Chapter 8: The Aftermath: A Tribe's Awe and an Elder's Doubts
The colossal dust cloud, raised by Liam's devastating final attack, slowly began to settle over the massive crater where the Crimson Earthwing Behemoth once stood. The silence that followed the deafening explosion was profound, broken only by the ragged breaths of the surviving Cloud Serpent Tribe members and the faint, whimpering cries of the wounded. Liam stood at the edge of the newly formed abyss, his body trembling, utterly drained of energy. The star-shaped mark on his palm, once blazing with the borrowed might of the Star Empress, had faded back to a faint, almost invisible shimmer. He felt weak, weaker than he had been in weeks, but an immense wave of relief washed over him. He had done it. He had saved them.
The tribe members, who had witnessed the impossible, slowly emerged from their hiding places. Their faces, caked with dust and streaked with tears, were a mixture of terror, confusion, and an awe so profound it bordered on reverence. They stared at the massive crater, then at the small, exhausted figure of Liam, the orphan they had always dismissed, who had just vanquished a legendary Heavenly Tribulation Realm beast. Whispers, hushed and disbelieving, began to ripple through the small group.
Elder Kai, the tribe's strongest cultivator, despite his severe injuries, managed to crawl closer, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and fervent hope. "Liam...?" he croaked, his voice barely a whisper. "Is that... truly you? How...?" His mind struggled to reconcile the image of the weak orphan with the cosmic powerhouse who had just saved them from utter annihilation.
Liam turned, a faint, tired smile gracing his lips. His muscles screamed in protest, his head throbbed with a dull ache, and his dantian felt like a barren wasteland, but a warmth spread through his chest. He had protected his tribe. He looked at the faces, some covered in dust and tears, but all now looking at him with a profound respect he had never experienced. He was no longer just the orphan. He was their protector.
"Elder Kai," Liam said, his voice hoarse but steady. "We are safe. The beast is gone."
Elder Kai, overcome by the sheer impossibility of it all, could only nod, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks. He tried to push himself up to bow, but his broken body wouldn't allow it. Liam, seeing his struggle, quickly moved to his side, offering a steadying hand. This simple gesture, from the 'savior' to the 'elder,' further deepened the awe of the surrounding tribe members.
Within moments, the remaining able-bodied tribe members rushed forward, their fear replaced by overwhelming gratitude. They surrounded Liam, their voices a mixture of stunned questions and heartfelt thanks. "Liam, you saved us!" "How did you do it?" "You're a god!" Their words, once filled with disdain, now carried fervent admiration.
Liam, though touched, felt overwhelmed. The borrowed power had completely receded, and he was now acutely aware of his physical and spiritual exhaustion. "I am just... exhausted," he managed to say. "We need to tend to the wounded. The beast's core might also be valuable." He quickly tried to shift their focus, unwilling to reveal the true source of his temporary power.
Under Liam's direction, the tribe quickly organized. The beast's core, a fist-sized lump of condensed spiritual energy, was indeed found in the crater, shimmering faintly. It was a treasure beyond anything their tribe had ever possessed, enough to sustain them for years, or perhaps even rebuild their shattered cultivation array. Liam, despite his exhaustion, used his enhanced perception to guide them to hidden caches of herbs and resources, helping to treat the wounded and stabilize the most critical cases.
As the sun fully rose, casting its golden light over the devastation, a strange sense of hope began to bloom amidst the sorrow. The tribe had suffered immense losses, but they had survived, and they had Liam. Their awe for him was almost palpable.
Days turned into a week. Liam recuperated in a newly constructed, albeit humble, dwelling. The tribe treated him with a newfound reverence, offering him the best food and care. His spiritual energy, though slowly recovering, was still far from its peak. The star-mark on his palm was almost entirely invisible now, its cosmic brilliance fully receded. He spent hours in meditation, trying to understand the 'Star Emperor's Scripture' with his own cultivation base, without the immediate influx of the Stellar Core's energy. Progress was slow, but every minute detail he had absorbed during his time in the Sanctum and his battle against the behemoth was now slowly, painstakingly integrating into his being.
