The firelight flickered in the distance, illuminating Chen Xuanlin's face.
After a few breaths of silence, Chen Xuanlin said,
"I guess so."
Upon hearing this, Chen Gan'er and several other elders' eyes instantly became excited.
Chen Qiuluo also said excitedly,
"I have finally waited for this day! No wonder the Dead Sea Message Monument descended upon the village today. May the Dead Sea bless our Chen family!"
Chen Gan'er also felt a surge of excitement:
"Brother Xuanlin, how did you become a cultivator? Was that undead old man summoned by Brother Xuanlin?"
An elder who had been silent until then finally spoke. He was the last of the five Chen family elders, Chen Huaigu.
Chen Huaigu's face was serious, and he said,
"I remember that the clan leader had no cultivation skills before. There was no spiritual energy on the island, and even the cultivation methods on the island had been lost."
"The clan leader's identity as a cultivator, did it come from a legitimate source? Why has the clan leader's face aged so much? Could it be related to the evil spirits in the gray fog? Clan leader Xuanlin must not worship the evil spirits in the gray fog in exchange for cultivation."
"Clan leader, don't forget the glory of the Chen family and throw yourself into the gray fog."
"The island we are connecting to this time is a lesson learned. Although that person has gained powerful strength, he was also bewitched by the evil spirits and eventually harmed the people on the entire island."
Chen Xuanlin did not speak, but Chen Ganer said dissatisfiedly:
"You are such a stubborn old man!"
"As the clan leader, how could I, Brother Xuanlin, not know these principles? If it weren't for Brother Xuanlin, that two-headed monster would have landed on the island, and our Sanyin Island would have no way to survive."
"You don't thank my Brother Xuanlin, and you are so aggressive. Look at how arrogant you are. Why didn't I see you every time we connected to the shore and went to the island to plunder resources?"
Chen Qiugu didn't care about Chen Ganer's disrespectful words at all, and still said stubbornly:
"In this sea of death, too many people couldn't resist the temptation and became believers of those beings in the gray fog, which led to the destruction of the island and the death of people."
"As an elder of the tribe, I naturally have the obligation to remind the tribe leader."
"I didn't go to the island to plunder resources. That's because my task is mostly to organize the tribe to avoid danger, which is equally important."
Chen Ganer and Chen Huaigu, the old and the young, often quarreled in the past.
Now, hearing Chen Huaigu's doubts about Chen Xuanlin, Chen Ganer said bluntly:
"Huh, you keep talking about glory all day long, I'm talking about glory to you."
"There are only dozens of people on our island now, and we can't survive. We can't even resist the disease, hunger and cold, and you still mention the old history from who knows how many years ago."
"Then why don't you mention that bullshit glory when others scold us sinners?"
Chen Huaigu's originally serious expression was so angry that his beard trembled at Chen Ganer's words. He pointed his finger at Chen Ganer and said in a trembling voice:
"You, you... you dare mention the word 'sinner'? You're unworthy of being a member of the Chen clan."
Chen Ganer spat. "
Bah! What you eat at home comes from fishing with my men. What you eat comes from plundering resources with my men. Who of us has contributed more to the Chen clan?"
Chen Qiuluo hurriedly tried to mediate.
"Hey, we're all from the same clan. Stop arguing."
...
After a long silence, Chen Xuanlin finally spoke.
"My magic comes from the Lord of Sacrifices. My cultivation didn't come from worshiping the evil spirits in the gray fog. It's our Chen clan's sacrificial spirit that has awakened."
The quarreling paused.
"What?"
"The Lord of Sacrifices has awakened! I'm worthy of my frequent worship of the Lord of Sacrifices!"
"I only saw my brother Xuanlin worship. When did you do it? Does that mean I have a chance to become a cultivator too?"
"When the sacrificial spirit is silent, the family declines. When the sacrificial spirit awakens, the Chen family prospers."
Undoubtedly, they were all excited. They all knew the importance of the sacrificial spirit to Sanyin Island and to the Chen family.
Even the stubborn Chen Huaigu blushed. "Our cultivation and magic come from our sacrificial spirit? Then the clan leader hasn't been bewitched by the evil within the gray fog."
Chen Qiuluo also spoke excitedly.
"Great, great! The clan leader has achieved cultivation, and the Dead Sea has sent down the Dead Sea Message Monument. We've replenished a significant amount of resources this time! Truly, the Dead Sea blesses our Chen family, and the sacrificial spirit blesses our Chen family!"
Chen Xuanlin said in a deep voice,
"Tomorrow we will hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the awakening of our sacrificial spirit and make up for the years of lack of incense."
After the sacrificial spirit fell silent, the incense and worship ceased.
