64: Dragon Spirit Ancestral Cave, Ancestral Dragon Worship

The feasting and revelry continued until the stars began to set in the west, gradually quieting down.

Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan were settled in a bamboo guest house built against a cliff in the Stronghold to rest.

The bamboo house was simply furnished but clean and dry. The bed was covered with thick, soft animal hides. Outside the window, they could see the hazy silhouettes of distant, overlapping mountains and the scattered, unextinguished lights of the Stronghold. The air was filled with the fresh scent of bamboo and wood mixed with a faint smell of smoke, offering a unique wilderness charm of the Southern Border.

The next morning, as dawn broke and the mist had not yet dispersed, Aya's clear call came from outside the bamboo house.

Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan had already risen, quickly washed up, and pushed open the door to step out.

Aya, dressed in a neat embroidered short jacket, stood gracefully in the morning mist, accompanied by the silent, mountain-like Yan Gang.

"Old Mr. Li, Younger Sister Xiaowan, did you rest well?"

Aya asked with a smile, her eyes showing no sign of yesterday's fatigue, full of youthful vitality.

"Very well, thank you for your concern."

Li Yinglong nodded, his gaze sweeping around, but he did not see the awe-inspiring Dragon Clan Giant from yesterday.

Aya, being perceptive, immediately explained:

"My Father was called away by the Clan Chief early this morning. I heard that an urgent message came from the Hundred Clans of the Southern Border's 'Border Drum Alliance Meeting,' summoning the headmen of various strongholds to discuss important matters. So, the Clan Chief asked my Father to accompany him, and they've already departed. Before leaving, he instructed my brother and me to take good care of Old Sir and Younger Sister Xiaowan and to show you around the Stronghold properly."

Li Yinglong's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Border Drum Alliance Meeting?

It seemed to be an organization of the Hundred Clans of the Southern Border for handling major affairs. A sudden urgent summons likely meant that some new changes had occurred in the surrounding area.

He showed no hint of this on his face, only saying gently:

"I see. Clan Chief Dragon's affairs are pressing. We, as guests, will follow our hosts' lead. We'll trouble you two young friends."

"Old Sir, you're too polite!"

Aya waved her hand with a cheerful smile:

"Let's go have some breakfast first, and then we'll take you on a tour of our Angry Dragon Stockade!"

After breakfast, Aya and Yan Gang acted as guides, leading Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan on a tour of the Stronghold.

Aya, like a living catalog, pointed out and introduced things along the way:

"Old Sir, look, those drying under the bamboo shed are 'Black Cloud Ganoderma.' They need to be steamed and dried three times before they can be used as medicine, and they are the main Materials for refining 'Blood Strengthening Pills'…"

"This stone house here is the breeding room for 'Golden Thread Gu.' Their silk is incredibly tough, and when mixed with metal threads, it can weave soft armor that blades and swords can't easily damage…"

"Over by the riverbank, they're processing a newly hunted 'Mountain Boar Vicious Beast.' Its tusks can be ground into daggers, its leg bones can be boiled for glue, its fat can be made into wax, and its hide, after tanning, is excellent Materials for making boots and hats…"

Although Yan Gang did not speak much, at each location, he would add a few key pieces of information, such as the best season for harvesting a certain medicinal herb, the habits of a certain Gu insect, or the essential techniques for hunting a certain Vicious Beast, all of which were valuable experiences gained from practice.

Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan listened quietly, secretly taking notes.

Lin Xiaowan, in particular, was especially interested in the many unheard-of exotic flowers and plants, and the methods for cultivating Gu insects. She occasionally asked a few questions in a low voice, and Aya patiently answered them all.

Li Yinglong observed this, thinking to himself:

The Hundred Clans of the Southern Border, being able to thrive for generations in this harsh environment, indeed have their unique aspects.

This knowledge of identifying herbs, taming Gu insects, and utilizing beasts is accumulated survival wisdom over long years. Although its System differs from the pill Dao and beast-taming arts of the Central Plains, it is practical and efficient, not to be underestimated.

For his Family to prosper, he must draw on the strengths of many schools.

And this System of the Hundred Clans of the Southern Border has much in common with the direction he envisions for his Family's development, making it worth studying and learning from.

This journey of seeking the Dao to procure various supplies has unexpectedly turned into a journey of investigation and learning, which is quite interesting.

The group walked and stopped, visiting many industries in the Stronghold, until it was nearly noon, when they arrived at a huge, steep mountain cliff deep within the Stronghold.

Below the cliff, a colossal natural cave entrance was clearly visible.

The entrance was over ten zhang high and wide, grand and majestic, like a giant Dragon's gaping mouth.

On either side of the entrance stood eight exceptionally tall and robust Angry Dragon Clan warriors, clad in full sets of dark green bone armor and wielding giant axes and halberds.

These warriors had sharp, eagle-like eyes, and their bodies exuded a concentrated Evil Qi that did not dissipate. They guarded the cave entrance like immovable rocks, their Aura far surpassing that of ordinary strong-hold residents.

Above the cave entrance, on the rock face, two massive Southern Border characters were carved in an ancient and vigorous style. Although Li Yinglong did not understand their meaning, he could feel the immense and ancient Aura they contained.

