“Who knew that one of the top two forces of the Elm City is located not inside the City but outside it.”

Ikasa exclaimed as a primitive settlement appeared before his eyes.

Tall wooden pikes crossed against each other formed a barricade around the settlement. Beyond the protective barricade, Ikasa saw simple wooden houses with thatched roofs.

These houses were arranged in three different large circles. These circles formed a triangular formation. A squarish obelisk, tapering towards the tip, rose from the center of the settlement.

Sang Yi pointed to the Obelisk from the entrance and said, “That is our totem, The Totem of Tornado. Our Clan Head resides in the hut beyond the Totem.”

He began to lead Ikasa towards the central circle by circumventing the other circles. As they approached closer, Ikasa noticed ashes of what must have been a massive bonfire at the center of each circle.

Sang Yi noticed the curiosity in Ikasa’s gaze as he looked at the arrangements in the Clan. Before he could ask, Sang Yi began to explain.

“The Nian Clan is made up of 4 different entities. The Hou Tribe, the Lu tribe, the Xiong tribe and my Sang Family. The Hou, Lu and Xiong Tribes reside here while the Sang family manages the Clan branch in the City.”

The doubts of Ikasa cleared with Sang Yi’s explanation. It also explained the different styles of houses despite being in the same settlement.

While talking, Ikasa and Sang Yi had reached the Obelisk. The Totem of Tornado glinted in the bright rays of the afternoon sun. Ikasa could decipher the murals carved on the obelisk after watching it closely.

The scenes of a tornado devastating entire cities were depicted in the murals. Curiously, the shape of the tornado was similar to the Guardian Beast of the Totem, The Heavenly Horse.

“Brother Ikasa?”

Sang Yi called from the entrance of Clan Head’s house, drawing Ikasa’s attention. He stopped his observation of the mural and entered through the door.

Ikasa swept a quick glance through the large room. Despite being one of the strongest powers in Elm City, this place of residence did not show any signs of glamor and splendor

At the back of the hall, Four elderly men with unique headgears were seated on seats made from animal fur. As his vision moved from the left to right, Ikasa saw a colorful bird feather crown, headgear with deer’s antler, and a bear fur cap. The last man had a ringlet made from the leaves of a mulberry tree on his head.

From the aura radiated by these figures, Ikasa was able to gauge their cultivation realm. He was startled to know that each of these Tribe leaders were just a step away from Opening their first Chakra!

Sang Yi bowed to the four elders in turn while introducing them to Ikasa. He started from the left, bowing to the elder with a bird feather cap.

“Sang Yi greets the Tribe Leader Hou… “

“Tribe Leader Lu…”

“Tribe Leader Xiong…”

“Patriarch Sang.”

Ikasa also followed the etiquette performed by Sang Yi and bowed to each elder even as their hawk-like eyes watched his every move closely.

Sang Yi gestured to Ikasa and said, “This is Businessman Ikasa. He has come here to meet Clan Head Ma.”

He then stepped back, leaving Ikasa alone in the room with the old fogies.

A heavy silence reigned in the room as neither party spoke a word. Both sides were waiting for the opposite party to break first.

Just as the four leaders were carefully scrutinizing Ikasa, he was also observing them. He picked on their minute ticks that showed how nervous or relaxed they were.

The Tribe Leader Xiong had grown fidgety as the silence lasted longer. The person hardest to see through was none other than the Patriarch Sang. Even after a long time had passed, not even a single line on his face had moved.

Though Ikasa was not impatient, the silence had persisted for too long for his liking. He did not plan to spend the night in the outskirts of Darumaka Forest when he could be in the soft bed of the Pleasant Dream Inn.

Ikasa decided to take the lead to break the silence. Just as he was about to speak, the door of the room opened with a bang.

A skinny old man supported by a walking stick stormed into the room. His thick white eyebrows were touching together and lines had formed on his shining bald head.

“Ma Tian, get out here! What kind of games are you playing?”

Pointing his white stick at the wall behind the four elders, the old man roared. His thick silvery white beard trembled with anger as he shouted.

Seeing the old man, the four Tribe Leaders jumped up to their feet and bowed deeply.

“We greet the Ancestor, the Third Clan head, Ma San.”

Much to their surprise, the old man ignored their greeting and turned to Ikasa with a toothy smile. He looked at the young man with a fond gaze, like a proud grandfather looking at his accomplished grandson.

The four Tribe Leaders were shocked to see the Ancestor act this way. Then they heard the most shocking words from his mouth.

“Can you show me the Judgment Feather you received from Lord Tianma?”

The old man asked with slight anticipation. Eyes of the Tribe Leaders widened. They immediately understood the reasoning behind their Ancestor’s actions.

With bated breaths, they too looked at Ikasa with anticipation.

Seeing the eager faces, Ikasa had no choice but to take out the Pearly white feather from his storage space. The feather shined with beautiful golden light as soon as it was out of the Storage bracelet.

However, Iksas saw something shine brighter than the feather. It was the eyes of the Chakra Sage Ancestor!

“Hahaha! It really is true!”

The ancestor laughed heartily. He was so joyous that Ikasa even wondered if he had gone senile.

While the old man laughed heartily, a middle aged man wearing a headgear decorated with two pearly white feathers emerged from the wall behind the four elders.

Seeing him, the laughter of the Elder stopped. His white mustache flared with his nose.

“Ma Tian, have you grown so arrogant that you want to test someone acknowledged by Lord Heavenly Horse?”

The oldman roared with anger as he blasted the Clan Head with the full brunt of his aura. He had raised his stick, ready to strike the Clan Head if he heard one wrong word come from his mouth.

Clan Head Ma immediately mitigated the coercion on himself with ease. When Ikasa noticed this fact, he was shocked as that meant the Clan Head had also reached a realm comparable to the Chakra Opening Realm of the old man!

Yet, the Clan head had a fawning smile on his face as he answered the Ancestor.

“How dare I, Ancestor. I already knew this young man was righteous and a kind person from the business deal he proposed. I had already decided to approve it.”

“But these other Tribe Leaders…”

The tone of the Clan Head immediately changed from one that was flattering to one that of grievance as he pointed at the other Tribe Leaders.

“They refused to believe my words. Not only did they have no confidence in this young man, but they also forced me into the secret room so that I would not disturb their test.”

The other Tribe Leaders looked at Ma Tian with horror on their faces. They looked at the Clan Head calling him a liar and traitor in their hearts.

They opened their mouths before the Old Ancestor to deny these accusations but one glare from him shut them up.

The lips of the old ancestor twitched as he brought his raised hand down. How could he not know the blatant lie the Clan Head was spouting?

These Tribe Leaders were still in the Chakra Sensing Realm while the Clan Head had advanced to the Chakra Opening realm long ago.

If the test took place, it happened because Ma Tian wanted it.

Seeing the innocent look on Ma Tian’s face, the Old man had the urge to call this guy the one word he was –

“Shameless!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep