Reincarnated as a Divine Tree-Chapter 173Vol. 1 - - The True Form of the Martial Saint

Looking at the three options in front of him, Ji Yang immediately ruled out the one in the middle. After coming all this way, how could he leave empty-handed?

But between the first and third options, he found himself hesitating.

To study openly or to observe in secret—both involved watching. On the surface, they seemed nearly identical. Yet thinking back to earlier choices, he knew appearances could be deceiving. The consequences could be vastly different.

And considering he was now inside this Taoist temple, there was a good chance it housed powerful individuals.

In order to survive longer, Ji Yang decided to observe in secret.

He feared that being too proactive might reveal something unnatural about him.

Once the prompt vanished from before his eyes, Ji Yang began spying on the techniques performed by the temple disciples.

Though what they practiced wasn’t formal martial arts, Ji Yang noticed that each move still relied heavily on qi and blood energy. This allowed them to unleash considerable power, with results similar in nature to martial techniques, albeit through different forms.

This realization made him even more cautious. If he could glean even a single move or two, then once the simulation ended, he might gain insights into combat techniques he could bring back—something that could raise the strength of his clan.

Spring passed into autumn. Time flowed rapidly.

Generations of disciples came and went in the temple. But Ji Yang, as the locust tree rooted at the center of the courtyard, remained unmoved and unchanged.

What left him most disappointed, however, was that despite all his secret watching, the disciples only practiced a few simple martial forms. There was nothing profound or unique in their movements.

They cycled through the same sets again and again, and Ji Yang had already nearly grasped them all.

Just as he found himself sighing in boredom, another prompt appeared.

"You’ve observed the Taoist temple disciples for a long time. 'Martial Qi' has infused into you. Changes are forming in your tree trunk. What will you choose?"

[Soar to the sky] [Go with the flow] [Stay hidden]

Reading the new prompt, Ji Yang pulled his consciousness away from his body and noticed a peculiar change—some unusual patterns had begun forming on his trunk after absorbing the so-called martial qi.

After a moment's hesitation, Ji Yang selected “Stay hidden.”

He hadn’t learned enough. He wanted more.

Time, after all, was on his side.

The moment the choice was made, the markings on his tree trunk gradually faded away. But Ji Yang could feel it—they hadn’t disappeared, merely gone dormant.

All he had to do was focus his will, and the patterns would reappear.

Time moved on once more. Ji Yang, who had chosen to conceal himself, found that the trunk—once steadily growing—now halted in place, no longer reaching upward.

Of course, that was partly due to Ji Yang willingly stopping the growth, controlling it with his ability.

One evening, as dusk deepened, the courtyard stood empty. Only the cool breeze and a quiet moon kept him company.

But Ji Yang’s awareness quickly sensed someone approaching.

He was used to this by now. The square seemed to be a dedicated training ground within the temple. Beyond the morning drills, there were always diligent disciples who came here at all hours to practice.

This observation only further confirmed Ji Yang’s suspicion—that this simulated world was not a dream or illusion. It was real.

Yet time here flowed strangely. He couldn’t grasp its rhythm.

Was it the wind that moved? The banner that swayed?

Or… was it his own heart that stirred?

“Yesterday I taught you a sword technique,” a voice echoed. “This sword is dangerous. It feeds on the seven emotions and draws its blade from the six desires. Once you’ve mastered it, you must wield it with caution.”

“The disciple understands.”

The words startled Ji Yang.

Ever since entering this simulated world, he had been able to make out casual speech around him. But his spiritual perception wasn’t strong enough to hear conversations from far away. Until now, none of what he overheard had held any real value.

But this time, the conversation jolted him into focus. He turned his attention toward the two speakers.

One was an old man, the other a boy. Both wore Taoist robes and held long swords. The boy appeared to be around ten years old. As for the old man, he seemed surrounded by a misty haze that obscured Ji Yang’s vision—he couldn’t see him clearly.

After speaking, the older man began to demonstrate sword techniques.

The blade's movements were blurry, but with every swing, brilliant streaks of color gathered around him. The hues were chaotic—streams of light drawn from every direction, swirling into the long sword in the old man’s hand.

The more energy the sword drew in, the more dazzling it became. The blade shimmered with radiant brilliance, overflowing with light so intense that Ji Yang couldn’t look away.

As the sword’s glow reached its peak, even Ji Yang’s disembodied awareness found itself unconsciously drawn toward it.

Then it happened.

A strand of golden light abruptly burst forth from Ji Yang’s tree trunk.

The golden light didn’t travel far—it drifted, glowing, toward the old man’s sword.

“Hmm?”

The elder halted his technique mid-swing, letting out a curious murmur.

“Damn it!”

Ji Yang cursed inwardly the moment he saw the golden light leave his trunk.

Before he could react, a cold voice rang out by his ear.

“What sort of demon dares behave so brazenly in my Fuyun Temple?”

As the words landed, Ji Yang’s vision was engulfed in a kaleidoscope of color. It was the light of a sword strike—resplendent, unrelenting, and impossible to dodge.

His consciousness tore apart as a new prompt appeared:

"You were spying in secret and accidentally revealed your emotions. You are dead!"

When the message vanished, Ji Yang watched clearly as his tree form was obliterated beneath the sword light—scattered to dust without leaving a trace.

In his final moment, the old man slowly retracted his sword, then turned to the boy and calmly said,

“Disciple, remember this. Though this sword technique draws strength from emotion and desire, to use it is to invite danger. Each time you borrow its power, there’s always a price—”

The voice in his ears grew faint, and before Ji Yang could finish listening, darkness swallowed his vision.

When he regained consciousness, the familiar sight of the family ancestral hall slowly came into focus.

A wave of frustration welled up in Ji Yang’s chest—he hadn’t heard the old man’s final words! Yet even so, the memory of that radiant sword light still echoed vividly in his mind. The power behind it was terrifying. Even in this world, such might surely marked the old man as a warrior of extraordinary rank.

Before Ji Yang could reflect further, a series of prompts appeared before his eyes:

[Simulation complete!]

[You have acquired a new divine ability: True Form of the Martial Saint!][You have mastered a new combat technique: Big Dipper Fist!][You have mastered a new combat technique: Five Poison Yin Wind Palm!][You have mastered a new combat technique: Taiyi Signet!][You have learned a new fighting technique: Seven Emotions and Six Desires Sword (Incomplete)!]

True Form of the Martial Saint: All martial techniques you’ve learned now form patterns across your limbs like branches, allowing you to wield them with perfect ease.

Big Dipper Fist: Profound Tier, low-grade combat technique (transferable three times).

Five Poison Yin Wind Palm: Profound Tier, low-grade combat technique (transferable three times).Taiyi Signet: Profound Tier, high-grade combat technique (transferable three times).Seven Emotions and Six Desires Sword (Incomplete): Earth Tier, high-grade combat technique (transferable three times).

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