C1

At night, endless thick ink was heavily smeared on the horizon, and the chilliness seemed to have even covered the light of the waning moon. A thick night fog shrouded the entire Nine Tripod Mountain. Jiang Shuo was like a criminal awaiting trial in Crimson Cloud Village, nervous and restless.

"I've lived in the clan for eighteen years, and I haven't seen any other clan members hold an adult ceremony. Could it be that because of my identity, I've been given special treatment?" The clansmen were moving in secret outside the room, and the clamor in Jiang Shuo's ears made him feel even more uneasy. He was the young master of the Crimson Cloud Village, and had been doted on by his clansmen since he was young. Forget it, forget it. Why are you thinking so much?

"Jiang Shuo, the ceremony is ready, the Great Elder wants me to call you over." Suddenly, a shout came from outside the door, interrupting Jiang Shuo's wild thoughts. Jiang Shuo gently shook his head, getting out of his thoughts, and got up to open the door. Outside the door stood a youth who was about the same size as him.

Jiang Sheng and Jiang Shuo were about the same age, and they grew up together naked, making them Jiang Shuo's best playmates. The people in the stronghold lived very hard and often slept under the wind and rain, but his skin was very white, causing many of the girls in the stronghold to be extremely envious.

As soon as he opened the door, Jiang Sheng excitedly grabbed Jiang Shuo's arm and smiled. "Do you still remember the forbidden area we tried to enter when we were young?" This time, your coming of age ceremony will be held there, and I didn't expect you to receive such high treatment. You have to know that many of your clansmen have never been to the forbidden area, so don't forget about me when the time comes. "

"Look at how useless you are, quickly collect your saliva. When we became sworn brothers, didn't we vow that we would share good and bad things together? Don't worry, we won't lack you. " Jiang Shuo confidently patted his chest. In the blink of an eye, his smile disappeared, and an invisible haze shrouded his heart. He had a bad premonition.

"Hehe, that's good." Jiang Sheng's greedy eyes had turned into crescent moons, his face filled with fantasy. After some time, he regained his senses and coughed twice before straightening his chest. He pulled Jiang Shuo and said seriously, "Don't let everyone wait, let's go quickly."

Jiang Shuo rolled his eyes at him, and was pulled out of the room. Along the way, the people of the Crimson Cloud Village rushed to the forbidden area. Their expressions were solemn and solemn, and the atmosphere was a bit stifling. Jiang Sheng, however, only noticed the grand ceremony and could not stop lamenting that the world was unfair and that they had given birth to the wrong children.

The Forbidden Area was located at the top of the Nine Tripod Commerce Mountain, and was connected to the stronghold by a winding stone staircase. The tribesmen held torches in their hands, forming a gigantic dragon that seemed like it was about to break through the clouds. When they were almost to the forbidden area, there was a huge bone standing on the roadside that was more than ten feet wide. Jiang Shuo had always been curious as to what kind of animal had such a large skeleton, and what had endured years of wind and rain without a trace of wear and tear.

The stone blocking the entrance to the forbidden area had already been removed, and Jiang Shuo and the other clansmen entered the area they had never been in before. Contrary to his expectations, the Forbidden Land was only a bare piece of land. The tribesmen had temporarily set up a huge stone platform. In front of the platform, countless logs had been used to build a fire altar. All of this had disappointed Jiang Sheng, "So there's nothing here. It's a waste for me to have so much hope before coming here."

Jiang Shuo was also stunned, he observed carefully for a moment and his pupil shrank. The lush forest of the mountain was blocked by an invisible wall, and the flowers and plants could not penetrate it. If there were no clansmen around, then this place would be a land of death without any signs of life.

"Look, isn't that our ancestral flag?" Looking in the direction Jiang Sheng was pointing, the six clansmen slowly walked over with a heavy piece of cloth in their hands. Step by step, they climbed up onto the stone platform and hung the ancestral flag on the rough wood. The ancestral flag was unfurled, and a huge 'nine' was written on it with an unknown reason. It seemed to be filled with vigor and majesty, and the dry ancient brush strokes were suffused with the traces of time. Jiang Sheng blinked in shock and walked quickly to one of the middle-aged men. He curiously asked, "Father, the ancestral flag has never been moved in the altar before. Why is it that this time …"

"This is all the Great Elder's intention. Even if you ask me, I don't know." Jiang Song was in his prime. He was a straightforward person with a good martial arts technique. Therefore, he had quite a bit of prestige in the stronghold. After answering, his eyes swept across Jiang Shuo, both intentionally and unintentionally, and he felt like he wanted to say something but hesitated. Jiang Shuo had some doubts in his heart, but just when he wanted to ask, the noisy clan members suddenly quieted down and stood around the fire altar, opening a path in the middle.

