Vol. 1 - Ch. 24 - Blessing of the Divine Tree

As Chen Qingyu prepared to enter the secret passage, a sudden rustling sound came from the nearby Divine Tree.The abnormality of the Divine Tree caught their attention.

Bathed in the soft glow of the night, the Divine Tree suddenly emitted a blinding light. 

From between its trunk and branches, a dark green leaf with a radiant glow slowly drifted out and descended gracefully.

The leaf landed gently in front of Chen Qingyu.

He watched it flutter down, his brow furrowed in curiosity and disbelief

Beside him, Chen Xingzhen's face lit up with joy. "Qingyu, quickly accept it! This is the Divine Tree's blessing!"

Chen Qingyu extended his hand reluctantly, catching the floating leaf. Despite its luminous beauty, his expression remained skeptical. To him, it seemed like an ordinary leaf, no different from those found anywhere else. How could this be considered a blessing?

If the Divine Tree could rise from the ground and drive away the Li family, then he would truly believe in its protective power. Healing a few injuries? That wouldn't save the family's current situation.

If it weren't for the clan's leader standing nearby, Chen Qingyu wouldn't have bothered with the locust leaf at all. 

He relied on his own strength to overcome challenges. As the dark green leaf fell into his hand, it quickly lost its previous aura, turning into an ordinary-looking leaf.

However, Chen Xingzhen, standing nearby, was overjoyed. 

"Fantastic! With the Divine Tree's blessing, this journey will surely be safe and sound."

Chen Qingyu tucked the leaf away casually, disregarding Chen Xingzhen's fervent gratitude for the Divine Tree. With a determined expression, he leapt into the underground passage below.

Above, Ji Yang felt a pang of heartache.

An ordinary-looking leaf? He had invested two points of his vital energy into it using the Divine Technique of One Leaf Hides the Sky.

This was more than he had used to heal the injuries of ten clansmen, leaving his life force significantly depleted.

Yet, considering the mission's immense danger, Ji Yang didn't hesitate.

He had noticed Chen Qingyu's contempt and pride, but the dire circumstances demanded action. Chen Qingyu was already the family's pillar. If he were lost, how could they ever stand against the Li family? For the sake of the Chen family and himself, Ji Yang had to make a gesture.

He could only hope that Chen Qingyu would return safely this time, preferably after hunting a few more wild beasts.

Even one would be enough.

If all else failed, even one person would be enough!

The Chen family couldn't endure any more setbacks.

After Chen Xingzhen left, the ancestral hall fell silent once again, and Ji Yang concentrated on absorbing the moonlight.

His roots had extended beyond the ancestral hall, allowing Ji Yang to sense the clan members patrolling nearby.

They moved in pairs, engaging in occasional conversation that amused Ji Yang.

But amidst their banter, Ji Yang could also sense their worries and lack of confidence, understandable given the family's dire situation. 

Yet, in this unpredictable world, outcomes remained uncertain.

Ji Yang was no longer the withered tree of days past.

With a few more days to absorb vital energy and strategize, he believed the family crisis could be resolved.

"Qinghe, do you think the Li Clan will attack tonight?"

The voice, familiar yet distant, momentarily halted Ji Yang's thoughts.

It was Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng, assigned by Chen Xingzhen to patrol the area, holding knives and staff as they scanned their surroundings.

"I don't know."

Chen Qinghe shook his head.

"Qinghe, what if the Li clan attacks us?"

"Hmm, of course we will fight them!"

Chen Qinghe's face, though still youthful, bore a look of determination. His grip on the knife handle was firm, yet his eyes showed a hint of fear.

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Inside the ancestral hall, Ji Yang couldn't help but sigh as he listened to their conversation.

At their age, they shouldn't have to shoulder such burdens, but in this harsh world, age mattered little to the unyielding rules of survival.

"Qinghe, I actually have a plan."

Chen Qingmeng suddenly stopped and spoke confidently.

"Oh?"

"You have a plan too?"

Chen Qinghe turned to his childhood companion, surprise mingling with curiosity and a touch of unfamiliarity. It was the first time he had heard Chen Qingmeng mention having a plan.

"My plan is simple: let's go back to the ancestral hall and take a swing at the Divine Tree! Who knows, it might save our clan!"

Inside the ancestral hall, Ji Yang was speechless as he listened to their plan. If these two boys dared to come back, he would make sure that they would experience his power!

Chen Qinghe heaved a sigh of relief. This was still the same Chen Qingmeng he knew, unchanged.

"Unfortunately, this plan might not work for now. Since our last visit, there have been more clan members patrolling outside the ancestral hall. And lately, it seems like the clan leader rarely leaves the hall," Chen Qinghe explained.

Hearing that his plan had failed, Chen Qingmeng sighed, "That's a shame."

"Indeed it is," Chen Qinghe agreed.

Chen Qinghe patted his friend's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll try again next time. There will be plenty of opportunities! This tree isn't going anywhere."

With Chen Qinghe's comfort, the disappointment vanished from Chen Qingmeng's face, and the two resumed their patrol.

Ji Yang couldn't help but feel frustration. "I'll wait for you both," he thought.

"Why haven't I seen a single Blood Coagulation Realm beast?" Chen Qingyu muttered to himself as he stood atop a massive treetop, surveying his surroundings within the Chaotic Burial Mountain.

It had been about half an hour since he left the clan's territory, but not a single Blood Coagulation Realm beast had crossed his path. Although he had encountered two Body Tempering Realm beasts, their cultivation levels were too low to be of any significant use. The difference in their life force was considerable, even if they were just considered food for the clan.

Remembering yesterday's encounter with the green wolf, Chen Qingyu had an epiphany. Among the beasts, each had its own territory. This green wolf, although it did not claim this area as its territory, possessed a strength that was at the peak of the Burial Mountain.

Even without explicitly marking its territory, the remaining aura of the green wolf had been enough to scare off other beasts, making them wary and avoid this place.