so conflicts were constant among the many small clans that depended on them.


    From what he had just heard, it seemed that the nearby Li Clan had come knocking.


    As Noah Ji pondered, angry shouts from outside followed by the sounds of clashing weapons reached him.


    Listening to the battle cries and wails outside, Noah Ji was curious to take a peek. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unfortunately, as a tree, he could not see the battle outside and could only listen to the fierce fighting.


    "Quickly summon the Elder Ancestor from his coffin!"


    Soon after, Noah Ji heard Ethan Chen''s rallying cry.


    They were calling upon the Elder Ancestor, which suggested that the situation was not ideal.


    But on second thought, since they were being attacked at home, it was clear that the Chen Clan was at a disadvantage.


    Before Noah Ji could ponder the significance of "summoning from the coffin," a disheveled member of the Chen Clan rushed into the ancestral hall where Noah Ji was.


    Only then did Noah Ji notice that the ancestral hall he was in was just the exterior, and there was another room inside, likely where the spiritual positions of the Chen Clan were placed.


    The man who rushed into the ancestral hall fiddled around inside, and then Noah Ji saw him emerge, holding up a mutilated corpse and shouting as he ran out:


    "The Elder Ancestor has arrived!"


    ***


    Noah Ji was somewhat speechless; it seemed there was a reason why the Chen Clan had survived until now!


    Indeed, with the emergence of the Elder Ancestor, the sounds of battle outside the ancestral hall intensified.


    "Retreat!"


    With a stranger''s command echoing around, the noise outside gradually faded until it disappeared.


    "The Elder Ancestor is mighty!"


    Amidst the joyful shouts of the Chen Clan, the "Elder Ancestor" who had been summoned was carried back in.


    Only now, the Elder Ancestor, who was already missing an arm, had also lost a leg!


    The members of the Chen Clan who came in with him were also in a sorry state, many bearing serious injuries.


    It seemed to be a Pyrrhic victory.


    After the group respectfully placed the "Elder Ancestor" back in the ancestral hall and paid their respects, everyone dispersed.


    Before long, the ancestral hall returned to the quiet it had before.


    Looking at the empty surroundings, Noah Ji sighed inwardly.


    Being reincarnated as a tree, unable to speak or move, was a great torment for him.


    And the performance of the Chen Clan today had dashed Noah Ji''s hopes of transforming Qi and Blood into Vitality.


    The Chen Clan was so unstable that it might be exterminated within days. Growing here was too risky.


    Noah Ji had already died once; he didn''t want to die a second time.


    Besides, this new world intrigued him!


    He needed to live a little longer, even if as a tree!


    ***


    Night fell quickly, and the Chen Clan was relatively quiet, with only a few dim oil lamps placed at key intersections.


    In the Chen Clan ancestral hall, a Sophora tree barely two meters tall stood forlornly to one side, its withered branches looking as if a strong wind could blow it over.


    Under the cover of night, a figure slowly entered through the main door of the ancestral hall.


    Noah Ji, deep in thought, quickly turned his attention to the movement inside the hall.


    Noah Ji had no eyes, but his consciousness was more effective than sight, allowing him to see his surroundings even in the pitch-black night.


    Once he recognized the figure, Noah Ji realized it was none other than Ethan Chen, the current Clan Chief of the Chen Clan.


    What puzzled Noah Ji was why Ethan Chen would come to the clan''s ancestral hall so late.


    Noah Ji watched with interest, experiencing sensations different from his previous life.


    Ethan Chen walked into the ancestral hall without pausing under the Sacred Tree where Noah Ji resided, heading straight inside!


    Looking up at the many spiritual positions, Ethan Chen sighed and began to weep!


    He spoke of the difficulty of maintaining the clan and the possibility of its destruction on his watch!


    The outside Noah Ji remained silent after hearing this.


    In truth, he also wanted to help the Chen Clan, as he was, after all, their guardian Sacred Tree.


    But considering he was just a tree, Noah Ji''s rationality overcame reality.


    Perhaps even if he took root here, he might not have the strength to help; it was better to watch and wait for the right opportunity.


    After lamenting his hardships, Ethan Chen heard footsteps approaching from outside the ancestral hall.


    Sensing the noise, Ethan Chen composed himself, once again assuming the role of the Clan Chief.


    As the Clan Chief, he could not show his sorrow and helplessness.


    "Clan Chief, Oliver seeks an audience!"


    "Come in."


    Soon, a robust young figure entered the ancestral hall.


    Noah Ji remembered this person; he was part of the group that had paid respects to him during the day, and what struck Noah Ji was that this person didn''t seem to hold the same reverence for him as the others, even showing some disdain.


    Seeing the two, Noah Ji suddenly remembered he had a skill he hadn''t used yet, and this was the perfect opportunity to try it out.


    The next moment, Noah Ji used the Eye of Insight on the two men.


    With the skill activated, information about the two men quickly appeared before Noah Ji:


    Blood Condensation Realm, a unique cultivation realm of this world!


    The Three Realms of Body Refining are:


    Five Stages of Qi Control:


    Three Realms of Concentrating Spirit:


    And finally, the


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    It is said that reaching this realm allows one to triumph over nature!


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 3 – Rebel Son

    Flashes of knowledge darted through his mind.


    As the Clan Chief of the Chen Clan, whose realm was merely at the Blood Condensation Realm, it was evident that the Chen Clan was indeed a minor clan.


    "How are the casualties today?" Ethan Chen asked slowly.


    "Clan Chief, today five of our clan members are seriously injured, ten have minor injuries, Uncle Mason Chen''s arm is wounded, and Uncle Elijah Chen has suffered some internal injuries. They are both recuperating, but I''m afraid neither will be able to exert the full strength of the Blood Condensation Realm. Furthermore..."


    Listening to Oliver Chen''s report, Ethan Chen sighed.


    With only five Blood Condensation Realm warriors in the clan, the loss of one in the struggle against the Li Clan had already been a heavy blow. Now, with two more injured, the decline of the Chen Clan was all but certain.


    Without change, the Chen Clan might soon be wiped out!


    Thinking this, Ethan Chen''s eyes gradually hardened, as if he had made a decision that went against the wishes of his ancestors. He then instructed Oliver Chen:


    "Spread the word, tomorrow have the younger generation of the clan move out through the secret passage!"


    After uttering these words, Ethan Chen seemed to age considerably.


    Oliver Chen was startled by the command, then asked in surprise:"What about the others?"


    Ethan Chen shook his head: "The rest will prepare for a decisive battle with the Li Clan! Even in death, we cannot let them have an easy time!"


    Hearing Ethan Chen''s decision, Oliver Chen silently lowered his head, having anticipated this outcome, so he wasn''t surprised.


    Still, he found it difficult to accept such a fate for the clan.


    But he understood that it was already a blessing if the younger generation could be preserved.


    If everyone escaped through the secret passage, the Li Clan would soon notice and escape would become more difficult.


    "You are the strongest of the Chen Clan''s ''Qing'' generation; you should leave as well! As long as there are members of the Chen Clan alive, there is a chance for us to rise again!"


    "I won''t leave! I''ll stay too!" Oliver Chen responded without hesitation, determined.


    The Chen Clan was no match for the Li Clan; if he left as well, there would be no hope left for the clan.


    Ethan Chen sighed again but said no more.


    The two gazed at the spiritual positions in the Ancestral Hall in silence for a long while.


    Oliver Chen looked away, but from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the clan''s Sacred Tree beside them!


    In that moment, as he looked at the Sacred Tree, something seemed to click in Oliver Chen''s mind, and a hint of disgust flickered in his otherwise calm eyes.


    Thinking of the clan''s recent plight, Oliver Chen picked up an axe from a corner of the Ancestral Hall and strode toward Noah Ji with a menacing air.


    Noah Ji, who had been observing the two, noticed Oliver Chen''s actions. Seeing him approach with the axe, Noah Ji had a bad feeling and shouted in his mind:


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    Unfortunately, Noah Ji''s words did not carry.


    Oliver Chen quickened his pace and soon stood before Noah Ji.


    As Oliver Chen raised the axe high, ready to chop down, Ethan Chen urgently rebuked: "Stop, what are you doing?"


    Hearing the rebuke, Oliver Chen paused but did not lower the axe, instead speaking with dissatisfaction: "Of course, I''m chopping down this useless tree!"


    Ethan Chen immediately retorted angrily: "Disrespectful! This is the clan''s Sacred Tree! Kneel and apologize at once!"


    "Apologize? It''s just a tree. The clan is on the brink of extinction, and you''re still concerned about this so-called Sacred Tree? This tree has been in the Ancestral Hall for many years, offered countless sacrifices of beast blood, yet where is its divine power? What kind of Sacred Tree is this?


    If the clan cannot be preserved, what use is keeping this wretched tree? Better I chop it down for firewood to cook a meal for our people!"


    Silent by the side, Noah Ji pondered upon hearing this.


    His words did seem to have some logic!


    But remembering his current identity, Noah Ji shook his head repeatedly in his mind: "I am the clan''s Sacred Tree, you Rebel Son!"


    Ethan Chen sighed at Oliver Chen''s resentful words: Now that it has come to this, I will no longer hide the truth from you. In the past, our Chen family was indeed a glorious clan, but after losing in a clan struggle, we were reduced to our current state!


    Our Chen family''s secret method of preserving the Elder Ancestor''s body and strength comes from that time! And this Sacred Tree is the spark of hope that our family managed to preserve with great difficulty. If the clan is to grow strong, it must rely on the Sacred Tree! The power of the Sacred Tree is beyond human reach; that''s why our Chen family has been worshipping it for the past twenty years."


    Listening to Ethan Chen''s story, Oliver Chen slowly lowered the axe but still frowned and said: "But Clan Chief, you''ve seen it yourself, this Sacred Tree has been like this for twenty years. Twenty years of worship, has there been any change? This kind of Sacred Tree, we might as well do without!"


    "Do not speak nonsense, as long as I am the Clan Chief, the worship of the Sacred Tree cannot stop! As long as the Sacred Tree stands, there is hope for the clan!" Seeing his persuasion was ineffective, Ethan Chen invoked his authority as Clan Chief, which made Oliver Chen''s face turn red with frustration. He wanted to argue but ultimately, under Ethan Chen''s stern gaze, he conceded.


    "I''ll go check on Uncle Mason!"


    With that, Oliver Chen left through the door.


    Watching Oliver Chen''s retreating figure, Ethan Chen walked slowly to the main courtyard of the Ancestral Hall, looked up at the withered Sacred Tree, and murmured with a trace of regret: "Was I wrong? But without the Sacred Tree, wouldn''t the clan never have a chance to rise again?"


    He thought of the beast corpses sacrificed over the past twenty years, which were numerous.


    The key issue was that the sacrificed beasts'' Qi and Blood were drained, not only preventing the clan''s warriors from tempering their bodies but also making the meat tough and inedible, like chewing wax.


    Perhaps he had indeed been wrong; the clan had expended too much on this Sacred Tree over the past twenty years.


    Ethan Chen remained silent for a long while before leaving the Ancestral Hall under the endless night sky, his figure stooped in silence.


    After Ethan Chen left, Noah Ji, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, also sighed deeply.


    Twenty years of sacrifice was hard to ignore, but he hadn''t benefited from those sacrifices either!


    According to the fragmented memories in his mind, the Li Clan had no Totem, otherwise, the Chen Clan wouldn''t have lasted this long.


    This meant that after the Chen Clan''s downfall, there was a high chance he could survive.


    He sympathized with the Chen Clan''s current predicament, but he also had to consider his own survival.


    The collision between reason and reality, the interweaving of emotions, left Noah Ji lost in thought.


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 Chapter 4 – Transformation of Qi and Blood

    The night was tranquil, the moonlight pristine, and the sophora tree stood silent and withered.


    A series of light footsteps quickly roused Noah Ji from his deep thoughts.


    Soon, two faint voices drifted from outside the ancestral hall.


    "Is anyone there?"


    A young voice was the first to break the silence.


    "No one''s around, we can go in!"


    Another voice, deep and resonant, quickly responded.


    "Thieves?"


    Hearing their conversation, Noah''s heart tightened with a hint of nervousness.


    Now powerless, unable to move or speak, and lacking the strength to protect himself, if these were thieves, he was done for.


    At this moment, Noah could only hope that these thieves were after the Chen Clan''s elder ancestor, not him. After all, the only valuable things in the ancestral hall seemed to be those two items. They couldn''t possibly be here to steal the spiritual position of the Chen Clan''s ancestors, could they?


    As their conversation ended, the sound of footsteps on the blue stone slab of the ancestral hall came in quick succession.


    As the two figures climbed over the outer wall and entered the ancestral hall, Noah got a clear view of them.


    They were two teenagers, around ten years old, dressed in coarse cloth.


    One had a refined appearance with lively eyes, while the other had a simple, slightly chubby face.


    Seeing the two boys, Noah''s heart eased considerably.


    He recognized them; they had knelt at the back during the day, likely younger members of the Chen Clan.


    But what were they doing sneaking into his ancestral hall in the dead of night?


    Were they here to steal offerings?


    Or something else?


    Noah, secretly observing, was quite intrigued, even forgetting the matters he had been pondering earlier.


    To confirm their identities, Noah cast the Eye of Insight on each of them.


    Indeed, the first to enter was Lucas Chen, and the slightly chubbier one was Alexander Chen, both from the ''Qing'' generation of the Chen Clan.


    Their nervous expressions suggested this was their first time doing such a deed, which only piqued Noah''s curiosity about their intentions.


    After landing smoothly, the two didn''t rush into the ancestral hall but looked around to ensure no one was there before letting out a sigh of relief.


    "Lucas, should we really be doing this? What if the Clan Chief or your father finds out?" the slightly chubbier boy asked with trepidation.


    The older Lucas replied with a determined gaze:


    "The clan is in such a state; why bother with such concerns?"


    "The Sacred Tree should have been destroyed long ago! Think of how much effort our people have wasted on it over the years!"


    "Consider the other clans without a Sacred Tree; they''re still thriving!"


    "I believe our clan''s decline is because of this tree. If we cut it down, the clan will surely overcome this crisis! We''re not doing wrong; we''re saving the clan!"


    "My father? He''ll understand when he''s our age!"


    Hearing about saving the clan, Alexander''s eyes hardened, and he nodded vigorously:


    "You''re right, it''s definitely this tree''s fault. Tonight, we''ll rid the clan of this menace!"


    With that, both drew their machetes and quickly approached Noah Ji, who stood isolated in the ancestral hall.


    Curious Noah was stunned by their conversation.


    So, these kids were sneaking into the ancestral hall in the middle of the night to chop him down!


    He had just narrowly escaped Oliver Chen''s axe, and now he faced the machetes of these two.


    Watching them approach with machetes in hand, Noah felt an urge to cry but had no tears.


    Especially since Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief, wasn''t around, there was no one to speak for him.


    Soon, they were at Noah''s base, looking up at his withered form with resolute eyes.


    "Lucas, where should we chop first?"


    "Are you dumb? Of course, the roots!"


    Lucas replied irritably.


    As they prepared to strike at Noah''s roots with their machetes, he let out a sigh of resignation.


    No more thinking.


    If he didn''t bind to the clan and convert his vitality now, he''d likely never see tomorrow''s sun!


    As they raised their axes, Noah''s consciousness acted faster, rapidly converting his Qi and Blood into vitality!


    As Noah began the transformation, the familiar prompt appeared again, but this time he didn''t hesitate and quickly affirmed!


    While his Qi and Blood rapidly depleted to zero, Noah''s vitality began to soar.


    From 0.5, it climbed higher and higher.


    0.6, 0.7... 1.5, 1.6.


    When vitality reached 2.7, the growth slowed, finally settling at 3.0.


    Five points of Qi and Blood had transformed into 2.5 points of vitality, a two-to-one conversion.


    But before Noah could even experience the change, a sharp chopping sound rang by his ear.


    Looking down, he saw the two boys'' machetes had struck at the roots of his tree form.


    It was over.


    Noah''s heart chilled, but then he realized he was unharmed, and the machetes had only stripped away a layer of bark.


    Before he could ponder further, a surge of life-giving energy rapidly infused his desiccated form. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This vitality was like a light in the darkness, an oasis in the desert.


    As vitality emerged, Noah''s roots buried deep underground began to expand rapidly, soon spreading throughout much of the ancestral hall.


    The spread of the roots seemed to extend his vision even further.


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    But the changes didn''t stop there.


    After the underground roots ceased their expansion, the previously withered trunk also transformed, shedding its old bark and sprouting a new layer. In the middle of the trunk, a green shoot rapidly grew.


    Below, Alexander, who was about to strike again, noticed the changes in the Sacred Tree above.


    Staring at the once-dry trunk now sprouting buds and young branches, he stood frozen, his machete inadvertently dropping to the ground.


    The sight before him defied his understanding.


    "Alexander, don''t just stand there, keep chopping!"


    "The bark is still tough!"


    Lucas, ready to deliver a second blow, urged him on as he saw the tool drop.


    Alexander tugged at Lucas''s sleeve, pointing at the transforming Noah above, exclaiming in shock.


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 Chapter 5 – Sprouted

    "What nonsense are you talking about!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas Chen furrowed his brows but still followed Alexander Chen''s pointing finger to look in the indicated direction.


    When Lucas Chen saw the Sacred Tree, now brimming with new vitality, his mouth opened unconsciously in shock:


    Lucas Chen murmured, disbelief evident in his eyes.


    After a moment of stunned silence, Lucas Chen suddenly snapped to his senses, hurriedly grabbed the still dazed Alexander Chen, and ran towards the outside of the Ancestral Hall!


    Panic was written all over their faces; they couldn''t accept what was happening before them, let alone know how to deal with it. Fleeing seemed to be the best option.


    "Wait, the machete!"


    Alexander Chen, being pulled away, shouted out.


    "At a time like this, who cares about the machete, let''s go!"


    The doors of the Ancestral Hall were firmly locked, and the two men hurriedly scrambled back the way they had come, moving even faster than when they had entered.


    After the two had left, the Ancestral Hall returned to silence, with only the machete left beneath the Sacred Tree as evidence of their visit.


    ***


    Inside the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji was feeling the sensation of vitality filling his body.


    Although it wasn''t much, it was several times more than before.


    Noah Ji tried hard to stretch his body, but all that resulted was a slight trembling of the branches.


    However, even this small achievement satisfied Noah Ji; it meant that as long as he had enough vitality, he could eventually transform the branches into his own arms.


    Looking down at the spot where the machete had struck, he saw that it had healed just as quickly as his vitality had increased, indicating a strong regenerative ability, which delighted Noah Ji.


    He truly was a Sacred Tree, with extraordinary abilities.


    Moreover, during the conversion of Qi and Blood into vitality, his roots had already dug deep into the ground and spread out considerably, while his vision had become farther and clearer.


    However, Noah Ji also discovered a downside; after binding with the Chen Clan, his roots were deep in the ground, immobile.


    If he tried to move, his vitality would likely fade away.


    This meant Noah Ji had to grow here, sharing life and death with the Chen Clan.


    If the Chen Clan were to be destroyed, his own end would probably not be far off!


    Although his rooting was due to the actions of those two reckless kids, from another perspective, he didn''t seem to have much choice.


    To this, Noah Ji didn''t feel much anger or complaint; instead, he felt a sense of relief as if a burden had been lifted.


    After all, he was a tree!


    Then, as if thinking of something, Noah Ji''s personal information appeared again:


    Aside from the increase in vitality, Noah Ji was quickly drawn to the new Deduction function that appeared after binding with the clan.


    Although he didn''t know the function of Deduction, Noah Ji felt that it might be the only way to save the Chen Clan, not just the clan, but himself as well.


    But upon seeing the prerequisites for Deduction, Noah Ji was troubled once again.


    The prerequisites for Deduction were sufficient Qi and Blood, Spiritual Power, and extra Deduction points.


    He had 28 Deduction points readily available, and it wasn''t hard to deduce from the description that these points were likely the result of the clan''s warriors.


    The Deduction points were sufficient, but he was lacking in Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power, so how could he perform Deduction?


    The only way Noah Ji knew to obtain these two attributes was through the sacrifices made by the Chen Clan.


    Absorbing beast blood could increase these attributes.


    But could the current Chen Clan still offer enough beast corpses for sacrifice?


    If possible, Noah Ji would want to summon Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief, to make a sacrifice for him right now.


    But he could neither speak nor move; he could only silently pray in his heart.


    Hopefully, Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief, would not disappoint him.


    The night was as dark as ink, with the moon hanging high.


    Apart from a few patrolling members, the Chen Clan was quiet.


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    Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who had left, had not returned, seemingly hiding in their own rooms.


    ***


    The next day, a hint of dawn spread across the sky.


    Ethan Chen walked out of his room, his face etched with fatigue.


    The clan was on the brink of disaster, and he had spent a sleepless night.


    But after pondering all night, he still couldn''t find a way out for the clan, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.


    "Clan Chief! Clan Chief, something terrible has happened!"


    Hearing the panicked voice at the door, Ethan Chen''s heart skipped a beat, and his expression immediately turned solemn.


    Had the Li Clan attacked again?


    But they had invoked the Elder Ancestor yesterday, which had prevented the Li Clan from leaving unscathed. It hadn''t even been a full day; how could they attack so soon?


    As a young man rushed in, Ethan Chen immediately ordered:"Gather the people, prepare for battle!"


    The young man waved his hands hurriedly:"Clan Chief, it''s not... it''s not the Li Clan! Clan Chief, you must come and see!"


    Ethan Chen''s already furrowed brows deepened upon hearing the news of the Sacred Tree sprouting, and he could no longer maintain his composure. This news was even more unsettling than the Li Clan attacking.


    "Is that true?"


    Ethan Chen asked again, suppressing the excitement in his heart.


    "Clan Chief, it''s absolutely true. I discovered it this morning when I went to clean the Ancestral Hall!"


    "Quick, follow me to see!"


    With a complex expression, Ethan Chen hurried towards the Ancestral Hall.


    By now, quite a few people had already gathered outside the Ancestral Hall, but none dared to approach, merely standing at the entrance and watching.


    "The Clan Chief is here, the Clan Chief is here!"


    "Make way, everyone!"


    Facing the curious gazes of the clan members, Ethan Chen didn''t say much but went straight through the doors of the Ancestral Hall, heading inside!


    Upon entering the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen was greeted by the sight of the rejuvenated Sacred Tree!


    Although the Sacred Tree was not lush, and the newly grown branch even looked somewhat frail, Ethan Chen was visibly shaken, his emotions too intense to articulate, and for a moment, tears streamed down his face.


    He had been skeptical upon hearing the news of the Sacred Tree sprouting, but now, seeing it with his own eyes, he expressed the emotions in his heart.


    He had thought he would never see the Sacred Tree revitalized in his lifetime, yet here he was, witnessing this moment.


    Remembering the power of the clan''s Sacred Tree in the past, hope flickered in Ethan Chen''s eyes, and he murmured softly:


    "This is wonderful."


    "We''re saved!"


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 6 – Sacrifice again

    Ethan Chen was momentarily stunned when he looked down and saw the machete beneath the Sacred Tree.


    Observing the clear marks where the machete fit perfectly against the roots of the Sacred Tree, Ethan Chen fell into deep thought.


    At this time, other members of the clan gradually gathered at the Ancestral Hall.


    Oliver Chen, who had learned of the sprouting Sacred Tree from others, rushed to the Ancestral Hall straight from the morning training grounds, his eyes filled with skepticism.


    The Sacred Tree had been dormant for decades; how could it change today?


    He simply didn''t believe it!


    Could this be a tactic by the Clan Chief to lift the spirits of the people? But what was the point? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, when Oliver Chen pushed through the crowd and entered the Ancestral Hall, seeing the sprouting Sacred Tree with his own eyes, his shock was no less than Ethan Chen''s.


    "It''s really... sprouted!" Oliver Chen looked up at the Sacred Tree, murmuring to himself.


    Watching the Sacred Tree brimming with new life, Oliver Chen quickly regained his composure.


    It was just a tree sprouting, hardly a miracle, even if this tree grew somewhat faster!


    He had always been indifferent to the clan''s Sacred Tree. Instead of placing the clan''s hopes on a tree, he believed it was more reliable to rely on the machete in his own hands.


    So what if the Sacred Tree had sprouted? Could it really save the clan?


    And why did the Sacred Tree choose to sprout at this critical moment? Oliver Chen didn''t see it as a good omen.


    If he were the Clan Chief, the first thing he would do was to chop down this Sacred Tree that confused the minds of the clan''s people!


    However, seeing the joy on the Clan Chief''s face, Oliver Chen kept his thoughts to himself.


    "Oliver, you''ve arrived just in time. Go and gather the rest of the clan to assemble at the Ancestral Hall!"


    Ethan Chen was excited, the man in his sixties appeared especially agitated today.


    Oliver Chen nodded in agreement; he didn''t want to dampen the Clan Chief''s spirits at this time.


    Soon, all members of the clan were gathered together.


    Among the crowd, Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen were also present, but unlike the curiosity in the eyes of others, the two seemed particularly restrained, even avoiding looking at the clan''s Sacred Tree.


    Especially when they saw the machete under the Sacred Tree, they both turned their heads away in unison.


    Once everyone had arrived, Ethan Chen stood beneath the Sacred Tree, his gaze sweeping over the others in the Ancestral Hall.


    Looking at the few clan members inside the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen sighed inwardly.


    The clan had declined to such an extent that he, as the Clan Chief, felt ashamed.


    But now there was hope for the clan!


    The sprouting of the Sacred Tree could surely lead the clan out of its current predicament!


    "Silence!"


    Ethan Chen withdrew his gaze and raised his hand, quieting the Ancestral Hall.


    Looking at the many clan members gazing at the Sacred Tree, Ethan Chen slowly began to speak:


    "At this moment, the clan faces a matter of life and death. Fortunately, the Sacred Tree has sprouted. As long as the Sacred Tree is alive, there is hope for the clan..."


    Under Ethan Chen''s narration, the people of the Chen Clan listened intently.


    Above them, Noah Ji silently watched everything unfolding before him.


    This scene was precisely what he wanted to see. Although he had regained some vitality, it was far from enough.


    He needed more beast blood, which he could only obtain if the Chen Clan made offerings to him!


    With Ethan Chen''s support, there should be no major obstacles; he just needed to wait quietly.


    In the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen silently recounted the glorious deeds of the clan''s Sacred Tree in the past.


    Ethan Chen''s primary goal this time was to use the sprouting of the Sacred Tree to stabilize the hearts of the clan''s people!


    As long as the clan united, coupled with the sprouting Sacred Tree, there might indeed be a glimmer of hope.


    If the hearts of the clan were scattered, even the Sacred Tree could not save them.


    As the Clan Chief, he was acutely aware of the importance of this!


    During Ethan Chen''s narration, the Sacred Tree of the past had been gloriously infinite, not only protecting the clan members but also enhancing their strength.


    Some clan members listening below had determined looks in their eyes, filled with hope.


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    As long as the Sacred Tree grew, there was hope for the clan!


    But there were also some who were skeptical, clearly not convinced by Ethan Chen''s words, and most of these were the younger generation of the clan!


    Ethan Chen''s face showed a hint of helplessness.


    Of course, he knew what was in the hearts of these clan members. After all, they had never seen the glory of the Sacred Tree; without proof, it was natural for them not to believe.


    But at this point, he could not offer an explanation.


    After his explanation, Ethan Chen did not forget the most important matter: the


    The clan rules had recorded that to receive the assistance of the Sacred Tree, the clan members needed to make offerings.


    When the Sacred Tree was first planted, there were small offerings every three days and large offerings every five days.


    However, as the Sacred Tree remained unchanged for a long time, coupled with the dissatisfaction of the clan members, it later became a weekly offering, and even a monthly offering!


    But now that the Sacred Tree had sprouted, it was clearly a critical moment, and Ethan Chen decided to make daily offerings!


    And most importantly, the clan didn''t have much time left.


    With this in mind, Ethan Chen immediately said to the two below:


    "William, Michael, go catch the Spirit-Tailed Chickens we raise in the clan! They will be used to make offerings to the Sacred Tree!"


    "Yes, Clan Chief!"


    At this moment, Oliver Chen hesitated before speaking:"Clan Chief, there are only two Spirit-Tailed Chickens left in the clan!"


    Spirit-Tailed Chickens were a type of fowl rich in Qi and Blood, gentle in nature and abundant in vitality, making them a favorite among many clans.


    Their greatest use was to enhance the Qi and Blood of warriors and to heal injuries.


    Such fowl were extremely precious in a small clan like the Chen Clan!


    After offering them to the Sacred Tree, the blood and flesh of the Spirit-Tailed Chickens would lose their Qi and Blood potency, becoming tough and less palatable than even ordinary dry rations.


    This was the reason for Oliver Chen''s hesitation, not to mention that there were many injured people in the clan at the moment, making these two Spirit-Tailed Chickens all the more important.


    "Mm, I know."


    Ethan Chen''s response left Oliver Chen silent.


    Clearly, the Clan Chief had decided to use these two Spirit-Tailed Chickens for the offering!


    Oliver Chen silently looked at the Sacred Tree in front of him, whispering in his heart:"You''d better show your divine power!"


    Upon hearing about the Spirit-Tailed Chickens, Noah Ji was also moved.


    And Oliver Chen''s words of obstruction made Noah Ji even more interested; he wondered how much Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power these Spirit-Tailed Chickens could provide him.


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 7 – start deduction

    Soon, the two who had left returned once again.


    In their hands, they each carried a rooster weighing about ten pounds, its tail feathers a reddish-brown hue.


    It seemed these were the Spirit-Tailed Chickens they had mentioned.


    Upon seeing this, Ethan Chen once again faced Noah Ji and offered a prayer before instructing the two to sacrifice the chickens.


    Sensing their peril, the Spirit-Tailed Chickens let out frantic cries.


    As the sharp blade sliced through the necks of the chickens, blood gushed forth, splattering into the soil beneath the Sacred Tree. The chickens'' cries grew fainter until they ceased altogether.


    Feeling a surge of longing, Noah Ji no longer hesitated. He stretched out his roots buried beneath the ground, absorbing the blood that had seeped into the soil.


    While absorbing the blood, Noah Ji kept his information panel open, paying close attention to the changes.


    The Qi and Blood, which had previously been depleted, began to rise rapidly from zero as Noah Ji''s roots absorbed the blood.


    1, 2, 3¡­


    The same was true for Spiritual Power, although its increase was slightly slower compared to Qi and Blood.


    However, judging from the rate of increase, the Qi and Blood gained from this sacrifice were more than the last time.


    Soon, Qi and Blood had broken through to five points, and Spiritual Power had reached four points.


    As the blood was fully absorbed, the growth rate of Noah Ji''s Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power gradually slowed. When he looked at his information panel again, it had changed.


    Indeed, the previous annotation had disappeared, and the ''Deduction Not Available'' had changed to ''Deduction Available.''


    Overjoyed, Noah Ji did not hesitate any longer.


    ¡¾This Deduction will consume 10 Qi and Blood, 5 Spiritual Power, and 5 Deduction Points. Do you wish to continue?¡¿


    ¡¾Yes? No?¡¿


    Noah Ji unhesitatingly chose yes, and both his Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power sharply decreased.


    In the next moment, the world before Noah Ji''s eyes transformed.


    The Ancestral Hall around him vanished, replaced by a dense, enclosed forest.


    Noah Ji was surprised and spread his consciousness, only to find that not only was he in a strange place, but his trunk had also thinned considerably. At first glance, he was nothing but a frail Sapling!


    Before he could understand what was happening, a line of text quickly formed before his eyes.


    As the text slowly faded, the timeline before Noah Ji''s eyes seemed to accelerate.


    The sun rose and set rapidly, days and nights interchanged, and seasons changed around him.


    Time seemed to fast-forward, and in just a moment, he had grown from a Sapling to a tree as thick as an arm.


    Time slowed, and a second line of text quickly appeared before Noah Ji.


    Noah Ji spread his consciousness and quickly detected a cicada the size of a thumb resting on his trunk.


    Was this the Spring and Autumn Cicada?


    What surprised Noah Ji was that he could actually make a choice!


    Quite interesting!


    After pondering for a moment, Noah Ji chose to ignore it.


    The timeline stretched again, and Noah Ji''s trunk grew taller and his body thicker.


    After a while, time stopped again, and a new line of text emerged before him.


    Noah Ji was taken aback. So, he didn''t have sentience before this.


    But what was the difference between these two choices?


    After hesitating for a while, Noah Ji chose to absorb the spiritual energy of the moon.


    No particular reason, just a random choice.


    After Noah Ji made his choice, time accelerated once more. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, another line of text appeared before him.


    Below the text, Noah Ji''s robust trunk visibly withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, and soon, only a dry bark and yellowed, withered leaves remained.


    Is this death?


    Damn Spring and Autumn Cicada!


    No manners!


    ***


    Noah Ji''s consciousness quickly blurred, and the world before him collapsed in an instant.


    When Noah Ji regained consciousness, the members of the Chen Clan inside the Ancestral Hall had already begun to rise and leave.


    Noah Ji spread his consciousness and found that his branches remained unchanged, and everything he had just experienced was like a dream.


    As Noah Ji pondered, new text emerged before his eyes:


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    Lunar Eclipse: Swallow the essence of the moon and convert it into Vitality!


    Reversal Pill: You can actively dissipate Vitality to aid others in healing!


    Looking at the newly acquired Technique and Supernatural Power, Noah Ji was contemplative.


    Both the Technique and Supernatural Power were not without reason.


    If his guess was correct, they were related to the choices he made during the Deduction.


    The Technique Lunar Eclipse was acquired from his choice to absorb the essence of the moon.


    As for Reversal Pill, Noah Ji was puzzled.


    Could it be because his sap was drained by the Spring and Autumn Cicada?


    This left Noah Ji somewhat speechless.


    Overall, Noah Ji was extremely pleased with his gains.


    Lunar Eclipse would allow him to gain Vitality without relying on the sacrifices of the Chen Clan, though it required absorbing the essence of the moon, meaning it could only be done at night, and the effects were still unclear.


    As for Reversal Pill, based on its description, it seemed to be a supportive Supernatural Power.


    This power was useless to Noah Ji himself, but it was extremely beneficial for the current Chen Clan.


    However, Noah Ji still had to consider whether the dissipated Vitality and gains were proportional.


    While Noah Ji was contemplating, the other people in the Ancestral Hall had already dispersed, and the hall once again became empty and deserted.


    The Clan was facing great difficulties, and they had many other matters to attend to.


    Noah Ji looked up into the sky; there was still some time before nightfall.


    With this idle moment, Noah Ji could only lament in solitude.


    Why was he a tree, after all?


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 8 – Lunar Eclipse

    Dusk approached, and unbeknownst to all, a pale moon had already taken its place in the sky.


    Beneath the moonlight, Noah Ji began to circulate the Technique he had deduced during the day,


    As the Technique was activated, the moonlight in the sky seemed to be drawn towards him.


    With every "breath" Noah took, the branches and leaves on the trunk shimmered with an additional hint of pearly white light.


    The two glows complemented each other, and under the moon''s illumination, the whole tree soon became a radiant white, standing out in the night like a dreamy vision!


    Fortunately, the walls of the Ancestral Hall shielded this scene from the eyes of others.


    Under the operation of the Technique, Noah''s consciousness spread out, reviewing his own status.


    Seeing that his Vitality had increased by 0.1, Noah''s face lit up with joy. By his calculations, it would take about half an hour to increase 0.1 Vitality, meaning that operating the Technique throughout the night could potentially increase his Vitality by about 1 point.


    Though the growth was slow, it was steady.


    Moreover, with this Technique, he was no longer entirely dependent on the clan''s offerings for survival, which greatly increased his chances of living, much to Noah''s delight.


    He then immersed himself wholeheartedly in the joy of absorbing the moon''s essence!


    Meanwhile, Ethan Chen, having dealt with clan affairs, slowly made his way to the Ancestral Hall. The clan''s situation was deteriorating, and Ethan''s visits to the Ancestral Hall had become more frequent.


    However, today, as Ethan pushed open the grand doors of the Ancestral Hall, he stood frozen in place.


    The Chen Clan''s Sacred Tree, which had appeared unremarkable during the day, was now bathed in moonlight, its entire body gleaming with a bright white aura.


    The glowing leaves were somewhat dazzling, but the joy in Ethan''s heart was beyond words.


    The Sacred Tree had revealed its spirit!


    This was the true appearance of the Chen Clan''s Sacred Tree!


    After many years, he finally witnessed the Sacred Tree''s radiance once more!


    Ethan closed the doors of the Ancestral Hall, hurried to the base of Noah Ji, and bowed deeply, muttering some incomprehensible words.


    Noah was aware of Ethan''s arrival, but he did not show much reaction.


    Although he possessed consciousness, he could not speak, and thus could not communicate with Ethan.


    As for the unusual aspects of his Technique being observed, it was of no concern. After all, as the clan''s Sacred Tree, wasn''t it expected to show some miracles? How else would the Chen Clan worship and offer sacrifices to him?


    Having bound himself to the Chen Clan, he was now in the same boat as them. The Technique could indeed enhance his Vitality, but to survive in this world, he still needed the Chen Clan''s support.


    Moreover, the conditions for Deduction were quite difficult. Without the Chen Clan''s offerings, his growth would be slow.


    Ethan, after a period of mumbling, lifted his head slightly and began to pray softly:


    "Great Sacred Tree, I know you can hear the words of this old man. I, Ethan Chen, the current Clan Chief of the Chen Clan, implore you to guide our clan through this crisis and ensure our survival. I offer my thanks here and now. Should the clan overcome this crisis, we will hold a grand three-day offering in your honor!"


    Listening to Ethan''s words below, Noah understood clearly.


    During the day, he had clearly observed the reactions of those present.


    Aside from the Clan Chief, who still cared for the Sacred Tree, few others believed in it; otherwise, there wouldn''t have been an incident of two youngsters sneaking into the Ancestral Hall to chop down the tree at night.


    And the hope seen in the others was solely because Ethan was still the Clan Chief.


    Once Ethan was gone, it was highly likely that Noah would end up as firewood.


    Therefore, for the sake of protecting the Chen Clan and himself, Noah had to make a gesture.


    If it had been the old Noah, he could only watch helplessly, having no means other than his greenery.


    But times had changed, and now Noah had a Supernatural Power at his disposal.


    In the next moment, Noah activated his Supernatural Power:


    With the use of the Supernatural Power, faint green specks of light emerged from Noah''s leaves.


