In the endless mountain range.
A massive ancient tree bathed in the gentle sunlight.
Suddenly.
A white light shot out from the human-high grass—a snow rabbit!
This rabbit's size far exceeded that of ordinary rabbits, being several times larger!
Its red eyes gleamed with a mesmerizing, demonic light.
As the rabbit leisurely chewed on some grass, the previously tranquil ground suddenly shifted!
A thick, pitch-black ancient tree root burst out of the earth, instantly piercing the rabbit.
Immediately, the plump snow rabbit withered in an instant.
It turned into a shriveled corpse and was then dragged underground by the root, becoming nourishment for the earth.
[Ding! You have killed a snow rabbit and gained 10 cultivation points]
[Name: Lu Qingyang]
[True Form: Ancient Tree]
[Lifespan: 10/500]
[Realm: Mortal Stage (60/100)]
[Divine Ability: Soul-Devouring Entanglement (Mortal Stage)]
"I have accumulated sixty cultivation points."
"I just need to hunt a few more creatures like this to meet the requirements for a breakthrough."
Lu Qingyang's consciousness returned to his body, and a virtual attribute panel appeared in his mind.
It detailed his current life statistics.
After accidentally falling into an abyss and waking up to find himself transformed into a newly sprouted sapling, Lu Qingyang was initially terrified but gradually accepted his new existence.
He had also awakened a golden finger called the Devouring System!
This system allowed him to gain cultivation power by devouring living beings, driving his evolution and transformation.
Unfortunately, at first, Lu Qingyang had no means of attack.
He could only cautiously absorb the spiritual energy from the soil to grow, always on guard against unknown dangers.
As time passed, the sapling that Lu Qingyang had become gradually grew stronger.
After ten years of tempering, he finally awakened a talent ability called "Soul-Devouring Entanglement."
With this ability, Lu Qingyang could hunt relatively weak creatures.
Just like the unfortunate snow rabbit earlier.
Living in this world for ten years, Lu Qingyang had gradually observed its peculiarities—
The creatures here were not only much larger than those in his previous world.
Some even possessed extraordinary abilities like controlling fire or wielding ice.
For instance, in the eighth year.
He had witnessed a beast the size of a small mountain pass by.
Countless century-old trees were reduced to powder under its feet.
That overwhelming pressure remained vivid in his memory to this day.
Thus, Lu Qingyang concluded that this world was not the same as his previous one.
Though he had reincarnated as a tree, he did not wish to perish.
After all, even as a tree, there was a way to survive; clinging to life was better than dying easily.
Since awakening his talent ability,
Lu Qingyang began quietly hunting creatures that entered his territory.
After ten years, his roots could cover an area of thirty meters.
Unfortunately, Lu Qingyang could only control one root at the moment.
In the past year, he had hunted six snow rabbits.
Each rabbit provided him with ten cultivation points.
At the current pace, he needed to kill four more to gather enough points for a breakthrough.
Thinking of this, Lu Qingyang's mind calmed.
Reincarnated as a tree, he hadn't moved an inch in ten years.
Initially, it was hard to adapt, but over time, Lu Qingyang had gotten used to this life.
He observed the world's changes with indifference.
As the moon rose and the night descended,
The cold moonlight spread across the land, casting a mysterious glow over the mountains.
After a brief silence, the roars of wild beasts erupted.
These were nocturnal demonic beasts in the mountains, ready to hunt for food.
The danger level in the mountains at night was much higher than during the day.
Lu Qingyang listened to the roars and faint tremors, indicating fierce battles between powerful beasts.
As a transformed ancient tree,
He could not change his location.
So, Lu Qingyang silently prayed.
He hoped the beasts wouldn't intrude into his domain during their fights, for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
This ten-meter-tall ancient tree seemed proud and isolated.
However, in this mountain range, there were trees over a hundred meters tall.
Compared to them, Lu Qingyang's ancient tree was like a child facing elders.
Perhaps sensing Lu Qingyang's prayers,
Though the beastly roars continued, the tremors gradually subsided.
It was clear that the battle between the beasts had reached a conclusion.
A conclusion often meant life and death.
As night faded and the sun rose, dispelling the darkness,
At that moment,
The branches and leaves of the tree that Lu Qingyang had transformed into trembled slightly.
Within his sensing range, a powerful demonic aura was rapidly approaching him.
Before he could fully think it through, a five-meter-tall black bear appeared!
Its black fur stood on end like sharp iron spikes.
Its chest was a bloody mess, with its heart and lungs faintly visible.
This was a severely injured and dying beast!
Lu Qingyang's emotions fluctuated.
The demonic energy emanating from the black bear was exceptionally strong.
Clearly, it wasn't comparable to ordinary demonic rabbits. If it were uninjured, Lu Qingyang wouldn't dare covet it.
But now, the black bear was on the brink of death. Judging by its injuries, it was barely hanging on.
If he could kill and devour such a beast, Lu Qingyang was sure he could achieve a breakthrough.
However—
To ensure success, Lu Qingyang didn't act rashly.
He waited.
He waited for the moment the beast truly died to devour its corpse and gain the needed spiritual energy.
It's known that devouring living beings, dead or alive, had similar effects if fresh.
Only if the blood and energy dissipated too much over time would the devouring effect diminish significantly.
At that moment,
The black bear leaned against the ancient tree to rest, its powerful demonic energy gradually weakening, as if nearing death.
As Lu Qingyang rejoiced internally, the black bear suddenly struggled to get up, attempting to leave.
Seeing this,
Lu Qingyang felt a surge of urgency. He couldn't contain his desire anymore and activated his talent ability. A root burst out of the ground, instantly binding the black bear tightly.
This sudden attack startled the black bear!
It roared furiously, its arms bursting with demonic energy, trying to break free from the root.
The root creaked and crackled, seemingly about to snap at any moment. The intense pain shot through Lu Qingyang's consciousness, making him tremble.
However,
Lu Qingyang didn't let go. He gritted his teeth through the pain and tightened his grip on the black bear.
The root's tip pierced through the black bear's wound, deeply embedding into its heart.