Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

The group soon entered the city. It was not much different from other towns, and, in terms of scale, Yong’an City was somewhat lacking.

Yet, as they walked through the bustling streets and lively marketplace, a hint of surprise appeared in their eyes.

Most striking of all, the Chen family did not seem to charge an entrance fee. For a clan, this was a considerable loss. Even if most of those entering were commoners, the accumulated jade coins would amount to a significant sum.

Many small clans rely on these coins to sustain their growth!

Only the larger clans could afford to disregard such profits. It seemed that the Chen family’s wealth was far from ordinary.

"Clan Elder, the Chen family's management of Yong'an City seems far too lax. They don’t even check the identities of those entering,” a clansman remarked with disdain after stepping inside.

But the elder immediately rebuked him:

“Foolish!”

"The Chen family may appear unguarded, but several gazes have already fallen upon us since we entered. Even that street vendor over there has looked our way more than once.”

"Maybe it's not carelessness, but absolute confidence?"

“How interesting!”

Several clansmen felt a chill down their backs upon hearing the elder’s words. One of them asked,

“Clan Elder, should we hide?”

The elder’s face darkened with irritation.

“We are here to purchase Blood Rice, not to commit a shameful deed. Why would we need to hide?”

After being rebuked again, the group fell silent and began wandering through Yong’an City.

Once they had left, the vendors stationed at the city gate exchanged whispers.

"Tsk, tsk... Strangers in the city are becoming more frequent these days. I wonder what’s going on.”

"Yes, I've seen several groups in recent days. They enter the city and just stand around as if afraid no one will notice them."

"Look, there's another group!"

"Shh! Be careful. I think these are people from other clans. It's best not to offend them. Let's just focus on our business."

After a brief exchange, the vendors said no more.

Inside Yong'an City, Chen Tianjing studied the intelligence reports in his hand. His expression was thoughtful.

"There are five people...two Innate Realm martial artists, one at great completion and the other at the mid-stage."

"Four people...one late-stage Innate Realm martial artist and three Blood Coagulation Realm cultivators. Their sleeves have a clear clan symbol. These must be from the Qian family of Houqiu City."

"Three individuals...one early-stage Innate Realm martial artist and two Blood Coagulation Realm cultivators..."

The clan had compiled all of this information about the strangers entering the city over the past month. Groups of several people arriving together were almost certainly clans from the surrounding regions. Their bearing was obvious, and once inside the city, they could hardly conceal themselves.

In just this month alone, no fewer than seven or eight groups had arrived, meaning seven or eight clans. With several days still remaining before the Chen family’s Blood Rice sale, more clans were expected to arrive.

Chen Tianjing’s eyes narrowed. The influx of outsiders was not unexpected, but the sheer number hinted at the growing allure of the Blood Rice. For the Chen Clan, this presented both opportunity and risk.

The Chen Clan's intelligence gathering was not without purpose. By recording the strength of the martial artists that each family sent and noting the timing of their arrival, the clan could infer a great deal about their intentions. These details would help shape the Chen family’s next moves.

Undoubtedly, some of these clans had already dispatched people toward Burial Mountain to uncover its secrets.

Chen Tianjing smiled faintly, then entered the ancestral hall to pray before the Sacred Tree.

Moments later, the Sacred Tree responded. Confidence filled Chen Tianjing’s eyes. Allowing so many unfamiliar clans into the city was no simple matter. Though the Chen family did not openly shadow the newcomers, which did not mean they were unconcerned.

…

“Who would have thought that Chaotic Burial Mountain would be so remote?”

In the forest, a man leapt lightly from branch to branch. His movements were graceful; each casual stride carried him several meters forward, a clear sign of a refined traveling technique.

Yet, as he gazed at the endless expanse of dense woodland ahead, he could not help but mutter in complaint.

Based on the intelligence he had gathered earlier, the man estimated that he should reach Chaotic Burial Mountain in half a day. Then he would finally be able to glimpse the Chen family’s true strength. His clan knew little of them, and misjudgment could prove costly.

However, as he ventured deeper into the forest, he noticed something peculiar: thin wisps of white mist began to rise among the trees.

The mist thickened quickly, obscuring his vision and the path ahead. At once, the man halted, his instincts warning him.

"Could this terrain be peculiar?" he muttered, curiosity flickering in his eyes. Yet he did not panic.

Mere mist could not hinder an Innate Realm martial artist. As long as he kept going in the right direction, he believed he would soon arrive at the Chen Clan’s seat.

With renewed determination, he sped up.

However, after another half day of rushing forward, he stopped once more, his expression darkening.

By all rights, he should have reached Chaotic Burial Mountain long ago.

The man had traveled for so long, yet he was still shrouded in the same white mist. Even the surroundings looked familiar, as though he had passed through this place before.

"Hmph!"

He snorted coldly and turned his gaze toward a nearby tree trunk.

Could an Innate Realm martial artist like him be trapped here? Impossible. If the path would not reveal itself, then he would simply climb above it. Surely the mist could not...

With a swift leap, he ascended the thick trunk and reached the treetop. But the same endless whiteness stretched all around him. His face hardened into silence.

He wasn't a Qi Manipulation Realm expert, and he couldn't fly. How was he supposed to escape this place?

Should he invoke the clan’s totem power? Yet that force was precious. Wouldn't it be wasteful to expend it here?

As he hesitated, faint sounds stirred in the nearby mist.

He narrowed his eyes and froze, listening. The noises grew closer. He realized he had already been discovered.

In the next instant, he abandoned his hesitation. His Blood and Qi surged, and he unleashed a martial technique straight ahead with a roar.

"BOOM!"

The man struck, but there was no sensation of impact. His expression grew heavier.

Realizing that the figure hidden in the mist was no ordinary foe, he decided to stop holding back. In this blinding fog, hesitation meant defeat. He prepared to unleash his full strength.

Just as he was about to act, however, a hurried voice rang out from within the mist:

"Wait! I am Zhang Huaicai of the Zhang family from Wan Valley. Might I ask your name, sir?”

Hearing this, the man's tense features eased slightly.

He had heard of Wan Valley. It was located not far from Le’an City. Though the Zhang family was a minor clan, they were known for cultivating special rice that enhanced the Blood and Qi of ordinary people. In the surrounding region, their reputation was significant.