Ethan Chen sighed as he heard the inquiries from the others:
“I don’t know what’s going on either. Tonight, I plan to communicate with the Sacred Tree and ask about the situation.”
If it were other clan members, he would certainly give a reasonable explanation, but with Elijah Chen and the other two, there was no need to hide anything.
Seeing that even the Clan Chief was unsure of the reason, the three of them couldn’t help but frown slightly.
But looking at the fruits on the tree, each bearing familiar faces, the three of them stood still, observing and pondering for a long time.
After a moment, Ethan spoke again:
“Alright, since the Li Clan has fled to the Disordered Burial Mountain, let’s recall our people from outside.”
“Winter is coming, and the clan’s current food supply is insufficient to support everyone through the season. The urgent task is to see if we can plant another crop of Blood Rice. Elijah, you’ll be responsible for this.”
“Yes, Clan Chief.”
“Oliver, the hunting will be your responsibility. You can select any warriors from the clan to go into the mountains, but remember not to venture too deep. The safety of our people is paramount.”
“If you encounter any members of the Li Clan, do not pursue them rashly. We will discuss it further once we return to the clan.”
“Understood.”
Oliver nodded.
“Mason, you need to keep an eye on the Liu Family. Now that only our two clans remain in the Disordered Burial Mountain, I can’t help but worry since the Liu Family has been so quiet.”
“Additionally, you will be responsible for the Body Tempering training of our warriors, especially the young ones who need careful guidance.”
“I understand.”
After the three left, Ethan once again turned his gaze to the Sacred Tree, his eyes unfocused as if his mind was wandering.
Although the clan seemed to have stabilized, the previous battle with the Li Clan had caused significant losses, and their food supplies were nearly depleted.
Even with the Blood Rice and livestock seized from the Li Clan, it was far from enough to get the clan through the winter.
Logically, the Li Clan should have had more stored food, but whether it was hidden or taken away, the clan couldn’t find any more Blood Rice.
But relying solely on Blood Rice wasn’t enough. The clan’s warriors, though not highly ranked, were numerous.
Especially the Body Tempering Realm warriors, who needed ample meat to nourish their Qi and Blood for faster tempering. Hence, hunting was crucial for the clan’s future.
Moreover, with the Sacred Tree’s revival, they needed to resume their worship rituals.
According to the clan rules, the Sacred Tree required a small ritual every three days and a grand ritual every seven days.
Given the current situation, a ritual every seven days would suffice.
However, even with a weekly ritual, the number of beasts required wouldn’t be small.
Especially after winter set in, with the mountains covered in snow, even Blood Condensation Realm warriors would find hunting difficult in the Disordered Burial Mountain.
So they needed to prepare in advance.
This world was particularly cold, and the Disordered Burial Mountain was even harsher compared to other places.
Although Body Tempering Realm warriors had strengthened their muscles and bones, they still needed to guard against the cold. Otherwise, they could fall ill, making it harder to advance to the Blood Condensation Realm.
Blood Condensation Realm warriors weren’t as susceptible, but the clan had few of them, with most members not even reaching the Body Tempering Realm.
With only about two months until winter, the clan had many preparations to make.
Things like warm clothing and firewood.
Who knew if there would be enough time?
Ethan gradually came back to his senses, then looked up at the endless sky, feeling a sense of lament.
The power of nature was overwhelming, and individual strength was insufficient to resist it, hence the need for a clan.
Only by making the clan strong could the lives of its members improve and reach higher realms.
As the members’ realms increased, they would give back to the clan, creating a cycle that would eventually lead to a prosperous clan.
The road to the clan’s prosperity was long and arduous.
But fortunately, the clan had the protection of the Sacred Tree, putting them far ahead of other clans.
Confidence returned to Ethan’s eyes as he turned and left the Ancestral Hall. There were many matters in the clan that required his attention.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.”
Looking at the now empty Ancestral Hall, Noah Ji’s mind finally calmed down.
The cries of the clan members earlier had given him a headache, and he didn’t know how many days it would take for the fruits to mature.
But he felt like he had forgotten something.
The sound of leaves rustling in the breeze reached his ears, and Noah Ji fell into his memories.
…
At the center of the Disordered Burial Mountain, the warriors of the Li Clan were gathered in a sunken valley, warily watching their surroundings.
Their clothes were torn by the mountain’s thorns, their bodies covered in bloodstains, and many clan members groaned in pain, their faces showing suffering.
The physical pain was bearable, but the fear in their hearts was evident in their eyes.
“Joshua, a few more clan members got injured just now. What should we do next?”
Jay Li slowly approached, asking the pondering Joshua Li beside him.
Even though he was a late-stage Blood Condensation Realm warrior, he couldn’t hide the fatigue on his face.
He had been injured during the battle with the Chen Clan, and in the past few days, he had to lead the way for the clan’s journey.
Even with his keen senses allowing him to avoid the territories of fierce beasts, unexpected incidents still occurred.
Just now, the clan had encountered a mid-stage Blood Condensation Realm beast while foraging.
Although they managed to kill the beast, a few clan members suffered minor injuries.
What worried Jay Li even more was the loud wolf howl they heard when they entered the center of the Disordered Burial Mountain.
It wasn’t the pressure from a beast of the same realm that frightened him, but the source of the clan’s fear.
Although he didn’t want to believe it, the facts told him it was definitely an Innate Realm beast.
With only him and Joshua as Blood Condensation Realm warriors, even if they had two more, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Moreover, wolves were pack animals, and encountering them could mean few survivors among the clan members.
He didn’t share this morale-crushing information with the others, only telling Joshua.
Hearing Jay Li’s question, Joshua remained silent, staring at the incomplete map in his hand.
It was a map of the Disordered Burial Mountain, drawn by the clan members during their hunts.
Unfortunately, it was only half complete, with a large blank area in the center.
Joshua’s plan to escape through the Disordered Burial Mountain wasn’t just to evade the Chen Clan but also to complete the map.
With a complete map, they could launch a surprise attack on the Chen Clan from the rear.
A few days ago, he thought that with him and his uncle Jay Li, they could traverse the mountain without major issues.
But once they ventured deep into the mountain, he realized he had overestimated himself and the clan members.
The depths of the Disordered Burial Mountain were filled with fierce beasts, many of them at the Blood Condensation Realm.
The clan members, inexperienced and untested by blood, had lost much of their confidence due to the continuous journey and complex environment.
The wolf howl was the final straw that broke their spirits.
When he learned it was from an Innate Realm beast, Joshua was also thrown into disarray.
But as the clan leader, he quickly regained his composure.
He knew that if he didn’t take action soon, not only would revenge be impossible, but even escaping the Disordered Burial Mountain would be in doubt.
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