The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 1011 - 396: Golden Crow Hatchling

"This Tree of Fusang is not the one from the Ancient Era."

"Your perception is keen, Patron. The Tree of Fusang only has a lifespan of one hundred thousand years and is reborn with each Broken Era Calamity."

"After reviving with new life, our lineage is also preserved within the Tree Heart; as long as the Fusang lives, the legacy of the Golden Crow shall never cease."

Jin Tianran spoke, a trace of pride on his cheeks.

The more dominant a species, the more prone it is to difficulties in reproduction and lineage continuation.

But the Jinwu Clan belongs to the very few mighty and sacred birds that had long found a way to protect their bloodline, indeed possessing the capital to be proud.

"Do you also not remember... what happened back then?"

Unable to hold back, Mu Yi Hanba asked with a voice almost dreamlike.

He was eager to know the iterations between the Ancient and Near Ancient epochs, what kind of calamity they had brought, and what that calamity was like.

Once glorious as the Hanba Clan, as radiant as the Solar Abyss, to have fallen into a deathly silence, broken and desolate, how tragic was that.

"I do not know..."

When this topic was brought up, Jin Tianran fell silent for a long time.

Gathering all his mirth, he said somberly:

"According to the information left by our ancestors, the apocalypse came in an instant."

"Among them, one kind of cataclysmic vision was extremely terrifying."

"—Heaven-descended ocean currents, extreme cold extinguishing the fierce golden sun, the world plunged into darkness, bone-chilling torrents, sharp ice blades... indiscriminately erasing the inhabitants of the Solar Abyss, humans, Patrons, no creature had any privilege..."

"Water and ice?"

Mu Yi Hanba frowned:

"The power of the Broken Era Calamity comes from the Heavenly Dao and belongs to the will of the heavens."

"Our clan reigned over the Solar Abyss for a hundred thousand years, monopolizing an Abyss’s resources; if we suffered the punishment of heaven and earth, there would still be some logic to it."

"But such a vast Abyss, home to countless species, destroyed without discrimination... what taboo was committed, what sin so grave to result in this outcome?"

"We also want to know."

The young Clan Leader of the Jinwu Clan, Jin Tianjing, said with a wry smile:

"That our clan could continue to this day is already an unexpected stroke of luck in misfortune."

"The calamity of twelve epochs ago is too difficult to pursue with our current capacity."

"Could it be the enemies of the Hanba Clan?"

Mu Shoucong attempted to suggest:

"If I remember correctly, the enemies of the Hanba are spread across All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, even more ’despised by living beings’ than my own clan."

"Could there be one or more groups that took advantage of the arrival of the Broken Era Calamity, when the Elemental Laws were in disarray, they cooperated in secret to launch a fatal blow against you?"

"We cannot rule out this possibility."

Jin Tianran agreed, then shifted gears:

"But Shiqiong has investigated, and during that era, divine beings who mastered the water and ice elements did not have enough power to unleash such force."

"Take, for example, the Black Tortoise from the Ancient Cosmos, who had already grown old and was about to be replaced."

"Others did not entirely meet the criteria."

"To do such sneaky things right under the nose of Goddess Ba without anyone noticing, just thinking about it seems impossible."

"Yet reality... just happened like that."

"So, has our clan, or perhaps the entire Solar Abyss, committed some taboo, thereby incurring the absolute enmity of the Heavenly Dao?"

Mu Yi Hanba pressed his temples, calmly contemplating.

After a long while, he murmured in surrender,

"Forget it, one day I will know the truth."

"Jin Tianran, the ritual for the Ancestor’s return has been initiated, and the missing prerequisites are being prepared."

"We will stay here for a while to rest and recuperate. You can arrange things as you see fit."

"Yes."

Jin Tianran nodded and led everyone, flying straight toward the trunk of the Fusang Tree.

"Great-grandpa! Grandma! Auntie! Big uncle! Godfather! Sister!... You’re back!!"

Atop the Fusang Tree, two Jinwu chicks that had not yet fully grown their feathers stretched their necks and cried out loudly.

Those shiny big eyeballs focused intently on Ye Hanjun and Ye Liuying, their emotions extremely agitated:

"What is this food! Tianpi, Tiandan! Never seen it before!"

"One bird each! Every bird gets one! Ah! Ahh! Charge!!!"

Two streaks of golden light flashed, and the Jinwu chicks rushed over.

Jin Tianran’s eyes widened, and with a sweep of his wings, the two little ones were blown back by an even more fierce Wild Wind before they could get close.

"Go, go, go, these are guests, not your food!"

Jin Tianya, arms akimbo, proceeded to educate them.

She was once the little princess of the Jinwu Clan, but now she had grown up and her seniority had been raised.

Every time she saw these two noisy younger brothers, her head buzzed, and her already volatile temper grew even harder to suppress.

"Apologize to the guests!"

"If you do not apologize quickly, be careful they might eat you!"

"Sorry, sorry!!"

Jin Tianpi and Jin Tiandan lost all their previous enthusiasm.

Frightened to tears, they sat down in the nest, streams of golden tears hopping out non-stop.

"Eh?!"

Goose Immortal’s eyes instantly lit up.

Failing to deal with adult Golden Crows, perhaps there was a chance with these chicks?

As long as he could fully demonstrate his potential, knowledge, and culture... to gain two little fans from the Feather Clan, wouldn’t it be a matter of minutes?

"Human Master, I wish to spar with them!"

"Mua mua mua! Big Iron Goose, no shame at all, specifically bullying kids!"

GuaGua, who loved to watch the commotion and join in on the fun, made a face immediately.

But as soon as the words were out, it also dashed forward, quickly pursuing Goose Immortal and soon approaching the Jinwu chicks.

"Black... a black bird! Just like us!"

Jin Tianpi and Jin Tiandan looked at Goose Immortal, then at themselves.

In fact, their size was not far off from Goose Immortal’s, it’s just that the latter was made of strong iron, reflecting the rugged manliness and vigorous blood qi of a warrior.

The other had sparse, ragged feathers, bare patches here and there, presenting a shabby appearance, completely lacking in aesthetic foundations.