Jiang Sheng, who hadn't been able to get an answer from her, came back and pulled at the corner of his shirt, pouting towards the stone platform. Great Elder Jiang Huai was wearing a long robe engraved with the totem of a hundred beasts. He was holding a jet-black bone staff in his hand, and his expression was grave as he passed through the crowd. Jiang Shuo had been raised by the Great Elder, and had always been kind to him. But now, the other party's aura was unfamiliar to Jiang Shuo.

The Great Clan Elder had his back facing the ancestral flag. He slowly raised the bone cane in his hand and closed his eyes as he slowly chanted. The people of the Crimson Cloud Village poured animal fat into the fire altar. The fire rose into the night sky, rolling up thick black smoke. The fiery light shone on the Great Elder's wrinkled face, giving off a dazzling luster.

The rest of the people knelt on one knee with their heads slightly bowed, showing pious expressions on their faces. The crackling sounds of burning wood mixed with the chanting, and the entire forbidden area seemed to have passed through time to return to the distant era of the cultivation of swords and fires. The ancestral flag fluttered in the wind. When the flames were at their most exuberant, the Great Elder suddenly opened his eyes, and swept his bright gaze across the Scarlet Cloud Village's clansmen. As he flew past Jiang Shuo, it was as if an invisible pressure had landed on his shoulders, it felt heavy.

"Pangu established Heaven and Earth, turned the universe into the universe, and circulated its energy in a natural way. However, our ancestor had set a shortcut and changed his life in order to protect the cause and effect of the battle. He had no intention to take it over. " The Great Clan Elder called out hoarsely, pointing at the empty ground in front of him, at the same time looking around. Including Jiang Song, the eight robust youths of the clan walked out with shovels in their hands, digging in the direction indicated by the Great Elder.

"What is it?" Jiang Sheng whispered in Jiang Shuo's ear. Jiang Shuo shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either. He could only stare on helplessly as the pit dug deeper. The strange feeling in his heart grew stronger, as if all the blood in his body was going to gush out from his pores.

"Clang!" The trowel made a crisp sound when it came in contact with a hard object. Jiang Song jumped down into the hole. After a while, he walked out with an item wrapped in beast skin in his hand.

He gave it to the First Elder. The Great Elder opened it up. Inside was a one-inch long rod, crystal clear and glowing with a blood-red light. The moment this object appeared, the oppressive feeling that enveloped everyone's hearts instantly disappeared. Even the cold night wind had a tinge of warmth, and the Forbidden Area suddenly regained its vitality. Jiang Shuo's pupils contracted, his heart was pounding, and his blood was boiling. He suddenly recalled how the Grand Elder had taken his blood from time to time every month. Suddenly, a horrifying thought appeared in his mind, 'Could it be that this thing was fed with that blood?'

While he was lost in thought, Jiang Sheng, who was beside him, suddenly pushed him. Jiang Shuo noticed that the Great Elder was waving at him. Jiang Sheng moved slowly, but continued to smile and encourage her. Everyone felt that the thing dug out from the ground was very precious, and the Great Elder had to give it to Jiang Shuo.

The Great Elder set the bone cane aside and caressed Jiang Sheng's hair. Jiang Shuo looked up and was about to ask something when he saw the Great Elder pull out a dagger. "Shuo'er, give me your left hand."

Jiang Shuo hesitated for a moment. Due to his trust in the Great Elder, he still extended his hand.

The Great Elder's eyes suddenly exploded with a bright light, the dagger aimed at Jiang Shuo's left hand and chopped at his little finger!

"Great Elder, you … What are you doing? " Jiang Shuo jumped in fright, desperately pulling back his hand. In the end, he was a little too slow, and his pinky was cut open by the dagger.

