Chapter 494: Vermilion Bird Totem

Only a place like the Black Triangle would have tribal factions.

Just then, Ye Chen caught sight of a faint glimmer of light in the distant night.

He walked over and found a spacious clearing. At its far end stood a massive bronze pillar.

The bronze pillar exuded an ancient, archaic aura, as if it had stood in this very spot for thousands of years.

Intricate patterns were carved upon its surface.

Ye Chen recognized the pattern—it was the shape of a Vermilion Bird!

Without a doubt, this was the tribal totem of the Vermilion Bird Tribe.

The source of the tribesmen's power came from this very totem!

However, though the patterns seemed extraordinary and still retained a startlingly powerful aura, they were now dim and lackluster, appearing to be in an extremely weakened state.

And before the Vermilion Bird Tribe's totem, a figure sat cross-legged.

He had a wizened face and was shrouded in a black robe. Facing the totem, he was currently muttering something under his breath.

Two candles were placed on either side of the old man.

The faint light Ye Chen had seen earlier came from these candles.

'What is he doing?'

Ye Chen observed secretly from the side.

He guessed that this old man was most likely the tribe's Priest.

Lin Qiyun had told him about the situation in the tribe.

The entire Vermilion Bird Tribe now had only one Priest left.

The Priest held an extremely high status in the tribe and was considered one of its strongest experts, his cultivation having already reached the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

He was usually the one to manage and maintain the Vermilion Bird Totem.

In the past, awakening the totem's power had also relied on the Priest's abilities.

Just then, a familiar sensation washed over him.

Ye Chen was stunned to find his body growing scorching hot again!

This time, it seemed to be because he had developed some kind of connection with the Vermilion Bird Totem in the clearing.

'What in the world is going on?'

'This scalding heat... it's so much stronger than what I felt in my room earlier!'

Ye Chen could clearly feel that the Vermilion Bird Totem, seemingly influenced by him, was no longer dormant.

A vast, wave-like power surged within the bronze pillar. In a daze, Ye Chen thought he saw the phantom of a Vermilion Bird emerge from the pillar, radiating an intense, fiery aura.

"Wh-what is happening?"

The Priest before the bronze pillar suddenly widened his eyes, his murky gaze fixed on the Vermilion Bird Totem.

"The tribal totem, dormant for countless ages... is it about to awaken?"

He was thrilled. If the totem's power were to awaken, it would be a joyous, heaven-sent event for the entire tribe.

Their Vermilion Bird Tribe would soar to new heights, possibly even attaining a status comparable to the Xuanwu Tribe and becoming a major power in the Black Triangle Region.

Just as the Priest's face lit up with joy, nearly making him dance in excitement, a cold voice suddenly came from the side.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Ye Chen was startled by the abrupt voice.

He snapped back to his senses and looked to the side.

A burly, middle-aged man in full armor was holding a spear, eyeing him with vigilance and suspicion.

Ye Chen wasn't familiar with this attire.

It was armor worn only by the tribe's guards.

Evidently, this guard was patrolling the tribe by night and was also tasked with standing watch for the Priest.

"Oh, I remember now."

Before Ye Chen could explain, the tribe guard seemed to recall something.

He said with dawning realization, "You're that newcomer the tribe took in, Young Master Qiyun's husband, right?"

He glanced at Ye Chen and shook his head. "It's late. You shouldn't be wandering around the tribe alone. Go back and get some rest."

He left this nonchalant remark and then walked off on his own.

He wasn't exactly arrogant, but he clearly didn't think much of Ye Chen.

Ye Chen wasn't surprised.

After all, the tribe's Imperial Physician had long since declared that Ye Chen was severely injured and would be unable to cultivate even if he recovered.

The tribespeople had long since come to see Ye Chen as an ordinary person!

An ordinary person, even one with ill intentions, lacked the ability to cause any real trouble.

No wonder the tribe guard paid him no mind.

And it was precisely because she knew Ye Chen couldn't cultivate that Lin Ruowei had used the Clan Leader's authority to betroth Lin Qiyun to him.

This way, her sister would never be able to make a comeback. Having a useless husband would also prevent her from catching the eye of young men from other tribes.

'Second Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm?'

'To think I'd feel a sense of pressure from a Cultivator at that level... Life is truly unpredictable.'

Watching the man's departing figure, Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh.

In the end, Ye Chen didn't linger.

He had only just woken up recently and was still a stranger in a strange land here in the Vermilion Bird Tribe. Ye Chen had no intention of doing anything that would draw attention to himself.

He turned and left, returning to his courtyard.

With that, his connection to the Vermilion Bird Totem was severed.

"Hm?"

"Why has the totem's power subsided again?"

"Was it just my imagination before?"

Before the bronze pillar, the Priest stared at the Vermilion Bird Totem, his face a mask of bewilderment. He was completely mystified.

...

'My injuries... are they actually showing signs of recovery?'

In the courtyard, Ye Chen felt the changes in his body with utter shock, his face filled with delight.

Ever since the connection with the Vermilion Bird Totem was broken, the scorching heat in his body had gradually faded.

But the changes that followed left Ye Chen thrilled.

He felt his body had become much lighter, his movements quicker and more agile, and the feeling of pain had receded.

His wounds had clearly improved, and all these benefits had obviously come from the Vermilion Bird Totem!

'It seems that as long as I get close to the Vermilion Bird Totem, I can connect with its power!'

'I don't know what's going on, but at least it's beneficial for me!'

'If this continues, my injuries will sooner or later make a full recovery! Then I'll be able to understand the secret behind all this!'

Ye Chen stretched his limbs.

Although he had only recovered a little, he was in much better shape than before.

As he was now, Ye Chen could be considered invincible below the Blood Coagulation Realm. He could even hold his own against a Cultivator at the first or second layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm!

'Come to think of it, Lin Qiyun seems to have a power similar to that of the Vermilion Bird Totem.'

'Even if I can't get close to the totem, getting close to Lin Qiyun should have the same effect.'

Ye Chen felt a bit helpless.

It seemed he couldn't afford to be a perfect gentleman even if he wanted to.

To recover his injuries, sharing a bed with Lin Qiyun at night was probably the fastest way!