Dawn struggled to break through the dense canopy, casting fractured shadows over the Stone Hearth Clan's clearing. The air hung heavy with the grim scents of recent battle – charred wood, dried blood, and the lingering, acrid coldness of Shadowfang Qi. Bodies lay still, stark reminders of the night's nightmare. Weeping and hushed whispers filled the strained silence. Grief was a suffocating weight, but beneath it, a chilling undercurrent of fear and suspicion flowed, drawing many wary eyes towards Zhao Feng.
Elder Bor, his ancient face contorted with dread, pointed a trembling finger. "He brings strange power!" he rasped, his voice raw with accusation. "Unnatural! What dark price will follow his gifts? He is a curse upon our home!" His words resonated with the clan's ingrained fears, stirring a quiet unrest among the traditionalists.
Gronn, the chieftain, stood nearby, his massive frame weary, his jaw tight. He watched Zhao Feng, torn. He had seen Kael's impossible skill, a miracle wrought by this man. Yet, Elder Bor's fears echoed the deep-seated caution of their ancestors. Their defenses were shattered, their numbers few. "How do we rebuild?" Gronn asked, his voice rough with despair.
Zhao Feng met Gronn's gaze, his own calm and resolute. "Elder Bor, my power fought the darkness that nearly destroyed us. This Primordial Expanse is changing, dangerous. We must grow stronger or be crushed." He turned to the chieftain: "Gronn, the System has given us a vital task: [Secure Clan Defenses and Replenish Losses]. We must rebuild, swiftly and decisively."
With 968 Primordial Essence, Zhao Feng acted. He mentally purchased the 'Basic Fortification Blueprint' for 200 Primordial Essence, leaving him with 768. A shimmering, ethereal scroll materialized in his hand, detailed with glowing lines for Qi-reinforced walls and fortified gates. He presented it to Gronn. "This blueprint shows how to build defenses imbued with the earth's own Qi. They will stand against any foe, deflecting dark energy." Gronn, though initially disbelieving, felt a spark of desperate hope ignite within him.
"And we need more warriors," Zhao Feng continued. He purchased two 'Basic Spear Cultivator Cards' for 100 Primordial Essence each, dropping his total to 568. He had Gronn select two brave youths, Roric and Lyra. Zhao Feng activated the cards, and the pure light flowed into them. Roric and Lyra stiffened, then moved with impossible, newfound mastery of the spear, their movements as flawless and deadly as Kael's. The clan gasped, then erupted into cheers. The fear of Zhao Feng's power slowly began to transform into a desperate, unifying hope. Even Elder Bor, though muttering about "ancient warnings," couldn't deny the visible, immediate strength gained.
Under Zhao Feng's meticulous direction, the clan became a hive of intense activity. They infused their Qi into the new palisades, watching them visibly thicken and hum with protective energy. Zhao Feng taught them the subtle art of 'Qi weaving,' bonding wood and stone with their collective life force. Kael, Roric, and Lyra drilled tirelessly, their disciplined movements a stark contrast to the clan's former disarray. The sounds of building and training slowly replaced the sounds of mourning, filling the clearing with a renewed sense of purpose.
"System," Zhao Feng thought, always looking ahead, "how do we gain even more Primordial Essence for transformative assets, like a Spirit Wolf Pup?"
"Analysis complete," the System responded. "The Shadowfang incursion has destabilized a 'Lesser Earth Vein,' a dormant Qi node approximately two days' travel west, near Moniya, Oyo, Nigeria. Refining this Qi formation would yield significant Primordial Essence (estimated 800-1200) and stabilize the immediate environment, fostering new growth."
A Qi node! A direct, vast source of power, inadvertently unlocked by their recent ordeal. Zhao Feng's excitement surged. He approached Gronn: "Chieftain, to truly grow, to secure our clan's future, we need this hidden spring of powerful Qi. If we refine it, it will bring immense strength and allow us to rebuild even faster. And with that power, we can acquire formidable creatures to protect our clan, creatures of great loyalty and power, like the Spirit Wolf Pup."
Gronn hesitated, considering the unknown dangers of another journey after their recent losses. But the vision of a truly strong clan, protected by mystical creatures and fortified by the very essence of the earth, swayed him. He nodded. "It is a risk we must take for our future."
They began meticulous preparations for the expedition, gathering supplies, choosing their strongest and most trusted warriors. The clan's spirit, though still bearing the scars of grief, was alight with a new, shared purpose. As a new dawn approached, painting the sky with the promise of a brighter day, the chosen expedition team stood ready. Zhao Feng took his place at their head, his eyes fixed on the path ahead, towards the west. The 'Spirit Wolf Pup' became a powerful beacon in his mind, a symbol of their evolving strength, driving them forward into the vast, untamed wilderness. This journey was a leap of faith, a step towards transforming a grieving clan into a true power of the Primordial Expanse.