However, when Chen Xingzhen turned his head to look at the blossoming Divine Tree on the side, a hint of entanglement appeared on his face again.
Sacrifice was inevitable, but the question remained... How much to sacrifice?
Should he offer most of the hunted beasts to the Divine Tree, or should he keep some as food for the clan?
In the past, he would have chosen the former without hesitation. But the presence of Innate Realm beasts in the Chaotic Burial Mountain forced him reconsider the peril of hunting trips.
Beside him, Chen Tianyu and the others were deep in thought. They understood the gravity of the decision but were uncertain of the right course.
After all, both options were crucial for the clan's survival.
With a resolute gaze, Chen Xingzhen's eyes revealed his decision. Turning to Chen Tianyu, he said, "We'll sacrifice these two Blood Coagulation Realm beasts."
Since the Divine Tree had revealed its brilliance, he would follow this path. He directly offered the two Blood Coagulation Realm Beasts as sacrifices, leaving only the two Body Tempering Realm Beasts---enough to sustain the clan for one day.
Most of the clan members were warriors, and their food requirements were higher. Only those who had ascended to the Innate Realm needed less Qi to thrive.
With no better options, he could only hope that the Divine Tree would become more powerful.
As he said yesterday, maintaining the status quo would only delay the inevitable. Instead, he pinned his hopes on the Divine Tree while providing for the clan's daily needs.
Above, seeing Chen Xingzhen's decision, Ji Yang felt immense pressure.
Although he seemed to be doing well now and the Chen Clan was gradually improving, the shadow of the Li Clan problem loomed large. If they didn't solve it soon, he might end up being nothing more than a firewood.
The sacrifice began without much fuss.
As the blood of the two beasts seeped into the roots below, Ji Yang resumed his absorption.
The essence of the Blood Coagulation Realm beasts revitalised Ji Yang, accelerating the growth of his Qi and Blood.
After the ritual, Ji Yang checked his panel:
【Qi and Blood: 23 (Convertible to Qi)】
【Deduction Points: 20】
【Available for Deduction】
Yesterday, in the mid-stage of the Blood Coagulation Realm, the Iron Thorned Tiger had contributed 15 points of Qi and Blood.
Today, the two beasts provided only 23 points of Qi and Blood, probably due to one of them being an early-stage Blood Coagulation Realm beast.
As for the spiritual energy, it was barely enough for a deduction.
Ji Yang hesitated as he looked at the deduction button.
Should he take the risky path of deduction, which might alter the Chen Clan's fate or leave him with nothing? Or should he follow the usual route, converting all the Qi and Blood into Qi to strengthen himself?
The former was uncertain and fraught with potential loss, while the latter was more stable, promising a significant boost in his Qi and ensuring the clan members' safety.
All things considered, the latter had the advantage.
After a moment's contemplation, Ji Yang made his decision.
"Wherever there are crying children, there are always gambling dogs that lose."
【This deduction requires 10 blood, 5 spiritual power, and 5 deduction points. Do you want to continue? 】
Without hesitation, Ji Yang's heart soared. He closed his eyes and chose "Yes".
When Ji Yang opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a howling wind. He stood on a precarious cliff, feeling fragile as a sapling. The fierce wind threatened to sweep him away at any moment.
In this harsh environment, surviving to adulthood seemed almost impossible.
However, based on Ji Yang's previous predictions, the longer he grew and the more trials he faced, the greater his rewards would be.
As the situation unfolded, Ji Yang found himself compelled to rely on his resilience.
Suddenly, subtitles materialised in front of his eyes:
【You were born near a cliff! To become a towering tree, you must strive to grow quickly! 】
As the subtitles disappeared, time resumed its relentless pace.
Ji Yang was fully immersed in his current environment. With no other trees nearby and perched on the cliff, he could only grow slowly amidst the fierce wind.
In that moment, an old saying echoed in Ji Yang's mind:
"The tree wishes for calm, but the wind does not cease."
Despite the harsh conditions, Ji Yang's sapling remained remarkably resilient, defying premature death. Ample water and sunlight sustained it, even on the precarious edge of the cliff.
Under the accelerated passage of time, Ji Yang grew to the thickness of an arm and stood firmly on the cliff's side.
Then, a new subtitle appeared:
【The wind speed below the cliff is increasing. To withstand the storms, you must choose: 】
【Grow with the wind】 【Growing against the wind】
Seeing these options, Ji Yang smiled inwardly. As a tree, his choice was clear: he would grow with the wind to ensure his survival.
However, just as Ji Yang was about to select the first option, a thought struck him.
This world isn't ordinary---there's always a catch!
Remembering the process of his previous deduction, Ji Yang hesitated briefly before deciding to grow against the wind.
This trap was too obvious; he wouldn't fall for it!
Despite his confidence in the decision to grow against the wind, watching the subtitles slowly disappear left him feeling uneasy. What if he had made the wrong choice? The life force and spiritual energy he had expended during this deduction could all be wasted.
Most importantly, in his current state, he couldn't afford any more losses.
After the subtitles disappeared, time resumed its flow. Ji Yang could feel the wind beneath the cliff growing stronger. Growing against the wind became increasingly challenging, with the violent gusts threatening to tear him apart at any moment.
Sighing inwardly at his apparent mistake, Ji Yang accepted his fate.
But just as he resigned himself, the nearby cliff suddenly collapsed. The terrain around Ji Yang shifted dramatically, turning what was once a battle against the wind into a favourable breeze.
Could he really be so lucky?
Ji Yang's expression froze, followed by a wave of relief.
Thank goodness, he made the right decision this time!
With renewed confidence, Ji Yang continued to grow steadily as time accelerated once again.
In a short span, Ji Yang thickened to the size of a bowl, standing proudly at the cliff's peak, emanating an impressive aura.
The subtitles reappeared:
[Beside you, you notice two saplings. Which one do you choose?]
Studying the options, Ji Yang pondered for a moment before muttering to himself, "Excuse me!"
The cliff was already precarious, with scarce water below. The available resources barely sustained Ji Yang's own growth---how could he allow other saplings to thrive?
Reluctantly, for the sake of his own survival, Ji Yang decided to compete for water.