It seemed that this was indeed the object in question. Yet, unlike the one that had just transformed into a tree, this totem did not appear temperamental. This made the Liu clan's quest for the Natural Blood Spring much simpler. Had the Liu clan totem been in its prime, the outcome of this battle might have been far different.
"The ceremony is complete! Begin the sacrifice!"
After enduring a series of tedious rites, Ji Yang eagerly awaited his favourite part. Considering the significant loss of divine power after the great battle, Chen Xingzhen took the initiative by sacrificing several beasts first, saving the peculiar green bamboo for last. It was a cautious move, one that Ji Yang didn't object to.
As the sacrifices commenced, Ji Yang's Blood and Qi surged swiftly. By the time the last beast had been offered, his Blood and Qi had reached sixty points, with his spiritual energy increasing by six points.
Ji Yang did not hold onto this gain but instead converted the sixty points into thirty points of vital energy. Although this amount of vital energy was modest compared to the Blood and Qi he had expended, his condition improved significantly. His Blood and Qi surged, and his consciousness felt clearer.
Finally, Ji Yang's gaze turned to the green bamboos, their colour muted and subdued. Normally, there should have been only one totem, but there were four before him. Chen Xingzhen, not rushing into the next step, explained the origin of the green bamboo to Ji Yang. When Ji Yang's expression remained unreadable, Chen Xingzhen began the sacrifice.
As the clansmen positioned the green bamboo on the sacrificial ground, the plants swiftly took root, their colour deepening to a rich green as if coming back to life. The sight made the assembled clansmen uneasy, prompting many to step back instinctively.
Chen Xingzhen watched with tension, prepared to shift from automatic measures to manual intervention. He stood ready to destroy the green bamboo at the first sign of danger. Yet, without any clear directive from the Divine Tree, he chose not to act rashly. Observing the scene, he felt certain this was indeed the Liu clan's totem.
Ji Yang wasted no time, extending his roots to entangle those of the green bamboo. This was his territory, and he would not tolerate any other totem taking root here. As soon as his roots entwined beneath the surface, a strange consciousness connected with Ji Yang's own—a drowsy, slumbering awareness that reacted out of instinct.
Ji Yang did not hesitate; he transferred his consciousness and launched an immediate attack on the green bamboo's mind. The sudden intrusion jolted the sleeping consciousness, prompting a faint response:
"Who dares disturb my rest?"
Ji Yang ignored the query, crushing the weak consciousness with ease. Startled by the assault, the green bamboo's slumber broke, though its prolonged dormancy had left it far from its former strength.
Outside, the once-dormant green bamboo underwent a transformation. Bamboo leaves sprouted wildly, emitting a delicate fragrance that filled the Ancestral Hall and induced a sense of calm among those present. Sensing something amiss, Chen Xingzhen prepared to halt the growth, but before he could act, the vibrant green bamboo suddenly wilted.
The lively green stalks darkened, their fresh leaves withering before everyone's eyes.
Within the realm of consciousness, Ji Yang wrapped his essence around the green bamboo's mind and devoured it. The green bamboo's struggle was feeble, and as its final effort to escape failed, it sent out a desperate plea:
"Please, spare me... Qingling will serve you, help protect the clan..."
Ji Yang dismissed the entreaty. One glory was enough. When the plea proved ineffective, the bamboo's consciousness surged with fury:
"I will never yield to you, even if it means my end! You will not consume me!"
The defiant outburst culminated in a burst of energy, but it was a mere breeze, warm and soft. Ji Yang paused, surprised at the harmlessness of the burst. Without hesitation, he consumed the lingering fragments of consciousness.
In the Ancestral Hall, Chen Xingzhen remained vigilant, watching the once-thriving bamboo turn black and collapse like charred wood. The display was brief, like a fleeting illusion, leaving many of the clansmen bewildered and silently praying.
Chen Xingzhen's expression soon returned to its usual calm. Though he couldn't decipher what had transpired, the sight of the Divine Tree's flourishing branches reassured him that no harm had come of it.
He concluded the ceremony with a prayer before stepping away. As clan chief, he was obligated to oversee the grand ceremony of the Divine Tree, but with pressing matters within the clan, he trusted that the Divine Tree would understand. He left the continued care of the sacrifice in Chen Qingyu's capable hands.
Meanwhile, Ji Yang processed the fragments of memory he had absorbed. The memories were incomplete but revealing. He saw a green bamboo in a forest, ordinary and unremarkable, until one day it gained awareness and intelligence.
A martial artist had found it, replanting it in a new place where daily offerings were made. It had been named Qingling, and those who worshipped it referred to it as Lord Qingling. Over time, it grew powerful, its leaves gaining abilities that enhanced martial artists’ comprehension.
Ji Yang yearned to delve deeper, but the memories flickered like static, impossible to decipher. The final clear memory showed the green bamboo being moved to a courtyard by none other than Liu Zishan, the Liu clan's current patriarch.
When the Liu clan fell, the green bamboo divided itself into multiple roots, though only one was the true essence. This was likely its last stand, thwarted when Chen Xingzhen uprooted all the remnants.
Pondering what he had seen, Ji Yang noted that although the memories were fragmented, they confirmed the origin of the Liu clan's totem. What intrigued him most was the bamboo's unique power: its leaves could enhance a martial artist's comprehension, clarifying martial techniques and aiding breakthroughs.
Even the famed "Bright Moon Like Frost" had been created during the Liu clan's golden era with the aid of these leaves.