Chapter 7: Tatanka beast clan and secret realm
"We are honoured to receive a distinguished guest from the Beast Continent, the venerable ancestor of the Tatanka clan. Your attendance is mandatory to ensure a fitting welcome."
As Yu Mei's eyes scanned the final line, she felt a surge of confusion and astonishment at the royal family's abrupt and unanticipated decision.
"The Ancestor of the Tatanka clan! The legendary wild bison clan from the Beast Continent, celebrated for their extraordinary strength and unyielding defence.
Ranked among the top 10 clans in the Beast Continent, what could be their motive for contacting us?"
"Yu Mei's intuition told her that something was off, and she felt an inexplicable pull to gather information. With a sense of foreboding, she made her way towards the main clan hall, seeking answers."
Noon,
"With his innovative cultivation technique now perfected, Ye Yang was ready to embark on the challenging tasks that would grant him access to the revered main cultivation techniques, a crucial step in his spiritual journey."
"System, I'm ready for the new task."
[System]
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"Task 1: Kiss the first woman you encounter upon entering the main hall."
"Task 2: Roam naked under the cover of night, concealing your face."
"Reward: Cultivation of the 9th level of the Qi Awakening realm and the Yin-yang Spirit Massage Oil."
Ye Yang was taken aback, unsure how to react. "Why are all your tasks so perverted?" he asked, incredulous. "Can't you give me something more noble, like saving someone or defeating bandits?"
"This task appears deceptively simple, but it's actually the most challenging one yet. 'Kiss the first woman I encounter upon reaching the main hall or run naked around the city?' How can I possibly complete either of these tasks?" he starts pondering which task should he choose.
Inside the main hall,
The grand hall was filled with every important member of the clan, with the highest position reserved for the Head of the clan, Ye Wanshu.
The hall's sides were lined with Elders and young Elders, each with distinct roles: Elders served under the Grand Elder and clan leader, while young Elders worked under the Elders.
This hierarchical structure ensured a balance of power within the clan and facilitated smooth operations. Notably, every individual present in the hall had achieved a cultivation level above the Core Formation Realm.
This impressive display of inner strength demonstrated that, despite the clan's decline to a second-class clan after the ancestor's passing 30 years ago, it could still rival many top-tier clans.
To the left of the clan head's seat, near the downside, sat none other than Ye Tianxing, the Grand Elder of the family. On the opposite side sat the 1st Elder, who was also the wife of the previous clan head, whose death remained shrouded in mystery following the ancestor's passing.
The deceased clan head was the son of the ancestor, born after his mother's untimely passing. It was only after his demise that the current clan head, Ye Wanshu, rose to power, supported by the 1st Elder and Grand Elder.
Clan Head Ye Wanshu spoke in a solemn tone, "I believe you have all received the invitation from the Imperial Family and You all seem surprised by the last message mentioned in the imperial scroll."
A murmur of discussion spread among the crowd.
Ye Wanshu…. "Today's meeting concerns this matter. The Ancestor of the Tatanka clan attending the imperial banquet is not a simple affair. Have you heard of the Grotto of Obsession?"
Grand Elder Ye Tianxing spoke on behalf of the other elders, "Who is unfamiliar with the Grotto of Obsession? It's the mysterious realm discovered 30 years ago." His tone turned sombre, "It's the very same place where we lost our ancestor and our previous clan head." He locked eyes with Clan Leader Ye Wanshu, with his gaze piercing.
Clan Head Ye Wanshu continued, "Yes, it's the very same place that has become a dark chapter in our history. On that day, we lost two pillars of our clan." His voice turned sober, "Now, we have a chance to avenge our people's deaths and rise to power once again."
"The imperial family and many other first-rate clans, with the help of outsiders, have finally discovered the way to enter the secret realm of the Grotto of Obsession."
"By following the rules of the secret realm, we can venture into it every 10 years for a maximum of 6 months. However, the truth is that every one day inside the secret realm equals 1 month in the real world. So, six days inside is equivalent to six months outside."
The hall erupted in excited exclamations as people reacted to this news.
"Silence!"
The First Elder's voice rang out, quieting the murmurs. Then, the Clan Head continued, "There is bad news hidden within the good news. It seems that only those who are above the Qi Cultivation Realm and below the Spirit Awakening Realm can enter the realm."
"What?"
"Then there's no chance for us old bones!"
"Why is that?"
"Who decided that?"
As the noise grew louder, the Grand Elder spoke up, "The death of our ancestor and previous clan head was related to this. They, along with others from different clans, tried to force their way into the secret realm without qualification and were punished by the mysterious laws of the secret realm, resulting in their demise."
The hall fell silent as he continued, "There is another condition: only one human and one beast can enter together, provided they have an equivalent level of cultivation which means that the secret realm holds a mysterious inheritance," he said, allowing the others to grasp the situation regarding the secret realm.
"The imperial family has decided to partner with the Tatanka clan and has invited their allies to select the best candidates for this adventure," the Clan Leader announced.
"Other first-class clans and top-tier sects are also inviting various beast clans for their assistance, but as a second-class clan, we have decided to ally ourselves with the Imperial Family."
[important notice]
*Ye Yang has two tasks as of right now and he has to choose one of them and I'm giving you the opportunity to choose for him, we will decide this with voting system, all you have to do is comment Task1 or Task2 and the story will continue that way*