Reincarnated as a Divine Tree-Chapter 238: Retirement

"Clan Leader, someone from the Xie Clan has arrived."

Chen Xingzhen, who had been inspecting the growth of the clan’s Blood Rice, looked confused when he heard this. Nonetheless, he turned and headed toward the clan’s reception hall, asking for more details along the way.

Soon, he arrived outside the clan grounds and saw the clansman sent by the Xie Clan.

After confirming the visitor’s identity, the doubt in Chen Xingzhen’s eyes did not fade.

The Xie Clan had messenger birds that could deliver messages swiftly. Why go to the trouble of sending someone in person and wasting manpower?

"To be honest, Clan Leader Chen, my elder sister sent me here because there's an important matter she wishes to discuss with you."

Seeing Chen Xingzhen's confusion, the visitor smiled and explained.

Chen Xingzhen returned the smile and replied

"May I ask what this important matter is? Please, do tell.”

"Our clan has a large population, and we're currently short on cultivation resources. We believe your clan still has some Blood Rice reserves, and we’d like to exchange for some of it. Would Clan Leader Chen be willing?”

Upon hearing the visitor’s request, Chen Xingzhen did not respond immediately.

The clan did have some Blood Rice left, but it was primarily reserved for the clansmen’s daily Body Tempering. It was a vital resource that couldn’t be traded lightly.

However, the Xie Clan had sent word twice before, which could be considered a favor owed. Now that they were requesting Blood Rice, exchanging a portion wouldn’t be unreasonable.

Seeing Chen Xingzhen’s hesitation, the Xie clansman quickly added

“Please rest assured, Clan Leader Chen. For the Blood Rice we exchange, our clan will offer cultivation resources in return. Your clan will not suffer any loss.”

"Your clan is far too courteous. Since you're in need, we can spare some Blood Rice. However, it may not be as much as last time.”

Following internal discussions, the Xie clansman departed with five hundred kilograms of Blood Rice, leaving behind an equivalent value in other cultivation resources.

Once the envoy had departed, Chen Tianjing, standing nearby, frowned and said

“Clan Leader, the last time the Liu Clan sent people, the Xie Clan didn’t inform us. Could they have been involved as well?”

Chen Xingzhen shook his head.

"Unlikely. If they intended to act against us, they wouldn’t have sent just one person a few days ago. Based on the intelligence that Tian Lei and the others gathered in Yong’an City, the Xie Clan has been in frequent conflict with the other three major clans lately. I doubt they’d choose this moment to make a move against us.”

"These major clans all have their own agendas. We can cooperate with them in the short term, but that's not a long-term solution. Ultimately, we must rely on our own strength.”

As for the Blood Rice, consider it repayment for last time.”

Chen Tianjing nodded and said no more.

“By the way, how is the situation in the ancestral hall?”

"Those green fruits should be fully ripe by tomorrow."

“Good. I understand.”

…

The next day, many clansmen gathered at the ancestral hall upon hearing the news. They looked up at the branches of the Divine Tree, where several fruits had turned gray.

The faces of deceased clansmen were clearly etched on the surface of each fruit, preserving their appearance from life.

For those clansmen who had already witnessed this process twice, however, the sight no longer brought astonishment—only admiration for the miraculous power of the Divine Tree.

Under the watchful gaze of the gathered crowd, the fully ripened gray fruits trembled slightly before detaching from the branches and falling toward the ground.

Yet, before they could touch the earth, the fruits vanished in midair.

Out of sight, another lively scene unfolded.

“Welcome, welcome!”

"Congratulations on your rebirth!"

"Uncle Xingyi, I've been waiting for you! You've finally come to keep me company!"

A clansman exclaimed joyfully. However, after speaking, he felt something was off.

Nevertheless, the newly reborn clansmen showed no signs of sorrow. On the contrary, their faces were filled with excitement and joy.

"This must be Tianhen, my nephew. I remember you were only in the early stages of Body Tempering when you left. I didn’t expect you to reach the late stage so quickly.”

“Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I’ve been working hard lately.”

"Brother Xingba, it's been a long time. Have you been well?"

"Clan Leader, I'm so happy to see you again!"

"Third Aunt, you're even more beautiful than before!"

"Oh, stop it—you're just saying that."

…

Chen Changyuan watched the newly reborn clansmen, joy on their faces as they mingled warmly with the others. They showed no signs of discomfort, and he couldn't help but wear a slightly puzzled expression.

After all, transitioning from life to death and back again was something many found difficult to accept, and he had brought these clansmen here intending to comfort them. It wasn’t easy to adjust one’s mindset so quickly.

Seeing the state of the newly reborn clansmen, it seemed as if they had been eagerly awaiting this moment—perhaps even admiring it from afar.

Meanwhile, down below, Chen Xingzhen and the other clansmen wore concerned expressions.

Life and death, joy and sorrow.

It was difficult to tell who among them had truly passed away.

At that moment, a golden locust leaf on the Divine Tree began to faintly shimmer. As it flickered, Chen Xingzhen’s body trembled slightly.

He saw his father and other departed clansmen, as well as those who had fallen in battle just days ago. They were now drifting through the air, engaged in lively conversation.

As he watched the newly reborn clansmen seamlessly integrate into the gathering, the worry on Chen Xingzhen’s face gradually faded.

“Cough, cough, cough.”

Chen Changyuan interrupted the lively conversation among the enthusiastic clansmen and said

"Clan Leader Xingzhen asked me to check with you. How should your bodies be handled? Should they be buried in the clan cemetery or refined?”

Before he could finish, the group responded loudly:

"Refined! Absolutely refined!”

"Exactly! We died once—our bodies must be refined! It's best if they're brought out for a stroll now and then so we don't get moldy!"

"Agreed, agreed! Even after death, if we can contribute to the clan, as we've discussed..."

"Ahem, we're more than willing!"

"Yes, yes!"

Hearing this, Chen Changyuan’s expression grew even more peculiar. Were these people just looking at their short lifespans and coming here to retire?

Without intervention, the living could soon be outnumbered by the dead. How could the clan possibly develop under such circumstances?

Below, Chen Xingzhen watched the scene above and listened to the reborn clansmen speak, his thoughts drifting.

Aside from the three Body Tempering Realm cultivators, the others had clearly made arrangements before the battle. Judging by their lack of external injuries, it seemed they had taken their own lives.

No wonder they were so enthusiastic—it had clearly been planned for some time.

Faced with this, Chen Xingzhen could only look helpless.

These clansmen were of his generation, some even older, and had only just reached the Blood Coagulation Realm. Their lifespans were indeed nearing their end. Choosing death wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

By passing away now, while their bodies were still warm, they could be refined into Clan Guardians and continue to contribute to the clan.

Though it seemed premeditated, it was actually considered in terms of the clan’s future.

Nevertheless, the impact on the clan was far from ideal. Chen Xingzhen knew he had to find a way to stop this from happening—lest the younger generation be led astray.

By the time his thoughts had settled, the scene before him had faded away.