Vol. 1 - Ch. 37 - The Great Tree Festival

Whether it was the Dark Gold Beasts of the Body Tempering Realm or the Spirit-Tailed Chicken, the blood essence they provided was significantly less compared to beasts of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

In fact, it would take two or three Body Tempering Realm beasts to match the essence of one Blood Coagulation Realm beast.

Naturally, the higher the realm of the beast, the more blood essence and spiritual energy it contained.

Given the Chen Family's current situation, sacrificing higher realm beasts was out of the question.

Encountering an Innate Realm beast would likely spell disaster for the entire clan.

Ji Yang mentally calculated the difference in blood essence between the beasts before dismissing the thought.

The quality might not be ideal, but the quantity could compensate.

Besides, wasn't the Seven-Day Grand Festival still to come?

He was starting to look forward to it.

For now, Ji Yang converted most of the blood essence he had just received into vital energy to bolster himself.

His vitality was dangerously low, making him feel vulnerable and uneasy.

The remaining 10 points of blood essence were reserved for further calculations.

After converting the blood essence, Ji Yang's life force points rapidly increased from 2.5 (2 from before and 0.5 absorbed from the moonlight last night) to 16 points.

Seeing his Qi back in double digits, Ji Yang felt much more secure. Even the luster of his locust leaves had returned to their former vibrant state.

As he looked at the remaining 10 points of blood essence, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

Should he perform the calculations now or wait until after the festival?

Remembering the disastrous result of his second calculation, Ji Yang decided to wait a few more days.

Making a single calculation was too risky; attempting it twice would hedge his bets and increase his chances of obtaining divine abilities or mystical techniques.

Meanwhile, the Chen family members, working together, quickly repaired the buildings damaged in the battle, making them even more robust than before.

Chen Qingyu led several of the family's stronger warriors to Chaotic Burial Mountain to prepare the offerings for the upcoming Sacred Tree Festival.

This time, it wasn't about quantity but quality, focusing on hunting on the outskirts of Chaotic Burial Mountain.

After the battle ended, Chen Xingzhen immediately shut down the family's transmission array.

The reason was none other than the ancient beast lurking deep within Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Given the Chen family's current strength, they were no match for an ancient beast in the Immortal Realm, even with Chen Qingyu, their strongest warrior.

The grandeur and solemnity of the Sacred Tree Festival depended on the offerings, but the family's capabilities were limited.

Chen Xingzhen could only do his best with the resources at hand.

He silently promised himself that once the family regained its former glory, they would provide better offerings for the Sacred Tree.

This was the ambitious goal Chen Xingzhen had set for Ji Yang.

As for Chen Qingyu, his current strength allowed him to easily subdue beasts in the Body Tempering Realm.

Occasionally, he even encountered early stage Blood Coagulation Realm beasts on the outskirts of Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Despite the tight schedule, the Chen clan had already prepared the necessary items for the grand festival by the second day after the battle, without any interference from the Li clan.

However, there was still a shortage of sacrificial beasts.

Chen Qingyu had to go to Chaotic Burial Mountain every day. After all, the Sacred Tree Festival would last for seven days.

This time, though, Chen Qingyu did not show any signs of complaint.

Instead, he seemed quite eager.

At noon on the second day, the ancestral hall was filled with members of the Chen clan.

Beneath the Sacred Tree was an altar decorated with several porcelain bowls.

Inside these bowls were boiled meat and various fruits from the surrounding Chaotic Burial Mountain. Although humble, this arrangement symbolized the Chen clan's reverence.

Before the altar, Chen Xingzhen stood with a solemn expression.

Wearing a new rough robe, he held a candle and muttered something under his breath.

Behind him were several Blood Coagulation Realm warriors from the Chen clan.

Further back, the senior members of the clan stood in order of age, regardless of gender.

At the very back, curious children gazed at the scene in front of them.

Their faces were filled with wonder, but their eyes were mostly fixed on the porcelain bowls under the Sacred Tree.

More specifically, the meat inside the bowls.

Above them all, Ji Yang's gaze swept over every member of the Chen family, leaving him somewhat speechless.

In his previous life, Ji Yang had experienced many significant events, but this one was truly unprecedented.

The main difference was that this grand festival was centered around him, which left Ji Yang with a strange feeling.

The ceremonial aspects did not matter much; just having the offerings was enough.

Unfortunately, Ji Yang couldn't speak, so he pretended not to notice.

However, his gaze shifted to the various wild beasts outside the ancestral hall.

These were the beasts Chen Qingyu had hunted in Chaotic Burial Mountain yesterday, including two Blood Coagulation Realm creatures.

After some elaborate preparations, Chen Xingzhen raised his voice:

"Since the founding of the Chen clan in Chaotic Burial Mountain twenty years ago, I, Chen Xingzhen, as the head of the family, hereby conduct the Great Tree Festival on the eighth day of the ninth month in the Ten Thousand Dragons' Calendar! May the Sacred Tree bless the Chen family and ensure our prosperity and lasting success..."

As Chen Xingzhen finished speaking, the other clan members below echoed in unison:

"May the Sacred Tree protect the Chen family and ensure our prosperity and lasting success..."

"Let the ritual begin!"

With these words, several family members carried the prepared wild beasts into the ancestral hall and began the sacrifice.

Above, Ji Yang watched the serious and sincere expressions of the Chen clan members.

He felt a slight tug in his heart.

Indeed, their purpose was simple: to seek the blessing of the Sacred Tree for their clan's safety and continued prosperity for generations to come.

But did he have such abilities? Ji Yang had his doubts.

However, he decided not to dwell on it. Sometimes, it was enough to be like a monk who rang the bell every day.

Today, he stood as the guardian of the Sacred Tree and enjoyed the reverence of the people.

He would undoubtedly offer his protection and ensure the safety of the entire clan.

As the ritual began, the leaves of the Sacred Tree began to shimmer with light.

The next moment, countless green dots floated from the branches, filling the entire ancestral hall with an emerald hue.

These dense and numerous green points merged into the bodies of each clan member, healing their wounds.

Even those who weren't injured felt their Qi and Blood surge, their spirits lifted.

Several children reached out to grab the green dots above their heads, but the dots disappeared when they touched their arms.

Unbeknownst to the children, who couldn't perceive anything beyond curiosity, these vital energy points would improve their future cultivation.

In the crowd, Chen Qinghe strained to lift his head, inhaling deeply, and trying to draw the green points into his body from above.

He didn't forget to push Chen Qingmeng beside him.

"Qingmeng, absorb them quickly! These dots are treasures!"

As the green dot gradually disappeared, the gazes of those present turned more respectfully toward the Sacred Tree.

Some clan members who had never witnessed the tree's manifestation murmured,

"So this is our ancestral sacred tree!"

Chen Xingzhen's heart swelled with excitement.

The Sacred Tree had sensed their sacrifice and bestowed its divine power upon them---a clear recognition of the clan.

From now on, with the tree's protection, their lineage would undoubtedly flourish!

Little did they know, Ji Yang was grumbling above them.

"Damn it! Ten points of vitality just vanished like that! Doesn't it cost anything to show some spirit?"

Despite his complaints, Ji Yang had no significant regrets.

Even if he didn't want to be this Sacred Tree, he had no choice.

Besides, in such a situation, if he didn't show some means to win over the family, how could he expect wholehearted devotion in future sacrifices?

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