Chapter 503: Comprehending the Vermilion Bird Totem

Apparently, in the old Priest's eyes, not even the likes of Lin Ruowei and her forces could do anything to Ye Chen!

Ye Chen remained noncommittal, saying nothing in response.

The old Priest's words might have been a probe, but Ye Chen gave nothing away, simply smiling without speaking.

Seeing this, the old Priest's expression turned serious, and he finally got straight to the point. "It seems you have something to discuss with me, my young friend."

"I just don't know what it might be about."

Ye Chen didn't beat around the bush either. He took a light sip of the tea before him and said, "I'll be direct. I wish to comprehend the tribe's totem. I wonder what the old Priest thinks of this?"

The tribe's totem was under the old Priest's authority. If Ye Chen wanted to comprehend the Vermilion Bird totem legitimately and without obstruction, he clearly had to get past the old Priest first.

As expected, this abrupt request immediately made the old Priest's white eyebrows furrow tightly.

"Young friend Ye Chen, if this is the compensation you seek, then I must ask you to choose something else."

"Essence Replenishing Pills, or even other medicinal pills, our tribe can give you."

"But the totem's power is the origin of our entire tribe and our most important foundation."

"Although you are Young Master Qiyun's husband, you were only taken in by the tribe two months ago. To put it bluntly, you are, in the end, still an outsider."

"Something as precious as the totem—we could never allow an outsider to comprehend it!"

The old Priest spoke these words with absolute finality, leaving no room for compromise!

Hearing this, Ye Chen wasn't particularly surprised.

If they were to so easily reveal the totem's power to an outsider like him, *that* would have been what Ye Chen found strange.

However, Ye Chen was already prepared. He gave the old Priest a deep look and smiled. "Don't be so quick to refuse."

"This isn't the compensation I'm asking for. The reason I've made this request is because it is mutually beneficial."

"Mutually beneficial?" The old Priest eyed Ye Chen suspiciously, wondering what trick this young man had up his sleeve.

"Has the old Priest perhaps forgotten that last night, the totem's dormant power showed signs of awakening?"

Ye Chen's words were astonishing, leaving the old Priest completely stunned.

He was dazed for a long moment before slowly coming back to his senses, his cloudy old eyes wide. "Wait… Are you saying… that you were the one who awakened the totem's power?"

"That's right." Ye Chen smiled. "You guessed correctly."

"Impossible!"

The old Priest denied it flatly, without a hint of hesitation. "You're an outsider. How could you possibly awaken the power of my tribe's totem?"

"Whether I'm telling the truth or not is something we can easily find out."

"Why don't you accompany me to see for yourself, old Priest? The answer will be clear then."

Ye Chen said in a calm, unhurried tone.

He knew that for the old Priest, his words were absolutely astonishing news.

In ancient times, the Vermilion Bird tribe had once been illustrious, its power shaking the Eastern Wilderness.

But later, the totem's power gradually fell dormant, remaining in a long slumber from which it never awoke.

From then on, the cultivation of the tribespeople who relied on the totem's power plummeted, and each successive generation grew weaker than the last.

Now, the Vermilion Bird tribe has become a minor tribe, dependent on other powers for its survival.

If they could reawaken the totem's power, it would be an event of extraordinary significance for the Vermilion Bird tribe—an act that could even be called a rebirth!

Ye Chen was confident that the old Priest could not possibly remain indifferent to his words!

And just as he expected, after the old Priest's expression shifted through a range of emotions, he seemed to make a decision. His withered body shot to its feet, and he stared at Ye Chen with a sharp glint in his eyes!

"Young friend Ye Chen, this matter is of the utmost importance. I hope you are not making a fool of this old man, nor harbor any ulterior motives in this affair."

"Otherwise, if this old man discovers that your actions will bring harm to the tribe, I will suppress you, even if it costs me my old life!"

"At that time, not even Young Master Qiyun will be able to protect you!"

The old Priest's attitude was resolute and serious, and he looked as if he were ready to strike at any moment.

Although he couldn't bring himself to believe that an outsider like Ye Chen could awaken the tribe's totem, he also couldn't afford to ignore his words.

The totem had lain dormant for countless ages.

Now, even if there was the slightest possibility, he had to try!

"The tribe took me in for two months and let me recover here in peace. I would naturally not do anything to harm it," Ye Chen said calmly.

"That would be for the best."

The old Priest gave Ye Chen another deep look.

There was no time to lose. He set off at once, leading Ye Chen to the tribe's totem!

Led by the old Priest, Ye Chen arrived at the spacious area he had seen the previous night.

At the far end of the clearing stood a massive bronze pillar.

The bronze pillar soared into the clouds, its top nearly invisible. Countless ancient Daoist patterns were carved upon its surface, faintly forming the image of a Vermilion Bird.

From a distance, the image of the Vermilion Bird seemed to glow faintly, so lifelike it was almost surreal.

It was as if an ancient, divine beast, wreathed in sacred flames with wings that could blot out the sky, was about to take flight and soar through the heavens!

Even though the Vermilion Bird tribe was in an extreme state of decay, when Ye Chen saw the bronze pillar before him, he was still stunned by its ancient, boundless aura and imagery.

'Back in ancient times, just how powerful must the Vermilion Bird tribe have been before its totem's power fell dormant?'

"My young friend, this is our tribe's totem."

"Do you truly have the ability to awaken it?"

The old Priest glanced sideways at Ye Chen, still half-believing and half-doubting.

Beside him, several guard captains glared at Ye Chen like tigers stalking their prey, their faces filled with vigilance.

When they heard that Ye Chen could awaken the power of the tribe's totem, they too found it incredible and couldn't understand why the old Priest would believe such nonsense.

But the old Priest held a revered position in the tribe. As mere tribal guards, they were not qualified to obstruct a decision he had made.

"Of course."

"Just watch!"

Ye Chen let out a long breath.

When he was less than a hundred meters from the bronze pillar, he could already feel that familiar, scorching heat.

Yes, just like last night, the scorching sensation was like a hot spring, immersing his physical body within it.

The warm and comfortable feeling made Ye Chen feel as if he were about to melt away.

At the same time, the injuries on his body were also healing at a rapid pace.

Although no Spiritual Power had yet been generated within him, and his Divine Soul was still depleted, the wounds on his physical body were mending at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Soon, Ye Chen felt he already possessed power comparable to the Spirit Sea Realm!

'Sure enough, comprehending the tribe's totem is the fastest way to heal my injuries!'