In the early morning, after a heavy rain, Di Tian patrolled his nest, treading on damp moss. His half-transformed state, with a tiger's head and a human body, startled a flock of birds. The multi-colored, patterned cub in his palm was curling its tail around his finger, and when the vertical eye on its brow occasionally opened, it could make the dew drops on the grass leaves condense into Five Elements Spirit Orbs. The System's notification sound rang in his Sea of Consciousness like a morning bell:
"Ding! The 82nd offspring is born, Awakening a fire-attribute Spiritual Root! Obtained Dao cultivation × 40."
"Ding! The 83rd offspring is born, triggering Bloodline resonance! Obtained Dao cultivation × 80."
Amidst the continuous notifications, Di Tian's gaze fell upon the empty space on the east side of the nest—where, at some unknown point, over three hundred Yao Race beings had gathered, ranging from common deer to rare wind wolves, and even a few fox Yao Beasts in the Early Stage of transformation, all prostrating and kowtowing in his direction.
"Warning! Detected that the Yao Race Totem Effect has been activated."
"Current number of affiliated Yao Race in the mountain forest: 327. Triggered the 'Hundred Yao Return' stage reward."
"Obtained skill: Beast King's Command (Can remotely deploy clan combat power, with morale boost effect)."
"Roar—"
A Dragon's roar and a tiger's growl erupted from Di Tian's throat, forming a tangible sound wave in his Sea of Consciousness. The affiliated Yao Race trembled all over, their eyes gleaming with fervent light—that was the dual deterrence of Bloodline pressure and Totem Power. He could clearly perceive the state of every single being: the gray wolf in the northeast corner was using wind-attribute spiritual energy to repair the nest, the spiritual deer herd on the west side was nibbling on Spiritual Plants in the Five Elements Spirit Field he had set up yesterday, and what concerned him most were the few cubs who had awakened the Candle Dragon Bloodline, gathered together, imitating his posture of absorbing moonlight.
"Ding! Detected that the host has entered the Early Stage of the Golden Core Realm, activating the 'Offspring Expedition' System."
"Hint: Elite offspring can be dispatched to open up peripheral territories and acquire rare resources."
Di Tian flicked his tail, and Five Elements spiritual light outlined a teleportation array pattern on the ground. Three robust tiger cubs understood and stepped onto the array's core; the golden patterns pulsating beneath their fur were identical to Di Tian's. When the light from the teleportation array dissipated, the System notification sounded again:
"Elite offspring 'Golden Tooth,' 'Green Wood,' and 'Red Scale' have arrived at the West Mountain Ore Vein."
"Real-time feedback: Low-Grade Spirit Stone mine discovered! Outpost being established."
At noon, Di Tian was guiding the multi-colored, patterned cub, Candle Shadow, in condensing a lightning ball when his Sea of Consciousness suddenly vibrated violently. He looked towards the southeast, only to see a strange blood-red hue appearing in the sky, and the air filled with the putrid scent of soul insects—a sign of the Soul Devouring Sect remnants.
"Alarm! Soul Devouring Sect's 'Blood Demon Son' is approaching with thirty Cultivators."
"Enemy lineup: Early Stage of the Golden Core Realm × 1, Foundation Establishment Perfection × 12, Qi Cultivator × 17."
"Detected that the host has triggered the 'Clan Guardian' passive, all offspring gain a 20% attack and defense bonus."
Di Tian gently stroked Candle Shadow's head and placed a Jade Slip, condensed with Five Elements spiritual energy, under its paw: "Take your siblings to the air-raid shelter, Father will be back soon." As he turned, his half-human body had completely transformed into a three-zhang giant beast, its golden scales reflecting a world-destroying majesty under the sunlight.
On the mountain path three hundred meters away, Blood Demon Son was whipping a captured fox Yao Beast with a bone whip. The moment he looked up and saw Di Tian, his bone whip clattered to the ground—that was a pressure far exceeding the Early Stage of the Golden Core Realm, an absolute suppression from an ancient Divine Beast Bloodline.
"You... weren't you a Foundation Establishment tiger Yao Beast?!"
"Now, I am your grandfather."
Di Tian opened his mouth and exhaled, and the Five Elements Domain surged across the mountain forest like a tide. The Magical Artifacts of the thirty Cultivators shattered simultaneously; they were horrified to find their spiritual energy flowing backward into Di Tian along the Five Elements patterns on the ground. Even the Blood Demon Great Art, which Blood Demon Son prided himself on, turned into wisps of green smoke under the purification of Five Elements Power.
"Ding! Devoured the spirits of Soul Devouring Sect Cultivators, Dao cultivation + 240 years."
"Elite offspring 'Black Eye' triggered 'Beast Kings Blessing,' inheriting 50% of the host's metal-attribute power."
The battle ended faster than a breath. When Blood Demon Son's soul orb was crushed, Di Tian suddenly noticed the broken jade hanging from his waist—it was the totem relic of his mother's clan. The Yao Race clan genealogy deep within his Sea of Consciousness suddenly glowed with golden light, and a sealed memory surfaced:
"The Candle Dragon Bloodline was jointly besieged by the Xuanxiao Sect and the Soul Devouring Sect. The Clan Chief sealed the secret treasure with his vital soul fire in..."
The memory abruptly stopped, but Di Tian had already clutched the broken jade. He looked up towards the southeast, where a valley perpetually shrouded in mist lay, precisely the sphere of influence of the Xuanxiao Sect. The System in his embrace suddenly vibrated, displaying a new notification:
"Hidden Quest 'candle dragon Secret Treasure' activated!"
"Quest Objective: Explore the Mist Valley and retrieve the mother clan's Sacred Artifact."
"Quest Reward: Bloodline Awakening Degree + 10%, unlock 'candle dragon Reverse Scale' talent."
As dusk fell, Di Tian returned to the nest. Eight hundred offspring were playing around the central spiritual pond, and Candle Shadow stood on the highest rock, reciting the Five Elements incantation he had taught him in a tender voice. When his figure was reflected in the cubs' eyes, the entire mountain forest echoed with synchronized low growls—that was the war song belonging to the Yao Race.
"Ding! Clan size has exceeded 800! Unlocked 'Myriad Yao Nest' building System."
"Can be constructed by consuming Dao cultivation: Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array, Yao Beast Hatchery, Bloodline Enhancement Pool."
Di Tian flicked his tail, and Five Elements spiritual energy condensed into the prototype of a building complex on the open ground. He could feel that with the birth of each offspring, and with the affiliation of each Yao Race member, he was getting closer to uncovering the truth behind the extermination of his mother's clan. And at this moment, he looked down at the broken jade in his claw, a chilling smile playing on his lips—Xuanxiao Sect, Soul Devouring Sect, your retribution is due.