Shen Yuan rubbed his chin. “I see, so all I can do is comprehend intents for now or integrate more techniques.”
[You can integrate more techniques since you have excess Qi overflowing in your body that can be put to good use.]
Nodding his head, he said, “That sounds like a plan. I will head into the Monarch’s Treasury and look for a suitable manual when I have time. For now, I have quite a lot of things to deal with.”
[Oh, I forgot to mention, but Wan Ling and Han Qingyu are nearly done with their seclusion as well. They will soon be coming out.]
Shen Yuan paused in his steps, a faint smile forming on his face. “Ling’er and Qingyu, huh. I suppose it’s time for them to leave seclusion as well.”
[They will be sad when they find out they missed your speech,] Yue Lan said, her voice filled with teasing.
Shen Yuan shook his head. “Well, we can’t do much about it now, can we?”
[True, you should focus on what you plan to do next.]
Shen Yuan nodded his head as his gaze landed on the Spatial Portal in the distance. “For now, let’s go and check my old mansion.”
…
He slowly walked inside the Inner Sect, all the disciples giving him reverent looks as he passed by them.
[Looks like they heard about what you did during your Core Disciple ceremony.]
‘That was inevitable, but with this, no one can raise an objection to me becoming a Core Disciple.’ His lips formed a faint smirk.
[Your past contributions and the tribulation should have been enough for that.]
‘We never know; there might be some close-minded bitch thinking I have sullied their holy land by joining this sect as a male disciple.’ He shook his head as the faint outline of his old mansion came into view.
The once majestic structure now stood as a shadow of its former self—walls crumbled, formations shattered, and the entire interior of the mansion destroyed.
Shen Yuan moved past the remnants of the outer garden, his steps slowing as he approached the inner courtyard.
There, amidst the wreckage, his eyes fell upon the charred remains of the cherry tree.
Its once vibrant blossoms were gone, replaced by brittle, blackened branches. Yet, as he drew closer, a flicker of life caught his attention.
The tree’s trunk, though heavily scarred and blackened, still bore a faint azure glow.
A single, stubborn sprout of azure green peeked out from one of its branches, a testament to the resilience of life even in the face of overwhelming destruction.
Shen Yuan crouched beside the tree, his hand gently brushing against the charred bark. “You’ve been through so much,” he murmured, his voice low and sad. “But you’re still holding on.”
[Shen Yuan… the tree… it seems to have absorbed a bit of the Tribulation Qi… this…]
Yue Lan became speechless as she saw the condition of the Cherry Blossom Tree.
Shen Yuan’s eyes flashed with surprise as he hurriedly activated his Ancestral Thunder God Codex, stirring his own Tribulation Lightning as he finally felt it.
What seemed like a tiny spark of Tribulation Qi was embedded deep within the roots of the cherry blossom tree.
It pulsed faintly, its rhythm synchronized with the azure glow of the sprout. Shen Yuan’s hand hovered just above the bark as he felt the familiar yet chaotic energy coursing through the scarred tree.
“This is incredible,” Shen Yuan murmured, his voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. “How did you manage to survive and even absorb the remnants of the Tribulation Qi?”
[This is unheard of, Yuan’er. A tree not only surviving such destructive power but also assimilating it? It’s almost as if the tree itself has a will to thrive.]
Shen Yuan nodded, his expression solemn as he withdrew his hand. “It’s already endured so much. I won’t let it wither away now. But what do you think made it survive?”
[Your Bloodline. That’s the only anomaly beside me that could do something like this. The unconscious aura that you emit might have been what mutated the tree.]
Shen Yuan carefully looked at the tree, his lips forming a gentle smile. “Looks like we are connected now.”
He carefully channeled a stream of his Radiant Qi and Tribulation Qi, letting it flow gently into the tree’s core.
The azure glow brightened slightly, and the green sprout grew imperceptibly larger, as though responding to his efforts.
“It’s going to take time, but you’ll bloom again,” he said softly, as though speaking to an old friend.
[The tree’s connection to the Tribulation Qi might have unexpected benefits, but you should monitor it closely. This could become a unique treasure or even develop sentience over time.]
Shen Yuan’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Then it’ll be my family rather than a mere ornament.”
He stood, taking a final look at the resilient cherry tree before turning his attention to the rest of the courtyard.
The destruction was extensive—broken walls, shattered tiles, and crumbled formations lay scattered everywhere.
Despite this, there was a strange tranquility in the ruined space, as if the remnants of his old home were still holding onto a fragment of their former glory.
[What will you do about the mansion? Rebuild it?]
Shen Yuan tilted his head thoughtfully. “No need for that. I won’t be returning here again. I will build my home permanently on the Radiant Heart Peak. I need to transfer the tree back home as well.”
[Wise decision. It’s also a symbol of growth through adversity. As for the tree, you can use your Radiant Qi, Tribulation Qi, and Spatial Qi to move it slowly above ground and take it back home.]
Shen Yuan nodded, his gaze focused on the resilient cherry blossom tree. “Alright, let’s give this a try. Lan’er, guide me if anything feels unstable.”
[Understood, Yuan’er. Take it slow and ensure the energy flows harmoniously. This process could strain the tree if mishandled.]
Shen Yuan took a deep breath, centering himself. He extended his hand toward the scarred trunk, his fingers glowing faintly as his Radiant Qi surged to life.
The golden energy wrapped gently around the tree, its warmth seeping into the charred bark and surrounding the azure glow of the sprout. The tree responded, the faint azure light pulsing in rhythm with his Qi.
Next, Shen Yuan channeled his Tribulation Qi, its crackling, chaotic energy intertwining with the soothing Radiant Qi.
The mixing of energies required delicate control, but Shen Yuan’s mastery ensured they flowed in harmony. Sparks of silvery lightning danced along the tree’s branches, their destructive nature tempered by the Radiant Qi’s stabilizing influence.
Finally, Shen Yuan called upon his Spatial Qi, forming a translucent barrier around the tree’s base. The space shimmered, creating a cocoon that would allow him to move the tree without disturbing its roots or the fragile sprout.
“This is where it gets tricky,” Shen Yuan murmured. He summoned his Thunder Intent at the second level, infusing it into the Tribulation Qi to reinforce its power.
At the same time, his Radiant Intent of the second level merged seamlessly with the Radiant Qi, amplifying its healing and protective properties.