The Ritual of Spirits
The old patriarch nodded slightly.
Since Zhong Chi had seen a giant black ape causing the beast tide, Zhong Ye’s speculation was likely correct.
The fact that the beast tide was not caused by the emergence of a Mountain Treasure relieved the old patriarch.
If it were a Mountain Treasure, it would be a great disaster for all the tribes living in the ancient city.
There were quite a few small villages like the Surviving Clan within the ancient city.
The vastness of the ancient city, spanning thousands of miles, was a testament to its prosperity during the reign of the Divine King.
However, these small villages, like the Surviving Clan, were weak forces with sparse populations, merely surviving in this world.
Precious treasures like the Mountain Treasure were desired by many, but they lacked the strength to obtain them.
Therefore, if the Mountain Treasure emerged, the small villages in the ancient city would undoubtedly be the first to face an unprecedented calamity.
“Little Chi, how strong is your single-arm strength now?”
The old patriarch’s eyes shimmered with hope.
Zhong Chi’s return had brought them a tremendous shock.
According to the records passed down from their ancestors, even during the peak of the Surviving Clan’s strength, no five-year-old child had ever displayed such astonishing power as Zhong Chi.
Of course, this didn’t mean that there were no such occurrences during the reign of the Divine King.
Legend had it that during the Divine King’s reign, a child was born adorned in holy light, exuding purity and grace, a reincarnation of a divine child with unparalleled power.
They possessed talents surpassing even the Divine King within the Surviving Clan.
Unfortunately, even such a divine child, born with extraordinary talents, eventually perished while venturing through the boundless land.
Beyond the heavens, the earth was endless, filled with countless geniuses and saints, as well as rampant divine and demonic creatures.
The dangers outside were far beyond what the people of the Surviving Clan could imagine.
However, for the present Surviving Clan, Zhong Chi’s appearance was enough to make them look up to him and be in awe, let alone the divine child who had only appeared briefly in the past.
After all, the world was vast, and for the Surviving Clan, being able to break out of the ancient city and establish themselves in a country was already a great blessing.
“Single-arm strength of one hundred thousand pounds!”
Zhong Chi revealed his white teeth, his face devoid of any hint of pride, making his tender and fair little face even more endearing.
“One hundred thousand pounds!”
The old patriarch and the other tribal elders present were shocked and speechless.
Although they had anticipated it, hearing it directly still left them speechless.
“Our people rarely reach a single-arm strength of ten thousand pounds in adulthood, and once they reach their physical limit, they enter the Spirit Communication Realm. But now, Little Chi’s single-arm strength has not only surpassed the physical limit but directly reached the legendary flesh limit.”
One of the tribal elders exclaimed, looking at Zhong Chi as if he were a monster, yet the elder’s face was filled with joy.
“Indeed! Even those Beast King and ancient ferocious beast cubs would find it difficult to reach this flesh limit!”
Another tribal elder also sighed in amazement.
Zhong Chi truly was a genius with the bloodline of the Divine King.
However, only the old patriarch knew that even with the bloodline of the Divine King, without the precious sacrificial rituals to change one’s physique, it would be far from possible to reach the flesh limit before adulthood.
Therefore, the old patriarch believed that Zhong Chi must have encountered some extraordinary opportunity after being swallowed by the vortex that allowed him to reach the flesh limit.
However, what kind of opportunity could enable Zhong Chi to reach the flesh limit and possess the strength to wield one hundred thousand pounds with a single arm?
Even though the old patriarch had seen and experienced much, he couldn’t fathom it.
He never expected that such a miraculous treasure existed in the world.
“Little Chi, you have already reached the flesh limit, a level of strength that many of our human talents find difficult to attain. When do you plan to strive for the Spirit Communication Realm? If you intend to do so, I can offer you some assistance.”
The old patriarch looked at the five-year-old Zhong Chi, who could already strive for the Spirit Communication Realm, with a foundation much stronger than theirs.
The old patriarch and the other tribal elders had reached the physical limit of ten thousand pounds of strength in one hand when they were nearly forty years old.
It was only at the age of seventy that they successfully entered the Spirit Communication Realm, a journey fraught with hardships.
However, Zhong Chi, at the tender age of five, had already surpassed their seventy years of effort, leaving them in awe.
“Grandpa Patriarch, I don’t plan to strive for the Spirit Communication Realm. To be honest, even the flesh limit is not the true limit of the human body.”
Zhong Chi did not conceal the matter of the bone limit.
After hearing about Zhong Chi’s bone limit, where a single arm could exert strength of two hundred thousand pounds, the old patriarch and others were like naive children, shocked and unable to imagine that the human clan could achieve such terrifying power solely through their physical strength.
“Grandpa Patriarch, elders, haven’t you always said that if our Surviving Clan possessed a spiritual treasure, we would surely grow stronger?”
Zhong Chi seemed to suddenly remember something and took out a short sword from his package.
This short sword was one of the two unique spiritual treasures Zhong Chi obtained from the Immortal Tomb.
The reason they were called spiritual treasures was that they contained profound runes and were already spiritually connected.
They could change their size within a certain range and possessed immense power.
With a thought from Zhong Chi, the spiritual treasure instantly grew larger, measuring about three feet seven inches in length and half a foot in width.
Its surface was covered in intricate patterns, emitting a faint glow and exuding a spiritual aura.
