Ch. 59 - The Clan Reunion

On the second day, the Chen clan warriors once again gathered in the Ancestral Hall for a clan reunion.

Their faces beamed with smiles, and their eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence that had been absent during the previous clashes with the Li clan.

Chen Xingzhen stood at the front, observing the rejuvenated and spirited faces of the clan members below.

His own expression softened into a smile. The clan was thriving, moving toward a brighter future, and he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. But he knew it was not enough---the clan had to become stronger.

That was the reason for today's gathering.

Downstairs, the clan members quietly discussed among themselves, their eyes showing a hint of surprise.

Why?

Because last night, the elders had visited their dreams once again. Once might have been a coincidence, but twice made it clear that something significant was happening.

Now, as the clan gathered for this momentous occasion, anticipation glimmered in their eyes.

"Qinghe," a clan member whispered, "my grandfather visited me again last night. He taught me many things."

Amidst the crowd, Chen Qingmeng couldn't contain his joy, shouting in excitement.

However, Chen Qinghe, standing nearby, didn't share the same enthusiasm. His father had scolded him again yesterday, warning that his grandfather would come to visit him at night to make him behave.

Although the old man in his dreams seemed vaguely familiar, his excessive zeal had disturbed Chen Qinghe's sleep.

At the head of the gathering, Chen Xingzhen raised his hand slightly to call for silence. All eyes turned to him as he began to speak:

"I believe many of you have sensed something in the past two days. Let me be clear: the events in our dreams were not mere illusions. With the help of the Divine Tree, some of our Chen ancestors have actually been reborn!"

His words sent a wave of excitement through the crowd. While they had been speculating internally, hearing this confirmation directly from the clan leader left them elated.

The resurrection of long-dead ancestors was truly extraordinary. Among the astonished clansmen, a few remained unfazed. These were the Chen clan warriors at the Blood Coagulation Realm, who were already aware of the situation.

As the voices in the crowd died down, Chen Xingzhen's expression grew solemn:

"This matter concerns the survival of our clan. I hope that each clan member present here will keep it a secret and not reveal it to anyone outside this room."

"To keep this secret, each of you must make an oath to the Divine Tree. You must not violate it, or you will suffer the retribution of the Divine Tree."

Upon hearing these words, the clan members began to swear their oaths to the Divine Tree, promising not to divulge the information.

Chen Xingzhen felt a sense of relief. In truth, he had been hesitant about whether or not to share this information with the clan. Even if he hadn't, the clansmen would have grown suspicious of their prolonged encounters with their ancestors in their dreams.

Besides, those present were the core strength of the clan, bound together by shared hardships.

They would undoubtedly become the pillars of the Chen clan in the future. Unity among the clan members was essential for the growth of the clan.

And beyond the internal clan members, the Chen clan would also take appropriate measures to ensure the secrecy and security of this revelation.

By swearing an oath to the Divine Tree, it's unlikely that this information will spread beyond the clan---it will remain an internal secret. Moreover, given the mystical nature of this matter, even if it were to spread, others might not readily believe it. Chen Xingzhen had heard from his ancestors that even during the clan's heyday, they had never encountered such circumstances. For this very reason, caution was of the utmost importance. Any accidental leak could have disastrous consequences for the clan, unless the clan had already become powerful enough to protect itself.

After explaining the situation, Chen Xingzhen continued:

"In light of the clan's development, after consulting with several Blood Coagulation Realm warriors within our clan, we have made the following decisions:

"First, any Chen Clan member who reaches the Blood Coagulation Realm can become a clan elder and enjoy special privileges. Below the elders, we'll establish positions for administrators and elite clan members. Outstanding performance can even earn the protection of the Divine Tree.

"Second, considering our lack of manpower, we've decided to recruit servants from outside the clan. These martial artists only need to focus on cultivation, improve their realms, and undergo monthly evaluations.

"Third, all clan members who reach the age of sixteen must marry."

As these decisions were announced, excitement swept through the crowd. The allure of elder privileges and the favour of the Divine Tree captivated the clan members.

Even Chen Qinghe, who was initially excited about the prospect of advancing in Blood Coagulation Cultivation, froze when he heard the third announcement. If he remembered correctly, he was already fourteen years old.

Does this mean he had only two years left?

As the clan members dispersed, the clan meeting came to an end. The Blood Coagulation Realm warriors within the Chen clan had already arranged their tasks before the gathering.

In the Ancestral Hall, Chen Xingzhen looked at the Divine Tree once again and prayed sincerely.

Reflecting on these decisions, he couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Would these new measures disturb the clan's harmony?

After all, the number of martial artists within the clan was limited, and there were only a few in the Blood Coagulation Realm.

However, after listening to his father's explanation, Chen Xingzhen let go of his worries. Every clan had its rules, and every clan had its traditions. Without guidelines, chaos would reign.

Only by providing better treatment could they motivate the clan members to advance their cultivation. As for the position of clan elders, as the clan grew stronger, the demands for this role would naturally increase.

According to his father, in a weak clan like theirs, martial artists were the backbone of their strength. With so few warriors, even tasks like Blood Coagulation Cultivation fell on their shoulders, greatly delaying their training time. After all, the younger one started tempering their body, the better. Waiting until an older age made it even more difficult.

In recent days, even the clansmen hadn't had a chance to learn the ancestral Taizu Long Fist technique due to excessive busyness.

Additionally, the clan's population was sparse. Young people like Chen Qinghe, who had less-than-ideal abilities, might never reach the Blood Coagulation Realm. There were only about ten such young people in the clan.

The ongoing conflicts with the Li clan had greatly slowed the influx of new members. If this continued, the clan's development would be challenged.

Having a sufficient population was crucial to the clan's growth. Even in the heyday of the Chen clan, this aspect was never neglected. However, given the current economic situation, hiring servants wasn't feasible.

This harsh winter had caught them unprepared, even in terms of their own food supply. Fortunately, the recent acquisition of the Li clan's hunting grounds near Chaotic Burial Mountain would undoubtedly improve their harvest from hunting. The focus now had to shift to the clan's hunting activities.

Compared to the numerous small villages around Chaotic Burial Mountain, the Chen clan's several Blood Coagulation Realm warriors provided a solid base.

The situation should improve significantly by the end of the year. With their fertile clan land, they wouldn't have to worry about food shortages, and the production of Blood Rice would increase substantially.

Unfortunately, Chaotic Burial Mountain still harboured a formidable green wolf from the Innate Realm, and the Liu clan was nearby. If they could conquer the entire Chaotic Burial Mountain, the clan's strength would undoubtedly increase.

However, it seemed premature to consider such a move at this time. The Liu clan, like a sleeping tiger, could reveal its sharp fangs at any moment. For now, the Chen clan's development required stability.

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