    As the green specks appeared, Noah''s recently achieved Vitality of 3.2 decreased by 0.1.


    Without a doubt, these green specks were another form of his own Vitality.


    Noah could feel the presence of these green specks and had the ability to control them.


    Under Noah''s manipulation, the green specks quickly surged towards Ethan''s body below.


    Ethan, who was bowing in worship, also noticed an unusual sensation within his body.


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    Looking up, he saw countless green specks swirling around him, each one entering his body and making him feel increasingly better.


    Even the fatigue of many days vanished in that moment!


    Faced with this spectacle, Ethan knew without a doubt that the Sacred Tree was manifesting its spirit!


    He immediately bowed deeply in gratitude: "Thank you, Great Sacred Tree! Thank you! The Chen Clan is saved!"


    Ethan, overwhelmed with joy, absorbed the green specks and wept. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It took a long while for him to recover from his excitement and begin to experience the effects of the green specks.


    These green specks not only eliminated fatigue but also revitalized the Qi and Blood within his body!


    Ethan was overjoyed to realize this.


    For a Warrior, the early stages relied on the strength of Qi and Blood. When Qi and Blood reached a certain level, one could break through to a higher realm and transform their potential!


    Every high-level Warrior had incredibly powerful Qi and Blood.


    Ethan, now in his sixties, was merely a Warrior of the Blood Condensation Realm. This realm was not considered high; it was decent enough for a small place like Disordered Burial Mountain, but far from a true powerhouse.


    At his age, advancing further was extremely difficult, as Qi and Blood would gradually decline with age, along with a lack of energy and other issues.


    But these green specks revitalized his Qi and Blood, which meant that as long as he absorbed enough, perhaps he could advance to another realm?


    If he benefited this much from the absorption, what about the younger members of the clan?


    Thinking of this, Ethan clenched his fists, his excitement indescribable.


    With such divine power from the Sacred Tree, why would the Chen Clan not prosper?


    Furthermore, after absorbing enough green specks, Ethan felt that the old injuries from his martial arts training had also disappeared.


    As Ethan''s condition improved, the green specks beneath the Sacred Tree vanished.


    But by then, Ethan was already immensely satisfied!


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 9 – Crisis

    Reflecting on the current plight of his clan, Ethan Chen couldn''t help but sigh.


    If only the Sacred Tree could have been revived earlier, would his Chen Clan have fallen to such a state?


    But on second thought, it wasn''t too late!


    Now that the Sacred Tree had been revived and was displaying its divine power, there was still hope for his Chen Clan!


    Ethan''s eyes shone with a strange light, his expression brimming with confidence.


    Having regained his composure, Ethan didn''t disturb Noah Ji any further. After another round of respectful bows, he slowly departed.


    With the Sacred Tree possessing such effects, he needed to plan carefully to resolve the current crisis facing his clan!


    Watching Ethan leave the Ancestral Hall full of vigor, Noah Ji nodded slightly.


    It seemed the effects of the Reversal Pill were quite good. Although it consumed some of his own vitality, the loss of 0.1 wasn''t too much and was within an acceptable range.


    After Ethan''s departure, Noah Ji continued to immerse himself in absorbing the moon''s essence, and the Ancestral Hall once again fell silent.


    Only the leaves of the tree, glowing with white light, rustled in the breeze.


    ***


    "Clan Chief, my broadsword is itching for action. When will we obliterate the Chen Clan?"


    Inside the Li Clan''s main hall, where the core members had gathered, a bearded man eagerly questioned the middle-aged man seated at the center. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The middle-aged man, with an imposing demeanor and a hint of sternness on his face, was Joshua Li, the Clan Chief of the Li Clan!


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    Upon hearing the man''s question, everyone''s gaze turned to Joshua, awaiting the Clan Chief''s response.


    After a few days of rest, they had all recovered and were eager to launch another attack on the Chen Clan.


    "Fight, fight, fight, is that all you think about? Do you think you can overcome the Elder Ancestor of the Chen Clan?"


    Chastised by the Clan Chief, the others hung their heads low.


    Though there were several Blood Condensation Realm Warriors among them, the memory of the Chen Clan''s Elder Ancestor''s formidable presence made them consider their actions carefully.


    "Clan Chief, the Elder Ancestor of the Chen Clan is now left with only one hand and one leg. Another attack, and we''re sure to take him down!"


    The questioning man spoke up again.


    The others nodded in agreement. The deceased Elder Ancestor of the Chen Clan was indeed fierce, but he was dead. After a couple more fights, they didn''t believe he could regrow his lost limbs!


    Joshua Li sighed upon seeing their reactions. Although the Li Clan had a larger number of Blood Condensation Realm Warriors than the Chen Clan, it seemed their brains had been devoured by the Stone Demons of Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Joshua spoke plainly: "Don''t rush. The Chen Clan is already within our grasp. Their downfall is only a matter of time, but remember, aside from our Li Clan and the Chen Clan, the Liu Family is also eyeing us covetously from Disordered Burial Mountain!"


    "Didn''t the Liu Family already agree not to get involved in this matter?" The man asked, puzzled.


    "Fool, you believe what the Liu Family says? The Liu Family simply wants us and the Chen Clan to weaken each other. If we suffer heavy losses, they''ll be at our doorstep the next day!


    So, we mustn''t rush to destroy the Chen Clan. We need to take it slow!"


    "Clan Chief, how long must we wait then?" Someone from below inquired.


    Joshua Li didn''t answer but instead asked another person: "Has anyone from the Chen Clan ventured out recently?"


    "Yes, but we spotted them and sent them packing!"


    Joshua nodded: "Good. The Chen Clan is now holed up within their territory, unable to hunt in Disordered Burial Mountain or trade in the market, effectively cutting off all contact with the outside world. Plus, their stored food and dried meat are running low.


    In this case, we just need to surround them without attacking. After a few more days, they won''t have the strength to fight us. The Chen Clan will collapse on its own!"


    Hearing this, the others had an epiphany and nodded in agreement.


    Fighting wasn''t the issue; fighting on an empty stomach was!


    "Clan Chief is wise!"


    ***


    Amidst a chorus of flattery, Joshua Li''s face revealed a faint smile. He then ordered several people to keep watch over the Chen Clan, block all exits, and not let a single person escape!


    After the clan members left, Joshua pondered carefully and then nodded to himself.


    It was fortunate that the Li Clan had him; otherwise, they wouldn''t be much better off than the Chen Clan!


    Once the Li Clan absorbed the Chen Clan, taking over the hunting grounds of Disordered Burial Mountain and other resources, they would undoubtedly become stronger.


    Especially the Chen Clan''s secret method of refining the body of their Elder Ancestor, which he had long coveted.


    Although the refined body''s Realm would be one level lower than in life, such a secret method was rare in Disordered Burial Mountain!


    The Elder Ancestor of the Chen Clan was originally of the Innate Realm, and even after refinement, which lowered him to the late Blood Condensation Realm, the body had been damaged in subsequent battles and could only exert the strength of the mid Blood Condensation Realm.


    Even so, it had allowed the Chen Clan to cling to survival until today. It was indeed a valuable asset!


    Moreover, he had heard that within the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall, there was a Sacred Tree. Once they broke through the Chen Clan, he might have the chance to see what this Sacred Tree looked like!


    If all went well, perhaps in the near future, the Li Clan would be the only one left on Disordered Burial Mountain!


    Joshua Li gazed into the distance, his eyes revealing a hidden ambition.


    ***


    "Clan Chief, Clan Chief, something terrible has happened!"


    The next day, a young man''s shouts once again echoed outside Ethan Chen''s door.


    Hearing this, Ethan, who was initially startled, became solemn.


    "Has the Li Clan attacked us again?"


    After speaking, Ethan sighed inwardly. The Li Clan gave them no respite, and even with the Sacred Tree''s divine power, it would be difficult for them to escape danger and change the clan''s fortunes.


    "No, it''s not that! This morning, our people tried to go hunting in Disordered Burial Mountain but were ambushed by the Li Clan!"


    Relieved that it wasn''t an attack from the Li Clan, Ethan asked again: "How are the casualties?"


    "Fortunately, we detected their presence early and retreated quickly. Only a few of our people suffered minor injuries, nothing serious."


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 10 – Become senile

    "That''s good, that''s good!"


    Ethan Chen muttered to himself, but this left the young man who had come to report the news somewhat startled.


    Why was the Clan Chief still saying things were good when the people of the clan were injured? Had it not been for his status, he would have suspected that the speaker was a spy from another clan.


    "Clan Chief, our clan''s stored grain and dried meat are almost gone!"


    At this moment, another young man approached Ethan Chen to report.


    "How long can we hold out?"


    "Probably less than a day, and almost all of the clan members who went out have been attacked by the Li Clan, yielding nothing."


    Upon hearing this, Ethan Chen instantly understood the Li Clan''s conspiracy. The blessing of the Elder Ancestor was still upon them, and to avoid injury, the Li Clan dared not attack directly, instead resorting to this method to trap the Chen Clan to death inside.


    This was an overt scheme, and his Chen Clan had no means of counterattack.


    "Good! What a clever tactic!" Ethan Chen exclaimed with a sense of admiration.


    The two who had come to report were also downcast, understanding the crux of the matter.


    But Ethan Chen didn''t seem to care. Things were already so bad that they couldn''t get much worse. He immediately waved his hand and said to the two: "Gather everyone outside the Ancestral Hall, I have something to say. Bring the injured clan members as well!"


    "Yes, Clan Chief!"


    The two who received the order quickly departed!


    However, as they left, they both saw a hint of confusion in each other''s eyes.


    "Have you noticed the Clan Chief seems to be in good spirits?"


    They spoke in unison, then looked at each other, startled, realizing it wasn''t just their imagination.


    Without knowing the reason, the two didn''t say more and went to notify the other clan members.


    ***


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji stood quietly in a corner, utterly bored.


    After practicing all of last night, his vitality had reached 4.1. If it weren''t for using a Reversal Pill, it would have been 4.2.


    That worked out to an increase of 0.1 vitality every half hour.


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    It was just a pity that he couldn''t operate his technique during the day.


    If he had chosen to absorb the essence of the sun, the outcome might have been different, but then he wouldn''t have been able to practice at night. It was the same dilemma.


    He hoped that during the next Deduction, he would encounter the same choice again, but Noah Ji felt it was unlikely.


    He also wondered when the Chen Clan would make their next offerings. He had just displayed his divine power yesterday, so it should be soon.


    But considering the current predicament of the Chen Clan, the offerings didn''t seem so straightforward.


    As Noah Ji was enjoying the rising morning sun, the Ancestral Hall''s doors were slowly opened again.


    Without surprise, the visitor was Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief.


    After closing the doors, Ethan Chen''s gaze turned to the Sacred Tree within the hall.


    Although the Sacred Tree no longer glowed at night, the improvement in his own condition was undeniable.


    With the clan''s situation becoming increasingly dire, and facing the Li Clan''s tactics, Ethan Chen had a plan in mind, but he needed to communicate with the Sacred Tree first.


    Without the Sacred Tree''s healing, his plan would be nothing but a castle in the air.


    Understanding this, Ethan Chen immediately laid out his plan.


    Upon hearing Ethan Chen''s story, Noah Ji couldn''t help but cast his invisible gaze toward the elder who was over sixty years old. It seemed Ethan Chen was betting all the clan''s remaining options on him.


    But it appeared he didn''t have much choice.


    Currently, his fate was tied to the Chen Clan, and at least for now, he couldn''t extricate himself from the current predicament on his own.


    After sharing his plan, Ethan Chen looked at Noah Ji with hopeful eyes.


    He believed the Sacred Tree was sentient and would surely respond to him.


    Under Ethan Chen''s gaze, the branches of the Sacred Tree swayed slightly.


    Seeing this, Ethan Chen showed gratitude and bowed once more.


    At this moment, there was a noisy debate coming from outside the Ancestral Hall, as if people were arguing about something.


    After bowing, Ethan Chen frowned slightly and then walked towards the outside of the Ancestral Hall. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s going on?"


    Stepping out of the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen looked at the assembled clan members and asked Oliver Chen who was in front.


    Oliver Chen spoke with some indignation: "Clan Chief, many of our clan members who went out to hunt recently have been attacked by the Li Clan, and now there''s not much food left in the clan. At this rate, we won''t last much longer."


    "I''m already aware of this!"


    Ethan Chen replied with a sigh, but Oliver Chen continued: "Clan Chief, in my opinion, why don''t we take advantage of the fact that our people still have the strength to fight and go out hunting? Otherwise, after a while, when our people lack Qi and Blood and are starving, our fighting power will decrease, and we''ll completely lose our chance!"


    After Oliver Chen finished speaking, many people behind him nodded slightly, thinking it was a good idea.


    At that moment, a middle-aged man with a somewhat pale face stood out from the crowd and spoke against it:


    Everyone immediately looked at the speaker, who was none other than Elijah Chen, a Blood Condensation Realm Warrior of the clan. Upon closer inspection, he bore a striking resemblance to Lucas Chen, only much older in appearance.


    Seeing everyone looking at him, Elijah Chen sighed and continued: "The reason the Li Clan hasn''t attacked our clan is because the Elder Ancestor is still in the Ancestral Hall. If we gather to hunt, the Elder Ancestor cannot be brought along, and relying solely on the clan''s current strength, we are no match for the Li Clan. This will only make our situation even more difficult!"


    Some of the clan members below nodded again.


    Oliver Chen''s brow furrowed: "But Uncle, if we don''t take a chance, won''t we have no opportunity at all?"


    "This method is too risky. If something goes wrong, the clan might..."


    ***


    The two sides argued incessantly, each with their own point of view.


    In the back of the crowd, Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen stood aside. Hearing the clan members'' debate, Lucas Chen couldn''t help but whisper: "I think my father has really become senile!"


    "Oliver''s idea is so good, don''t you think, Alexander?"


    Alexander Chen scratched his head: "Huh?"


    ***


    Let me say a few words!"


    As Ethan Chen spoke up, the other clan members instantly fell silent.


    "We have little food left in the clan, so we must go hunting! And since the Li Clan has people guarding Disordered Burial Mountain to attack us, we need to find a new path, one unseen by the Li Clan!"


    After Ethan Chen finished speaking, everyone present was puzzled.


    The Chen Clan was built on the ground, and the people couldn''t fly, so how could they avoid the Li Clan''s guards and go to Disordered Burial Mountain to hunt?


    "The only way is through the clan''s secret passage!"


    As someone blurted out, everyone''s gaze turned to the speaker, who then realized he had spoken out of turn.


    "No!"


    "The clan''s secret passage is the last escape route for some clan members, it cannot be exposed!"


    "Yes, once the Li Clan discovers the secret passage, the clan will have no way out!"


    The two who had been arguing stopped at the mention of this suggestion and immediately stood on the same side.


    "I was just saying!"


    The person who had spoken muttered.


    But everyone understood that, according to the Clan Chief, this seemed to be the only way.


    "This is my plan!"


    As the crowd fell silent, Ethan Chen slowly spoke up.


    The two who had just been opposing were shocked to hear this.


    Due to the previous anomaly with the Sacred Tree and other matters, the younger generation of the clan had not yet been moved out, but now the Clan Chief was saying that the clan members should go hunting through the secret passage.


    If the Li Clan discovered the secret passage and blocked it in advance, it would completely cut off the clan''s last resort.


    The most critical issue was that both the previous and current suggestions had come from the Clan Chief himself, leaving the two momentarily unable to accept it, unclear about what Ethan Chen was thinking.


    Even though it was the Clan Chief who had spoken, Oliver Chen still couldn''t help but retort:


    "But, Clan Chief..."


    Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan

 Chapter 11 – Clan Chief has gone mad

    "Enough, no need for further words. I have my own judgment!"


    Ethan Chen cut off Oliver Chen''s words with a decisive tone.


    He was well aware of the enormous risks behind this idea, but he still wanted to take the gamble, simply because he couldn''t bear to see the clan that the Elder Ancestor had built with great difficulty fall apart on his watch.


    The revitalized Sacred Tree behind him was the source of Ethan''s confidence.


    Seeing the unshaken gaze of the Clan Chief, the two men refrained from arguing further. They could tell that the Clan Chief had other plans, but they couldn''t fathom Ethan''s thoughts at the moment.


    As they observed more closely, they also noticed that the Clan Chief seemed to be in a better mental state than before, which puzzled them even more.


    "Have all the injured from the clan been brought here?"


    At that moment, Ethan turned to the messenger and asked.


    "All of them are here! There are a total of fifteen people who have been injured recently due to the battle with the Li Clan."


    As the words fell, a group of injured, wrapped in white bandages, stepped forward.


    Among these people, some leaned on crutches, some had their foreheads bandaged, and others lay on stretchers!


    The man at the front, in his forties, had one arm roughly bandaged. This was Mason Chen, one of the four Blood Condensation Realm Warriors of the Chen Clan.


    However, his arm was injured in an attack by the Li Clan two days ago. Although it didn''t hinder his movement, he could now only exert half of his strength.


    "Clan Chief!"


    Mason greeted with a nod.


    "Mm, all of you follow me inside! The rest wait outside, no one is to enter the Ancestral Hall for now!"


    Halfway through, Ethan looked back and said:


    "Elijah, Oliver, you two come in as well."


    Hearing Ethan''s command, the rest of the clan members showed puzzled expressions, not understanding the Clan Chief''s intentions.


    Oliver Chen and Elijah Chen were also confused, but they didn''t refuse and walked into the Ancestral Hall together.


    The remaining clan members could only wait outside, watching as the doors of the Ancestral Hall slowly closed.


    "Hey, Alexander!"


    From the crowd, Lucas Chen, standing at the back, called out to Alexander Chen.


    Alexander turned with a puzzled look:


    "Lucas, what''s up?"


    "Don''t you want to see what the Clan Chief is doing inside the Ancestral Hall?"


    Alexander''s eyes widened slightly, grasping Lucas''s intent, but then he quickly shook his head:


    "No, the Clan Chief just gave an order, and our fathers are right there. Do you want to be punished?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We''ll go through that secret passage we found last time, just peek over the wall, the Clan Chief won''t notice!"


    This left Alexander in a dilemma:


    "Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"


    Seeing his hesitation, Lucas spoke again:


    "Don''t you want to save our clan?"


    "What does that have to do with saving the clan?"


    Alexander was clueless, but he slowly started moving his feet.


    The two of them quietly slipped away from the back of the crowd, sneaking towards the other side of the Ancestral Hall.


    Inside the Ancestral Hall, when everyone saw Ethan approaching the Sacred Tree in the corner, their expressions were filled with doubt.


    Oliver frowned slightly, also unclear about the Clan Chief''s intentions, merely observing the Sacred Tree in the corner of the Ancestral Hall with a hint of disdain in his eyes, while contemplating the importance of the clan''s secret passage.


    Amidst the puzzled gazes, Ethan strode towards the Sacred Tree and slowly addressed Noah Ji:


    "Sacred Tree, these are the injured of our clan. I beseech you to show your brilliance!"


    Upon hearing this, everyone''s faces revealed shock, and their eyes showed disbelief.


    What was their Clan Chief doing?


    Was he asking the Sacred Tree to heal their wounds?


    Had the Clan Chief lost his mind?


    Although they had heard that the Sacred Tree had sprouted, they didn''t believe that the tree could heal them, especially since some of them had severe injuries that even the clan''s physician said couldn''t be healed quickly.


    However, these thoughts were kept to themselves, not daring to voice them out loud.


    Mason Chen at the front didn''t hide his feelings and quickly stepped forward, whispering to the praying Ethan:


    "Clan Chief, have you not been resting well lately? Maybe you should rest for a while!"


    He had heard that Ethan hadn''t rested for several days due to recent clan matters. Even though he was a Blood Condensation Realm Warrior, it wasn''t sensible to go on like this, otherwise, why would he be speaking such nonsense now?


    As a junior of the clan, he felt it was his duty to advise the Clan Chief. If the Clan Chief had lost his mind, then the clan was truly hopeless.


    Ethan looked at Mason''s concerned face with a wry smile.


    Before witnessing the brilliance of the Sacred Tree, he too thought he was going mad. However, after experiencing it firsthand yesterday, he knew of the Sacred Tree''s current capabilities, more than enough to heal everyone''s injuries.


    Ethan didn''t explain much, simply gesturing for the injured clan members to sit under the Sacred Tree.


    Explaining now was superfluous; they would understand once they experienced it themselves!


    Seeing the Clan Chief''s serious demeanor, Mason also walked towards the Sacred Tree with half-belief, half-doubt, while the others, though without objection, curiously watched the Sacred Tree.


    Noah Ji looked down at the ten or so people below, silently estimating the Vitality he would need to expend, which was probably not insignificant, especially for the one carried in on a stretcher, whose injuries seemed quite severe.


    But at this point, Noah had little choice.


    Before this, Ethan had laid out his plan to him, hoping to use Noah''s brilliance to heal the injured members of the Chen Clan and then send some clan members through the secret passage to hunt deep in Disordered Burial Mountain.


    The spoils of the hunt would serve to sustain the survival of many in the clan and also be used for sacrifices.


    As for the sacrifices, Noah was more than eager.


    The more offerings, the faster his Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power would accumulate, allowing him to perform the next Deduction and strengthen himself.


    Vitality was important, but what he had was already sufficient to maintain his growth, and with the Lunar Eclipse Technique at his disposal, there was no immediate concern.


    Noah had also witnessed the scene outside the Ancestral Hall.


    The secret passage was the Chen Clan''s last resort. Now that Ethan, the Clan Chief, had personally spoken, it was clear that he was staking all his bets on Noah.


    With the Chen Clan in dire straits, if they didn''t resort to this method, Noah didn''t know how they would face the Li Clan''s attacks in the coming days.


    At the same time, Noah was secretly relieved that this Clan Chief was not some obstinate elder and had not chosen to give up on the clan, otherwise, he would indeed be doomed to perish here!


    So, when Ethan made his request, Noah saw no reason to refuse.

 Chapter 12 – Divine power

    Not far away, Oliver Chen emerged from his deep contemplation.


    Upon witnessing the Clan Chief''s recent actions, Oliver Chen sighed.


    The Clan Chief must have gone mad; otherwise, why would he pin all his hopes on this tree?


    Although he had long known about the Clan Chief''s deep obsession with the Sacred Tree of the clan, he never imagined that at such a critical moment for the clan, the Clan Chief would lose his senses.


    It seemed that the clan might indeed be unable to hold on much longer.


    He, Oliver Chen, the hope of the clan''s younger generation, needed to start considering the future of the clan''s people.


    "Uncle, do you support me?"


    Looking at Ethan Chen, who was praying silently and respectfully under the Sacred Tree, Oliver Chen asked Elijah Chen beside him.


    Elijah Chen didn''t answer but merely sighed softly and nodded.


    He too had previously failed to understand the Clan Chief''s decision to open the secret passage, but now everything made sense.


    The Clan Chief had lost his mind.


    No wonder the Clan Chief seemed in good spirits today, a stark contrast to the previous days.


    As everyone sat down, Noah Ji quietly activated the Reversal Pill supernatural power.


    With the power in motion, the branches and leaves on Noah Ji''s torso began to sway lightly in the air.


    Amidst the swaying, countless light green specks seeped out from the leaves, quickly filling half of the Ancestral Hall in the blink of an eye.


    The people of the clan seated below, witnessing this extraordinary scene above them, were all dumbfounded.


    Before they could even speak, the myriad of light specks had already spread to them and then seeped into their bodies!


    "This! What is this!"


    The faces of those invaded by the green specks changed as they felt the marvel within.


    "My hand is so itchy!"


    A clan member with an injured arm exclaimed in astonishment.


    "Me too! I can feel my foot again!"


    At this moment, everyone in the Ancestral Hall was filled with joy. Although they didn''t understand what was happening, they realized that these green specks were no ordinary matter, as they seemed to be healing their injuries.


    Mason Chen also showed a look of shock.


    Others might not understand, but as one of the three Blood Condensation Realm Warriors of the clan, he had a better control over the blood energy in his body. Even though he couldn''t look inside his body, he could still feel something extraordinary that ordinary people couldn''t experience.


    He felt his wounds healing rapidly. After his injury, the clan''s physician had told him it would take at least half a year to recover, and a full year to heal completely.


    But now, just by absorbing a few green specks, he felt the blood energy in his arm surge again, brimming with vitality.


    This was beyond what ordinary herbs could achieve, unless it was some kind of special treasure with unique effects. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But such treasures were not something a small clan like the Chen Clan could possess.


    At this moment, Mason Chen''s gaze became vacant as he finally understood why the Clan Chief had never given up on making offerings to the Sacred Tree for the past twenty years.


    The Sacred Tree of the clan possessed such tremendous power!


    Not far away, Oliver Chen and Elijah Chen were already quietly contemplating their next move.


    But as countless green specks caught their eyes, the two, still in discussion, were momentarily stunned, and the sounds of joy and excitement from the people around them made it hard for them to remain calm.


    Even though they were a distance away, a few green specks still drifted towards them.


    Elijah Chen, curious, reached out to catch them, wanting to experience their miraculous effects.


    Oliver Chen, on the other hand, hurriedly dodged.


    He had never believed in these things and refused to absorb these unknown green specks!


    Perhaps this was all just an illusion created by the tree! He wouldn''t be fooled!


    But the green specks, as if sentient, swiftly entered his body when Oliver Chen was too slow to evade.


    Oliver Chen''s expression changed, but he stopped dodging.


    After carefully sensing the effects of the green specks entering his body, Oliver Chen''s expression shifted slightly, and he murmured in a low voice:


    "How is this possible?"


    Beside him, after absorbing the green specks, Elijah Chen''s eyes suddenly shone with light.


    At that moment, he finally understood why the Clan Chief had previously ignored everyone''s opinions and stubbornly opened the clan''s secret passage. So this was the reason!


    Realizing this, Elijah Chen involuntarily moved closer to the Sacred Tree, wanting to absorb more green specks.


    As he moved, he didn''t forget to look back and say:


    "Well, Oliver, you have so much support, you won''t need me."


    Oliver Chen fell silent as he looked at the Sacred Tree in front of him.


    Although he wasn''t particularly fond of the Sacred Tree, the reality before his eyes meant that he might as well pretend he hadn''t said anything earlier.


    Nearby, Ethan Chen, watching the astonished people of the clan, smiled slightly.


    The scene before him confirmed that his years of persistence had not been in vain; there was still hope for the clan.


    "Quiet! The Sacred Tree has only just begun to sprout new life, and exerting its divine power takes a toll on it. Absorb it quickly!"


    Seeing the people unable to contain their excitement and moving about, Ethan Chen immediately scolded them.


    Hearing the Clan Chief''s words, everyone immediately calmed down, suppressed their joy, and began to focus on absorbing the green specks around them.


    "What''s going on?"


    "What''s happening inside?"


    The commotion inside the Ancestral Hall reached those waiting outside, and their faces showed confusion. However, the tightly closed doors of the Ancestral Hall prevented them from seeing what was happening inside.


    Out of respect for the Clan Chief''s orders, they dared not approach to investigate.


    "Just wait and you''ll know."


    ...


    "Hurry, I heard something!"


    On the other side of the Ancestral Hall''s surrounding wall, Lucas Chen called out to Alexander Chen. Using protruding stones at the base of the wall as footholds, they leaped to the edge of the wall, revealing half of their heads, and then peered into the Ancestral Hall.


    When the two saw the scene inside the Ancestral Hall, their pupils involuntarily dilated.


    "Lucas, what''s that?"


    Alexander Chen asked, his gaze blank.


    Discover the complete story on


    But Lucas Chen did not answer, as he too was immersed in the extraordinary scene before him.


    Below the ordinarily unremarkable Sacred Tree of the clan, about a dozen clan members were seated, surrounded by countless green specks that danced around them like fireflies.


    Whenever the green specks entered the bodies of the people below, their faces lit up with pleasure.


    The miraculous scene dazzled the two onlookers.


    Soon, the green specks around them dwindled, and the people who had been meditating slowly opened their eyes.


    "It''s better, my hand is better! It doesn''t hurt anymore!"


    "I can walk!"


    "Ha ha ha!"


    ...

 Chapter 13 – Secret passage

    The people, after assessing their own conditions, were all delighted and excited.


    Despite being warriors, their movements were still hindered by injuries, but to their surprise, they recovered in an instant.


    Mason Chen silently felt his arm and then exerted a little force. The white cloth bandaging his wound was instantly shaken off.


    He had regained the combat strength of a Blood Condensation Realm Warrior!


    When Mason Chen looked up at the Sacred Tree of the clan again, his eyes held a trace of reverence.


    Outside the wall, the two brothers who witnessed the scene inside were too afraid to keep looking, lest they be discovered. They quickly bowed their heads and hurried away along the path they had come.


    But their curiosity was indescribable, the scene they had just witnessed was a huge visual shock.


    They had not expected the clan''s Sacred Tree to truly be divine.


    Remembering how they had sneaked in to chop down the tree two nights ago, panic flickered in their eyes.


    "What do we do, Lucas?"


    "The Sacred Tree won''t blame us, will it?" Alexander Chen asked anxiously.


    "It shouldn''t, right?" Lucas Chen replied uncertainly, also feeling panicked and unsure of how to respond.


    "It''s fine, as long as we don''t tell, no one will know it was us!"


    "Yeah."


    The two comforted each other and then returned to the crowd outside the Ancestral Hall.


    "From now on, the Ancestral Hall is off-limits to the clan. Do not disturb the Sacred Tree''s rest without good reason!" Ethan Chen told the clan members whose injuries had healed.


    If anyone still doubted before, now, after personally experiencing Noah Ji''s "divine power," everyone looked at Noah Ji with fear and respect, and they all agreed.


    "Elijah, Mason, Oliver, the three of you stay. The rest of you may leave," Ethan Chen waved his hand, and everyone nodded in agreement. As they left, they paid their respects to the Sacred Tree once more, this time with much more sincerity.


    Ethan Chen smiled as he watched the three with varying expressions.


    Although the clan''s Sacred Tree possessed such divine power, relying solely on this was not enough to turn the tide.


    How to open the clan''s secret passage and how many people to send out hunting needed to be discussed.


    Moreover, the clan elders had informed them beforehand that every request made to the Sacred Tree required an offering.


    Hunting was now even more crucial.


    "Regarding the matter of hunting through the clan''s secret passage, let''s hear your thoughts," Ethan Chen slowly said.


    As soon as he finished speaking, Mason Chen was the first to respond:


    "Clan Chief, since the Sacred Tree has such power, this plan is feasible! And we must act quickly, we can go hunting tonight."


    "Clan Brother is absolutely right. The Li Clan is watching us closely, and we are short on time..."


    ...


    After a discussion, a decision was quickly reached.


    With no other options left for the clan, and facing the risk of annihilation, they needed to act decisively!


    Above, Noah Ji was inwardly exclaiming:


    "Damn, I used 1.1 of my vitality!"


    Although he knew healing so many people would consume a lot of vitality, seeing his own vitality drop from 4.1 to 3.0 still pained him.


    That was the result of an entire night''s effort.


    However, when Noah Ji heard the discussion below, his reluctance quickly dissipated.


    The green specks that had infiltrated Oliver Chen and Mason Chen''s bodies were intentional, meant to increase his credibility within the Chen Clan.


    It seemed to be working well, even Oliver, who had previously wanted to chop him down for firewood, was now much quieter.


    With the support of the Chen Clan''s four Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, his prestige within the clan would be even higher.


    The decline in vitality was not just a simple reduction in numbers. Noah Ji could feel his perception of the outside world weakening; his consciousness, which could previously extend beyond the Ancestral Hall, was now barely breaking through its edges.


    Moreover, the roots underground had also retracted significantly, weakening his control over them.


    These were all negative effects brought on by the loss of vitality.


    Without sufficient vitality or in an emergency, this ability was more harmful than beneficial to him.


    But for now, he could only hope that the Chen Clan would bring a couple of fat pigs to offer to him soon.


    After the four had discussed, a decision was quickly made.


    Once they left, the Ancestral Hall returned to silence.


    Noah Ji looked around, a silent sigh echoing in the air.


    As night fell, the Chen Clan was unusually quiet. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under the moonlight, Noah Ji diligently practiced the Technique of Lunar Eclipse, absorbing the power of the moonlight.


    In his silent breathwork, the entire trunk emitted a pure white luminescence.


    "Creak."


    Suddenly, the tightly closed doors of the Ancestral Hall opened, and several figures slipped inside.


    These were not Lucas and Alexander Chen, who had sneaked in to chop the tree, but Mason Chen and others who had discussed the hunting expedition with Clan Chief Ethan Chen during the day.


    Apart from them, there were a few more figures this time.


    But upon closer inspection, it was clear that these were the strongest warriors in the Chen Clan, aside from the Blood Condensation Realm warriors like Oliver Chen, all possessing late-stage Body Tempering Realm strength.


    These were the last defenses of the Chen Clan.


    As they quietly entered the Ancestral Hall, they were greeted by the radiant Sacred Tree.


    Those who had never seen such a sight were all shaken, their eyes filled with surprise and reverence, and a glimmer of hope.


    However, Noah Ji was puzzled. Hadn''t Ethan Chen and the others planned to go hunting through the clan''s secret passage tonight? Why were they gathering in the Ancestral Hall in the middle of the night?


    Before Noah Ji could ponder further, another figure entered the Ancestral Hall.


    It was Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief.


    "Are you ready?" he asked.


    "Clan Chief, we''ve sent people to guard the clan''s perimeter. They''ll report immediately at the slightest disturbance," Mason Chen replied.


    Ethan Chen nodded, "Good, this mission is of utmost importance. We cannot afford to let any information leak!"


    "Also, the secret passage leads deep into Disordered Burial Mountain, where there are many Blood Condensation Realm beasts, and it''s said there are even Innate Realm beasts. You must be careful, and prioritize your own safety above all."


    "Yes, Clan Chief," they all responded solemnly.


    "There''s no time to lose, go quickly and return swiftly."


    After that, they headed towards the room where the Elder Ancestor was enshrined.


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    Upon entering, Ethan Chen moved a Blue Stone Slab, revealing a dark passage.


    Outside, Noah Ji, sensing the scene inside, was taken aback.


    He hadn''t expected the Chen Clan''s secret passage to be in the Ancestral Hall, and although his roots spread underground for over ten meters, they hadn''t reached beneath that room, which is why he had not noticed it.

 Chapter 14 – Oliver Chen Breakthrough

    "Thump, thump..."


    As Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, Mason Chen and Elijah Chen were the first to leap into the passage without hesitation.


    Despite the pitch darkness within the tunnel, warriors at the Body Tempering Realm could already see in the dark, let alone those who had reached the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Soon, the group vanished into the secret passage.


    Outside the passage, Ethan Chen approached the Sacred Tree and silently offered his prayers.


    This hunting expedition had sent out almost all the high-ranking warriors of the Chen Clan. Although there were only four Blood Condensation Realm Warriors in the clan, this was all the strength they had.


    As the Clan Chief, Ethan naturally couldn''t leave; he had to stay and oversee the clan''s affairs.


    Additionally, one person remained in the clan, Oliver Chen, also of the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Leaving a Blood Condensation Realm Warrior behind was, of course, to guard against a sudden attack from the Li Clan.


    Though the likelihood was slim, they couldn''t be too careful. Two Blood Condensation Realm Warriors should be able to hold out for some time.


    After his prayers, Ethan Chen turned and left the Ancestral Hall, leaving only Noah Ji silently absorbing the moon''s essence.


    3.1, 3.2...


    Bored, Noah Ji could only quietly watch his slowly increasing vitality, hoping the hunters would bring good news.


    ¡¾Clan member Oliver Chen has advanced to the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, Deduction Points +2¡¿


    The sudden prompt took Noah Ji by surprise. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Oliver Chen had broken through?


    And contributed two Deduction Points to him!


    Not bad at all!


    Noah Ji shook his branches contentedly; the vitality from the day had not been given in vain.


    In his room, the newly advanced Oliver Chen''s Qi and Blood erupted, making him resemble a fierce beast.


    Feeling the thick Qi and Blood within him, Oliver Chen''s face showed joy.


    Reaching the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm at his age was indeed worthy of being called a genius! Even Clan Chief Ethan Chen was only at the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm!


    Unfortunately, it was still not enough.


    The late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm was insufficient to save the clan from its current plight. If only he could reach the Innate Realm.


    But to advance to the Innate Realm required Qi and Blood as fluid as mercury. He had just reached the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, still far from that level, and breaking through to the Innate Realm was not easy. Otherwise, Disordered Burial Mountain wouldn''t be devoid of Innate Realm Warriors.


    Oliver Chen shook his head, ceasing further thought, and silently circulated the Triple Xuan Technique to calm the turbulent Qi and Blood.


    The Triple Xuan Technique, a profound-grade Technique passed down through generations of the Chen Clan, could potentially lead to a breakthrough to the Innate Realm!


    Small clans near Disordered Burial Mountain mostly had only normal-grade Techniques!


    This was also what the Li Clan coveted!


    According to the Clan Chief, the Technique originally had nine levels and was an earth-grade Technique capable of reaching the Three Realms of Concentrating Spirit. Unfortunately, the clan had declined, and the Technique was now incomplete, with only three levels remaining, and even the accompanying Combat Skills had vanished.


    The Chen Clan now only had the last blessings of their ancestors. If the clan didn''t rise again, it would likely disappear in the river of time.


    With this thought, Oliver Chen''s eyes shone with determination!


    As the clan''s most hopeful, he must save the clan from peril!


    But then, Oliver Chen quickly remembered the green specks that had infiltrated his body during the day.


    According to his previous estimates, he would have needed more time to reach the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm.


    However, after encountering those green specks during the day, he felt his Qi and Blood become much more active, leading to today''s breakthrough.


    "The Sacred Tree, huh?"


    Oliver Chen murmured, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.


    But then he snorted lightly.


    This advancement was ultimately due to his own accumulation; even without the Sacred Tree, he could have reached the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm!


    "One must rely on oneself!"


    Shortly after, a resolute voice echoed from the room.


    ...


    3.5, 3.6, 3.7...


    In the Ancestral Hall, as Noah Ji watched his vitality slowly increase and felt his consciousness gradually expand, it was like savoring fine wine.


    But when he looked at the Blue Stone Slab that had closed again, he fell into contemplation.


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".


    Several hours had passed; why hadn''t they returned?


    He was still waiting for his offerings!


    If he could move, he would have crawled out of the secret passage to hunt himself!


    "Tap, tap, tap!"


    Urgent footsteps sounded near Noah Ji.