He discovered that while the Star Empress's essence had given him immense temporary power, it had also left a profound imprint on his spiritual sea. His cosmic energy, though diminished, felt purer and denser than ever before. He could now subtly manipulate the wind with far greater ease than before, and the essence of 'Celestial Wind Arts' and 'Fire Beast Clone' resonated deeply within him, waiting for his cultivation to catch up.
During this time, the tribe's reverence for Liam grew exponentially. He was no longer just 'Liam,' but 'the Savior,' 'the Protector,' 'the one who vanquished the Heavenly Beast.' Children would look at him with wide-eyed wonder, and elders would bow respectfully. Elder Kai, fully recovered with Liam's guidance and some rare herbs, frequently sought his advice, treating him as the de facto leader of the shattered tribe.
"Liam," Elder Kai said one evening, his voice filled with gratitude, "You saved us. Without you, the Cloud Serpent Tribe would be no more. Your power... it transcends anything we have ever seen. You are destined for greatness."
Liam simply nodded, accepting the praise with a quiet humility. He knew his true power was far from what he had displayed that day, but he also knew that revealing the full truth of his situation (a temporary boost from an ancient spirit) would only cause confusion and perhaps fear. He still needed to understand his own cultivation path fully before explaining it to others.
However, not everyone in the tribe shared the same unwavering awe. Old Man Grumbles, a grizzled, cynical elder known for his skepticism and sharp tongue, eyed Liam with suspicion. He had seen too many 'prodigies' rise and fall. He had heard the tales of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm beast, and he couldn't reconcile the 'Level 0' orphan with the monster's slayer.
"Hmph," Old Man Grumbles muttered loudly one afternoon, as Liam was helping to set up a new defensive spiritual array. "It's all too sudden. Where did such power come from? A mere Qi Condensation brat, suddenly wielding power that makes even Elder Kai look like a toddler? Something isn't right."
His words, though not directed at Liam, were heard by many. Some younger tribe members scoffed at Old Man Grumbles's skepticism, but a few of the older, more traditional elders exchanged uneasy glances. They too had their doubts, but fear of the behemoth's power and gratitude for their survival kept them silent.
Liam, his enhanced hearing picking up every whisper, felt a slight prick of annoyance. He understood their doubt. His rise was indeed too sudden, too inexplicable. But he had no intention of explaining himself to a skeptic who refused to believe in the impossible.
He continued his work on the spiritual array, focusing his spiritual energy. To everyone's astonishment, under Liam's guidance, the shattered remnants of their old array began to quickly reform, drawing in spiritual energy from the earth and sky with unprecedented efficiency. Within days, the new defensive array was stronger and more potent than their old one had ever been, thanks to the subtle knowledge Liam had gained from the Stellar Core's energy patterns. This new array, far more complex and robust, silenced many of the lingering doubts, as even Old Man Grumbles had to grudgingly admit its effectiveness.
Despite the growing admiration and his new status, Liam never forgot his true objective: to fully understand the Star Emperor's Scripture and to unravel the mysteries of his own past. He longed to return to the Sanctum, to Lyra's guidance, and to the endless knowledge within the crystalline pillars. But he knew he couldn't leave his tribe yet. They were still vulnerable, and he needed to ensure their safety and stability before pursuing his own destiny further.
One evening, as the twin moons cast long, silver shadows over the rebuilt huts, Liam stood alone, gazing at the distant, shimmering glow of the Forbidden Sands. He could almost feel the presence of the Sanctum, beckoning him. He closed his eyes, sensing the subtle cosmic energy that still permeated the air around him, a faint echo of the Star Empress's power. He activated the star-mark on his palm, seeing it pulse with a very faint, almost imperceptible light.
He knew that the borrowed power was gone, and he was back to his own strength, albeit a much purer and more potent Foundation Establishment Realm Initial Stage. He had gained invaluable experience, but the true path to becoming the Star Emperor was still a vast, unknown journey. He needed to find a balance between protecting his tribe and pursuing his own unparalleled cultivation. The whispered promises of the Star Emperor's Scripture, the enigmatic smile of Lyra, and the daunting path ahead filled him with both excitement and a profound sense of loneliness. He was unique, powerful, but also alone in this cosmic destiny.