Chapter 2: Faith
The number of people in the Surviving Clan was not many, totaling less than three hundred individuals.
Among them, women and children accounted for half, along with a group of elderly and disabled clan members.
The true fighting force that the clan could rely on was less than sixty individuals.
These were the backbone of the clan, providing sustenance for the entire population.
At this moment, inside the ancestral hall of the clan, a group of elders, led by the patriarch, sat side by side at the forefront.
Following them were the young and strong men of the clan, each brimming with vitality and vigor.
“Patriarch, you are already of advanced age, there is no need for you to go this time. Zhong Hu and I, together with other clan people, we will bring back the ferocious beast as a sacrificial offering for Little Chi,” a young and robust man confidently persuaded the elderly patriarch.
The one speaking was Zhong Shan, one of the two most formidable men in the clan.
He could lift a colossal stone weighing over ten thousand pounds with his bare hands and possessed astonishing archery skills.
He was a powerful figure within the clan, having hunted numerous fierce beasts and spiritual creatures.
All the men present fixed their gaze on the patriarch.
They had all been raised by the patriarch and the elders and thus held great respect for them.
When they were young, just like now, they had used their blood and lives to support the entire clan.
The patriarch furrowed his brows slightly and said, “You all know that the creature is not the same as the fierce beasts in the desolate mountains. Moreover, this matter concerns Little Chi’s sacrificial ceremony, and we cannot afford any mistakes.”
“Little Chi was born into our clan and cannot be compared to the children of the larger clans. He cannot receive the best cultivation. This will greatly impact Little Chi’s future. Whether our clan can emerge from these desolate mountains depends on how solidly we lay the foundation with his first sacrificial ceremony,” the patriarch seemed to have made up his mind.
He did not want the third child with the bloodline of Divine King, a rare occurrence in the clan, to be buried due to their incompetence, depriving him of his rightful talents.
“Patriarch, our clan has already had two children with the bloodline of Divine King. At that time, our clan was much stronger and we devoted the same amount of effort in their cultivation. But what did we gain in return?”
Zhong Zhu sighed as he witnessed the patriarch’s resolute attitude.
Before Zhong Chi, the clan had already witnessed two children with the bloodline of the Divine King born and growing up.
At that time, the clan was much stronger, and both children eventually became powerful individuals with astonishing divine powers. But what did their clan gain from it?
“Outrageous!” The patriarch’s face instantly turned stern, and he got emotional.
“Bearing the bloodline of Divine King naturally means following in the footsteps of our ancestors. As members of the Surviving Clan, we have to unconditionally nurture children with the bloodline of the Divine King. This is our responsibility, our mission!”
The patriarch suddenly became extremely serious.
Zhong Zhu did not expect that his words would stir up such a response from the patriarch.
He immediately lowered his head in fear and remained silent.
“From now on, none of you are allowed to mention the previous two bearers of the bloodline of Divine King, especially in front of Little Chi. Is that clear?” The patriarch warned everyone.
All the strong men in the clan nodded in agreement, not daring to defy the order.
“Alright, go back and prepare. Tomorrow morning, I will personally lead you to the desolate mountains to hunt the ferocious beast.”
The patriarch murmured the last sentence, suppressing his emotion.
Suddenly, his face showed a hint of desolation and melancholy.
After the group of strong men left, an elder comforted the patriarch, saying, “They are all young and full of vigor. It is normal for them to have such thoughts. Patriarch, you should not dwell on it.”
At this moment, only the patriarch and a few elders remained in the ancestral hall.
The patriarch let out a deep sigh. There had been two children in the clan who inherited the bloodline of Divine King before, but those two children did not lead the clan to glory again.
Instead, the clan became weaker because of them.
More than once, clan members had questioned this, just like Zhong Zhu did.
However, every person who raised doubts would face severe criticism from the patriarch and the elders.
It was only when they became the patriarch or elders themselves that they understood why the former patriarch and elders had been so harsh in their criticism.
What was the most important thing in supporting the growth and survival of a clan?
It was faith, a belief that could unite everyone.
Without this belief, how could the clan come together in the face of numerous challenges and conflicts?
The greatest belief that had allowed the small Surviving Clan to exist until now was their only source of pride, the late ancestor, the great Divine King.
Therefore, each child with the bloodline of Divine King represented not only exceptional talent but also the continuation of the clan’s faith.
Like a divine miracle, they soothed the hearts of every clan member and strengthened the belief they held onto.
“Don’t worry, I know that Zhong Hu and the others were just speaking casually. We have witnessed how they treat Little Chi daily. Tomorrow, when I take them to hunt the ferocious beast, the village will need you to take care of them more.”
The patriarch fell silent. In truth, he did not know whether Zhong Chi’s existence could change the current situation of the clan.
He also did not know if Zhong Chi, like the previous two children with the bloodline of Divine King, would ever return after leaving the ancient city.
Why didn’t the previous children come back?
Did they die, or had they already forgotten the clan members who nurtured them to leave the ancient city? Or were there other untold reasons?
All of this was a mystery, an enigma that the clan members were unwilling to mention.
They would only use the words “seeking the footsteps of the ancestors” to comfort themselves and the clan.