    Turning his head, he saw Ethan Chen approaching the Ancestral Hall with brisk steps.


    This was Ethan''s third visit to the Ancestral Hall tonight, indicating the Clan Chief''s anxiety.


    The warriors sent out were the clan''s strongest force; if they suffered losses, he didn''t know what to do.


    Moreover, their prolonged absence could mean disaster for the Chen Clan if something had gone wrong!


    He regretted not sending more people.


    But it was too late for regrets now.


    Ethan Chen paced back and forth under the tree, occasionally praying to Noah Ji for the safe return of the hunters.


    Noah Ji ignored Ethan''s prayers.


    But he couldn''t help feeling anxious; after all, he wasn''t really a tree.


    If the hunting party had met with disaster, he would be in trouble too.


    Just as the man and the tree were growing impatient, a series of faint and disordered footsteps suddenly came from the secret passage.


    The sound was subtle, but to the anxious Ethan Chen, it was like rain after a long drought.


    However, as the Clan Chief, Ethan didn''t rush to open the Blue Stone Slab above the passage but stopped to listen carefully.


    Perhaps it wasn''t the hunting party returning but a fierce beast that had accidentally discovered the passage. He needed to be cautious!


    "Clan Chief! It''s me!"


    Only after hearing a familiar voice did the tension leave Ethan''s face, and he quickly moved the Blue Stone Slab aside.


    As the slab was moved, Mason Chen and his party emerged from the passage below.


    Seeing the returning group, Ethan murmured:


    "It''s good that you''re back, good that you''re back!"


    Different from when they entered the passage, the group''s clothes were now torn, with numerous wounds on their bodies. Two of the Body Tempering Realm warriors had a massive gash across their chests.


    Their faces were pale, and the cloth wrapped around their wounds was soaked in crimson.


    Behind them, they dragged a fierce beast about a zhang long and bulky in build, resembling a tiger.


    It seemed their wounds were likely from hunting this beast!


    Upon seeing the beast, Ethan exclaimed:


    "A Blood Condensation Realm Iron Thorn Tiger!"


    Although the dispatched Mason Chen and Elijah Chen were mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, and there were several late-stage Body Tempering Realm warriors, he didn''t expect them to bring back an Iron Thorn Tiger.


    Such a beast, although only at the Blood Condensation Realm, was exceptionally fierce due to its innate abilities and the unfamiliar terrain of the deep Disordered Burial Mountain, making it difficult to hunt such a beast.


    Ethan had thought that capturing two Body Tempering Realm beasts would have been a success for this expedition.

 Chapter 15 – Thoughts

    "Clan Chief..."


    As Mason Chen was about to report the details of the hunting expedition, Ethan Chen raised his hand to interrupt:


    "Hold on, we can talk about that later."


    After speaking, Ethan Chen turned his gaze to the two clan members who were severely injured.


    Injuries were inevitable in hunting expeditions, especially in the depths of Disordered Burial Mountain, where fierce beasts roamed.


    But at a time when the clan was in peril, such injuries would likely take at least half a month to heal.


    Ethan Chen''s eyes hesitated as he looked at the Sacred Tree behind him.


    After a moment of contemplation, he sighed.


    For the full version, visit [ ].


    He hadn''t yet made offerings to the Sacred Tree after treating so many injured clan members, and it was difficult for him to ask for more, especially since the Sacred Tree was newly sprouted and might struggle to survive without their sacrifices.


    The power of the Sacred Tree should be reserved for the most critical moments.


    After a moment of thought, Ethan Chen said helplessly:


    "Go to the clan''s storeroom and get some top-quality ointment, then go rest!"


    "Yes!"


    The few men said no more and prepared to drag their weary, injured bodies back to rest.


    At that moment, the glowing branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree suddenly trembled slightly.


    The next instant, the green specks that had been present during the day reappeared before everyone''s eyes and then entered the bodies of the injured.


    Feeling the vitality brought by the green specks, the injured men felt their wounds healing rapidly, and the two most seriously injured felt as if they were immersed in a warm spring, involuntarily letting out comfortable moans.


    After the green specks disappeared, everyone felt refreshed. Not only were their external injuries healed, but even the fatigue from the battle had vanished.


    The two most seriously injured now had much rosier complexions, and when they removed the cloth wrapped around their wounds, they found that scabs had already begun to form!


    Although not fully healed, their strength was no longer affected!


    "Thank you, Sacred Tree!"


    Grateful, Ethan Chen bowed in thanks.


    The others, realizing what had happened, quickly followed suit in giving thanks.


    With such a Sacred Tree, how could the clan not prosper?


    The men, their injuries healed, felt a surge of ambition and considered going out to hunt again to make offerings to the Sacred Tree!


    Seeing their excitement, Ethan Chen quickly said:


    "Alright, it''s almost dawn. You should go rest early and not let the Li Clan spot any weaknesses!"


    Although the clan''s secret passage was relatively safe, there was no room for accidents, and hunting was best done at night.


    Hearing the Clan Chief''s orders, the men had no choice but to leave.


    However, Mason Chen and Elijah Chen did not leave but began to report to Ethan Chen about what they had encountered during the hunt and how they had hunted the Iron Thorn Tiger.


    Above them, Noah Ji listened to their conversation but never took his eyes off the Iron Thorn Tiger''s body below.


    The Reversal Pill technique he had just used had cost him 0.5 points of Vitality, which he had barely managed to absorb during the first half of the night, and now it was gone.


    Noah Ji had helped for a reason, of course. He was determined to claim a share of the Iron Thorn Tiger.


    It was a pity he couldn''t speak; otherwise, he would have directly asked for the Iron Thorn Tiger.


    Below, Ethan Chen frowned slightly after hearing the two men''s account.


    According to them, fierce beasts were rampant in the depths of Disordered Burial Mountain, and many roamed even at night.


    However, it was precisely because of this that the clan''s secret passage remained safe. But now, with the clan''s weakened strength, hunting had become more difficult.


    A careless mistake could result in the loss of lives.


    "Clan Chief, what should we do with this Iron Thorn Tiger?"


    While pondering, Elijah Chen asked.


    Ethan Chen looked at the Iron Thorn Tiger''s corpse on the ground and asked the two men:


    "What do you think we should do?"


    Above them, Noah Ji, hearing their discussion about the Iron Thorn Tiger, listened intently. Whether he could continue his Deduction depended on Ethan Chen''s decision.


    Seeing Ethan Chen ask for their opinion, the two men fell into thought.


    After a while, Elijah Chen spoke first:


    "With the clan''s food stores running low and our people''s Qi and Blood weakening, the Iron Thorn Tiger''s flesh is rich in Qi and Blood. I think we can divide the tiger in two, half to be offered to the Sacred Tree and the other half to be used as food for the clan to ensure our people''s Qi and Blood remain strong!"


    Ethan Chen nodded at this and turned to Mason Chen:


    "Mason, what are your thoughts?"


    "My cousin speaks wisely, but from what I''ve seen, the Li Clan is eyeing us covetously and may attack at any moment. Currently, the clan has enough food for one more day,


    I think we should offer the entire Iron Thorn Tiger to the Sacred Tree, allowing it to display its power once more and give the clan a chance to turn defeat into victory!"


    "As for the clan''s food, we can hunt again tomorrow night. Although it''s more dangerous, as long as the Sacred Tree is with us, there''s no need to worry!"


    Ethan Chen, pleased with the response, then said:


    "Elijah''s idea is good, but given the clan''s dire situation, even if our people''s Qi and Blood are strong and our combat power is intact, relying on our current strength, it''s very difficult to defeat the Li Clan. At most, we can only delay the inevitable for a few more days.


    Since that''s the case, let''s take a risky move. Perhaps with the power of the Sacred Tree, we might have a chance to save our clan!"


    Elijah Chen looked at the glowing Sacred Tree of the clan and said no more.


    Soon, the offering began again. This time, Ethan Chen didn''t perform too many elaborate rituals but directly had the two men slit the Iron Thorn Tiger''s throat to bleed it.


    Underground, Noah Ji''s roots were already starving.


    He had been craving the Iron Thorn Tiger for a long time!


    As the blood of the Iron Thorn Tiger seeped through the soil to the underground, Noah Ji''s roots once again demonstrated their function.


    The blood of the Iron Thorn Tiger was harder to absorb than that of the Spirit-Tailed Chicken, but Noah Ji was overjoyed because his Qi and Blood on the panel were rising rapidly!


    It was clear that the blood of this Blood Condensation Realm beast had extraordinary effects.


    With Noah Ji''s roots rapidly absorbing it, the blood of the large Iron Thorn Tiger was soon completely absorbed.


    After absorbing the blood, Noah Ji turned his attention forward:


    ¡¾Name: Noah Ji¡¿


    ¡¾Species: Weak Sophora Tree¡¿


    ¡¾Vitality: 3.4¡¿


    ¡¾Supernatural Powers: Eye of Insight, Reversal Pill¡¿


    ¡¾Technique: Lunar Eclipse¡¿


    ¡¾Combat Skill: None¡¿


    ¡¾Qi and Blood: 19 (convertible to Vitality)¡¿


    ¡¾Spiritual Power: 5¡¿


    ¡¾Deduction Points: 25¡¿


    ¡¾Ready for Deduction!¡¿


    ¡¾Status: As the worshipped Sacred Tree, you have barely recovered some vitality, but it hasn''t had much effect.¡¿ S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that the Qi and Blood points had reached 19, Noah Ji was satisfied, which was 6 points more than the Spirit-Tailed Chicken.


    However, when he saw that he only had 5 points of Spiritual Power, he pondered for a moment.


    His previous Spiritual Power was 1, meaning that the Iron Thorn Tiger had only increased his Spiritual Power by 4 points.


    If he remembered correctly, the blood of the two Spirit-Tailed Chickens had contributed 4 points of Spiritual Power.


    Comparing their sizes and realms, the ratio didn''t seem right.


    It seemed that the larger the size, the more Spiritual Power provided was not always the case; there seemed to be factors he was unaware of.


    But seeing the button for Deduction, Noah Ji stopped pondering.


    The previous Deduction was still fresh in his memory, and he was eager to see what he could gain from it this time.


    The next moment, Noah Ji decisively pressed the button to begin Deduction!


    ¡¾This Deduction will consume 10 Qi and Blood, 5 Spiritual Power, and 5 Deduction Points. Do you wish to continue?¡¿


    ¡¾Yes? No?¡¿

 Chapter 16 – Second deduction

    The familiar sensation struck once more; the ancestral hall before Noah Ji''s eyes vanished, replaced by an alien environment.


    Having experienced deduction once before, Noah remained calm, simply casting his gaze around to survey his surroundings.


    He found himself in a desolate sandy wasteland, devoid of life, empty and barren.


    The only sign of life was a tiny sapling¡ªhimself.


    Noah couldn''t help but feel disappointed; he had hoped to return to the place from his last deduction. If he could encounter the Spring and Autumn Cicada again, perhaps he could have acquired another technique, distinct from the one granted by the Lunar Eclipse!


    But now, it seemed like a distant hope.


    Before Noah could dwell on his regret for too long, a line of text slowly appeared before him.


    [You were born in a desert! To resist the scorching sun, you begin to strive for growth!]


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    As the text faded away, time accelerated once again.


    This time, Noah didn''t just wait passively; he carefully experienced the process and observed his environment.


    In this moment, he felt the fierce sun above scorching him, the heatwaves from all around assaulting him.


    The excessive heat instinctively drove his roots deeper into the ground, seeking the scarce moisture in the damp soil below.


    It might have been a moment, or it might have been an eternity.


    As time passed, Noah grew from a tiny sapling into a small tree, as thick as a thumb.


    But looking at his own scorched, yellowing leaves, things didn''t seem to be going well.


    When time paused, another line of text emerged. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [The desert temperature rises, water evaporates faster. To absorb more water, you choose?]


    [Roots grow downward][Roots spread outward]


    Noah smiled knowingly at the question; he knew this one!


    Even in the boundless desert, the structure deep underground was no different from other places¡ªjust covered by a layer of sand on the surface.


    That meant as long as the roots reached deep enough, there would be water!


    Noah decisively chose for his roots to grow downward!


    He was confident in his choice!


    As the text disappeared, the world resumed its motion.


    But before Noah''s smile could fade, he saw the few yellow leaves on his branches begin to blacken and slowly fall off.


    At the same time, new text surfaced.


    [Your roots have grown downward, touching an ancient relic buried in the dust. Under the scorching sun, you died!]


    Noah fell silent before the text.


    He had calculated many outcomes, but he had not foreseen this.


    As the desert world began to collapse, Noah found himself back in the familiar ancestral hall.


    [Deduction complete!]


    [From this deduction, you have gained a new ability: Root Strengthening]


    [From this deduction, you have gained a new ability: High-Temperature Resistance]


    Root Strengthening: You can use a certain amount of vitality to strengthen your roots, making them more sensitive.


    High-Temperature Resistance: You can thrive in extremely high temperatures.


    Indeed, because he died so quickly, he did not gain any techniques or supernatural powers, but two new abilities instead.


    Noah opened his panel, and although he didn''t see these new abilities displayed, he could feel the changes in his branches.


    It seemed these abilities had already integrated into his branches.


    The ancestral hall was now empty; Ethan Chen and his companions had long since departed.


    Noah immediately prepared to test his new Root Strengthening ability!


    Although his trunk wasn''t thick, beneath the ground, numerous roots spread out under the ancestral hall, serving as his eyes, even more sensitive than eyes themselves.


    However, he couldn''t actively control these roots; they had only begun to expand slowly as his vitality increased.


    Noah picked the longest root and silently activated Root Strengthening.


    With Noah''s will, the root underground began to transform.


    As the root changed, Noah saw his scarce vitality rapidly depleting.


    3.4, 3.3, 3.2...


    When his vitality dropped to 2.9, Noah panicked slightly.


    He had thought strengthening the roots wouldn''t consume much, but in the blink of an eye, he had already spent 0.5 of his vitality.


    Fortunately, the vitality stopped decreasing once it reached 2.9.


    When Noah sensed the strengthened root again, his heart stirred.


    Under his control, a root as thick as a thumb emerged from the ground.


    This root was several meters long, several times the size of Noah''s current trunk.


    As Noah''s intentions flowed, the root responded promptly, as if it were an extension of his body.


    After experimenting for a while, Noah silently retracted the strengthened root.


    Although the gains from this deduction weren''t as significant as the last, it wasn''t without merit; the Root Strengthening ability was quite useful. Now, he at least had some means of self-protection and wasn''t completely at the mercy of others.


    He just didn''t know the strength of his enhanced root, whether it could withstand Blood Condensation Realm Warriors.


    He would have to witness the power of Blood Condensation Realm Warriors to know the answer.


    As for the other new ability, High-Temperature Resistance.


    Well, it''s better to have it than not.


    All in all, there were gains, but they were modest.


    And most importantly, these gains couldn''t help the Chen Clan escape their predicament.


    Noah felt somewhat dissatisfied. He opened his panel to check his remaining Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power Points, hoping for another attempt.


    [Qi and Blood: 9 (can be converted to vitality)]


    [Spiritual Power: 0]


    [Deduction Points: 20]


    Regrettably, aside from sufficient Deduction Points, the other two were lacking, especially Spiritual Power, which had hit zero. He would have to wait for the Chen Clan''s next sacrifice, and even one might not be enough.


    Noah sighed inwardly and reluctantly gave up.


    Seeing his vitality at only 2.9, he felt somewhat frustrated.


    Despite the sacrifices from the Chen Clan and his own Lunar Eclipse Technique, why did he feel like he was running a deficit?


    The decline in vitality weakened Noah in all aspects, an extremely uncomfortable sensation.


    Looking at his remaining Qi and Blood, Noah made a decisive choice to convert it all into vitality.


    During the conversion, Noah realized he could control the exact amount of Qi and Blood to convert, meaning he could choose how much to convert while preserving the necessary Qi and Blood for deduction.


    But this time, Noah didn''t hesitate and converted all 9 points of Qi and Blood into vitality.


    As his vitality surged, Noah felt a powerful sense of life coursing through his trunk.


    The vitality quickly gathered on one side of his trunk, and a new bud grew at a visible rate.


    Soon, the bud turned into a cluster of new Sophora branches, standing atop the trunk.


    With two new branches sprouting green leaves, Noah''s trunk finally looked a bit more robust.


    But overall, it still appeared somewhat slender.


    The increase in vitality didn''t stop there; several roots rapidly spread beneath the Blue Stone Slab, reaching throughout the ancestral hall and slightly beyond before stopping.


    During the spread, one root pierced through the clan''s secret passage, and Noah sensed the Spiritual Positions in the room above the passage, as well as the ancestral patriarch lying in the coffin.

 Chapter 17 – We want to go too!

    When all changes ceased, a glimmer of light slowly ascended above.


    Another new day had dawned.


    Feeling the changes within himself, Noah Ji was overjoyed.


    Indeed, vitality was his foundation.


    Deduction was beneficial, but one must not overindulge.


    ...


    Inside the Li Clan, Joshua Li sat in the central chair of the main hall, his gaze fixed ahead but unfocused, lost in thought.


    At that moment, a clan member entered:


    "Report to the Clan Chief, there has been no movement from the Chen Clan."


    Joshua Li''s eyes gradually regained focus, but upon hearing the report from the clan member below, his face did not show joy; instead, he frowned slightly.


    He had speculated on several current situations of the Chen Clan.


    He had considered the possibility that the Chen Clan would fight desperately, gathering all their warriors to carve a bloody path out.


    He had also thought that the Chen Clan might secretly send someone out to seek external assistance.


    If it were indeed these two scenarios, it would mean that the Chen Clan truly had no way out.


    But regardless of the situation, it should not be as it was now, completely silent, like still water.


    Too quiet, unsettlingly so, but he had no idea what the Chen Clan was planning.


    Could it be they were waiting for something? Or trying to outlast them?


    With the Chen Clan''s food supplies, they should not be able to hold out past tomorrow.


    In contrast, his Li Clan had warriors with abundant Qi and Blood and sufficient food. Over the long term, the Chen Clan''s situation would only weaken further.


    Joshua Li pondered from every angle but could not figure out the reason.


    He wanted to discuss it with someone, but thinking of the others in the clan, they would probably just say:


    "Clan Chief, no need for words, let''s just storm in and trample them!"


    Joshua Li shook his head, dismissing the thought.


    "Go, send a few nimble people to scout nearby, preferably to get a clear understanding of the situation inside the Chen Clan and observe the condition of their warriors."


    "Yes!"


    After issuing the order, Joshua Li chuckled at himself.


    Now that the Chen Clan was at the end of its rope, their downfall was just a matter of time. Perhaps he was worrying too much.


    Half a day later, news arrived.


    According to the clan member''s description, the once bustling Chen Clan square was now deserted, and the warriors seen were tense, pale, and full of worry, clearly showing signs of Qi and Blood decline.


    Hearing this, Joshua Li felt much more at ease.


    If that was the case, then he would wait another two days, and then he could easily eradicate the Chen Clan.


    Just in time, two people in his clan were about to make a breakthrough in the next two days!


    Then he would see how the Chen Clan would cope!


    Thinking of this, Joshua Li''s lips curled into a slight smile.


    ...


    "Alexander, what do you think our father and uncles have been up to lately, all secretive?"


    In the pavilion, Lucas Chen spoke, his eyes filled with confusion.


    Usually, the clan would be on high alert, and he would occasionally see his father and uncles rushing about.


    But these past two days, he had not seen them at all.


    This was too unreasonable.


    Before Alexander Chen could reply, Lucas Chen continued:


    "No, I must go see tonight, maybe my father and the others are plotting something shady!"


    As a member of the clan, although he was young and of low Realm, he felt it was necessary to be aware of the clan''s current plans, especially with the clan''s survival at stake.


    Night fell quickly.


    The ancestral hall, quiet during the day, now seemed a bit crowded.


    In addition to the few who had gone hunting the day before, there were several more Body Tempering Realm warriors from the clan.


    Ethan Chen stood at the forefront, and when he saw the Sacred Tree of the clan sprout new branches, he could hardly conceal his joy.


    This meant his sacrifice yesterday was correct, and the changes in the Sacred Tree also represented the clan''s hope, so tonight he called a few more people to hunt more fierce beasts.


    "Clan Chief, during the day, our people spotted someone from the Li Clan spying."


    Upon hearing this, the joy on Ethan Chen''s face faded, but he still nodded.


    "It doesn''t matter."


    This was within his expectations. It would be strange if the Li Clan did nothing.


    But he was not worried, as most of the clan members were unaware of the specifics of hunting in the secret passage; as long as they acted as usual, that was enough.


    And after the spying, the Li Clan did not attack, indicating they had not noticed anything and were still waiting for an opportunity.


    But this was not only an opportunity for the Li Clan but also for his Chen Clan.


    If they could seize it well, the clan might turn defeat into victory.


    Today''s hunt was even more crucial!


    Otherwise, the clan would run out of food tomorrow, and with the clan members'' Qi and Blood not flourishing, hunting would be difficult, and the situation would only worsen.


    Under the dark night sky, a crescent moon hung aloft.


    The branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree of the clan once again emitted a faint luminescence.


    Ethan Chen''s gaze sharpened, no longer hesitating, he immediately waved his hand:


    "Let''s go!"


    "Clan Chief, I want to go too!"


    Just as everyone was preparing to enter the secret passage, a figure walked into the ancestral hall.


    "Oliver? Why are you here?"


    Ethan Chen asked in surprise upon seeing the newcomer.


    "Today, the Li Clan sent someone to scout, and it''s unlikely they will attack tonight. Since that''s the case, I might as well go hunting too."


    After hearing this, Ethan Chen nodded slightly, then hesitated and said,


    "Although that''s true, however..."


    "Hmm? Oliver, you''ve reached the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm?"


    Ethan Chen was halfway through speaking when he suddenly turned his gaze to Oliver Chen, whose Qi and Blood were even more robust than his, clearly a sign of advancement in Realm.


    "Mm."


    After receiving Oliver Chen''s affirmative answer, Ethan Chen''s face lit up with joy, nodding repeatedly:


    "Excellent! Excellent!" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "With your talent, our Chen Clan will surely prosper!"


    "Since you wish to go, then go!"


    The others around them were envious.


    Many of the Body Tempering Realm warriors were his elders, yet there was a whole Realm difference between them.


    Indeed, people should not be judged by the same standard.


    Even Elijah Chen and Mason Chen were full of admiration:


    "Big brother has a fine son."


    "It''s just a pity..."


    Both had a look of reminiscence but said no more.


    The clan had not had it easy these past ten years, losing countless members.


    A flash of sorrow crossed Oliver Chen''s eyes as he heard the two talking.


    The other clan members also fell silent, and the atmosphere grew heavy.


    Just as Ethan Chen was about to speak and break the somber mood, a scream suddenly pierced the air.


    "Ouch!"


    Turning towards the sound, they saw two figures lying on the ground near the surrounding wall, as if they had fallen from above.


    The two were Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who had come to eavesdrop on the conversation.


    Now discovered, the two had a look of panic but still got up, standing tall and proud:


    "Clan Chief, we want to go too!"


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    "Yes, we want to go."


    Before the Clan Chief could speak, Elijah Chen had already scolded:


    "Nonsense!"


    "This is a serious matter for the clan, not child''s play, go back at once!"


    Lucas Chen did not back down but snorted:


    "We are also members of the clan, we want to contribute, why can''t we go!"


    "You, still talking back!"


    Elijah Chen looked around urgently, his gaze finally resting on Noah Ji''s branches.


    He hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not dare to act.

 Chapter 18 – Hunting

    "Alexander, hurry home."


    Beside him, Mason Chen spoke without irritation. He was actually quite pleased that his son had such aspirations; it was just that his third brother was a bit too impatient in this regard.


    "Why can Oliver go and we can''t!"


    Lucas Chen protested.


    "Hmph, if you were at the Blood Condensation Realm, you could go too!"


    "Alright, it''s getting late, let''s set off."


    Ethan Chen interrupted the two and spoke up.


    The group no longer delayed and re-entered the secret passage.


    After the others had left, Ethan Chen turned his gaze to Lucas and Alexander, smiling slightly:


    "Hunting is dangerous, and your strength is not yet sufficient."


    "However, since you both also wish to contribute to the clan, I do have other tasks for you. Are you up to it?"


    "Of course we are!"


    Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.


    Lucas Chen said confidently.


    After sending the two off, Ethan Chen looked towards the clan''s secret passage and once again prayed to the Sacred Tree.


    This time, there were a few more people sent out for the hunt, and with Oliver, a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior, there shouldn''t be much of a problem.


    Above, Noah Ji silently observed everything, gaining a deeper understanding of the Chen Clan.


    It seemed that even in a family with a steady person like Elijah Chen, there was bound to be a Rebel Son.


    Just as Noah Ji was reflecting, he suddenly noticed that the absorption of moonlight seemed to have quickened significantly.


    Yesterday at this time, he had only increased by 0.1 in vitality.


    But now, half an hour had passed, and he had already increased by 0.2 in vitality.


    It seemed like a small difference of 0.1, but it was actually twice as much.


    This both surprised and delighted Noah Ji.


    To confirm his speculation, Noah Ji waited another hour.


    When he saw his vitality had increased by 0.4, his face was filled with joy.


    His absorption rate of moonlight had indeed doubled.


    This meant he could absorb 2.4 vitality in one night, a significant improvement.


    The reason for the increase, Noah Ji guessed, was probably because he now had two lush branches, which doubled the area for absorbing moonlight.


    It made perfect sense!


    To grow more branches and leaves, he would need more vitality.


    Now it seemed, his actions from yesterday were correct; had he retained his Qi and Blood, such a change would not have occurred.


    ...


    "The exit of the secret passage is up ahead, everyone be careful."


    Inside the passage, the group moved quietly and cautiously, attentive to their surroundings.


    Although it was a clan passage, considering the transfer of clan people and the difficulty of transporting goods, the passage was not small, wide enough to accommodate three people side by side.


    This also made it easier to carry the hunt back without having to dismember the prey on the spot.


    However, since the exit of the passage was built deep within Disordered Burial Mountain, they had to be cautious of any beasts that might be lurking within, especially those adept at burrowing.


    Approaching the exit, they had to be particularly vigilant.


    Beasts have a keen sense of smell, and some are quite intelligent; they must not discover the location of the passage''s exit.


    Soon, the group arrived at the exit of the passage.


    At the exit, a large Blue Stone Slab blocked their way.


    Elijah Chen, at the forefront, surged Qi and Blood into his arms and pushed forcefully, revealing the world beyond the slab.


    Before them lay a sunken valley surrounded by dense jungle, which helped to reduce the chances of the passage''s exit being discovered.


    Looking at the dim environment outside the valley, Oliver Chen''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    It had been months since he last hunted in Disordered Burial Mountain, and in the skirmishes with the Li Clan, he often found himself at a disadvantage, mainly because the Li Clan had two warriors who had already reached the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Today he was finally able to flex his muscles and test the strength of his late-stage Blood Condensation Realm.


    Just as Oliver Chen was confidently preparing to step out of the passage, Elijah Chen stopped him:


    "Oliver, wait, sprinkle some Wood Lotus Powder!"


    With that, Elijah Chen took out a porcelain bottle and sprinkled the white powder on everyone''s clothing.


    Wood Lotus Powder was a medicinal powder that could mask one''s scent, preventing beasts from detecting them.


    Oliver Chen frowned slightly, hesitant.


    He was at the late stage of Blood Condensation Realm and full of confidence; he didn''t think the powder would make much difference.


    But unable to withstand the persuasion of Elijah and the others, he reluctantly sprinkled some on himself.


    After everyone was ready, they slowly exited the passage.


    Before leaving, someone moved the Blue Stone Slab back to its original place to block the passage.


    Deep within Disordered Burial Mountain, there were many fierce beasts. Although it was dangerous, this also saved them the trouble of searching far and wide; as long as they encountered a suitable beast, they could strike at any moment.


    The group walked for about half an incense stick''s time but saw no beasts, causing Mason Chen, who was leading, to frown slightly:


    "Something''s not right. There were plenty of beasts at this time yesterday. Why haven''t we seen a single one today?"


    "Everyone, be careful!"


    Hearing Mason Chen''s words, the people behind him also became solemn.


    "Wait! Over there!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Oliver Chen gestured with his hand and, with eyes shining, quickly headed in a certain direction.


    Elijah and Mason Chen looked puzzled, as neither of them had sensed anything unusual, but they still quickly signaled the others to follow.


    Soon, the group stopped behind several scattered rocks.


    Under the faint moonlight, a beast resembling a leopard with a single horn on its head and covered in light red fur appeared before them.


    "A mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm Zhen Beast!"


    Seeing the beast, everyone was focused, with a hint of joy in their eyes.


    No one spoke; the seasoned hunters of the clan already had a set of signals for communication.


    The Zhen Beast before them was a suitable target for their hunt.


    Under the command of Elijah and Mason Chen, the group slowly began to back away.


    The reason for retreating was not to startle the Zhen Beast, to prevent it from detecting their presence and fleeing.


    In the depths of Disordered Burial Mountain, chasing prey without regard for the surrounding environment could lead to accidents.


    Once they had retreated a certain distance, they began to slowly encircle from all sides.


    The Zhen Beast, lying on the ground and resting, was unaware of their presence, simply grooming its fur.


    Oliver Chen stood to one side, struggling to suppress the Qi and Blood that was about to burst forth.


    As the highest realm warrior in the hunting team, Elijah and the others had made him the main force.


    Once the others approached, the panicked Zhen Beast would surely flee towards the area with no people.


    The gap left open was where Oliver Chen was positioned. When the Zhen Beast blindly fled, it would be his turn to strike.


    Although the plan was simple, it left no room for distraction.

 Chapter 19 – Zhen Beast

    Soon, the others arrived at the prearranged location.


    When Elijah Chen took the lead and approached the Zhen Beast, it finally reacted, scrambling to its feet from the ground.


    The half-zhang tall Zhen Beast stood up with an imposing presence, but facing the oncoming Elijah Chen, whose Qi and Blood were abundant and momentum overwhelming, the beast was somewhat panicked.


    It retreated and immediately ran in another direction.


    However, the others who had been waiting elsewhere now also appeared in its line of sight, bursting forth with their own Qi and Blood.


    Seeing itself surrounded, the Zhen Beast''s eyes flashed fiercely, baring its sharp fangs and emitting a low growl. Although it was an omnivorous animal, it was no pushover.


    Just as the Zhen Beast prepared to break through a weak point, it suddenly discovered a vulnerability in the encirclement.


    To its side, there was no one guarding.


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    Without a second thought, the Zhen Beast immediately ran towards the gap.


    A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him, and this saying applies to fierce beasts as well.


    Watching the Zhen Beast run towards him, Oliver Chen snorted coldly:


    "Beasts will be beasts!"


    As the Zhen Beast was about to break through the gap, Oliver Chen, who was prepared, burst forth with his Qi and Blood and appeared in front of it.


    Seeing the sudden figure before it, the Zhen Beast''s eyes were filled with panic, sensing the threat from the figure ahead.


    Realizing its disadvantageous position, the Zhen Beast did not change direction but instead charged towards Oliver Chen with increased speed, baring its fangs.


    When cornered, a fierce beast will launch an even more ferocious attack.


    "Perfect timing!"


    Understanding the Zhen Beast''s intent, Oliver Chen was not flustered. At this moment, his Qi and Blood surged to his arms, his hands forming fists!


    As the Zhen Beast lunged with its gaping maw, Oliver Chen met it with clenched fists.


    The next moment, a wail came from the Zhen Beast, and its body was sent flying by Oliver''s punches.


    The fierce onslaught was instantly dissolved by Oliver Chen''s fists.


    After sending the Zhen Beast flying, Oliver Chen also stepped back several paces to absorb the impact.


    "Oliver! Nicely done!"


    "Way to go!"


    At this time, shouts from Elijah Chen and the others reached Oliver''s ears.


    The Zhen Beast, no longer as imposing, still tried to scramble to its feet, but Elijah Chen and the others quickly closed in, trapping the beast within their midst.


    Without giving the Zhen Beast time to react, everyone attacked in unison, and in just a few breaths, the beast''s life was extinguished.


    Seeing how easily they hunted a mid-Blood Condensation Realm Zhen Beast, everyone was thrilled, much easier than the day before.


    Elijah Chen and Mason Chen both wore smiles.


    The hunt seemed easy, but that was only true for them.


    For Oliver Chen, who was the first to confront the Zhen Beast, had he not been able to withstand it, their plan would have failed, and the first to engage would likely have been injured.


    Just like what happened yesterday.


    If he had barely managed to hold off, the Zhen Beast, after being repelled, would still have been able to fight fiercely.


    But with Oliver''s punch, the Zhen Beast was sent reeling, its Qi and Blood unstable, unable to rise, allowing everyone to finish it off easily.


    After dealing with the Zhen Beast, the clan members hurriedly began processing the carcass. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although they had not used weapons, their fists had left the beast bleeding profusely.


    The scent of blood spread quickly, and with the keen sense of smell of fierce beasts, they needed to process and leave the area quickly.


    Meanwhile, Oliver Chen circulated his Technique to calm his own turbulent Qi and Blood.


    That punch seemed effortless, but it was actually his full strength, and he would not be able to deliver a second punch anytime soon!


    Had he not severely injured the Zhen Beast, a tough battle would have likely ensued.


    Fortunately, the outcome was favorable.


    Looking at the fallen Zhen Beast, a confident smile appeared on Oliver Chen''s face.


    "Oliver, how are you? Any injuries?"


    Taking advantage of the time the clan members were processing the Zhen Beast''s body, Elijah Chen came over to inquire.


    "Uncle, I''m fine."


    "Good, good, good, truly worthy of being a young talent of our clan."


    Elijah Chen nodded repeatedly, a smile on his face.


    But when he thought of his own family''s Lucas Chen, the smile on his face disappeared in an instant.


    Although there was a significant age difference between the two, the gap seemed too vast.


    Never mind, better not to dwell on it.


    Nearby, as the clan members finished processing the Zhen Beast''s body, Mason Chen, who had been surveying the surroundings, spoke to everyone:


    "It''s about time, let''s go!"


    Just as everyone was packing up the carcass and preparing to retreat, a rapid series of footsteps suddenly came from not far in the jungle.


    Wherever the sound passed, the grass and trees broke, clearly indicating a very powerful fierce beast.


    "Quick, retreat!"


    Mason Chen immediately whispered, and the group prepared to leave.


    "Wait, Uncle, let''s assess the situation first," Oliver Chen said at this moment.


    Having just fought with the Zhen Beast, he felt he hadn''t reached his limit. It seemed that a mid-Blood Condensation Realm fierce beast was just that, and the beast that was approaching now had much stronger Qi and Blood, but not to an outrageous extent.


    It was likely a late-Blood Condensation Realm fierce beast, and he was confident in facing it.


    After hearing this, Mason Chen hesitated, looking at the confident Oliver Chen, he wanted to advise caution.


    After all, hunting also required ensuring the safety of the clan members.


    But Elijah Chen also spoke up at this moment:


    "In my opinion, let''s wait and see. The approaching fierce beast is at most late Blood Condensation Realm. Even if we don''t succeed in hunting, we can still retreat safely."


    Hearing this, Mason Chen said no more and immediately signaled the clan members to conceal themselves and observe what kind of fierce beast was approaching!


    They had just hidden themselves when movement stirred in the nearby underbrush.


    As everyone focused their gaze, a massive creature appeared before them.


    It was a huge tiger, several zhang tall, with a variegated body and a "king" character on its forehead.


    Compared to the Iron Thorn Tiger they hunted yesterday, this giant tiger was more than twice the size.


    Furthermore, this giant tiger exuded a strong scent of blood, and with every step it took, its regal demeanor was unmistakable.


    This was at least a late Blood Condensation Realm fierce beast, and it was no ordinary one, likely already at the peak of the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Even the previously confident Oliver Chen hesitated.


    Although he had broken through to the late Blood Condensation Realm, he had no assurance of victory against this giant tiger.


    If it were just him alone, he would have the courage to fight it, but with other clan members around, he couldn''t be reckless and disregard the safety of his people.


    Mason Chen, hiding nearby, breathed a sigh of relief seeing Oliver Chen make no move. He was genuinely worried that Oliver would rush in headlong, which could make things difficult to handle, especially since this giant tiger seemed like a formidable opponent.


    As everyone held their breath and focused, the giant tiger stepped forward, arriving at the spot where the Zhen Beast had been dealt with.


    The giant tiger first sniffed the ground, then circled the area twice before turning its gaze towards the direction Mason Chen and the others had retreated.


    This series of actions made everyone hiding nearby tense up.


    Not only was the tiger''s Realm high, but it also seemed to have a high level of intelligence, making it more challenging to deal with than those beasts that were all brawn and no brains.


    At this moment, no one dared to make a move, lest the giant tiger notice their hiding spot.


    But then, a faint noise came from one of the clan members.


    Although the sound was soft, it was particularly noticeable in the quiet environment.


    "Damn!"


    Elijah Chen and the others sighed inwardly.


    As expected, the moment the sound was made, the giant tiger''s gaze immediately turned towards the place where everyone was hiding.


    The tiger looked cautious, slowly approaching the clan members'' hiding spot.


    Although they had sprinkled Wood Lotus Powder on themselves, if the tiger got too close, the powder would not be able to mask their scent, especially not for a beast of this Realm.


    Mason Chen and the others had serious expressions, signaling to the clan members beside them.


    If they were discovered, there would be no room for negotiation, and they would have to strike first.


    But facing this giant tiger, their hopes of victory were not high, so at this moment, they could only pray that the tiger would simply leave!


    After all, the only ones who could face this giant tiger were probably the three Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, and the other clan members would likely be unable to get close.


    If a fight broke out, they would only hinder the battle.


    Watching the tiger draw nearer, everyone grew increasingly nervous. Oliver Chen silently clenched his fists, his eyes revealing a glint of fighting spirit and excitement.


    Even against a fierce beast of the same Realm, he was unafraid.


    If a battle truly ensued, the outcome was not a foregone conclusion!


    After all, he was the youngest prodigy of the clan!

 Chapter 20 – Innate Realm Ferocious Beast

    As everyone''s hearts were in their throats, bracing for battle, the giant tiger that had been advancing suddenly halted its steps. It looked around with a wary expression.


    Then, for some unknown reason, the tiger''s face turned to one of terror. It abandoned its search for the group''s trail and bolted away.


    The tiger''s actions left Mason Chen and the others utterly baffled.


