amaotonovel Chapter 431, First Clan
Chapter 431, First Clan
"Is this the primordial world?"
The Gobi Desert was desolate, with all kinds of plants withered and broken. If Li Lan had not sensed the faint aura of primordial matter, he probably would have thought this place was a dead land with no human habitation.
The original tribes lived here?
"Why do you think the original races liked to go to the Eternal True Realm? It's too desolate here, there's not even anything to eat."
The big black dog spoke up, saying, "Let's go, there's no time to lose, let's go and dig up the ancestral graves of the seven great clans."
Its eyes were already brimming with eager anticipation and barely concealed excitement.
"They would never have imagined that I, the Emperor, would not only not remain in the Eternal True Realm, but would instead strike straight at their heart and reach their lair!"
Immediately, Li Lan followed the big black dog and moved quickly. Two days later, they stood on a field covered in yellow dust. In front of them was a sloping valley with a clear spring flowing out from it.
On both sides of the stream, there are a dozen or so dilapidated dwellings, which look like temporary thatched yurts built by nomadic people, leaning precariously.
It has long been without an owner.
"Was this place once a source of primordial matter?"
However, Li Lan was surprised. When he entered, he found that the stream still retained the original aura.
However, the end of the stream has been dug out.
Clearly, a cultivation group once lived here, relying on primordial minerals for sustenance. When the resources were depleted, they migrated, leaving behind these ruins.
"Is this the ancestral tomb of the seven major clans you mentioned?"
Li Lan asked a question.
"of course not."
The big black dog smiled leisurely and said, "This place was originally a branch of the First Clan, who lived here for generations. Later, I found them and captured them all to work as miners. This place was also hollowed out."
"Then what's the point of you coming here?" Li Lan asked, puzzled.
The big black dog said, "You don't understand... The ancestral mountain of the First Clan is extraordinary and difficult to approach. We must first disguise ourselves!"
“From this day forward, you are the sole survivor of the First Clan’s collateral branch.”
"If I'm not mistaken, someone will be coming for you soon..."
Li Lan didn't know what the big black dog was up to, but she was too lazy to ask, so she pretended to be a dog as the big black dog instructed.
He cultivated and lived here day after day, and gradually became like a rough, wild man, his skin turning dark.
Finally, two months have passed.
"Where are the twelve branches? The main branch summons you; come out quickly to receive them—"
A voice came, and a person riding a giant flying bird appeared in the sky above the Gobi Desert. He held a command arrow and was already in front of Li Lan.
"Where are the twelfth branch? Why are you the only one left?"
The visitor was surprised to see Li Lan.
Following his prepared explanation, Li Lan sighed softly and said, "Several years ago, a strange thing erupted in the primordial mine, wiping out my entire clan. Only I was lucky enough to escape..."
Upon hearing this, the newcomer was startled and immediately took action to examine Li Lan's condition. However, upon sensing the aura of shared origin between the Ancestral Demon and Li Lan, he no longer had any doubts.
"Your branch has not been in contact with the main lineage for many years, and I never expected such a tragic change to happen... What is your name?"
Li Lan said, "The first is Heng."
The man nodded: "Your qi and blood are abundant, which meets the requirements... There is no point in staying here. I am the main clan's guide, and you should obey the clan's decree and follow me."
Li Lan immediately showed excitement, bowed slightly, and said, "Yes, sir."
Seeing this, the man revealed a cold smile. Sure enough, these people from the collateral branches were overjoyed to hear that they could go to the main sect.
He immediately urged the giant bird to lie down, and Li Lan followed him onto its back. The bird's huge wings flapped and it soared into the sky, quickly passing through the clouds at an extremely fast speed.
It wasn't until evening that Li Lan saw a huge city, which was entirely built of black stones.
Even a single glance from afar evokes a startling illusion, as if the city were a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, a hellish pagoda, unapproachable to anyone.
The guide smiled slightly, hoping to see shock and astonishment in the eyes of this "country bumpkin" from a collateral branch, but to his dismay, Li Lan remained calm and composed.
This country bumpkin can't even sense the power of the First City?
"Come with me."
He led Li Lan forward, and before they reached the Black City, a huge black shadow carved above the city shone two beams of light from its stone-bead-inlaid eyes, which landed on Li Lan.
The original aura of the First Clan appeared on Li Lan's body, and the light disappeared.
The guide led Li Lan into the city.
There were no markets or trading places in the city; instead, there were only layers of palaces and Taoist residences.
This is the ancestral land of the First Clan. All resources are obtained from the clan, and outsiders who approach will be suppressed and killed.
Moreover, although the city was vast, it was quite deserted, with not many people from the First Clan!
In reality, the seven primordial races have very few members, even fewer than the Eternal Royal Family. The main sect has only a little over ten thousand members, while the other branches are scattered elsewhere and can only enter the main sect to pay their respects at specific times.
Although the number of people is small, each one of them is a true elite.
Even while still in the womb, one can receive various primordial substances to enhance one's innate Dao body. After birth, one can obtain ample Dao scriptures and other resources. Furthermore, before achieving immortality, one can receive help from powerful beings again to re-condense one's Dao body.
