Vol. 1 - Ch. 97 - The Black Gold Beast Thinks You're Delicious

Above, it seemed as though Chen Xingzhen's sincere prayers had been answered. Green rays of light cascaded from the Locust Tree’s leaves, merging into his body. Although this couldn’t help him advance his cultivation realm, it invigorated the blood and qi coursing through him, making them more active. With this vitality, his lifespan would naturally increase.

For Chen Xingzhen, the clan leader who had clung to his faith in the Divine Tree with unwavering persistence, Ji Yang felt a deep sense of admiration. While this blind devotion seemed irrational to other clansmen, Ji Yang, as the inheritor of the Divine Tree’s will, refrained from passing judgement.

After Chen Xingzhen departed the Ancestral Hall, Ji Yang turned his attention to the snowflakes drifting from the sky. In his previous life, he had never seen such a beautiful scene. To experience it more closely, Ji Yang controlled the temperature above his branches, allowing the snowflakes to settle on his leaves.

But he was a tree now. The thick bark dulled his senses, leaving him unable to feel as he once had. This realization only added a touch of melancholy.

After some time, Ji Yang shifted his focus to his attribute panel:

[Name]: Ji Yang

The clan’s sacrifices over the past few days had replenished Ji Yang’s vitality. With his recent absorption of the bamboo’s consciousness, his vision had expanded. Whereas before, he could only perceive the land his roots reached, he could now see the entire outline of the clan. As his vitality grew and his roots spread, his reach would extend even farther.

The grand clan sacrifice was over, and subsequent offerings would occur only once a week. Fortunately, Ji Yang still had the Lunar Eclipse cultivation technique. With enough time, his growth would continue steadily.

At his current rate, Ji Yang absorbed three points of vitality every night. However, he had been expending resources to maintain the temperature around the clan with his Thousand Mile Red Land divine ability. Even though he only used his underground roots to emit heat, it consumed 0.1 qi and blood every two hours—amounting to 0.6 vitality per day. 

While the cost wasn’t prohibitive, the accumulation was significant. Yet Ji Yang had no intention of withdrawing the ability during the harsh winter. If the weather was too cold, the clan’s members might struggle to focus on development.

With the clan’s external threats at bay, Ji Yang believed the focus should shift to rapid growth.

Turning his attention to the simulation points displayed on his panel, Ji Yang noticed some progress. Over the past few days, the consumption of blood rice and beast flesh had helped a few ordinary clan members temper their bodies, allowing them to step into the Body Tempering stage. Though they remained at the initial level due to their advanced age and limited qi and blood, these warriors were still far stronger than ordinary people.

Ji Yang’s thoughts wandered to the simulation option. While higher-level simulations could unlock rare rewards, he felt tempted to try a single simulation for a new cultivation technique—something akin to Lunar Eclipse. The possibility of gaining another technique to accelerate his development was enticing.

After weighing the risks, Ji Yang made his decision.

[The first simulation requires the consumption of 10 blood and qi, 5 spiritual energy, and 5 simulation points. Do you want to proceed? Yes/No?]

Without hesitation, Ji Yang selected Yes. The scene around him shifted immediately.

[You were born in a dense forest. To become a tall tree as quickly as possible, you start growing with determination!]

Ji Yang's excitement grew. This setting was eerily similar to his first simulation—the one where he had obtained the Lunar Eclipse technique. Could this be another opportunity to strike gold? He resolved to stay observant.

However, without the bonuses from high-level simulations, Ji Yang’s simulated self was nothing more than a sapling, vulnerable and devoid of abilities. 

As the subtitles disappeared, Ji Yang carefully scanned his surroundings, searching for any sign of the Cicada of Seasons. 

After several rounds of observation, however, he saw no trace of it. Upon reflection, he realized that with his current diminutive size and height, even if the Cicada of Seasons appeared, he likely wouldn't be able to attract its attention. For now, it was better to remain patient and observe.

As time accelerated, Ji Yang began to grow taller. Soon, he stood over half a person’s height.

Suddenly, movement in the nearby grass caught his attention.

A pair of gleaming tusks emerged first, followed by the hulking form of a Black Gold Beast. Unlike the beasts Ji Yang remembered from Chaotic Burial Mountain, this one exuded an unusual aura of strength and even a hint of spirituality. Though Ji Yang lacked the ability to discern its precise realm, its size alone made it clear that this creature was formidable.

As the Black Gold Beast approached, Ji Yang’s unease grew. Before he could react, the creature lunged at him. Its tusks tore through Ji Yang’s sapling body, and his vision plunged into darkness. A faint chewing sound echoed around him as the simulation ended.

[The Black Gold Beast finds you delicious. You are dead.]

Returning to the Ancestral Hall, Ji Yang couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

“If I try another simulation... I’m a dog!”

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