Inside a relatively well-kept tent sat three old men—the three elders who had agreed to raise the two children.
Third Elder spoke first.
«"In any case, we should at least give the two children names. What do you two think?"»
Fourth Elder thought for a moment.
«"The elder one should be called Yong Sheng—Eternal Life, a wish that he will live forever."»
He paused and looked toward the younger child.
«"As for the younger one…"»
"Yong Chang."
«"Eternal Longevity."»
Fifth Elder nodded.
«"Then it is settled. Changsheng. I hope the two children will grow up to be worthy of their names."»
The three elders fell silent for a moment.
Then the question of who would raise the children during their first five years arose.
Third Elder spoke:
«"I am the Third Brother, so I should go first."»
Fourth and Fifth Elder immediately spoke in unison:
«"That won't do!"»
Fourth Elder continued:
«"Third Brother, you're the Third Elder. Children are troublesome. Let us take care of them first. Besides, you're always busy. What if they interfere with your affairs?"»
Fifth Elder quickly added:
«"Let me take care of them. I feel that these two children are very compatible with me. Perhaps we are simply destined to meet."»
Fourth Elder frowned.
«"Fifth Brother, you're not exactly free either. And there isn't anyone in your household who can take care of them."»
«"Let me do it instead. I have a grandchild whose wife has just given birth. Taking care of two more children won't be a problem."»
Third Elder shook his head.
«"Fourth Brother, that won't do. Their parents had connections with both me and Fifth Brother. You can't simply take them away."»
«"How about this? Fifth Brother and I each take one child. There is also a maid in my household who has just given birth, so the child won't lack nourishment."»
He turned toward Fifth Elder.
«"What do you think?"»
Fifth Elder frowned.
«"But what happens afterward? Big Brother has already decided that each of us will raise them for five years."»
Fourth Elder smiled.
«"Then you can raise both children during the final five years."»
Fifth Elder was stunned.
«"Hmm… Fine. Then I'll leave the two children to you two first."»
«"Don't worry. We won't let you down."»
With that, Fifth Elder returned to his own tent.
The moment he was alone, his expression darkened.
«"Those two bastards. Do they really think I don't know what they're thinking?"»
«"They probably think children are easier to control when they're young."»
He sneered.
«"I'll raise them during the final stage? What's the point? Whether they're useless or geniuses, what benefit will I get?"»
He let out a cold snort.
«"Hmph…"»
After a moment, he sighed.
«"It's only because my strength isn't enough to compete with those two."»
A sinister smile appeared on his face.
«"But that's fine. I know your weaknesses."»
«"Hahaha…"»
«"You two think that raising them while they're young will earn their loyalty?"»
---
Meanwhile, inside Third Elder's tent, the two old men each had their own thoughts.
Fourth Elder spoke:
«"Third Brother, I'll let you choose first."»
Third Elder nodded.
«"Since you're willing to let me choose, then I'll choose first."»
He glanced at the two children and sighed.
«"Still… separating the two of them like this… aren't we being too cruel?"»
«"Just look at how healthy and adorable they are."»
Fourth Elder snorted.
«"Third Brother, stop pretending to be compassionate. We understand each other."»
Third Elder laughed.
«"Hahaha! Fine."»
He looked at the two children.
«"I'll take the elder one."»
He sighed again.
«"I only hope they won't resent us for separating them."»
Fourth Elder replied coldly:
«"Resources are limited. What else can we do?"»
Third Elder's expression changed slightly.
«"Limited?"»
Fourth Elder sneered.
«"We have plenty of resources, and our branch controls the majority of them. Yet you still chose the stronger child."»
«"And now you're leaving the weaker one—the one who looks as though he could die at any moment—to me."»
«"Do you have any idea how many resources I'll have to spend?"»
Third Elder laughed.
«"Then how about we each raise one for ten years? No need to switch after five."»
Fourth Elder thought for a moment.
«"Hahaha. Since we each have our own intentions, then ten years it is."»
«"As long as they learn their place."»
«"Agreed."»
«"Then I'll take my leave."»
Fourth Elder picked up the younger child.
Ever since the child had been born, he had remained almost completely silent.
Even now, his breathing was growing weaker.
Fourth Elder carried him back toward his own residence.
---
After some time, Fourth Elder arrived at another relatively luxurious tent.
Inside, the furnishings were simple.
There was only a table and several marble chairs.
Beside them stood a single bed made from precious Purpleheart Wood.
Fourth Elder walked toward the bed and lifted the straw mat.
He reached underneath and pulled a hidden mechanism.
Click. Clack.
The sound of gears echoed.
A secret passage beneath the bed slowly opened.
Inside was a dark tunnel.
As Fourth Elder stepped inside, luminous pearls embedded along the walls suddenly illuminated the passage.
A flight of stairs made entirely of precious marble descended deep underground.
The scene was completely different from the shabby tent above.
Fourth Elder carried the child deeper into the secret chamber.
The underground vault was filled with treasures.
Rare artifacts.
Gold and silver.
Precious jewels.
Weapons radiating powerful auras.
Countless spiritual medicines illuminated the entire chamber.
Fourth Elder placed the child into a jade-green basin.
He then took out several rare treasures and spiritual medicines.
Infusing them with spiritual energy, he refined them into liquid essence.
One after another, the precious materials dissolved into the basin.
