Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Douglas realized he may have gotten in over his head.

Call him stupid, a blockhead, rocks for brains, whatever, he would nod and agree. He was a Grand Elder of the Ashfallen Sect but hadn't yet mentally grown into his role. After all, just half a year ago, he had been a debt-riddled thug scraping by in the shadows of Darklight City. So when a group of outer sect members that had recently joined the Ashfallen Sect after the tournament came to him, eager to prove their worth and to earn favor in this battle, he struggled to say no when they referred to him as a Grand Elder and treated him with the respect a person with such a title deserved.

I should have listened to Elaine and not let my arrogance get the best of me. This plan was so obviously stupid. He glanced around the dark room as the ceiling overhead rumbled and chunks of rock rained down on them like hail as thousands of crazed people's feet thundered over them toward Red Vine Peak.

There were five of them in total hiding out in these unground tunnels they had hastily created. Two 'Grand Elders' of the Ashfallen Sect and three outer sect disciples. The outer sect disciples had been so keen to introduce themselves to him only an hour ago. He could understand why, as two of the outer sect disciples had earth affinity and likely wanted to get on his good side in hopes of receiving guidance or resources in the future. The bright smiles and eagerness for battle were long gone—their expressions now ones of fear and despair.

"Sam and Hugo," he said, and the two soul-fire realm earth cultivators looked at him. Sam was a well-built teenager with tanned skin and blonde hair, while Hugo was the definition of a middle-aged Darklight City thug with crooked teeth, shifty eyes, and a faded mark of the Iron Fist Brotherhood on the back of his right palm. A group of rogue earth cultivators that used to be hired to destroy competitors' warehouses until they messed with the wrong group and disbanded. Both of their soul flames had impurities. Especially Hugo's, whose soul flames were darker than the depths of a swamp, suggesting a lifetime of beast core abuse.

Apparently, they were friends somehow. Douglas was quite interested in Sam as he had shown good potential in his fight alongside Celeste Starweaver in the tournament. Meanwhile, Hugo... well, Douglas could hardly judge the guy for leading the life of a thug.

"How are you two holding up?" He asked them.

The two earth cultivators exchanged a look. They were both covered in blood that was a mixture of their own and that of the people they had killed. Hugo's shirt had been ripped to shreds, showing an aged body covered in old scars, while Sam wasn't doing much better as he nursed a broken arm and had a busted nose.

Meanwhile, Douglas and Elaine hadn't suffered a single injury, showing the large gap between these Soul Fire Realm outer sect disciples and the Star Core Realm Grand Elders.