Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

At the entrance of Stone Village, the village chief and a group of villagers lingered, reluctant to return to the village even as they watched Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng head off.

Seeing this, the two quickly called out, "Village Chief, don’t send us back—we’re already leaving!"

The chief hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly, as if hoping they’d catch his hidden intentions. Yet, just as he opened his mouth to speak, a nearby villager interrupted, "Village Chief, they’re gone."

Startled, the chief looked up to see that Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng had already traveled quite a distance. Realizing it was too late to call them back, he sighed and turned to another villager.

"How many catties of grain did they eat last night?"

"Fifteen catties, village chief."

The response made his heart skip a beat. Perhaps he had been a bit too hospitable last night. If he’d known they would eat so much, he might have reconsidered hosting them. After all, he hadn’t expected these two young people to have such hearty appetites. If they hadn’t brought extra provisions, the pair might’ve cleared out his entire stock in a single meal.

Sighing, he muttered to himself about the sacrifices he’d have to make to stretch his remaining supplies.

…

"This grain doesn’t really satisfy. Only Blood Rice fills you up," Chen Qinghe muttered as they walked along the path back to the clan.

"True, I already feel a bit hungry again," Chen Qingmeng agreed.

It wasn’t just their appetites; it was the nature of Blood Rice itself. Both were cultivating their bodies, and Blood Rice, with its rich nutrients, strengthened them far more than ordinary grain ever could. 

The standard grain they had eaten last night produced only minimal qi and blood, and even though they’d eaten a lot, it hadn’t lasted them long.

As for the village chief’s crestfallen look earlier, neither of them had taken notice.

Following the familiar path, they quickly made their way back to the clan. However, when they saw Chen Tianjing and Chen Tianyu standing guard at the gate, their brief moment of joy faded.

…

Bang!

With a powerful strike of the Taizu Long Fist, Chen Qingyu took down the mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm beast before him. Despite his swift victory, a trace of worry lingered in his expression.

Since his fight with Liu Shengrong, he’d gained some insight into the Taizu Long Fist. But now, whenever he used it, something seemed off—like a missing piece he couldn’t grasp. As for Bright Moon like Frost, the Innate-level martial technique he’d recently learned, he still hadn’t fully mastered it.

The complexities of understanding an innate-level martial technique far exceeded those of the Taizu Long Fist, yet he sensed he could attain proficiency with Bright Moon like Frost within a few days.

But what he desired even more than martial mastery was a breakthrough to the Innate Realm. The temporary boost from the Divine Tree’s leaves had allowed him to glimpse that power. Although it hadn’t been a true, self-earned breakthrough, the experience fueled his ambition to reach that realm.

After the clan elders had recovered, his parents had already told him in his dreams about several ways to break through quickly. One involved intense combat, a method that stimulated qi and blood, forcing the body to its limits.

The beast he had just defeated, though a mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm creature, hadn’t been challenging enough. He needed a stronger opponent—though not one from the Innate Realm, as that would be courting death.

In the past two days at Chaotic Burial Mountain, he had made considerable progress, inching closer to the peak of the Blood Coagulation Realm. After securing the beast’s carcass, he prepared to move on when he felt a cool sensation on his forehead. Looking up, he saw snowflakes drifting from the sky, melting as they touched his skin, leaving only a fleeting chill.

After a moment’s pause, Chen Qingyu vanished into the snowy landscape.

…

"It’s snowing!"

The first flakes fell softly, each one heralding the onset of winter. Though the Chen clan’s Divine Tree shielded them from the cold, the sight of snow still stirred excitement among the clan members. This wasn’t merely due to the snowfall; it marked a change from the harsh struggles of past winters.

Last year, they had battled the Liu clan for survival, their lives marred by hunger and conflict. Now, with the Divine Tree’s blessings and the clan thriving, they saw beauty in the snow’s gentle descent.

Remarkably, whenever snowflakes touched the Chen clan’s grounds, they melted immediately, leaving no frost on the earth. Just a few steps away, however, snow had already begun to accumulate, covering the ground in a thin, icy layer. It was as if two separate worlds coexisted side by side.

In the Ancestral Hall, Chen Xingzhen turned to Chen Tianjing and the others.

"Has everyone in the clan returned?"

"Yes, Clan Leader. All members from outside are back, and the nearby villages have received their provisions. Only Qingyu hasn’t reported back."

Chen Xingzhen nodded. With winter upon them, martial practice became the clan’s primary focus, as farming and hunting were impossible in the cold.

As for Qingyu, Chen Xingzhen hoped he’d return before the heavy snowfall sealed off the mountain. The onset of snow had complicated his initial plans, particularly for the villages around Chaotic Burial Mountain. The paths would soon be impassable, limiting their contact with the villagers.

Turning to his trusted warriors, he instructed, "Over the next few days, focus on training our clan’s warriors. We’ll soon assess how well they’ve progressed."

He hadn’t forgotten his promise of rewards for the top three performers. However, the warriors in the Blood Coagulation Realm wouldn’t be competing in this evaluation.

"Yes, Patriarch, " they replied, bowing as they left.

With the hall emptied, Chen Xingzhen turned once again toward the Divine Tree, bowing deeply in reverence. The clan owed its stability to the Divine Tree’s blessing, and he resolved that in the coming year, they would redouble their offerings.