Under such circumstances, as long as one has some talent, almost everyone can become immortal.
If one's aptitude is truly too poor, then there is no chance of staying in the clan; one must go outside to fend for oneself.
This is how Li Lan's disguised "twelve side branches" came about, and the first clan alone has hundreds of such branches.
Although these branches cannot obtain the same treatment and status as the main branch, they are required to obey the main branch's summons, just like vassals and servants. If they capture an extraordinary original, they must even hand it over to the main branch.
In a sense, the branches of the seven major clans are not as powerful as some small tribes of different surnames.
Those small tribes can occasionally find some rare primordial substances and give birth to one or two extraordinary geniuses, while the seven collateral clans... are destined to have no future.
"You all wait here!"
The guide led Li Lan into a Taoist palace, where hundreds of young people were already waiting. They had similar expressions to Li Lan and were obviously from other branches of the same lineage.
Everyone wore a look of trepidation and anticipation.
"Is the main sect summoning us on such a large scale to invite us back to the main sect?"
"It's very possible. I was selected from the side branches after a rigorous screening process. If we weren't so useful, why would they choose us?"
"If we can return to the main sect, our future will be bright!"
Many people held this hope, believing that the best future for a branch of the family was to return to the main lineage.
"Heh, returning? Take a piss and look at yourselves, see how much you're worth? Compared to the geniuses of the main sect, what are you worth? You think you're even worth their attention?"
"That's right, don't have too high hopes."
Some people poured cold water on the idea, saying that no matter how you look at it, these people are of little use to the main sect.
Talent, physical constitution, strength... all too weak.
While they waited, more young people arrived, bringing the total number of people from the collateral branches to over a thousand.
Moreover, they are all outstanding talents among the collateral branches.
"The Transmission Elder has arrived!"
Just then, a voice rang out, and everyone turned around to see an old man with white hair walking towards them.
With everyone watching, the old man smiled slightly and said:
“Young men, there is no need to be nervous. Although you are only from a collateral branch, you all have the blood of our First Clan flowing through your veins. We are all of the same origin.”
"I have summoned you here today because of the clan's long-standing traditions. Therefore, I have decided to strengthen the power of the various branch clans and have selected a group of geniuses for me to teach the main clan's techniques..."
Upon hearing this, all the young people in the room became excited.
"I knew this was going to be an opportunity for us."
"We have been away from the main sect for a long time and have lost too many of our teachings. Now that we can learn them again, perhaps we can truly be reborn and transformed!"
"Great!"
Everyone was excited.
"From this day forward, I will be here to teach you the Dharma. You must cultivate diligently. If you are outstanding enough and can make contributions to the main sect, you may return to the main sect and become its disciples!"
Seeing this, the Transmission Elder casually uttered another sentence.
For a moment, everyone was extremely excited.
"Returning to the main sect, it really is possible!"
"Once I return, I won't have to struggle outside anymore..."
"We must seize this opportunity and not miss it!"
Many people made up their minds and clenched their fists.
"Very well, before you enter, I will first impart a preface to you..."
The elder immediately began transmitting the power, and in an instant, everyone in the room sat down cross-legged and listened attentively.
Among the crowd, Li Lan pondered for a moment, but a hint of doubt crept into her eyes.
This technique is problematic. While it can slightly enhance a cultivator's cultivation level, its fundamental purpose is to purify the cultivator's blood and qi.
How could the head of the First Clan be so kind? For so many years, he has ignored the collateral branches and exploited them to the extreme. Now, he suddenly remembers his poor relatives who have been in decline for many years and wants to pass on his cultivation techniques to them.
Something unusual must be going on; the First Clan probably has ulterior motives as well.
However, what he wanted was for the First Clan to have ulterior motives.
If the First Clan established such a large town government just to enhance the strength of its branch clans... then Li Lan's disguise to enter this place would be completely useless.
He began to cultivate, and in order to ensure that he could be "chosen" by the main sect, he deliberately kept his cultivation progress within the top five of everyone.
After listening to the basic introduction, everyone sat down and began their cultivation.
Several promising youngsters are already showing promise, and some are even starting to get restless.
"Hmm, not bad, not bad."
The Transmission Elder couldn't help but nod.
"what?"
Suddenly, the elder who was transmitting the skills looked at Li Lan with some surprise. He walked closer and asked, "Who are you? Have you learned this skill before?"
Li Lan was slightly taken aback. He had been very careful to keep it under control, but he still managed to attract the other party's attention.
The other collateral relatives were far less capable than he had expected...
However, there may be no difference between being in the top five and being number one; both will eventually attract attention. Moreover, with the power of the Ancestral Demon's aura, he is not worried about his identity being exposed.
So he frankly said, "Reporting to the elder, this disciple is the first Heng of the twelfth branch. I had never learned this method before, but I felt that it seemed to be related to the resonance of blood and qi, so I tried it out. Unexpectedly, I found some tricks..."
The elder who was transmitting the skills was quite surprised: "The Twelve Branches? We haven't been in contact with this branch for many years..."
The guide who was responsible for bringing Li Lan there said, "Reporting to the elder, several years ago, the twelve branches of the clan were all wiped out because of the strange appearance of the source mine. Only the First Heng remains."