With the test, Ming Li determined the actual fighting capability of the tribe. In his estimate, the tribe could actually be stronger than the Black Spider Guild.

The three elders he saw through Sappy were incredibly terrifying. Each one of them felt stronger than the leader of the three group in the Black Spider Guild.

His fear of being hunted down grew more as he think of a way to get out of his current predicament. There was no way to do what he did in the Black Spider Guild, since every member of the tribe was from a single bloodline, and their appearance were all quite similar.

There was also no way to resolve the conflict through discussion, since the way Elder Hu Shoushan acted way beyond enraged. It felt like he would torture Ming Li forever if he had the chance to do so.

While feeling more depressed, Ming Li had no choice but to observe for now and avoid any exposure outside. 

On his way home, Sappy was also depressed as Ming Li when he thought about how he was thrown out of the platform, but he has a bit of confidence on his performance. That was the first time he fought with such strength, so he still wish to pass the exam.

Along the way, a seeker flew towards his direction. This person seemed to be going to the last test and was brimming with confidence as he stopped near Sappy when he caught sight of him.

"Hey. So you actually took the test. Hahaha! I bet your brother will be proud." The man said provokingly.

"What does my brother have to do with this?" Sappy replied with a fierce expression.

"Oh. So you actually didn't know?? Your brother gave up his spot for the tribe successor. Do you know what that means?"

Sappy's eyes went wide when he heard this. 

The man continued and said "It means the mark of a successor will be forcefully removed from him which could actually kill him, also, will lead to him not being able to participate in this test to represent the tribe. Hahaha!"

Sappy's breathing became heavy as he looked at the direction of the Tribute Hall. He ignored the man and shot directly at the Tribute Hall. He understood what the man said, giving up the tribe successor slot almost means death because of the pain from removing the mark. However, gaining it means a sure future for yourself.

The tribal successor mark was a form of item that is fused with the core to achieve greater strength. Anyone chosen to possess it, could participate in the selection to be a future Elder or future Tribal Chief.

Ming could feel Sappy's emotions as he shot at incredible speed disregarding anything. In no time, he landed on in front of the Tribute Hall and entered it quickly. There, he heard the screaming voice of his brother, which made him immediately rush to the voice. After entering a chamber, he saw his brother chained at both arms, raised high at an altar which was surrounded by a shield where five seekers stood on guard.

Three old man sat crossed legged around him, and one man stood directly in front of him. The hand's of the man was shockingly inside Hu Siyu's diantian while chanting some sort of spell along with the three people surrounding them.

The scene made Sappy gape; The face of his brother was twisting from pain and sweats filled his body while breathed heavily.

"Brother..."

"why..?"

That was the only words Sappy could utter when he saw the whole scene and heard the screams of his brother.

He tried to immediately rush towards the altar, however, the seekers guarding around the shield caught him and locked him in place.

There was no way to get away from those several stronger seeker, so he had no choice but to watch as his brother undergo excruciating suffering for his sake.

The way he treated his brother wasn't that great, however, his brother was always kind and caring towards him. That attitude made him think that his brother was acting that way since he was more blessed than him and it was only pity that was driving his brother to act that way towards him.

But watching the state his brother is in. He could never think that this decision was only out of pity. It was pure familial care and love.

Tears rolled down his eyes as he watch his brother suffer more and more as the formation surrounding him became more complete. Also, the hands which was in his brother's dantian was slowly being pulled out, as if something in his core was being forcefully ripped away.

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Seeing his last family member suffering and could possibly end up dying right in front of him, made him feel frightened. He started to struggle from the seekers, however, their energy have already suppressed him disabling all of his control for natural energy. He could not help but to cry and simply watch as the scene unfolds.

In the cave, Ming Li was also affected by Sappy's emotions as he felt sorry for the state of Hu Siyu. He did nothing wrong and was entitled a high position in the tribe, but suddenly, his world flipped upside down and ended up in a miserable situation only for his brother.

This was an emotion something Ming Li also experienced while watching his master die. The exact same feeling of helplessness made him remember the miserable fate of his master and of the villagers.

Pity welled up in him as he also waited for the result of the ritual. 

The moment he saw Sappy's brother, and the way he treated Sappy made Ming Li feel deep respect for the Hu Siyu. He had never respected anyone in his life except for his master, however, currently, his respect for this person who he have not even personally encountered yet would be so deep that it could cause him to sympathize with him.

