Vol. 1 - Ch. 12 - Divine Power

Even though it was the Chief who proposed it, Chen Qingyu couldn't help but retort, "But, Chief...""Enough, no need to say more. I have made my decision!" Chen Xingzhen interrupted Chen Qingyu.

He was well aware of the enormous risks behind this idea, but he still wanted to take a chance. He didn't want this family, painstakingly established by their ancestors, to be ruined under his watch.

The family's sacred tree, once again brimming with vitality, was the source of Chen Xingzhen's confidence.

Seeing the patriarch's unwavering gaze, the two did not argue further. They realized that the patriarch had other plans, but for the moment, they couldn't figure out what Chen Xingzhen was thinking.

They clearly noticed that the patriarch's mental state seemed much better than it had been in recent days, which only added to their confusion.

"Have the ones injured come over?" Chen Xingzhen asked, looking at the person who had delivered the earlier message.

"They are all here! There are fifteen people in the family who were injured recently in the battles with the Li clan."

As he finished speaking, several injured individuals wrapped in white bandages emerged from the crowd. Among these fifteen people, some were using crutches, others had bandages around their heads, and a few were lying on stretchers.

Leading this motley group was a man in his forties with one arm crudely bandaged in rough cloth. This man was Chen Tianyu, one of the four Blood Coagulation Realm warriors in the Chen family.. His arm was injured during the recent attack by the Li family. Although his mobility wasn't severely affected, he could only exert half of his usual strength for now.

"Patriarch!" he called out. Chen Tianyu nodded in greeting, unable to properly pay his respects.

"Mm, all of you follow me inside! The rest of you wait outside for now. No one is allowed to enter the ancestral hall!" Chen Xingzhen said, turning back halfway.

"Tianjing, Qingyu, you two come in as well."

Hearing Chen Xingzhen's order, the other clan members showed puzzled expressions, unable to understand the patriarch's intentions. Chen Qingyu and Chen Tianjing were equally as confused, but they did not refuse and followed him into the ancestral hall.

The remaining clan members could only wait outside, watching as the doors of the ancestral hall slowly closed.

Among the crowd, Chen Qinghe, standing at the back, called out to Chen Qingmeng, "Hey, Qingmeng!"

Chen Qingmeng turned his head in confusion and asked, "Qinghe, what's up?"

"Do you want to see what the patriarch and the others are doing inside the ancestral hall?"

Hearing this, Chen Qingmeng's eyes widened slightly, instantly understanding Chen Qinghe's intent. However, he quickly shook his head and said, "No way, the patriarch just gave an order, and my father and the others are right up front. Do you want to get punished?"

"We can go to that spot from last time, just peek over the wall. The patriarch won't find out!"

This made Chen Qingmeng hesitate. "This doesn't seem right!"

Seeing this, Chen Qinghe spoke again, "Don't you want to save the family?"

"What does this have to do with saving the family?"

Chen Qinghe insisted, "By knowing what the patriarch is planning, we might be able to help. Aren't you curious about what they're discussing?"

Chen Qingmeng wavered, glancing at the others waiting outside the ancestral hall, then back at Chen Qinghe. After a moment, he nodded reluctantly. "Alright, but just a quick look."

With that, they discreetly made their way to the spot from last time, hoping to catch a glimpse over the wall without being noticed.

They watched as Chen Xingzhen walked toward the family sacred tree standing in the corner, their expressions filled with confusion. 

Chen Qingyu frowned slightly, not understanding the patriarch's intentions. He stood by, scrutinising the family sacred tree in the corner of the hall, a hint of disdain in his eyes. He thought to himself that he must persuade the patriarch once more to not use the family's secret passage.

Chen Xingzhen strode towards the base of the sacred tree and slowly spoke to Ji Yang, "Great Divine Tree, these are the injured members of our clan. We humbly request that you show your radiance and heal them!"

Hearing this, everyone's faces filled with astonishment, their eyes reflecting their disbelief. What was the patriarch doing? Was he actually asking the sacred tree to heal their injuries? Had the patriarch gone mad?

Even though they knew the family's sacred tree had shown signs of renewed vitality, they didn't believe it could heal their injuries. Some of their wounds were extremely severe, with even the family physician saying they wouldn't heal in a short time.

These thoughts would remain buried in their hearts, no one dared to voice them. 

