Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Xie Hongyuan looked doubtful.

"In fact, this was my decision."

Upon hearing this, Xie Hongyuan's face showed a trace of astonishment.

"Clan Leader, does this mean the clan no longer needs the Chen Clan's Blood Rice?"

Xie Yanmiao smiled and shook his head.

"Of course not. But two days ago, the Shi Clan sent word that they wished to cooperate with us. The terms are that our clan will no longer interfere in the Shi Clan’s conflict with the Chen Clan. In return, the Shi Clan must hand over half of their Blood Rice to us.”

"For now, only a few elders in the clan know about this. I simply had not yet informed you.”

Upon hearing this news, Xie Hongyuan froze in surprise.

"Our clan is going to cooperate with the Shi Clan?"

"Correct."

"But the Chen Clan has the Zhou Clan behind them. Isn't the Shi Clan afraid of the Zhou Clan's retaliation?"

Xie Yanmiao let out a soft chuckle.

"What does that have to do with our clan? That's the Shi Clan's problem."

Xie Hongyuan’s delicate brows furrowed tightly.

“Clan Leader, I still believe this is unwise. The Shi Clan harbors wolfish ambition. If they manage to eliminate the Chen Clan under the Zhou Clan’s protection, our clan may no longer be able to restrain them. Should the Shi Clan refuse to share the Blood Rice after obtaining it—or if they gain the backing of another clan—our family would find it difficult to deal with them.”

"Right now, our clan maintains good relations with the Chen Clan. If we can preserve this bond, then we will have a steady, unending supply of Blood Rice. Compared to entrusting the Blood Rice to the Shi Clan, the current situation is far more advantageous for us."

Hearing this, Xie Yanmiao showed a trace of surprise before smiling and nodding.

"Not bad. The fact that you can see this point already puts you ahead of the others.

“But remember, between clans, there are no eternal friends or enemies.

“Right now, the three great clans are united. Our family can't change this in the short term. The only way our clan can rise higher is by temporarily cooperating with the Shi Clan and breaking through the obstacles.”

"But..."

Xie Hongyuan started to speak, but Xie Yanmiao cut her off by raising his hand.

"Enough. I have already discussed countermeasures with the clan elders. You need not worry too much. Now that you have broken through to the Innate Realm, remember to collect the corresponding resources from the clan. Train diligently and strive to become a clan elder as soon as possible."

Hearing the tone that brooked no refusal, Xie Hongyuan could only bow helplessly.

"Hongyuan takes her leave!"

Even after the doors to the grand hall closed, Xie Hongyuan's worry did not lessen.

Although the clan was strong, the prospect of cooperating with the Shi Clan made her uneasy. Furthermore, the bond she had painstakingly built with the Chen Clan would now dissolve.

Most importantly, she felt that the Xie and Chen Clans had no real conflict of interest. The Chen Clan had great potential. If they could establish deeper cooperation, the Chen Clan could become a trustworthy ally.

However, the clan leader and the elders clearly held views entirely different from her own.

Though she was talented, she held little influence within the clan. It seems I must first become a clan elder.

Becoming an elder of the Xie Clan was not as simple as merely reaching the Innate Realm. There were other requirements as well.

Xie Hongyuan's expression was resolute; her eyes showed no hint of retreat.

Unfortunately, she could do nothing for the Chen Clan. All she could do was pray that they would survive the Shi Clan’s attack.

In her view, though, if her clan chose not to intervene, the Chen Clan’s chances of survival were slim.

When the Shi Clan struck with full force, it would be nothing like the minor skirmishes before.

Still, before the Shi Clan made its move, she could at least offer one final warning.

…

“Clan Leader, this item can be transplanted, but it will require the use of the Guanyin Soil.”

A few days later, in the great hall of the Chen Clan, Chen Xingzhen nodded upon receiving the news.

"Very well. Have the clansmen transplant the remaining stalks of Burial Dust into the Five-Leaf Flower Cave.”

This had been Chen Xingzhen’s idea for a long time. The cave where the Five-Leaf Flower grew was secluded and shadowed, making it perfectly suited for growing Burial Dust.

Through experiments conducted by the clansmen, it was discovered that the Burial Dust was highly effective against low-level vicious beasts and ordinary wild animals. Even a small amount could cause the beasts’ consciousness to fall into chaos, driving them to self-destruction.

This property was precisely why so many beastly skeletons were scattered around the Burial Dust. The greater reason, of course, was the nearby passage that led to the outside world. Without it, the beasts would never have found their way there.

The Burial Dust had survived for so long by absorbing the blood of these beasts and sustaining itself to the present day.

If it were transplanted into the cave of the Five-Leaf Flower, it could serve as a natural defense, protecting the flower from any beasts that might stray inside. It would truly be a solution that achieves two goals at once.

After resolving the matter of the Burial Dust, Chen Tianyu asked, “How has the excavation of the ruins been going lately?”

"Many clansmen have been dispatched to dig, and the harvest has been plentiful," he reported to the Clan Leader.

"First, we have transported a great deal of the hard stone walls outside the ruins, and in two days they will be added to reinforce the clan’s outer walls. In addition, a lot of Guanyin Soil has been excavated. Some has been placed around the Five-Leaf Flower, and another portion has been used in the Clan’s fertile fields.”

"Mm."

After hearing this, Chen Xingzhen nodded, but still cautioned:

"This is the Clan’s first time handling such material. Mistakes are inevitable. Don't use it on a large scale yet, in case this season's Blood Rice suffers any unforeseen mishaps."

"Clan Leader, Elders Tianjing and Tianyu have already offered their suggestions, so this time, the clan's experiment will involve only half an acre of farmland."

Chen Xingzhen smiled. With Tianjing and Tianyu present, he felt much more at ease.

"And what about those bones? Was there any gain?” Chen Xingzhen pressed further.

Logically, the area around the Burial Dust should have contained only the remains of vicious beasts. Yet during the clan’s last exploration of the ruins, they mostly brought back human bones.

No one knew where these bones had come from. What the clan did know was that these strange remains seemed to undergo a unique transformation under certain conditions, evolving into their current form.

"The clansmen are intensifying their excavation under the direction of the Clan Leader. According to yesterday’s reports, they have already made considerable gains.”

"Mm. Tell them to be cautious. Though the ruins have collapsed, dangers may still linger within. We must not be careless. Moreover, most of those sent to dig are the clan's young people—they must be especially careful.”

"Yes, Clan Leader."

After the clansman left, Chen Xingzhen turned and headed toward the ancestral hall.

His heart remained uneasy. Perhaps a prayer at the ancestral hall would bring guidance from the Divine Tree and offer some hint of what lies ahead.

At the same time, he intended to ask his father about the recent progress of the clansmen.

With the Shi Clan watching like a tiger ready to pounce, he could not find peace.