Vol. 1 - Ch. 29 - Final Preparations

"Have the arrangements for the young and old within the clan been made?"Chen Xingzhen inquired inside the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall.

Beside him, Chen Tianyu replied, "All the young and old members of the clan, a total of forty-one people, have already entered the secret passage."

Chen Xingzhen nodded slightly.

At that moment, Chen Tianjing stepped forward and reported, "Clan Chief, there are eighteen warriors in the clan who have reached at least the mid-body tempering stage. They are all gathered together."

As Chen Xingzhen looked ahead, he recognized countless familiar faces. Eighteen people might not seem like a large number, but in the crowded Ancestral Hall, it felt significant.

They were joined by the fourth stage Blood Coagulation warriors, making a total of twenty-one.

These twenty-one were the last remnants of the Chen family's glory.

Unfortunately, among the eighteen mid-body tempering stage warriors, only a few were in the later stages, and some were already very old.

There were hardly any younger practitioners among them.

It was obvious that the Chen family was facing a shortage of capable warriors.

The upcoming battle would determine the fate of the family.

Facing the expectant gazes of the clan members, Chen Xingzhen took a few steps forward and solemnly declared,

"Our Chen family has endured for over a century in this Chaotic Burial Mountain. Despite the setbacks along the way, we have never been extinguished." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"In these troubled times, our clan faces mounting challenges. The situation worsens each day, with external threats looming over our existence. It's a fight for survival for the Chen Clan."

"Tomorrow, we will fight a decisive battle against the Li Clan. Victory will mean our clan's prosperity, defeat will mean our downfall."

Chen Xingzhen's impassioned words stirred determination among the assembled clan members. The atmosphere became solemn.

The atmosphere grew solemn as they prepared for the imminent struggle. At this critical juncture, surrender was not an option.

Seeing the fervor in their eyes as they prepared for a desperate battle, Chen Xingzhen continued,

"Though our current strength may pale in comparison to the Li Clan's, these are extraordinary times. We have the protection of the Divine Tree!"

"As long as the Divine Tree stands, there is hope for our clan! Before tomorrow's battle, let us once again invoke the divine tree's blessing!"

Chen Xingzhen's words left many clan members feeling confused.

In the face of imminent danger, shouldn't their focus be solely on preparing for the impending battle with the Li Clan? Why perform an important ritual to summon the Divine Tree now?

Wouldn't it be better to perform the ritual after the final battle, assuming the clan survives?

And if the clan is wiped out, what purpose would the ritual serve?

For a moment, hesitation clouded the minds of many clan members.

However, at that moment, a figure stepped forward and began the ritual.

"Qingyu?"

Seeing the person who initiated the ritual, the clan members behind them expressed surprise.

Previously, Chen Qingyu had been the most outspoken opponent of the Divine Tree. During clan meetings, he had even proposed cutting down the ancestral tree.

Although the clan leader had prevented such drastic action, it had left many with unfavourable opinions of the Divine Tree.

Recent demonstration of the Divine Tree's power had somewhat changed some clan members' perceptions, but they still doubted that relying on the Tree could save a clan on the brink of extinction.

Seeing that even Chen Qingyu was participating in the ritual, the other clansmen did not hesitate and began to worship the divine tree.

Chen Xingzhen and Chen Tianyu, who were standing nearby, also joined in the heartfelt worship. They understood that the Ancestral Divine Tree was the clan's last hope.

As they all performed the ritual, the divine tree once again emitted a faint light. Countless green light particles flew out from its branches and leaves, surrounding the temple.

Those who absorbed these green light particles brighter with confidence. But that wasn't the green light dissipated, and the Divine Tree sparkled with seven or eight brilliant green rays.

These rays shot out from the branches and landed in the hands of several clan members. Upon closer inspection, the green light had turned into dark green locust tree leaves.

Only Chen Xingzhen and Chen Qingyu knew the effects of these leaves. When Chen Xingzhen saw them, a faint smile appeared on his face.

The falling locust tree leaves were not random. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that the leaves were meant for the strongest members of the Chen family.

Alongside Chen Qingyu and a few other Blood Condensation Realm warriors, among those who received the leaves, several late-stage Body Tempering Realm clan members also received these leaves.

The recipients held the locust leaves with confusion, unsure of their purpose.

Other clan members looked at the leaves with curiosity, their eyes showing a hint of bewilderment.

Chen Xingzhen explained, "These leaves are a blessing from the Sacred Tree. When the critical moment comes, crush them to activate their power!"

"Remember, the protection of the Sacred Tree is temporary. Use it wisely at critical times!"

Taking Chen Xingzhen's words seriously, the recipients carefully stored the locust leaves.

Meanwhile, Chen Qingyu snorted. Though he appeared nonchalant as he collected the leaves, his movements were cautious.

"All right, with the blessing of the Sacred Tree secured, follow the plan we made earlier. Let the action begin!"

With those words, the clan members in the ancestral hall began their coordinated actions, leaving Chen Xingzhen alone in contemplation.

The family's plan was simple: lure the enemy into their trap while the Li Clan meticulously monitored their every move, poised to capitalize on any misstep.

Most of the clan members had already been dispatched to the secret passage, leaving behind only mid-stage Body Tempering Realm warriors. If anything went wrong, the Li family would undoubtedly strike.

Their strategy was simple: wait for the Li family to infiltrate their territory and then launch a surprise attack. However, success depended on their relative strengths. Despite the protection of the Sacred Tree, the disparity between the two families might prove insurmountable, even with the help of the ancestors.

Chen Xingzhen could only hope that the blessings of the Sacred Tree would be enough. As he gazed at the slightly withered leaves, a testament to his exertion of divine power, he bowed once more before heading to the inner chamber of the Ancestral Hall. 

Moments ago, the Ancestral Hall was filled with people, but now it was empty. Above, Ji Yang sighed.

The survival of the Chen family and the fate of this very tree depended on tonight's battle.

Ji Yang had made great sacrifices in preparation for the impending conflict. His original life force of 26.3 points had been reduced to only 6 points.

The initial spectacle of green light spots had dazzled momentarily but had exacted a heavy toll on his life force.

The real drain came from his subsequent use of the One Leaf Hides the Sky Divine Technique.

Each locust leaf had absorbed varying amounts of his Blood and Qi. For instance, Chen Qingyu, a pivotal figure in this battle, had directly absorbed five points of Blood and Qi into the leaf in his hand.

Chen Tianyu and Chen Tianjing each held leaves containing three points.

In the hands of the other Body Tempering Realm clan members, the locust leaves each absorbed two points of Blood and Qi.

Ji Yang's Blood and Qi had decreased significantly, and his condition was deteriorating. Fortunately, his consciousness remained intact, allowing him to perceive the expansion of the tree roots.

With only six points of Blood and Qi left, Ji Yang faced a delicate balance.  He needed to sustain himself while also reserving enough Blood and Qi for the Reversal Elixir technique, which would be crucial in the upcoming battle.

Injuries would be inevitable, and with the Chen family already few in number, any deaths would impact Ji Yang's personal growth

His point calculation was based solely on the Chen clan members. Despite the considerable expenditure during the previous three calculations, Ji Yang had given his all. Now, it was up to their individual abilities to determine the outcome.