At the front of the crowd, Chen Tianyu didn't hide his concern. He quickly stepped forward and quietly spoke to the praying Chen Xingzhen, "Patriarch, have you not been resting well lately? Perhaps you should take a break."

He had heard that Chen Xingzhen had not rested for several days due to recent family matters. Although he was a Blood Coagulation Realm warrior, it wasn't sustainable to go without rest for so long. Otherwise, why would he be speaking such nonsense now?

As a junior member of the family, he naturally felt the need to advise the patriarch. If the patriarch went mad, the family would truly be doomed.

Seeing the worried expression on Chen Tianyu's face, Chen Xingzhen couldn't help but smile wryly. Before witnessing the sacred tree's power, he had felt on the brink of madness. However, after personally experiencing it yesterday, he was fully aware of the tree's current abilities. Healing the injured was well within its capabilities.

Without offering much explanation, Chen Xingzhen simply instructed the injured clan members present to sit cross-legged beneath the sacred tree.

Explaining now would be unnecessary; they would understand once they experienced it themselves! 

Seeing that the patriarch appeared serious rather than insane, Chen Tianyu approached the base of the sacred tree with a mixture of belief and doubt. The others didn't object, their gazes curious as they looked toward the family's sacred tree.

Ji Yang looked at the ten or so people below, silently calculating the amount of life force he would need to expend. It seemed it wouldn't be a small amount, especially for the one being carried on a stretcher, whose injuries appeared more severe.

Now that things had come to this point, Ji Yang didn't have many choices.

Prior to this, Chen Xingzhen had laid out his plan. He wanted to use the radiance of the sacred tree to heal the injured members of the Chen family. Then secretly send some clan members to hunt deep into the Chaos Burial Mountain through the family's secret passage. The items obtained from the hunt would be used to sustain the lives of many clan members and also for sacrifice.

As for sacrifice, Jiyang was naturally eager for it. The more offerings there were, the faster his qi and blood essence would accumulate, allowing him to conduct more deductions and enhance his own strength.

Although life force was important, at the moment, using it to sustain his own growth was sufficient, especially with the existence of the Lunar Eclipse Technique. There was no need to worry for now.

Ji Yang had witnessed everything that had transpired outside the ancestral hall. The family's secret passage was the last resort for the Chen family, and now that the patriarch, Chen Xingzhen, had personally spoken, it was clear that he was placing all his bets on Ji Yang.

The situation of the Chen family was dire. If they didn't resort to this method, Ji Yang didn't even know how the Chen family would cope with the Li family's attacks in the coming days.

At that moment, Ji Yang secretly felt relieved. He was relieved that the patriarch wasn't some stubborn old traditionalist and hadn't chosen to abandon the family. Otherwise, he would truly be in a bind! So, when Chen Xingzhen made his request, Ji Yang didn't hesitate and accepted it.So, when Chen Xingzhen made his request, Ji Yang didn't hesitate and accepted it.

The patriarch must have gone mad, Chen Qingyu thought. Otherwise why would he pin his hopes on this tree? Although he knew that the patriarch had a deep obsession with the family's sacred tree, he hadn't expected him to go mad at such a critical moment for the family.

It seemed that the family might be unable to hold on any longer.

Chen Qingyu, being the strongest among the younger generation, felt it necessary to consider the future of his clan and advise the patriarch.

"Third Uncle, do you support me?" he asked Chen Tianjing, glancing at Chen Xingzhen, who stood beneath the sacred tree, respectfully and silently praying.

Chen Tianjing didn't answer immediately. He sighed softly, then nodded. He had also been puzzled by the patriarch's decision to open the secret passage, but now it all made sense.

The patriarch had gone mad. 

No wonder the patriarch's mental state seemed better today, so different from the previous days.

Once everyone was seated below, Ji Yang silently activated the divine power of Reversing Dan Progress.

As the power was unleashed,  Ji Yang's branches and leaves began to sway gently in the air. With each movement, countless pale green light particles seeped from the leaves, spreading across nearly half of the ancestral hall in an instant.

The people sitting below, witnessing this unusual scene above their heads, were all stunned. Before they could speak, the countless light particles had already descended upon them, permeating their bodies!

"This!? What is this?"

The faces of those invaded by the green light particles changed as they sensed the wonders within.

"My hand feels tingly!" exclaimed a clan member with an injured arm in astonishment.

"Me too! I can feel my leg again!" another person cried out.