The wound was deep enough to see bone, the Great Elder really wanted his own finger!

Jiang Sheng's face suddenly turned pale. He thought that Jiang Shuo would benefit greatly, but who would have thought that he would encounter such a great danger?

"Shuo'er, believe me, Grand Elder! I'm doing this for your own good!" The Great Elder's words made Jiang Shuo shake his head like a wave drum. His right hand gripped his wound, and his body instinctively urged him to retreat, but he still cautiously stared at the Great Elder.

The Great Elder stared at Jiang Shuo for a moment, wanting to explain, but in the end he clenched his teeth and said firmly, "This matter is not up to you."

With that, he waved his hands to the left and right, and immediately, his clansmen came up and surrounded Jiang Shuo, forcing him back. Seeing that he was still unwilling to give up, the Head Elder sighed, "Shuo'er, one day you will know my good intentions."

The clan members quickly locked Jiang Shuo in place, forcefully holding his left hand in front of the Great Elder. Jiang Shuo desperately struggled to break free, how could he be a match for the strong and robust clansmen? Seeing the dagger getting closer and closer to his fingers, Jiang Shuo could clearly feel the cold touch, and despite being attacked by others, he could not help but curse: "Let go of me!" You want my fingers, what's so good about that? Let me go, let go! "

Jiang Shuo was getting more and more agitated, trying his best to struggle free. However, in his flustered struggles, he accidentally kicked the Great Elder's arm, and the stick fell to the ground, getting stained by a lot of dirt.

The Great Elder was shocked, hurriedly squatting down to pick up the stick, standing up and slapping Jiang Shuo, "You …" Nonsense! Do you know what this is? "

Jiang Shuo was dumbstruck, he had never seen a Great Elder like this. He silently looked at the Great Elder who was wiping the stick in panic. Suddenly, he sneered and asked, "Could it be that this thing is more important than me?"

"Important? This thing will affect the life and death of our entire clan! " After a thorough inspection, the Head Elder found that the thin stick was not damaged. Only then did he calm down.

"I seem to understand. You told me about the Bone Sacrifice before, could it be that you want to use me?" Jiang Shuo's smile was very bitter, he immediately pulled up his face, looked the Great Elder in the eye, and asked word by word, "There is one thing that I have long felt suspicious of, ever since I was young, whenever I asked about my father, you always kept your words vague. You said that he was hurt by an enemy, but why haven't I seen you guys get revenge?" Could the rumors be true? "

As if touching a sensitive area, the Head Elder's chest heaved up and down. He did not look at Jiang Shuo's aggressive gaze, but ordered from the left and right, "Hold him, don't miss the time!"

Boom!" At this moment, the fire altar completely collapsed and smashed into the group of Great Elder's men, releasing many large balls of sparks. The clansmen who had grabbed Jiang Shuo all fled, and Jiang Shuo fled to the side in a flustered manner.

"Jiang Shuo, hurry up and run!" The shout woke Jiang Shuo up, and he took advantage of the moment of chaos to run out of the stone stairs.

No one was able to catch up to Jiang Shuo, but at this moment he suddenly stopped in his tracks, realizing what he was doing. He turned around to find Jiang Sheng holding onto a flaming wooden stick and fighting with his pursuers.

Although he had the thought of returning and saving Su Yun, but in the short moment that he stayed, the Great Clan Elder's exasperated voice sounded.

"Quick, catch him! Even if we die, we can't get him to leave the Crimson Cloud Stronghold!"

Rumors had it that the Grand Elder had framed some of the treasures his father had passed down through his ancestors, and now it seemed to be true. Although he did not know what he had dug up, he had to sacrifice the young chief. If he did not run for his life today, he would definitely die, but what about Jiang Sheng?

"Don't worry about me. Hurry up and run. Don't worry, my father will protect me!"

His heart was full of hesitation, when suddenly Jiang Sheng yelled, Jiang Shuo clenched his teeth and nodded his chin. He ran down the mountain without looking back, trying his best to think of something, but his mind was in a mess and eventually turned into a wry smile.

"What 'If I die and the world dies', I know it's all bullshit! I'm not some prince or anything, I'm a bunch of heartless wolf-faced bastards!"