Reincarnated as a Divine Tree

Chapter 3: Rebel Son

Flashes of knowledge darted through his mind.

As the Clan Chief of the Chen Clan, whose realm was merely at the Blood Condensation Realm, it was evident that the Chen Clan was indeed a minor clan.

"How are the casualties today?" Ethan Chen asked slowly.

"Clan Chief, today five of our clan members are seriously injured, ten have minor injuries, Uncle Mason Chen's arm is wounded, and Uncle Elijah Chen has suffered some internal injuries. They are both recuperating, but I'm afraid neither will be able to exert the full strength of the Blood Condensation Realm. Furthermore…"

"Alas!" Listening to Oliver Chen's report, Ethan Chen sighed.

With only five Blood Condensation Realm warriors in the clan, the loss of one in the struggle against the Li Clan had already been a heavy blow. Now, with two more injured, the decline of the Chen Clan was all but certain.

Without change, the Chen Clan might soon be wiped out!

Thinking this, Ethan Chen's eyes gradually hardened, as if he had made a decision that went against the wishes of his ancestors. He then instructed Oliver Chen:

"Spread the word, tomorrow have the younger generation of the clan move out through the secret passage!"

After uttering these words, Ethan Chen seemed to age considerably.

Oliver Chen was startled by the command, then asked in surprise:"What about the others?"

Ethan Chen shook his head: "The rest will prepare for a decisive battle with the Li Clan! Even in death, we cannot let them have an easy time!"

Hearing Ethan Chen's decision, Oliver Chen silently lowered his head, having anticipated this outcome, so he wasn't surprised.

Still, he found it difficult to accept such a fate for the clan.

But he understood that it was already a blessing if the younger generation could be preserved.

If everyone escaped through the secret passage, the Li Clan would soon notice and escape would become more difficult.

"You are the strongest of the Chen Clan's 'Qing' generation; you should leave as well! As long as there are members of the Chen Clan alive, there is a chance for us to rise again!"

"I won't leave! I'll stay too!" Oliver Chen responded without hesitation, determined.

The Chen Clan was no match for the Li Clan; if he left as well, there would be no hope left for the clan.

"Alas!" Ethan Chen sighed again but said no more.

The two gazed at the spiritual positions in the Ancestral Hall in silence for a long while.

Oliver Chen looked away, but from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the clan's Sacred Tree beside them!

In that moment, as he looked at the Sacred Tree, something seemed to click in Oliver Chen's mind, and a hint of disgust flickered in his otherwise calm eyes.

Thinking of the clan's recent plight, Oliver Chen picked up an axe from a corner of the Ancestral Hall and strode toward Noah Ji with a menacing air.

Noah Ji, who had been observing the two, noticed Oliver Chen's actions. Seeing him approach with the axe, Noah Ji had a bad feeling and shouted in his mind:

"What are you doing?"

"Don't come any closer!"

Unfortunately, Noah Ji's words did not carry.

Oliver Chen quickened his pace and soon stood before Noah Ji.

As Oliver Chen raised the axe high, ready to chop down, Ethan Chen urgently rebuked: "Stop, what are you doing?"

Hearing the rebuke, Oliver Chen paused but did not lower the axe, instead speaking with dissatisfaction: "Of course, I'm chopping down this useless tree!"

Ethan Chen immediately retorted angrily: "Disrespectful! This is the clan's Sacred Tree! Kneel and apologize at once!"

"Apologize? It's just a tree. The clan is on the brink of extinction, and you're still concerned about this so-called Sacred Tree? This tree has been in the Ancestral Hall for many years, offered countless sacrifices of beast blood, yet where is its divine power? What kind of Sacred Tree is this?

If the clan cannot be preserved, what use is keeping this wretched tree? Better I chop it down for firewood to cook a meal for our people!"

Silent by the side, Noah Ji pondered upon hearing this.

His words did seem to have some logic!

But remembering his current identity, Noah Ji shook his head repeatedly in his mind: "I am the clan's Sacred Tree, you Rebel Son!"

Ethan Chen sighed at Oliver Chen's resentful words: "Alas! Now that it has come to this, I will no longer hide the truth from you. In the past, our Chen family was indeed a glorious clan, but after losing in a clan struggle, we were reduced to our current state!

Our Chen family's secret method of preserving the Elder Ancestor's body and strength comes from that time! And this Sacred Tree is the spark of hope that our family managed to preserve with great difficulty. If the clan is to grow strong, it must rely on the Sacred Tree! The power of the Sacred Tree is beyond human reach; that's why our Chen family has been worshipping it for the past twenty years."

Listening to Ethan Chen's story, Oliver Chen slowly lowered the axe but still frowned and said: "But Clan Chief, you've seen it yourself, this Sacred Tree has been like this for twenty years. Twenty years of worship, has there been any change? This kind of Sacred Tree, we might as well do without!"

"Do not speak nonsense, as long as I am the Clan Chief, the worship of the Sacred Tree cannot stop! As long as the Sacred Tree stands, there is hope for the clan!" Seeing his persuasion was ineffective, Ethan Chen invoked his authority as Clan Chief, which made Oliver Chen's face turn red with frustration. He wanted to argue but ultimately, under Ethan Chen's stern gaze, he conceded.

"I'll go check on Uncle Mason!"

With that, Oliver Chen left through the door.

Watching Oliver Chen's retreating figure, Ethan Chen walked slowly to the main courtyard of the Ancestral Hall, looked up at the withered Sacred Tree, and murmured with a trace of regret: "Was I wrong? But without the Sacred Tree, wouldn't the clan never have a chance to rise again?"

He thought of the beast corpses sacrificed over the past twenty years, which were numerous.

The key issue was that the sacrificed beasts' Qi and Blood were drained, not only preventing the clan's warriors from tempering their bodies but also making the meat tough and inedible, like chewing wax.

Perhaps he had indeed been wrong; the clan had expended too much on this Sacred Tree over the past twenty years.

Ethan Chen remained silent for a long while before leaving the Ancestral Hall under the endless night sky, his figure stooped in silence.

After Ethan Chen left, Noah Ji, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, also sighed deeply.

Twenty years of sacrifice was hard to ignore, but he hadn't benefited from those sacrifices either!

According to the fragmented memories in his mind, the Li Clan had no Totem, otherwise, the Chen Clan wouldn't have lasted this long.

This meant that after the Chen Clan's downfall, there was a high chance he could survive.

He sympathized with the Chen Clan's current predicament, but he also had to consider his own survival.

The collision between reason and reality, the interweaving of emotions, left Noah Ji lost in thought.

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan