A six-layer leaf vein Sacred Spirit?
Wow, it was simply too tempting.
She actually knew very well why.
This was definitely her own 【Devour All Things】 trait acting up on its own.
Although she had experienced similar predatory instincts before,
she had never felt such an exaggerated appetite, not even when facing a mana-rich vein.
This was indeed a bit unusual!
She could only attribute it to one possibility.
The Spirit of Nature, condensed from pure life force, was probably a premium, highly nourishing delicacy on her menu.
Slurp.
It smelled so good.
It really smelled incredibly good.
She wanted to eat it.
She really wanted to stuff it into her mouth right now, chew it up fiercely along with all that surging life force, and swallow it down in one gulp.
No, no, she had to hold back.
Now was not the time for a snack.
Qimeng suppressed the wild restlessness surging inside her body.
She forced herself to look away from the cocoon of light that was emitting a premium fragrance.
In a grand setting like this, with the entire clan watching, if she walked up and swallowed the thing whole in public, things would get incredibly troublesome afterward.
Well, since the prize was already right in front of her,
she had already claimed this so-called six-layer Sacred Spirit in her heart.
As for when she would dig in...
It wouldn't be too late to make her move secretly once she found a moment when no one was around.
At that moment,
on the high platform, the Chief stumbled forward, wiping away tears of excitement.
She was preparing to loudly announce the results.
“Since things have come to this, the position of Spirit Maiden should naturally be returned to—”
“Wait a minute!”
“Wait a minute!”
Two voices rang out across the venue at the same time.
One belonged to the exasperated Eve.
The other belonged to Yinzhi, who looked completely calm.
Seeing that Yinzhi was actually objecting as well,
everyone in the audience was dumbfounded.
Eve gritted her teeth.
She was the first to bring up the clan rules, shouting shrilly.
“According to clan rules, when a new Sacred Spirit descends, if the previous Spirit Maiden and the old Sacred Spirit have both passed away, the new Spirit Maiden must be personally chosen through communication with the new Sacred Spirit!”
“Even if Yinzhi brought it back, we still have to follow the rules! Are you all going to question the clan rules?!”
The spirit attendant, Elsa, glared at her with wide eyes.
“You shameless wretch! The Spirit Maiden risked her life to bring this back, so she is the one who should take the position!”
The two sides immediately broke into a heated argument.
The venue descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, on the high platform,
the Chief looked at Yinzhi, who was covered in exhaustion but remained calm. Her heart was in a state of turmoil.
She had misunderstood the child before.
She had thought her name change was out of resentment, that she had abandoned her duty as the Spirit Maiden.
But she never expected that the girl had carried the hopes of the entire clan and risked her life in the outside world.
Midst the noisy bickering, the Chief stepped forward.
She ignored Eve's clamoring.
She only stared deeply at Yinzhi with a complex look filled with self-reproach and guilt.
The crowd seemed to sense the Chief's emotions.
The noise gradually died down.
“My child...”
“Why are you objecting as well? Are you angry that I stripped you of your Spirit Maiden title before, and changed your name to show your resolve?”
“If that's the case, I can apologize to you in front of everyone...”
Yinzhi quickly shook her head.
“No, that's not it, Chief. You've misunderstood.”
“Then why are you...”
“I only followed the direction the power of nature pointed me in to find this Spirit of Nature in the earth spider nest.”
“But this isn't the one I am truly looking for.”
Yinzhi's eyes were incredibly clear.
“The one I sensed is an even more powerful Sacred Spirit.”
“If it wasn't in the earth spider nest, then it should be a bit further away, but definitely not too far.”
“I feel that is the one I need to find, not this one in front of us.”
Huh?
The Chief felt herself going wild with bewilderment.
“What nonsense are you talking about? This is already a six-layer Sacred Spirit! It's on the same level as the Mother Tree!”
“How could there possibly be a higher-level Spirit of Nature in the Genesis Forest? Have you lost your mind, child?”
The Chief stamped her feet in anxiety, forcing down the sense of absurdity.
She softened her tone,
making a final decision with the typical stubbornness of an elder.
“Be good, it's decided.”
“We will initiate the spirit mark contract immediately and let the new Sacred Spirit choose for itself!”
The Chief managed to hold Yinzhi back with great difficulty,
then immediately turned to look at Eve below.
“What about you? Do you have any objections?”
“None. I am willing to compete fairly according to the clan rules.”
Eve lifted her head proudly.
“Good, good.”
The Chief nodded, then sternly commanded Yinzhi.
“You are not allowed to object either. It's settled!”
As the spirit mark contract array was officially activated,
the natural spirit mark belonging to the six-layer Sacred Spirit
hovered in the air once again.
And then,
with a soft pop,
it floated toward Yinzhi once more without the slightest hesitation.
Eve closed her eyes in resentment.
Then, she snapped them open in anger.
“Why is it her? Why is it her again?!”
Below the high platform, the onlookers and Elders, who had been in an uproar, grew anxious.
“Heavens, the Sacred Spirit really chose the Spirit Maiden!”
“Since the Sacred Spirit has chosen you, hurry up and accept it! Stop hesitating!”
Amidst the urging voices, Yinzhi took another step back.
She allowed the natural spirit mark to dissipate in the air.
“No, I cannot go against my heart.”
Yinzhi looked straight at the Chief.
“My mother was a great Handmaiden of the Sacred Spirit. Since I cannot achieve a true resonance with this one, I must never occupy this position and bring shame to my mother's beliefs.”
“Therefore, I refuse.”
Under the gazes of the crowd, whose eyes were practically popping out in shock,
Yinzhi announced in a loud voice.
“I announce that from this day forward, I will leave the clan and journey far to find the Sacred Spirit I sensed. If I cannot bring it back, I will never return to the clan for the rest of my life.”
“You're crazy! This is self-exile!”
the Chief cried out in disbelief.
“My mother also died in battle on her journey to find a new Sacred Spirit. I will never back down, nor will I bring shame to this power of nature inherited from her. I will bring back the best Sacred Spirit for our clan.”
“Child, stop talking nonsense. In these vast mountains and boundless forests, where could you possibly search?!”
“Actually, I already have a clue.”
“What clue?”
Yinzhi smiled and pointed toward the corner of the audience from afar.
And her finger pointed directly at the innocent-looking black-haired girl.
“It's her.”
“By following her, I will definitely be able to find that legendary Great Spirit.”
Below the platform, Qimeng rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Hey, hey.
Talk about sitting innocently and getting hit by a stray bullet.
She didn't even know any Spirit of Nature, okay?
Even if she did, it would have already ended up in her stomach.
Qimeng was about to speak up and clear her name,
but Yinzhi cast a glance at her from the stage.
It was a hint telling her to keep quiet.
Immediately after, Yinzhi delivered the final blow to the entire clan.
“Furthermore, this is already an established fact that I cannot change.”
“Because I am already her vassal, and I have already been bestowed a true name by her.”
“My name now is Yinzhi.”
Boom.
The entire crowd fell into a dead silence.
Rate on N.U.
