Vol. 1 - Ch. 155 - The Confused Patriarch

Words : 1376 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

"Patriarch, this is how it happened! After leaving the Chen clan, I rushed back immediately." A few days later, in Yong'an City, at the Shi clan estate. Shi Potian finished recounting the events of his mission and remained silent, standing quietly to the side without offering his own opinion. Before the patriarch could respond, the gathered clansmen, unable to contain their emotions, erupted in frustration. "Patriarch, the Chen clan is far too arrogant! They clearly do not take our clan seriously." "Exactly! We approached them with sincerity, yet they didn’t even consider our offer before throwing Potian out. Such disrespect cannot be tolerated!" "Patriarch, we must not let this slide. If the other three major families hear of this, where will the Shi clan's dignity be? This is the perfect opportunity to crush the Chen clan once and for all!" As he listened to their fervent outbursts, Shi Potian sneered inwardly. By withholding his own stance, he ensured that the patriarch would not question his account of events. He had made slight adjustments while recounting the situation, just enough to guide the discussion without directly pushing his own agenda. There was no need for him to express his intentions—his fellow clansmen were already voicing them on his behalf. He had earned his place through sheer strength. If the patriarch hesitated, he would simply give him a little push from the shadows. With their many businesses spread across various cities, the Shi clan stood to gain immensely from securing a supply of Blood Rice. Seated above them, the Shi clan patriarch, Shi Chenghong, furrowed his brow. "The Chen clan has only a single martial artist at the Innate Realm, yet they dare reject our offer so decisively. They must have some confidence to back up such boldness." "This matter requires further deliberation." Some of the more level-headed clansmen nodded at his reasoning and fell silent. But Shi Potian grew anxious. He had laid everything out so clearly, yet the patriarch remained hesitant? Was he truly willing to let such a golden opportunity slip away? Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward. "Patriarch, I have personally been to the Chaotic Burial Mountain. Before negotiating with the Chen clan, I conducted a thorough investigation. That area is remote, the surrounding villages are practically barbaric—they don't even know what jade coins are!" "The Chen clan itself numbers barely over a hundred. A clan like that, even with some lingering incense power, is not worth worrying about." "This is a rare opportunity. I believe we should invoke the power of our clan totem and wipe out the Chen clan in one swift strike. Not only would we seize a large supply of Blood Rice, but we would also gain control over the abundant beast resources in the Chaotic Burial Mountain." His words stirred the crowd. If what he said was true, then the Chen clan was indeed weak. If they summoned the clan totem, eliminating them would be effortless. More importantly, beyond the Blood Rice, they would also claim an entire mountain teeming with resources. Even Shi Chenghong hesitated, his gaze flickering with consideration. "If the other three families are merely observing and the Chen clan truly lacks hidden strength, then this may be a risk worth taking." "Indeed!" Another elder spoke up. "According to Potian's last report, the Chen clan’s totem only manifested its incense projection briefly. Furthermore, during his initial probe, their totem barely reacted. This suggests that its incense power is running dangerously low." More clansmen echoed these sentiments, pushing Shi Chenghong into deep thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Very well. Send Potian and Podi to investigate together. But before they depart, they must first visit the ancestral hall to pray for the blessing of our clan totem. Take two Wind Spirit Birds with them." "If the Chen clan's strength is merely a facade, then we will not hold back." "Yes, Patriarch!" With the decision made, the gathered clansmen no longer argued, nodding in agreement. The Wind Spirit Bird was a messenger beast, prized for its incredible speed. Though only at the early stage of the Body Tempering Realm, its agility surpassed even that of Innate Realm martial artists. The Shi clan had few of these birds, which was why they hadn’t been used previously. But now that Blood Rice had surfaced, there was no need to hold back on war resources. With two Innate Realm warriors and the power of the totem, their victory was assured. Shi Potian frowned. The clan totem would take several more days to awaken. Given the remote location of Chaotic Burial Mountain, they would likely lose even more time. It would be far better to use the stored divine power of the totem and act immediately—striking before any unforeseen complications arose. But as the patriarch rose and left, he knew he could not argue further. He could only sigh inwardly. The patriarch was being foolish! If he were in charge, he would never let such an opportunity slip away! … Half a month later, the Chen clan had mobilized in full force. Dozens of clansmen carried the iron tools they had purchased in Yong'an City and marched toward the fields. Newcomers to Chaotic Burial Mountain were initially puzzled, but upon hearing that the Chen clan’s Blood Rice was ready for harvest, their eyes gleamed with anticipation. Many had been here long enough to understand the immense value of Blood Rice. Unfortunately, the fields were heavily guarded by the Chen clan, preventing any outsiders from getting close. They could only watch from afar, their hearts burning with desire. Several had already begun to consider approaching the Chen clan to buy some of the precious crop. This interest was not limited to the four major families. Merchants from Yong'an City and beyond—many who had arrived after the roads reopened—were also eyeing the fields eagerly. Within the farmlands, the Chen clansmen looked upon their bountiful harvest with joy. This season's Blood Rice had grown even faster than in previous years, an anomaly rarely seen before. They could only attribute it to their clan's Divine Tree. And indeed, the reason lay beneath their feet—Ji Yang had discovered the Natural Blood Spring buried below. He would not allow it to go dormant again. Whenever its activity waned, he would use his divine ability, Scorched Earth, to rekindle its energy. An active Blood Spring meant stronger, faster-growing Blood Rice. Even at this accelerated rate, however, each cycle still required roughly two months, allowing for four harvests per year—far more than before. Between harvests, the clansmen would have time to focus on other matters. Yet as the Chen clan busied themselves with the harvest, two unfamiliar figures had already entered Chaotic Burial Mountain. … Shi Potian and Shi Podi had arrived. Potian, having been here before, was already familiar with the terrain. By all rights, the two should have arrived earlier. However, an unexpected complication had delayed them—an issue with the clan totem. Its monthly awakening had been postponed by several days. Without the totem’s power, they had not dared to act recklessly. After all, Potian still vividly remembered the humiliation of his last encounter. Now, as he stood on the outskirts of the Chen clan's fields, watching their bountiful harvest, he slowly raised his palm, revealing what appeared to be an ordinary stone. But his eyes gleamed with newfound confidence. The shame of his previous retreat still burned in his memory, and he had spent days recovering back home. But now, he had returned—this time with the power of the Shi clan’s totem at his back. This time, he would reclaim his honor. And he would finally determine whether the Chen clan’s totem was truly formidable… or if the power of the Shi clan would prove superior. Sёarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 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! Every review counts. [Rate on NovelUpdate]Thanks for your support and happy reading!

Vol. 1 - Ch. 155 - The Confused Patriarch

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