    They couldn''t understand what had happened.


    However, the tiger''s departure was a stroke of luck for them.


    Just as the group was about to leave, an invisible and formidable presence suddenly enveloped them.


    As warriors, they were extremely sensitive to Qi and Blood, and the owner of this presence had a Qi and Blood as brilliant as the scorching sun, clearly visible even in the night.


    The group was shocked to their core, not daring to move rashly.


    Soon, they saw the owner of this powerful Qi and Blood.


    It was an inconspicuous green wolf, whose fur shimmered like satin under the moonlight.


    Despite being half the size of the tiger they had just encountered, the sight of the green wolf struck a chord of panic in their hearts.


    This was no Blood Condensation Realm beast.


    It was of the Innate Realm!


    In the Innate Realm, sinews and Qi and Blood are in perfect harmony, purifying the body, free of impurities.


    And a beast that reached the Innate Realm likely possessed its own innate abilities!


    Such beasts could only be countered by warriors of the same realm.


    Realizing the vast disparity in strength between them and the enemy, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a move.


    They would have dared to fight the giant tiger, but facing this Innate Realm green wolf, they stood no chance.


    They didn''t even dare to look too long, for fear of being detected by the wolf.


    Even Oliver Chen, the strongest among them, was now concealing his Qi and Blood, holding his breath.


    Fortunately, the green wolf did not linger for long. It glanced at the spot where the tiger had been and immediately chased after the direction in which the tiger had fled without hesitation.


    "Phew!"


    After the green wolf was far away, everyone let out a sigh of relief in unison. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only then did they realize that their backs were drenched in cold sweat.


    Mason Chen and Elijah Chen exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of luck in each other''s eyes.


    If they had been discovered by the green wolf, they had no idea how the clan would cope with the next step.


    "Let''s go, we shouldn''t stay here any longer. Time to move on!"


    Without further delay, the group quickly departed.


    Although the encounter with the Innate Realm beast had shaken them deeply, considering the situation of the clan, they decided not to return home but to continue hunting.


    The deeper parts of Disordered Burial Mountain were rife with beasts, and Innate Realm beasts were not something one stumbled upon casually.


    During the rest of the hunt, the group specifically targeted beasts of lower realms.


    Even the previously confident Oliver Chen kept silent, focusing solely on the hunt.


    With three Blood Condensation Realm Warriors and other Body Tempering Realm clan members, the hunting was relatively easy.


    Considering the clan''s scarcity of food, Mason Chen and another didn''t even spare the Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    Although the Qi and Blood in the Body Tempering Realm beasts were far less than that of the Blood Condensation Realm beasts, if there were enough of them, they would suit the clan''s current situation.


    Finding suitable Blood Condensation Realm beasts was not an easy task.


    After taking down the last early-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast, the sky was no longer dark, and Mason Chen and another decided to stop hunting.


    The group, laden with their spoils, made their way home.


    Before entering the clan''s secret passage, they scattered Wood Lotus Powder around to mask their Qi and Blood and other scents.


    After making sure everything was in order, they entered the secret passage, heading towards the clan.


    In the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the sky.


    It was getting late, and he wondered why the clan members who had gone out had not yet returned.


    The clan''s situation hadn''t improved much, and he couldn''t help but worry.


    However, considering that Oliver Chen, who was in the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, was with them tonight, he figured there shouldn''t be much of a problem.


    There couldn''t be any Innate Realm beasts in Disordered Burial Mountain, could there?


    "Ah!" Ethan sighed, praying to Noah Ji once more, hoping the clan would safely overcome this crisis.


    Above, Noah Ji was in a good mood, as the vitality he had harvested tonight had doubled from the previous day.


    With this, even if those who went out hunting were seriously injured, his loss wouldn''t be significant.


    Soon, footsteps echoed in the secret passage.


    Hearing the footsteps, Ethan''s heart eased.


    It was good that they had returned.


    Shortly after, the group emerged one by one from the secret passage.


    When Ethan saw that everyone had returned unharmed and had even brought back four beasts, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face, and he repeatedly praised:


    "Good, good, good."


    "This hunt was successful thanks to Oliver."


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    Mason Chen and Elijah Chen said with a smile at the side.


    However, Oliver Chen showed no sign of pride, simply saying:


    "Clan Chief, I''m heading back now."


    "Alright, go and rest."


    Above, seeing the group return safely, Noah Ji was somewhat surprised; it seemed he could save some vitality today.


    When Noah Ji saw the beasts below, he began to calculate again.


    This hunt had yielded two Blood Condensation Realm beasts, one in the mid-stage and one that had just entered the realm, as well as two Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    Noah Ji easily sensed the difference in Qi and Blood among the beasts.


    But now, he wasn''t picky; sacrificing any two beasts would do, and it would be even better if he could gather five points of Spiritual Power to perform another Deduction.


    Soon, the other clan members left the Ancestral Hall, leaving only Mason Chen and Elijah Chen.


    "What? There''s an Innate Realm beast in Disordered Burial Mountain?"


    Hearing the two recount the events of the hunt, Ethan''s brow furrowed deeply.


    As the Clan Chief, he had seen Innate Realm beasts before and knew their ferocity.


    But he hadn''t expected one to be in Disordered Burial Mountain, and according to the two, the green wolf''s strength was not weak.


    Below the Innate Realm, the larger the beast, the stronger it usually was, but above the Innate Realm, size was not the only determinant of strength.


    Knowing that there was an Innate Realm beast deep in Disordered Burial Mountain, Ethan''s face showed a hint of hesitation.


    He had planned to send a few people out hunting again tomorrow, but what if they encountered that green wolf again?


    They were lucky this time, but luck wouldn''t always favor the Chen Clan!


    Continuing to hunt outside would undoubtedly increase the risk.


    But if they didn''t go out hunting, it seemed the clan''s situation wouldn''t improve either.


    "Clan Chief, how should we distribute these beasts?"


    Hearing Mason Chen''s question from the side, Ethan put aside his thoughts and turned his gaze to the beasts at his feet.


    Today''s harvest was even richer than yesterday''s.


    And these beasts could ensure the clan wouldn''t have to worry about food for three days.


    But when Ethan turned to look at the thriving Sacred Tree, his face showed a trace of conflict again.

 Chapter 21 – The third deduction

    Sacrifices must be made, but the question of how much to sacrifice has become a problem.


    Should most of the fierce beasts be sacrificed to the Sacred Tree? Or should the majority be kept as food?


    If it were before, he would have chosen the former without hesitation.


    But the presence of beasts from the Innate Realm forced him to consider the great risks of hunting outside.


    Beside him, Mason Chen and another were deep in thought. They understood the dilemma but were unsure of what decision to make.


    After all, both options were crucial to the clan.


    Soon, Ethan Chen stopped hesitating, a decision clear in his eyes, and he turned to Mason Chen and said:


    "Let''s sacrifice these two beasts from the Blood Condensation Realm!"


    "Yes!"


    Since the Sacred Tree had shown its brilliance, he decided to go all the way, sacrificing the two beasts from the Blood Condensation Realm to the Sacred Tree. The remaining two from the Body Tempering Realm would probably only suffice for the clan''s daily needs.


    After all, most in the clan were warriors with a higher demand for food, unless they broke through to the Innate Realm, which would reduce their need for food rich in Qi and Blood.


    But now, he had no better solution and could only hope for more divine power from the Sacred Tree.


    As he said yesterday, maintaining the status quo would only delay the inevitable for a few more days. It was better to ensure the daily needs of the clan while placing hope in the Sacred Tree.


    Above, seeing Ethan Chen''s decision, Noah Ji felt an immense pressure.


    His current prosperity seemed promising, and the Chen Clan was slowly improving, but if the Li Clan issue wasn''t resolved, he might end up as mere kindling.


    The sacrifice began swiftly, without any complicated procedures.


    As the blood of the two fierce beasts seeped into the roots below, Noah Ji began to absorb it again.


    The blood of the two beasts from the Blood Condensation Realm rapidly increased Noah Ji''s Qi and Blood.


    When the sacrifice ended, Noah Ji opened his panel:


    ¡¾Qi and Blood: 23 (convertible to vitality)¡¿


    ¡¾Spiritual Power: 6¡¿


    ¡¾Deduction Points: 20¡¿


    ¡¾Deductible¡¿


    The mid-stage Iron Thorn Tiger from the Blood Condensation Realm contributed 15 points of Qi and Blood yesterday.


    And today''s two beasts only amounted to 23 points of Qi and Blood, probably because one was an early-stage beast from the Blood Condensation Realm.


    As for Spiritual Power, it was just enough for one deduction.


    But as Noah Ji looked at the ''Deductible'' button, he hesitated.


    Should he gamble on an uncertain deduction? Or methodically convert all Qi and Blood into vitality to strengthen himself?


    The former was too uncertain; it could improve the Chen Clan''s situation or leave Noah Ji with nothing.


    The latter offered a more stable improvement, significantly enhancing his vitality and ensuring the clan''s people need not worry about injuries.


    All things considered, the latter seemed more advantageous.


    After a brief contemplation, Noah Ji quickly made his decision.


    Where are the children who cry every day, where are the gamblers who always lose!


    Watch him gamble for a bright future!


    ¡¾This deduction will consume 10 Qi and Blood, 5 Spiritual Power, and 5 Deduction Points. Continue?¡¿


    ¡¾Yes? No?¡¿


    Noah Ji steeled his heart, closed his eyes, and without a second thought, clicked yes.


    When Noah Ji opened his eyes again, he felt a howling wind all around him.


    After taking in his surroundings, his heart sank.


    Oh no, a catastrophic start!


    He was still a delicate Sapling, now growing on the edge of a cliff, swaying in the roaring wind, at risk of being swept away if not careful.


    In such an environment, he figured survival to adulthood would be difficult.


    Based on his previous deductions, the longer he grew and the more plot he experienced, the better the rewards.


    With no other options, Noah Ji could only hope for tough luck!


    Soon, a line of text appeared before Noah Ji''s eyes.


    ¡¾You were born on the edge of a cliff! To become a Tower to the Sky as soon as possible, you start to grow vigorously!¡¿


    As the text vanished, time accelerated once more.


    And Noah Ji truly integrated into his current environment.


    Being on a cliff with no other trees nearby, he could only grow slowly in the wind. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now Noah Ji understood the saying: The tree wants to stay still, but the wind keeps blowing.


    Fortunately, despite the wind, he remained sturdy and did not perish prematurely.


    Though on a cliff, there was enough water and sunlight.


    With time sped up, Noah Ji quickly grew to the thickness of an arm, standing on the side of the cliff.


    Then, a new line of text slowly appeared.


    ¡¾The wind speed below the cliff increases. To withstand the gale, you choose?¡¿


    ¡¾Grow with the wind¡¿¡¾Grow against the wind¡¿


    When Noah Ji saw the choices before him, he smiled knowingly.


    This was too easy; as a tree wanting to survive, of course, he would choose to grow with the wind.


    Just as he was about to select the first option, his brain began to whirl.


    Wait!


    Isn''t this a bit too simple?


    Is this a normal world? Clearly not!


    Recalling the previous deduction process, after a brief thought, Noah Ji resolutely chose to grow against the wind.


    He wouldn''t fall for such an obvious trap!


    Although confident in his choice, as the text slowly disappeared, Noah Ji couldn''t help feeling a bit anxious.


    What if he chose wrong? The Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power spent on this deduction would be wasted.


    And right now, he couldn''t afford to lose.


    After the text disappeared, time resumed flowing.


    Now, Noah Ji felt the wind from below the cliff growing stronger, making growing against it extremely difficult, with the constant threat of being snapped by the gale.


    Feeling his condition worsening, Noah Ji sighed inwardly.


    Great, another mistake!


    Just as Noah Ji was resigned to his fate, he saw the nearby cliff suddenly collapse, and the terrain around him changed drastically with the fall of the cliff. The previous headwind had now turned into a tailwind.


    Could it be like this?


    Noah Ji was stunned, then overjoyed.


    Good, the right choice this time!


    Having made the correct choice, Noah Ji continued to grow steadily as time sped up again.


    Soon, he had grown to the thickness of a bowl, standing tall at the top of the cliff with a rather impressive presence.


    A new line of text emerged.


    ¡¾You discover two new saplings nearby. You choose?¡¿


    ¡¾Compete for water¡¿¡¾Leave them be¡¿


    Looking at the new choices, Noah Ji pondered for a moment, then muttered to himself:


    "Sorry!"


    This place was already on a cliff, with water hard to retain, just enough for Noah Ji''s own growth. How could he allow other saplings to grow?


    For his own survival, he could only tearfully choose to compete for water.

 Chapter 22 – One Leaf Hindrance

    After Noah Ji made his choice, time continued to flow.


    Seeing the two saplings gradually wither and die, Noah Ji nodded in satisfaction.


    But then, a sudden cracking sound rang out beside his ear.


    "Crack!"


    "Crack!"


    ...


    The sound kept echoing by Noah Ji''s ear, giving him an ominous premonition.


    Before Noah Ji could react, a new caption appeared before his eyes.


    [Your roots are insufficient to support the collapsing cliff, you are dead!]


    In Noah Ji''s final view, the cliff he was on collapsed! The trunk he had struggled to grow was buried along with it.


    As the perspective shifted, Noah Ji found himself back in the Ancestral Hall.


    Thinking back to the recent conclusion, Noah Ji couldn''t help but shake his head.


    It was too difficult!


    However, he did survive longer this time, and he hoped the gains were better than before... right?


    [Deduction complete!]


    [You have gained a new ability from this deduction: Unyielding]


    [You have gained a new Supernatural Power: One Leaf Hindrance]


    Unyielding: Your skin has thickened, allowing you to grow better in adversity.


    One Leaf Hindrance: You can consume a certain amount of Vitality stored in the leaves to temporarily enhance the strength of a creature.


    Silent upon seeing the two new abilities, Noah Ji felt like the system was mocking him!


    However, when Noah Ji saw the effects of the new Supernatural Power, the luminescence on his branches and leaves shone much brighter.


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".


    Although it was still a power that consumed his own Vitality, it was extremely suitable for the Chen Clan to extricate themselves from their current predicament.


    But as for the ''certain'' amount of Vitality, Noah Ji remained skeptical.


    After all, the Vitality consumed to enhance the strength of a Body Tempering Realm Warrior compared to a Martial Immortal would surely be vastly different.


    Noah Ji didn''t delve into the specifics, but the timely arrival of One Leaf Hindrance was indeed fortuitous.


    Aside from this new Supernatural Power, there was also the new ability of Unyielding.


    After gaining this ability, Noah Ji indeed felt that his bark had thickened.


    With the current strength of his bark, Lucas Chen probably wouldn''t be able to cut through it with a machete.


    Overall, this deduction was quite successful and gave Noah Ji a bit more confidence. At least with his own enhancement, the Chen Clan should be able to put up a fight against the Li Clan, if not defeat them.


    Moreover, wasn''t there an Elder Ancestor in the Ancestral Hall?


    Noah Ji had carefully observed the ''Elder Ancestor'' who was missing a hand and a foot, noting that his body seemed to have undergone special refinement, making it very hard.


    However, due to prolonged battles, the ''Elder Ancestor'' was covered in wounds, which led to the loss of limbs, but his strength was still not to be underestimated.


    As dawn broke, the luminescence on Noah Ji''s body slowly faded away.


    The Vitality he absorbed last night doubled as expected.


    Now, Noah Ji''s Vitality had reached 9.8.


    The remaining Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power were insufficient for a second Deduction. Considering that a single Blood Condensation Realm beast could replenish the Qi and Blood needed for Deduction, Noah Ji did not hesitate to convert all the remaining Qi and Blood into Vitality.


    After all, with two Supernatural Powers requiring the consumption of Vitality, and the second one''s consumption still unknown, it was necessary for him to prepare in advance.


    Additionally, Noah Ji wanted to see if a significant increase in Vitality could add more branches and leaves to himself, which would accelerate the speed at which he absorbed moonlight, creating a virtuous cycle.


    As the vitality surged within him, Noah Ji felt a refreshing sensation throughout his body, and his roots began to spread rapidly, extending several meters outside the Ancestral Hall.


    After his Vitality broke through 10 points, Noah Ji was surprised to find that he seemed to be slowly growing taller.


    Not only was he growing taller, but his trunk also seemed to be getting thicker, from the size of a bamboo pole to the thickness of a fist.


    This improvement delighted Noah Ji.


    It seemed that the higher his Vitality, the more he would grow, not just relying on years.


    With this rate of growth, he might soon become a Tower to the Sky.


    When all the changes stopped, Noah Ji reopened his status panel:


    [Name: Noah Ji]


    [Race: Young Sophora Tree]


    [Vitality: 16.3]


    [Supernatural Powers: Eye of Insight, Reversal Pill, One Leaf Hindrance]


    [Technique: Lunar Eclipse]


    [Combat Skill: None]


    [Qi and Blood: 0 (can be converted to Vitality)]


    [Spiritual Power: 1]


    [Deduction Points: 15]


    [Unable to Deduct!]


    [Status: As a worshipped Sacred Tree, you finally have some self-preservation power, but it is still far from enough.]


    After the increase in Vitality, his race designation and status had changed accordingly.


    Unfortunately, he did not grow additional branches and leaves this time; it seemed that the Vitality was not enough to promote growth, and the Vitality needed for future branches and leaves would be even greater.


    After the increase in Vitality, Noah Ji''s roots had already spread several meters outside the Ancestral Hall.


    With this, Noah Ji''s ''eyes'' could see further, and he was no longer confined to the small Ancestral Hall every day.


    Around noon, in a secluded room of the Clan, Ethan Chen was deep in thought.


    "Clan Chief, you called for me?"


    Soon after, Mason Chen entered the room.


    Ethan Chen nodded slightly and then spoke:


    "Mason, take a few clan members who haven''t eaten and go hunting."


    Mason Chen was startled upon hearing this and asked with confusion:


    "But Clan Chief, aren''t there people from the Li Clan guarding everywhere outside? Can we really get away with going out like this?"


    "And why bring clan members who haven''t eaten?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course, it won''t work. This hunt is just a show for the Li Clan to buy us some time."


    Upon hearing Ethan Chen''s explanation, Mason Chen had an epiphany and nodded:


    "I understand!"


    Before long, the Chen Clan had organized several pale-faced, Qi and Blood-deficient Body Tempering Realm Warriors.


    Leading them was Mason Chen, who, compared to the others, looked much healthier with abundant Qi and Blood, but there was a hint of annoyance in his eyes.


    After the group was ready, they cautiously left through the clan''s back door.


    "Clan Chief, Clan Chief!"


    "What''s the rush?"


    Looking at the clan member who ran in with excitement and panic, Joshua Li frowned and asked.


    "Clan Chief, the Chen Clan tried to go hunting during noon, but we discovered them and sent them back!"


    "Oh?"


    A look of surprise and doubt crossed Joshua Li''s face as he continued to ask:


    "Which members of the Chen family came out? What was their condition? Make sure you tell me everything, don''t leave out any details!"


    "The one leading them was Mason Chen, and there were some other Body Tempering Realm Warriors..."


    After listening to the detailed description from the person before him, a smile flickered across Joshua Li''s face.

 Chapter 23 – I alone will suffice

    "Very well, very well!"


    "It seems the Chen Clan truly has no other recourse, unable to even secure food for their people!"


    "In three days'' time, it will be our moment to strike."


    The clan member who came to report scratched his head in confusion:


    "But I saw Mason Chen, his Qi and Blood are abundant, repelling several of our people!"


    Joshua Li snorted lightly upon hearing this:


    "Isn''t that obvious? If the Chen Clan can''t even provide for their Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, why would we wait another three days?"


    "The Clan Chief is right!"


    The clan member gave a sheepish smile and then withdrew.


    Joshua Li took out a map from the side, on which the Chen Clan''s buildings and main roads were meticulously marked.


    Holding an ink brush, Joshua occasionally made marks on the map.


    The places he marked were the key exits of the Li Clan.


    In clan warfare, one must not be careless, nor can there be any fish that slip through the net.


    Even in a small place like Disordered Burial Mountain, there have been instances where, out of pity during clan wars, the young of rival clans were spared, only to lead to their clan''s extermination later on.


    Coincidentally, the Elder Ancestor of the Li Clan was one of those spared youngsters, who after annihilating his old enemies, managed to grow the clan to its current state.


    Therefore, he would not let a single person from the Chen Clan escape, not even a tree; he would split it in two!


    After confirming that the plan for three days later was flawless, Joshua Li put away the map. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Clan Chief, your fifth paternal great-uncle has just broken through to the later stages of the Blood Condensation Realm!"


    Soon, another clan member came to report.


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    Upon hearing this news, Joshua Li''s face lit up with joy! This was truly good news.


    His Li Clan originally had two late-stage Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, and with the addition of other warriors, they had a total of eight.


    In contrast, the Chen Clan only had four Blood Condensation Realm Warriors. If it weren''t for their ''Elder Ancestor,'' the Chen Clan would have already been defeated.


    Now that another person in the clan had broken through to the later stages of the Blood Condensation Realm, even if the Chen Clan''s ''Elder Ancestor'' took action, they would not fear.


    With this, the clan could truly be assured of victory.


    They could even take down the Chen Clan right now.


    But after some thought, Joshua Li still abandoned this idea.


    The Chen Clan was not to be feared, but another clan in Disordered Burial Mountain required caution.


    Since the Chen Clan couldn''t escape anyway, it was best to minimize their own losses.


    ...


    As night fell, Ethan Chen paced around the high grounds of the clan. Seeing that everything within the clan was as usual, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed that today''s sortie by the clan members would allow them to hold out for a few more days.


    Ethan Chen quickened his pace towards the Ancestral Hall.


    When he arrived outside the Ancestral Hall, he could already glimpse the glimmering Sacred Tree through the cracks of the door.


    He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that the light emitted by the Sacred Tree seemed brighter today.


    Ethan Chen pushed open the door and looked towards the Sacred Tree.


    But when he saw the current state of the Sacred Tree, his face revealed a hint of astonishment.


    The Sacred Tree before him had grown much taller, its trunk thicker, and the glowing leaves on its branches shone like scattered jade stones, crystal clear.


    He hadn''t come to observe during the day and hadn''t expected such a significant change in the Sacred Tree, which filled Ethan Chen with joy and surprise.


    It seemed to be the result of last night''s sacrifice.


    But then Ethan Chen seemed to remember something, his face showing a hint of difficulty.


    Because he had already instructed the clan members not to hunt tonight.


    Naturally, the reason was due to the encounter with an Innate Realm beast during yesterday''s hunt.


    If that Innate Realm Green Wolf was still nearby, the risk for the clan members going out to hunt would increase.


    But now, the change in the Sacred Tree was clearly the result of his continuous sacrifices. If he stopped sacrificing now, would the transformation of the Sacred Tree cease?


    He had once heard from the clan elders that if the Sacred Tree was at a critical moment, it required daily sacrifices, and the more sacrifices made, the stronger the divine power the Sacred Tree would exhibit, better protecting the clan.


    He had asked what constituted a critical moment.


    The clan elder had smiled without answering, only saying that he would naturally know when the time came.


    And the current scene very much fit the critical moment described by that elder.


    If he really stopped sacrificing today, wouldn''t he become a sinner of the clan?


    And the two beasts left from last night were mostly consumed by the clan members by now, likely insufficient for the sacrifice.


    Could it be that the clan members had to take the risk again tonight?


    "But if we really have to go hunting, who should I send?"


    Ethan Chen murmured to himself softly.


    If the clan members sent out were of too low a Realm, hunting would be problematic. If he sent people like Mason Chen again, encountering that Innate Realm beast would mean no return!


    As Ethan Chen was in a dilemma, a faint voice suddenly came from behind:


    "Clan Chief, I''ll go."


    "Oliver? When did you get here?"


    "Just arrived."


    Oliver Chen glanced at the significantly changed Sacred Tree, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued:


    "For tonight''s hunt, I alone will suffice."


    "This..."


    Ethan Chen was visibly conflicted.


    But after careful thought, aside from Oliver Chen, it seemed no one else could replace him.


    There were only two late-stage Blood Condensation Realm Warriors in the clan, and besides himself, there was Oliver Chen.


    Although he was much older, a warrior''s strength did not necessarily increase with age. If one''s age was too advanced and their Realm had not broken through for a long time, their Qi and Blood would rapidly decline.


    Currently, Oliver Chen was considered the strongest warrior in the clan, and his late-stage Blood Condensation Realm strength allowed him to move with ease in Disordered Burial Mountain. If he encountered a formidable beast, he could detect it early and leave quickly.


    In every way, Oliver Chen was highly suitable.


    Without much hesitation, Ethan Chen quickly turned his gaze to Oliver Chen and cautioned:


    "You must be careful on this journey. If you find anything amiss, retreat immediately and do not be reckless."


    "Mm, I understand."


    Oliver Chen nodded, clearly not taking Ethan Chen''s words to heart, which made Ethan sigh internally.


    Oliver Chen was excellent in every way, but he was just a bit too impetuous due to his youth.


    But then again, perhaps young people should be like this; otherwise, how could they have the ability to break through their limits?


    Ultimately, the fault lay with the clan. If the clan were stronger, they could have provided talents like Oliver Chen with better resources and opportunities.


    Seeing the Clan Chief''s agreement, Oliver Chen immediately headed towards the direction of the clan''s secret passage:


    "Clan Chief, I''m off!"


    "Mm, be very careful and cautious."

 Chapter 24 – Divine Tree Blessing

    As Oliver Chen was about to enter the secret passage, a rustling sound suddenly emanated from the Sacred Tree not far from them.


    The anomaly of the Sacred Tree drew their attention.


    In their line of sight, the Sacred Tree, glowing in the night, suddenly lit up with a dazzling light.


    Amidst the swaying of the trunk and branches, a dark green leaf emitting a green glow slowly drifted down from the foliage.


    Soon, the leaf landed right in front of Oliver Chen.


    Looking at the leaf floating towards him, Oliver Chen''s brow furrowed slightly. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Beside him, Ethan Chen''s face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly exclaimed:


    "Oliver, catch it! This is the Sacred Tree''s blessing!"


    Upon hearing this, Oliver Chen reluctantly reached out to catch the drifting leaf, but his expression remained skeptical. It was just a Sophora leaf, commonly found everywhere - what blessing could it be?


    If the Sacred Tree could rise from the ground and repel the Li Clan, then he would consider it a true blessing.


    Merely healing some injuries was nothing; it couldn''t save their clan in its current state.


    If it weren''t for the Clan Chief being present, he wouldn''t bother with this Sophora leaf!


    It had nothing to do with anything else.


    He, Oliver Chen, could make it on his own strength!


    The dark green leaf lost its glow as soon as it landed in Oliver Chen''s hand, turning into an ordinary-looking leaf.


    However, Ethan Chen was overjoyed at this moment:


    "Fantastic! With the Sacred Tree''s blessing, our journey will surely be safe."


    Oliver Chen casually pocketed the leaf, no longer paying attention to Ethan Chen''s gratitude towards the Sacred Tree, and jumped into the secret passage below.


    Above, Noah Ji felt a pang of heartache.


    That Sophora leaf he had just seen was one he had invested two points of vitality into using his One Leaf Hindrance supernatural power.


    This was more than he had spent healing a dozen clan members, further depleting his already scarce vitality.


    However, considering the dangers of the journey, Noah Ji was not stingy.


    Although he noticed Oliver Chen''s disdain and pride, the situation was dire, and since Oliver Chen was the pillar of the Chen Clan, losing him would leave them helpless against the Li Clan.


    Whether for the Chen Clan or for himself, he had to make some gesture.


    He could only hope that Oliver Chen would return safely, and perhaps even hunt a few fierce beasts.


    Even one would do.


    If not, just having the person back would suffice!


    The Chen Clan could not withstand another blow.


    After Ethan Chen left, the Ancestral Hall once again became quiet, and Noah Ji focused on absorbing the moonlight.


    Noah Ji''s roots had spread outside the Ancestral Hall, occasionally sensing the clan members patrolling outside.


    These people, in pairs, occasionally conversed, providing some entertainment for Noah Ji.


    But most of the time, he heard more of the clan members'' worries and lack of confidence.


    Upon reflection, given the clan''s current situation, it was indeed hard for the people to feel confident.


    But the outcome was still uncertain, and the ending was yet to be known.


    He was no longer the withered tree he had been a few days ago.


    If he had a few more days to absorb more Qi and Blood, to perform more Deductions, the clan''s crisis could be easily resolved.


    "Lucas, do you think the Li Family will break in tonight?"


    When Noah Ji heard this somewhat familiar voice, his consciousness paused for a moment.


    It was Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who had been assigned by Ethan Chen to patrol around the clan.


    The two young men were now holding knives and sticks, carefully checking their surroundings.


    "I don''t know."


    Lucas Chen shook his head.


    "Lucas, what do we do if the Li Family breaks in?"


    "Hmph, we fight them, of course!"


    Lucas Chen''s youthful face held a hint of determination, but his grip on the knife handle was particularly tight. Despite the determined look in his eyes, the panic inside was hard to conceal.


    They were still just two young boys.


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji couldn''t help but sigh to himself.


    At their age, they shouldn''t have to face such things, but that''s how the rules of this world work, regardless of age.


    "Lucas, I actually have a plan."


    Alexander Chen stopped in his tracks and confidently said.


    "Ah?"


    "You have a plan?"


    Hearing this, Lucas Chen turned his gaze to his childhood companion, his eyes filled with surprise, confusion, and unfamiliarity.


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    It was the first time he had heard Alexander Chen say he had a plan.


    "My plan is to go back to the Ancestral Hall and chop down the Sacred Tree! Maybe that will save our clan!"


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji, who was intently listening to the plan, was speechless.


    If these two kids dared to come, he was determined to show them his might!


    Beside him, Lucas Chen felt relieved.


    Thank goodness, this was still the Alexander Chen he knew, unchanged.


    "That plan probably won''t work for now. After our last visit, there have been more clan members patrolling outside the Ancestral Hall, and lately, the Clan Chief seems to be staying there all the time."


    Seeing his plan fall through, Alexander Chen sighed:


    "That''s a pity."


    "Indeed, it is a bit of a pity."


    Noah Ji also sighed inwardly.


    Seeing this, Lucas Chen patted his shoulder and comforted him:


    "But it''s okay, we''ll just go next time, there will be plenty of opportunities! It''s not like the tree can run away."


    Comforted, the disappointment on Alexander Chen''s face vanished, and the two continued their patrol.


    "I''ll be waiting for you."


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji''s heart uttered a wistful phrase.


    ...


    "Why haven''t we seen a single Blood Condensation Realm beast?"


    Outside the secret passage, in Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Oliver Chen stood atop a huge tree canopy, surveying the surroundings.


    It had been about half an hour since he left the clan''s secret passage, but today he had not seen a single Blood Condensation Realm beast.


    Although he had seen two Body Tempering Realm beasts, they were of a lower Realm, and he did not think much of such prey.


    After all, the difference in Qi and Blood between the two was not small, and even as food for the clan members, it seemed insufficient.


    Recalling the green wolf from the day before, Oliver Chen had a realization.


    Beasts each had their own territories.


    And the Innate Realm green wolf from yesterday was likely one of the strongest in Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Even if that green wolf did not consider this place its territory, its pursuit of prey yesterday did not conceal its blood and aura.


    Just the scent left behind en route was enough to intimidate other beasts and keep them away from this area.

 Chapter 25 – Encounter with the Giant Tiger

    Thus, his hunting became quite troublesome.


    To secure a fruitful hunt, Oliver Chen had no choice but to carefully choose his direction, heading towards more distant territories.


    The terrain of Disordered Burial Mountain was uneven, and the towering trees within made it difficult to discern one''s path. However, as a member of a clan that resided by the mountain, Oliver had his own methods of navigation, so there was no worry of getting lost.


    After traversing several hundred meters, Oliver''s footsteps came to an abrupt halt as his gaze shifted towards the dense forest nearby.


    He sensed the presence of a fierce beast and detected the dispersal of Qi and Blood not far away.


    Since he was hunting alone, to avoid startling the beast and causing it to flee, he had to be extra cautious.


    Oliver lowered the sound of his footsteps, moving slowly towards the direction ahead.


    After parting a dense thicket of vines, he finally laid eyes on his first target of the hunt.


    It was a Dark Gold Beast, commonly found in Disordered Burial Mountain, known for its tough, dark brown fur, sharp fangs, a spiny back, and despite its short limbs, it was renowned for its strength.


    Although the Dark Gold Beast before him was only at the early stage of the Blood Condensation Realm, its threat level was no less than the Zhen Beast he had hunted the previous day, which was at the mid-stage of the same realm.


    However, to Oliver, there was no difference.


    His strength at the later stage of the Blood Condensation Realm meant he was no weaker than the Dark Gold Beast before him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After surveying the surroundings, Oliver no longer hesitated. He maneuvered his body and slowly approached the Dark Gold Beast.


    Being alone on this hunt, the timing of his strike was crucial. Ideally, he would land a fatal blow, giving the beast no chance to react.


    As Oliver drew closer, the Dark Gold Beast, which was feeding, seemed to sense something, stopping its meal to glance around.


    But by the time it paused, Oliver had already concealed himself behind a large tree, suppressing his Qi and Blood.


    The unsuspecting Dark Gold Beast continued to feed.


    Moments later, however, the beast seemed to sense something amiss. Its fur stood on end, its hind legs tensed, and its sharp fangs struck out behind it.


    But Oliver, who was well-prepared, would not give it the chance to fight back.


    The moment the Dark Gold Beast sensed danger, Oliver, perched in the tree, erupted with fierce Qi and Blood. His right fist, accompanied by a whistling wind and afterimages, aimed straight for the nape of the beast''s neck.


    "Boom!"


    In the next instant, the body of the Dark Gold Beast was sent flying several meters away, even snapping a tree trunk as thick as a bowl in its path.


    Having landed a successful blow, Oliver did not strike again but slowly walked towards the fallen beast.


    The Dark Gold Beast roared in pain, struggling to stand, but Oliver''s previous strike, laden with the force of his Qi and Blood, had already broken its neck.


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    No matter how it struggled, it could not rise again.


    Under Oliver''s second punch, its roar turned into a final whimper.


    Having easily dealt with the Dark Gold Beast, Oliver''s expression remained unchanged; such a beast was not worth his excitement.


    Moreover, he did not intend to return home just yet, but carrying the Dark Gold Beast would be quite inconvenient for further hunting.


    In an instant, Oliver took out a porcelain bottle and sprinkled the prepared Wood Lotus Powder over the body of the Dark Gold Beast to mask its scent.


    To avoid attracting other fierce beasts, Oliver covered the corpse with some foliage before turning and walking in another direction.


    Before long, Oliver stopped again, but unlike the previous ease, his eyes now held a trace of gravity.


    For the beast before him was a fierce creature at the later stage of the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Although he was at the same stage, facing a beast of equal realm did not guarantee victory, let alone a successful hunt.


    If it were an unscathed beast, he would have turned and fled without a second thought.


    But the beast ahead was the same giant tiger he had encountered the day before, now looking rather bedraggled. Its right leg bore a deep, bone-deep gash, seemingly inflicted by the claws of another beast, causing the tiger to limp heavily.


    The tiger''s size was as immense as before, but it lacked the previous ferocity in its demeanor.


    Seeing the wounded tiger, a hint of joy flashed in Oliver''s eyes.


    It wasn''t that he enjoyed preying on disabled beasts, but such opportunities were rare. If he could successfully hunt this giant tiger, it would greatly improve his clan''s situation, as the single beast could alleviate their food worries for three days.


    Such a source of abundant Qi and Blood could even allow many warriors of the clan to temper their bodies and Qi and Blood, enhancing their realms!


    Despite the tiger''s severe injuries, Oliver did not act recklessly.


    If he remembered correctly, this tiger had been pursued by a green wolf of the Innate Realm the day before.


    Even injured, it was a creature he needed to handle with care, having survived an encounter with a beast of the Innate Realm.


    Oliver moved forward slowly, planning to ambush it as he had done before.


    But before he could take two steps, the tiger licking its wounds stopped and turned its sharp gaze towards Oliver''s direction.


    Feeling the tiger''s focus on him, Oliver no longer concealed his presence.


    This beast was not like the Dark Gold Beast; once discovered, he would lose the chance to ambush it.


    But he had only intended to try his luck without much expectation of success, so being detected was within reason.


    He had dared to fight an uninjured giant tiger; all the more now that the tiger was wounded.


    Oliver strode forward, passing obstacles, and quickly arrived a few meters in front of the tiger.


    Unlike other beasts, the tiger, upon seeing Oliver approach, did not roar but stared at him with fierce eyes.


    This behavior made Oliver even more cautious, for only beasts lacking in strength would try to scare off enemies with their roars, seemingly fierce but actually fearful.


    The tiger before him, both in realm and intelligence, was superior to the previous Dark Gold Beast.


    Oliver did not rush to attack but observed the tiger while concentrating his Qi and Blood, ready to unleash a powerful strike at any moment.


    The tiger across from him also cast a scrutinizing look. Although it had not seen Oliver before, the scent on him was somewhat familiar.


    Most importantly, it felt threatened by Oliver.


    Oliver edged closer, while the tiger sat, seemingly indifferent to his approach, but its limbs were slightly buried in the soil, revealing sharp claws glinting with cold light.


    Neither side made the first move, each searching for the other''s weakness.

 Chapter 26 – Sophora Leaf

    After a tense standoff, the giant tiger could no longer contain its restlessness. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Already wounded, its taut limbs caused blood to flow incessantly from the wounds on its legs. Any further delay would only put it at a greater disadvantage.


    In the next moment, a murderous intent flashed in the tiger''s eyes. As its legs bent, its massive body sprang towards Oliver Chen like a coiled spring.


    Its enormous size granted it explosive power; if Oliver were to be knocked down, he would become nothing more than its prey.


    The tiger was fast, but Oliver was faster.


    As the tiger made its move, Oliver rolled away, narrowly evading the tiger''s pounce and bite.


    After dodging the attack, Oliver saw the tiger''s exposed back.


    "Opportunity!"


    A glint appeared in Oliver''s eyes. Without fully regaining his balance, he surged forward, aiming for the tiger''s back.


    The tiger''s front legs were injured. If Oliver could also wound its hind legs, this late-stage Blood Condensation Realm tiger would pose no threat.


    Oliver closed in on the tiger''s rear in an instant, but just as he was about to strike, a whooshing sound by his ear startled him, prompting him to quickly retract his fist and retreat.


