Li Yuan smiled and bowed to the clan leader of the Zhenyan Clan before him, then sighed, "Originally, I just wanted to be with Xiao Xue, to grow old together, but I did not expect to have such a fate with the Zhenyan Clan.

I really like this land, and I like the people here, and it is for this reason that I hope our Zhenyan Clan can develop well.

The position of Grand Elder, I shall not decline it."

The clan leader was slightly stunned, feeling that these words were a bit strange.

Li Yuan felt his body; after being away from the fire, the Shadow Blood within him began to freeze again, and his realm started to decline once more. That recent strike had nearly exhausted the vitality of his Shadow Blood.

"Clan leader, let’s head back."

"Very well, Brother Yuan, I will prepare the ceremony so that everyone knows you are the Grand Elder of our Zhenyan Clan."

If it were outside, Li Yuan would definitely not want this, as a tall tree attracts the wind.

But from his observation, being low-key in this "Western Pole Barbarian Tribe" is not a good thing, especially when you are already sufficiently powerful; being low-key can only lead to suffocation and humiliation.

This is different from the exceedingly complex sects outside.

The wolf pack will honor the strongest as the Wolf King, yet there is a saying, "the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be blown down by the wind." Whether to be low-key or to show off depends on the situation.

"Thanks, clan leader!"

...

A moment later.

The clan leader summoned five clan members, all with strength around "800" or so, considered the best in the Zhenyan Clan.

The five sat down, looking at the young man sitting at the left of the tent, displaying dissatisfaction.

Among them, a tall, thin man wearing unknown bird skull earrings suddenly stood up and said, "Clan leader, I know this Wang Mu’Er defeated Cang’er, but even so, that seat is not supposed to be for him, is it?"

The clan leader ignored this man but first looked at Li Yuan, introducing, "Our Zhenyan Clan has three major surnames, and five Great Elders.

Among the three major surnames, the main surname is Zhenyan, the other two surnames are Chao and Chen,

Among them, Zhenyan is the most noble, but the Chao and Chen surnames mainly take on the roles of Observing Fire and burial duties.

As for the position of Grand Elder, it is held by the strongest under me.

This man is Grand Elder Chen Shou."

After speaking, he looked at the man with bird skull earrings and said, "Chen Shou, I summoned you to hold the Fire Worship Ceremony, to induct Brother Yuan into our Zhenyan Clan, to change his surname to Zhenyan."

"But he still shouldn’t sit in that seat!" Another burly man draped in white wolf fur suddenly added.

The clan leader laughed and looked at Li Yuan, saying, "This is Chao Huo, the Fire Observation Elder."

Then, with a serious look, he turned to the man with bird skull earrings and asked, "Chen Shou, how deep can your fist make a hole in the hard ice outside the clan?"

"About the size of a fist..." Chen Shou replied.

The clan leader said, "But our Brother Yuan can make a hole over ten zhang deep."

The size of a fist is roughly a foot, about thirty centimeters, whereas over ten zhang is a hundred meters, a difference so vast they cannot be compared.

Chen Shou: ???

Chao Huo: ???

The other three elders: ???

"I don’t believe it!" Chen Shou said, "This outsider..."

The clan leader angrily retorted, "This is someone from our Zhenyan Clan, Elder Chen Shou, don’t call him an outsider."

Suddenly, Chao Huo said, "Although the clan leader is our clan’s strongest, this statement... I also don’t believe it. For even you, clan leader, cannot achieve this, can you?"

The clan leader stood up and said, "Let’s go outside and discuss it, let Brother Yuan show you again.

After that, the strongest in our Zhenyan Clan will not be me anymore, but Brother Yuan."

Chen Shou was still skeptical, but seeing the clan leader speak so seriously, he was somewhat unsure and then said, "If he can really do it, I will let him take the position of Grand Elder."

Soon, the high-ranking members of the Zhenyan Clan and Li Yuan went outside for another round.

Li Yuan returned to the fire to "replenish his energy," and outside, with one motion of the Sea Calm Blade, he wildly used Vibrating Power to smash several zhang of hard ice into powder.

When everyone returned, Chen Shou said nothing.

And Chao Huo continued to clamor, "I admit he’s powerful, but since he came from outside, I suggest first verifying who he really is, what he is here to do...

Brother Yuan, why not confess and make everything clear, to avoid doing things that harm the interests of our Zhenyan Clan later on.

If you’re truly not problematic,

Then... Clan leader, I propose first having Brother Yuan join our clan, and after five years, let him become an elder.

If he wants to be the Grand Elder, it should be at least ten years later."

Li Yuan lifted his head and glanced at this burly man draped in white wolf fur.

He understood clearly.

Don’t be fooled by this burly man’s words as if he is considering the Zhenyan Clan, his real intention is to prevent him from gaining too much power, yet wanting him to contribute to the Zhenyan Clan.

It seems that in such "barbarian tribes," although most people act rashly, the high-ranking members who probably went outside have long been corrupted. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He swept his gaze around, everyone was silent, only Chao Huo was speaking.

Li Yuan smiled and said, "Elder Chao, my wife is Zhenyan Xue, and I also like the Zhenyan Clan very much.

So... shall we duel to the death, do you dare?"

Chao Huo: ???

Li Yuan suddenly stood up, walking step by step toward Chao Huo, as the firelight from outside the tent cast his shadow, long and short, onto the tent, exuding a sense of pressure.

Li Yuan took just two steps to stand in front of Chao Huo and said, "Under the witness of the fire, let’s duel to the death.

Surely, as an elder of the Zhenyan Clan, you wouldn’t be afraid of a duel to the death, would you?