Chapter 2

Just as Hu Gao was feeling a bit smug, thinking he had escaped a disaster, an untimely voice suddenly rang out.

"Senior Elder Nine, don't be too pleased. I think there's something fishy about this. According to the clan's secret history, if the ancestral inheritance begins, there should be a green divine light shining. But just now, apart from the greenish glow, nothing appeared. Moreover, looking at Hu Gao, his aura hasn't significantly strengthened. He's probably still an ordinary person..."

"Who says it has to be that way? I don't think so. Elder Two is overthinking it. We all saw with our own eyes that Hu Gao's soul had already dispersed. If the ancestral worship had failed, Hu Gao wouldn't have been able to come back to life."

A middle-aged man standing on the far right suddenly spoke up, finally calming Hu Gao's heart, which had been racing.

"Ridiculous! How dare you low-ranking clan members doubt me? Get down on your knees!" Seeing the situation shifting in an unpredictable direction, Hu Gao took a deep breath, gathered his energy in his chest, and finally let out a loud shout through his nasal resonance.

Although no aura was released, the old man standing in front of Hu Gao felt a strange resonance in his mind, causing him to involuntarily take a step back, almost kneeling down.

The old man frowned. He knew the clan's secret history better than anyone and was well-versed in the records of the arrival of the successor. It was impossible for him not to have doubts, but what he saw before him was beyond his imagination. If the ritual had failed, how could Hu Gao be alive now?

Moreover, facing a family crisis that hadn't been encountered in a thousand years, as the high priest, he was under immense pressure. With so many clan members present, if they knew the ritual had failed and the family's revival was hopeless, how could he explain it?

Thinking about this, the old man no longer hesitated. He knelt on one knee and raised his right hand, "All clan members, listen to the order: pay respects to the Guardian Deity!"

As soon as he spoke, the noisy scene immediately quieted down. Everyone present knelt down, not daring to say a word.

"Pay respects to the Guardian Deity!" Everyone shouted in unison, the sound deafening!

Hu Gao almost jumped out of his skin, his palms drenched in sweat. Damn, I'm just a poor scholar. Apart from having a few hobbies that men should have, I've never done anything bad. How could I end up suffering like this!

Unfortunately, the act had to continue. He had to pretend to be calm and said indifferently, "When I crossed over, I was severely injured and need at least ten years to recover some of my power. During this time, I may fall into a deep sleep. Don't wake me unless it's something important!"

Hu Gao said this without any pressure. He had read many books about the arrival of the successor, and they were all similar. As the ancients said, one regrets not having read enough when the time comes. It's true!

The old man, hearing this, felt a chill. He temporarily put aside his doubts, "I will strictly follow the Guardian Deity's command. I am the high priest of the clan, but I am unworthy and have led the clan into a dire situation. I hope the Deity can recover quickly and lead the clan to its former glory!"

Hu Gao, hearing this, thought that if this old man shamelessly asked for some cultivation techniques or secrets of the inheritance, the act would be over. He quickly closed his eyes and slowly lay back on the altar.

The scene became eerily quiet. The old man, seeing that Hu Gao didn't respond for a long time, bravely raised his head. He almost froze in shock. Could this guy have fallen asleep while talking?

It seemed that this unusual arrival was indeed different from the other inheritances. The path to the clan's prosperity might still be a long one!

"Senior Elder of Judgment, send the guard to escort the successor to the clan's forbidden area. Ensure the Guardian Deity's safety. Although we have kept the ritual a secret, the current Ning City is different from the past. There are likely many Lang clan spies mixed in. We cannot be careless!"

"Yes!"

At this point, Hu Gao, who had been pretending to sleep, finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he could sleep soundly tonight. Even if he had to die tomorrow, he would go as a sleeping deity.

However, just as Hu Gao was about to fall into a deep sleep, he felt his entire body jolt as if struck by lightning, almost passing out from the pain.

Damn, are they trying to kill me?

Hu Gao opened his eyes and found himself in a deep, dark cave. Looking up, he saw black, spiky stalactites similar to those in China, which looked quite eerie!

"I am deeply afraid, I forgot that the Guardian Deity's power hasn't recovered, causing you to be startled!"

The Elder of Judgment knelt on the ground, his face pale with fear. He had been running all the way and forgot to deactivate the barrier when he entered the forbidden area, almost killing the Guardian Deity. Fortunately, the barrier automatically closed after being triggered, or he would have had to commit suicide to atone!

Hu Gao, at this moment, could no longer pretend to be the Guardian Deity. He trembled and said, "Who are you? Where am I? What happened?"

The Elder of Judgment was stunned, his mouth wide open. He thought, could the barrier's attack have made the Guardian Deity lose his mind? Then he remembered that the successor had mentioned he might fall asleep at any time. Could the person before him be Hu Gao again?

"Are you Hu Gao?" He thought for a moment and asked tentatively.

"Hu Gao?" Hu Gao continued to act dumb. He had no memory of his original body, and if he didn't act dumb, he might be exposed. "Who is Hu Gao? Tell me, who am I?" Hu Gao struggled to get up from the cold, hard ground and walked to the Elder of Judgment, looking anxious.

"You are the successor of the Hu clan! The hope to lead the family to revival!" The Elder of Judgment felt his brain was not enough. He had always followed the high priest, but this time he was a bit suspicious that something might have gone wrong...

"Hu clan? Successor?" Hu Gao clutched his head again, "My head hurts! I remember, I am Hu Gao! I am Hu Gao!"

"Guard Elder, when the Guardian Deity was awake, he said he might fall into a deep sleep at any time. Could it be that because of his powerful divine soul, the original Hu Gao's memory is completely gone?" A guard, emboldened, stepped forward and said weakly.

"Guard White, go and inform the high priest of what has happened here!" The Elder of Judgment felt this was too big for him to handle and quickly sent a clever subordinate to report.

As soon as he spoke, he noticed that Hu Gao had fainted again!