The next day, early in the morning, the patriarch led the clan members out of the ancient city and headed towards the desolate mountains.
This time, they were not hunting for food, but preparing to hunt down ferocious beasts for Zhong Chi’s ritual ceremony.
Zhong Chi resided in the patriarch’s house.
His father had died two years ago during a hunting expedition, when he was attacked by a fierce beast.
Shortly after giving birth to him, his mother also passed away due to complications.
Now, the only close relative he had with direct blood ties to him was his second uncle.
In the morning, enduring the cold morning breeze, the children gathered together.
Until the morning exercises were over, Zhong Chi, with a puzzled expression, asked Zhong Hu, “Brother Hu, is there a major operation happening in the clan today? Why did even Grandfather Patriarch personally go out?”
Zhong Hu, with his massive build and explosive strength, many adults said that Zhong Hu would become an extraordinary powerhouse in the village, like his father, Zhong Shan.
However, just like his appearance, Zhong Hu was a straightforward person and didn’t think too much.
He replied, “Isn’t it obvious? It is said that the patriarch personally led the team to the desolate mountains, seemingly to hunt down a ferocious beast!”
“Ferocious beast?”
These words instantly made Zhong Chi’s young face show a shocked and fearful expression.
What did a ferocious beast represent?
It was a formidable presence that made countless fierce beasts submit and tremble.
With a single roar, it could startle all creatures within a thousand miles.
It was the ruler of the mountains and forests, savage and fierce, capable of tearing apart fierce beasts and devouring spiritual creatures.
“Brother Hu, why does the patriarch want to hunt down a ferocious beast?”
Zhong Chi was not foolish; he had heard people in the clan talking about it.
He was about to turn six years old, and at six, he would undergo his first ritual ceremony.
The ritual ceremony was something every child had to go through.
It was a mysterious and powerful ritual that cleansed oneself and enhanced one’s potential.
It required the blood of powerful beasts and the concoction of numerous rare treasures and medicinal herbs to create a precious elixir.
With the elixir as a catalyst, the child could undergo a rebirth during the ritual, obtaining a new life.
Moreover, the more precious and powerful the elixir, the better the effect of the ritual, and the more potential it would unlock.
Of course, all of this had to be within the child’s capacity to bear; otherwise, it would backfire and lead to a tragedy.
“Brother Hu, is it for my ritual ceremony?” Zhong Chi quickly thought of it.
Zhong Hu nodded and said, “It should be. Otherwise, who would provoke a ferocious beast?”
On ordinary days, adults often taught the children that although the fierce beasts surrounding the ancient city were dangerous, they were not the most terrifying.
The most terrifying ones were the ferocious beasts in the desolate mountains.
When encountering a ferocious beast, even the powerful hunters in the clan could only escape for their lives.
If they were lucky, they might only shed some blood and sustain injuries, but if luck was not on their side, they could be torn apart and devoured by the ferocious beast at any moment.
Ferocious beasts were undoubtedly one of the most dangerous existences around the ancient city, something the clan members usually dreaded.
However, now the clan was going to hunt down a ferocious beast for Zhong Chi.
Just the thought of it made Zhong Chi shudder.
“No, I must stop Grandfather Patriarch and the others. Hunting down a ferocious beast is too dangerous.”
Zhong Chi disregarded everything and quickly ran towards the outskirts of the village.
“Little Chi, what are you doing? Come back quickly…”
Zhong Hu realized that he had said something he shouldn’t have.
The outskirts of the village were desolate and filled with numerous fierce beasts and spiritual creatures.
Not to mention that Little Chi was just a five-year-old child, it was very dangerous for a grown-up to go out alone.
“Brother Tie, something’s wrong! Little Chi ran towards the outskirts!”
Zhong Hu shouted to Zhong Tie and the others not far away as he chased after Zhong Chi.
Although Zhong Chi was young, he inherited the bloodline of the Divine King, and his talent was extraordinary.
His speed was so fast that even Zhong Hu couldn’t catch up.
By the time Zhong Tie and the others heard Zhong Hu’s voice, Zhong Chi was already close to the village exit.
“Oh no!”
“Everyone, chase after Little Chi!
The outskirts are filled with fierce beasts, and it’s too dangerous for Little Chi to go out.”
Immediately, Zhong Tie led several older children from the village and quickly chased after Little Chi towards the village entrance.
The younger children also wanted to follow, but they were stopped by Zhong Tie and the others.
At this moment, the patriarch, leading a hunting team of sixty people, had already left the ancient city and headed towards the desolate mountains.
The mountains were vast, with abundant vegetation and rugged rocks, occasionally echoing with the roars of fierce beasts.
“Zhong Zhu, remind the clan members to be cautious here. Vegetation is abundant, and there might be spiritual creatures hidden within,” the experienced patriarch said.
When they saw the dense vegetation around them, it usually meant that there were spiritual creatures present.
Spiritual creatures appeared no different from ordinary plants at first glance.
If one didn’t approach them, they couldn’t be distinguished at all.
Spiritual creatures were even more terrifying than the fierce beasts in the mountains, incredibly mysterious, and could launch sudden attacks silently.
As the patriarch spoke, a faint radiance flickered in his eyes, like stars in the night sky, filled with indescribable mystery.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone