Chapter 510: Atonement

"Just as I thought."

"The one who awakened the tribe's totem was that kid, Ye Chen, not the old Priest!"

Beside Zhao An, Zhao Tiankuo spoke in a low voice, his expression grave.

If the old Priest really had a way to awaken the Vermilion Bird totem, he wouldn't have toiled for half his life without seeing any results.

Anyone with eyes could see that the totem was awakened entirely because of Ye Chen!

"Damn it! How could this happen!"

"He's an outsider! How could he awaken our tribe's totem?"

Zhao An was fuming.

The memory of his previous defeats at Ye Chen's hands kept replaying in his mind, and he couldn't calm down.

"I know you want revenge on him, but you shouldn't think that way."

Zhao Tiankuo gave Zhao An a detached look. "Regardless of how that kid did it, this is, at the very least, a joyous occasion for our entire tribe worth celebrating!"

"Besides, even if you had the chance to get your revenge, do you think you could actually do it?"

Hearing this, Zhao An felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, sobering him up considerably.

'That's right,' he thought. 'I don't have the ability to get revenge on Ye Chen at all.'

Even though that Ye Chen had no cultivation, the strength of his physical body was utterly astonishing.

Even his grandfather was no match for Ye Chen!

"That kid is powerful, he has done our tribe a great service, and he has gained the Priest's support because of it."

"You could say he has firmly established himself in the tribe. In terms of both strength and influence, he's far beyond anyone you can afford to provoke."

"Not to mention, if Lin Qiyun really becomes the Clan Leader, the final say in the entire tribe will very likely fall into his hands alone!"

Zhao Tiankuo said with a solemn expression, "You should find some time soon to go to her, apologize sincerely, and admit your mistake. You must mend your relationship with Lin Qiyun!"

"As for those twenty Essence Replenishing Pills... I will find a way to gather them."

Zhao An trembled, his face a mask of astonishment.

Twenty Essence Replenishing Pills were no small sum for them.

He never imagined that to mend the rift between him and Lin Qiyun, Zhao Tiankuo would be willing to pay such a steep price!

"Grandfather, do you really think that Lin Qiyun can become the tribe's Clan Leader?"

"It's only because Lin Ruowei isn't in the tribe right now!"

"When she returns, how could she possibly hand over the position of Clan Leader to someone else?"

Zhao An was still unwilling to accept it.

He didn't even dare to imagine what kind of storm Lin Ruowei's temperament would stir up when she returned to the tribe!

"Lin Ruowei's greatest backing is none other than Elder Han Luo! He is our tribe's strongest expert!"

Zhao Tiankuo's eyes glinted, a look of deep contemplation on his face. "But in terms of status, he is inferior to the old Priest! Moreover, the old Priest commands the power of the totem. Although his cultivation is only at the Eighth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, his combat strength isn't necessarily weaker than Elder Han Luo's!"

"On top of that, Lin Qiyun has Ye Chen by her side! That kid is the biggest variable!"

"Is that kid's strength really that incredible? With so many Elders supporting Lin Ruowei, can they still not match him alone?" Zhao An asked in a low voice.

"..."

Zhao Tiankuo suddenly fell silent.

After a long while, he seemed to snap out of his chaotic thoughts and said with a bitter expression, "I have never felt such pressure from anyone in the tribe before."

"I even feel that kid is the true strongest expert in our tribe!"

Hearing this, Zhao An was instantly stunned. He stood rooted to the spot, motionless like a statue.

'His grandfather's assessment of Ye Chen was actually that high!'

'Doesn't that mean, in his grandfather's eyes, that neither the old Priest who commands the tribe's totem, nor Supreme Elder Han Luo who has reached the Ninth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, is a match for Ye Chen?'

'How could they even compete?'

'With Ye Chen and the old Priest's support, couldn't Lin Qiyun do whatever she pleases in this tribe?'

'Becoming a mere Clan Leader would be a piece of cake!'

Zhao An's face turned deathly pale. He had finally, completely resigned himself to his fate.

That very evening, he personally paid a visit to bow his head and admit his mistake to Lin Qiyun.

And it wasn't just him; even Zhao Tiankuo went along!

Looking at Zhao An kneeling on the ground, his body tense, and Zhao Tiankuo standing to the side with an apologetic smile, Lin Qiyun was completely bewildered.

This wasn't the first group of people to come and visit.

The first group was still in the residence, having tea with Ye Chen.

Afterward, several more waves of people came to visit, all of them clansmen with whom she usually had little interaction.

Worried that their usual behavior might have been seen as snubbing Lin Qiyun, they all arrived with gifts and enthusiastic expressions.

She never expected that now, even an Elder as prestigious as Zhao Tiankuo would bring his grandson to apologize.

'Is it all just because the old Priest announced his support for her as Clan Leader?'

'Is that why everyone's attitude changed so quickly?'

Lin Qiyun was already feeling a bit numb to it all.

It could only be said that the old Priest's status was simply too transcendent.

If it were anyone else, even the former Clan Leader, their words wouldn't have carried so much influence.

"I stopped holding a grudge over this matter long ago. Please, Fellow Clansman, rise quickly!"

Lin Qiyun said to Zhao An.

"Young Master Qiyun need not pity him. This is what he deserves."

"An apology should look like an apology. If anyone's to blame, it's him for not knowing what's good for him, daring to try and steal Young Master Qiyun's pills."

Zhao Tiankuo shot Zhao An a cold glare before speaking with a broad smile. "Of course, we're not just putting on a show. The compensation has long been in preparation."

"Twenty Essence Replenishing Pills, not a single one will be missing!"

"I'll gather them as quickly as possible within these next three days and have this kid deliver them personally!"

"..." Lin Qiyun was taken aback.

'Coming to my door to kneel and beg for forgiveness isn't enough, they're actually offering compensation too?'

'And such valuable compensation at that!'

"There's no need for the twenty Essence Replenishing Pills."

"My wife is currently at a critical juncture in her cultivation. If you're sincere, then bring over twenty Body Tempering Pills instead."

Ye Chen's voice suddenly came from not far away.

Zhao Tiankuo and Zhao An both shuddered. They quickly looked into the distance and saw Ye Chen slowly walking out of the residence.

Behind him followed several guard captains!

Those guard captains usually stood watch by the tribe's totem and the old Priest. Their strength was immense, and their status was not much lower than that of the clan's Elders.

But at this moment, they were trailing closely behind Ye Chen, their expressions full of reverence.

This left Zhao Tiankuo and Zhao An completely shaken.

"Husband, you're here."

Lin Qiyun looked at Ye Chen. "Are the captains leaving?"

"Indeed. It's getting late, so we won't disturb Young Master Qiyun any longer."

The guard captains all smiled and bid farewell to Lin Qiyun.

Only when their gazes fell upon Ye Chen did a glint of fear and awe flash through their eyes.