Vol. 1 - Ch. 146 - Projection

Words : 1361 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

"Qingmeng, do you want to die first, or should I?" Seeing that the others were indifferent to his threats, Chen Qinghe quickly thought of the family's Divine Tree. Confidence surged in his heart as he slowly lowered the blade, only to press it back against his neck. "At worst, I'll end up like the other clansmen, living a different way. I'll die right in front of them if I have to!" Shi Potian's eyes narrowed slightly at the scene. Normally, such tricks wouldn't fool him, but at this moment, he saw a hint of unwavering determination in Chen Qinghe's gaze. What was going on? He couldn't allow them to actually kill themselves. Though Shi Potian's expression remained indifferent, he was already prepared to step in. Shen He, standing to the side, watched with anticipation. If the situation allowed, he would have praised Chen Qinghe right then and there. "That's the spirit of a real man!" Upon hearing Chen Qinghe's question, Chen Qingmeng didn't rush to answer. Instead, he scratched his head before suddenly remembering something. "Qinghe, don't you still have a piece of the Divine Tree's locust leaf?" Chen Qinghe froze for a moment before realizing. That's right! He still had a locust leaf from the Divine Tree! He hadn't forgotten to bring it with him this time. Quickly, he used his free hand to retrieve the leaf hidden in his robe and held it up toward the others. "Don't come any closer, or I'll summon my family's totem!" The moment they heard the word "totem," those who were about to make a move hesitated, their hearts tightening with unease. All eyes turned toward Shi Potian and his two companions. A family's totem was not to be underestimated—they had witnessed its power before. That was precisely why, upon hearing "totem," they grew even more cautious. When Shi Potian and the other two saw the half-black, half-green locust leaf in Chen Qinghe’s hand, their expressions became solemn. Two mere mid-stage Body Tempering cultivators possessing the protection of a family totem? This would have been unheard of in their own clan. However, for a small family like this, perhaps it was possible. Shi Potian raised his hand slightly, halting the others. If it truly was a family totem, they had to be careful. Seeing his enemies intimidated by the locust leaf, Chen Qinghe felt a glimmer of relief—but deep inside, his heart wavered. After all, this particular leaf was one he had stolen from the Divine Tree's branches in the ancestral hall late at night, after much effort. It was not granted by the Divine Tree itself. Who knew if it would actually work? Even if it did, at most, it would allow him to break through to the late stage of the Body Tempering Realm. If the people before him found out, they would still be doomed. Chen Qinghe turned to glance at Chen Qingmeng, only to see his face brimming with confidence. That left Chen Qinghe speechless. For now, all he could do was bluff, hoping this locust leaf would be enough to save them. He silently prayed that if they made it back to the family alive, he would never act recklessly again. However, Shi Potian’s next words made Chen Qinghe’s heart sink. "A family totem… a bit troublesome. I’ll handle it myself." Shi Potian's voice was calm, but beside him, Gan Yu subtly shifted his stance. If it truly was the Chen family’s totem, they couldn’t afford to be careless. But if it was just a mere locust leaf, did they really think Innate Realm martial artists like them were made of clay? Seeing that the family elder was about to take action, the others quickly stepped back. Their expressions turned serious, eager to observe. Before Shi Potian and Gan Yu even moved, the oppressive aura of the Innate Realm engulfed the area, making it difficult for Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng to breathe. Feeling the vast difference in power, Chen Qinghe's heart turned cold. But he also understood—there was no turning back now. If he waited for the Innate Realm martial artists to act, he might not even have a chance to use the locust leaf. Realizing this, Chen Qinghe hesitated no longer. He tightened his grip, crushing the leaf in his hand. Everyone's eyes locked onto the shattered leaf, their expressions heavy. Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng, in particular, held onto a sliver of hope. But as the leaf crumbled into pieces, the anticipation in Chen Qinghe’s eyes quickly faded. He felt nothing. No surge of power. Nothing at all. This was completely different from what his cousin, Qingyu, had described. So… a stolen leaf really didn’t work? It was over. Despair washed over Chen Qinghe’s face. Meanwhile, Shi Potian, who had been watching closely, silently breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he thought—two mere early-stage Body Tempering brats receiving a family totem’s blessing? Impossible. Who knew where they had picked up that worthless leaf? "You dare deceive me?" Shi Potian’s voice turned ice-cold. His footwork shifted, and a violent burst of blood energy erupted from his body, stirring up a whirlwind. But just as he reached them, the once-lifeless broken leaf suddenly emitted a pulse of energy—an aura so suffocating it sent a chill down his spine. In the next instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the shattered locust leaf. The radiance was blinding, scattering the surrounding darkness in an instant. As the golden glow intensified, the projection of an ancient, peculiar locust tree—its body split into two distinct colors—slowly emerged behind Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng. Its towering trunk stretched high, its lush branches extending far and wide. The two-colored pattern wove together in an intricate design that climbed upward. Each locust leaf shimmered with a soft golden light, transforming the surroundings into a sea of gold. Shi Potian and his companions looked up, their pupils contracting sharply. The sheer pressure exuding from the locust tree left them no time to hesitate. Without a word, they turned and bolted. Watching the esteemed family elders flee so desperately, the other cultivators stood frozen for a moment before quickly following suit. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn it! There really is totem protection?!" Shi Potian cursed under his breath as he ran. Having a totem was one thing, but this totem’s power far exceeded his imagination. It could even project itself from a distance—something even his own family’s totem could not do! Even though he was fleeing at full speed, covering hundreds of meters in a split second and pushing his martial arts techniques to the limit, he felt no sense of safety. The golden radiance stretched for miles, and no matter how far he ran, it seemed as though he could never escape the locust tree’s shadow. Panic surged in Shi Potian’s heart, and the agonized screams of his retreating allies only made him quicken his pace. But his face grew paler with every step. He could feel the threat creeping closer. In the midst of his desperate escape, Shi Potian couldn't help but glance back—only for a golden branch to lash out, sending him flying dozens of meters. The moment it struck him, it felt as if an unstoppable force had slammed into his body. As he crashed into the ground, a sharp pain shot through him—his organs twisted, his blood energy in disarray. A single blow had left him gravely injured. His expression darkened, but there was no time to recover. Gritting his teeth, he staggered to his feet and fled once more. Behind him, the golden light gradually faded into the darkness. Hello readers! Read up to 12 advance chapters by joining us on Patreon! Support us and read ahead[Join Patreon]Enjoying the story? Help more readers discover it by leaving a rating and reviews on NovelUpdate! 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Vol. 1 - Ch. 146 - Projection

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