CHAPTER 548: GREEN LOTUS ENCLAVE

One day later,

Ethan stood before the shimmering waters that hid the ancient entrance of the Green Lotus Enclave.

Beside him were Ancestor Skulnen and Matriarch Orsela, their presence alone enough to make the air heavy, even though neither spoke much.

Also, Elder Vorlen and Elder Meyla followed closely behind, acting as guides to fill in the thousand-year gap of history that both Skulnen and Orsela had missed during their seclusion.

Following them were Cedric Lin and the three Green Lotus cultivators Ethan had personally revived back in the Azure Serpent Realm—each of them brimming with excitement and nervous anticipation.

To enter the Green Lotus Enclave, the Green Lotus Tribe members were required, and thus Ethan called Cedric and others from the Azure Serpent Realm.

"The entrance to the Green Lotus Enclave is inside this lake."

Cedric said solemnly, though his trembling hands betrayed the reverence he felt as he pressed his palm against his chest.

That’s right.

The Green Lotus Enclave was an underwater realm, a half-forgotten sanctuary buried beneath waters that reflected nothing but serenity on the surface.

"Hm."

Ethan’s gaze lingered on the lake ahead. Unlike the Moon Enclave, which was hidden in the heart of a twilight forest, the Green Lotus Enclave slumbered beneath this seemingly ordinary lake.

Its beauty was deceptive. Beneath those calm ripples lay a Secret Enclave.

The lake glittered under the morning sun, lotus blossoms scattered across its surface like natural seals guarding a secret.

A faint fragrance of herbs wafted from the water, as though every drop was steeped in spiritual essence.

"Master Ethan, please hold tight," Cedric said, his voice steady.

He and his fellow tribe members leapt into the water, each firmly clasping the hands of Ethan and his powerful companions.

For outsiders, only absolute trust from the tribe members allowed entry. Even the smallest sliver of doubt in their hearts would cause the Secret Enclave itself to reject them.

The group descended. One hundred meters... two hundred meters... five hundred meters. The pressure thickened, but not a single ripple touched them as the spiritual barrier recognised Cedric’s bloodline.

At nearly one kilometer below the surface, the scenery shifted—an illusion peeled away, and a hidden passage revealed itself.

’Who would have thought this simple-looking lake was this deep,’ Ethan mused silently.

Sensing Ethan’s thoughts, Elder Jabor chuckled and explained, "Even if any outsider dives into this lake, they’ll only find shallow waters. The moment they pass a hundred meters, the bottom appears. That is the protective barrier of the enclave."

"Oh." Ethan wasn’t surprised and simply nodded, his expression calm because he had already gotten great information related to the Secret Enclaves.

The group entered the hidden passage, and in the blink of an eye, they emerged from a small pool on the other side.

Cool mist clung to their clothes as they stepped onto solid ground.

Cedric, filled with emotion, turned to Ethan, preparing to offer a formal welcome. "Welcome to... this..."

But his words trailed off as his mouth hung open.

The same shock mirrored in the eyes of the other three Green Lotus elders.

What they saw was not ruin and decay as they expected.

It was full of life.

The enclave was thriving—thriving even more than in the days before their massacre three centuries ago.

The air itself was heavy with vitality, the land lush with vibrant greenery. Rank 1 and Rank 2 domestic spirit beasts of the Secret Enclave roamed leisurely around the pool as if they had long claimed this outer region as their home.

Spiritual plants glimmered like jewels in every direction, growing untamed and abundant.

"This... this shouldn’t be possible..." one elder whispered, his voice trembling.

Cedric clenched his fists, eyes wide with disbelief. "Three hundred years... and yet, it flourishes better than when we lived here..."

Ethan’s gaze sharpened, scanning the verdant enclave. Even he hadn’t expected this sight. "So... the Bloodclaw Tribe managed this enclave?" His tone carried a mix of amusement and curiosity. "They actually used it to nurture spirit plants rather than desecrate it."

While speaking, he looked at Elder Meyla and Elder Vorlen for answers.

If anyone knew what happened in the last couple of centuries better, it would be the Ancient Elders of the Hermit Tribes. So, Ethan was indirectly asking them to explain it.

"After the massacre of the Green Lotus Tribe, the Bloodclaw Tribe took full ownership over the Green Lotus Enclave while giving the Moonshadow Tribe and the Bonepiercer Tribe 33 percent ownership in the Primal Beast Enclave."

"So, we have no idea that the Bloodclaw Tribe was fully utilising the Green Lotus Enclave without even becoming the owners of the enclave."

Similar to Cedric and others, Elder Vorlen and Elder Meyla were shocked.

"Then... how did the Bloodclaw Tribe... manage to nurture so many Rank 3 and Rank 4 Spirit Plants?"

To fully utilise the Secret Enclave, one must become the owner of that Secret Enclave, and with the descendants of the Green Lotus Tribe still alive, others can’t claim the ownership of the Green Lotus Enclave.

So, no one was able to understand how the Bloodclaw Tribe was able to nurture Rank 3 and Rank 4 Spirit Plants.

Some might think ’What is so great’ in nurturing Rank 3 and Rank 4 Spirit Plants in a Secret Enclave known for Spirit Plant Nurturing, but the thing is, they were currently on the outskirts of the Secret Enclave.

If the Bloodclaw Tribe was able to nurture Rank 3 and Rank 4 Spirit Plants on the outskirts of the enclave, how high would the Spirit Plants they nurture in the center of the enclave be?

’Is it something to do with the Green Lotus Tribesmen turning into Azure Serpent Fiend Kings in the Azure Serpent Realm?’

After hearing everything from Cedric and others, Ethan could not help but think about the Azure Serpent Fiend Kings.

’Whatever... it is a good thing that the Green Lotus Enclave was well maintained, reducing my time to revive the Green Lotus Tribe.’

Ethan smiled as he could not help but feel thankful to the Bloodclaw Tribe.

"You have finally arrived."

The words were not shouted but carried, as though the entire enclave itself wished to make the announcement.

The air thickened, the ground vibrated, and within moments, the serenity and calmness in the Green Lotus Enclave shattered.

From the depths of the enclave, shadows streaked forward, blotting out the faint sunlight filtering from above.

Nearly a hundred cultivators descended, their blood-red robes billowing like a tide of slaughter.

Each one radiated terrifying strength, their auras pressing down with the unmistakable weight of high-level Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

The scent of bloodlust filled the air, suffocating and sharp, yet controlled—disciplined. This was no chaotic mob but an army that moved as one.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. ’Nearly a hundred Nascent Souls... all gathered here?’

Even with his calm mind, he felt a ripple of intrigue. The Bloodclaw Tribe truly lived up to their reputation as the most ruthless among the three tribes.

"C-Chief... Drabek..." Elder Vorlen’s voice cracked, the name slipping from his lips in disbelief.

His hands trembled as his gaze locked onto the man who floated at the front of the army.

Vorlen’s eyes widened, his disbelief spilling into panic. "You... how could you be here!?"

Because the one leading them was none other than Chief Drabek, the Chief of the Bloodclaw Tribe himself.