Everyone in the ancestral hall was overjoyed. Although they didn't understand exactly what was happening, they did realise that these green light particles were extraordinary and had healed their injuries.

Even Chen Tianyu's eyes were filled with amazement.

Others might not understand, but as one of the three Blood Coagulation Realm warriors in the family, Chen Tianyu had superior control over his body's qi and blood. Although he couldn't see inside his body, he could sense something extraordinary from this unique feeling.

He felt his wounds healing rapidly. After being injured, the family physician had told him that it would take at least half a month to recover a bit, and a full month to heal completely. Yet now, after absorbing only a few green light particles, he felt the qi and blood in his arm surging anew, radiating vitality.

This level of healing was beyond what ordinary medicinal herbs could achieve, requiring a rare and highly potent natural treasure. Such items were beyond the reach of a small clan like the Chen family.

At that moment, Chen Tianyu's eyes became vacant as he finally understood why the patriarch had not abandoned the worship of the sacred tree for the past twenty years. The family's sacred tree possessed such incredible power!

Not far away, Chen Qingyu and Chen Tianjing were already whispering to each other, contemplating what to do next.

But when countless green light particles filled their vision, both Chen Qingyu and Chen Tianjing froze mid-discussion. The joyful and excited voices of the others made it hard for them to stay calm.

Despite being farther away, a few green light particles still drifted towards them. Curiously, Chen Tianjing extended his hand to catch them, wanting to see if these particles were as miraculous as they seemed. Meanwhile, Chen Qingyu quickly stepped aside, avoiding the particles.

He never believed in such things and had no intention of absorbing these mysterious green light particles.

Perhaps all this was just an illusion created by the tree! It wouldn't deceive him!

But the green light particles seemed almost sentient. Despite Chen Qingyu's efforts to avoid them, they quickly penetrated his body.

His expression changed as he stopped trying to evade them. However, as he carefully sensed the effects of the green light particles entering his body, his demeanor shifted slightly. He murmured to himself in disbelief, "How is this possible?"

Beside him, Chen Tianjing's eyes lit up after absorbing the green light particles. He finally understood why the patriarch had disregarded everyone's opinions and insisted on opening the family's secret passage---this was the reason!

Realizing this, Chen Tianjing couldn't help but move closer to the sacred tree, eager to absorb more green light particles. As he moved, he turned back and said, "Qingyu, you have plenty of supporters. You don't need me."

Chen Qingyu stared at the sacred tree in silence, processing this scene.

Although Chen Qingyu wasn't particularly fond of the sacred tree, the miracle before him made him reconsider his earlier stance.

Meanwhile, seeing the astonished expressions of the clan members in the ancestral hall, Chen Xingzhen smiled. The scene before him confirmed that his many years of persistence hadn't been in vain. The family still had hope!

"Quiet down! The sacred tree has only just begun to show its abilties. Using its divine power takes a toll on it. Hurry and absorb the energy!"

Seeing the excited clan members moving around restlessly, Chen Xingzhen immediately scolded them.

Upon hearing the patriarch's words, the others immediately quieted down, suppressing their excitement and focusing on absorbing the green light particles around them.

...

"What's happening inside?"

"What's going on?"

The commotion in the ancestral hall reached the ears of those waiting outside. They looked puzzled but the closed doors prevented them from seeing what was happening inside. Bound by the patriarch's command, they dared not approach to investigate.

"We'll find out soon." Someone said.

...

"Hurry, I hear something!"

On the other side of the ancestral hall, outside the courtyard walls, Chen Qinghe signaled Chen Qingmeng. Using the protruding stones at the base of the wall as footholds, the two leaped onto the edge of the wall, revealing half of their heads, and peered into the ancestral hall.

When they saw the scene inside the ancestral hall, their pupils involuntarily dilated.

"Qinghe, what is this?" Chen Qingmeng asked, his gaze fixed on the peculiar scene before them. Sᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

But Chen Qinghe didn't answer. At that moment, he was stunned by the strange sight before them.

Underneath the seemingly ordinary sacred tree, about fifteen clan members were seated, and countless green light particles danced around their bodies like fireflies.

As the green light particles entered the bodies of the clan members below, expressions of joy spread across their faces. This miraculous sight left the two observers dazzled.

Soon, the number of green light particles around them diminished, and the clan members who had been recuperating slowly opened their eyes.

"I feel better! The pain is gone!"

"I can walk again!"

"Ha-ha-ha!"