Although Chen Changming and the other clan members had some understanding of the clan totem, their knowledge was limited.
After all, they were still young during the clan’s heyday and could only admire the majestic Divine Tree from a distance.
By the time they reached adulthood, the clan had already declined, and all that remained was a broken branch of the Divine Tree.
Because of this, Ji Yang was even more curious about the totems of other families. If the Liu clan had a clan totem, what would it look like? What purpose would it serve? Ji Yang was eager to find out.
Unfortunately, according to Chen Xingzhen’s description, the current Liu clan was far beyond the Chen clan's reach. The gap in strength between the two was immense. Even with the Five Viscera Ascension Technique and his own supply of vital energy, facing them would be challenging.
If a conflict erupted, not only would Ji Yang fail to see the Liu clan’s totem, but he might also end up losing his own roots.
Chen Xingzhen's report disrupted the sense of peace that Ji Yang had enjoyed for the past two months, reigniting a sense of crisis. It seemed he couldn’t afford to let his guard down yet.
As Ji Yang wrestled with his thoughts, he made a silent decision in his heart. After Chen Xingzhen finished his account, he left the Ancestral Hall and returned to his room.
Meanwhile, under the shade of the tree, Chen Changming and other key clan members were deep in discussion about Chen Xingzhen’s report.
They knew that one person’s plan might be short, but many minds together could craft a long-term strategy. Although they lacked physical bodies, they still had their memories, allowing them to think and plan for the clan’s future.
Their immediate concerns were the growth of the Blood Rice and uncovering the Liu clan's intentions. After a brief discussion, they quickly reached a consensus. Chen Changming’s figure soon drifted away, preparing to communicate their collective strategy to Chen Xingzhen through a dream.
The other spirits remained seated in meditation around the Ancestral Hall, drawing on the Yin energy radiating from Ji Yang's tree trunk to cultivate. Initially, they believed that returning as spirits marked the end of their lives.
However, they soon realized that as the Yin energy increased, their spirit bodies became more substantial. They could linger in dreams longer, and their memories grew sharper, allowing them to recall things they had previously forgotten.
They also noticed that the concentration of Yin energy in their spirit bodies seemed tied to their life force. For example, Chen Changming, the clan’s only natural martial artist, had a much stronger spirit body than the others.
Over the past two months, as he absorbed Yin energy, he had even managed to briefly move in daylight without the shade of the Divine Tree. Although his activity lasted only a few breaths, this discovery brought excitement to many spirits. They longed to see the clan in daylight, feel the warmth of life again, and witness the growth of the younger generation.
However, with their current strength as spirits, this remained a distant goal, driving them to cultivate even harder. While they could practice in the trunk room during the day, the results were not as effective as when they meditated near the Divine Tree at night.
Watching the spirits meditate below, Ji Yang shifted his gaze thoughtfully. He could sense these spirits gradually growing stronger, much like the spirits of the Netherworld. But this was a positive sign.
The spirits of the Chen ancestors were unaware of another divine ability they possessed, one that had yet to reveal its true potential. Ji Yang, too, was curious about how powerful these spirits could become with the aid of this armor ability, which promised to fortify their already growing strength.
However, Ji Yang shifted his attention to his own status panel, focusing on his current capabilities:
A month had passed since Ji Yang last assisted Chen Tianmo. During this time, he had managed to absorb three points of vitality each night, but it was not enough to push his vitality past 200 points, especially as he had expended some of it using his divine powers to heal clan members.
When his vitality had reached 180 points, Ji Yang experimented by converting forty points of Qi and Blood into additional vitality, hoping that reaching the 200-point threshold would allow him to grow new branches. However, even at 200 points, this goal remained just out of reach.
Throughout the month, the Chen clan had consistently offered sacrifices, including Blood Coagulation beasts, which had greatly boosted his Qi and Blood reserves. If he hadn't converted some of this energy into vitality, his Qi and Blood would have exceeded one hundred points by now. Unfortunately, his spiritual power had seen only modest growth, with some beasts offering no increase at all. Still, he was thankful for what he had gained.
Ji Yang’s simulation points had also increased to fourteen, thanks to one clan member advancing to the Blood Coagulation Realm and two others reaching the Body Refining Realm—an improvement over the previous month. Originally, Ji Yang had planned to accumulate more points before performing any simulations, intending to maximize his gains. But Chen Xingzhen’s recent report had forced him to act sooner than expected.
The Chen clan and Liu clan had managed to avoid direct conflict so far, but the tension was palpable. Ji Yang knew he could not afford to depend on the goodwill of an enemy. The gap in power between the families loomed large, and he could not allow the Chen clan’s fate—or his own—to rest on the whims of a rival.
To secure his future and that of his clan, Ji Yang understood he needed to convert his current resources into personal strength. Even with his limited simulation points, the risk was necessary. He could not afford to face a day when the Liu clan’s warriors stormed the Ancestral Hall and found himself powerless.
[This simulation will consume 20 Qi and Blood, 10 Spiritual Power, and 10 Simulation Points. Do you wish to continue?]
(Note: This is a double simulation. During the simulation, you can randomly carry one of your abilities into the simulation. The higher the simulation multiplier, the easier it is to unlock rare maps.)
Without hesitation, Ji Yang selected "Yes."
The familiar scene unfolded as countless maps flickered before him. Ji Yang glimpsed the Innate Realm he had visited during his last multiple simulations—a world perfectly suited to his true form as a Netherworld Locust Tree. Thriving in such an environment would give him the upper hand, granting him the advantage of time and place.
But as always, the Innate Realm flashed past, vanishing from view before Ji Yang could grasp it. The rapid cascade of maps began to slow, and Ji Yang’s previously calm heart stirred with anxious anticipation.
Who invented this damned system?