Vol. 1 - Ch. 61 - Getting on the Right Track

The deafening sound instantly silenced the crowd, leaving the entire area in stunned silence. The people gathered were not martial artists; they had never witnessed such power before.

If that palm strike had been aimed at them, survival would have been impossible. A trace of fear appeared in many eyes.

For some, however, this moment sparked a different emotion: excitement. Becoming a servant of the Chen clan meant they might have a chance to learn martial arts.

Perhaps they could wield such power one day. Determination flickered in their eyes. This time, they would definitely become servants of the Chen clan.

Seeing the crowd's mixed expressions of fear and excitement, Chen Tianjing remained calm.

The technique he had just used was the Taizu Long Fist. Even though he hadn't fully mastered it, its power was more than enough to intimidate the group before him.

"Don't worry too much," Chen Tianjing said.

"Although the Chen clan is only hiring twenty servants this time, there will be more opportunities next year."

His words brought a measure of hope to those who feared they might not be chosen. If they missed out today, there could still be a chance in the future.

"Let the selection of servants begin..." he announced.

Chen Tianjing began the process, carefully evaluating each candidate. Since household slaves were not core members, and not all of them would become martial artists, character assessment took precedence.

Physical strength was also important, as they would be responsible for labour-intensive tasks like cultivating Blood Rice. Those with unique skills were given additional consideration.

After half a day, the selection was complete. Twenty individuals had been chosen---some strong and robust, others of smaller stature but with notable skills.

Among them was Tian Meng, whose raw strength rivalled that of an early-stage cultivator of the Body Tempering Realm.

The remaining candidates, disappointed but hopeful for next year's opportunity, were dismissed.

The selected few, meanwhile, wore expressions of relief and pride, aware that they had earned a coveted spot.

Chen Tianjing addressed the newly chosen servants, his voice firm:

"I am Chen Tianjing, the current elder of our clan. From now on, you will be under my care. The next seven days will serve as your evaluation period. Fail to meet our standards, and you will have no place in the Chen clan."

He paused briefly before continuing,

"Additionally, after these seven days, two of you will be chosen as leaders, with additional monthly stipends."

Turning to a clan member beside him, he ordered,

"Qing Song, take them to familiarize themselves with the Chen clan grounds and explain our rules."

"Yes, Elder," Qing Song replied promptly.

As the new servants were led away, Chen Tianjing watched with a thoughtful expression. Unlike clan members, these newcomers needed a different approach---a combination of guidance and incentive to instill a sense of belonging.

These insights came from his father's teachings, passed on in dreams---lessons that Chen Tianjing was still learning to understand.

Observing their reactions, he began to form new strategies.

Building a great clan was no simple endeavour, especially given the Chen clan's current state.

On the second day, the newly recruited twenty servants were assigned to different areas within the clan.

Some took charge of managing the Blood Rice fields, while others were tasked with repairing houses and structures.

With these additions, the clan's food supply naturally grew, but the need to provide clothing and shelter for these household slaves became another essential task.

Despite these logistical concerns, the clan's primary focus shifted to hunting. With winter fast approaching, extensive cultivation of Blood Rice and other crops was no longer practical. Hunting was essential not only for maintaining the clan's food supply but also for ensuring its members continued to advance in their cultivation.

Previously, Chen Xingzhen hadn't placed much emphasis on hunting, but under the guidance of Chen Changming, it now became a top priority.

The Chen clan had several Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists, and Chen Qingyu had recently mastered a high-level Yellow Realm martial arts technique.

As long as they avoided unnecessary trouble in Chaotic Burial Mountain, hunting posed no significant threat. This mountain had been chosen, after all, for its abundant resources, including Blood Rice.

To further develop the clan's potential, the hunting teams were divided into smaller groups. This approach not only honed their skills but also fostered a sense of healthy competition among the members.

Clan growth should not stagnate like a still pond; it needs a few pebbles to stir the calm water and create ripples of change.

These insights came from his father's guidance. Even though Chen Xingzhen was currently the clan leader, he was aware of his limitations.

He realized that the clan's decline in the past had been partly due to his misguided decision to sacrifice the Divine Tree and his narrow perspective. However, it wasn't too late to change course.

A few days later, the situation within the clan continued to improve.

The once-empty clan square was now bustling with children around the age of ten.

Many of these children were already Body Tempering Realm cultivators, with some having reached the early stages of this realm. They were now able to practice the clan's martial arts techniques.

In the courtyard, Chen Qinghe circulated the sparse blood Qi in his body, clenched his fists, and struck a nearby stone with determination, a hint of confidence in his eyes.

Around him, Chen Qingmeng and other young clan members watched intently, anticipation gleaming in their gazes.

"Ha!" Chen Qinghe shouted as his fist shot forward. The other children's eyes widened.

Was he about to become the first among them to master a Yellow Tier Fighting Technique?

"Bang!" The impact echoed as his fists collided with the unyielding stone.

The stone stood firm, but Chen Qinghe's knuckles turned red. He winced, muttering, "Ouch! It hurts!"

The others quickly dispersed and resumed their Body Tempering Cultivation.

"Qinghe, are you okay?"

Chen Qingmeng asked with concern, noticing that his own fists were also reddened from his training.

Despite the pain, both of them had already completed their initial Body Tempering, so there was no immediate concern about injuring their foundations. However, minor injuries were inevitable while practising martial arts.

"Maybe we should continue with Body Tempering Cultivation," Chen Qingmeng suggested.

"This fighting technique is quite challenging. Didn't the clan leader say we just need to get used to the flow of the technique and memorize the moves?"

Chen Qinghe shook his head, resolute.

"No, Senior Brother Qingyu learned it in a single day. I want to learn it just as fast."

Realizing he wouldn't change his friend's mind, Chen Qingmeng stopped trying to dissuade him, and the two continued practising the technique.

Watching from a distance, Chen Xingzhen felt a sense of satisfaction. Indeed, his previous decision had been somewhat misguided.

These young clansmen should primarily focus on martial arts cultivation, free from other distractions.

However, he sighed inwardly. Martial arts training required more than dedication; it required abundant resources.

Every Blood Coagulation Realm warrior in the clan had built their strength on these vital resources. Now, with a shortage of Blood Rice and a lack of beast meat, the progress of the clan's warriors faced significant obstacles.

Fortunately, the clan's efforts were now concentrated on Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Daily hunts were yielding results, even if most of the prey consisted of ordinary beasts. At least, the clan members no longer worried about running out of food.

Comments