    Despite his quick withdrawal, the wind still grazed his cheek painfully.


    "Crack!"


    Following the wind, a tree thick as a bowl toppled over.


    Wiping the fresh blood from his cheek, Oliver finally saw the tiger''s weapon ¨C its robust and powerful tail.


    Had he not retreated quickly enough, it wouldn''t have been just a cheek wound; he might have lost his head.


    The tiger''s strike also eradicated the last bit of Oliver''s complacency.


    He hadn''t noticed the tiger''s tail before; clearly, the tiger had been concealing its skill. The vulnerability it had just shown was a trap, luring him to strike. If not for his quick reflexes, he might have ended up as the tiger''s meal.


    After the missed attack, the tiger quickly turned around, and once again, man and beast faced each other head-on.


    Despite being at a disadvantage in the first round, Oliver felt no fear. Instead, his eyes burned with a renewed fighting spirit.


    This time, Oliver didn''t wait passively; he took the initiative.


    Gathering Qi and Blood in his legs, he quickly moved to the tiger''s side.


    Sensing Oliver''s intent, the tiger turned as well, denying him the chance to strike.


    But Oliver was undeterred, circling rapidly through the dense forest.


    The tiger, large and hindered by its injured front leg, struggled to turn amidst the trees. This was Oliver''s chance!


    As Oliver frequently changed positions, the tiger struggled to keep up. In a moment of carelessness, it was struck by Oliver''s fist on the side of its body.


    After landing the blow, Oliver didn''t linger for glory but quickly retreated to avoid a counterattack.


    Though the hit didn''t severely wound the tiger, it revealed a hint of anger in its eyes.


    Enraged, the tiger launched a fierce assault. Trees and boulders alike shattered under its immense power.


    Yet none of these attacks reached the agile Oliver.


    Instead, they provided him with opportunities to leave two more inconspicuous wounds on the tiger''s body.


    Soon, the tiger ceased its attacks, realizing they did not harm the detestable warrior and only worsened its disadvantage.


    "Roar!"


    The tiger''s roar echoed all around.


    Oliver''s expression turned cautious.


    But then, he saw the tiger dragging its wounded body away without looking back.


    This left Oliver stunned.


    Realizing the tiger was attempting to flee, Oliver decisively gave chase. After such a long struggle, how could he let it escape?


    With the tiger''s mobility compromised, Oliver, at full force, quickly caught up.


    As he was about to reach the tiger, its tail swept towards him again.


    This time, however, Oliver was prepared. Dodging the tail whip, he grabbed the tiger''s hind legs.


    Holding the tiger''s legs, Oliver channeled his Qi and Blood, swinging the fleeing tiger in a half-circle in the air and slamming it back to the ground.


    Dazed and seeing stars, the tiger was hit by several heavy punches from Oliver before it could react.


    His fists numbed against the hard skull, but Oliver''s assault intensified.


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    Under his relentless attack, the tiger''s breath weakened, and it lost the strength to resist.


    Seeing this, a smile crept onto Oliver''s solemn face. Although the process was somewhat unsavory, he had successfully hunted the tiger.


    Exhausted from the fight, Oliver released the tiger to rest.


    Suddenly, a sense of mortal danger emerged in his mind, sending chills down his spine.


    Before he could react, a massive force struck him from behind.


    The next moment, like a kite with its string cut, Oliver was slammed against a large tree ahead and then fell to the ground.


    As he lifted his head through the intense pain, a familiar Green Wolf appeared not far away, standing atop the tiger and looking down at Oliver with disdain.


    It was the Innate Realm Green Wolf from yesterday!


    A chill ran through Oliver''s heart, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.


    He had thought himself the ultimate victor, but he hadn''t realized the Green Wolf had been hiding nearby, so stealthily that he hadn''t sensed it at all.


    Watching the Green Wolf approach with slow, deliberate steps, Oliver struggled to his feet.


    But the previous blow had left him severely injured, and even the Qi and Blood within him couldn''t circulate smoothly.


    In such a state, how could he face this Innate Realm Green Wolf?


    As the Green Wolf drew closer, its fangs bared, Oliver sighed inwardly.


    He hadn''t expected to die here in Disordered Burial Mountain.


    If he died, the Clan''s strength would be greatly diminished. Could they still contend with the Li Clan?


    By such calculations, would the Clan not be ruined by his own hands?


    No! He couldn''t just give up!


    A look of defiance flashed in Oliver''s eyes.


    He was young with a bright future ahead; he couldn''t give up just because he was cornered.


    But how could he survive now?


    Sophora Leaf!


    Suddenly, Oliver''s eyes lit up, remembering the Sophora Leaf he had taken from the Sacred Tree of the clan before leaving.


    Although he had no fondness for the Sacred Tree, now he had to try anything that might work.


    Hopefully, the Sophora Leaf could have some effect, even if just to alleviate his injuries a bit.

 Chapter 27 – Retreat from the enemy

    Oliver Chen frantically pulled out the Sophora leaf from his bosom.


    This action caused the Green Wolf opposite him to pause mid-step.


    Wolves are inherently suspicious creatures, and even after reaching the Innate Realm, their skepticism is unmatched.


    It too was curious as to why, on the brink of death, this human would take out a seemingly ordinary leaf.


    Looking at the leaf in his hand, Oliver Chen''s eyes suddenly filled with confusion. How was he supposed to use this thing?


    No matter!


    Oliver Chen crushed the leaf, preparing to swallow it.


    But the moment he crushed the Sophora leaf, a powerful surge of Qi and Blood erupted from the seemingly ordinary leaf, flooding into Oliver Chen''s body.


    The force of Qi and Blood startled both man and beast. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the Qi and Blood surged into his body, Oliver Chen felt his blood boil, and his recently injured body burst forth with extreme potential.


    In an instant, his Qi and Blood circulated normally, and not only that, he even felt as if his Qi and Blood had thickened considerably, as if he had taken a step further in the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm.


    With this newfound state, Oliver Chen''s eyes shone brilliantly, and he looked at the Green Wolf with intense fighting spirit.


    At this moment, the Green Wolf stood still, not understanding how a man on the brink of death could recover so quickly and even advance further.


    But the Green Wolf''s eyes showed little emotion, nor did it retreat. The gap between them was not something a single leaf could bridge; it could sense the human''s weakness.


    The Green Wolf''s eyes emitted a deep light, ready to attack once more.


    However, at this moment, Oliver Chen''s hand held yet another leaf. Seeing this, the Green Wolf hesitated, uncertain of how many similar leaves the human might have.


    "Awooo!"


    Just then, a loud wolf howl echoed from afar, causing the Green Wolf''s expression to change as it turned its gaze in the direction of the howl.


    After a moment, the Green Wolf no longer lingered and slowly retreated after giving Oliver Chen one last look.


    Under the cover of night, the Green Wolf''s figure slipped into the forest and quickly vanished from Oliver Chen''s sight.


    Seeing the Green Wolf retreat, Oliver Chen breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although the Sophora leaf had restored him and greatly increased his strength, he did not feel he was a match for the Innate Realm beast.


    Once he confirmed the Green Wolf had left, Oliver Chen casually discarded the leaf in his hand.


    The leaf was just something he had picked at random, luckily it had served its deceptive purpose.


    To avoid the Green Wolf''s potential return, Oliver Chen did not linger. He quickly hoisted the giant tiger''s corpse and ran towards the Clan''s secret passage.


    On his way back, Oliver Chen did not forget to take the Dark Gold Beast he had hidden earlier.


    If it were him after a great battle, he might not have been able to carry away two large prey at once. However, after absorbing the Sophora leaf, he felt an endless strength within him, allowing him to move swiftly.


    In no time at all, Oliver Chen was back inside the Clan''s secret passage.


    As he replaced the Blue Stone Slab at the entrance, the boundless strength that had been flowing within him seemed to lose its source and quickly began to fade.


    Not only that, but his Qi and Blood also began to plummet rapidly, returning to their original state.


    It was as if the recent enhancement had been an illusion.


    Even the wounds on his back began to reveal themselves once more.


    Feeling his condition deteriorating, Oliver Chen was not annoyed but instead felt a sense of fortune.


    Had the Green Wolf not retreated, his life would have been in grave danger.


    However, thinking back on the Sophora leaf, a complex expression crossed Oliver Chen''s face.


    "Why hasn''t he returned yet?"


    In the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen paced back and forth, his face showing worry. With the Sacred Tree''s blessing, as long as they didn''t encounter an Innate Realm beast, there shouldn''t have been any problems.


    So why the delay?


    At this moment, Noah Ji also harbored a sliver of self-doubt.


    Not long ago, he had sensed that the Sophora leaf he had given had been used, but after nearly half an hour, there was still no sign of anyone returning.


    Was the Vitality he had imbued into the leaf insufficient? Was its effect lacking?


    Had he known, he would have infused more Vitality into that leaf.


    As the two worried, Oliver Chen''s voice echoed from the secret passage:


    "Clan Chief, I have returned."


    Hearing the voice, Ethan Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    When the Blue Stone Slab was lifted, Oliver Chen climbed up from below.


    Seeing Oliver Chen''s tattered clothes and bloodstains, Ethan Chen''s heart trembled:


    "Oliver, you''re injured?"


    "It''s nothing, just minor wounds. A few days of rest should suffice."


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".


    After speaking, Oliver Chen dragged the prey out of the secret passage.


    Ethan Chen''s face showed surprise upon seeing the giant tiger''s corpse:


    "Is this a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast?"


    "Yes."


    With Oliver Chen''s affirmative response, Ethan Chen reproached him:


    "Ah, you''ve taken too great a risk. Thankfully, you didn''t encounter that Innate Realm beast."


    After finishing his words, Ethan Chen saw Oliver Chen''s hesitant gaze and felt a bad premonition. He quickly pressed:


    "Did you encounter it?"


    "I did."


    Oliver Chen nodded, then recounted the hunting experience.


    Hearing about Oliver Chen''s hunt, Ethan Chen said no more, simply expressing relief:


    "It''s good that you''re back!"


    But when Ethan Chen heard about the effect of the Sophora leaf, his eyes lit up with brightness.


    Although, according to Oliver Chen, the leaf''s effect lasted less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, as Clan Chief, he understood the true value of the leaf and how much help it could provide to the people of the clan in their current situation.


    If the Sacred Tree could provide a few more Sophora leaves, perhaps the Clan could not only avert the current crisis but also turn defeat into victory.


    "Clan Chief, I will take my leave now."


    "Mhm."


    Ethan Chen, still contemplating the matter of the Sophora leaf, nodded subconsciously.


    "Clan Chief, I''m going to heal my injuries."


    Beside him, Oliver Chen spoke again.


    Ethan Chen was taken aback; hadn''t he just agreed?


    Above, Noah Ji rolled his eyes.


    This wasn''t a farewell to Ethan Chen; it was clearly a hint to him!


    But never mind, considering Oliver Chen''s good haul this time, he wouldn''t begrudge that bit of Vitality.


    Noah Ji used his Supernatural Power, and several green specks floated down from the glowing branches and leaves.


    These green specks quickly merged into Oliver Chen''s body.


    After receiving the Sacred Tree''s healing, Oliver Chen finally stopped speaking and turned to leave the Ancestral Hall.


    Ethan Chen watched the scene without saying much, but his heart was filled with joy.


    It seemed the Sacred Tree still held great care for the younger generation of the Clan.

 Chapter 28 – New plan

    Damn, I actually used up 0.4 of my vitality, and all for nothing in one night.


    If I had known, I would have pretended not to hear.


    Watching the depleted vitality, Noah Ji muttered to himself, but then his gaze shifted to the giant tiger carcass beside him.


    This late-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast must provide a good amount of Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power, right?


    Beside him, Ethan Chen finally snapped back to reality and once again turned his gaze to Noah Ji, or more precisely, to the Sophora leaves on the branches of Noah Ji''s tree.


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    But as the Clan Chief, he knew very well that not every Sophora leaf possessed such effects.


    Moreover, with the Sacred Tree just sprouted, its divine power must be limited, and it was uncertain how much it could help the clan. These were matters he still needed to discuss with the Sacred Tree.


    Although it was somewhat difficult to broach, it concerned the survival of the clan.


    Ethan Chen turned his head to look at the two ferocious beasts Oliver Chen had brought back from hunting, and without a second word, he personally sacrificed the giant tiger.


    As for the remaining Dark Gold Beast, it needed to be kept as food for the people of the clan.


    "Not bad, you know what''s good for you."


    Seeing Ethan Chen sacrifice the giant tiger, Noah Ji nodded inwardly and quickly absorbed the blood from the beast''s body.


    The Qi and Blood of a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast were indeed abundant, as Noah Ji watched his own Qi and Blood surge upward. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In no time, Noah Ji had fully absorbed it, and when he reopened his panel, the numbers had changed.


    ¡¾Qi and Blood: 20 (can be converted to vitality)¡¿


    ¡¾Spiritual Power: 6¡¿


    ¡¾Deduction Points: 15¡¿


    ¡¾Deduction available!¡¿


    This giant tiger alone contributed 20 points of Qi and Blood and 5 points of Spiritual Power, which was quite impressive, far surpassing other beasts he had encountered before.


    And now, with enough points, he could perform Deduction.


    However, this time Noah Ji chose not to Deduct but planned to convert all the Qi and Blood into vitality.


    He had Deducted before because he wasn''t strong enough to enhance the strength of the Chen Clan, but now things were different. With the One Leaf Hindrance and the Reversal Pill, he could temporarily boost the clan''s strength.


    What he lacked now was not new Supernatural Powers or other things, but a large amount of vitality, as both of these Supernatural Powers required spending vitality, and the consumption was not small.


    Moreover, after Ethan Chen learned of the effects of his One Leaf Hindrance, he surely had some plans in mind, and the next step was probably to seek Noah Ji out.


    Dealing with the Li Clan was urgent, making this Qi and Blood even more important.


    And just as Noah Ji expected, it didn''t take long for Ethan Chen to approach him.


    Half an hour later, Ethan Chen finally left the Ancestral Hall.


    Exiting the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen''s face bore a trace of solemnity and determination.


    It was time to settle things with the Li Clan.


    Not long after, several Blood Condensation Realm Warriors and Body Tempering Realm members of the Chen Clan headed towards the clan''s secret chamber.


    Inside the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji directly converted all the Qi and Blood he had just obtained into vitality.


    His vitality, originally at 16.3, shot up to 26.3, a full ten-point increase.


    Regrettably, the ten-point increase in vitality did not result in new branches and leaves for Noah Ji, but it did extend the roots beneath the ground by several meters.


    Noah Ji could feel that this ten-point increase was less significant than before; perhaps it was because he had been too weak before, so each point of vitality increase seemed substantial?


    Nevertheless, the increase in vitality made Noah Ji''s condition better, and even the Sophora leaves on his branches looked greener.


    Noah Ji found it hard to judge, but if it meant being better, a little greener wouldn''t hurt.


    The next morning, a fine misty rain began to fall from the sky.


    Raindrops pattered on the exposed Sophora leaves of Noah Ji, creating a "tap tap tap" sound.


    Outside the Ancestral Hall, the people of the Chen Clan were patrolling in an orderly fashion, undeterred by the weather.


    But all the faces of the Chen Clan members had less worry than in the previous days and more determination.


    In the afternoon, the already few members of the Chen Clan seemed even sparser.


    As night fell, only a few dim lights from the Chen Clan flickered outside.


    ...


    Inside the Li Clan.


    Listening to the clan members'' report of the day, Joshua Li''s usually calm expression showed some ripples.


    Upon learning about the Chen Clan''s situation that day, Joshua Li''s brows furrowed even more:


    "When did this happen?"


    Joshua Li asked patiently.


    "Clan Chief, it was around noon today that we noticed fewer people from the Chen family. By nightfall, we saw hardly any figures, and we didn''t see anyone from the Chen family leaving through the exits."


    "We wanted to go in and check, but we were worried about falling into a trap set by the Chen Clan."


    After hearing the report, Joshua Li quickly twirled the Bodhi in his hand, his mind racing to deduce the reasons behind the current situation.


    After a moment, Joshua Li''s movements froze, and the Bodhi in his hand was crushed to dust.


    "Damn, the secret passage!"


    "I should have thought of this earlier. The Chen Clan shouldn''t be this calm, nor should they have only attempted to break out once after running out of provisions. The reason they could hold out must be because they had another exit."


    "Now they probably know they''re no match for our clan and have chosen to leave through the secret passage."


    Joshua Li was regretful, muttering to himself. Perhaps he should have listened to the other clan members that day and made a decisive move by storming in.


    But soon, Joshua Li calmed down. Even if the Chen Clan had left through the secret passage, they likely hadn''t gone far by now, and since they would have taken the elderly and children with them, they couldn''t have moved too quickly.


    There was still time to catch up if they acted now. Finding the Chen Clan''s secret passage and pursuing them was still feasible.


    With that thought, Joshua Li immediately shouted to the clan members nearby:


    "Quick, gather all the Body Tempering Realm mid-stage and above members outside! Prepare to attack the Chen Clan!"


    The message spread quickly, and although many of the Li Clan members were puzzled, they quickly assembled upon hearing that they would attack the Chen Clan tonight.


    In no time, about thirty people gathered in the Li Clan''s hall, with several Blood Condensation Realm Warriors at the forefront, three of whom had particularly rich Qi and Blood, indicating they were late-stage Blood Condensation Realm Warriors.


    Such a formidable lineup was more than enough to deal with the Chen Clan.


    "Joshua, why the urgency today? Didn''t we agree to act in two days?"


    A middle-aged man asked with confusion.


    "Uncle, the clan members just reported something unusual about the Chen family. I suspect the Chen Clan has a secret passage."


    Hearing Joshua Li''s explanation, the middle-aged man nodded:


    "If that''s the case, then we really can''t delay."


    Without further discussion, the group quickly set off towards the Chen Clan''s location, a mighty procession moving swiftly.

 Chapter 29 – The final preparation

    "The arrangements for the elderly and children in the clan are complete?"


    In the ancestral hall of the Chen Clan, Ethan Chen asked.


    Mason Chen replied from the side, "There are forty-two elderly and children in the clan, all of whom have entered the secret passage."


    Ethan nodded slightly. At this moment, Elijah Chen also stepped forward to report, "Clan Chief, there are eighteen warriors above the mid-stage Body Tempering Realm in the clan, and they are all present now."


    Ethan looked ahead, recognizing countless familiar faces.


    Eighteen people were not few, and the ancestral hall seemed somewhat crowded with them. Including the four Blood Condensation Realm warriors, there were a total of twenty-two people.


    These twenty-two were the last remaining glory of the clan. Unfortunately, among the eighteen warriors, there were few in the late-stage Body Tempering Realm, and many were quite old, with few younger ones.


    This indicated that the Chen Clan was in a state of decline.


    Today''s battle would determine the future of the clan.


    Facing the expectant eyes of his people, Ethan took two steps forward and solemnly spoke, "Our Chen Clan has been in this Disordered Burial Mountain for over twenty years. Despite the hardships, we have not perished."


    "But in recent years, the clan has been declining, the situation worsening, and external enemies coveting us. Now, we are at the brink of life and death."


    "Today is the day of our decisive battle with the Li Clan. If we win, the clan will thrive. If we lose, the clan will perish."


    Hearing Ethan''s impassioned words, many clan members below showed determination and resolve, and the atmosphere became solemn.


    At this moment, there was no room for surrender, only a fight to the death.


    Seeing the clan''s fervor and readiness for a death battle, Ethan continued, "Although our current strength may not match the Li Clan, today is different from the past because we have the Sacred Tree''s protection!"


    "As long as the Sacred Tree exists, there is hope for the clan!"


    "Before today''s battle, we will worship the Sacred Tree once more to gain its protection!"


    Ethan''s words caused some confusion among the clan members.


    With the enemy at the gates, shouldn''t they be finding ways to deal with the Li Clan? Why worship the Sacred Tree at such a critical moment?


    Wouldn''t it be better to worship after the battle if the clan still existed? If the clan were gone, what would be the point of worshiping?


    For a moment, many clan members hesitated.


    Suddenly, a figure stepped forward to worship the Sacred Tree.


    "Oliver?"


    Many clan members were surprised to see who was leading the worship.


    It was known that Oliver Chen had been the most opposed to the Sacred Tree, even suggesting several times at clan meetings to cut it down.


    Although he had been stopped by the Clan Chief, this had left many clan members with a bad impression of the Sacred Tree.


    A few days ago, the Sacred Tree had shown its divine power, changing some clan members'' views, but they still didn''t believe the Sacred Tree could save the clan from its current crisis.


    But seeing Oliver worshiping, the others no longer hesitated and began to worship the Sacred Tree as well.


    Ethan Chen and Mason Chen, along with a few others, worshiped sincerely.


    After all, the three of them knew that the Sacred Tree was now the clan''s only hope.


    As everyone worshiped, the Sacred Tree emitted a faint glow. Countless green specks flew from its branches and leaves, swirling around the ancestral hall.


    Those who absorbed the green specks felt a surge of confidence.


    Not only that, but after the green specks dissipated, seven or eight bright green lights shone from the Sacred Tree.


    These green lights flew from the branches and landed in the hands of several clan members.


    Upon closer inspection, the green lights had transformed into dark green sophora leaves.


    Only Ethan and Oliver knew the effects of the sophora leaves. Seeing these leaves, Ethan smiled faintly.


    The sophora leaves did not fall randomly. A closer look revealed that those who received the leaves were the strongest in the clan.


    Besides Oliver and a few other Blood Condensation Realm warriors, there were several late-stage Body Tempering Realm warriors.


    The recipients of the sophora leaves were puzzled, not knowing their purpose.


    Other clan members curiously observed the leaves, their eyes filled with confusion.


    Ethan explained, "These are the Sacred Tree''s blessings. At a critical moment, crush them to use their power!"


    "Remember, the Sacred Tree can only protect you for a short time. Use it wisely!"


    Seeing Ethan''s seriousness, those who received the leaves carefully put them away.


    Oliver Chen snorted softly, casually putting away his leaf, but his movements were cautious.


    "Alright, with the Sacred Tree''s blessing, everyone, follow the plan and begin the operation!"


    With that, the clan members in the ancestral hall began to move in an orderly manner.


    In no time, only Ethan Chen remained in the hall.


    The clan''s plan was simple: lure the enemy into a trap. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Li Clan was constantly monitoring their actions. Any unusual move would alert them.


    Today, Ethan had sent most of the clan members into the secret passage, leaving only warriors above the mid-stage Body Tempering Realm.


    Sensing something was wrong, the Li Clan would surely attack.


    Their task was to launch an assault once the Li Clan entered their territory.


    The plan was simple but practical.


    They might catch the Li Clan off guard initially, but ultimately, it would come down to strength. Given the current disparity between the two clans, even with the Elder Ancestor''s help, they might not stand a chance.


    Now, Ethan could only pray that the Sacred Tree''s protection was effective enough!


    Looking at the slightly withered branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree due to the exertion of its divine power, Ethan bowed once more before heading to a room in the ancestral hall.


    The once crowded hall was now empty.


    Above, Noah Ji sighed.


    The fate of the Chen Clan and his own survival as a tree depended on tonight''s battle.


    Noah had sacrificed a lot for this fight.


    His vitality had dropped from 26.3 to just 6 points.


    The initial green specks hadn''t consumed much of his vitality; they were just for show.


    The real drain came from his One Leaf Hindrance supernatural power.


    Each sophora leaf had different amounts of vitality infused.


    For instance, Oliver Chen, a key player in this battle, had 5 points of vitality infused into his leaf.


    Mason Chen and Elijah Chen each had 3 points infused into their leaves.


    Other late-stage Body Tempering Realm warriors had 2 points infused into their leaves.


    With his vitality greatly diminished, Noah''s condition had deteriorated, but his consciousness remained intact, allowing him to see through the roots'' extended reach.


    The remaining 6 points of vitality were to sustain himself and to aid the Chen Clan members with the Reversal Pill supernatural power.


    In a battle, injuries were inevitable.


    The Chen Clan had few members, and any loss would hinder Noah''s growth.


    His Deduction Points could only be obtained from the Chen Clan members.


    He had already used many points in his previous three deductions.


    For his own sake and the Chen Clan''s, Noah had done his best. The rest was up to them.

 Chapter 30 – Joshua Lis Doubts

    As the battle loomed, Noah Ji didn''t even use the Lunar Eclipse Technique to absorb the moonlight.


    He was worried that once the fight started, the enemy would be tempted to attack him upon seeing his glowing form.


    Although this would reduce the absorption of vitality, safety was the top priority.


    When everyone had concealed themselves, the only sound in the Chen Clan was the falling rain, which also masked their breathing.


    Noah''s roots had already spread outside the ancestral hall, allowing him to sense the hidden positions of many clan members.


    For instance, Oliver Chen had chosen to hide on a rooftop.


    Not far away, two more clan members were hiding in a cellar.


    As his consciousness drifted, Noah suddenly sensed two familiar figures in a corner.


    Seeing them, Noah was speechless.


    To read the uncut version, go to ].


    It was none other than Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who should have been hiding in the secret passage.


    Ethan had previously instructed that all early Body Tempering Realm warriors be sent into the secret passage.


    The reason was that most early Body Tempering Realm warriors were young and couldn''t contribute much to the clan''s battles, making their participation more harmful than beneficial.


    Clearly, the two had sneaked out when no one was looking.


    At this point, Noah couldn''t inform Ethan, so he could only let them be, hoping they would be lucky enough not to reduce the Chen Clan''s numbers further.


    "Alexander, don''t run around when the fight starts, or I won''t be able to protect you!" Lucas warned, looking at Alexander hiding behind him.


    "Okay," Alexander nodded, his face tense and his heart filled with fear.


    When they had sneaked out of the secret passage earlier, they were full of bravado, driven by a surge of hot-bloodedness to save their clan.


    But now, in this cold corner, their hot-bloodedness had cooled, and reason gradually returned.


    Especially when they thought about the brutality of the clan battles, a trace of panic and fear grew in their hearts.


    After all, they were only in the early Body Tempering Realm, and a warrior''s fight was no child''s play. A moment''s inattention could lead to their deaths at the enemy''s hands.


    But now, there was no turning back.


    ...


    Outside the Chen Clan, the Li Family had arrived at the gate.


    However, unlike before, the gate was now deserted.


    As Joshua Li and his group arrived, a clan scout immediately appeared.


    "Greetings, Clan Chief."


    "What''s the situation?" Joshua asked, looking inside the gate.


    "Clan Chief, there was some noise earlier, but now it''s completely silent."


    "I wanted to check it out, but I was worried it might be a Chen Clan trap."


    Before Joshua could respond, a burly man beside him snorted.


    "A trap? The Chen Clan is like a dog with its tail between its legs now. What tricks could they possibly play? Even if it''s a trap, what do we have to fear? Right?"


    "Fourth Uncle is right."


    "Absolutely."


    The warriors behind him laughed, their expressions relaxed.


    After all, they had always had the upper hand in their previous skirmishes with the Chen Clan. If it weren''t for the Chen Clan''s Elder Ancestor, they would have wiped out the Chen Clan long ago.


    Joshua frowned slightly but said nothing more.


    He didn''t believe the Chen Clan had any tricks up their sleeves either, given the disparity in strength.


    But he was always cautious. Even if the Chen Clan had fled, he felt they should thoroughly check first, so he said, "Everyone, to be safe, I think we should be careful."


    "I say we just charge in, find the Chen Clan''s secret passage, and chase them down. I''ll lead the way," the burly man said dismissively.


    "Fourth Uncle, let''s listen to the Clan Chief," a middle-aged man beside him said.


    Seeing Joshua''s stern expression, the burly man fell silent.


    "Second Uncle, take some people and enter through the back gate of the Chen Clan."


    "Fifth Uncle, take a few people and enter from the side."


    ...


    Quickly, Joshua had arranged everything, dividing the family members into four teams, each with two Blood Condensation Realm warriors, to surround the Chen Clan from four directions.


    This way, even if the Chen Clan had any tricks, they could block them, and others could quickly come to their aid.


    Additionally, they could block all exits of the Chen Clan, preventing anyone from escaping. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After assigning the teams, Joshua felt much more at ease.


    As they split up, Joshua reminded them, "Everyone, be careful during the search. Don''t miss any place."


    "Understood, don''t worry."


    They all nodded and agreed, then slowly stepped into the Chen Clan.


    Though it was a small clan by Disordered Burial Mountain, the Chen Clan''s territory was not small. Even with four teams searching, it would take some time.


    Joshua led his group, carefully exploring and checking the traces left by the Chen Clan.


    Seeing many fresh beast bones, Joshua was almost convinced. It seemed the Chen Clan indeed had a secret passage leading outside, which explained their lack of significant response in recent days.


    The only breakout attempt might have been to confuse him.


    However, he couldn''t understand why the Chen Clan had waited until now to leave through the secret passage instead of choosing a night.


    Could it be because of the weather?


    Joshua looked up at the light rain in the sky, but this drizzle wouldn''t affect warriors much.


    As he continued his search, a loud noise suddenly came from not far away.


    The sound startled Joshua. Could there really be an ambush?


    His group, now on high alert, was about to head towards the source of the noise when a loud shout came from afar:


    "Chen Clan brats, come out and meet your death!"


    Hearing this familiar voice, Joshua''s face darkened.


    This family Fourth Uncle had initially followed orders, but ever since Joshua had led the family to victory and gradually encroached on the Chen Clan, he had become somewhat defiant.


    He often relied on his seniority and realm to disregard Joshua''s authority as Clan Chief.


    If it weren''t for the ongoing conflict with the Chen Clan, Joshua would have found a way to deal with him.


    But now was not the time.


    So the group continued their search.


    Meanwhile, the burly man punched forward, using his robust Qi and Blood to shatter the rain and a wooden house into pieces.


    After a cursory inspection, he said indifferently, "Why bother checking house by house? My fists are more straightforward."


    After checking several houses without finding anything, the burly man grew impatient.


    His eyes lit up as he called over a clan member and asked, "If the Chen Clan had a secret passage, where would they build it?"


    "Hmm, if it were me, I''d definitely build it in the ancestral hall."


    "Hahaha, just like I thought!"


    "Let''s head straight to the ancestral hall!"

 Chapter 31 – Battle

    "Fourth Uncle, but the Clan Chief..."


    "Hmph, the Chen Clan is empty now, why bother with him? I''ll handle Joshua myself!"


    The burly man spoke dismissively. The group stopped searching and quickly headed towards the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall.


    Soon, they arrived outside the Ancestral Hall.


    At this moment, the hall''s doors were wide open, and the situation inside was clear at a glance, making the last bit of caution in the burly man''s heart vanish.


    When the burly man saw the Sophora Tree inside the hall, his gaze was instantly drawn to it.


    Especially when he noticed the faint glow emanating from its branches and leaves, his eyes showed a hint of surprise and shock.


    "Fourth Uncle, look, that tree is glowing!"


    "I''m not blind!"


    The burly man replied irritably.


    He had long heard that the Chen Clan had a Sacred Tree, but he didn''t expect it to be true. It seemed the Chen Clan couldn''t take it with them when they left, leaving it for them to claim.


    Being the first to discover it, he might even get a chance to study it.


    The burly man smiled with joy and, without hesitation, walked towards the Ancestral Hall to take a closer look.


    But after just a few steps, he noticed the glow on the Sophora Tree suddenly disappeared.


    This made the burly man pause, unsure of what was happening.


    Suddenly, his heart raced, and a strong sense of danger erupted in his mind.


    Not good!


    Above!


    As the thought crossed his mind, the burly man instinctively rolled to the side, trying to evade the sudden danger.


    But Oliver Chen''s premeditated attack wasn''t so easily dodged.


    Just as the burly man was about to evade, Oliver''s punch, filled with his entire Qi and Blood, struck the burly man''s back, sending him flying.


    Following Oliver''s move, warriors from the Chen Clan emerged from various hidden spots outside the hall, surrounding the nearby enemies.


    Each warrior chose their own target, not overstepping their bounds.


    The gap between the Body Tempering Realm and the Blood Condensation Realm was vast. Without sufficient numbers, it was hard to bridge this gap. The Chen Clan couldn''t afford to use a swarm tactic.


    "Damn it, an ambush!"


    "Ethan Chen, how dare you!"


    A remaining Blood Condensation Realm warrior from the Li Clan shouted angrily, clearly furious at the Chen Clan''s despicable ambush.


    But he was also decisive. Realizing he was ambushed, he immediately tried to shout for reinforcements.


    Before he could gather his Qi and Blood, an attack came straight for his face.


    Sensing his opponent was also in the Blood Condensation Realm, he gave up shouting and switched to defense.


    "Mason Chen!"


    Recognizing his attacker, he sneered, and the two began to grapple.


    Though he didn''t shout, the sounds of their battle would soon attract other clan members. He wondered how the Chen Clan would handle it then!


    On the other side, Oliver, who had landed a hit, showed no joy. The strange sensation from his punch indicated it wasn''t a human body.


    When the burly man got up, Oliver saw he was wearing a patterned, hard inner armor.


    Oliver''s punch, calculated for changes, hadn''t used full force, and much of its power was absorbed by the armor.


    Even so, the burly man spat blood, clearly internally injured!


    "It''s you, Oliver Chen!"


    Seeing his attacker, the burly man''s eyes flared with anger and a hint of relief.


    Luckily, he wore an inner armor made from Azure Python skin, or he would''ve been severely injured by that hit.


    "Wait, you''re at the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm?"


    The burly man finally noticed Oliver''s change, surprised.


    If Oliver were only mid-stage, he wouldn''t have cared even if slightly injured. But a late-stage opponent was a different story.


    Oliver didn''t speak, continuing his fierce assault on the burly man.


    The Li Clan reinforcements would soon arrive, and he didn''t want to waste time.


    Seeing Oliver''s attack, the burly man''s face hardened. He stopped talking and engaged in battle.


    Their Qi and Blood surged, each punch carrying immense force, causing explosions in the air.


    The sounds of battle quickly spread throughout the Chen Clan.


    Elsewhere, three other teams were still searching carefully.


    Hearing the commotion from the Ancestral Hall, they initially thought the burly man was demolishing something.


    But as the noise grew louder, mixed with clan members'' screams, they realized something was wrong.


    "Quick, go support!"


    Joshua Li looked towards the Ancestral Hall, his face showing slight alarm, and commanded the others to hurry.


    Though he hadn''t seen the exact situation, he could guess what was happening.


    What surprised him was that the Chen Clan hadn''t fled but chose to ambush them.


    This was unexpected.


    Despite his Fourth Uncle''s dissatisfaction, he couldn''t ignore the family''s grand plan. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rushing over, Joshua''s brow furrowed with concern.


    He couldn''t understand why the Chen Clan didn''t use the secret passage but chose to fight. What gave them such confidence?


    Did they think a sneak attack would make them a match for late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warriors?


    Joshua couldn''t figure it out and sped up.


    As he neared the Ancestral Hall, a sharp blade sound made him stop.


    Looking up, he saw an old acquaintance.


    "Elijah Chen!"


    Both were mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm, and had often fought in clan battles, becoming quite familiar.


    "Clan Chief, let''s take him down together!"


    A nearby Blood Condensation Realm warrior suggested.


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    But Joshua shook his head:


    "No, I''ll handle him. You go help the others."


    "Alright!"


    Seeing Joshua''s serious expression, the warrior didn''t argue and continued towards the hall.


    Elijah didn''t stop him, knowing his task was to keep Joshua here.


    As the Li Clan''s Clan Chief, Joshua''s realm wasn''t high, but he often caused trouble for the Chen Clan in their struggles.


    Joshua didn''t know Elijah''s thoughts but had his own.


    With the battle underway, plans were useless. It all came down to clan strength.


    The Li Clan had many Blood Condensation Realm warriors, and now an additional late-stage warrior. They seemed unbeatable.


    Even if he was held here, what difference would it make?

 Chapter 32 – Great battle

    ```


    The two men stopped talking and joined the battle.


    Outside the Ancestral Hall, the great battle was on the verge of breaking out.


    After Oliver Chen and the others made their move, three more teams from the Li Clan quickly arrived.


    As they approached, they saw that Oliver Chen, who had already reached the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm, was overwhelming the burly man. If they had arrived a moment later, the man''s life would have been in grave danger.


    The burly man, despite being in the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm and severely injured, managed to survive. However, the first group that followed him to the Ancestral Hall had all perished, including another Blood Condensation Realm warrior.


    The one who struck was none other than Ethan Chen, who controlled the Elder Ancestor''s corpse using the Corpse Refining Technique.


    In a clan war, there was no such thing as dishonor. The goal was to eliminate the enemy and protect the clan.


    Seeing their own clan members in such a dire state, the people of the Li Clan''s eyes turned red with rage. They grabbed their weapons and charged at the Chen Clan members.


    The battle quickly reached a fever pitch.


    Blood mixed with rainwater formed red streams, flowing through the gaps in the blue stone slabs and seeping into the soil.


    Beneath the soil, Noah Ji''s roots stirred. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a nervous heart, Noah Ji used his roots to slowly touch the rainwater mixed with blood.


    "Thankfully, I can''t absorb it."


    Realizing he couldn''t absorb the blood, Noah Ji felt both regret and relief.


    Although he was now a tree, he wasn''t truly a tree.


    He was genuinely worried that he could absorb any kind of blood. What worried him more was his inability to control his inner desires.


    Once the floodgates of desire opened, it would be hard to stop. Fortunately, the recent experiment proved that the floodgates remained closed.


    "Lucas, have you picked your target yet?"


    In a corner not far from the Ancestral Hall, Alexander Chen gripped his machete tightly and asked Lucas Chen beside him.


    "Almost!"


    Lucas Chen peered through the dense rain, selecting a suitable opponent for the two of them.


    But on the left, there was a late-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior, and on the right, another late-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior.


    Even the weakest warriors were in the mid-stage Body Tempering Realm.


    This made Lucas Chen''s desire to save the clan hard to fulfill.


    They were passionate, but Lucas Chen wasn''t foolish. Knowing they were outmatched, he wouldn''t choose an opponent they couldn''t defeat.


    He hadn''t expected that the lowest-ranked warriors the Li Clan sent were all mid-stage Body Tempering Realm.


    This left him in a dilemma.


    As the two hesitated, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them.


    It was a mid-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior from the Li Clan, who had just been beaten back by his opponent.


    As he prepared to rejoin the fight, he noticed the two hidden figures behind him.


    Seeing their appearance and age, the mid-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Hahaha, I caught two little brats from the Chen Clan!"


