The celebratory commotion gradually died down, and the Houtu Tribe returned to its usual order. The name Lin Xuan (Xuanyuanzi) had been deeply etched into the hearts of every tribesperson, but he understood that true recognition—especially the final approval of the tribe's highest leaders—still required a more formal ceremony. And with someone's return, that ceremony was about to take place.
One morning, a steady, rhythmic tremor came from the ground. Unlike the chaotic pounding of charging demon beasts, this tremor carried a weightiness that seemed one with the earth itself. The Wu warriors in the tribe stopped what they were doing and turned toward the mouth of the valley, their faces lighting up.
"Chief Kuafu is back!"
Lin Xuan followed their gaze. A giant of a man, even more imposing and powerfully built than Houyi, was striding into the tribe. He wore simple animal hides as well, and his bronze skin was marked with even more intricate, ancient totems. His features were rugged, but his eyes were as tranquil as a deep pool, as if they held the endless passage of time across mountains and rivers. He carried the enormous carcass of a saber-toothed mammoth on his shoulder, its aura terrifying, yet his steps remained unhurried.
This man was the chief of the Houtu Tribe, the Great Witch—Kuafu!
Lin Xuan could sense a vast, unfathomable force of blood and qi within him. Compared to Houyi, it was more tempered and boundless—the strength of someone who had been honed through countless ages.
Kuafu set down his prey and exchanged a few brief words with Houyi and several elders who had come to greet him. Then his gaze passed over the crowd and settled on Lin Xuan. It was calm, yet carried a power that seemed to pierce straight through a person. Lin Xuan felt as though he had been seen through completely.
Houyi murmured something to Kuafu from nearby. A faint hint of surprise appeared on Kuafu's tranquil face, and he nodded.
That evening, Kuafu sent someone to summon Lin Xuan to the stone statue of Lady Houtu at the center of the village. Only Houyi and a few core elders were present, and the atmosphere was solemn.
"Xuanyuanzi," Kuafu began, his voice low and deep, like an echo from the heart of the earth. "Houyi told me about you. You are of the Human Race, yet you survived on Buzhou Mountain, wounded Zhen, and gained an opportunity at the ancestral grounds of our tribe. Your insights into the Dao and body tempering are extraordinary. The Houtu Tribe is grateful for the grace of Father God Pangu and has always treated all living beings kindly, but few have ever earned the sincere recognition of our tribe."
He paused, his gaze bright as a torch as he looked Lin Xuan straight in the eye. "Though you have earned Houyi's and the tribespeople's affection, as the tribe's chief, I must see for myself. Do you dare face my trial?"
Lin Xuan knew this was the most crucial step. He took a deep breath and cupped his hands in a respectful salute, neither servile nor arrogant. "Chief Kuafu, Lin Xuan is willing to face your trial."
"Good!" Kuafu gave a low shout. He did not use any blood-and-qi divine power; he simply took one step forward.
Boom!
An indescribably crushing pressure instantly enveloped Lin Xuan! It held no malice; it was merely a pure display of power, as if the might of the entire earth had gathered to test his constitution and will. Under that pressure, Lin Xuan felt the air around him congeal. His bones creaked as if he were about to be forced to his knees!
He immediately circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique with all his might. A bronze sheen showed through his skin as he held fast against the pressure. But the Great Witch Kuafu's might was terrifying. Even as a mere test, it far surpassed the pressure of Pangu and the baleful aura of the ferocious beast Zhen in the mountains. His legs trembled, veins bulged at his temples, and he was almost at his limit.
Just as he was about to give out, the wisp of the Pangu's Sky-Opening Imprint he had obtained from the projection of Pangu Hall seemed to be stirred by a power of the same origin. It trembled faintly in his sea of consciousness.
A wisp of intent—extremely faint, yet utterly pure, vast, and ancient—naturally emanated from Lin Xuan. Though weak, it carried an air of supreme authority, as if it were the origin of all things and the very foundation of power.
When the crushing pressure Kuafu had imposed touched this wisp of intent, it softened at once, like snow beneath the sun. No longer oppressive, it transformed into pure Earth Qi and slowly flowed into Lin Xuan, nourishing his body.
"What?!" An unprecedented brilliance burst from Kuafu's eyes. For the first time, his face, tranquil as still water, revealed unconcealed shock! He stared fixedly at Lin Xuan, sensing that faint yet incomparably exalted aura.
Houyi and the elders felt the subtle change too, and their faces filled with astonishment.
Kuafu slowly withdrew his pressure. After a moment of silence, he let out a long breath. His tone carried a complicated mix of shock, relief, and the realization of someone whose suspicions had just been confirmed.
"The aura of Father God Pangu... Though it is only a wisp of an imprint, there can be no mistaking it." Kuafu's voice was low and solemn. "No wonder... No wonder you stirred a change at the ancestral grounds and have such insight into the Dao of power. So you have earned some measure of recognition from Father God's will."
The way Kuafu looked at Lin Xuan changed completely. His scrutiny and testing gave way to equal regard, even a subtle reverence for a bearer of Pangu's will.
"Xuanyuanzi," Kuafu said, his tone turning utterly serious and sincere. "Your character, courage, and wisdom have passed the trial. More remarkable still, you have a bond with Father God. From this day on, you are not only a friend of the Houtu Tribe, but a brother recognized by me, Kuafu, and by the entire Houtu Tribe!"
With that, Kuafu took from his robes a palm-sized token of warm, jade-like ochre. The front bore an engraving of Lady Houtu, while the back was carved with an ancient "earth" pattern. A rich aura of the earth and the tribe's faith emanated from it.
"This is the Houtu Token of our tribe." Kuafu handed it to Lin Xuan. "With this token, all members of the Houtu Tribe will treat you as they would an elder. If you face danger, you can use it to ask any Houtu Tribe for aid. It will also help you better comprehend the power of the earth, which should benefit your cultivation."
Lin Xuan was thrilled as he respectfully accepted the weighty token with both hands. It was more than a token of recognition—it was a solemn promise and a pledge of protection!
"Thank you, Chief Kuafu! Thank you, Brother Houyi! Thank you, elders!" Lin Xuan bowed deeply. "I will not fail to live up to the tribe's kindness!"
Houyi stepped forward and laughed as he clapped Lin Xuan on the shoulder. "That's my brother! When you travel through the Primordial World, just give them the name of the Houtu Tribe!"
At last, Lin Xuan had earned the full recognition of everyone in the Houtu Tribe, from its chief to its tribespeople, and received a token symbolizing a solid alliance. At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, he had finally gained a secure home base and a powerful backing.
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