Yun Xi did not need the old woman to explain. She had already noticed that the man called Shi Chui had carved those strange inscriptions onto his arm. That was why, in his fight against the black panther, he had managed to shatter its sharp fangs.
As for the man who had blocked her path earlier, the one who awkwardly extended an invitation, his speed came from the inscriptions carved on his legs. Otherwise, he could never have caught up to her while she was using the Fufeng Technique.
The old woman saw how interested Yun Xi was and continued speaking:
"I had no choice but to do this. My people cannot cultivate witch power, so in order to resist the great beasts in the jungle, I was forced to create these inscriptions. At the very least, they give my clansmen the strength to hunt them.
But only those with strong bodies can withstand the process. I must carve the inscriptions onto their bones using my witch power, and the markings must be compatible with their bodies. For example, there are inscriptions that can stir the forces of nature itself. If they are not compatible, they simply cannot be carved at all."
After hearing this, Yun Xi made a bold guess. These so-called inscriptions that could channel the powers of nature must actually be characters infused with the Five Elements. Such special inscriptions could never be engraved on clansmen who lacked the corresponding spiritual roots.
So far, every inscription she had seen carved on Shi, Qin, and the man who blocked her only enhanced strength, flexibility, or speed. To cultivators, these were the most basic abilities.
After a pause, Yun Xi asked, "Elder, to carve inscriptions you must use witch power. And since you are the only one who can wield witch power now, does that mean that among all your surviving clansmen, only you still possess witch power?"
The old woman nodded with difficulty.
"Yes. Once I die, the inheritance of witch power cultivation will be severed forever."
Yun Xi sighed. Though she had already guessed as much, hearing it confirmed still left her with a pang of sorrow. After all, that "Witch Tribe girl" of the past had sacrificed everything to preserve a fragment of her people.
From what she could tell, the survivors of the Witch Tribe had been scattered to different places. Some perished, but others must have survived. Otherwise, Yun Xi herself could never have been born in Weiyu Realm, nor inherited that redwood token, nor even known of the Witch Tribe's existence—or that its blood flowed in her veins.
The old woman's heart was heavy with bitterness. She had failed to live up to the ancestor's last instructions, but she could not bear to watch her people die before her eyes. This was the limit of what she could do.
Looking at her, Yun Xi felt the weight of her years more deeply. She said softly, "Elder, the Witch Tribe's legacy is not broken. It has simply returned to the cultivation world in another form. And this new way of cultivation is even more suited to humankind."
The old woman's heart eased at those words. She did not know why this branch of the Witch Tribe had been sent into such a place, but their waiting had been far too long—so long that they could no longer find the next Azhu to lead them.
Still, the fact that their descendants could enter this secret realm and bring survivors out of this place of certain death was already enough.
The old woman rose and went to a wooden shelf, from which she drew a book bound in beast hide. Handing it to Yun Xi, she said,
"Within this book are all the inscriptions gathered by the descendants of our Witch Tribe. I have explained in detail what each of them does. If you are interested, you may study them. Only, I use witch power to carve inscriptions onto my clansmen. You do not cultivate witch power, so I do not know if you will be able to make use of them."
Yun Xi thanked her and accepted the book. She flipped through it quickly. In the time of a single incense stick, she had read it from cover to cover. Then, with a thought, she drew an inscription in midair with spiritual power.
"Elder, what does this inscription mean?"
The old woman studied it and patiently explained, "This one represents strength."
Yun Xi traced another inscription. "And this one?"
"That one represents acceleration."
The two of them continued like this, one asking and the other answering, until half a day had passed. Their discussion only ended when Qin came in carrying a stone bowl of food for the old woman.
The elder invited Yun Xi to share the beast-meat soup, but she politely declined. Instead, she said,
"I want that red fox. It comes from the same place as I do. I will exchange it with beast meat."
With a sweep of her sleeve, she laid three whole portions of rhino-beast meat onto the ground. Qin gasped aloud at the sight.
Smiling, the old woman spoke a few words to Qin, who then ran outside cheerfully. A short while later, Shi and Sen arrived with her. Qin handed Yun Xi the unconscious red fox, while Shi and Sen carried away the beast meat. From the tribe outside came a chorus of joyous cheers.
Yun Xi lifted the red fox by the scruff and shook it lightly. Fox Yingjun showed no sign of waking, so she tucked him into her spirit beast pouch.
Immediately, Dian Dian's protesting voice sounded: "Master, the spirit beast pouch has limited space. How could you bring that fox in here?"
"He's in his beast form, not human. I can't exactly carry him around in my arms. Just squeeze together for now. Once I finish speaking with the Witch Tribe leader, we'll leave this place."
"…Fine. I guess that works."
Dian Dian fell silent.
Then Xiao Xian's voice sounded in her mind: "Master, there is a high-grade spiritual vein here. May I absorb it?"
Yun Xi froze mid-step as she walked out of the stone hut. "Is it within the Witch Tribe's territory?"
"Yes. There's even a concealing barrier around it. Likely the work of that Holy Maiden."
"Wait until I've spoken with their leader. Once I move the Witch Tribe descendants into my space, we'll see."
"Understood."
Yun Xi pondered the possibility. Until now, no other living humans had ever entered her space. But the wooden token belonged to the Witch Tribe. It should not resist their entry. She would only know for certain once she tried.
Xiao Xian suddenly added, "You intend to bring them into your space? Aren't you worried it will be exposed?"
Yun Xi replied calmly, "Didn't you notice I changed my face? Even my gender? I haven't given them my real name. And that old woman is clever—at first she called me an outsider, but later she began calling me a Witch Tribe descendant. She has never once tried to pry into my identity. We both understand each other well enough."
Xiao Xian shook its leaves. "How would I notice? I don't have eyes. I only recognize you through the contract seal."
Yun Xi looked to the sky in exasperation.
But Xiao Xian pressed on: "Master, you can't keep them in your space forever, can you?"
"Of course not. Their presence would consume my spirit stones. My plan is to teach them the language and script of the cultivation world, test their spiritual roots, and once they have suitable cultivation methods, I will send them out into Weiyu Realm. It is vast. There will be room for them."
Her decision was not made blindly—she already had a preliminary plan.
"…All right then. But that means more mouths to feed. Master, you'll have to work hard to find a few more spiritual veins to put into the space."
Yun Xi suddenly felt her shoulders grow heavier, as if a burden had been dropped on her. Xiao Xian was getting far too ambitious.
At that moment, the sky suddenly dimmed, as though night would fall in the next heartbeat. Yun Xi calculated with her fingers and murmured to herself, "This timing is wrong."