Vol. 1 - Ch. 324 - A New Branch

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Of the twenty-odd members of the expedition, the clan’s protective measures extended far beyond mere numbers. Before departing, they prayed in the ancestral hall for the blessing of the Divine Tree, and the Azure Wolves were strapped with hidden bone-forged weapons.

"Be cautious along the way. If any unforeseen danger arises, pray to the Divine Tree. I will come with clansmen to support you,” Chen Tianjing said.

Chen Tianjing gave careful instructions once more. After all, this shipment was of great importance to the clan—it represented nearly half a year’s worth of accumulated resources. No harm could befall it.

"Father, don't worry! Isn’t that what I’m here for?"

A crisp voice rang out from within the ranks. Chen Qinghe stepped forward, his face brimming with confidence.

Meanwhile, Chen Tianjing’s forehead darkened with a faint line of exasperation.

He had chosen only the clan’s most mature and steady members for this mission. That way, even if accidents occurred, they would be able to handle matters calmly.

However, at Chen Tianyu’s suggestion, he agreed to bring along some of the younger clansmen. After all, they needed tempering too, and this journey was the perfect opportunity. A clan must always have a new generation ready to shoulder the burden of its growth.

They would all grow old eventually.

Chen Tianjing accepted the suggestion, which is why several younger clansmen, including Chen Qinghe and Chen Qingmeng, had joined the expedition.

The next moment, Chen Qinghe noticed Chen Tianjing beckoning him over. He had a look of helplessness and guessed what his father intended to say, but he still walked quickly to his side.

As expected, he soon heard a reprimand:

"This time, do not cause trouble. Listen to Elder Tianyu in all matters. Do not act recklessly...”

"Alright, Father. Don't you know me well enough?"

"Hmph, I know you far too well!"

This time, Chen Qinghe did not show defiance. Instead, he sighed softly and spoke with a deep gaze:

"Prejudice in the human heart is like a mountain. No matter how hard you try, it cannot be moved. Father, I hope you understand...”

Chen Tianjing's face first showed confusion but then darkened completely. His brows trembled with suppressed emotion.

Seeing this, Chen Qinghe quickly fell silent and hurriedly added, “Father, I understand. I’ll behave.”

There were so many clansmen present that Chen Tianjing could only suppress the itch in his palm. Chen Qinghe quickly withdrew, worried that his father might lose control.

Just as he turned away, however, his father’s voice rang out behind him:

"How many times have I told you? Within the clan, address me as Clan Leader!"

"Yes, Father, I understand!"

"..."

"Depart!"

Several Azure Wolves carrying Blood Rice rose to their feet with that command. The group set off, facing the newborn rays of dawn as they headed toward Yunmeng City.

…

"Should we plant it here? Or is this spot better?"

Deep within Chaotic Burial Mountain, a few boys, aged eleven or twelve, examined the complex terrain around them. Their voices were filled with uncertainty.

Two of the youths held fresh branches brimming with vitality—clearly no ordinary wood.

"The Clan Leader said these two branches should be planted far apart."

Chen Qingcheng surveyed the surrounding terrain among the youths. His gaze quickly settled on a flat stretch of land not far ahead. He spoke decisively.

"Let's plant one here."

"All right, we'll listen to Uncle Qingcheng!"

The group of boys and girls nodded in agreement. Without delay, they hurried to the clearing and planted one of the fresh branches in the soil.

As soon as the branch touched the earth, a strange yet vibrant locust tree suddenly sprouted from below. Within moments, it had grown into a small sapling, its vitality unmistakable.

Watching the scene unfold, the youths’ eyes filled with awe and reverence.

Chen Qingcheng nodded in satisfaction. The clearing showed no traces of beasts, suggesting that few had passed through recently. Moreover, there were no other large trees nearby, and sunlight was abundant. Yes, if planted here, it should thrive.

"Come, let's head to the next spot!"

Without further ado, the group mounted several Body Tempering Realm Azure Wolves and sped off into the distance.

They needed to find a different place to plant the remaining branch.

The moment the locust tree was planted, Ji Yang in the ancestral hall felt a subtle resonance. His vast consciousness quickly spread along the new branch's bond, extending outward and allowing him to clearly perceive the surrounding terrain.

After sensing the distance between the new branch and the main trunk, Ji Yang nodded slightly in approval.

Though this place was still within the bounds of Chaotic Burial Mountain, it would take considerable time for his roots to reach this point.

Moreover, he had just detected many lingering soul bodies in the area. There will be gains to harvest here in the future.

Deciding where to plant each branch had cost Ji Yang much thought.

He had once envisioned planting branches in every place the clan could reach. This way, no matter where the clansmen were, they could swiftly receive the Divine Tree’s protection.

However, after using the divine ability Branches Flourishing and Leaves Spreading twice more, Ji Yang realized that his original plan was not feasible.

Each time a new branch split off, he felt a restriction in his consciousness. He could sense the location of each branch, but those branches also occupied a portion of his awareness and strength.

Put simply, Ji Yang’s current strength of consciousness is insufficient to support the creation of additional branches. Three is his limit, which shatters his original plan of using countless new branches to absorb fragmented soul bodies.

Ji Yang knew he had to treat the two newly split branches with greater caution.

After some thought, he made his decision quickly.

He would still plant them within the Burial Mountain. After all, only this place was truly safe.

If he planted them outside without the clan’s protection, they would likely attract members of other families. His branches were clearly extraordinary—if others mistook them for masterless spiritual entities, that would spell trouble.

The location Ji Yang chose this time could cover the entire Burial Mountain undetected. The fragmented soul bodies that had previously resisted absorption would soon be drawn to the trunks of these two branches.

Then, he could perform rites to release them one by one, allowing the departed clansmen to grow faster.

Moreover, by absorbing the pure Soul Qi within those spirits, Ji Yang would strengthen his consciousness. When that time came, he would be able to split more branches.

Between the two, energy flowed endlessly. Sooner or later, he would fill every corner of the world with branches!

The heavens and earth were vast, yet his vitality was inexhaustible.

The branches did not grow quickly. Even with the support of many abilities, they grew much more slowly than the main trunk. However, with the power of the Immortal Spirit Body, the branches could absorb vast amounts of energy and grow faster.

Moreover, since this place was still within the range of Chaotic Burial Mountain, he didn't need to worry about a blind Black Gold Beast digging them up.

"Hmm?"

Shortly after Ji Yang withdrew his consciousness, a faint, hidden voice echoed through the heavens and earth near the branch, expressing surprise.

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