Chapter 41 Rootless Mother Spirit Stone
The Chen clan members waiting on the beach were filled with anxiety.
They saw the mist rising from the sea and heard the roar of a massive battle on the island.
They even watched the red clouds above the island vanish in an instant. These movements were too incredible for mortals like them.
Despite their anxiety, they didn't rush blindly to the island. This wouldn't necessarily help the clan leader and elders, but would instead become a burden.
All they could do now was pray to the sacrificial spirits for the safe return of the clan leader and the second elder, Gan.
Perhaps the sacrificial spirits heard their pleas, or perhaps the Chen clan was destined not to perish. Amidst their anxious gazes, they finally saw two figures supporting each other as they returned.
As the two crossed the shallows and landed on Sanyin Island,
the waiting Chen clan members hadn't had time to rejoice before some burst into tears.
Even the elders, who had experienced the fog breaking and the shore many times, couldn't help but gape in dismay.
The two men were covered in blood. Chen Xuanlin, practically hanging on Chen Gan'er's shoulder, had white hair and a face that resembled an ancient man. He looked a far cry from the refined and easygoing demeanor of just a few months ago.
To the waiting Chen clan members, it was a shock to see Chen Xuanlin and Chen Gan'er in such a miserable state upon their return, having only recently landed on the island on the other side.
Wu He rushed over, hugging Chen Xuanlin and sobbing uncontrollably.
Chen Xuanlin, unsure how to comfort him, could only gently pat his wife's shoulder with his dry, bark-like hands.
After Chen Xuanlin and Chen Gan'er returned to Chen Village, clan members still guarded the shoreline.
Even Chen Xuanlin couldn't be sure the man surnamed Wang would attack again.
This was merely a form of psychological comfort. After all, the Foundation Establishment Stage spirit had vanished after three quarters of an hour.
The island's strongest combatant was the severely injured Chen Gan'er, so any defense would be of little use.
As darkness fell,
Carrion Island, adjacent to Sanyin Island, remained completely silent, with no one attacking.
This meant the landing operation was over.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It also meant Sanyin Island could survive peacefully for another month.
Speaking of which, not only did this landing operation yield no supplies, but Chen Gan'er was severely injured, and Chen Xuanlin lost a significant amount of his lifespan.
However, Chen Xuanlin took it easy, believing that having prevented any harm to his tribe members and having withstood a landing operation involving Foundation Establishment cultivators was a remarkable feat.
Oh, it wasn't entirely without supplies. Before leaving Carrion Island, Chen Gan'er removed the blood-stained clothing from the old man's corpse, saying he could wash it and wear it again.
Having participated in landing operations since childhood and accustomed to the bloodshed, Chen Gan'er had no qualms about this.
Furthermore, Chen Xuanlin felt the greatest benefit of this trip was gaining information about Sanyin Island and other islands, freeing them from the cloaking of information that had plagued them in previous years.
After the landing was completed, Chen Xuanlin did not convene the elders for a meeting as usual.
Firstly, Chen Gan'er was seriously injured and needed treatment.
Second, there was little to be gained from the landing, so no manual inventory was needed.
Furthermore, he seemed a little tired.
Tonight, accompanied by his wife and children, he slept exceptionally soundly.
...
As night fell, Zhou Yi, on the altar, received a system notification.
[The Island Spirit Worship System reminds you that your believer's island, Sanyin Island, currently ranks 2985124 in the Island Strength Index.]
[Since your believer's island, Sanyin Island, did not drop in the rankings during the previous landing, you are rewarded with a Rootless Mother Spirit Stone.]
[Rootless Mother Spirit Stone: Formed from the rootless mother spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it emits rootless spiritual energy when placed on soil. If spiritual energy from other five elements is placed near it, the rootless spiritual energy transforms into the spiritual energy of the stone, lasting for six months.]
Zhou Yi gazed at the multicolored stone that had appeared in the spirit-sacrificing space, lost in thought.
He had seen rootless spiritual energy in the memories of the previous spirit-sacrificing master. It was an extremely precious resource for cultivation. While difficult for ordinary people to absorb, it could be used to refine artifacts, a treasure coveted by many island clans.
According to the system, when this rootless mother spirit stone was placed next to a spirit stone of another element, the spiritual energy it emitted would change to that element's.
An earth-element spirit stone would emit earth-element spiritual energy, and a water-element spirit stone would emit water-element spiritual energy.
In other words, with five spirit stones of each of the five elements plus this rootless mother spirit stone, any spiritual energy desired could be generated!
What a wonderful thing!
Zhou Yi was immediately amazed. What kind of abstract prop was this!
...
The next morning, after offering sacrifices to the spirit-sacrificing master, supported by his wife Wu He, Chen Xuanlin once again locked himself in the small room filled with books, writing something.
It was not until the afternoon that Chen Xuanlin summoned several elders to the meeting hall.
Although the two elders, Chen Huaigu and Chen Qiuluo, did not ask directly, their worried eyes could not be hidden after all.
Chen Xuanlin said in a hoarse voice:
"I want to discuss the future of the Chen family with all the elders."
Hearing this, even Chen Ganer, who was wrapped in gauze, couldn't help but become serious.
Chen Xuanlin continued:
"We have been targeted by some immortal islands, and this landing is their work."
Chen Huaigu slammed the table and said angrily:
"Our Chen family is about to be wiped out, and they are still unwilling to accept it."
Chen Qiuluo also said:
"Do they think our Chen family can still threaten them?"
Chen Xuanlin shook his head and said:
"From the information we gathered during this shore crossing, it seems the Gray Mist and the Dead Sea have undergone major changes, and they're trying to ensnare our Chen clan to work for them."
Chen Huaigu and Chen Qiuluo exchanged a glance, but remained silent.
Chen Xuanlin spoke with some difficulty, pausing for a moment before saying,
"I think if our Chen clan wants to survive, we need to make some changes and re-establish some clan rules."
"But I need to think about the specifics."
Chen Xuanlin then instructed the two elders to take good care of the clan members and the crops in the mountains. He also instructed Chen Gan'er to heal his wounds well to avoid developing any underlying illness, and then sent the others on their way.
At nightfall, Zhou Yi was still studying the Rootless Mother Spirit Stone when he saw Chen Xuanlin emerge from the council hall.
As darkness deepened, the villagers had all returned to their homes. The open space in the village center was deserted, making the already empty space even quieter.
The distance from the council hall to the altar was only a short distance, but the elderly Chen Xuanlin was breathless as he walked.
Walking to the altar, Chen Xuanlin sat down on the ground.
The moonlight grew brighter, illuminating the golden halo of the stone sacrificial spirit, making it appear even more mysterious.
Chen Xuanlin gazed at the sacrificial spirit for a long time, finally speaking with a somewhat dejected tone, "Master Sacrificial Spirit, Xuanlin may not live long and can no longer serve you."