Vol. 1 - Ch. 111 - The End

"I understand. In two days, the clan will recruit another batch of servants. This task will be assigned to you."

Chen Xingzhen turned his gaze to Chen Yi Hu.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi Hu’s face lit up with joy. He immediately bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you for the clan leader's trust. I will handle this task well and contribute to the clan's prosperity."

Chen Xingzhen offered a faint smile but said nothing more. After checking the current growth of the blood rice, he turned and left.

Once Chen Xingzhen departed, many servants came forward to congratulate Chen Yi Hu. Being noticed by the clan leader meant his future prospects were limitless.

Nearby, Chen Xuan She stood quietly, observing the scene. Chen Yi Hu's behavior struck him as foolishly exuberant. Though curious about the changes in Chen Yi Hu, he doubted he could learn much from him. Still, as long as the increased manpower benefited the clan, it hardly mattered.

Amidst the flurry of flattery, Chen Yi Hu was in an exceptionally good mood. The ancient book he had stumbled upon in the market a few days ago seemed to be working—its effects were beginning to manifest. The clan leader had noticed him, but he couldn’t afford to grow complacent.

Tonight, before bed, he resolved to study that tattered old book again. He needed to ensure his efforts bore fruit and didn’t go to waste.

…

"Clan leader, is it really appropriate to entrust the recruitment of servants to Chen Yi Hu?"

"Yes, I feel the same way," another chimed in. "He seems too frivolous, unlike the others."

On the way back to the clan, two young members voiced their doubts.

Chen Xingzhen smiled faintly. "You’re mistaken. Don’t just listen to what he says—watch what he does.

"The clan needs people right now. We can’t rely solely on clan members. We need individuals like him. Assigning him this task is also a test of his capabilities."

"As martial artists, your focus should remain on cultivation. Leave these matters to me for now."

Although puzzled, the two young members nodded in agreement.

Over recent days, the clan had planted a significant amount of grain alongside the blood rice. With the growing number of clan members, blood rice alone wasn’t enough. Most of it would be consumed by the martial artists for body tempering, so cultivating other crops became essential.

Chen Xingzhen had already gathered the village elders to announce his plan. All of the clan’s fields—except those dedicated to blood rice—would be handed over to nearby villagers for cultivation. The Chen clan would claim seventy percent of the harvest, leaving the villages thirty percent.

Despite the disparity, many villages readily agreed. The Chen clan’s fertile fields promised much higher yields than their own. Historically, these fields had been controlled by the powerful families of Chaotic Burial Mountain, leaving outsiders unable to access them.

Now, with the clan short on manpower, the arrangement was mutually beneficial. Additionally, some villages were tied to the clan through marriage, making resistance unlikely.

The clan also granted the villages the right to hunt in Chaotic Burial Mountain—a privilege they had previously been denied. Fierce beasts were beyond the capabilities of ordinary hunters, so this new freedom posed little threat to the clan’s interests.

The decision strengthened the clan’s influence over the villages, with many expressing gratitude. With access to fertile fields and expanded hunting grounds, villagers could thrive. Fewer would succumb to hunger or cold during the harsh winters.

Two months later, the clan hall buzzed with celebration.

A few days prior, the clan had sent people to collect Five-Leaf Flowers from Chaotic Burial Mountain. As per Chen Changming’s assessment, the flowers were ready for harvest, promising to enhance the clan’s strength.

Several martial artists in the Blood Coagulation Realm had already made breakthroughs. Chen Tianyu and Chen Tianjing, both previously at the mid-stage, had advanced to the late stage, aided by years of cultivation and the flowers’ potency.

Others saw notable progress within their current levels, even if they didn’t achieve breakthroughs. Moreover, the clan gained another Blood Coagulation Realm martial artist and several in the Body Tempering Realm.

The servant population, initially numbering ten, had swelled to forty within the past month. Recruited from various villages, the new additions were carefully selected under Chen Yi Hu’s leadership, with the clan discreetly monitoring his efforts.

Including servants and clan members, the clan’s population now exceeded one hundred—a significant milestone, though still modest.

Nonetheless, the clan’s prosperity and rising strength brought peace of mind. It was expected that many new lives would join the clan this year.

In two months, the first harvest of blood rice planted earlier in the year would be ready. Meanwhile, the clan refrained from large-scale hunting, as their current grain stores sufficed to sustain them until then.

However, measures were taken to safeguard the cave where the Five-Leaf Flowers grew, ensuring no ferocious beasts consumed these precious resources.

With life stabilizing, smiles returned to the clan members’ faces, their vitality restored.

Yet, amidst this prosperity, the clan remained troubled by the Li clan.

In the Ancestral Hall, Chen Xingzhen completed his daily worship of the Divine Tree, his thoughts lingering on the clan’s future.

The clan’s strength had grown formidable. Should another threat like the Liu clan emerge, they would be ready. As their numbers increased, so would their martial artists.

One day, expansion beyond Chaotic Burial Mountain might be possible. But for now, Chen Xingzhen knew it was premature. At the very least, the clan needed several Innate Realm martial artists before such ambitions could be realized.

By then, he might no longer serve as clan leader.

Chen Xingzhen gazed at the Divine Tree, its branches fuller and more vibrant than before. According to his father, the tree had reached the Innate Realm, its growth reflecting the clan’s own progress.

He wondered if he would witness the return of the Divine Tree’s former glory—or perhaps even see the clan surpass its past greatness.

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