Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

"Everyone knows the situation now, right? Speak your minds."

In the Ancestral Hall, the clan’s martial artists at the Blood Coagulation Realm and above had gathered. After hearing the recent news, everyone wore grave expressions and were lost in thought.

"Clan Leader, will the Zhou family’s annihilation implicate our clan?" a member asked.

Chen Xingzhen shook his head slightly. "The Zhou family had countless branches beneath it. Our Chen family is only a remote, minor clan. I don’t think the problem will fall on us.”

Hearing this, many in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. If the clan that destroyed the Zhou family intended to punish anyone connected to them, it would spell catastrophe for the Chen family perhaps even the end of their resistance.

Still, no one in the hall showed any sign of relief.

"The Chen Clan and the Shi family have been bitter enemies for a long time. Now that the Zhou family has been wiped out, the Shi family certainly won’t stand idly by. We just don’t know when they’ll make their move.”

"The Shi family just finished a major battle, so our clan must have suffered losses as well. Besides, after a big fight, there are always many matters to settle in Yong’an City. Maybe the Shi family won’t act immediately.”

“Also, Yong’an City isn’t just the Shi family anymore, the Xie family is there too. Although our clan’s ties with the Xies aren’t strong, we do cooperate with them. Could we offer the Xies a portion of this batch of Blood Rice and ask them to intervene on our behalf?”

"I imagine the Xie family wouldn't want two dominant clans in Yong'an City either."

Many clan members fell silent after hearing this. The blood rice was tied to the clan’s future. Without the Zhou family, all of the blood rice could be used for their own people. Using it to secure a protective talisman for the clan might solve the immediate crisis but delay the clan’s long-term development. Most of those present were unwilling to accept that trade-off.

Chen Tianyu slowly spoke up: "Using one power to swallow another and reaping the benefits is tempting, but our clan is currently too weak. If we raise a tiger to deal with a wolf, it may become a pest later on. Besides, the Xie family is powerful. Even if they could destroy the Shi family, who’s to say the Xies wouldn’t become the next Shi family?”

"Unlike the Zhou family, who live far away, the Xie family lives close to us. If they can obtain all ten portions of the blood rice, why would they let our clan have any?”

"Chen Tianyu makes a good point, the risk is too great."

"Indeed. The blood rice is vital to the clan. If we could buy them a few more years, we might grow to their size.”

Chen Xingzhen listened to the clan’s debate without speaking. He had already ruled out cooperating with the Xie family.

Among clans, only self-interest endures. He did not believe the Xies would not covet the clan’s blood rice. What worried him most about the Zhou family’s annihilation was the possibility of Xie involvement. The Shi family alone was difficult for the clan to contend with. If the Xies joined in, the situation would be even worse.

However, that was the worst-case scenario. Judging from the current circumstances, the Xie family was equally ambitious. After dealing with the Shen and Gan families, they might not continue to cooperate with the Shi family. Currently, the two powers were likely wary of one another, each wanting to eliminate the other.

Had it not been for the great hatred between the clan and the Shi family, neither of the two great houses would have likely paid them any mind. However, the clan's actions made this unavoidable.

“Then fight!”

Chen Tianjing's gaze was cold as he spoke among the clan members.

The clan was no longer as precarious as it had been two years ago. Now, it had finally grown to this scale, blessed by the Divine Tree, possessing ten or so acres of fertile land, and controlling the entire Chaotic Burial Mountain. No one was willing to abandon what they had gained through so much effort.

With no allies to call on and no way to flee, only one path remained.

“Tianjing is right!”

"Our clan is not weaker than theirs. The Shi family lacks Qi Manipulation Realm fighters. They only have two more Innate Realm warriors. What is there to fear?"

"Even with the protection of the Divine Tree, if the Shi or Xie Clans want to seize our blood rice, they’ll have to step over my corpse first!"

The dozen clan members present fixed their gazes with unwavering determination. Their faces showed no fear, only excitement and fervor.

For a moment, the thick Yin energy within the ancestral hall was dispersed by the surge of their combined blood and qi.

At the front, Chen Xingzhen stood tall and vigorous under the watchful eyes of his clansmen. His expression was unyielding as he declared,

“Then we fight!”

A powerful clan has never thrived on smooth waters.

Only through raging storms can an immortal family be forged!

With the clan’s will unified, Chen Xingzhen swiftly issued his commands.

"Tianjing and Tianyu, you two will lead a group to set up sentry posts ten li beyond the clan grounds. Your task is to monitor the Shi Clan’s movements and guard against ambushes.

"Tianlu and Tianmo, you are responsible for fortifying the clan’s defenses. Those stone walls we recovered from the ruins but never had the chance to use integrate them into the outer walls of the clan immediately.

"Tianquan, you and the others spread the word. Make sure every clan member is ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Also, gather all the clan’s Azure Wolves and prepare them for deployment.”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

With this cascade of orders, the once-quiet Chen Clan instantly springs into disciplined motion.

Upon learning that a mortal enemy threatens their family and that extinction may be imminent, many clan members wear looks of exhilaration. They polish the white bones they carry until they gleam.

If they were anywhere else, they might panic. But this is the Chaotic Burial Mountain, the Chen family’s home. Behind the clan stands the protection of the Divine Tree. What is there to fear?

After the clan members depart, Chen Xingzhen turns to the Divine Tree and offers a prayer.

The clan is about to enter a great battle, so of course we must gather every ounce of the family’s strength.

He had not forgotten that several clan members were still in Yong’an City.

When chaos erupted in the city before, the Zhou family’s reputation had shielded our people, so there was no need to worry about their safety.

Now that the Zhou family was gone, however, the situation for those in Yong’an City would undoubtedly become perilous. It would be best for them to hurry back to the clan.

Fortunately, the clan had received the warning in advance. With the Divine Tree’s power, he expected those out there would be notified quickly.

After Chen Xingzhen finished his prayer, a single golden locust leaf glowed faintly among the dense foliage of the tree.

Having received the Divine Tree’s signal, Chen Xingzhen no longer worried about the safety of Chen Xingsong and the others. Instead, he looked off into the distance.

More than two months had passed since Chen Xingsong left the clan to search for the souls of the departed, yet he still had not returned. If not for the confirmation from the Divine Tree that Chen Xingsong was safe, Chen Xingzhen would have feared that an accident had befallen him.

There wasn’t much time left for the clan. I hope he returns soon. His presence would strengthen the family before the coming battle.