Chapter 29

So, the 127 members of the Yin clan without a generation name, who were qualified to enter the ancestral temple, were all powerful. The sinister aura they emitted was extremely dense, a mixture of sinister, bloody, and evil energy, sharp like the edge of a sword, forcing Yin Xuege to feel as if his whole body was being cut by knives, making him frown involuntarily.

After them came the members of the Yin clan with the generation name 'Ji'.

The 'Tian' generation elders of the Yin clan spent most of their time sleeping in coffins.

The 'Di' generation elders formed the highest power body of the Yin clan, the Council of Elders, resolving major disputes within the clan, controlling the direction of the clan's development, and handling diplomatic relations with other blood demon noble families.

There was no need to mention the members without a generation name; they were at the age of rapidly enhancing their strength, focusing on seclusion and cultivation, and basically not involving themselves in clan affairs.

As for the members of the 'Ji' generation, such as Yin Jihuang and Yin Jiwo, they were in charge of the actual power of the clan, with all the affairs and halls under their control. For the members of the 'Ji' generation, entering the ancestral temple to participate in the clan's ancestral worship ceremony had an extraordinary significance. It represented their influence within the clan and the views of the clan's elders and council members on them!

"Yin Jihuang!"

As expected by Yin Xuege, the first to step into the ancestral temple was the first of the 'Ji' generation, Yin Jihuang.

"Yin Jishuo!"

This was the seventh of the 'Ji' generation, the head of the Yin clan's Merit Hall, responsible for recording the achievements of clan members and issuing merit points or various rewards.

"Yin Jixuan!"

This was the eleventh of the 'Ji' generation, the head of the Yin clan's Internal Affairs Hall, responsible for all internal affairs of the Yin clan, managing countless blood servants and blood slaves, and even the internal guard forces of the Yin clan. Other matters, such as the expansion and renovation of the Yin clan's city, were also handled by him.

One after another, the 'Ji' generation members of the Yin clan entered the ancestral temple, but Yin Xuege did not hear the name of Yin Jiwo!

In the end, exactly thirty-six members of the 'Ji' generation entered the ancestral temple of the Yin clan! They were either the heads of a hall, chief executives, or leaders of a certain Yin clan force. However, among these people, there was no Blood Battle Hall head, Yin Jiwo, and no External Affairs Hall head, Yin Jili!

"Wait here. After the ancestral worship ceremony, the annual martial arts competition of the Yin clan will begin immediately! During the ancestral worship ceremony, noise is strictly prohibited, and violators will be punished without mercy!" Outside the ancestral temple, the stern and grim warning voice of Yin Tianmie echoed, followed by the deep sound of bells and drums. Yin Tianmie's long howl rose to the sky: "The Yin clan's ancestral worship ceremony officially begins. Close the ancestral temple gates and prepare the sacrificial offerings!"

Yin Xuege turned his head and saw Yin Tianmie walking into the ancestral temple with a strange smile. The dark gates of the ancestral temple closed heavily behind him, and 360 Yin clan warriors in blood-colored armor slowly walked to the back of the temple gates, firmly guarding the entrance.

There was no Yin Jiwo, indeed not him!

There was no Yin Jixuan, not him either!

Yin Xuege smiled knowingly. Was this also a response from the Yin clan's elders to him? Yin Xuege exhaled heavily, as if expelling all the resentment of the past years in one breath. He turned around and followed the ancestral worship dance and kneeling of the clan's elders, including Yin Tianjue, step by step, bowing to the numerous deities and ancestors of the clan.

A mountain of incense, paper money, and offerings were lit in a large three-legged bronze tripod, flames rising to the sky, and countless ashes of paper money were carried by the heat, floating high into the air. The sound of bells and drums continued, and chants echoed from all directions. The clan's elders, including Yin Tianjue, each threw a handwritten ancestral worship prayer into the tripod to be burned, to comfort the ancestors and seek their protection.

Yin Xuege was busy in the ancestral temple with a pleasant mood, but on the square outside the temple, Yin Jiwo's fair and handsome face had turned ashen!

Since he took charge of the Blood Battle Hall, for decades, he had never missed the annual ancestral worship ceremony! He was a direct descendant of the Yin clan, held a high position, and controlled all the external armed forces of the Yin clan. He was an indispensable member of the core power circle of the Yin clan.

But today, he suffered a great humiliation, being mercilessly excluded from the ancestral worship ceremony! He was even not as fortunate as the lucky little guy, Yin Xuege! Countless clan members on the square were secretly observing Yin Jiwo, their various gazes like countless flying knives, piercing his face and his self-esteem, making it feel like a fragile balloon with countless holes!

He even had a hallucination, as if he heard the low, sneering laughter of some clan members who were not on good terms with him within the clan!

Although he knew that no one would dare make a sound during the ancestral worship ceremony in the ancestral temple, he still felt that he indeed heard laughter.

A surge of hot blood rushed to his head. Although the blood demon clan could be considered cold-blooded in a certain sense, rarely losing control of their emotions, Yin Jiwo's vision was blackening, his heart beating violently, his blood pressure rising sharply, and the raging anger in his heart had turned into a towering flame, needing a target to vent.

Yin Xuejiao stood behind Yin Jiwo, trembling as he looked at his father's ashen face, his heart racing, his mind in chaos, not knowing what to think. His father, who was excluded from the ancestral worship ceremony, what did this mean?

Did it mean that his father had lost the trust of the clan's elders and was about to lose his power? Without power, how could he, Yin Xuejiao, still receive additional cultivation resources, and how could he still have the same rapid cultivation speed as before? His future, his prospects, were they all destroyed?

Suddenly, Yin Jiwo grabbed Yin Xuejiao's shoulder, his strong fingers making his shoulder bones crack.

In the intense pain, Yin Xuejiao, who dared not cry out, heard his father's voice, as fine as an ant's whisper: "During the martial arts competition, you must win, not lose! You must take the first place in the clan's young generation's martial arts competition! If you fail, you will no longer be my son! Your younger brother will take your place! His mother will also take your mother's place!"

Yin Xuejiao's body hair stood on end, the pain in his shoulder making him draw a cold breath. He raised his head, glared at his father fiercely, and then nodded forcefully.

An hour later, the Yin clan's ancestral worship ceremony ended.

All the Yin clan members who participated in the ancestral worship ceremony walked out of the ancestral temple in a line, the eastern bell tower and the western drum tower ringing simultaneously. Yin Tianmie slowly walked to the front of the crowd and waved his arm forcefully.

A dazzling light shone on the square in front of the ancestral temple, and the numerous Yin clan members scattered to the sides.

With a low rumbling sound, a metal arena, 200 meters long and wide, and 10 meters high, slowly rose from the ground.

Yin Tianmie's voice echoed throughout the square: "No need for much talk, follow the rules of previous years! The Yin clan's martial arts competition begins immediately!"