As Oliver Chen was about to enter the secret passage, a rustling sound suddenly emanated from the Sacred Tree not far from them.
The anomaly of the Sacred Tree drew their attention.
In their line of sight, the Sacred Tree, glowing in the night, suddenly lit up with a dazzling light.
Amidst the swaying of the trunk and branches, a dark green leaf emitting a green glow slowly drifted down from the foliage.
Soon, the leaf landed right in front of Oliver Chen.
Looking at the leaf floating towards him, Oliver Chen’s brow furrowed slightly.
Beside him, Ethan Chen’s face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly exclaimed:
“Oliver, catch it! This is the Sacred Tree’s blessing!”
Upon hearing this, Oliver Chen reluctantly reached out to catch the drifting leaf, but his expression remained skeptical. It was just a Sophora leaf, commonly found everywhere – what blessing could it be?
If the Sacred Tree could rise from the ground and repel the Li Clan, then he would consider it a true blessing.
Merely healing some injuries was nothing; it couldn’t save their clan in its current state.
If it weren’t for the Clan Chief being present, he wouldn’t bother with this Sophora leaf!
It had nothing to do with anything else.
He, Oliver Chen, could make it on his own strength!
The dark green leaf lost its glow as soon as it landed in Oliver Chen’s hand, turning into an ordinary-looking leaf.
However, Ethan Chen was overjoyed at this moment:
“Fantastic! With the Sacred Tree’s blessing, our journey will surely be safe.”
Oliver Chen casually pocketed the leaf, no longer paying attention to Ethan Chen’s gratitude towards the Sacred Tree, and jumped into the secret passage below.
Above, Noah Ji felt a pang of heartache.
That Sophora leaf he had just seen was one he had invested two points of vitality into using his One Leaf Hindrance supernatural power.
This was more than he had spent healing a dozen clan members, further depleting his already scarce vitality.
However, considering the dangers of the journey, Noah Ji was not stingy.
Although he noticed Oliver Chen’s disdain and pride, the situation was dire, and since Oliver Chen was the pillar of the Chen Clan, losing him would leave them helpless against the Li Clan.
Whether for the Chen Clan or for himself, he had to make some gesture.
He could only hope that Oliver Chen would return safely, and perhaps even hunt a few fierce beasts.
Even one would do.
If not, just having the person back would suffice!
The Chen Clan could not withstand another blow.
After Ethan Chen left, the Ancestral Hall once again became quiet, and Noah Ji focused on absorbing the moonlight.
Noah Ji’s roots had spread outside the Ancestral Hall, occasionally sensing the clan members patrolling outside.
These people, in pairs, occasionally conversed, providing some entertainment for Noah Ji.
But most of the time, he heard more of the clan members’ worries and lack of confidence.
Upon reflection, given the clan’s current situation, it was indeed hard for the people to feel confident.
But the outcome was still uncertain, and the ending was yet to be known.
He was no longer the withered tree he had been a few days ago.
If he had a few more days to absorb more Qi and Blood, to perform more Deductions, the clan’s crisis could be easily resolved.
“Lucas, do you think the Li Family will break in tonight?”
When Noah Ji heard this somewhat familiar voice, his consciousness paused for a moment.
It was Lucas Chen and Alexander Chen, who had been assigned by Ethan Chen to patrol around the clan.
The two young men were now holding knives and sticks, carefully checking their surroundings.
“I don’t know.”
Lucas Chen shook his head.
“Lucas, what do we do if the Li Family breaks in?”
“Hmph, we fight them, of course!”
Lucas Chen’s youthful face held a hint of determination, but his grip on the knife handle was particularly tight. Despite the determined look in his eyes, the panic inside was hard to conceal.
They were still just two young boys.
In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji couldn’t help but sigh to himself.
At their age, they shouldn’t have to face such things, but that’s how the rules of this world work, regardless of age.
“Lucas, I actually have a plan.”
Alexander Chen stopped in his tracks and confidently said.
“Ah?”
“You have a plan?”
Hearing this, Lucas Chen turned his gaze to his childhood companion, his eyes filled with surprise, confusion, and unfamiliarity.
It was the first time he had heard Alexander Chen say he had a plan.
“My plan is to go back to the Ancestral Hall and chop down the Sacred Tree! Maybe that will save our clan!”
In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji, who was intently listening to the plan, was speechless.
If these two kids dared to come, he was determined to show them his might!
Beside him, Lucas Chen felt relieved.
Thank goodness, this was still the Alexander Chen he knew, unchanged.
“That plan probably won’t work for now. After our last visit, there have been more clan members patrolling outside the Ancestral Hall, and lately, the Clan Chief seems to be staying there all the time.”
Seeing his plan fall through, Alexander Chen sighed:
“That’s a pity.”
“Indeed, it is a bit of a pity.”
Noah Ji also sighed inwardly.
Seeing this, Lucas Chen patted his shoulder and comforted him:
“But it’s okay, we’ll just go next time, there will be plenty of opportunities! It’s not like the tree can run away.”
Comforted, the disappointment on Alexander Chen’s face vanished, and the two continued their patrol.
“I’ll be waiting for you.”
In the Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji’s heart uttered a wistful phrase.
…
“Why haven’t we seen a single Blood Condensation Realm beast?”
Outside the secret passage, in Disordered Burial Mountain.
Oliver Chen stood atop a huge tree canopy, surveying the surroundings.
It had been about half an hour since he left the clan’s secret passage, but today he had not seen a single Blood Condensation Realm beast.
Although he had seen two Body Tempering Realm beasts, they were of a lower Realm, and he did not think much of such prey.
After all, the difference in Qi and Blood between the two was not small, and even as food for the clan members, it seemed insufficient.
Recalling the green wolf from the day before, Oliver Chen had a realization.
Beasts each had their own territories.
And the Innate Realm green wolf from yesterday was likely one of the strongest in Disordered Burial Mountain.
Even if that green wolf did not consider this place its territory, its pursuit of prey yesterday did not conceal its blood and aura.
Just the scent left behind en route was enough to intimidate other beasts and keep them away from this area.
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