Chen Qingyu quickly took out the Locust Leaf from his pocket.
This action caused the green wolf across from him to hesitate slightly.
Wolves, even those who had reached the Innate Realm, were naturally suspicious.
They wondered why this human would produce a seemingly ordinary leaf on the brink of death.
As Chen Qingyu stared at the leaf in his hand, he suddenly felt confused. How was he supposed to use this thing?
He crushed the Locust Leaf and prepared to swallow it.
However, the moment he crushed the leaf, a tremendous surge of vital energy erupted from this seemingly ordinary leaf, flooding into Chen Qingyu's body.
Both man and beast were astonished by this life force.
His blood surged within him, and his previously injured body once again unleashed its utmost potential.
In an instant, his internal energy flowed normally, and he felt his blood thicken significantly as if he had broken through the late stage of the Blood Coagulation Realm.
In this state, Chen Qingyu's eyes sparkled with intense determination.
Strangely enough, the green wolf in front of him stood still, bewildered. How could someone near death suddenly recover and even progress?
But the Green Wolf's eyes showed little emotion, and it didn't retreat. The gap between them couldn't be bridged by a mere leaf; the wolf sensed the human's weakness.
With an enigmatic gleam in its eyes, the wolf prepared to attack once again.
However, at that moment, Chen Qingyu found another leaf in his hand. Seeing this, the green wolf hesitated. How many similar leaves did this human possess?
Suddenly, a distant, resounding howl echoed through the night. The green wolf's expression changed as he turned his gaze toward the source of the howl.
Without further ado, the wolf halted its advance and slowly retreated.
Under the cover of darkness, the wolf's form disappeared into the forest, soon beyond Chen Qingyu's sight.
Relieved that the wolf had left, Chen Qingyu threw away the leaf in his hand. Even though it had restored him and boosted his strength, he knew that he was no match for this beast of innate level.
After confirming the Green Wolf's departure, Chen Qingyu quickly lifted the tiger carcass from the ground and sprinted toward his clan's hidden enclave.
On the way, he didn't forget to take the previously hidden Dark Golden Beast with him.
After absorbing the locust leaf, Chen Qingyu felt an inexhaustible surge of power within him. He moved swiftly as if his steps were fueled by newfound strength. In no time, he arrived at the heart of the family's secret chamber.
However, as he set down the green stone slab that served as the entrance, the previously abundant energy seemed to dissipate rapidly, leaving him feeling drained. Even his life force dwindled, returning to its initial state. It was as if the earlier boost had been a mere illusion.
To make matters worse, the injuries on his back began to reveal themselves, a painful reminder of his precarious situation.
Despite his worsening condition, Chen Qingyu didn't feel frustrated. Instead, a hint of relief crossed his eyes. If the green wolf hadn't retreated, his life would truly be in jeopardy.
Yet, as he thought about the locust leaf, his expression grew more complex.
"Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Inside the ancestral hall, Chen Xingzhen paced anxiously. With the protection of the sacred tree, encountering a pre-celestial beast shouldn't pose any problems. So why the delay?
Even Ji Yang began to doubt himself. He had sensed signs of the locust leaf being used not long ago, but half an hour had passed, and still, no one had returned with it.
"Could it be that the life force I injected into that locust leaf wasn't enough? Was its effect substandard?
If only I had injected more vital energy into that grasshopper leaf earlier," Ji Yang thought, his mind racing with second guesses.
As Chen Xingzhen and Ji Yang pondered over the delay, Chen Qingyu's voice echoed from the secret passage,
"Clan Chief, I've returned."
Hearing his voice, Chen Xingzhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As the stone slab was lifted, Chen Qingyu climbed up from below, his clothes torn and his body covered in blood. Concern flashed across Chen Xingzhen's face.
"Qingyu, are you injured?" he asked urgently.
"Don't worry, just minor wounds. A few days of rest will be enough."
Chen Qingyu reassured him, dragging the prey he had hunted out of the secret passage.
When Chen Xingzhen saw the lifeless body of the giant tiger, surprise flickered in his eyes:
"This is a mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm beast?"
"Yes," Chen Qingyu confirmed.
Chen Xingzhen gently scolded him,
"You took too much risk. Luckily, you didn't run into that Origin Realm beast."
As Chen Xingzhen spoke, he noticed Chen Qingyu's hesitant expression. A sense of foreboding crept over him, and he hurriedly asked,
"Did you encounter it?"
Chen Qingyu nodded and went on to describe the details of his hunt.
Listening to Chen Qingyu's account, Chen Xingzhen fell silent. Finally, he sighed in relief,
"At least you're back!"
As Chen Xingzhen heard about the effects of the locust leaf, a bright gleam appeared in his eyes.
Although Chen Qingyu had mentioned that the leaf's potency lasted only for a short time---about half a joss stick's worth---he, as the clan leader, understood its true value.
He grasped how much assistance this humble leaf could provide to their current predicament.
If the sacred tree could spare a few more locust leaves, perhaps the clan could not only overcome their immediate crisis but even turn the tide in their favour.
"Patriarch, I'll take my leave," Chen Qingyu said.
"Very well," Chen Xingzhen replied absentmindedly, still pondering the matter of the locust leaf.
But then Chen Qingyu spoke again, "Patriarch, I need to tend to my injuries."
Chen Xingzhen blinked. Hadn't he already granted permission for Chen Qingyu to rest?
Meanwhile, Ji Yang rolled his eyes from above. Clearly, this wasn't a polite farewell; it was a subtle jab at Chen Xingzhen!
Nevertheless, considering Chen Qingyu's impressive gains this time, Ji Yang decided not to be stingy with his life force.
Ji Yang activated his divine technique, and several green light particles descended from the glowing branches. These particles swiftly merged into Chen Qingyu's body.
After the sacred tree's healing energy permeated him, Chen Qingyu fell silent and left the ancestral hall.
Chen Xingzhen watched the scene, feeling quite pleased. It seemed the sacred tree truly favoured the younger generation of the clan.