Reincarnated as a Divine Tree-Chapter 161Vol. 1 - - Returning to the Clan

The Chen clan lacked strength, but they had been rooted in Yong’an City for many years. Their network extended beyond the city as well, with clan members stationed in other towns—a reach that far exceeded the Chen clan’s capabilities.

The Chen clan simply couldn’t sell goods over such long distances. But the others could.

However, the profits here, meager as they were, weren’t worth the continued presence of the clan elders.

"Hongyuan, the rest is up to you now."

"Yes, Elder."

One by one, the elders from the great clans departed, leaving behind Xie Hongyuan, Shen Li, and the others.

Not far off, Shi Jian walked alongside the departing elders, his brow furrowed, a trace of concern clouding his features.

To the other clans, Blood Rice was just a rare cultivation resource. But for the Shi clan, it could be the key to unlocking opportunities in new regions. With a steady supply of it, the clan could use this advantage to expand the Shi Warm Pavilion into other cities. Blood Rice would undoubtedly sell better there.

Unfortunately, his voice held little sway in the clan.

Even after repeated reports, he couldn’t get the clan head or the elders to take it seriously.

Now that the Chen clan had the Zhou clan behind them, it wouldn’t be easy for the Shi clan to get their hands on Blood Rice.

Shi Jian felt a deep sense of regret, but he was powerless to change the situation. He could only hope that the clan had other solutions in mind.

Elsewhere, Chen Tianjing and his group were already finalizing trades with the remaining three clans. Most of what remained were wild beast pelts, stored away by the clan in recent years.

Ironically, a rough count showed that the recent two years of harvests outstripped the accumulation of several years prior. That was mainly because the earlier years were turbulent; the Chaotic Burial Mountain was contested by two other major clans, and the Chen clan itself hadn’t been at peace.

Even so, after some negotiation, the pelts fetched a decent price.

Rather than trade for cultivation resources, the three clans chose to purchase them with jade coins.

Chen Tianjing and his people didn’t object. While cultivation resources were important, the clan’s development also required other essentials. This time, the clan had drawn up a long shopping list—jade coins were indispensable.

After bargaining, the three clans bought all the remaining goods for 5,600 jade coins.

Among them, a well-preserved pelt from an Innate Realm green wolf sold for 800 coins. The rest of the price was made up largely by sheer volume.

And because the three great clans were involved, the Chen clan didn’t have to pay booth rental fees this time. Moreover, the three clans promised that from now on, any goods the Chen clan wished to sell in Yong’an City would be exempt from stall fees.

The sale price wasn’t exactly low, but compared to Blood Rice, these jade coins were a pittance. They couldn’t even buy a single Tian Nan Star plant.

Once the goods were sold off, Chen Tianjing and his group split up, heading into the city to make purchases.

Aside from the 5,600 coins earned this time, the clan still had a few hundred left from the last trip—altogether, they had about 6,000 jade coins.

That wasn’t enough for rare treasures, but it was more than sufficient for daily needs and practical tools.

By the time dusk fell, the group had reconvened at the city gates, each person laden with supplies.

Among their many purchases were more of the Hundred-Fold Forged iron tools they’d bought previously. This time, they even picked up a Thousand-Fold Forged blade—a broadsword that gleamed with a frosty sheen and looked razor-sharp.

The blade wasn’t meant for combat use. The clan had decided to study its craftsmanship, hoping to eventually forge their own.

Along the outer ridges of the Chaotic Burial Mountain, there were still a few scattered iron veins. In the past, villagers had smelted the ore to make basic tools, but their smithing skills were crude at best.

Now that the clan was growing stronger and its population increasing, it was time to venture into this area. They couldn’t rely on spending jade coins forever.

Others in the group had picked up bolts of silk, satin, medicinal herbs, and even spices and sweets unfamiliar to the clan.

These silk cloths contained a wealth of knowledge, including basic iron-forging techniques, as well as information on house construction and grain cultivation. In addition, there were children's books, biographies, and several renowned ancient texts that had been passed down through the generations.

These items would broaden the clan members' horizons and inspire greater ambition—crucial for the clan’s future development.

They had also purchased goods such as satin and medicinal herbs. While the area around Chaotic Burial Mountain was rich in medicinal plants, most of their knowledge came from the memories of the elders, and there were inevitably some gaps.

Yet time marched on, and all things in the world continued to change. The clan, too, had to progress. They could not remain stagnant—they had to discard the dross and preserve the essence.

As for the various spices, they would help improve the clan's quality of life and lift everyone’s spirits.

Before heading back, Chen Tianjing and the others carefully checked everything again, making sure nothing was left behind. Only then did he speak:

“Return to the clan!”

His words were simple, but the clan members were filled with excitement.

On this journey, they had seen more of the outside world and gained new knowledge. Now, they couldn’t wait to return and share it with their fellow clansmen.

Behind them was the bustling city. Ahead lay the dark yet alluring night.

Leading their horses, the group departed Yong'an City in a grand and steady procession. freewēbnoveℓ.com

…

“Clan leader, the Chen clan has gone too far! This is clearly a direct attack on our Shilin clan!”

“If word of this spreads, it will damage our reputation. We must not let this insult go unanswered—otherwise, who knows what the other three clans will say about us behind our backs!”

Inside the Shilin clan’s main hall, a recently returned elder spoke with fury.

The other clan members also wore grim expressions. In the middle of the hall was the Blood Rice they had purchased from Chen Tianjing and his group.

It didn’t even fill one sack.

Above them, seated at the head of the hall, the Shilin clan leader Shi Chenghong’s expression was equally unsightly. Everyone knew the Chen clan had sold a large amount of Blood Rice this time—yet the Shilin clan had received barely any. It was hard to swallow.

Though the Shilin clan wasn’t on the same level as the Xie clan, they were hardly the weakest in Yong’an City. Even the Shen and Gan clans had received hundreds of pounds more Blood Rice than them. How could the clansmen bear this humiliation?

Below, Shi Potian stepped forward and said:

“Clan leader, while they’ve yet to return to their territory, I am willing to take a group of our men, intercept them, and kill them. We can reclaim their goods to make up for our losses.”

The other clan members stirred at his words. Everyone knew the Chen clan had sold a thousand pounds of Blood Rice. The value of what they were carrying easily exceeded thirty thousand jade coins.

While that amount might not seem like much to the whole clan, if they could seize it, it would still be a significant windfall—and would help ease their current financial strain.

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