“Spiritual treasure!”
“This is a spiritual treasure! I once saw a powerful individual wielding a spiritual treasure with such a formidable aura in the Desolate Mountains!”
The old patriarch and the tribal elders were all shocked. In such a short time, Zhong Chi had brought them too much astonishment.
Zhong Ye also couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at the short sword that was originally only half a foot long, suddenly radiating with brilliance and transforming into a three-foot-seven-inch-long treasure sword.
Although he had never seen what a spiritual treasure was, he was instantly frightened.
Little Zhong Chi presented the long sword to the old patriarch and spoke, “This spiritual treasure is called Thorn Teeth. Activating its runes is quite simple, and anyone can do it.”
Activating the spiritual treasure required no spiritual power; one only needed to master the activation runes inscribed on it.
It was incredibly convenient and straightforward, which was why it was beloved by all.
Furthermore, there were no restrictions or thresholds, and almost anyone could activate it.
However, due to differences in the user’s strength, the power of this spiritual treasure might vary.
“Haha... This is truly wonderful! With this Thorn Teeth treasure, our clan will undoubtedly prosper!”
The old patriarch burst into laughter, attracting the attention of many onlookers.
Upon seeing the Thorn Teeth treasure, everyone became ecstatic, following suit with great joy.
A cherished treasure of our clan!
Thorn Teeth would undoubtedly serve as the cherished treasure of our clan!
All the men, women, and children of the clan immersed themselves in joy.
For the first time, they saw hope for the prosperity of their clan and realized that their previous care for Little Zhong Chi was not in vain.
Little Zhong Chi also kept a Thorn Teeth for himself, as it originally came in a pair.
That night, within the clan, a tall and powerful figure suddenly appeared at the village entrance.
Clad in silver armor, exuding an imposing aura, it was none other than Great General Tong Ming, who had accompanied Little Zhong Chi.
“Come out!” Tong Ming shouted, but there was no one in sight.
As Tong Ming’s voice echoed, there was no response.
His face darkened, and he angrily exclaimed, “Do I have to take action for you to show yourself, Four-Legged Snake!”
As Tong Ming uttered the words “Four-Legged Snake”, the ground suddenly trembled, as if something was about to emerge.
With a hissing sound and the breaking of soil, a crystal-like Four-Legged Snake appeared, with sharp angles and a formidable aura.
“Senior, did you summon me?” Astonishingly, the Four-Legged Snake spoke.
“Are there any other sacrificial spirits present besides you?”
Tong Ming’s voice turned as cold as ice, sending shivers down the Four-Legged Snake’s spine, a chilling sensation rushing through its mind.
This Four-Legged Snake was the current guardian sacrificial spirit of the clan.
When Little Zhong Chi returned during the day, Tong Ming sensed a powerful aura accompanying him.
Peering out, he was terrified to find a tall and mighty spiritual creature following Little Zhong Chi.
Sacrificial spirits were mostly transformed from spiritual creatures, with only a very few being formed from souls.
This imposing general naturally belonged to the latter category.
“Could this powerful sacrificial spirit be competing with me to become the clan’s sacrificial spirit?”
The Four-Legged Snake’s heart sank. If that were the case, it would have no choice but to obediently leave.
Tong Ming naturally noticed the Four-Legged Snake’s fear and understood its thoughts.
He coldly remarked, “You lack ambition. If I wanted to do something to you, would you still be able to stand before me and speak?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” The Four-Legged Snake trembled in fear, nodding repeatedly.
“I can see that Little Zhong Chi has a deep affection for the clan. Since you are the clan’s sacrificial spirit, it is your good fortune. I can tell that you have only recently stabilized your divine form. How can you protect the clan for thousands of years?”
Tong Ming scolded disdainfully.
However, the Four-Legged Snake’s eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing Tong Ming’s words, clearly sensing that something good was about to happen.
Indeed, what Tong Ming said next filled the Four-Legged Snake with boundless joy and gratitude.
It repeatedly kowtowed its snake head, resembling a chick pecking at grains.
Tong Ming was concerned that Little Zhong Chi would venture outside in the future without anyone to protect the clan, so he had the idea of instructing and empowering the sacrificial spirit to become stronger.
“Don’t thank me so quickly. I will teach you skills and enhance your cultivation, but I have a requirement. After I leave this place, you must protect the clan for a thousand years. Are you willing?”
Tong Ming spoke frankly.
The Four-Legged Snake had no reason to refuse.
A thousand years might be a long time for humans, but for a sacrificial spirit, it was not particularly lengthy.
Moreover, it was known that Tong Ming was an incredibly powerful figure among sacrificial spirits.
With his guidance and cultivation enhancement, it was like a stroke of great fortune falling from the sky.
In this way, Tong Ming began preparing for Little Zhong Chi’s departure from the clan, ensuring that Little Zhong Chi wouldn’t use clan members to deceive him.
Meanwhile, Little Zhong Chi spent the night contemplating how to push his body to its limit of bones.
The entire clan was immersed in joy, sleeping peacefully, free from worries about food.
Similarly, in the ancient city, no one knew that atop a towering mountain in the Desolate Wilderness, radiant auspicious lights filled the air, and the spiritual energy was overwhelming.
Countless Beast Kings and fierce beasts trembled below.
Suddenly, a column of auspicious light shot up into the sky, as if it wanted to poke a hole in the heavens.