Slowly, the hands of the old man in front of Hu Siyu pulled out a mark, the mark passed through his skin as if it had no physical form. It looked something like an emblem which depicts a river that has existed for countless of years. 

While it was being pulled out, it slowly manifested its physical form, turning into a metal with deep blue luster.

Hu Siyu screamed in pain as the it was being pulled out. His eyes were already all white and his body was trembling as if it would give in any moment.

Sappy stared in a daze while watching and waiting for the mark to be fully pulled out. Slowly, seventy five percent of the mark was already pulled out and only a bit of time was needed to complete the ritual.

Two breaths... Three Breaths... Four Breaths... Five Breaths... Then the mark was completely pulled out!

Blinding light came from the mark which illuminated the whole area. 

When the light subsided, Hu Siyu was already unconscious, only being held by the chains in his hands. The old man in front of him looked at him deeply and extended his hands to feel his pulse.

After a while, a weird glow appeared in the old man's eyes as he said "He is alive..."

Sappy breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, however, when he was about to wipe his tears away. The old man said "But, his core have been severely damage which means, he could no longer control or absorb natural energy."

Sappy's eyes went wide when he heard this as he said while stuttering. "No... My brother cannot become a cripple! He is a genius of his generation! That is impossible."

The old man ignored Sappy as he waved his hands completely shattering the chains holding Hu Suyi in place, then made him float towards Sappy and the guards.

Those people holding Sappy in place caught Hu Suyi and lifted him up to quickly go to the medicine hall.

...

In the medicine hall, Sappy stood beside his brother who was already conscious while lying on a wooden bed.

"Brother. I am sorry." 

That was the only thing Sappy could say. He knew that he was not very nice to his brother and that it was his fault everything turned out this way.

Hu Siyu checked his condition, then he said without a change in expression. "Do not feel sorry about it brother, at least I am alive."

"But..." 

Sappy could not say it, he could not dare to say that his brother who was once a genius was now a cripple.

Instead, Hu Siyu looked at him deeply and said "Brother, since I am already at this state. The tribe has no more use for me. I believe people who have enmity with me in the tribe would drive me out. So I have decided to go out on my own tomorrow.

"My current condition might also affect your standing in the tribe. It is better for me to leave as soon as possible."

Sappy waved his hands strongly as he shouted. "No! I will help you recover!"

A bitter laugh came from Hu Siyu while saying. "There is no way to cure this." 

Sappy opened his mouth to say something, however there were nothing he could say. He felt guilty of what have happened and even though he was claiming to help his brother recover, he does not even know where to start.

...

In the cave, Ming Li already have a high regard for Hu Siyu, but on the contrary Ming Li only viewed Sappy as a stupid self centered brat.So it helped his guilt ease a bit.

But having someone as righteous as Hu Siyu end up in such a miserable state really made him feel remorseful about the situation. He have already mercilessly killed several people without knowing their story and background, but for some reason Hu Siyu's righteousness came close to that of his master, so the events had some emotional effect on him.

...

While this was all happening, far away from the tribe, and at the south most part of the plane where there was a seemingly never ending void, three terrifyingly strong seekers were flying at extremely fast speed in the void towards the plane. 

"Sister Ren Xian, it is good that you came with us this time. I can't believe the White Serpent Sect began to have interest in this small plane. Hahaha!"

"Ku Sying, I only came here to observe and choose someone worthy from the tournament." Ren Xian coldly replied.

"Hahaha. Don't be too uptight sister Ren Xian, you should have more fun in this plane. The people here treat us so highly and they would do anything to gain our attention. So you can do anything in this plane. Right Brother Ku Zixin?" Ku Sying said while laughing loudly.

"Yes brother, I still remember fifty years ago, when we last went to this plane. We invoked a conflict between three groups by tricking the idiots on that Black Spider Guild. I believe it was the Crystal Leaf Sect, Black Spider Guild, and Golden Phoenix Order that was part of that small ploy of ours. And five years ago, when we came back here, we killed several elders in each group then framed each of them causing the decades of sleeping hatred to erupt again with better results.

"Sadly, we were called back before the war even started, I hope we could still watch their war unfold. I remember telling the Black Spider Guild that if they can take over the whole north region, we will bring them to our plane. The weaklings in this plane are really stupid." Ku Zixin said while laughing heartily.

Ren Xian, only eyed two to and ignored them.