"This is our Angry Dragon Clan's 'dragon spirit Ancestral Cave'."

Aya stopped, a natural reverence appearing in her expression, and her voice lowered slightly:

"Inside, our clan's sacred object, the 'Ancestral Dragon Totem Pole,' is enshrined."

Li Yinglong's gaze narrowed as he looked at the deep cave, whose extent was unknown. He could faintly perceive an ancient, vast, and profound Aura emanating from within, completely different from the Spiritual Qi fluctuations he was familiar with, yet equally powerful and unfathomable.

He recalled the thunderous yet distinct Spell Cultivator methods of their Father, Dragon Two, and couldn't help but ask:

"Sensing the dragon spirit and receiving blessings? Could it be... this is your clan's cultivation method?"

"You could say that."

Yan Gang replied, his voice steady:

"This is no secret. Many large clans in our Southern Border have their own ancestral spirits and totems, and their path of cultivation is somewhat different from that of Cultivators outside."

"And the ancestral spirits and totems of our clan go back to the distant ancient times."

"The origin of our Angry Dragon Clan, according to stories passed down through generations, is as follows: In an incredibly distant era, the Creation Dragon 'Xū' fell into slumber after creating the heavens and earth. Its will and Bloodline scattered into the Southern Border land beneath our feet, transforming into countless terrestrial dragon spirit of various forms and temperaments. Our clan's ancestors were a group of early inhabitants of this land who, with fearless courage and tenacious will, gained the recognition of the dragon spirit."

"They might have initially sought only survival, and in the process of coexisting with, confronting, and even cooperating with the dragon spirit, they gradually discovered methods to establish contracts with specific dragon spirit."

"That ancestor who first successfully formed a contract with the strongest dragon spirit was revered as the 'Angry Dragon Progenitor.' The totem pole in this Ancestral Cave is said to have been carved by the Progenitor based on fragments of memories of the 'Xū' he saw projected, and it also gathers the Power Of Faith of past generations. It is the core link for our clan to communicate with the dragon spirit, and it is also the source of our strength."

"We establish contracts with specific dragon spirit through sacrifices, our own Bloodline will, and other methods, thereby obtaining power."

Aya nodded and added:

"Just like my older brother, he sensed and contracted the dragon spirit of the 'Rock Armor Dragon'!"

She pointed at Yan Gang:

"The Rock Armor Dragon is a darling of the earth and rocks. In your Cultivator terms, it's an earth-elemental dragon spirit, and its defense is extremely strong. After receiving its blessing, my brother's skin becomes like the hardest granite, his strength becomes incredibly great, and he can also slightly manipulate the power of earth and stone. When he stands on the ground, his strength is almost inexhaustible!"

Li Yinglong looked at Yan Gang, recalling his previous fighting style, and indeed felt his Aura was as solid as a mountain, unmoving.

"As for me,"

Aya gave a mischievous smile, a faint, slightly glowing light green shimmer flashing on her fingertips:

"I contracted the 'Spirit Whisper Dragon.' Its form is more akin to a giant and beautiful spirit butterfly, with natural, mysterious patterns on its wings. Its blessing allows me to communicate more easily with plant spirits and some gentle small beasts. I can sense their emotions, command them for my use, and even promote the growth of spiritual plants! That's why I'm so familiar with herbs and can control Gu insects."

Li Yinglong nodded silently upon hearing this, then asked:

"Then Mr. Dragon Two, with his formidable combat power, what kind of dragon spirit does he have?"

As if knowing Li Yinglong's curiosity, Aya smiled and said:

"My Father... he contracted the extremely rare and powerful 'Bone Steel Dragon.'"

Li Yinglong's spirits lifted, and he listened intently.

"It is said that the 'Bone Steel Dragon' is not a creature of flesh and blood. Its spirit body is more like a mysterious dark green metallic skeleton and energy tendons, and its appearance is very fierce."

"It bestows upon its contractor extreme speed, unparalleled sharpness, and powerful defense."

Aya's eyes showed admiration for her Father:

"After receiving the 'Bone Steel Dragon's' blessing, Father's bones become incredibly hard, and his ten fingers can transform into indestructible dark green claws, tearing through enemies like scrap paper, without a drop of blood. He moves like a ghost, making it difficult for ordinary attacks to hit him, and even if they do, it's hard to break through his defense, which is comparable to spirit armor."

"You saw it before, Father didn't need any Spells to deal with those bad guys; he could just..."

She made a gesture of a swift attack.

Li Yinglong's mind suddenly cleared.

So that's it!

It wasn't the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment System, but a path of contract, communicating with specific dragon spirit to obtain exclusive abilities!

This reminded him of an online game he played in his previous life: "World of Warcraft."

There was a troll race in it that worshipped various animals and wild spirits called Loa.

The two had quite a bit in common.

This explained why, when he investigated the Dragon Clan Giant yesterday, the System would prompt "energy nature is mixed and wild" and "contains high-tier Bloodline pressure and primeval Power Of Faith." Although his comprehensive energy level was comparable to the Middle to Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, the pure physical lethality and speed he displayed far exceeded Spell Cultivator of the same level!