    "Die!"


    With that, he swung his large blade at Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen.


    The two turned pale but reacted quickly, dodging in a hurry.


    After dodging, Lucas Chen was about to tell Alexander Chen to run, but he quickly heard Alexander''s voice.


    "Lucas, let''s take him!"


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    Alexander Chen''s eyes were resolute as he charged forward with his machete.


    Lucas Chen was stunned but, seeing Alexander charge, gritted his teeth and followed.


    After all, they were both Body Tempering Realm warriors, and though their opponent was mid-stage, he was alone.


    One plus one equals two!


    They thought the two of them could match him.


    Seeing the two charging at him with weapons, the Li Clan warrior laughed.


    Just two novices in the Body Tempering Realm, not fully tempered, thinking they could fight him¡ªhow naive.


    In less than three moves, Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen were kicked away by the Li Clan warrior.


    Seeing the Li Clan warrior approaching them with his large blade, Lucas Chen felt a chill in his heart.


    It seemed one plus one didn''t necessarily equal two.


    With their strength, they couldn''t match an adult Body Tempering Realm warrior.


    Just as the Li Clan warrior was about to finish them off, there was a sudden disturbance underground.


    Before the Li Clan warrior could react, a root as thick as a rope shot out from the ground, instantly binding his body.


    "Damn it, what is this thing!"


    The Li Clan warrior struggled against the sudden root, panic flashing in his eyes as he cursed.


    Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen were also stunned.


    But seeing the Li Clan warrior immobilized, the two youths felt a surge of courage, realizing this was a golden opportunity.


    Though the Li Clan warrior''s body was restrained, his hands were free. Seeing the two preparing to attack, he shouted.


    "Get lost!"


    The Li Clan warrior''s eyes gleamed fiercely as he swung his large blade, preventing the two from getting close.


    His desperate and frenzied aura made the two youths hesitate.


    "Alexander, forget him, let''s run!"


    Lucas Chen pulled Alexander Chen, ready to bypass the Li Clan warrior.


    The restrained Li Clan warrior didn''t stop them. Calming down, he turned his attention to the root binding him, preparing to cut it with his blade.


    Just as he found the right angle to free himself, he felt a sudden chill from behind.


    Looking down, he saw a blade tip piercing his chest, and another blade tip emerging from below.


    Behind him, the two youths, faces tense, quickly withdrew their machetes.


    "Alexander, let''s go!"


    "This time, for real!"


    As the root retracted, the Li Clan warrior fell to the ground with a resentful expression.


    Though not yet dead, he watched the two youths leave, letting out a final cry.


    "Damn...!"


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji fell silent.


    He had thought the two were scared witless, but they had another plan.


    Though the process was hard to watch, the result was good, making his intervention worthwhile.


    But Noah Ji realized that while his enhanced roots were effective, they could only handle some Body Tempering Realm warriors. They were far from being a match for Blood Condensation Realm warriors. Relying on his roots to help the Chen Clan seemed difficult.


    ```

 Chapter 33 – Great War

    At this moment, the center of the battlefield was where the Blood Condensation Realm warriors of the two clans were clashing.


    Oliver Chen was the most valiant, holding off two opponents with his late-stage Blood Condensation Realm strength, exuding an endless aura of power.


    However, under the relentless attacks of the two Blood Condensation Realm warriors, he was beginning to struggle.


    The Clan Chief, Ethan Chen, who had been deep in the Ancestral Hall, had also joined the fray. Despite being over sixty, his realm and rich combat experience allowed him to hold his ground against a Blood Condensation Realm warrior.


    Apart from these two, the most remarkable figure was the Chen Clan''s Elder Ancestor, who had only one arm and one leg left.


    Though the Elder Ancestor walked unsteadily, as if he might collapse at any moment, his body was as hard as iron. Even the full-force attacks of mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm warriors could only push him back.


    The dents on his body from the attacks did not affect his strength. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Noah Ji watched in awe. If the Chen Clan had a few more Elder Ancestors, their current situation might not be so dire.


    In the battles among Blood Condensation Realm warriors, the Chen Clan could barely hold their own.


    But in the skirmishes among Body Tempering Realm warriors, the Chen Clan was at a clear disadvantage.


    The Li Clan had more Body Tempering Realm warriors, including several late-stage ones. After a short while, several members of the Chen Clan were injured, weakening their combat strength.


    If not for the earlier sneak attack that injured some of the Li Clan''s warriors and eliminated a few, the Chen Clan might have already been defeated.


    Even so, Ethan Chen and the others wouldn''t be able to hold out much longer.


    Even the Elder Ancestor was showing signs of exhaustion. If he lost another limb, the Chen Clan would likely face swift defeat.


    At this critical moment, a late-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior was knocked down by his opponent''s punch, severely injured and unable to hold on.


    His hand fumbled in his chest pocket, and soon a piece of Sophora Leaf appeared in his palm.


    When he crushed the Sophora Leaf, a surge of powerful Qi and Blood energy flowed into his body.


    In the next moment, this Body Tempering Realm warrior, as if possessed by a martial deity, leaped from the ground with his injured body and, in a single move, killed his opponent.


    After killing his opponent, the late-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior looked at his hands in bewilderment.


    He couldn''t believe that such power was his own. Not only had his Qi and Blood increased, but even his injuries seemed to have vanished.


    Recalling what the Clan Chief had said about the Sacred Tree''s temporary protection, the warrior didn''t hesitate any longer and turned to attack an early-stage Blood Condensation Realm enemy.


    The Blood Condensation Realm warrior, who was entangled with the Chen Clan''s Elder Ancestor, snorted coldly:


    "Overestimating yourself."


    He then freed a hand, intending to quickly deal with this reckless late-stage Body Tempering Realm warrior.


    Though they were only a small realm apart, he had already tempered his entire body and enhanced his Qi and Blood, something a Body Tempering Realm warrior couldn''t withstand.


    But after a single exchange, the Blood Condensation Realm warrior looked at his fists in doubt.


    Wasn''t he in the Blood Condensation Realm?


    Why hadn''t he shattered the Body Tempering Realm warrior''s body or arm with a single punch?


    Seeing that he could indeed fight a Blood Condensation Realm warrior with the help of the Sophora Leaf, the warrior was overjoyed and charged at his enemy again.


    At this moment, other members of the Chen Clan noticed this scene. Among the combatants, one person, eyes filled with uncertainty, took out his own piece of Sophora Leaf and crushed it.


    Those who used the Sophora Leaf instantly saw their combat strength skyrocket, charging into the fray with unstoppable momentum.


    For a moment, the Li Clan''s members screamed in agony.


    The Chen Clan, initially at a disadvantage, suddenly turned the tide in the Body Tempering Realm battles.


    "What the hell is that thing!"


    A late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior from the Li Clan exclaimed in confusion and disbelief as he observed the battlefield.


    Seeing the unfavorable situation, the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior decided not to delay any longer. He planned to quickly deal with Oliver Chen with another clan member to relieve the pressure on their side.


    But suddenly, he saw a familiar piece of Sophora Leaf in Oliver Chen''s hand.


    "What on earth is that thing!"


    When he saw Oliver Chen crush the Sophora Leaf, his aura surged, almost breaking through to the Innate Realm. The late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior could no longer contain his shock.


    He couldn''t understand how a piece of Sophora Leaf could unleash such powerful energy.


    Without giving him much time to think, Oliver Chen, feeling his strength increase, launched another attack.


    This time, the power of the Sophora Leaf seemed even stronger than he had imagined, making him feel like he was touching the threshold of the Innate Realm.


    Oliver Chen was overjoyed, and with his previous experience, he quickly mastered this borrowed power.


    In the next exchange with the Li Clan''s Blood Condensation Realm warrior, he noticed several flaws in his opponent''s defense that he had never seen before.


    After two rounds, the Li Clan warrior who had planned to quickly deal with Oliver Chen and help his comrades found his entire body numbed by Oliver Chen''s punches.


    He felt his Qi and Blood stagnate, clearly due to internal injuries sustained in the recent fight.


    The mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior fighting alongside him fared even worse, his entire body flushed red. Another round might cause him to explode from the intense Qi and Blood.


    Not only Oliver Chen, but even the previously unnoticed Mason Chen now displayed strength far beyond his usual capabilities.


    With everyone using the Sophora Leaf, the clan''s situation completely changed.


    Seeing their people suffering heavy casualties and the Clan Chief nowhere in sight, the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior from the Li Clan no longer hesitated and shouted:


    "Retreat, retreat quickly!"


    Upon hearing this, the already fearful members of the Li Clan began to flee frantically.


    But Ethan Chen, seeing the situation improve, wouldn''t let them escape.


    The power of the Sacred Tree was not endless; otherwise, there wouldn''t be only a few pieces of Sophora Leaf this time.


    With the Sacred Tree''s protection, they could achieve a great victory today. But if the Li Clan returned in the future, could the Sacred Tree still provide such power? The clan might truly face a dead end then.


    How could they miss this opportunity?


    Thinking of this, Ethan Chen roared:


    "Kill them all! Don''t let a single one escape!"


    The Clan Chief''s shout boosted the morale of the clan members, while the Li Clan''s morale plummeted. Knowing they were no match, why fight to the death?


    In battles between clans, without the courage to face life and death, how could they achieve a great victory?


    Not far away, Joshua Li, who was fighting Elijah Chen, heard the retreat order and chuckled:


    "Elijah Chen, did you hear that?"


    "Your Chen Clan is already defeated. Why struggle? Surrender, and I might spare your life."

 Chapter 34 – Main battle

    Elijah Chen''s face was grim, but he didn''t say much, continuing his fierce attacks.


    However, the two were evenly matched, and their mindsets were vastly different. Joshua Li was also at ease.


    He didn''t need to defeat Elijah to prove himself; as long as his clan members won on the other side, Elijah would be trapped with no escape. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the two fought, Joshua noticed a fleeing figure in the distance. His face lit up with joy, thinking the downfall of the Chen Clan was inevitable.


    But as the figure drew closer, Joshua''s joy gradually faded.


    The retreating person wasn''t from the Chen Clan as he had imagined, but his own fifth uncle, Li Cailiang, who had just reached the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm.


    Moreover, his fifth uncle''s face was pale, and he had many wounds on his body. Behind him were several injured and worried family members.


    This scene of his clan''s defeat threw Joshua''s cautious and meticulous mind into chaos.


    But he was entangled by Elijah and had no idea what had happened. He could only ask:


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    "Fifth Uncle, what''s going on? What happened?"


    "No time to explain, Joshua, run! Otherwise, the clan is doomed!"


    Joshua frowned, wanting to ask more, but at that moment, he heard the sounds of battle and shouting behind his clan members.


    At this time, Elijah silently took out a piece of Sophora Leaf from his pocket.


    "Joshua, run! Or it''ll be too late!"


    Seeing the Sophora Leaf, his fifth uncle''s face turned fearful, and he shouted.


    Joshua''s face darkened, not understanding what his late-stage Blood Condensation Realm uncle was afraid of¡ªa piece of Sophora Leaf?


    But when he saw Elijah crush the leaf and unleash a power far beyond what he had just shown, killing a Blood Condensation Realm warrior of his clan with one punch, Joshua''s doubts were instantly answered.


    Although the warrior was already injured, Elijah''s strength now was worlds apart from before.


    Joshua finally understood the reason for his clan''s defeat. Hearing the approaching sounds of pursuit, he flew away without hesitation!


    "Hmph, where do you think you''re going!"


    Seeing the Li Clan Chief trying to escape, Elijah couldn''t let him go and chased after him at an even faster speed.


    Originally at the mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm, Elijah now had the power of the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm with the Sophora Leaf''s boost. His state was fully restored, allowing him to take on two opponents at once!


    In just a moment, Elijah caught up with them.


    Seeing no way to escape, Li Cailiang''s face turned grim, but he still stepped forward and said:


    "Joshua, you''re the Clan Chief. The clan can''t be without you. You go, I''ll hold him off!"


    Joshua didn''t say much, just glanced at Li Cailiang before turning and leaving without hesitation.


    He was the Clan Chief. Even in this crushing defeat, the clan still had him and others. As long as the clan survived, there was still hope.


    But he couldn''t understand what had happened to the Chen Clan in the past few days!


    Where did that Sophora Leaf come from?


    But now wasn''t the time to worry about that. The clan was in a disastrous defeat, nearly wiped out. He needed to return quickly and devise a response.


    As time passed, the sounds of battle within the Chen Clan gradually diminished until they disappeared.


    A few miles away from the Chen Clan, Oliver Chen was leading a group of clan members in pursuit. He wanted to continue chasing and eliminate the few fleeing Li Clan members.


    But behind him came Ethan Chen''s voice:


    "Don''t chase them. The main battle is over. Let''s return to the clan and discuss our next steps!"


    Feeling his own power waning and his Qi and Blood becoming unstable, Oliver and the others nodded.


    When they returned to the clan, they were greeted by numerous corpses and blood-stained ground.


    Most of the bodies were from the Li Clan, but there were also some from the Chen Clan. However, more were severely injured but still alive, and could be saved.


    Seeing the tragic scene before him, Ethan remained silent for a moment before quickly issuing various orders.


    An hour later, all the members of the Chen Clan gathered once again in the Ancestral Hall.


    Those who had been hiding in the secret passage were now outside, dealing with the aftermath of the battle.


    "Clan Chief, in this battle, we lost three clan members, ten were seriously injured, and most of the others are lightly injured..."


    "Some of the injured are in critical condition. If not treated in time, I''m afraid..."


    Hearing Mason Chen''s report, many clan members below showed sorrowful expressions. After all, those who were lost were family members, some of whom they had been talking to not long ago.


    Ethan''s face remained calm, showing little emotion.


    Clan battles were no child''s play; casualties were inevitable.


    But from his eyes, it was clear that his heart was not as calm as his face suggested.


    "Those who died in this battle will be given a proper burial, and their spiritual positions will be placed in the Ancestral Hall for future generations to honor!"


    According to clan rules, only those who made significant contributions to the clan could have their spiritual positions placed in the Ancestral Hall.


    But the clan was no longer what it used to be. This battle was about the clan''s survival, so placing the spiritual positions of those who contributed in the Ancestral Hall was appropriate.


    This was the best comfort the clan could offer to those who had died.


    Hearing that the spiritual positions would be placed in the Ancestral Hall, many grieving clan members felt somewhat consoled.


    Over the years, many clan members had died, but few had their spiritual positions placed in the Ancestral Hall.


    "Quick, bring all the seriously injured clan members here!"


    After dealing with the fallen clan members, Ethan quickly spoke.


    Soon, several seriously injured people were brought in one by one.


    These were the ones who had been gravely injured in the recent battle. Two of them were already showing signs of life fading, while the others were bleeding profusely, their conditions dire.


    Although the clan had healers, they couldn''t work without supplies. The clan had been besieged for days, and their medicinal supplies were exhausted. Even basic hemostatic drugs were depleted.


    Even if they went to the Disordered Burial Mountain now, it might be too late.


    Seeing the dire conditions of the injured, the other clan members showed sorrowful expressions. With such injuries, even if the clan had medicinal supplies, it might be difficult to save them.


    Looking at the injured being brought in, Ethan turned his gaze to the Sacred Tree, his eyes full of hope.


    At this point, he had no other options and could only place his hopes on the Sacred Tree, praying for it to save these clan members.


    Seeing this, the other clan members also understood where their hope lay and knelt down one by one, beginning to pray to Noah Ji.


    Seeing the scene below, Noah Ji sighed in his heart.


    Fortunately, he had some Vitality left, so it wasn''t impossible to handle. However, to fully heal these clan members would require a significant amount of Vitality, especially since some of them were gravely injured.


    Although he couldn''t completely heal them, stopping the bleeding and saving their lives temporarily shouldn''t be too difficult.

 Chapter 35 – Resounding victory

    In the next moment, faint glimmers of light flickered once again on Noah Ji''s branches.


    With the clan''s crisis resolved, he could continue absorbing the moonlight.


    Among the branches filled with glimmers, countless green specks soon floated out, falling onto the wounded clan members below.


    As the vitality-filled green specks infiltrated their bodies, the clan members, who were barely breathing, began to moan softly.


    The wounds of those who had been bleeding profusely also gradually started to heal.


    In no time, several heavily injured clan members, though not fully recovered, managed to preserve their lives and even stood up to thank the Sacred Tree.


    After doing all this, Noah Ji''s vitality dropped by another four points, leaving only two, far exceeding his expectations.


    This was because the injuries of these clan members were too severe, requiring more vitality.


    At this moment, Noah Ji''s condition was even worse than at the beginning.


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    As for the other injured clan members, as long as their injuries weren''t fatal, Noah Ji decided to ignore them.


    If the Chen Clan didn''t sacrifice a few more fierce beasts, he feared he might exhaust himself completely!


    Seeing the Sacred Tree display its divine power once again, Ethan Chen''s gratitude was beyond words; only actions could express it.


    With Noah Ji''s healing, the clan members were equally excited. After all, the divine power displayed by the Sacred Tree today far exceeded their understanding, even pulling back those who were on the brink of death.


    Doesn''t this mean that as long as they had a breath left, they wouldn''t have to worry about dying?


    Various thoughts filled the minds of some clan members, with some even wishing to sacrifice themselves.


    Seeing the favorable atmosphere, Ethan Chen spoke again:


    "Although our clan suffered heavy losses, we won this battle!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With these words, the Ancestral Hall fell into silence.


    After a brief silence, many clan members'' faces lit up with joy, and they couldn''t help but cheer loudly.


    Yes, despite the twists and turns, they had ultimately won this struggle against the Li Clan!


    According to the clan members'' statistics, the Li Clan lost six Blood Condensation Realm warriors and no less than twenty Body Tempering Realm warriors in this battle. If not for the formidable late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior at the end, they could have wiped them out completely.


    But even so, the Li Clan was now in decline and no longer a threat.


    In contrast, their own side had paid a relatively small price. With the help of the Sacred Tree, they had only lost three people, none of whom were Blood Condensation Realm warriors.


    This battle wasn''t just a win; it was a resounding victory!


    Amidst the cheers, the dark cloud that had hung over the clan dissipated.


    Listening to the cheers, even Ethan Chen couldn''t help but smile faintly.


    Soon, Ethan Chen raised his hand, and the crowd quieted down again. Although everyone was injured, their eyes were bright and full of spirit.


    "Although we won this battle, the centipede dies but never falls down. The Li Clan has not been completely eradicated, so we must remain vigilant!"


    "The suffering our clan endured these past days cannot be erased by a single victory."


    With that, Ethan Chen issued new tasks.


    "Mason, take a few people to repair the clan."


    "Yes, Clan Chief!"


    "Elijah, take some clan members to monitor the Liu Family''s movements. Our clan has not yet recovered, so we need to be cautious."


    "Yes, Clan Chief!"


    "Oliver, take the other clan members and head to the Li Clan immediately. If you encounter any Li Clan members, kill them without mercy!"


    ...


    With the tasks assigned, the crowd in the Ancestral Hall quickly dispersed.


    Just as Oliver Chen was about to leave, Ethan Chen reminded him again:


    "If the Li Clan has any captive beasts, make sure to bring them back."


    "Understood," Oliver Chen nodded.


    After handling everything, Ethan Chen finally turned his gaze to the Sacred Tree and respectfully said:


    "Today''s great victory is all thanks to the Sacred Tree."


    "Starting tomorrow, the clan will hold a grand seven-day ceremony for the Sacred Tree!"


    Hearing Ethan Chen''s promise, Noah Ji felt much relieved.


    No matter what, he wouldn''t be used as firewood for the time being. As for the remaining Li Clan, it seemed he wouldn''t need to intervene.


    With the threat of the Li Clan gone, Noah Ji felt a bright future ahead. He could finally enjoy the wonders of this new world and live the life of a tree.


    The battle with the Li Clan lasted only a few hours, and the sky was still dark, though the rain had stopped.


    Around the Chen Clan, several torches lit up, and many clan members were busy repairing the houses destroyed in the battle.


    In the distance, Oliver Chen was leading the clan members towards the Li Clan''s location.


    Located near the Disordered Burial Mountain, the distance between the two clans wasn''t long, taking only a quarter of an hour to reach.


    This time, they hadn''t completely eradicated the invading Li Clan members, allowing Joshua Li and the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior Li Cailiang to escape.


    By now, the two had likely returned to their clan. However, given the current weakened state of the Li Clan, Oliver Chen''s group should be able to handle them easily.


    As dawn broke, the battle finally came to an end.


    Noah Ji stood quietly in the Ancestral Hall, watching the busy clan members outside.


    Though disheveled and exhausted, their faces radiated new vitality and vigor.


    After a while, Ethan Chen returned to the Ancestral Hall.


    This time, he held a few sticks of incense. Not only had they been blessed by the Sacred Tree, but surely the spirit of the Elder Ancestor in heaven had also watched over them.


    After last night''s battle, the Elder Ancestor''s last remains could no longer be used, marking the end of the clan''s blessings.


    From now on, they would have to rely on themselves.


    Thinking of this, Ethan Chen couldn''t help but feel a bit sad.


    Unfortunately, although the deceased clan members'' bodies were intact, their realms were too low. Even with the clan''s secret methods, it would be hard to make much use of them.


    To use the secret methods, a warrior''s realm before death had to be at least in the Innate Realm.


    It was said that during the clan''s heyday, the Ancestral Hall was protected by an Elder Ancestor in the Three Realms of Concentrating Spirit.


    Sadly, by the time he was born, the clan had already fallen, and he had never seen such a scene, only heard about it from his elders. He didn''t even know how powerful an Elder Ancestor in the Three Realms of Concentrating Spirit was.


    Ethan Chen stopped thinking about it. After a round of worship, he inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner.


    At this moment, several footsteps sounded from behind.


    Ethan Chen turned to see Oliver Chen and the others returning.


    "Clan Chief, the Li Clan is deserted. When we arrived, only a few irrelevant servants were left."


    Oliver Chen reported first.


    This result was within Ethan Chen''s expectations. Given Joshua Li''s cautious nature, he must have immediately relocated the clan members upon returning.


    But even so, the matter was not over.


    Although the Li Clan was in decline, there were still many remaining clan members. Moreover, during this attack, they hadn''t seen any of the younger generation warriors of the Li Clan. If they didn''t search thoroughly, it could become a problem in the future.

 Chapter 36 – Haul

    Cutting the weeds without removing the roots, they will grow again with the spring breeze.


    "The Li Family has so many people, it¡¯s impossible for them to disappear without a trace. Send a few sharp-witted clan members to keep an eye on the main roads around Disordered Burial Mountain. Report immediately if you find any trace of the Li Clan."


    "Yes!"


    "Also, the Li Clan left in a hurry, so they definitely couldn¡¯t take all their resources. Did we gain anything from this trip?"


    Oliver Chen smiled and replied, "Not only did we gain something, but it was quite a haul. We confiscated five hundred pounds of Blood Rice, several acres of fertile land, seven Dark Gold Beasts, and ten Spirit-Tailed Chickens from the Li Clan..."


    "Besides these, we also took over the Li Clan¡¯s hunting grounds around Disordered Burial Mountain and some of their small marketplaces..."


    Ethan Chen¡¯s face lit up with joy upon hearing this.


    Blood Rice is a specialty of the area around Disordered Burial Mountain. The rice grains are oval-shaped, about one-third the size of a pinky finger, and are named for their blood-red color.


    Mature Blood Rice contains a small amount of blood energy, which is easily absorbed and often more suitable for Warriors than the flesh of Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    Additionally, Blood Rice is commonly used as currency in the small marketplaces around Disordered Burial Mountain.


    The clan had planted quite a bit of Blood Rice before, but this year¡¯s harvest was poor, and the fields were surrounded by the Li Clan, resulting in a total loss.


    He had been worried about the clan¡¯s food supply, but this haul alleviated much of that concern.


    Aside from the Blood Rice, the spirit beasts raised by the Li Clan also delighted Ethan Chen, who immediately said, "Quickly, bring half of the spirit beasts to offer to the Sacred Tree!"


    Oliver and the others had no objections. After all, everyone had witnessed the Sacred Tree¡¯s contribution to their victory.


    Without the Sacred Tree, the clan might not exist today.


    Moreover, with the fall of the Li Clan, their hunting grounds and marketplaces naturally became the Chen Clan¡¯s property.


    Before the conflict, Disordered Burial Mountain had been divided among three clans, each with its own hunting grounds. If the Chen Clan had been destroyed, the Li Clan would have become even stronger by absorbing their resources.


    Since the resources of Disordered Burial Mountain are limited, the fewer clans there are, the more resources each remaining clan can claim.


    Fortunately, the Li Clan¡¯s attempt to gain more backfired.


    Besides the hunting grounds, the ownership of the marketplaces also shifted with the fall of the Li Clan.


    Although Disordered Burial Mountain is remote, the surrounding area has many fertile fields suitable for growing Blood Rice, and several villages rely on this for their livelihood. Most of the villagers are ordinary people, not Warriors.


    The Chen Clan originally settled here for this reason, hoping it would provide a foundation for future growth.


    However, things didn¡¯t go as planned. After twenty years, the Chen Clan had declined and nearly faced extinction.


    "Elijah, what¡¯s the situation with the Liu Family? Any reaction?"


    Ethan Chen asked Elijah Chen, who had just returned.


    Elijah shook his head, "The Liu Family seems to have no reaction. They haven¡¯t sent many people to check on the situation."


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    Ethan Chen¡¯s expression relaxed slightly upon hearing this.


    His biggest worry was that the Liu Family would take advantage of their weakened state after the battle and launch an attack.


    But it seemed the Liu Family had no such intentions.


    Among the three clans around Disordered Burial Mountain, the Liu Family was the only one that both the Chen and Li Clans feared.


    The Liu Family had only been around for a few years, but after establishing themselves near Disordered Burial Mountain, they had made no other moves. Despite their considerable strength, they sought peaceful development.


    Even with such a good opportunity, they hadn¡¯t intervened in the conflict between the Chen and Li Clans. It was unclear whether they didn¡¯t want to get involved or had other reasons.


    But this was good news for the Chen Clan.


    As long as they could maintain the current situation, the Chen Clan could develop for another couple of years. By then, even if the Liu Family had ill intentions, they would be able to handle it.


    "We can¡¯t let our guard down with the Liu Family. We still need to keep an eye on them."


    "Yes, Clan Chief."


    "By the way, starting tomorrow, the clan will hold a seven-day grand festival for the Sacred Tree."


    "This festival is extremely important for the clan¡¯s prosperity. Make sure everyone is prepared."


    "Oliver, you¡¯ll be in charge of the offerings for the festival. Tomorrow, take a few clan members to hunt in Disordered Burial Mountain. Remember, hunt only within the clan¡¯s territory and don¡¯t go too deep."


    "Understood."


    Oliver nodded, but Mason Chen spoke up, "Clan Chief, the Li Clan hasn¡¯t been completely wiped out. Is it wise to hold the Sacred Tree festival now? What if they launch a sneak attack during the festival?"


    After all, the Li Clan still had two Blood Condensation Realm Warriors.


    Ethan Chen smiled, "If they really launch a sneak attack, that would be perfect. The Li Clan still has some remaining Warriors. Although their realms are low, they could rise again in the future. If we pursue them too aggressively now, we might corner them and provoke a desperate counterattack.


    Our clan is currently weak. Any further losses would be too costly. It¡¯s better to use the Sacred Tree festival to lure them out and make them reveal themselves.


    If we spot them, we can gather our clan members and wipe them out in one fell swoop."


    Mason and the others were impressed by Ethan¡¯s foresight. They hadn¡¯t considered all these factors.


    "Clan Chief, the Dark Gold Beasts and Spirit-Tailed Chickens for the offering have arrived."


    A clan member reported from outside the Ancestral Hall, and Ethan Chen was overjoyed. He quickly said, "Bring them in and offer them all to the Sacred Tree!"


    Above, Noah Ji watched the spirit beasts below, feeling a surge of anticipation.


    It was finally time for him to reap the rewards.


    Although these Dark Gold Beasts were only at the Early Body Tempering Realm, their size and Qi and Blood were much smaller than the one Oliver had hunted before, but there were many of them.


    Additionally, the five Spirit-Tailed Chickens should also be quite effective, much better than the two initially offered by the Chen Clan.


    Soon, the offering began.


    To better understand the contribution of each spirit beast to his Qi and Spiritual Power, Noah Ji opened his panel and observed the changes. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the blood soaked into the soil, Noah Ji¡¯s Qi and Blood began to increase rapidly.


    2, 3, 4, 6...


    When the offering was over, Noah Ji looked at his panel again.


    [Qi and Blood: 37 (Convertible to Vitality)]


    [Spiritual Power: 19]


    [Deduction Points: 15]


    [Deduction Available!]


    His Qi and Blood had been at 0, and his Spiritual Power at 6.


    After absorbing the Qi and Blood from three Dark Gold Beasts and five Spirit-Tailed Chickens, both his Qi and Spiritual Power had significantly increased.


    Through observation, Noah Ji found that the five Spirit-Tailed Chickens contributed 25 points of Qi and 10 points of Spiritual Power.


    The three Dark Gold Beasts contributed 12 points of Qi and 3 points of Spiritual Power.


    The difference was clear.


    Especially in terms of Spiritual Power.


    Even though the Dark Gold Beasts were larger than the Spirit-Tailed Chickens, the latter were more cost-effective.

 Chapter 37 – Sacred Tree Grand Festival

    No matter if it was the Dark Gold Beast in the Body Tempering Realm or the Spirit-Tailed Chicken, the increase in Qi and Blood was significantly less compared to the beasts in the Blood Condensation Realm. It often took two or three Body Tempering Realm beasts to equal one Blood Condensation Realm beast.


    This showed that the higher the realm of the beast, the more Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power one could absorb.


    However, given the current situation of the Chen Clan, it would be difficult to sacrifice higher-realm beasts for himself.


    Encountering an Innate Realm beast could potentially lead to the clan''s annihilation if they were not careful.


    Noah Ji silently calculated the difference in Qi and Blood among the beasts and then discarded the thought from his mind.


    Quality wasn''t important; quantity could also suffice.


    Besides, wasn''t there a grand seven-day festival coming up?


    He was already looking forward to it.


    As for the Qi and Blood he had just obtained, Noah Ji directly converted most of it into Vitality to enhance himself.


    His Vitality was too low, making him feel fragile and unsafe.


    He reserved the remaining ten points of Qi and Blood for deduction purposes.


    After the conversion, Noah Ji''s Vitality quickly rose from 2.5 (previously 2, plus 0.5 from absorbing moonlight last night) to 16 points.


    Seeing his Vitality back in double digits, Noah Ji instantly felt much safer, and even his Sophora Leaf regained its luster from a few days ago.


    Looking at the remaining ten points of Qi and Blood, Noah Ji hesitated.


    Should he start deducing now or wait until after the sacrifices to deduce all at once?


    Recalling the disastrous second deduction, Noah Ji pondered for a moment and decided to wait a few more days. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A single deduction was too risky; with two more attempts, he could buffer the risk and increase his chances of obtaining a Supernatural Power or Technique.


    With the concerted efforts of the Chen Clan members, the buildings damaged in the great battle were quickly rebuilt, even more solid than before.


    Meanwhile, Oliver Chen led several of the clan''s stronger warriors to the Disordered Burial Mountain to prepare offerings for the upcoming Sacred Tree festival.


    This time, they did not use the secret passage but hunted around the outskirts of the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    After the great battle, Ethan Chen immediately closed the clan''s secret passage, mainly due to the Innate Realm beast deep within the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Given the current strength of the Chen Clan, they were no match for an Innate Realm beast, not even the strongest Oliver Chen.


    Although the offerings determined the grandeur and sincerity of the festival, Ethan Chen had no choice but to do his best given the clan''s current strength.


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    In the future, when the clan prospers, they would surely provide better offerings for the Sacred Tree.


    This was the grand vision Ethan Chen silently painted for Noah Ji.


    With Oliver Chen''s current strength, capturing Body Tempering Realm beasts was a piece of cake, and he occasionally encountered early-stage Blood Condensation Realm beasts on the outskirts of the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Despite the tight schedule, without the interference of the Li Clan, the clan had already prepared the necessary items for the festival by the second day after the great battle.


    However, the number of sacrificial beasts was still insufficient, requiring Oliver Chen to visit the Disordered Burial Mountain daily.


    After all, the Sacred Tree festival was to last for seven days.


    But this time, Oliver Chen had no complaints and was quite proactive.


    By noon the next day, the Ancestral Hall was filled with members of the Chen Clan.


    Under the Sacred Tree, an offering table was set up, holding several porcelain bowls filled with cooked meat and various fruits from around the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Though simple, it represented the Chen Clan''s reverence.


    In front of the offering table stood Ethan Chen, looking solemn in new coarse cloth garments, holding incense sticks, and muttering something respectfully.


    Behind him were Elijah Chen and several other Blood Condensation Realm warriors of the clan.


    Further back were the ''Tian'' generation and ''Qing'' generation members, arranged by age, regardless of gender.


    At the very back, a few children looked curiously at the scene, their faces full of wonder, but their eyes were mostly focused on the porcelain bowls under the Sacred Tree.


    To be precise, on the meat in the bowls.


    Above, Noah Ji''s gaze swept over all the members of the Chen Clan, feeling somewhat speechless.


    In his previous life, he had seen grand occasions, but never one like this.


    The key was that the target of this grand festival was himself, giving Noah Ji a strange feeling.


    The sense of ceremony didn''t matter; what mattered was the offerings.


    Unfortunately, Noah Ji couldn''t speak and had to pretend not to see, but his eyes were fixed on the few beasts outside the Ancestral Hall.


    Those were the beasts Oliver Chen had hunted in the Disordered Burial Mountain the previous day, including two Blood Condensation Realm beasts.


    After some tedious procedures, Ethan Chen loudly proclaimed:


    "Our Chen Clan has been established in the Disordered Burial Mountain for twenty years. Today, I, Ethan Chen, Clan Chief of the Chen Clan, on the eighth day of the ninth month of the Wanlong Calendar, offer sacrifices to the Sacred Tree in the Disordered Burial Mountain!"


    "May the Sacred Tree bless our Chen Clan with prosperity and eternal flourishing..."


    As Ethan Chen finished speaking, the many clan members below echoed in unison:


    "May the Sacred Tree bless the Chen Clan with prosperity and eternal flourishing..."


    "Sacrifice!"


    With that, several clan members carried the prepared beasts into the Ancestral Hall to begin the sacrifice.


    Above, Noah Ji looked at the serious and sincere faces of the Chen Clan members, feeling a touch of emotion.


    Indeed, their purpose was simple: they hoped the Sacred Tree would bless the clan with peace and prosperity for generations.


    But did he have that ability? Noah Ji doubted it.


    After a while, Noah Ji stopped dwelling on it. As long as he was the Sacred Tree for a day, he would fulfill his duty.


    Today, he was the Sacred Tree, enjoying the sacrifices, so he should offer protection in return, ensuring the clan''s safety.


    As the sacrifice began, Noah Ji''s branches and leaves started to glow.


    In the next moment, countless green specks floated from the branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree.


    These green specks were dense and numerous, quickly dyeing the entire Ancestral Hall a dark green.


    The green specks merged into the bodies of every clan member present, healing their injuries.


    Even those who were not injured felt their Qi and Blood surge, invigorating their spirits.


    A few children tried to catch the green specks above their heads, but the specks disappeared into their arms.


    The children, unable to perceive much, simply found it novel, unaware that this Vitality would aid their future Body Tempering Realm progress.


    In the crowd, Lucas Chen lifted his head, inhaling deeply, trying to absorb the green specks above, while urging Alexander Chen beside him:


    "Alexander, quickly absorb them! These specks are treasures!"


    As the green specks gradually disappeared, the crowd''s gaze towards the Sacred Tree grew more respectful.


    Some clan members who had never seen the Sacred Tree''s manifestation murmured:


    "So this is the Sacred Tree of our clan!"


    Ethan Chen was overjoyed.


    The Sacred Tree had sensed their sacrifices and bestowed its divine power, signifying its recognition of the clan.


    With the Sacred Tree''s blessing, the clan would surely prosper!


    In Ethan Chen''s grateful gaze, Noah Ji above was cursing:


    "Damn! Ten points of Vitality just gone like that!"


    "Why show off for nothing? Does showing off cost nothing?"


    Despite his words, Noah Ji didn''t feel much regret.


    Even if he didn''t want to be the Sacred Tree, he had no choice. Besides, in such a situation, if he didn''t show some means to win over the clan members, how could he ensure their wholehearted sacrifices in the future?

 Chapter 38 – Double deduction?

    Noah Ji''s fleeting emotions quickly dissipated amidst the sacrifice of several fierce beasts.


    This time, the sacrifices included two Blood Condensation Realm beasts and three late-stage Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    These beasts replenished all the vitality Noah had just used, and his Qi and Blood surged.


    Based on his experience in absorbing Qi and Blood, Noah found that Body Tempering Realm beasts typically contributed between 1 to 10 points of Qi and Blood, while Blood Condensation Realm beasts ranged from 10 to 20 points.


    The exact points depended on the specific realm of the beast. Even beasts of the same realm could vary, but the difference wasn''t significant.


    For example, one of the late-stage Body Tempering Realm beasts had contributed 8 points of Qi and Blood, while another had only given 7 points.


    As for Spiritual Power, it couldn''t be distinguished by realm.


    After absorbing all the Qi and Blood, Noah opened his attributes again:


    [Qi and Blood: 56 (convertible to Vitality)]


    [Spiritual Power: 29]


    [Deduction Points: 15]


    [Deduction Available!]


    The Qi and Blood he gained this time exceeded yesterday''s, allowing him to perform several deductions.


    The sudden wealth made Noah feel a bit out of place, but it was quite comfortable.


    Having just lost ten points of Vitality, Noah converted another twenty points of Qi and Blood to maintain sufficient Vitality, ensuring his condition didn''t deteriorate.


    As for the remaining Qi and Blood, Noah decided to hold onto it and determine its use after the grand ritual.


    Today was only the first day of the grand ritual, with six more days to go.


    Moreover, at night, he could use the Lunar Eclipse Technique to absorb moonlight and replenish his Vitality, so there was no rush to convert the Qi and Blood.


    After the ritual, the clan held a banquet, and the food was naturally the Blood Rice seized from the Li Clan and the blood and flesh of some Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    Both types of food helped the clan members replenish their Qi and Blood.


    Amidst the joyous laughter, a harmonious and lively atmosphere filled the clan.


    Not far away, Ethan Chen watched the scene with a smile on his face.


    A prosperous and enduring clan, with faithful members and strong power, seemed to be the best state.


    But it was still far from enough; the clan needed to become even stronger.


    Moreover, the remnants of the Li Clan needed to be dealt with quickly.


    ...


    On the second day of the grand ritual, the offerings continued, but there were noticeably fewer clan members in the Ancestral Hall. A closer look revealed that most of the absent members were the stronger warriors of the clan.


    However, today''s offerings were not as abundant as yesterday''s, with only two Body Tempering Realm beasts.


    Noah couldn''t help but shake his head.


    The sentiment had faded.


    Despite this, Noah understood that the Chen Clan was still weak, and many clan members needed sustenance. Even in the beast-infested Disordered Burial Mountain, hunting took effort.


    Two beasts were better than none, and he could accept that.


    The two Body Tempering Realm beasts contributed fourteen points of Qi and Blood and two points of Spiritual Power to Noah.


    Qi and Blood reached 50, and Spiritual Power reached 31.


    On the third day of the grand ritual, Noah gained fifteen points of Qi and Blood and one point of Spiritual Power.


    Qi and Blood reached 65, and Spiritual Power reached 32.


    On the fourth day of the grand ritual, Noah gained thirteen points of Qi and Blood and two points of Spiritual Power.


    ...


    While the Chen Clan conducted their ritual, they had also fully taken over the Li Clan''s territory.


    Unfortunately, the current warriors of the Chen Clan couldn''t manage everything.


    On one hand, they needed to plant Blood Rice to prepare for the coming winter. On the other hand, they needed to send out warriors to search for traces of the Li Clan.


    After several days of searching by the clan''s warriors, they soon made a discovery.


    However, with the grand ritual still ongoing, the clan decided to wait for the right moment instead of acting rashly.


    ...


    Outside an abandoned cave, a figure swiftly darted by. After ensuring there were no unusual marks around, the figure entered the cave and disappeared from sight.


    "Uncle Five, what''s the situation?"


    Inside the cave, Joshua Li asked the middle-aged man before him.


    The middle-aged man was none other than Li Cailiang, who had covered Joshua''s retreat that day.


    Although Elijah Chen had the support of the Sophora Leaf that day, Li Cailiang, being in the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm, managed to escape despite his poor condition.


    Hearing Joshua''s question, Li Cailiang frowned slightly before slowly speaking:


    "From what I''ve gathered, the Chen Clan seems to be holding a large-scale ritual and hasn''t sent many people to pursue us."


    "Given the current downfall of our clan, I think we should take this opportunity to lead the remaining clan members away from Disordered Burial Mountain. We can seek revenge when we are stronger. What do you think?"


    Joshua fell silent.


    The downfall of the clan and the loss of many clan members in that supposedly victorious battle had left him sleepless, often waking from nightmares.


    Not avenging this grudge would indeed make it hard for the fallen clan members to rest in peace.


    But with the current strength of the clan, seeking revenge was as difficult as climbing to the heavens, especially with the Chen Clan having the mysterious support of the Sophora Leaf.


    Although he wanted revenge, Li Cailiang''s suggestion was more pragmatic.


    "Alright."


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    After a brief silence, Joshua nodded.


    The clan had once grown from a few people to its current state.


    If they could do it, why couldn''t he? Moreover, there were still many clan members left. Though their realms were not high, given time, they would be the key to the clan''s revival. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Joshua regain his fighting spirit, Li Cailiang''s face showed a hint of approval.


    As a Clan Chief, one should have an unyielding spirit.


    "Uncle Five, this journey might not be smooth. I think we need to discuss it carefully..."


    Disordered Burial Mountain was remote, with only a few main roads. The remaining clan members couldn''t take conspicuous paths.


    If they took the small paths to leave Disordered Burial Mountain, the roads would be rugged, and the old and young clan members needed proper arrangements.


    After pondering for a moment, a decisive look appeared in Joshua''s eyes.


    "Uncle Five, here''s my plan."


    "What? This...!"


    Soon, Li Cailiang''s voice filled with surprise, and hesitation appeared on his face after hearing Joshua''s plan.


    But seeing Joshua''s resolute and determined eyes, Li Cailiang slowly nodded.


    "Alright, we''ll do as you say!"


    ...


    On the seventh day of the grand ritual, the Chen Clan seemed transformed. The clan was filled with the laughter of children, and the once-empty clan square now often had several clan members training their muscles and bones, striving to break through to higher realms.


    As for the Blood Condensation Realm warriors of the clan, they had been extremely busy these past few days, constantly running around outside.


    In the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen had already begun presiding over the closing ceremony of the Sacred Tree ritual.


    After the ceremony ended, the clan offered the final day''s offerings.


    After completing all this, Ethan asked Elijah Chen beside him:


    "Is the information accurate?"


    Elijah nodded and said:


    "I checked it personally; there are no issues. They are indeed from the Li Clan."


    "Good!"


    Ethan nodded sharply and then said:


    "Gather the clan members immediately and follow me to intercept the Li Clan."


    "Leave a few people to guard the clan, just in case."


    "Also, send people to keep an eye on the Liu Family."


    ...


    Following a series of orders, the entire clan became busy again.


    This time, they were determined to annihilate Joshua Li and the others.


    Above, Noah heard their conversation but didn''t pay much attention.


    He was just a tree, even if a Sacred Tree, and couldn''t manage distant matters.


    At this moment, Noah was more concerned about his current state.


    After the grand ritual concluded today, Noah''s attributes had undergone significant changes.


    [Name: Noah Ji]


    [Species: Young Sophora Tree]


    [Vitality: 30.4]


    [Supernatural Power: Eye of Insight, Reversal Pill, One Leaf Hindrance]


    [Technique: Lunar Eclipse]


    [Combat Skill: None]


    [Qi and Blood: 104 (convertible to Vitality)]


    [Spiritual Power: 36]


    [Deduction Points: 25]


    [Deduction Available!]


    [Status: As a worshipped Sacred Tree, you finally have some self-preservation ability, but it''s still far from enough.]


    The original 16 points of Vitality had reached 30 points after several days of absorbing moonlight.


    The increase in Vitality had extended Noah''s roots several meters beyond the Ancestral Hall.


    The seven days of sacrifices had also elevated Noah''s Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power to new heights.


    During these seven days, two late-stage Body Tempering Realm clan members had broken through to the Blood Condensation Realm, and six others had advanced further in the Body Tempering Realm, significantly increasing his Deduction Points.


    Seeing his abundant Qi and Blood, Spiritual Power, and available deductions, even Noah''s usually calm heart felt a slight ripple.


    Increasing Vitality was crucial for strengthening himself, but he felt that deductions were the shortcut to rapidly enhancing his Vitality and the foundation for the Chen Clan''s strength.


    Moreover, he had never encountered anything in the Combat Skill category.


    He hoped to gain something this time.


    [This deduction requires 10 Qi and Blood, 5 Spiritual Power, and 5 Deduction Points. Continue?]


    [Yes? No?]


    As the deduction conditions appeared again, Noah was about to habitually click "Yes," but he suddenly noticed something unusual.


    Wait!


    Why were the Qi and Blood, Spiritual Power, and Deduction Points in different colors than before?


    If he remembered correctly, they were black before, but now they were green, and there was even a subtle plus-minus symbol next to the points.


    This anomaly made Noah pause. He couldn''t help but click the plus sign next to the points.


    [This deduction requires 20 Qi and Blood, 10 Spiritual Power, and 10 Deduction Points. Continue?]


    [Yes? No?]


    (Note: This is a double deduction. During the deduction, you can randomly carry one of your abilities into the deduction.)


    (Note: The higher the deduction multiplier, the easier it is to unlock rare maps.)

 Chapter 39 – Five times deduction!

    Double deduction? What is this?


    Can emotional deduction be doubled as an investment?


    Moreover, the notes also informed Noah Ji that the higher the deduction multiplier, the stronger the abilities seemed to be.


    Double deduction even allowed him to carry one of his own abilities into the deduction and unlock rare maps?


    Looking at the green plus sign, Noah Ji clicked twice more.


    [This deduction requires 40 Qi and Blood, 20 Spiritual Power, and 20 Deduction Points. Continue?]


    [Yes? No?]


    (Note: This is a quadruple deduction. During the deduction, you will randomly carry three of your abilities into the deduction.)


    (Note: The higher the deduction multiplier, the easier it is to unlock rare maps.)


    Seeing the revised notes, Noah Ji understood.


    For each additional multiplier in the deduction, he could carry one more ability into the deduction.


    It was an ability, not a supernatural power.


    Even so, it could still significantly increase his chances of survival.


    Noah Ji carefully recalled the abilities he had gained in previous deductions.


    They were Root Strengthening, High-Temperature Resistance, and Tenacity.


    Except for High-Temperature Resistance, which required a specific environment to be useful, the other two abilities were quite beneficial for his growth.


    For instance, during the last deduction, if he had Root Strengthening, the cliff wouldn''t have collapsed.


    As for the rare maps, Noah Ji was puzzled. What exactly were rare maps?


    Quickly, Noah Ji stopped dwelling on it. Instead of thinking, it was better to try it himself to understand the differences.


    Looking at his current points, Noah Ji steeled himself and clicked on the green arrow again.


    [This deduction requires 50 Qi and Blood, 25 Spiritual Power, and 25 Deduction Points. Continue?]


    [Yes? No?]


    (Note: This is a quintuple deduction. During the deduction, you will randomly carry four of your abilities into the deduction.)


    (Note: The higher the deduction multiplier, the easier it is to unlock rare maps.)


    This time, he directly chose quintuple deduction. If he was going to play, he might as well play big.


    Anyway, resources were still abundant, and the Chen Clan no longer faced external threats, so he could afford to experiment.


    Even if it failed, he would understand the differences.


    After meeting the conditions for quintuple deduction, Noah Ji noticed that the green symbol turned gray. He tried, but couldn''t adjust it further, indicating it was based on his current points.


    The next moment, Noah Ji didn''t hesitate and clicked "Yes."


    As soon as he clicked, the ancestral hall around him quickly vanished.


    However, this time was different from previous deductions. After confirming the deduction, he didn''t immediately enter a strange world.


    Instead, various scenes appeared before Noah Ji''s eyes, cycling like a revolving lantern.


    Grasslands, snowfields, deserts, forests, lava...


    With just a quick glance, Noah Ji saw countless environments, including those he had grown in during previous deductions.


    As the scenes continued to play, Noah Ji saw special environments different from before.


    There were immortal realms shrouded in mist and filled with flowers and plants.


    There were bustling places with carved beams and painted buildings.


    There were also dead lands covered in white bones, devoid of life.


    ...


    The scenes before his eyes cycled faster and faster, making it hard for Noah Ji to see the details. But he quickly thought of the rare maps mentioned during the deduction.


    Clearly, if he grew in these rare maps, he might gain better rewards?


    Before Noah Ji could think further, the revolving lantern-like maps gradually slowed down. After skipping deserts and valleys, a shadowy scene appeared before him and slowly stopped.


    Before Noah Ji could see the details, the scene seemed to come alive and instantly swallowed his consciousness.


    When Noah Ji opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.


    It was a shadowy space with no sun or moon overhead. The sky was like a black curtain, making one feel tense.


    Even the soil below was black, with no signs of life, not even a single plant.


    This harsh environment made Noah Ji''s heart sink. Before he could continue observing, familiar subtitles appeared before him.


    [You are born in the Shadowy Realm! To become a Tower to the Sky, you begin to grow diligently!]


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    Shadowy Realm?


    The name shocked Noah Ji.


    It seemed he had indeed entered a rare map, and it sounded extraordinary.


    However, after scanning the surroundings again, Noah Ji felt that this rare map might not be a good thing for him, as the growth conditions were harsher than deserts and other places.


    After the subtitles disappeared, Noah Ji realized something was different.


    Usually, he entered the deduction as a sapling, but this time, he entered with the size of the tree trunk in the ancestral hall.


    Before starting to grow, he already had two clusters of leaves, and his roots extended several meters underground.


    Noah Ji could sense the strength of one of his underground roots.


    If nothing went wrong, that should be the root he had strengthened.


    This time, he chose quintuple deduction, which should carry four abilities into the deduction world. But he only had three abilities, so it seemed all of them were brought in.


    The slightly robust body gave Noah Ji a sense of security.


    But as time passed and the sky remained as gloomy as ever, that sense of security vanished.


    The Shadowy Realm had no day or night, and the environment remained unchanged.


    As a tree, how could he survive without sunlight?


    As time passed, Noah Ji felt himself weakening. Even with accelerated time, he couldn''t continue growing.


    If not for the Tenacity ability, Noah Ji felt he might already be dead.


    But if this continued, he wouldn''t last much longer.


    Was this deduction going to end in failure?


    Noah Ji sighed inwardly. This deduction had cost him all his current assets.


    Just as Noah Ji was feeling dejected, new subtitles appeared before him.


    [The Shadowy Realm''s environment is harsh and difficult to survive in. To adapt and continue growing, you decide to:] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Absorb Yin Qi] [Absorb Earth Qi] [Absorb Soul Qi]


    Seeing the new choices, Noah Ji''s heart stirred. Whether he could continue to survive depended on this choice.


    However, what troubled Noah Ji was that there was now an extra option.


    With two options before, he had a fifty percent chance. Now, with three options, he only had a thirty percent chance.


    Of course, it wasn''t necessarily true that only one option was correct. Perhaps all three were viable.


    Naturally, Noah Ji still wanted to choose the most suitable one.

 Chapter 40 – Shadowy Realm

    "Shadowy Realm."


    Noah Ji murmured to himself, pondering slightly.


    He had been rooted underground for a long time but never felt any Earth Qi, nor had he detected any nutrients in the soil.


    As for Soul Qi and Yin Qi, he had no idea what they were.


    Noah Ji preferred to choose between these two. After a brief moment of hesitation, he decided to absorb Yin Qi.


    Hopefully, he made the right choice.


    After making his choice, Noah Ji focused all his attention on the changes occurring within his trunk. If the situation worsened, he might not survive, but after making the choice, he couldn''t stop anything from happening.


    All he could do was wait quietly.


    As time accelerated, Noah Ji''s trunk gradually began to change. The originally brown trunk slowly transformed into black.


    The changes didn''t stop but intensified.


    It started with the trunk, then the roots, branches, and leaves...


    In the end, the dark green Sophora leaves on Noah Ji''s branches all turned deep black, with a faint gray mist swirling around them.


    After Noah Ji''s entire body transformed, he felt a sudden joy in his heart. As his body changed, his previously stunted growth resumed, and his trunk began to grow again.


    After making his choice, Noah Ji''s vision also changed dramatically.


    The previously empty surroundings now filled with a thick gray mist.


    This gray mist didn''t suddenly appear; it seemed to have been there all along, but he couldn''t see it before.


    As Noah Ji grew, he could clearly see the gray mist being constantly absorbed by his Sophora leaves.


    Yin Qi.


    The words appeared in Noah Ji''s mind. It seemed his choice was correct. This was a unique product of the Shadowy Realm, serving as nourishment for his growth.


    And the Yin Qi around him was endless, making him feel extremely comfortable.


    As Noah Ji reveled in the joy of growing, he suddenly noticed a blurry figure in the distant Yin Qi.


    This discovery startled Noah Ji. Anomalies often signified choices, and choices represented danger.


    But within danger lay a sliver of opportunity.


    The longer he survived in this world of deduction, the more benefits he would gain.


    Moreover, he was just a tree now, powerless to change the upcoming situation. He could only face it calmly.


    As time passed, Noah Ji saw more and more blurry figures, and they got closer and clearer.


    Eventually, one figure appeared in Noah Ji''s sight, allowing him to see what it was.


    It was a figure with a blank expression, lifeless eyes, and a body made of gray-white mist.


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    The description suddenly came to Noah Ji''s mind.


    Soon, the figure approached Noah Ji, and new subtitles appeared.


    ¡¾You have absorbed a large amount of Yin Qi, attracting a living soul. What do you choose?¡¿


    ¡¾Actively Protect¡¿¡¾Ignore¡¿¡¾Strangle with Roots¡¿


    "A living soul?"


    Noah Ji frowned slightly, showing a hint of hesitation as he looked at the three distinct choices.


    It was just a living soul; his roots could easily strangle it. However, there seemed to be countless living souls behind the dense Yin Qi, and he worried he couldn''t kill them all.


    Moreover, he sensed that this living soul didn''t seem very aggressive. Noah Ji ultimately chose to ignore it, just like the Spring and Autumn Cicada did before.


    This was the safest approach, a middle path that might allow him to live longer.


    After making his choice, time continued to flow.


    The living soul in Noah Ji''s sight stopped under his shade after approaching him. As Noah Ji''s Sophora leaves absorbed the Yin Qi, the living soul was also affected.


    At first, it was just one living soul, but as time passed, more and more living souls gathered under Noah Ji''s shade, eventually covering his entire field of vision.


    As Noah Ji''s Sophora leaves absorbed the Yin Qi, these living souls reacted strongly.


    Their bodies gradually solidified, and a hint of spirit appeared in their hollow eyes.


    Especially the first living soul that approached Noah Ji''s trunk, its body became the most robust over time, and a spark of intelligence appeared in its eyes.


    It began to drive away the surrounding living souls, leaving a space solely for itself.


    Moreover, this living soul practiced a set of martial arts in the clearing every day. Although its intelligence was low, it seemed to have become an instinct.


    Noah Ji silently watched all this from above, a hint of surprise in his eyes. It seemed these living souls were not without memories.


    What kind of place was this Shadowy Realm?


    As Noah Ji absorbed the Yin Qi daily, he began to grow rapidly in a short time. Before long, he was over thirty meters tall, with a trunk as thick as a barrel, and a lush canopy with countless clusters of leaves.


    The living souls also grew quickly, and gradually, more and more living souls had a spark of spirit in their eyes.


    Centered around Noah Ji, they formed a hierarchical system, slowly expanding outward.


    Noah Ji watched the development of the living souls with curiosity, finding it quite interesting for a time.


    After a while, the living souls under Noah Ji''s shade gathered together, seemingly communicating in a special way.


    At this moment, new subtitles appeared.


    ¡¾A large number of living souls have gained intelligence. They decide to go out and fight, expand their territory, and offer sacrifices to you. What do you choose?¡¿


    ¡¾Generously Support¡¿¡¾Ignore¡¿¡¾Persuade the Living Souls¡¿


    Seeing the new choices, a smile appeared on Noah Ji''s lips.


    Interesting.


    After a moment of thought, Noah Ji chose to generously support.


    Now, a large number of living souls had gathered below him, and many of them had solidified bodies. He wanted to see how far these living souls could develop.


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    After making his choice, the lush Sophora leaves on Noah Ji''s branches suddenly began to fall.


    Each leaf landed in the hands of a living soul, transforming into a set of black armor that wrapped around them.


    With the addition of the leaf armor, several living souls led the others and headed into the distance.


    As Noah Ji quietly awaited the result, the subtitles suddenly made his expression freeze.


    ¡¾The living souls under your shade went out to fight, seeking to become stronger, but they provoked the Shadow of War. You died.¡¿


    As the subtitles disappeared, a neighing sound came from beside Noah Ji.


    When Noah Ji looked, he saw a half-human, half-horse knight, thirty meters tall, wearing silver armor, charging with a blade.


    Under its iron hooves, the living souls under the shade were crushed one by one.


    Even the armor made from Noah Ji''s Sophora leaves couldn''t stop it.


    In the end, the knight''s long-handled scythe swung horizontally, directly severing Noah Ji''s reinforced trunk.


    ...

 Chapter 41 – Gather Yin, Condense Soul

    Returning to the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji felt speechless.


    It seemed he had overestimated these living souls, leading to a wrong judgment.


    However, Noah quickly let it go. The time he survived this round wasn''t short, so the gains should be decent, right?


    ¡¾Deduction Complete!¡¿


    ¡¾You have comprehended a new technique: Gathering Yin¡¿


    ¡¾You have comprehended a new supernatural power: Soul Condensation¡¿


    ¡¾You have comprehended a new supernatural power: Armor Overlay¡¿


    ¡¾You have comprehended a new combat skill: Grand Ancestor Long Fist¡¿


    Gathering Yin: You can actively change your life form to absorb Yin Qi.


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    Soul Condensation: You can consume a certain amount of vitality to condense a living soul.


    Armor Overlay: You can consume a certain amount of vitality to cover a living soul with leaf armor.


    Grand Ancestor Long Fist: A top-tier normal-grade combat skill (can be passed on three times).


    Seeing the series of notifications, Noah was overjoyed.


    He hadn''t expected such a bountiful harvest this time, gaining one technique, two supernatural powers, and a combat skill.


    The technique and supernatural powers were clearly related to his recent deductions.


    Recalling the numerous living souls in the Shadowy Realm, if he could replicate them in this world, the Chen Clan would undoubtedly become stronger.


    Finally, Noah''s gaze fell on the top-tier normal-grade combat skill.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this should be the combat skill practiced daily by the first living soul that approached him.


    In this world, Qi and blood were the path, complemented by combat skills.


    Techniques and combat skills were divided into four levels and twelve grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Normal, each further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.


    Combat skills could significantly enhance a warrior''s strength, with some powerful skills even allowing them to exceed their own limits.


    The Chen Clan had been in decline for a long time, without even a decent combat skill. Even Body Tempering Realm warriors relied on their Qi and blood and some hunting-honed skills for combat.


    At this moment, the Grand Ancestor Long Fist had transformed into countless pieces of knowledge, flooding into Noah''s mind.


    Whether it was the circulation of Qi and blood, the meridians to follow, or the techniques involved, Noah had mastered them all. He was now the epitome of this combat skill.


    Unfortunately, Noah was currently just a tree and couldn''t use the Grand Ancestor Long Fist because he had no hands.


    A top-tier normal-grade skill was just average, but if the Chen Clan obtained it, it could still significantly boost their combat power.


    The key was that Noah could pass on the skill, even if only a few times.


    Noah''s gaze shifted from the combat skill back to the new technique, Gathering Yin.


    This should be his greatest gain from this deduction.


    Absorbing Yin Qi could potentially increase his vitality quickly. The more vitality he had, the greater his improvement.


    He wondered how the effect of Gathering Yin compared to the Lunar Eclipse.


    Noah didn''t hesitate any longer and directly activated the Gathering Yin technique.


    As the technique operated, Noah''s body began to change, just like in the Shadowy Realm.


    First the roots, then the trunk, the crown, and the branches and leaves...


    Finally, Noah''s entire form, whether trunk or leaves, turned a deep black.


    As soon as Noah stopped the technique, he could revert to his previous appearance.


    This was the transformation of life forms described in the technique.


    After transforming, Noah''s vision also changed slightly. He could now see things he couldn''t before, like Yin Qi.


    But as Noah scanned the Ancestral Hall, his expression froze.


    Where was the Yin Qi?


    Yin Qi, resembling gray mist, was everywhere in the Shadowy Realm, often so dense it obscured his vision, accelerating his growth.


    But back in the real world, Noah saw only a scant amount of gray mist in the Ancestral Hall.


    Compared to the Shadowy Realm, it was like a drop in the ocean.


    Based on his previous experience absorbing Yin Qi, even if he absorbed all the Yin Qi around, it wouldn''t increase his vitality much.


    This left Noah in silence, his previous thoughts dissipating.


    But Noah soon perked up again. Besides Gathering Yin, he also had the supernatural power Soul Condensation.


    Soul Condensation required a living soul to work.


    Noah scanned the surroundings again, but it was still empty. This was the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall, not the Shadowy Realm. Where would he find so many living souls?


    Wait, the Ancestral Hall!


    Noah extended his gaze to a room in the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall.


    At the front of the room was a tiered wooden shelf, each level holding several spiritual positions of the Chen Clan''s deceased ancestors.


    At the bottom were three new spiritual positions, belonging to three clan members who had recently died in battle with the Li Clan.


    Noah wasn''t looking at the spiritual positions but at the faint white figures attached to them.


    Normally, he wouldn''t see them, but after transforming his life form, he could clearly see them. Weren''t these the living souls from the Shadowy Realm? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, compared to the Shadowy Realm, these souls attached to the spiritual positions were more broken¡ªmissing hands, legs, heads, and full of holes. Even their color was paler.


    They were more like remnants than living souls.


    The higher the spiritual position, the more broken the soul. The top levels had none at all.


    In contrast, the three new spiritual positions at the bottom had three clear, dazed souls wandering nearby.


    Having found the souls, Noah didn''t hesitate. He extended a black root from the soil beneath his trunk.


    Originally brown-gray, Noah''s roots were now pitch black, perfect for binding the souls.


    Soon, the twenty or so broken souls in the Ancestral Hall were all pulled over.


    Although the supernatural power''s description was clear, Noah didn''t know its exact effect and had to experiment.


    He grabbed a soul with his root and used Soul Condensation.


    After using it, the soul in his grasp disappeared, and his vitality didn''t decrease.


    Noah was puzzled. Did it fail?


    Unconvinced, Noah continued experimenting. These souls had no memories and would eventually disappear, so using them for experiments was fine.


    After five consecutive failures, Noah still hadn''t succeeded once.


    He reviewed the description of Soul Condensation again. It mentioned consuming vitality. Since he hadn''t consumed any, it must have failed.


    Could it be because the souls were too broken?


    Determined, Noah decided to use all twenty souls. He didn''t believe he couldn''t succeed even once!


    One by one, the souls disappeared from Noah''s root.


    When Noah wanted to continue experimenting, he found no more souls in the Ancestral Hall. He had used them all.


    This filled Noah with disappointment.

 Chapter 42 – Green Fruit

    Unable to condense living souls, naturally, there would be no army of living souls.


    As for the Gathering Yin technique, its effect was indeed too poor. Even after absorbing all the Yin Qi around him, it didn''t increase his vitality. It was evident that this technique had no effect on him at all.


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    If both Gathering Yin and Soul Condensation were ineffective, then the final Armor Overlay would be nothing but a castle in the air, as it was meant to cover the leaves with living souls.


    Noah Ji sighed inwardly. He thought he had struck it rich, but it turned out to be a huge loss. The most useful thing was actually the Normal-Grade combat skill, Grand Ancestor Long Fist.


    The night grew darker, and the autumn moon hung like a hook.


    A faint glow flickered once again on Noah Ji''s branches and leaves.


    But just as he was about to absorb the moonlight, he suddenly noticed something different on his branches and leaves.


    Wait, where did these twenty or so green fruits come from?


    Seeing the additional fruits on his branches, Noah Ji thought he was seeing things.


    After counting the fruits on his branches, Noah Ji was suddenly taken aback. Weren''t these the exact number of living souls he had just absorbed?


    So, the Supernatural Power of Soul Gathering didn''t fail; it actually succeeded.


    And these living souls didn''t disappear but transformed into green fruits on his branches.


    At this moment, these green fruits were only the size of a grain of blood rice, but Noah Ji could clearly feel that they were growing rapidly.


    Thinking about the introduction of the Supernatural Power, Noah Ji''s heart tightened:


    "Damn, my vitality!"


    When Noah Ji opened the panel again, his vitality, which was originally 30.4, had decreased by 0.2, leaving only 30.2.


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    And that wasn''t all. The most important thing was that while Noah Ji was observing, his vitality decreased by another 0.1. It was clear that these growing green fruits were constantly consuming his vitality.


    At this rate, how much vitality would these green fruits consume?


    Noah Ji was uncertain, but he didn''t act rashly for the moment.


    He could pluck these green fruits one by one, which would likely stop the consumption of his vitality. But this represented the success of the Soul Gathering Supernatural Power, and with the scarcity of living souls around, if he removed the green fruits, the Supernatural Power would surely fail.


    Moreover, although his vitality was decreasing, the growth rate of these green fruits was quite fast.


    After pondering for a moment, Noah Ji stopped worrying.


    He currently had thirty points of vitality, and after fivefold deduction, he still had fifty-four points of Qi and Blood, which could be converted into more than twenty points of vitality.


    Plus, he could absorb moonlight every night. How much vitality could these green fruits really consume?


    In this case, it was better to see what these green fruits would eventually grow into.


    The appearance of the green fruits also made Noah Ji hesitant to cancel the Gathering Yin technique. He was worried that changing his life form might cause the Supernatural Power to fail.


    Of course, the more important reason was that he discovered he could operate both Gathering Yin and Lunar Eclipse simultaneously without any conflict.


    As the night deepened, the Yin Qi grew denser, and Noah Ji absorbed more and more Yin Qi.


    Although his vitality didn''t increase with the Yin Qi, Noah Ji could feel that the green fruits on his branches were growing faster under the gathering Yin Qi.


    The night was enchanting, but on a path ten miles away from the Li Clan, there was a murderous atmosphere.


    In the middle of the path, dozens of people were surrounded. These were the people of the Li Clan.


    But upon closer inspection, one could see that there were no young people among them; most were elderly, women, and children.


    Surrounding them were the warriors of the Chen Clan who had been mobilized today.


    "Clan Chief, we didn''t find Joshua Li and Jay Li, nor the remaining warriors of the Li Clan."


    Beside him, Mason Chen said with a serious expression.


    During the Sacred Tree Grand Ceremony, most of the clan members had already been sent out to search for the remaining members of the Li Clan.


    A few days after the Sacred Tree Grand Ceremony, the clan quickly discovered the hiding place of the Li Clan.


    However, Ethan Chen didn''t act immediately. Although the Li Clan was in decline, their remaining members'' counterattack still needed to be handled carefully.


    After the Sacred Tree Grand Ceremony, the clan members, blessed by the Sacred Tree, not only recovered from their injuries but also gained confidence, making it the perfect time to completely eliminate the Li Clan.


    So he personally led the team to pursue them.


    But unexpectedly, the group they found this time was just ordinary people of the Li Clan.


    "As expected of the current Clan Chief of the Li Clan, he directly abandoned most of his clan members. Truly decisive."


    Ethan Chen said, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.


    But the more formidable the enemy, the less he wanted to let them go. If the Li Clan wasn''t completely eradicated, the Chen Clan might face future crises.


    "Send people to continue the search, expand the range!"


    Ethan Chen issued another order.


    "Clan Chief, what should we do with these people?"


    Mason Chen pointed to the other members of the Li Clan, who were showing fear and trepidation, and asked.


    "Kill them all."


    Hearing the murderous tone from Ethan Chen, Mason Chen''s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said:


    "Clan Chief, most of these people are old, weak, sick, and disabled. They don''t pose much threat to the clan. I think it''s better to drive them out of the Disordered Burial Mountain."


    "Mason, you must not be soft-hearted. These people may seem harmless, but their relatives are all members of the Li Clan. If given the chance, they will never let go of their hatred because of your kindness today."


    "A clan war is no child''s play. If the Li Clan had won this time, how many of our Chen Clan''s remaining members do you think would have survived?"


    Hearing the heavy words in his ears, Mason Chen murmured:


    "But..."


    But he never finished his sentence. He understood that a clan war was not a matter of one or two people but involved the entire clan.


    But he really couldn''t bear it.


    "You go back first. Let Elijah handle things here."


    "Alright."


    Watching Mason Chen''s departing figure, Ethan Chen sighed.


    Mason had a steady character, remained calm in major events, and could come up with strategies. But in this aspect, he was too kind-hearted.


    He was getting old. Although he was in the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm, the decline in his Qi and Blood and energy made him somewhat powerless, especially during this clan crisis, which had drained him a lot.


    Even with the Sacred Tree''s treatment, it couldn''t fully restore him.


    Unless he broke through to the Innate Realm, where his Qi and Blood and bones would be in perfect harmony, he could gain a few more decades of life. But the Innate Realm was extremely difficult to achieve, and he had no chance.


    After completely resolving the Li Clan, he should consider who would succeed as the next Clan Chief.


    But now was not the time to think about this. It wouldn''t be too late to discuss it after dealing with the Li Clan.


    The last treatment from the Sacred Tree gave him ten more years to live.


    Ten years should be enough.


    Ethan Chen turned and left, ignoring the sounds coming from behind him.

 Chapter 43 – Divine fruit

    "Clan Chief, many of our people are injured. Can we stop and rest for a while?"


    In the depths of Disordered Burial Mountain, a tattered and exhausted member of the Li Clan asked Joshua Li, who was following behind.


    "No, keep moving! We must cover another twenty miles tonight!"


    "I''ll go ahead and clear the path!"


    Joshua Li, who was bringing up the rear, replied firmly while cautiously surveying their surroundings.


    It had been two days since they left the clan and entered Disordered Burial Mountain, yet they had covered less than a hundred miles, not even a fifth of the way through the mountain.


    The reasons were obvious.


    Disordered Burial Mountain had a complex terrain, with rugged paths and frequent thorns, not to mention the presence of fierce beasts.


    The closer they got to the center of the mountain, the stronger the beasts became.


    Although the group of twenty were all young members of the clan, including several early Body Tempering Realm warriors, they lacked experience in navigating the mountain.


    The harsh environment and various other factors slowed their progress.


    But Joshua Li''s expression remained resolute, refusing to give up despite the difficulties.


    There were many paths leading out of Disordered Burial Mountain, but when he and Jay Li discussed their escape route, they decided to eliminate all other options and cross through the mountain to evade the Chen Clan''s pursuit.


    As for the rest of the clan, bringing them along would likely drag the entire clan down, so he had no choice but to abandon them.


    The Chen Clan would never guess that they would cross Disordered Burial Mountain, right?


    Even if they did, they might not dare to send people to chase them, given the limited number of Blood Condensation Realm warriors in the Chen Clan.


    However, considering other factors, the clan still needed to leave the mountain as quickly as possible.


    This was the clan''s only chance. As long as they could safely leave Disordered Burial Mountain, with the remaining warriors, they could rebuild and revive the clan.


    In the past, the Elder Ancestor of the Li Family had established the clan single-handedly. Now, with better conditions, Joshua Li believed he could do the same.


    The current difficulties in Disordered Burial Mountain were just the foundation for honing the younger generation of the clan.


    ...


    "Clan Chief, there''s something wrong with the Sacred Tree."


    The next day, before Ethan Chen could even step out of his room, he heard the panicked cries of his clan members.


    He had returned late last night and wanted to rest.


    But upon hearing that there was an issue with the Sacred Tree, Ethan Chen''s face turned pale, and he rushed towards the Ancestral Hall without delay.


    The Sacred Tree was crucial to the clan''s rise; nothing could go wrong with it!


    When Ethan Chen arrived at the Ancestral Hall, a large number of clan members had already gathered under the Sacred Tree.


    These clan members looked anxious, whispering among themselves, but none dared to get too close.


    Seeing this, Ethan Chen''s heart sank. If the Sacred Tree had indeed encountered a problem, it would be a fatal blow to the clan.


    "Make way, the Clan Chief is here."


    As Ethan Chen approached, the clan members stopped their discussions and made way for him.


    Ethan Chen maintained a calm expression as he slowly approached the Sacred Tree.


    He was the Clan Chief and the pillar of the clan. Even though he was anxious to check the situation, he had to appear composed.


    Despite this, his steps quickened involuntarily.


    When Ethan Chen finally reached the Sacred Tree, he could see its current state clearly.


    The once vibrant and flourishing Sacred Tree had undergone a drastic change.


    The trunk had turned a deep black, and even the branches and leaves were not spared.


    This sight sent a chill down Ethan Chen''s spine. Could there really be something wrong with the Sacred Tree?


    But as the Clan Chief, why hadn''t he received any warning from the Sacred Tree?


    Oh right, he had been busy tracking the Li Clan yesterday and returned late, not having had the chance to check on the tree.


    Ethan Chen felt a pang of regret, but then he noticed something on the branches of the Sacred Tree¡ªdozens of small, light green fruits the size of thumbs.


    This discovery left Ethan Chen astonished.


    The Sacred Tree had borne fruit?


    He had heard from the clan elders that the Sacred Tree bearing fruit was often a sign of it reaching maturity, providing opportunities for the clan.


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    Unfortunately, he had been too young at the time and rarely had the chance to enter the Ancestral Hall, so he had never witnessed such a scene.


    Moreover, he had heard that it could take months or even years for the Sacred Tree to flower and bear fruit.


    But now, wasn''t this happening too quickly?


    Ethan Chen was unsure of what to make of it. The clan members behind him, seeing his prolonged silence, began to whisper again.


    "Quiet, no noise in the Ancestral Hall!"


    Ethan Chen interrupted their discussions and turned to speak:


    "The Sacred Tree is bearing divine fruit, which is why it has changed. This is an opportunity for the clan; there is no need to worry."


    Hearing Ethan Chen''s explanation, the clan members'' expressions relaxed, and they looked at the fruits on the tree with a sense of anticipation.


    They were curious about what kind of fruit the Sacred Tree would produce.


    After resolving the matter, Ethan Chen quickly left the Ancestral Hall.


    From his observation, the Sacred Tree''s vitality was not in jeopardy; it had just undergone some changes.


    However, he needed to consult the clan''s remaining records to understand what was happening.


    He also considered temporarily closing the Ancestral Hall to prevent the clan members from worshipping.


    But given that the Sacred Tree Grand Ceremony had just occurred, and to maintain the clan''s morale and cohesion, closing the hall was not appropriate.


    Moreover, doing so would only confirm that there was indeed a problem with the Sacred Tree.


    Since the Sacred Tree had not issued any warnings, these changes must be normal.


    Nevertheless, Ethan Chen assigned two people to monitor the Sacred Tree. If there were any further changes, they were to inform him immediately.


    Back in his room, Ethan Chen began to sift through the clan''s remaining records.


    The news of the Sacred Tree bearing fruit caused quite a stir within the clan, prompting many members to visit the Ancestral Hall daily to worship and check on the fruits.


    Since Joshua Li and the others had not been found, most of the clan''s warriors had not returned and were unaware of the changes in the Sacred Tree.


    On the second day after the Sacred Tree bore fruit, the clan members went to observe it again.


    They were astonished to find that the fruits, which had been the size of thumbs the previous day, had grown significantly, now reaching the size of half an egg, and the green fruits were turning a grayish-white.


    The rapid growth of the fruits filled the clan members with awe.


    The Sacred Tree truly lived up to its name.

 Chapter 44 – Its really my father!

    On the third day, the fruits had already shed their green color and completely transformed into a grayish-white hue.


    Moreover, small protruding spots began to emerge in the middle of these grayish-white fruits, as if something was being nurtured within.


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    However, this did not affect the clan members'' observation and reverence; instead, they were full of anticipation.


