"Take me to Lord Qingling."
In the courtyard, Elder Shengrong knelt in prayer before the clan totem, his weathered face solemn as he completed the ritual.
Rising slowly, he turned his gaze to Liu Zishan and asked, "Does the Chen clan have any Innate Realm martial artists?"
Liu Zishan shook his head.
"I don't think so, but the Chen clan has a sacred tree. We don't know the nature of its divine power."
Elder Shengrong listened to Liu Zishan's account of the day's events—the investigation of the Chen clan and their limited understanding of the holy tree’s power.
Shengrong smiled faintly, waving a hand dismissively.
"Since they have no Innate Realm martial artists, there's no need for such worry. Time waits for no one. We'll take the clan members and strike tonight."
He continued, "The clan totem won’t last much longer. The sooner we seize the Blood Spring, the sooner we can revive the totem."
Liu Zishan hesitated for a moment. Attacking without fully understanding the Chen clan's defences, especially the power of their sacred tree, could lead to unnecessary casualties.
But as he looked at his great-uncle, now in the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, his concerns faded. The strength of a seasoned Innate Realm martial artist would far outweigh any potential threats the Chen clan might possess.
If the Chen clan had such strength, they wouldn’t be in their current state, Liu Zishan thought.
"Very well, Great Grandfather, I’ll gather the clan members now."
Inside the temple of the Chen clan, Chen Xingzhen recounted the day’s events before the Divine Tree and the gathered spirits of the ancestors. Chen Changming, along with other elders of the past, wore grim expressions.
The Liu clan’s visit had made one thing clear—they had discovered the location of the Blood Spring. However, their actions indicated that they weren’t there to negotiate. The Liu clan was preparing for something far more dangerous, and the Chen clan would have to brace for an imminent confrontation.
The spirits of Chen Xingzhen's ancestors, though wise and experienced, were now mere ghosts without physical bodies. They could not physically defend the clan. The clan would have to rely on the Divine Tree’s protection and the warriors within the clan.
Upon hearing Chen Xingzhen’s description, Ji Yang opened his own panel:
Over the past few days, Chen Xingzhen had sacrificed several of the clan's domesticated beasts, restoring Ji Yang's blood Qi to 108 points. This could be converted into over fifty points of vitality.
Combined with Ji Yang's absorption of Lunar Essence, his vitality was now quite substantial. However, Ji Yang knew that if the Liu clan launched a full-scale attack, this might not be enough.
With the crisis looming, it was uncertain when the Liu clan would make their move.
As Ji Yang pondered whether he could further strengthen the clan, suddenly, his underground roots sensed something. His perception confirmed it—a martial artist far beyond the Blood Coagulation Realm was approaching, accompanied by many others.
Before Ji Yang could react, a spirit sent by Chen Changming returned with urgent news: "Clan leader, a large number of Liu clan warriors have been spotted just a mile away. They are moving toward us!"
Chen Changming's face darkened. Though a spirit himself, he had no means to directly alert Chen Xingzhen, who was still awake. He could only watch helplessly as the threat loomed closer.
Outside, a commotion erupted as several clan members began to shout:
Hearing the disturbance, Chen Xingzhen rushed out of the ancestral hall. He was met by Chen Tianyu and several other Blood Coagulation Realm warriors, their faces grim.
"Clan leader," Chen Tianyu said in a serious tone, "the Liu clan is here!"
Chen Xingzhen’s heart raced, but his instincts kicked in.
His Blood Qi surged within him as he raised his voice to rally his people: "Chen clan members, follow me into battle!"
His command echoed across the compound, jolting the confused clan members into action. Whatever strange heat had caused the disturbance, it no longer mattered.
The Liu clan had arrived, and they had to be ready for war.
However, many clan members remained confused. The clan had enjoyed a period of relative stability, and the head of the Liu clan had even made a personal visit earlier that day. Who could be their enemy now?
Chen Tianyu and a few others had already made preparations, though they were far from confident about the impending battle. As they rushed toward the outskirts of the clan, Chen Tianyu’s mind was suddenly flooded with memories.
The sudden recollection caused him to pause, but he quickly realized that the Taizu Long Fist Technique, which he had not yet mastered, had somehow integrated itself into his consciousness.
A spark of joy lit up Chen Tianyu’s face. In the coming battle, any increase in strength—even a marginal one—brought a glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile, Chen Xingzhen and the ancestral spirits had already left the ancestral hall, leaving only Ji Yang, behind.
Of course, the recent skill transmission was Ji Yang's doing. At such a critical moment, there was no point in holding back the last transmission. Even if mastering the Taizu Long Fist provided only a slight advantage, it was still better than nothing.
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, landing directly beneath the Divine Tree. It was none other than Chen Qingyu, now widely regarded as the strongest member of the clan.
Earlier that evening, as Chen Xingzhen had entered the Ancestral Hall, Chen Qingyu had been seated on the roof outside, eavesdropping.
Naturally, he was well aware of the clan’s current situation. With his keen senses, he had also detected the powerful enemy approaching—not far now—an enemy so formidable that even he, at the late stage of the Blood Coagulation Realm, could not hope to withstand it.
Yet despite knowing he was outmatched, there was no fear in Chen Qingyu’s eyes, only unwavering determination. He would protect his clan, no matter the cost.
"Clan member Chen Qingyu, seek the help of the Divine Tree!" he prayed sincerely to Ji Yang, his voice steady.
As Chen Qingyu prayed, a faintly glowing leaf drifted down from the Divine Tree. It gleamed brilliantly, illuminating much of the ancestral hall.
When the leaf finally came to rest in his hand, Chen Qingyu could feel the immense vitality pulsing within it—something far greater than the previous two leaves he had received. It was as though he held a powerful, beating heart in his grasp.
Without a word, Chen Qingyu bowed deeply, then leaped from the ancestral hall, dashing toward the clan's boundary with resolute speed. He had always been a man of few words, letting his actions speak for themselves.
Watching Chen Qingyu depart, Ji Yang silently offered a prayer.
I hope this leaf will be enough.
In an effort to maximize Chen Qingyu’s strength, Ji Yang had infused the leaf with 20 points of vital energy using the technique known as One Leaf Obscuring the Sky. This was nearly a tenth of his total vitality—four times more than he had given last time. It was a testament to how much hope Ji Yang placed in Chen Qingyu.