Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Vol. 1 - Chapter 114 - Qi Control Realm Martial Artist

"There's nothing more to see. Let's go.

"Clan Leader Chen, I have come from afar. Aren't you going to entertain me?"

Zhou Huai'an smiled as he spoke, breaking Chen Xingzhen's trance as the latter stared at the Divine Tree.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Chen Xingzhen quickly replied, "Please follow me, sir."

Soon, they arrived at the Ancestral Hall. Despite its grand name, the hall was simple and unadorned.

Once tea was served, Zhou Huai'an took a sip and spoke again, his tone casual but pointed. 

"Clan Leader Chen, if I'm not mistaken, there should be a Natural Blood Spring beneath your clan compound, correct?"

Chen Xingzhen froze, his hand halting midair with the teacup still in his grasp. His expression hardened slightly with vigilance. However, since Zhou Huai'an had been brought by Chen Yi Hu, it was clear that he must have already inspected the clan's blood rice fields. Given Zhou Huai'an's knowledge and background, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to uncover such a fact.

Slowly, Chen Xingzhen lowered his teacup and nodded. 

"Indeed, my Chen clan has a Natural Blood Spring."

Zhou Huai'an, unsurprised by the admission, smiled faintly. 

"Clan Leader Chen, you're straightforward, so I'll be equally direct.

"My Zhou clan governs this region and oversees countless smaller clans. Though this area is called Chaotic Burial Mountain, it is part of the Yunmeng Mountain Range, which falls under the jurisdiction of Yunmeng City."

His gaze turned sharp. "Do you understand what I mean, Clan Leader Chen?"

Chen Xingzhen's expression darkened. He understood the implications. The Chen clan had lived here for decades, yet now, they were being told they fell under the Zhou clan's domain. To accept this would mean becoming subservient to another clan—a bitter pill to swallow.

"Can the clan's blood rice be preserved?" he asked cautiously. The blood rice was the Chen clan's most valuable resource and their cornerstone for survival and strength.

Seeing Chen Xingzhen's hesitation, Zhou Huai'an chuckled lightly. 

"Patriarch Chen, there's no need for inner turmoil. In this world, there is no true paradise. If I hadn't come today, someone else would have tomorrow."

He leaned back slightly. "Your Chen clan is but a small clan with a few dozen members, a single Natural Realm martial artist, and a low-grade totem. That is hardly enough to establish dominance in such a place."

Zhou Huai'an's tone grew colder. "On the contrary, you should feel fortunate it was I who came. Had it been another member of my Zhou clan, Chaotic Burial Mountain might not even exist anymore."

The stark warning sent a chill through the room. Chen Xingzhen’s thoughts raced as Zhou Huai'an turned his gaze toward Chen Qingyu, who had rushed into the hall after hearing of the visitor.

Remaining composed, Zhou Huai'an demonstrated his strength with a subtle motion. He raised his hand slightly, and the teapot on the table floated into the air before gently landing in his palm. After refilling his cup, he nudged the teapot back to its original place without showing any visible use of qi or blood.

The simple act caused Chen Xingzhen, Chen Qingyu, and the others who had gathered—including Chen Tianyu—to pale slightly. Even a late-stage Natural Realm martial artist couldn't perform such a feat.

It was clear Zhou Huai'an was a master of the Qi Control Realm.

Above the Innate Realm was the Inner Gang Realm. Martial artists at this level no longer cultivated qi and blood but focused on gang qi. Using qi to manipulate objects was a hallmark of the Qi Control Realm, a level far beyond anything an Innate martial artist could achieve.

Faced with this overwhelming difference in power, Chen Xingzhen’s resolve wavered. Realizing the situation was hopeless, he glanced at his now-filled teacup and sighed.

"Lord Zhou, you are absolutely correct. My Chen clan is willing to come under the jurisdiction of the Zhou clan."

Chen Xingzhen's reluctant surrender drew mixed emotions from those in the hall, but in the face of such overwhelming strength, no one dared speak out.

Chen Qingyu, however, frowned deeply and stepped forward. Unlike his father, he preferred to rely on his fists rather than submit.

"Qingyu, step back. Do not be rude!"

Chen Xingzhen's sharp command froze him in his tracks. Reluctantly, Chen Qingyu clenched his fists and left the hall, his frustration evident in his every step.

Zhou Huai'an chuckled. "His talent is promising."

"You flatter him, my lord. It is nothing but luck," Chen Xingzhen replied humbly.

Zhou Huai'an waved the matter aside and continued, "Since the Chen clan has agreed, from now on, all blood rice produced must be handed over to the Zhou clan at a rate of fifty percent. Does Patriarch Chen have any objections?"

Fifty percent.

The words stung. Chen Xingzhen felt bitterness rise in his throat but knew resistance was futile. He could only nod.

The Zhou clan likely had other masters besides Zhou Huai'an, while the Chen clan’s strongest was Chen Qingyu, a mere early-stage Innate Realm martial artist. Even with the Divine Tree’s power, they stood no chance against the Zhou clan.

Half the blood rice was still better than losing everything.

Zhou Huai'an smiled faintly. "You are wise to comply. Many small clans in the southern border are under the protection of larger clans. For a clan like yours, possessing a Natural Blood Spring without power is a crime in itself."

He stood, his tone final. "In half a month, the blood rice will ripen. I will return with my people to collect it. Be prepared."

With those parting words, Zhou Huai'an exited the hall, Chen Xingzhen trailing behind him.

Outside, Zhou Huai'an whistled sharply. Moments later, a shadow loomed overhead as a massive flying beast descended. The creature, half a meter tall, was at the late stage of the Blood Coagulation Realm. Its sharp claws and wings created a gust of wind as it landed, forcing the gathered clan members to retreat.

Some thought it an attack and instinctively prepared to fight, but Zhou Huai'an leapt gracefully onto the beast’s back. With a powerful beat of its wings, the creature soared into the sky.

Zhou Huai'an’s voice echoed faintly as he disappeared into the distance.

"Patriarch Chen, we will meet again in half a month. Do not disappoint me."

The Chen clan members stood in stunned silence, watching until Zhou Huai'an and his mount vanished from sight.

Chen Xingzhen remained rooted in place, his face clouded with worry. After a long silence, he sighed heavily, the sound carrying the weight of his helplessness.

The changes in the clan were truly unexpected.