Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Guided by a radiant light, Ji Yang felt as if he were on the verge of breaking free from this world.

Yet, at the crucial moment, his strength faltered. The trunk that had been growing at a furious pace slowed down.

He was a single step away from reaching the edge of heaven and earth, but that step remained out of reach forever. A pang of regret stirred in his heart.

Could it be... failure again?

Unwilling to accept defeat, Ji Yang poured every ounce of his power into the attempt. But no matter how hard he tried, he fell just short of success.

Then, at the decisive moment, the Ancient Trees below seemed to resonate with him. One by one, they offered up their vitality.

A torrent of new life force surged into his body, filling him with inexhaustible strength.

In the next heartbeat, his colossal trunk pierced the heavens. Ji Yang beheld the entirety of the Spirit Wood Realm—and beyond it, vistas of worlds beyond.

Before he could act, a new prompt appeared before his eyes:

【Simulation successful! Simulation ending soon!】

As the words faded, the vibrant colors of the world drained away, turning to shades of gray before his vision.

Back in the ancestral hall, Ji Yang’s consciousness lingered, reluctant to leave.

So, does it end here?

He recalled the final moment of the simulated world and felt unsatisfied. It was as though he had only just begun. Yet, upon reflection, he realized that this trial had unfolded with unusual smoothness, perhaps due to the peculiar nature of that realm.

Focusing his awareness, Ji Yang set aside idle thoughts and waited quietly for the results of his simulation, anticipation stirring in his heart.

【Simulation Complete!】

【In this simulation, you have comprehended a new ability: Heart of Spirit Wood】

【In this simulation, you have comprehended a new ability: Mastery of Trees】

【In this simulation, you have comprehended a new divine art: Mist Array】

Ji Yang blinked, his branches brushing against the places where his eyes should have been, as if to confirm the truth.

When no further rewards appeared, he finally resigned himself.

Yet, disappointment gnawed at him. He had pierced the heavens themselves, only to gain two abilities and a single divine art. Wasn't that far too meager?

Ji Yang's disappointment quickly shifted as he examined the descriptions of his new acquisitions.

Heart of Spirit Wood: The ability to sense and command his kin.

Mastery of Trees: A deeper understanding of his own nature, allowing him to unleash his full potential.

Mist Array: The power to consume life force and create a fog formation.

The moment these abilities took root within him, Ji Yang felt as though a heart had begun to beat inside his tranquil trunk. With each pulse, his awareness expanded outward.

Suddenly, every tree within a hundred li became his eye. He could perceive each one's surroundings with crystalline clarity.

He realized that at critical moments, he could draw upon their vitality and absorb it into himself, achieving absolute dominion over the forest.

Heart of Spirit Wood... This changes everything. My consciousness is no longer bound to my roots. Wherever trees exist, I can see; I can know. Though my range is limited now, as my body and spirit grow, so too will the reach of my perception.

After studying this newfound ability carefully, Ji Yang conceived another use for it.

He had previously obtained the divine art Awakening Spirit, which could grant intelligence to living beings. However, he hesitated because once creatures gained wisdom, they could no longer be controlled and might develop their own thoughts. Thus, he had set the idea aside.

Now, however, with the Heart of Spirit Wood, such concerns no longer troubled him. Ji Yang realized that he could awaken the surrounding trees and transform them into treants. By doing so, he would strengthen Chaotic Burial Mountain and his own defenses.

The treants would slumber most of the time, stirring only when needed. In critical moments, Ji Yang could command them directly. It was a perfect solution.

This single ability alone made Ji Yang feel that his journey had been worthwhile—it resonated too deeply with his nature.

His newfound mastery of the tree kind was likely born from his insights while watching the Ancient Spirit Trees battle. It was a minor gain, but still useful.

Ji Yang had no desire to appear on the battlefield again because that would mean the clan had fallen into crisis once more.

Without hesitation, he turned his gaze to the final divine art. He chose to test it immediately to see the power of the Mist Array.

When Ji Yang unleashed his divine ability, countless white mists rose suddenly around Chaotic Burial Mountain. The mists quickly spread, enveloping the entire mountain and obscuring all directions.

The villagers of Chaotic Burial Mountain witnessed this strange phenomenon at the very moment Ji Yang performed his technique. They were astonished, their faces showing signs of panic.

Chaotic Burial Mountain was known to occasionally produce heavy fog, but thanks to the terrain, it never lasted long. However, this sudden surge of white mist was bound to severely hinder many hunters.

Faced with this dense fog, the villagers could only sigh at their misfortune. "This is Heaven's will," they thought. Even martial artists would be powerless against it.

The news was quickly reported to the clan. Upon hearing it, Chen Xingzhen merely observed from afar and ordered his clansmen,

"No need to interfere."

The Divine Tree had already given its guidance.

Watching the mist rise all around, Ji Yang felt quite satisfied. This divine ability was indeed impressive.

Within the white mist, vision was obstructed and confusion reigned, leaving one unable to find direction.

Thus, Chaotic Burial Mountain no longer needed to worry about being exposed to the enemy’s sight, nor would the previous situation occur again, when foes attacked directly at their doorstep.

Combined with Heart of Spirit Wood, Chaotic Burial Mountain could truly be considered an impregnable fortress.

Creating this mist consumed twenty points of Ji Yang’s life force, yet the divine ability's duration was remarkably long. It would take about a month for the mist to gradually disperse.

Though the expenditure of life force was considerable, it was well worth the cost compared to the safety of Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Ji Yang then turned his gaze toward the few remaining points he had left.

There were still some points in reserve, but the recent awakening of spiritual power for the clan’s children had nearly depleted his spiritual energy. The next deduction would likely have to wait.

Still, the harvest from this attempt was quite fruitful, and Ji Yang was in no hurry to begin another deduction.

…

“Clan Leader, please take a look at this. This is something the family purchased in the past two days!”

In the center of Yunmeng City, within a vast mansion, a clansman's face lit up with joy as he eagerly offered the item in his hand, as though presenting a great merit.

Before him stood a bearded man with a calm and steady expression. Without haste, he accepted the object and examined it carefully.

Yet, after a brief look, his expression remained indifferent, showing little reaction.

What he held was nothing more than a handful of crimson rice grains. Though faint traces of Qi and Blood lingered within them, they were hardly worthy of his attention.

Such resources were not lacking in the clan. Why be so delighted over something so trivial?