Moreover, besides the matter of his skin wrinkling, he also wanted to tell his family, as well as about the improved Five Body Forging Methods with the stone spear. The Brooks Family is his home, and only with a stronger Ethan Brooks can their lineage be better passed down and flourish.

In fact, in his heart, the reason for cultivating martial arts, apart from wanting to see the outside world, was to protect his family and tribe. He didn’t even know when this thought first appeared in his mind—there was no sign at all. It was a belief that naturally grew within him while living in the The Brooks Mountains.

Within the The Brooks Mountains, there are two valleys and a lake. His family lives in one of the valleys, while the other is where the ancestral hall of the The Brooks Clan is located, guarded year-round by the elders of the tribe, serving as the foundation of Ethan Brooks.

As for the clan hall of The Brooks Family, it is situated atop a fractured ancient mountain, a hundred zhang high, at the very center of the range, and is the most magnificent structure in the The Brooks Mountains.

Entering the valley and returning to the stone house to wash off the blood and energy from his body, Henry Brooks headed toward a nearby stone house.

Inside, a woman in a beast-fur robe and leather skirt looked toward the doorway with a hint of anger in her eyes. As Henry Brooks entered, seeing Mother like this, he secretly thought, “Not good, Mother is angry.”

Immediately, he grinned and walked over to the woman, hugging her arm, but she didn’t even look at him, ignoring everything he said.

“Mother, I was wrong, I promise, I promise I’ll never go out again!”

“Ever since you started your martial arts foundation three years ago, your promises have already been thrown to the back mountain to feed the wolves.”

Finally, seeing Henry Brooks looking so pitiful, her heart softened, though a trace of worry flashed in her eyes. She reached out, pretending to be stern, and tugged his ear.

“Ah… Mother, it hurts, it hurts!” Seeing Henry Brooks flailing and shouting, the woman knew he was faking, but still let go.

After staying with Mother for nearly half an hour, Henry Brooks finally left, but he understood what was on his mother’s mind.

Eldest brother Logan Brooks was helping Father with tribal affairs, second brother Howard Brooks was with the Brooks Guard and often away from the tribe, and his third sister had married into the Yuehe tribe three hundred li away two years ago.

As the youngest, he naturally became the apple of his mother’s eye. Now that he too was beginning to venture into the wilds and leave Ethan Brooks, Mother was worried, but even more so because he was growing up and about to leave.

He left the valley and headed toward the clan hall, where at this moment the beast-fire flickered, casting the shadows of three figures.

“Little brother, come in quickly.”

Seeing Henry Brooks appear at the end of the steps, a sturdy figure inside the hall called out.

Stepping into the main hall, Henry Brooks spoke, “Father, Grand Elder, Elder Brother.”

There weren’t many formalities among the clan members. Even though The Brooks Family had thirty thousand tribesmen, in reality, there were only a few true high-level figures in the clan: his Father, the Grand Elder, and the commander of the Brooks Guard, his uncle Leonard Brooks.

These were the three strongest people in the clan. The Grand Elder Ronald Brooks was already 120 years old and entering his twilight years, but he was still second only to his Father in strength, at the peak of the Divine Repository Realm, having opened three divine repositories. If not for a serious injury back then, Ethan Brooks might have had two Spirit-Seizing Realm powerhouses.

Once a martial artist enters the Body Forging stage, their lifespan exceeds a hundred years. Upon reaching the Divine Repository, it extends to 150 years, and stepping into the Spirit-Seizing Realm, it soars to 300 years!

In the wilds, there is no such thing as true peace. Besides protecting a radius of ten thousand li, in reality, The Brooks Family also had to compete with tribes ten thousand li away.

To the west of The Brooks Family is the Langyun tribe, to the north is the Yanshan clan, to the east is the Fire Dragon tribe, and to the south, across the endless ancient forest, lies the center of the entire Lushan ancient land—the ancient city of Lushan.

Although The Brooks Family claims to protect ten thousand li, this is only an approximate range; the wilds are simply too vast.

Moreover, Ethan Brooks is not even in the center of this ten-thousand-li territory. For example, the Yanshan clan is less than a thousand li to the north of Ethan Brooks, and the friction between the two clans has lasted for a thousand years.

Earlier, he didn’t tell that Brooks Guard about the matter with the wood tribe—not because he didn’t trust that Brooks Guard, but because some things are leaked unintentionally, perhaps just a casual remark, unnoticed by the speaker, but overheard by someone with ulterior motives.

He briefly recounted his encounter with the wood tribe, only saying that he saw similar withered trees from afar, standing in the swamp, seemingly searching for something.

“The wood tribe, at least several hundred people. How bold, to dare venture deep into our Ethan Brooks territory—kill them!”

The Grand Elder spoke, murderous intent surging. Though his temples were graying and his once-sturdy body had grown thin, one could still see the vigor of his youth.

“Grand Elder, the wood tribe’s blood essence is gentle and nourishing—perhaps it could help restore your divine repository.” Jack Brooks immediately added.

Hearing this, Henry Brooks couldn’t help but shiver. Although his Father hadn’t uttered a single word about killing, his calm tone brought with it a downpour of blood.

What did “gentle and nourishing blood essence” mean? Just say you’re after their blood!

No, the wood tribe’s blood essence really is gentle and nourishing—he had already experienced it firsthand.