He then poured his spiritual energy into the child's tiny body.
As the child absorbed the liquid and spiritual energy, his weak breathing gradually stabilized.
It became stronger.
Then—
"Waaah!"
The child finally cried.
Fourth Elder continued supplying spiritual energy until the child had completely absorbed the medicinal essence.
Only then did he withdraw his hand.
The baby continued crying.
Fourth Elder picked him up and left the secret chamber.
---
After leaving the underground vault, Fourth Elder carried the child to another tent.
Inside was a young couple.
The man was muscular, just like most of the strong men in the clan.
A long scar ran from above his right eye across the bridge of his nose.
Beside him sat a woman in her twenties, holding their own chubby infant, who appeared to be only a few months old.
The man stood and respectfully asked:
«"Is something wrong, Elder? Why have you personally come here?"»
Fourth Elder sighed.
«"You already know what happened to Yong Su, don't you?"»
«"I've come to ask the two of you to raise this child as well."»
The man hesitated.
«"My lord, I'm afraid…"»
Fourth Elder interrupted him.
«"You don't need to worry. You won't lack resources."»
The man's expression immediately became respectful.
«"If this is your command, then this servant would never dare refuse. I will do my utmost to fulfill your request."»
«"Good."»
With that, Fourth Elder turned and left.
---
Meanwhile, Third Elder stared at the child in his arms for a moment.
Then he called out:
«"Someone! Call Xiang Mei here."»
After a short while, a woman around thirty years old entered the tent.
Her skin was slightly tanned.
There were a few wrinkles on her face.
Her body was sturdy and strong, almost as muscular as the men of the clan.
She respectfully bowed.
«"Master, what orders do you have for Xiang Mei?"»
Third Elder asked:
«"I heard you recently gave birth. Is your child healthy?"»
Xiang Mei smiled proudly.
«"Thank you for your concern, Master. My child is very healthy and chubby. He will surely grow into a strong man like me."»
Third Elder nodded.
«"Hmm."»
«"I have something to ask of you."»
«"Would you be willing to help me take care of this child as well?"»
«"Of course, you will not suffer any loss in terms of resources."»
Xiang Mei immediately bowed.
«"Yes, Master. Since you have given the order, this servant would never dare refuse."»
Third Elder handed the child to her.
«"Then take him and take good care of him."»
«"Yes."»
Xiang Mei carried the child out of the tent.
---
Inside the tent of Grand Elder Yong Shou, only three old men remained.
Each had his own thoughts.
Yong Shou finally spoke:
«"What is going on with the two of you? Speak freely. There are only the three of us now."»
«"I know what the six of us are like. Every one of us is an old fox. We fight each other, whether openly or behind the scenes."»
«"But I have always remained neutral. I never wanted to become enemies with anyone."»
He sighed.
«"Now that our lifespans are nearing their end, all I want is for our clan to survive and prosper."»
Second Elder sighed.
«"It's not that I don't want to speak."»
«"The truth is, I've had this feeling for fifty years already."»
«"We all understand what is happening. Even if we speak about it, nothing can be changed."»
Yong Shou turned toward Sixth Elder.
«"Sixth Brother, what exactly did you sense?"»
«"Did you feel the same thing as I did?"»
Sixth Elder's expression was solemn.
«"Big Brother, Second Brother…"»
«"I can sense that this land is declining."»
«"And when that child cried and the second thunderclap descended, the feeling became even stronger."»
«"If I cannot break through to the next realm, I feel that I will eventually be destroyed along with this land."»
Yong Shou's expression darkened.
«"Second Brother, you said this feeling was the same as fifty years ago."»
«"Could it be…"»
Second Elder nodded.
«"Yes."»
«"It began precisely when Yong Su brought that child back from the ruins of the ancient battlefield."»
«"At that time, his branch was the strongest in the clan. No one dared oppose him."»
«"I'm only afraid that once those two children grow up and discover what happened, we may not be able to withstand them."»
Yong Shou frowned.
«"You two are talking about that woman?"»
«"She's already dead."»
«"I even destroyed all traces of her existence."»
«"The two children she left behind will surely become extraordinary geniuses."»
«"If we raise them ourselves and implant a loyalty seal into them, nothing will go wrong."»
His eyes gradually brightened.
«"This may actually be the opportunity we've been waiting for."»
«"The Yong Clan has lacked fresh blood for far too long."»
Sixth Elder shook his head.
«"Big Brother, in my opinion, we have only two choices."»
«"First, we control their lives and deaths completely. Even after they grow up, their fate must remain in our hands."»
«"Second…"»
His eyes flashed coldly.
«"Destroy them while they are still young, before they become a threat."»
«"At our age, we can no longer afford to gamble with our lives."»
«"Besides, we all understand that what appears to be ninety percent certainty is still only half certainty."»
«"Therefore, we must seize absolute control."»
«"We have no more opportunities left."»
Yong Shou remained silent for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
«"Very well."»
«"I'll listen to you, Second Brother."»
The patriarch took out three pieces of beast hide, each roughly the size of his palm.
He infused something into them.
Then he waved his hand.
Whoosh!
The three pieces of beast hide shot into the distance in three different directions.
Each one flew toward the tent of Third Elder, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder.
None of the three elders knew what decision awaited them.
But the fate of the two children had already begun to change.