Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Vol. 1 - Ch. 295 - Onward to Yong'an City

He initially believed himself to be a late bloomer, destined to find the Way in old age.The idea thrilled him, and with only his wife at home, he resolved to support the Chen Clan.

However, halfway there, his back gave out, and his wife had to help him back home.

Nevertheless, his past bravery was well known among the Chen Clan. Many clansmen had witnessed it firsthand. Now that he had arrived, would they think he had shied away at the crucial moment, unwilling to help the clan?

Seeing Gu Yu’s hesitation, Chen Xingzhen asked, "Mr. Gu, is there something you wish to say?"

"Ah, this old body of mine is hard to describe," Gu Yu sighed after a brief silence.

Sensing Gu Yu’s qi and blood, worn down by age, Chen Xingzhen felt a flicker of doubt. Yet he only smiled and said, "Mister Gu, you need not worry. What’s past is past. The clan still needs your guidance."

…

"Clan Leader! Clan Leader! Good news!"

Just as Chen Xingzhen was about to head to the newly cleared ancestral hall to pray, he heard Chen Tianleng’s urgent voice by his ear.

For a moment, Chen Xingzhen’s heart leapt, had the Divine Tree awakened?

However, seeing that Chen Tianleng had returned from outside the clan grounds, Chen Xingzhen knew the news concerned something else.

Chen Tianleng hurried forward and said,

“Clan Leader, word has come from Yong’an City. The Xie Clan has vanished, and many of the Shi Clan’s shops are closed. It seems they are packing up, preparing to withdraw from the city."

Chen Xingzhen froze at the report. The Shi Clan’s retreat did not surprise him.

But the Xie Clan’s disappearance that was astonishing. He immediately ordered Chen Tianleng to recount the details thoroughly.

Even after hearing the full account, Chen Xingzhen could not make sense of it. Had the Xie Clan remained in Yong’an City during the recent war, they surely would have been the greatest victors, perhaps even the sole ruling family of the city.

Yet now, the Xie Clan had vanished entirely, their possessions taken and their halls emptied. This was no mere retreat, it was a full-scale migration of the entire clan.

Forcing the Xie Clan to abandon Yong’an City, a place they had cultivated for generations, surely meant that the family was on the brink of annihilation. It was just like the last time they were forced to relocate.

Chen Xingzhen still did not know why they disappeared, but the fall of the Xie Clan was undeniably good news for his family.

Chen Tianjing and the others, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stood beside him, wearing expressions of delight.

"Patriarch, since Yong'an City now holds only the remnants of the Shi Clan, I believe our family should strike swiftly, wipe them out completely, and remove future troubles."

Chen Xingzhen shook his head once more.

"Though the Shi clan is defeated, they still have strength. Our family has few warriors, and the Divine Tree has fallen into slumber. Without its power, pressing the attack will only bring us greater losses than gains.”

Chen Tianjing frowned deeply.

“Clan Leader, are we simply to watch the Shi Clan walk away unscathed?”

They had won the clan war, yes, but because Yong’an City was so far from Chaotic Burial Mountain, their victory was only pyrrhic. They gained nothing from this battle. In truth, it was a blood-soaked loss.

Perhaps they could still intercept the Shi Clan if they rushed to Yong’an City now. After all, the Shi Clan has been entrenched there for a long time, so they must still possess many valuable assets. Recovering even some of those assets could offset the Chen Clan’s losses from the recent war.

"Of course not!"

Chen Xingzhen’s eyes grew deep as he spoke.

“Tianjing, you and Qingyu will take the remaining Blood Coagulation Realm warriors of the clan. Ride the Azure Wolves and set out for Yong’an City immediately."

"This mission is not to intercept the Shi Clan, though. It is to take control of Yong’an City!

“Though our clan has won this battle, the Shi Clan still has surviving warriors. If we shut ourselves away, they may perceive our weakness. By pressing forward now, even if the Shi Clan retains some strength, they will not dare confront us. Moving swiftly will instill urgency in their hearts."

"Understood. I’ll depart at once!"

After Chen Tianjing left, Chen Xingzhen gazed into the distance, his expression solemn.

Chen Xingzhen would never have made such a decision if not for the Xie Clan’s sudden disappearance. Instead, he would have remained hidden within Chaotic Burial Mountain, waiting for the Divine Tree to awaken before slowly advancing his plans.

Given the deterrence of the recent battle, even the Xie Clan would have likely hesitated to attack the Chen Clan. That interval would have been the perfect opportunity for the family to recuperate and regain strength. Once the Divine Tree awakened, it would not have been too late to march into Yong’an City.

But now, the situation was entirely different. There was no longer any need to wait.

The time to station themselves in Yong’an City was now!

Though the battle yielded few gains and cost the clan dearly, it eliminated their greatest threat. If they could seize Yong’an City, the clan’s future would be promising. That alone was the greatest victory.

Relying solely on Chaotic Burial Mountain would never be enough.

Perhaps this was the guidance of the Divine Tree itself.

Recalling the fallen locust branch when the Divine Tree slumbered, Chen Xingzhen thought silently to himself.

…

“Clan Leader, Po Jing has returned!”

In the grand hall of the Shi family in Yong’an City, many clansmen had gathered.

Yet the hall felt emptier than ever. Among the clan elders, only two or three remained. The atmosphere was desolate and lonely, a far cry from the family’s former prosperity.

Shi Chenghong sat quietly on the main seat at the top. His hand constantly stroked the worn armrest, and he was lost in thought.

Upon hearing the clansman’s report, Shi Chenghong focused his gaze downward toward the hall.

“Wuuu… wuuu… wuuu… Clan Leader!”

Before the man arrived, his cries had already reached them.

A bleak and broken figure soon appeared before them. He collapsed to his knees, weeping bitterly.

It was Shi Pojing, who had raced back from Chaotic Burial Mountain. He was the only clansman to survive this expedition.

During the great battle, he remained outside the clan grounds, ready to confront any Chen family members who tried to escape. Yet, after waiting a long time, not a single figure appeared.

Fearing that he would not be able to explain himself upon returning, Shi Pojing decided to join the battle and earn merit.

But fate was cruel. At that very moment, the Chen family’s Divine Tree began to act. Even Clan Uncle He Zhang, beneath the locust tree, was treated like a mere plaything—utterly powerless before its might.

Seeing the dire situation, Shi Pojing withdrew to the rear to observe.

From there, he witnessed Clan Uncle He Zhang’s crushing defeat and desperate retreat. Already prepared, Shi Pojing fled even faster. By the time the clansmen behind him were ensnared by the Divine Tree’s roots, he had vanished into the forest and was watching from afar.

The instant he saw Clan Uncle He Zhang fall, he knew the clan was doomed. Without pausing, he raced back to Yong’an City.

“Enough. Speak of the entire course of that day’s events,” said Shi Chenghong coldly.

Beside him, Shi Heli and the other two elders listened intently, their expressions grave. They, too, wished to know how the Chen family had conducted their sacrificial rites against the clan.

“Clan Leader, that day, I went with several clan uncles to Chaotic Burial Mountain...”

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