Upon hearing Chen Xuanlin's suggestion, they all agreed, their faces filled with excitement.
When several elders shared this information with the tribesmen gathered around the campfire, the atmosphere reached a climax.
Heated discussions, noises, and shouts swept the entire village.
Amidst the bustle, Chen Xuanlin quietly returned home.
His figure was sparse, and his face was solemn, just like when he made an important decision.
...
Zhou Yi, who was studying the exercises, felt a strong belief surging towards him from the void.
The white mist of faith that was originally connected to the Chen family members became much thicker. With
the addition of faith, Zhou Yi's spirit suddenly felt extremely comfortable, and his spirit could not help but let out a sound of comfort.
"Woo~"
After a while, Zhou Yi felt that his spirit had become much stronger, and the slight sleepiness he had originally felt disappeared without a trace.
Zhou Yi extended his consciousness out of the stone ball, and saw that all the Chen family members from Sanyin Island had arrived.
At this time, they were all kneeling in front of the stone platform, and were kneeling to him under the leadership of Chen Xuanlin.
Leading the group was none other than Chen Xuanlin, the patriarch of the Chen clan. Behind him stood three clan elders:
Chen Ganer, Chen Qiuluo, and Chen Huaigu.
Only clan elder Chen Qiufang was absent due to his serious injuries.
Behind the three elders stood the rest of the Chen clan, including Chen Xingye and his mother, Wu He.
Zhou Yi was somewhat concerned when he summoned the spirit to Chen Xuanlin. Firstly, he feared Chen Xuanlin would be unwilling to practice his mediumship skills, and secondly, he feared he would notice that he was not the same sacrificial spirit he once was.
For the past two days, the white mist line connected to Chen Xuanlin had become increasingly dim, causing Zhou Yi to worry.
However, it had now become unusually solid.
From the looks of things, the entire Chen clan was convinced that their stone sacrificial spirit had awakened, which reassured Zhou Yi.
Several fish and a bound rooster were placed before the altar.
This chicken was one of the resources plundered from the island yesterday.
Although these things were not much, they were already a luxury for Sanyin Island.
Chen Xuanlin spoke loudly:
"In the year of Jiachen in the Lost Sea, the surviving members of the Chen clan on Sanyin Island respectfully offer the golden morning as a gift, and fish and pigs as offerings, to the Chen clan spirit.
Looking back to the past, our ancestors shone with a brilliant radiance, and the islands were boundless. Numerous cultivators emerged, soaring through the heavens, and we follow in their footsteps.
Alas! Now the Lost Sea is shrouded in gray fog, and thousands of islands are isolated. Our people are trapped here like beasts, starving, with no food, no medicine for the sick, and no fish or pigs to catch. How could we possibly be so remiss in offering sacrifices to them?
Now that the spirit has awakened, I, Lin, and the islanders, bow our heads in sincere gratitude. First, we thank the spirit for protecting the Chen people and keeping them free from disease. Second, we thank the spirit for ensuring that Sanyin enjoys favorable weather and abundant harvests, and that our granaries and nets overflow. Third, we thank the spirit for allowing our Chen clan to embark on the path to immortality again, returning to the ranks of the immortals.
In the future, we will live up to the spirit and restore the Chen clan's glory. Our incense and faith will resonate throughout the universe."
The sound of the tide pierces the gray fog, and the fragrance of our hearts reaches the spirit's heart.
Enjoy the feast! "
The Chen clan respectfully welcomes the sacrificial spirit back to its place,"
dozens of clansmen behind him shouted,
"The Chen clan respectfully welcomes the sacrificial spirit back to its place."
Following Chen Xuanlin, everyone bowed three times.
After the ceremony, Chen Xingye tugged at the shirt of Chen Gan'er, who stood in front of him, and whispered,
"Uncle Gan, what did my father mean by that?"
Chen Gan'er scratched his head and chuckled,
"Maybe he meant he forgot to pay his respects before, so he's making up for it today. Remember to protect us from now on."
Chen Xingye nodded and said, "Uncle Gan, you know so much."
The atmosphere was solemn, and the two men's whispers caught the serious-looking Chen Huaigu's eye. Chen Xingye lowered his head and retreated, saying nothing more.
The residents of Sanyin Island were all somewhat intimidated by this stubborn and stern clan elder, and Chen Xingye was no exception.
Only Chen Gan'er glared back, nonchalantly.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Zhou felt completely relaxed and refreshed, his spirit brimming with energy. The white mist of faith connecting him and the Chen clan members below grew thicker and thicker.
Zhou's mind shifted, and a sudden realization dawned within him. A memory from the original sacrificial spirit resurfaced.
A white light emanated from the stone ball, illuminating each member of the Chen clan.