As Li Yongcheng looked at the map once again, he made a decision in his heart: they needed to change course and take a detour.
Although this would cause a significant delay, it was far better than risking an encounter with the wild beast from the Innate Realm.
The delay was a small price to pay compared to the potential disaster that could occur.
He could gamble that they wouldn't encounter the Innate Realm beast on the way, but he no longer had the luxury to gamble.
Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance of meeting that beast, he couldn't afford to take it.
Fortunately, there was some good news: for the past few days, they hadn't sensed anyone following them.
Either the Chen clan hadn't discovered that they had gone through Chaotic Burial Mountain, or they hadn't chosen to follow.
Li Yongcheng believed the latter was more likely, which meant they had enough time to take a detour.
Li Yongcheng stood up, ready to explain the next part of their journey to the clan members and to inspire them with the hope that their clan could leave Chaotic Burial Mountain safely.
But just as he was about to speak, Li Cailiang's expression suddenly changed.
He urgently whispered, "Yongcheng, there is a late-stage Blood Coagulation Realm beast approaching us from the southeast."
Li Yongcheng's expression tightened. There was no longer time to give the clan members hopeful words.
He quickly set down the map and signaled for everyone to evacuate the area immediately.
With their current group, they might be able to face a late-stage Blood Coagulation Realm beast, but it would be a foolish risk.
The clan members, who had just settled down to rest, were reluctant but understood the gravity of the situation. They quickly rose and hurried away.
"Phew, that was close; it's gone!"
Li Cailiang carefully leaned against a nearby boulder and heaved a sigh of relief.
The other clan members were also exhausted, lying on the ground, catching their breath.
"Hm?" Li Yongcheng noticed something strange about the blue stone Li Cailiang was leaning against. "Uncle Li, step aside for a moment."
Li Cailiang looked puzzled but stepped aside as instructed. Upon closer examination, the two men noticed something unusual about the stone.
It appeared too deliberately placed, and there were faint, barely noticeable marks on either side---palm prints left by someone moving it with martial skill. A faint scent wafted from the stone, one that both men recognized instantly.
"Magnolia powder!" they both exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes widening in realization.
"Yongcheng, step aside, let me handle this!"
Recognizing the significance of the man-made tracks, Li Cailiang stepped forward and moved the stone. Other clan members gathered around, their curiosity piqued.
Boom... The blue stone was quickly shifted by Li Cailiang, revealing a large, secret tunnel entrance hidden beneath it.
Gasps of surprise rippled through the group. No one had expected to find such a passage deep within Chaotic Burial Mountain.
As Li Yongcheng stared at the secret tunnel, clarity struck him. Only one of the three great families of Chaotic Burial Mountain could have built something here.
The Liu clan had only recently established themselves in Chaotic Burial Mountain, and this secret passage seemed to have been there for years, clearly not their work.
It couldn't have been built by their own clan either, leaving only the Chen clan as the likely creators.
No wonder the Chen clan didn't experience food shortages during the siege---they must have used this secret passage to hunt in Chaotic Burial Mountain.
As the realization hit, Li Cailiang's expression shifted rapidly.
He could guess that this passage might lead directly to the Chen clan's Ancestral Hall. If they counterattacked now, would it give his clan a chance for revenge?
But soon, Li Cailiang's gaze cleared. The answer was no.
With the Chen clan not pursuing them, it was likely they had at least four Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists, including two in the later stages.
How could a few of them possibly stand against such opponents? Entering through the secret passage now would be like walking into a trap.
However, what gave Li Cailiang pause were the locust leaves he had seen earlier. He couldn't help but wonder about the Divine Tree that had led to their clan's downfall---what exactly did it look like?
If circumstances allowed, he was curious to see this so-called Divine Tree.
"Yongcheng, what should we do?"
Li Cailiang asked, his fists clenched, ready to fight at a moment's notice. But as he recalled the previous battle, his anger subsided.
"Since the Chen clan hasn't followed us, they must have given up. This clan secret passage is still safe. Let's have our people rest here for the night, and we'll decide what to do tomorrow," Li Yongcheng said, taking the lead and entering the passage.
The clan members were exhausted, and finding a safe place to rest for the night seemed ideal.
This secret passage might be an opportunity in the future, so they couldn't afford to let the Chen clan discover them now.
Inside the passage, everyone remained cautious. When they noticed no movement from the other end, they finally relaxed.
As night fell, the passage was pitch black.
Most of the clan members had fallen asleep, but Li Yongcheng remained awake, staring at the other end, lost in thought.
"Yongcheng, have you thought of a way out for our clan after we leave the Chaotic Burial Mountains?" Li Cailiang, who hadn't fallen asleep yet, suddenly asked from beside him.
Li Yongcheng was slightly startled, then nodded.
"Uncle Li, as long as we can leave the Chaotic Burial Mountain, I'm confident that I can make our clan prosperous again."
Li Cailiang's face showed relief as he smiled and nodded.
"Good, good. With you here, I can be sure of our clan's future."
Li Yongcheng noticed the odd tone in Li Cailiang's voice and stood up, looking at him with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"You've seen the current state of our clan," Li Cailiang continued. "So tell me, when we leave the Chaotic Burial Mountains, how confident are you that we can avenge our clan? And how many years will it take?"
Li Yongcheng silently compared their clan's current state with that of the Chen clan and then fell into silence.
Leaving the Chaotic Burial Mountain means losing all the fertile land our clan used to farm, as well as the various resources from hunting. We'd have to start all over again.
Though he had the courage to begin a new and was confident in his ability to revive his clan's fortunes, he couldn't predict how long it would take to exact revenge on the Chen clan, whose development was even stronger now.
Decades? Perhaps centuries? Or maybe never?
Thinking about that locust tree, Li Yongcheng's eyes also showed a trace of uncertainty.