At this rate, another half month would allow the clan to survive the harsh winter safely.
However, hunting the more formidable beasts in the Body Tempering and Blood Coagulation realms still required considerable effort.
With the ancient wolf lurking in the depths of Chaotic Burial Mountain, it was unwise to venture too far.
In the long run, careful management of resources and cautious hunting were crucial for the clan's growth.
Yet, reaching the Innate Realm remained a distant goal. Even Chen Qingyu, the strongest in the clan, had only recently advanced to the late stage of Blood Coagulation.
The gap between this stage and the Innate Realm was immense.
After some thought, Chen Xingzhen decided to put aside his impatience. clan growth does not happen overnight. With no internal strife or external threats, their strength would naturally increase over time.
Inside the Liu clan, a thin middle-aged man stood in a courtyard filled with rows of gray-yellow bamboo, their leaves long gone. The green bamboo had turned dull and lifeless, stripped bare by the season.
The man stood silently, his eyes wandering, deep in thought. Soon, another figure stepped into the courtyard, bowed respectfully, and announced:
"Clan Chief, the Chen Clan has been very active lately. Not only are they recruiting servants, but they're also hunting recklessly in Chaotic Burial Mountain. Should we take action?"
The clan member looked up, seeking guidance.
The middle-aged man turned with a hint of disdain.
"You've spent too much time in these mountains. Have you forgotten why we are stationed here?" His voice was sharp.
"The Chen Clan is just one among many. They are easy to deal with as long as they do not interfere with us."
He paused, a faint smile crossing his lips.
"However, it is intriguing that they managed to survive against all odds and emerged victorious in the last major battle."
The clan member nodded, understanding his orders.
After the others left, the middle-aged man remained alone in the courtyard.
The biting cold surrounded him, and his expression wavered. Another winter had come, leaving little time for the clan. This time, he was determined to find that elusive object.
Soon, the soft sound of falling rice grains reached the courtyard.
"Cai Mao, where are you?" a voice called out.
"We have rules in the clan. As a servant, you shouldn't be out at night."
"I just need a moment; I'll be right there," Cai Mao replied with a grin, stepping away from the room.
Since becoming a servant of the Chen Clan two days ago, Cai Mao and another servant had been given special living quarters to share, along with a monthly stipend and decent treatment.
Spending his days among the Chen Clan, his initial nervousness gradually faded. The daily tasks were manageable, and he felt increasingly at ease.
Tonight, however, having drunk too much water during the day, he had a small matter to attend to.
Not long after, Cai Mao emerged from the thatched hut, ready to resume his interrupted sleep.
But as his gaze shifted, he caught sight of a shimmering light above the nearby Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, instantly piquing his curiosity.
If he recalled correctly, this was the Chen Clan's Ancestral Hall. On their first day, the Chen Clan members showed them around the compound to familiarize them with the layout, but the Ancestral Hall was strictly off-limits, and anyone was forbidden to enter or even approach it closely. This restriction stirred the curiosity of many, including Cai Mao. What secrets could this hall possibly hold?
Over the past few days, Cai Mao had almost forgotten about it, but now, the faint glow seemed to call to him.
"Just a quick look," he thought, "then back to sleep!"
His daring stemmed from the observation that most Chen Clan members retired early, and by the time darkness fell, most were already asleep.
That night, the entire compound seemed unusually quiet, with no guards patrolling in sight. This gave Cai Mao the confidence to approach. If any guards had been present, he wouldn't have dared to come closer.
After carefully looking around to make sure no one was watching, he slowly made his way towards the Ancestral Hall.
However, as he walked, an eerie chill crept over his body. Puzzled, Cai Mao wondered why he felt so cold despite wearing several layers of clothing. Ignoring the sensation, he pressed on.
Reaching the outer perimeter of the hall, he noted the tightly closed doors and the not-so-high outer walls.
An idea sparked in his mind. In no time, he had climbed the wall, and half of his head was peering over the top. In the faint moonlight, he could see into the hall.
But the sight was underwhelming. The hall contained only a single tree and a room filled with ancestral tablets---nothing else of interest.
The mysterious glow he'd glimpsed earlier seemed to have vanished without a trace. Feeling disappointed, Cai Mao lost interest, climbed down, and began to turn away.
Yet, the chill remained, clinging to him like an invisible shroud.
As he continued on his way back, Cai Mao passed by the rooms of other Chen Clan members. From within, he could hear murmured dream talk. Unable to resist his curiosity, he pressed his ear to the wall and listened intently.
"Oh, I see. That way... the blood won't... flow out."
"Tomorrow I'll find a way to... try it."
The whispered words sent a shiver down Cai Mao's spine. Though he couldn't make out every detail, the snippets he heard sounded unsettling.
Combined with the cold that still surrounded him, he began to sweat. It felt as if countless unseen eyes were spying on him from the shadows.
Without further hesitation, Cai Mao quickened his pace back to his quarters.
Meanwhile, in the dream realm, two Chen Clan members were deep in conversation.
"Dealing with beast carcasses is a delicate art. Don't underestimate it. Your father relied on this skill within the clan..."
"Understood, Father. I'll try it tomorrow."
In their slumber, the clan members wore faint smiles.
Once Cai Mao entered his room, various ghosts that had followed him began to murmur among themselves.
"This person is too curious; not fit to be a servant."
"I agree. There are two others---arrogant and overly opinionated. They're also unsuitable."
After their whispered exchange, the spirits departed from their positions and drifted back to the hall.
The mysterious glow that had disappeared earlier reappeared, emanating from the inconspicuous branches of the Locust tree inside the hall.
Under the tree, countless invisible spirits sat in meditation, their dense Yin energy lowering the temperature of the entire hall by several degrees.
Occasionally, these spirits would drift out to patrol the Chen Clan's surroundings. Thanks to these ethereal guardians, the Chen Clan did not need to fear night attacks; their unique abilities made them more effective than the clan's regular patrols.