Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Upon further consideration, the man dismissed his initial indifference. After all, the clan had endured hard times in the past, being oppressed by the Zhou family and forced to tread carefully at every turn.

But now, things were different. The Zhou family of Yunmeng City no longer existed. The Zhao family of Yunmeng City remained.

He recalled that the clan had only recently seized the Zhou family’s estate and taken control of the city. Currently, the clan was still unstable, with shortcomings in many areas.

At such a critical juncture, he could not afford to dampen the spirits of his clansmen.

With this in mind, the man spoke.

"This item is not bad. Where did you purchase it?”

"Clan Leader, I brought it from Yong'an City. It's called Blood Rice, and it's connected to the Zhou family."

Upon hearing this, the man, who had been indifferent, changed his expression slightly. He immediately turned his gaze to the clansman before him.

"Explain in detail."

"Yes, Clan Leader. This is how it happened."

After listening to the clansman’s account, the man’s eyes gleamed with sudden clarity.

He had wondered why the Zhou family’s Wind-Chasing Falcon had flown so far. Now he understood—it was all for the Chen family’s Blood Rice.

Now that the Zhou family no longer existed and the clan had taken over everything, the Chen family naturally claimed this Blood Rice, though it was distant.

When the time came, the Chen family could deliver it themselves.

With this thought in mind, the man asked,

"What about the Chen clansman who sold the Blood Rice?"

"Clan Leader, we have already sent people to follow him. However, he carried little Blood Rice on his person. According to him, the Chen family intends to sell Blood Rice in large quantities in Yong’an City one month from now and will likely auction it to the highest bidder!”

The man’s brows furrowed, and then he let out two cold laughs.

It seemed the Blood Rice existed in great supply. In that case, the clan would send people to investigate. If the Chen family knew their place, all would be well. Otherwise, the clan had no need to show them courtesy.

With the Zhou family gone, the Zhao clan had no rivals left in Yunmeng City!

"One month later, is it?"

"Then send some clansmen to take a look. Since the Chen family is putting on such a grand display, many clans will surely attend. Let this time serve as an opportunity to gather information."

"Send Elder Qimeng over. If he proves suitable, purchase some and bring him back.”

“Yong’an City? What kind of place is that?"

"It's so remote. Mere Blood Rice isn't worth the trouble!"

…

As the clansmen spread the word about the Blood Rice, families around Yong’an City soon received the news. Many clans, upon witnessing the Blood Rice for themselves, were deeply tempted. They began preparations to send people to investigate and ready themselves for the sale one month later.

Meanwhile, in Yong’an City, Chen Tianjing began making his own arrangements.

The clan desired cultivation resources for Innate Realm martial artists. Though many families surrounded them, such resources were precious to smaller clans, and quantities were limited.

Rather than visiting each family individually, it would be better to use the clan’s Blood Rice to bring them together. From among those gathered, Chen Tianjing could select stronger clans with which to form alliances or exchange benefits.

This was Chen Tianjing’s current line of thought. However, such a plan would inevitably pose risks to the clan. After all, the family lacked a figure of true influence, such as a martial artist in the Qi Manipulation Realm who could speak with authority.

Given the clan’s present state and lack of resources for the Innate Realm, producing a Qi Manipulation Realm expert was no easy task. Unless the clan nurtured itself quietly for several more years—or even a decade—their growth would slow considerably.

However, with Innate Realm resources, combined with the clan’s Blood Rice and Blood Rice Fruit, they could cultivate more late-stage Innate martial artists. At that point, breaking through to the Qi Manipulation Realm would be much easier.

After all, a qualitative transformation was bound to occur sooner or later with enough numbers.

Although the clan currently lacks a Qi Manipulation Realm martial artist, it is not impossible to cultivate one, even if the risks are considerable.

Yet, to reap rewards, one must accept risks. Regarding this matter, Chen Tianjing already had a plan.

"Clan Leader, the Hidden Mountain Pavilion is ready."

At that moment, a clansman stepped forward to report.

After hearing him, Chen Tianjing nodded.

The Hidden Mountain Pavilion was the large commercial hall that the clan had begun constructing two years prior. Finding a suitable location within Yong’an City had been difficult due to the hall's vast scope. However, after the Shi family was eliminated, space was freed.

The construction of this pavilion consumed considerable manpower and resources from the clan.

The pavilion had two purposes: to establish control over Yong’an City and to serve as a hub for clan trade, thereby acquiring jade coins.

Though jade coins were not omnipotent—for example, they could not purchase all cultivation resources—the clan’s development would be stifled without them.

The Hidden Mountain Pavilion was completed months ago, but the clan did not open it because the Divine Tree had not yet awakened. Now, with many clans soon gathering in Yong’an City, the time was right for its grand opening.

Yet, despite its size, the pavilion’s interior was barren, with little merchandise. Compared to the Shi family’s Stone Warm Pavilion, it appeared rather meager.

However, the clan has achieved several notable accomplishments in recent years. Around Yong’an City, they explored and discovered several rare items. Though their uses were limited, the items served well enough as displays of prestige.

At the very least, they could sell more ordinary goods, such as the Hundred Forged Ironware that the clan had crafted over the past two years or the rare medicinal herbs that they had found in Chaotic Burial Mountain.

While arranging the Hidden Mountain Pavilion, Chen Tianjing transferred many clansmen to Yong’an City to maintain order.

Many within the city sensed a different atmosphere than in the past and speculated about what might be happening.

Yet the clan revealed nothing, leaving the people to wait in anticipation.

Still, the city’s residents were not overly worried. Since the Chen family settled in Yong’an City a few years ago, the city has fared much better than in the days when the Four Great Families held sway.

At the very least, they no longer had to fear constant clan battles destroying shops or paying fees to one family only to be charged again by another. They no longer had to worry about arrogant clan youths riding fine horses recklessly through the marketplace, either.

The Chen clansmen seemed to prefer living in Chaotic Burial Mountain and treating others with calmness and kindness.

Only through comparison could the difference be seen.

Compared to the former Four Great Families, the Chen Clan was far superior. Many in the city had begun considering ways to join the Chen family, even as household servants.

However, it was said that the Chen Clan had strict requirements for servants and that they were chosen almost exclusively from the Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Recently, however, accidents had been occurring in the Chaotic Burial Mountain. White mist lingered among the forests, making it difficult for outsiders to find a path into the mountain. Because of this, many plans to join the Chen Clan through the Chaotic Burial Mountain were thwarted!