Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Vol. 1 - Ch. 293 - Slumber

As the first light of dawn pierced the darkness and spread across the mass grave mountain once more, the battered Chen Clan estate came into view. The surviving clansmen saw it before them.The battle had nearly wiped the family from existence. The houses and outer walls that the clan had painstakingly built were now almost entirely collapsed.

Fortunately, those in the clan who were not martial artists, along with the children, had hidden safely within the secret passageways. Otherwise, the losses would have been even greater.

In the still-spacious clan square, Chen Xingzhen and the other survivors gathered.

"Clan Leader, the outside has mostly been dealt with. What remains is repairing the houses and...”

"Clan Leader, in this battle, we slew one hundred and twelve Shi Clan martial artists, including six from the Innate realm..."

Hearing the reports, Chen Xingzhen showed no joy. Though the enemy had been annihilated, the Chen Clan had also suffered grievous losses. He had already seen far too many of his clansmen’s corpses along the way.

This was indeed the clan’s most devastating loss in the past two years.

“Clan Leader, should we send our people to the Shi Clan? Should we wipe out the remaining survivors completely?”

Chen Tianjing posed the question beside him, his face pale.

No one knew how many Shi clansmen remained in Yong’an City, but even their Qi Manipulation expert had fallen. The remaining members would hardly dare to challenge the Chen Clan.

Eliminating them entirely would remove future threats and secure the Chen Clan’s foothold in Yong’an City.

Chen Xingzhen looked at the few remaining clansmen and shook his head.

"I fear the Shi Clan has already received word. Even if we rush there now, it will be too late. Moreover, the Xie Clan in Yong’an City has yet to act. It would be better to let our people rest for a few days and then act according to the situation.”

The Shi Clan no longer posed a great danger to them. However, the Xie Clan, far stronger than the Shi, was a new and pressing concern.

Hearing this, the clansmen fell silent, none daring to speak further.

This battle was indeed a pyrrhic victory. With Yong’an City still far from the mass grave mountain, it was too late to act.

Just as the clansmen were discussing other matters, anxious cries suddenly rang out from nearby.

"Clan Leader, something's wrong! Please come to the ancestral hall at once!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xingzhen and the others abandoned their meeting and rushed toward the ancestral hall.

When they arrived and saw that the family's Divine Tree was still intact, they felt somewhat relieved. As long as the Divine Tree remained, nothing could be considered a true calamity.

Yet, what followed made their hearts clench tight.

The once lush and verdant Divine Tree was rapidly withering. Countless deep-green locust leaves gradually turned yellow and fell from the branches. Even the trunk, once brimming with vitality, began to shrivel as though drained of moisture.

In an instant, the Tree, full of life and vigor, was reduced to a barren husk. Only death remained upon its branches.

This scene left Chen Xingzhen and the others utterly shaken.

Though the battle had taken a heavy toll, as long as the Divine Tree remained, their clansmen would never truly perish. However, if their Divine Tree were destroyed, it would be a loss the clan could never bear.

Chen Xingzhen quickly began to pray, hoping for a response from the Divine Tree.

Yet this time, his prayers vanished like stones sinking into the sea, no guidance appeared in his mind.

Such a thing had never happened before.

Realizing that the Divine Tree might have fallen silent, Chen Xingzhen’s face turned pale. His already aged features seemed to deepen with new wrinkles.

Without the Divine Tree, he suddenly found himself at a loss, unable to see the clan's path forward.

The Divine Tree was not just a family totem, it was the steadfast pillar of his heart.

Beside him, the clansmen lowered their heads in silence, their faces etched with grief.

This victory had been won only through the power of the Divine Tree.

Without it, there would be no Chen Clan as it stands today.

The sight left Chen Xingzhen and the others shaken to the core.

Without the clan’s totem, they could not see the path ahead.

Just as silence fell heavily upon the hall, something suddenly dropped from above.

It was just a short, withered locust branch, no more than a few inches long.

Yet, the moment it touched the ground, a surge of vitality radiated from it. In the blink of an eye, several fresh green leaves sprouted from the branch.

Chen Xingzhen froze for a moment, then bent down to pick up the pulsing branch.

Almost instantly, the clouded, weary look in his eyes lit up with hope. Turning to face the clansmen behind him, he said,

"This time, the Divine Tree has exhausted too much of its divine power and has fallen into slumber. But it will not be long before it awakens again, bringing new light to our clan!"

These were not words invented to soothe the hearts of his people. They were the words that entered his mind the moment he picked up the branch.

The guidance was faint, but Chen Xingzhen could still sense the Divine Tree’s exhaustion through it.

As long as the Divine Tree endured, however, the clan still had hope, and the clansmen still had faith.

Upon hearing the Clan Leader’s words, joy spread across the people's faces. The Divine Tree had not perished; it had merely fallen into slumber. In an instant, their eyes shone with renewed light.

“Clan Leader, how long will the Divine Tree sleep this time?”

One clansman asked eagerly. Soon, all eyes turned toward Chen Xingzhen, awaiting his answer.

Chen Xingzhen smiled faintly.

"This time, the Divine Tree has consumed much of its divine power. It will likely take one or two years before it awakens again."

Upon hearing this, the clansmen’s hearts were freed of worry, and their faces relaxed with relief. It would only take one or two years, not twenty or ten. That was a span they could endure.

Seeing their despair fade, Chen Xingzhen himself breathed a little easier.

Yet, when his gaze turned back to the withered Family Divine Tree, a sigh escaped him.

The guidance was faint, and Chen Xingzhen could sense the Divine Tree’s weakness.

As long as the Divine Tree endured, however, the clan had hope and the clansmen had faith.

…

Meanwhile, in Yong’an City, Shi Chenghong stood silently in the ancestral hall.

Before him lay a strange Divine Stone, shimmering faintly with light.

This was the Shi Clan’s totem.

Now, however, the Stone’s glow had dimmed, and faint cracks spread across its surface. Shi Chenghong’s gaze was fixed upon it, yet his eyes held no focus. His face was ashen and lifeless.

“Clan Leader? Clan Leader?”

An elder called out cautiously behind him.

Yet Shi Chenghong did not respond, as though he had not heard at all.

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