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji also stared at these gradually growing fruits, lost in thought.


    In just three short days, these fruits had already consumed 12 points of his vitality, averaging four points per day.


    This meant that all the vitality he painstakingly absorbed from the moonlight over the past three days had been converted into nourishment for these fruits, and he even had to lose an additional 1.6 points of vitality each day.


    Even so, Noah Ji did not take any measures, as he could feel that these fruits would mature in a few more days.


    He was also curious to see what these fruits would look like after using his Soul Gathering Supernatural Power.


    On the fourth day of the fruits'' growth, the previously emerging spots gradually took shape, growing out from one side of the fruit, making the nearly fist-sized fruits look somewhat unsightly.


    Many people of the clan were even more surprised upon seeing this. At this time, Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief, was still poring over the remaining information of the clan, trying to find answers about the Sacred Tree''s fruit.


    As for the ever-growing fruits of the Sacred Tree over the past few days, he had heard about it but had not personally checked.


    On the night of the fourth day, under the shining moonlight, Noah Ji absorbed both the moonlight and Yin Qi, while also glancing at the fruits on his body, which had gradually turned pale white.


    At this moment, the White Fruits were already the size of a fist, with more distinct and layered shapes.


    When Noah Ji looked at these White Fruits again, he felt a vague sense of unease.


    In the previous two days, the fruits were still small, and the spots were not prominent, making it hard to see anything. But as the White Fruits grew over the past two days, the spots on the fruits became more obvious.


    Late at night, under the moonlight, Noah Ji looked at these White Fruits once more.


    What he saw shocked him.


    At some point, the spots on these White Fruits had transformed into human facial features, and the fist-sized White Fruits had turned into their heads.


    Each face on the White Fruits had distinct features, their eyes tightly shut, seemingly waiting for the fruits to mature.


    From a distance, the pitch-black Sacred Tree had already disappeared into the night, with only its glowing leaves shimmering under the moonlight.


    What was shocking and terrifying was that beneath the countless glowing leaves, there were dozens of fruits with human faces. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These fruits, under the moonlight, exuded a deep and eerie aura.


    Fortunately, the Ancestral Hall was empty; otherwise, anyone present would have been stunned by the scene.


    After the initial shock, Noah Ji''s heart returned to normal.


    He had seen fruits with human features before, like the Ginseng Fruit.


    But seeing them grow from his own body was still hard for Noah Ji to accept.


    After all, he represented the Sacred Tree of the clan, symbolizing the clan''s glory. Now, he looked more like a demonic tree, and the Chen Clan seemed like evil servants worshipping this demonic tree.


    Noah Ji shook his head, dismissing these far-fetched thoughts.


    In fact, Noah Ji had already guessed why the fruits looked this way.


    After all, these fruits grew because he used the Soul Gathering Supernatural Power, and it was obvious that this was related to the living souls in the Ancestral Hall.


    The appearance of three of the fruits clearly resembled the three clan members who had recently died in battle.


    Perhaps when the fruits matured, the Soul Gathering Supernatural Power would be fully completed.


    He wondered how these transformed fruits differed from the living souls in the Shadowy Realm.


    Even if they were somewhat unsettling, Noah Ji still had some expectations in his heart.


    He just didn''t know what kind of turmoil would arise in the Chen Clan tomorrow.


    Fortunately, the few Blood Condensation Realm Warriors of the clan had not yet returned, and only Ethan Chen was in the clan, so he didn''t have to worry about being attacked by the clan members.


    The next day, at dawn.


    Chen Qingsong, holding a broom, pushed open the doors of the Ancestral Hall and began sweeping the sparse dust.


    The Ancestral Hall represented the clan''s dignity, and now that it housed the Sacred Tree, it had to be swept daily.


    After the Sacred Tree Grand Ceremony, many clan members wanted to trade jobs with him, but he refused.


    Now that the Sacred Tree had shown its divine power, he couldn''t miss such a good opportunity. Perhaps he was destined to be blessed by the Sacred Tree.


    The Clan Chief had said that as long as one held reverence, there was a chance to receive the Sacred Tree''s blessing.


    Halfway through sweeping, Chen Qingsong walked towards the Sacred Tree, intending to worship it again and take the opportunity to peek at the fruits.


    The Clan Chief had said that one must not look directly at the Sacred Tree on ordinary days, as it was a great disrespect.


    During worship, Chen Qingsong looked up at the Sacred Tree.


    But the next moment, his face showed fear, and his body froze.


    In his sight, a White Fruit with human features was quietly hanging on a branch. Although the White Fruit''s eyes were closed, he felt as if it was looking at him, staring back at him.


    This scene made his heart tighten suddenly. When he turned to look at the entire Sacred Tree, he found that the tree was full of White Fruits with human faces.


    Seeing this, Chen Qingsong could no longer contain his fear and hurriedly ran outside, shouting as he went.


    "What''s going on!"


    Chen Qingsong''s shouts quickly attracted many clan members to come and check.


    "Uncle, the Ancestral Hall, the Sacred Tree..."


    Seeing the people coming, Chen Qingsong pointed towards the Ancestral Hall with some fear.


    Hearing this, the crowd did not delay, thinking that an enemy had entered the Ancestral Hall to destroy the clan''s Sacred Tree.


    Upon reaching the Ancestral Hall, they found no one else and immediately turned their gaze to the Sacred Tree.


    "Ah! What is this?"


    "Hiss...!"


    "How did these fruits grow like this?"


    ...


    Seeing today''s White Fruits, the crowd was filled with shock.


    Even though it was the Sacred Tree of the clan, many clan members were still terrified, as this was even more shocking than an Innate Realm beast.


    Immediately, someone left the Ancestral Hall to report to Ethan Chen.


    But since it was the Sacred Tree of the clan, although everyone was scared, they did not retreat.


    After carefully examining the tree, one clan member frowned at the White Fruits.


    He felt that the faces on these White Fruits looked familiar.


    At this moment, a flash of insight appeared in his eyes, and he hurriedly pulled another clan member beside him and said:


    "Daniel, look at that fruit, doesn''t it look like your father?"


    Beside him, Daniel Chen was still frightened by the scene before him, but upon hearing this, his expression changed.


    He had lost his father at a young age, which was a pain in his heart. How could he tolerate such a joke from a clan member? He immediately said angrily:


    "Why don''t you say it looks like your father!"


    "No, Daniel, I''m not insulting you, look carefully!"


    "It''s the one hanging on the rightmost branch of the Sacred Tree."


    Seeing the clan member''s sincere face, not seeming to joke, Daniel Chen suppressed his anger and looked in the direction he pointed.


    When he saw the unremarkable fruit on the branch, Daniel Chen''s anger disappeared, replaced by astonishment, and he exclaimed:


    "Father?"


    "It''s really my father!"

 Chapter 45 – Theyre all hanging on the tree

    Ethan Chen''s shout left everyone else stunned.


    When they took a closer look at the faces on those white fruits, they were all shocked.


    "Is that... Great-Uncle?"


    "That looks like my uncle!"


    "That fruit resembles my grandfather!"


    "Why is my dad hanging on the tree? Waaaah!"


    ...


    The crowd was in an uproar, and countless clan members rushed over upon hearing the news to identify their relatives.


    Although the ancestral hall had spiritual positions, it did not have portraits of the deceased elders. Seeing these faces now stirred deep emotions within many clan members.


    "What did you say?"


    In the room, Ethan Chen suddenly stood up and looked at the clan member in front of him.


    "Clan Chief, you should go take a look. Those fruits are too unusual. I didn''t dare to look too long..."


    Upon receiving confirmation from the clan member, Ethan Chen quickened his pace and rushed towards the ancestral hall.


    Just yesterday, the clan members had reported that the Sacred Tree was in perfect condition. How could such a drastic change happen overnight?


    In recent days, he had been poring over the remaining family records and had found a bit of information about the Sacred Tree bearing fruit, but the descriptions were entirely different from the fruits on the tree now.


    This made him increasingly uneasy, and today it seemed to be coming true.


    Unfortunately, the elders of the past had all passed away, and he couldn''t learn the reason for this occurrence from other clan members. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, when the clan migrated here years ago, they accidentally lost the secret technique to communicate with the Sacred Tree, so he couldn''t get specific information from the tree either.


    Before Ethan Chen even reached the ancestral hall, he could already hear the cries of many clan members.


    They were shouting words like "Uncle" and "Grandfather."


    This made Ethan Chen furrow his brows even more. What on earth had happened here?


    "Make way, the Clan Chief is here!"


    Ethan Chen''s arrival slightly calmed the emotions of many clan members. Given the current inexplicable situation, they were desperate to understand the cause.


    Ethan Chen, under the watchful eyes of many clan members, didn''t care about his status as the Clan Chief this time. He hurriedly made his way to the base of the ancestral hall.


    When Ethan Chen saw the white fruits with human faces in front of him, even someone as experienced as he was couldn''t help but be stunned.


    "Is that...?"


    Ethan Chen''s gaze swept over the white fruits, his expression shifting from initial calm to shock and bewilderment.


    Seeing the faces on the white fruits, the corners of Ethan Chen''s slightly wrinkled eyes grew moist.


    Because he saw the faces of the deceased clan members and elders, and scenes from the past surfaced in his mind.


    These were the faces he used to see in his dreams!


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    When Ethan Chen looked up at the highest white fruit on the Sacred Tree, he could no longer contain his sorrow. He immediately knelt on the ground, crying out in grief:


    "Dad!"


    Huh?


    The clan members behind him were instantly bewildered, but seeing the Clan Chief kneeling and crying, they couldn''t hold back their own sorrow and started crying as well.


    For a moment, the entire ancestral hall was filled with the sound of mourning.


    Outside the ancestral hall, Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who had heard about the major event in the clan, quickly rushed back from the fields.


    They were still holding hoes in their hands.


    The clan was in a state of disrepair, and before winter arrived, the clan wanted to plant a crop of Blood Rice. The two of them had volunteered to help with the planting, hoping to strengthen their bodies and reach the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm sooner.


    But as soon as they reached the entrance of the ancestral hall, they saw the Clan Chief kneeling and crying.


    Faced with this scene, the two of them scratched their heads helplessly.


    They were still young and didn''t recognize the faces on the white fruits, so they didn''t have the same emotional reaction as the other clan members.


    However, one of the white fruits did resemble their clan brother, Oliver Chen.


    Just as Lucas Chen was at a loss, Alexander Chen suddenly asked:


    "Lucas, what should we call the Clan Chief''s dad?"


    Hearing this sudden question, Lucas Chen was also taken aback.


    Although they usually called him the Clan Chief, according to the family hierarchy, they should call Ethan Chen Fourth Paternal Great-Uncle.


    What should they call Fourth Paternal Great-Uncle''s father?


    Lucas Chen thought for a moment and then had an answer:


    "Call him Ancestor!"


    But then Lucas Chen shook his head abruptly. Was this the time to think about that?


    "Alexander, let''s go find the other clan members."


    With that, Lucas Chen pulled Alexander Chen and ran off.


    The scene in the ancestral hall had a significant impact on him. Even the Clan Chief was kneeling and crying, and he didn''t know what to do. In such a situation, they naturally had to call for help.


    Unfortunately, his father and clan brother Oliver Chen, along with a few Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, were out searching for traces of the Li Clan and hadn''t returned yet.


    Just as they were about to notify the other clan members, they saw a few dusty figures at the clan''s entrance.


    Lucas Chen stopped and looked, then his face lit up with joy. It was his father and Oliver Chen, who had returned.


    The two of them hurriedly ran towards them.


    At this moment, Mason Chen and the others, who had just returned from outside, were puzzled. Although the Li Clan was no longer a threat, why was there no one guarding the clan''s entrance? And why hadn''t they seen many clan members after returning?


    But when they saw Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen running towards them, they stopped.


    "Hey, Dad, our Ancestor is hanging on the tree. You need to go see!"


    "Yeah, Oliver, your dad is hanging on the tree too!"


    Lucas Chen said hastily and anxiously.


    Mason Chen''s expression changed as soon as Lucas Chen''s first sentence came out.


    When Lucas Chen said the second sentence, Mason Chen felt even more uneasy and turned to look at Oliver Chen, whose face had darkened.


    Mason Chen immediately shouted in anger:


    "How dare you, you rebel son! I''ll beat you to death today!"


    With that, Mason Chen untied the belt made of ox tendon from his waist, ready to strike.


    At this moment, Alexander Chen anxiously said:


    "Lucas is telling the truth. They''re all hanging on the tree."


    Seeing that the two of them didn''t seem to be lying, Mason Chen, who was about to strike, was stopped by Elijah Chen, who said:


    "Mason, don''t be in a hurry to hit him. Let''s go to the ancestral hall and take a look."


    "You little jerk, I''ll deal with you later!"


    Suppressing his anger, Mason Chen and the others quickly headed towards the ancestral hall.


    Before they even reached the ancestral hall, they could already hear the cries coming from inside.


    This made their hearts sink, and they quickened their pace.


    When they entered the ancestral hall, they saw many clan members kneeling and crying.


    This made them feel even more uneasy. Looking at the white fruits on the Sacred Tree, their expressions changed.


    However, being Blood Condensation Realm Warriors, they were cautious and didn''t get caught up in the scene.


    "Where''s the Clan Chief? Where did he go?"


    Mason Chen grabbed a nearby clan member who was still crying and asked.

 Chapter 46 – Clan Chief has gone crazy again

    ```


    "How could something so significant happen to the clan, and yet the Clan Chief isn''t here? It doesn''t make any sense!"


    "The Clan Chief?"


    The clansman who had been interrupted from his wailing scratched his head, as if trying to recall where the Clan Chief was. But soon enough, he remembered and pointed to a figure at the forefront, saying:


    "Isn''t that him?"


    The three of them followed his direction and looked over, their faces showing a hint of astonishment.


    They hadn''t noticed it earlier, but now that they saw the back of the figure, wasn''t this the Clan Chief they had been desperately searching for?


    But this realization only made them feel colder inside. They had been away from the clan for a few days, and such a major event had occurred. Looking at the Sacred Tree, its entire appearance had changed. What on earth had happened?


    Could it be that the Clan Chief had gone mad again?


    Up ahead, Ethan Chen''s emotions gradually calmed down.


    Back when the clan migrated to this place, it was his father who led the clansmen through countless hardships.


    From leaving their original home to arriving at the Disordered Burial Mountain, it took over twenty years.


    During that time, the clan had stayed in other places, but due to various obstacles, they failed and finally settled in the Disordered Burial Mountain to thrive.


    In those twenty years, the elders of the clan passed away one after another, and he went from being a ten-year-old boy to his current age of sixty.


    Ever since he became the Clan Chief, he didn''t know how many responsibilities and expectations he had shouldered.


    The responsibilities and expectations of the clan never allowed him a moment''s rest.


    Whenever he recalled the days growing up under the wings of his father and many elders, he felt even more nostalgic.


    It was precisely because of this that he lost his composure when he saw the White Fruit resembling his father.


    The emotions came so fiercely that he forgot his identity as the Clan Chief.


    However, the question from Elijah Chen behind him brought him back to his senses.


    As the Clan Chief, he couldn''t afford to act so irrationally.


    Moreover, seeing the likeness of his father and some of the clan elders today fulfilled his last wish.


    Regaining his composure, Ethan Chen quickly wiped away his tears, stood up slowly, and his face returned to calm, as if the old man who had been crying moments ago was someone else entirely.


    "Silence!"


    Ethan Chen, now composed, turned to face the other clansmen, raised his hand slowly to stop their crying, and then said solemnly:


    "The Sacred Tree is bearing divine fruit, and this is a critical moment. From today onwards, the Ancestral Hall will be temporarily closed, and no one is allowed to disturb the Sacred Tree!"


    "Anyone who needs to worship the Sacred Tree must get my permission first."


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    After issuing several orders, Ethan Chen once again reasserted his authority as the Clan Chief, and the clansmen had no objections. Seeing the likeness of their deceased elders today had also calmed their hearts significantly.


    However, many were still curious about these White Fruits, but with the Ancestral Hall temporarily sealed, they had no other way.


    At the entrance of the Ancestral Hall, Elijah Chen and the other two, who had been somewhat flustered, breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, the Clan Chief hadn''t gone mad, and there was still hope for the clan.


    "Elijah, have you traced the whereabouts of the Li Clan?"


    After most of the clansmen had left the Ancestral Hall, Ethan Chen asked the three who had returned.


    Hearing Elijah Chen''s question about serious matters, the three quickly replied:


    "Clan Chief, I traveled southeast for over a hundred miles but found no trace of the remaining members of the Li Clan."


    "Clan Chief, I searched all the way northwest but also found no sign of the Li Clan."


    Ethan Chen listened quietly to their reports, his expression unchanged.


    Although the Li Clan had fled, they had been operating in the Disordered Burial Mountain for a long time. He didn''t believe they wouldn''t have some secret passages or hidden places.


    But despite the two searching for so long without finding any traces, it was clear the Li Clan had other means.


    When they captured the group abandoned by the Li Clan, they had interrogated them but got no useful information. It was evident that Joshua Li hadn''t told them anything, and those people themselves didn''t even know they had been abandoned.


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    Only by deceiving their own people could they deceive the enemy.


    "I did find something," Oliver Chen''s words instantly drew the attention of the three.


    "After discovering the Li Clan''s hiding place, we only found one path, indicating that the Li Clan hadn''t yet dispersed. So, I followed the tracks of the Li Clan members we found a few days ago and discovered some traces at a fork in the road."


    "Go on, Oliver," Ethan Chen nodded after hearing this.


    "Although the traces were faint and even deliberately concealed, they still left some flaws. I tracked them all the way to the hunting range of the Li Clan in the Disordered Burial Mountain."


    Hearing this, Ethan Chen suddenly understood.


    So that''s it. He wondered why the clan had sent out so many people to search but still found no clues.


    Even if the Li Clan had abandoned some people, there were still about twenty of them left. It was impossible to completely hide their tracks.


    Now it all made sense. They had entered the Disordered Burial Mountain!


    Ethan Chen hadn''t considered this before because the Disordered Burial Mountain was fraught with dangers, not only with many fierce beasts but also with snakes, insects, rats, and ants. The terrain was complex and difficult to navigate.


    Even a Warrior wouldn''t venture in without proper preparation.


    Although the Li Clan had taken their remaining elite members, they weren''t very old and lacked experience. Moreover, leading so many people through the Disordered Burial Mountain was fraught with difficulties beyond words.


    Thinking of this, Ethan Chen sighed again:


    "Joshua Li is truly a man of great courage!"


    "Clan Chief, should we continue the pursuit?" Elijah Chen asked.


    Although the Li Clan had fled to the Disordered Burial Mountain, the clan''s hatred might not fade even in a hundred years. If they didn''t root them out, it could be detrimental to the clan''s future development.


    Ethan Chen pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head:


    "Don''t chase a cornered enemy. The terrain of the Disordered Burial Mountain is complex, and there are many fierce beasts. It''s hard to track them. Besides, Joshua Li and Jay Li are both strong and skilled hunters. They might have set traps along the way."


    "Moreover, much time has passed. They are likely halfway through their journey. Continuing the pursuit would be detrimental to the clan."


    Elijah Chen frowned slightly:


    "But Clan Chief, are we just going to let them go? We could use the secret passage to enter the Disordered Burial Mountain and intercept them!"


    Ethan Chen smiled faintly:


    "The Li Clan is nothing more than a defeated army. Even if they take their people, so what? Our Chen Clan''s crisis is over, and we have the Sacred Tree to aid us. Do you think our future development will be inferior to theirs?"


    "Besides, the Disordered Burial Mountain is teeming with fierce beasts, and there''s that Innate Realm Green Wolf deep within. What will they do if they encounter it?"


    Hearing Ethan Chen''s words, the three suddenly understood.


    Indeed, they had almost forgotten about the Innate Realm Green Wolf.


    Moreover, with the Sacred Tree, even if they developed quietly, how could the Chen Clan be weaker than the Li Clan?


    Thinking of the Sacred Tree, they couldn''t help but turn their gaze towards it.


    "Clan Chief, about the Sacred Tree..."


    ```

 Chapter 47 – Winter is coming

    Ethan Chen sighed as he heard the inquiries from the others:


    "I don''t know what''s going on either. Tonight, I plan to communicate with the Sacred Tree and ask about the situation."


    If it were other clan members, he would certainly give a reasonable explanation, but with Elijah Chen and the other two, there was no need to hide anything.


    Seeing that even the Clan Chief was unsure of the reason, the three of them couldn''t help but frown slightly.


    But looking at the fruits on the tree, each bearing familiar faces, the three of them stood still, observing and pondering for a long time.


    After a moment, Ethan spoke again:


    "Alright, since the Li Clan has fled to the Disordered Burial Mountain, let''s recall our people from outside."


    "Winter is coming, and the clan''s current food supply is insufficient to support everyone through the season. The urgent task is to see if we can plant another crop of Blood Rice. Elijah, you''ll be responsible for this."


    "Yes, Clan Chief."


    "Oliver, the hunting will be your responsibility. You can select any warriors from the clan to go into the mountains, but remember not to venture too deep. The safety of our people is paramount."


    "If you encounter any members of the Li Clan, do not pursue them rashly. We will discuss it further once we return to the clan."


    "Understood."


    Oliver nodded.


    "Mason, you need to keep an eye on the Liu Family. Now that only our two clans remain in the Disordered Burial Mountain, I can''t help but worry since the Liu Family has been so quiet."


    "Additionally, you will be responsible for the Body Tempering training of our warriors, especially the young ones who need careful guidance."


    "I understand."


    After the three left, Ethan once again turned his gaze to the Sacred Tree, his eyes unfocused as if his mind was wandering.


    Although the clan seemed to have stabilized, the previous battle with the Li Clan had caused significant losses, and their food supplies were nearly depleted.


    Even with the Blood Rice and livestock seized from the Li Clan, it was far from enough to get the clan through the winter.


    Logically, the Li Clan should have had more stored food, but whether it was hidden or taken away, the clan couldn''t find any more Blood Rice.


    But relying solely on Blood Rice wasn''t enough. The clan''s warriors, though not highly ranked, were numerous.


    Especially the Body Tempering Realm warriors, who needed ample meat to nourish their Qi and Blood for faster tempering. Hence, hunting was crucial for the clan''s future.


    Moreover, with the Sacred Tree''s revival, they needed to resume their worship rituals.


    According to the clan rules, the Sacred Tree required a small ritual every three days and a grand ritual every seven days.


    Given the current situation, a ritual every seven days would suffice.


    However, even with a weekly ritual, the number of beasts required wouldn''t be small.


    Especially after winter set in, with the mountains covered in snow, even Blood Condensation Realm warriors would find hunting difficult in the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    So they needed to prepare in advance.


    This world was particularly cold, and the Disordered Burial Mountain was even harsher compared to other places.


    Although Body Tempering Realm warriors had strengthened their muscles and bones, they still needed to guard against the cold. Otherwise, they could fall ill, making it harder to advance to the Blood Condensation Realm.


    Blood Condensation Realm warriors weren''t as susceptible, but the clan had few of them, with most members not even reaching the Body Tempering Realm.


    With only about two months until winter, the clan had many preparations to make.


    Things like warm clothing and firewood.


    Who knew if there would be enough time?


    Ethan gradually came back to his senses, then looked up at the endless sky, feeling a sense of lament.


    The power of nature was overwhelming, and individual strength was insufficient to resist it, hence the need for a clan.


    Only by making the clan strong could the lives of its members improve and reach higher realms.


    As the members'' realms increased, they would give back to the clan, creating a cycle that would eventually lead to a prosperous clan.


    The road to the clan''s prosperity was long and arduous.


    But fortunately, the clan had the protection of the Sacred Tree, putting them far ahead of other clans.


    Confidence returned to Ethan''s eyes as he turned and left the Ancestral Hall. There were many matters in the clan that required his attention.


    "Finally, some peace and quiet."


    Looking at the now empty Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji''s mind finally calmed down.


    The cries of the clan members earlier had given him a headache, and he didn''t know how many days it would take for the fruits to mature.


    But he felt like he had forgotten something.


    The sound of leaves rustling in the breeze reached his ears, and Noah Ji fell into his memories.


    ...


    At the center of the Disordered Burial Mountain, the warriors of the Li Clan were gathered in a sunken valley, warily watching their surroundings.


    Their clothes were torn by the mountain''s thorns, their bodies covered in bloodstains, and many clan members groaned in pain, their faces showing suffering.


    The physical pain was bearable, but the fear in their hearts was evident in their eyes.


    "Joshua, a few more clan members got injured just now. What should we do next?"


    Jay Li slowly approached, asking the pondering Joshua Li beside him.


    Even though he was a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior, he couldn''t hide the fatigue on his face.


    He had been injured during the battle with the Chen Clan, and in the past few days, he had to lead the way for the clan''s journey.


    Even with his keen senses allowing him to avoid the territories of fierce beasts, unexpected incidents still occurred.


    Just now, the clan had encountered a mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast while foraging. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although they managed to kill the beast, a few clan members suffered minor injuries.


    What worried Jay Li even more was the loud wolf howl they heard when they entered the center of the Disordered Burial Mountain.


    It wasn''t the pressure from a beast of the same realm that frightened him, but the source of the clan''s fear.


    Although he didn''t want to believe it, the facts told him it was definitely an Innate Realm beast.


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    With only him and Joshua as Blood Condensation Realm warriors, even if they had two more, they wouldn''t stand a chance.


    Moreover, wolves were pack animals, and encountering them could mean few survivors among the clan members.


    He didn''t share this morale-crushing information with the others, only telling Joshua.


    Hearing Jay Li''s question, Joshua remained silent, staring at the incomplete map in his hand.


    It was a map of the Disordered Burial Mountain, drawn by the clan members during their hunts.


    Unfortunately, it was only half complete, with a large blank area in the center.


    Joshua''s plan to escape through the Disordered Burial Mountain wasn''t just to evade the Chen Clan but also to complete the map.


    With a complete map, they could launch a surprise attack on the Chen Clan from the rear.


    A few days ago, he thought that with him and his uncle Jay Li, they could traverse the mountain without major issues.


    But once they ventured deep into the mountain, he realized he had overestimated himself and the clan members.


    The depths of the Disordered Burial Mountain were filled with fierce beasts, many of them at the Blood Condensation Realm.


    The clan members, inexperienced and untested by blood, had lost much of their confidence due to the continuous journey and complex environment.


    The wolf howl was the final straw that broke their spirits.


    When he learned it was from an Innate Realm beast, Joshua was also thrown into disarray.


    But as the clan leader, he quickly regained his composure.


    He knew that if he didn''t take action soon, not only would revenge be impossible, but even escaping the Disordered Burial Mountain would be in doubt.

 Chapter 48 – Secret passage?

    Joshua Li examined the map in his hand once more, his mind already made up.


    Change route, take a detour.


    Although this would delay them significantly, it was a small price to pay compared to encountering that Innate Realm beast.


    He could gamble and hope they wouldn''t run into the beast, but he no longer had the luxury to take such risks.


    Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of encountering that beast was too high a risk.


    Thankfully, there was some good news: they hadn''t sensed anyone tracking them in recent days.


    Either the Chen Clan hadn''t discovered they had left through Disordered Burial Mountain, or they simply hadn''t pursued them.


    Joshua believed the latter was more likely, which meant they had ample time to take a detour.


    Joshua stood up, ready to explain the new route to the people of the clan and to boost their morale, letting them know there was a high chance of successfully leaving Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Just as he was about to speak, Jay Li''s expression changed suddenly, and he urgently said, "Joshua, there''s a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast approaching from the southeast."


    Joshua''s face tightened. He couldn''t afford to explain further and quickly put away the map, signaling everyone to evacuate immediately.


    Their current group might be able to contend with a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast, but that was a last resort!


    The clan members, though reluctant to move, understood the gravity of the situation and quickly got up, moving away swiftly. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Phew, it''s gone!"


    Jay Li leaned cautiously against a large rock, letting out a sigh of relief.


    The other clan members also collapsed to the ground, exhausted.


    "Hmm?"


    "Uncle, could you move aside?"


    Joshua suddenly noticed something peculiar about the rock Jay was leaning against and began to examine it closely.


    Jay, puzzled, moved aside to take a look as well.


    Upon closer inspection, they quickly realized the rock was unusual. It seemed deliberately placed there, and on either side of it were faint marks¡ªhandprints left by warriors moving the rock.


    Though barely noticeable, the marks were clear upon closer inspection. Additionally, the rock emitted a faint but familiar scent.


    "Wood Lotus Powder!"


    Both exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.


    "Joshua, step aside, let me handle this!"


    Jay, noticing the human traces, began to move the rock. The other clan members gathered around, curiosity evident in their eyes.


    "Rumble..."


    Jay soon moved the rock aside.


    As the rock was moved, a large secret passage entrance appeared before them.


    The sight elicited gasps from the clan members. They hadn''t expected to find such a passage hidden deep within Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Seeing the passage, Joshua''s mind suddenly cleared.


    Only one of the three major families in Disordered Burial Mountain could have built this passage.


    The Liu Family had only recently established themselves in the mountain, and this passage seemed old, clearly not their work. It couldn''t have been built by the Li Family either, leaving only the Chen Clan.


    No wonder, even after besieging the Chen Clan, they never seemed to lack food. They must have used this passage for hunting in Disordered Burial Mountain.


    Jay''s eyes flickered with various thoughts.


    He guessed that this passage likely led to the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall. If they launched a counterattack now, could the clan seek revenge?


    But Jay quickly dismissed the idea.


    Since the Chen Clan hadn''t pursued them, there were likely at least four Blood Condensation Realm warriors left in the clan, including two in the late stage.


    With just their current group, there was no way they could be a match. Entering the passage now would be walking into a trap.


    Jay had another reason for hesitation: the Sophora Leaf he had seen earlier.


    He still wondered what that Sacred Tree, which had caused their clan''s downfall, looked like. If circumstances allowed, he truly wanted to see it.


    "Joshua, what should we do?"


    Jay, having guessed where the passage led, clenched his fists, ready to fight at a moment''s notice. But recalling their previous battle, his expression changed, and his anger subsided.


    "Since the Chen Clan hasn''t pursued us, they must have given up. This passage should be safe for now. Let''s let the clan rest here for the night and decide tomorrow."


    With that, Joshua led the way into the passage.


    The clan was exhausted, and a safe place to rest for the night was a welcome relief.


    This secret passage might be their opportunity in the future, so they couldn''t let the Chen Clan discover them now.


    Entering the passage, they remained cautious.


    Not sensing any movement from the other side, they finally relaxed.


    As night fell, the passage was pitch black. Most of the clan had fallen asleep, but Joshua stared into the darkness, deep in thought.


    "Joshua, have you thought about the clan''s future after we leave Disordered Burial Mountain?"


    Jay, who hadn''t slept, suddenly asked.


    Joshua was momentarily stunned, then nodded.


    "Uncle, as long as we leave Disordered Burial Mountain, I am confident I can restore the clan''s prosperity."


    Jay smiled, relieved.


    "Good, good. With you, the clan is in safe hands."


    "Uncle?"


    Hearing Jay''s unusual tone, Joshua straightened up, looking at Jay with some confusion.


    "You''ve seen the clan''s current state. Let me ask you, after we leave Disordered Burial Mountain, how confident are you in avenging the clan? How many years will it take?"


    Joshua compared their current clan to the Chen Clan and fell silent.


    Leaving Disordered Burial Mountain meant losing all their cultivated lands and hunting resources, starting from scratch.


    Though he had the courage and confidence to rebuild the clan, facing the thriving Chen Clan, he couldn''t estimate how long it would take to seek revenge.


    Decades? Perhaps centuries? Or maybe, never?


    Thinking of the Sophora Leaf, Joshua''s eyes filled with uncertainty.

 Chapter 49 – Climbing over the wall

    In the dark of night, Jay Li wore a bitter smile on his face.


    "It seems you''ve already figured it out."


    "Nowadays, most of the resources in Disordered Burial Mountain are occupied by the Chen Clan. Coupled with the assistance of that so-called Sacred Tree, if nothing unexpected happens, the Chen Clan will only grow stronger in the coming decades, possibly far surpassing their current scale."


    "If this continues, what will our Li Family have to compete with them?"


    Joshua Li fell into deeper silence.


    Indeed, even with the previous strength of their family, they were defeated by the Chen Clan. Even if he were to start anew and redevelop the family, could they ever match the Chen Clan, which possesses the Sacred Tree?


    Over time, the gap between the two families would only widen.


    "The reason the Chen Clan could turn the tide and achieve victory, I suspect, is largely due to that Sacred Tree."


    "During the previous great battle, I caught a glimpse of that Sacred Tree. It is planted within the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall. Now that we''ve discovered this secret passage, it seems like heaven is aiding our Li Family."


    "This secret passage most likely leads to the Chen Clan''s Ancestral Hall. I can use the cover of night to enter the hall through this passage and destroy that Sacred Tree!"


    "Without the Sacred Tree, with your abilities, you can definitely revive our family. Surpassing the Chen Clan would only be a matter of time."


    Upon hearing Jay Li''s plan, Joshua Li immediately objected:


    "No, Uncle, it''s too risky."


    Jay Li shook his head.


    "I''m already old, and the late-stage Blood Condensation Realm is my limit. It''s difficult for me to advance to the Innate Realm in this lifetime. Even if I leave Disordered Burial Mountain, it won''t be of much help to the family."


    "Since you''ve decided to change course, with your abilities, you can safely lead our people out of Disordered Burial Mountain."


    "How can we give up such a golden opportunity?"


    "Moreover, the Chen Clan is currently in disarray. There probably aren''t many guards in the Ancestral Hall. With my late-stage Blood Condensation Realm strength, it''s more than enough. Perhaps I can even destroy the Sacred Tree and then leave through the secret passage. I''ll follow the route and catch up with you later." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After speaking, a hint of confidence appeared in Jay Li''s eyes.


    This made Joshua Li swallow back the words of persuasion he was about to say.


    After the family''s previous defeat, he had analyzed the reasons.


    The main reason was that the injured members of the Chen Clan had recovered within a few days.


    Combined with the mysterious Sophora Leaves, this led to the family''s ultimate defeat.


    These two reasons were clearly related to the Sacred Tree of the Chen Clan.


    If things could really go as Jay Li planned, it would indeed be a good thing for the family.


    It could curb the Chen Clan''s development and avenge their past defeat.


    But he worried that his uncle might not return.


    However, he also understood that this seemed to be the only thing the family could do at the moment, and succeeding would greatly benefit their future revenge.


    Rationality and emotion clashed.


    After a moment, Joshua Li''s gaze steadied.


    "Uncle, let''s discuss the specific details."


    "Alright!"


    ...


    In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji was silently absorbing the moonlight and Yin Qi.


    Today was the fifth day since the White Fruits had started growing. Although their size hadn''t changed much from the original fist-sized shape, their color had gradually shifted from white to gray, and the faces on the fruits had become more distinct and lifelike.


    Just as Noah Ji was focused on absorbing the moonlight, a sudden sound of someone landing came from within the hall.


    "Thud!"


    The sound of someone climbing over the wall made Noah Ji''s heart skip a beat.


    Normal clan members would use the main entrance. Anyone climbing over the wall was definitely up to no good, just like when Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen had come to chop him down in the middle of the night.


    He thought it might be those two returning, but when Noah Ji looked over, he saw only one figure.


    The figure seemed familiar and moved lightly, so much so that Noah Ji''s buried roots didn''t detect it immediately.


    At this moment, the figure was slowly approaching Noah Ji.


    But Noah Ji didn''t react much, only feeling a bit puzzled.


    The visitor was none other than Oliver Chen.


    If it had been before, Noah Ji would have been extremely worried. After all, Oliver Chen''s realm wasn''t low, and he had shown disrespect towards the Sacred Tree. Noah Ji had been genuinely concerned that Oliver might act impulsively.


    But now, he wasn''t worried.


    As a genius of the younger generation in the clan, Oliver Chen had initially wanted the Clan Chief to wake up from his obsession with the Sacred Tree to save the clan.


    After Noah Ji used his supernatural power to display divine might and save the Chen Clan, Oliver Chen seemed to have lost his rebellious thoughts, even though he still appeared somewhat defiant.


    Moreover, he had been diligent and responsible during the recent hunting.


    Under such circumstances, Noah Ji naturally didn''t worry that Oliver would do anything outrageous. He was just curious about why Oliver was here at this time.


    Oliver Chen approached slowly and stopped two meters away from the Sacred Tree.


    His gaze swept over Noah Ji''s branches one by one before finally settling on a White Fruit.


    Following Oliver''s gaze, Noah Ji also looked at the White Fruit.


    Without looking closely, Noah Ji already knew the reason. The face on the White Fruit bore a seven-point resemblance to Oliver.


    It turned out that the one hanging on the tree was his father.


    Noah Ji''s gaze swept over the spiritual positions in the Ancestral Hall and found the name of Oliver''s father, Edwin Chen.


    Edwin, the same generation as Mason Chen and Elijah Chen in the current clan. Given Oliver''s age, Edwin should be the oldest of that generation, but he should only be in his forties or fifties. It was unclear why he had died early.


    Noah Ji didn''t dwell on it and continued absorbing the moonlight.


    Oliver Chen, standing under the tree, didn''t cry like other clan members. He just stood quietly under the moonlight, looking at the familiar face above, as memories flooded his mind.


    He stood there for a long time without moving.


    Until the sound of slow footsteps came from outside the Ancestral Hall, Oliver Chen snapped back to reality, quickly climbed over the wall, and left the hall.


    But as he was climbing over the wall, his body suddenly paused, almost falling off the wall.


    However, relying on his late-stage Blood Condensation Realm strength, Oliver Chen used his hands to pull himself up and eventually left safely.


    "Creak."


    The door of the Ancestral Hall slowly opened.


    Noah Ji didn''t even need to look to know who it was.


    After all, besides Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief, few others would come over in the middle of the night.


    Ethan Chen didn''t rush towards Noah Ji after entering the hall. Instead, he first glanced at the wall.


    Although he was older, he was still a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior. How could the commotion in the hall escape his notice?


    Ethan Chen had already guessed who it was but didn''t intend to expose him. He just shook his head and sighed, then approached the Sacred Tree with a respectful expression.


    Even though he had looked at it many times before, his feelings became complicated again when he saw the White Fruits on the tree.


    But he hadn''t forgotten the purpose of his visit.


    Noah Ji knew his intentions, but he didn''t know how to communicate with Ethan Chen, the Clan Chief.


    But that didn''t matter.