Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Vol. 1 - Ch. 297 - A New Divine Tree

Even though no other clans remained in the city, controlling an entire settlement was no easy feat. Furthermore, the family was not yet familiar with Yong’an City, and this was something the clansmen would need time to learn.Additionally, the clan had to seize the territories, shops, and farmland that had once belonged to the Xie and Shi clans. These were the spoils of war. While these assets might not be of immediate use, they would reveal their true value once the Chen Clan fully established its rule.

However, the number of clansmen was limited, and the recent battle had taken a heavy toll. Securing the city completely would require time.

Still, with the Shi Clan no longer posing an external threat, the family no longer needed to act with the same urgency as before.

Time was now on their side.

…

“Mm. I understand."

Several days later, in the ancestral hall, Chen Xingzhen nodded slightly upon hearing the report.

According to the report, Chen Tianjing and the others learned the basics about the situation in Yong'an City. However, since only a few clansmen were sent, more must be sent to oversee the various industries.

Chen Xingzhen glanced at the withered Divine Tree and sank into thought.

While it was good that the family could establish a foothold in Yong’an City, he had no intention of shifting the clan’s focus there.

Chaotic Burial Mountain, with its Blood Spring and divine tree, remained the true foundation of the Chen Clan.

Nevertheless, the clan needed to maintain control in Yong’an City. This would facilitate future development, enable the sale of Blood Rice, and open up trade with other families.

In his mind, however, the clan’s growth must be centered on cultivating its members’ realms, and everything else must serve only as support.

After a brief period of contemplation, Chen Xingzhen resolved to send another group of clansmen to Yong’an City while recalling some of those who had gone earlier. However, due to the vast holdings of the Xie and Shi clans, it would be difficult for the Chen Clan alone to manage them fully.

Chen Xingzhen decided to hire people from Yong’an City to manage these affairs. Additionally, portions of the properties could be rented out to citizens of the city in exchange for jade coins.

Otherwise, if the clan insisted on controlling everything with its current strength, it would hinder its own progress.

Yong’an City was merely the clan’s first foothold, not its final destination.

After pondering many matters, Chen Xingzhen turned his gaze toward the divine tree once again, letting out a faint sigh.

Without its locust leaves, the Divine Tree could no longer emit its luminous glow at night. Its barren branches exuded a sense of lifelessness.

Though he knew the Divine Tree was merely asleep, his heart remained unsettled.

When would the Divine Tree awaken once more?

Fortunately, the clansmen cultivating under his father’s guidance could still make progress, although the Yin Qi in the ancestral hall was not as dense as when the Divine Tree first awakened.

After lingering for a long while, Chen Xingzhen finally turned away, preparing to consult with his father and the others in his dreams about clan affairs.

…

Half a month later, the clan had finished rebuilding. This time, however, the towering outer walls were dismantled, leaving them half their original height.

Even the ancestral hall's stone walls were dismantled and restored to its original openness.

Chen Xingzhen made this change so that the clan’s Divine Tree could be bathed in sunlight and moonlight again, in hopes that it might awaken sooner.

Meanwhile, the clan began planting a new crop of Blood Rice in their fertile fields. With the Blood Spring active during the summer months, poor harvests were no longer a concern.

In Yong’an City, Chen Tianjing and the other clansmen stood inside the newly rebuilt ancestral hall.

It had once been the Xie Clan’s stronghold, but now it belonged to the Chen Clan. It had been thoroughly remodeled to suit their needs.

The estates of the Shi Clan and other families had already been torn down and rebuilt. The Chen Clan planned to build a large marketplace similar to the Shi Clan’s former Stone Warm Pavilion on the site of the Shi Clan. The marketplace would sell clan goods and attract other families to trade.

Only the Chen Clan remained within the city.

Over the past half month, the clan had thoroughly mapped the city's situation. The industries once belonging to the great families had all been taken over. However, due to limited manpower, Chen Tianjing followed Chen Xingzhen’s advice and delegated these holdings to citizens who pledged loyalty to the Chen Clan.

All of this remained within the clan’s control while saving them considerable manpower.

Of course, there was another reason: the clansmen were not skilled in such matters. For this reason, many of the clan’s servants were sent to Yong’an City to speed up the learning process.

Seeing that all the clansmen in the city had gathered, Chen Tianjing no longer hesitated. He drew forth an object from his robes.

It was a branch that had fallen when the clan’s Divine Tree first entered slumber.

Even after so long, the locust branch still pulsed with vitality.

Chen Tianjing examined the surroundings carefully. Though this was the newly built ancestral hall, its size and structure were modeled after the one at Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Finding no flaws, he nodded slightly and placed the branch on the soil, preparing to plant it.

Before he could lower it into the already-dug pit, however, the branch reacted on its own.

As soon as it touched the earth, countless new roots burst forth from its underside and spread rapidly into the ground.

The branch, which was once only a few inches long, began to surge upward and grow wildly. A tender new shoot slowly stretched forth, and fresh, green locust leaves unfolded on it.

What had been a mere fragment of wood had become the trunk of a tree.

Though they knew it was not the divine clan tree, the clansmen were still excited by the sight before them.

The locust tree finally stopped growing when it reached the height of a man, and no further visions appeared.

Having seen the Divine Tree reborn, Chen Tianjing and the others offered silent prayers before departing.

After leaving the ancestral hall, Chen Tianjing prepared to deliver the news to Clan Leader Chen Xingzhen.

Unfortunately, without the divine tree, communication within the clan had become much slower. Fortunately, they still possessed many Azure Wolves, whose speed made up for the delay.

The message was quickly carried back to the clan.

Upon hearing that the branch had taken root and grown at Chaotic Burial Mountain, relief showed on Chen Xingzhen’s face. Perhaps this was a sign that the Divine Tree would awaken once more in the near future.

After securing Yong’an City, the clan gradually returned to its normal routine.

During the day, clan members attended classes at the academy or practiced martial arts in the clan square.

Though the divine tree had not yet awakened, the family continued to perform weekly sacrifices. Offering a few ferocious beasts was nothing for their current strength.

However, it was unfortunate that this victory in the clan war yielded no surviving totems from the Shi Clan. Obtaining another clan’s totem might have greatly aided the revival of the Divine Tree.

For this reason, Chen Xingzhen had instructed his people to watch for spiritual beings near Yong’an City or Chaotic Burial Mountain.

Unfortunately, such beings were exceedingly rare, and the clan had received no news.

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