"Bow once!"
"Bow twice!"
"Bow thrice!"
"Kowtow!"
...
Amid the chaotic sounds around him, Ji Yang struggled to open his eyes, eager to see what was happening.
Gradually, his hazy consciousness began to awaken.
What entered his sight was a strange ancestral hall. Below it, rows of indistinct figures were kneeling on the green stone slabs, bowing toward him.
Ji Yang murmured to himself:
"Am I dead?"
After all, there was no way to survive being hit by an out-of-control heavy truck.
Still, in his final moments of consciousness, he'd managed to crawl to the middle of a crosswalk with all his remaining strength. That way, the compensation for his family should be significant.
At least he'd contributed something to his family before dying!
Ji Yang sighed, but then noticed something wasn't right.
He was young and childless—how could so many people be bowing at his funeral?
And besides, he was supposed to be dead, so why did he still have consciousness?
Before Ji Yang could think further, a murky stream of awareness suddenly surged into his mind.
It was a memory inheritance!
His previously vague consciousness cleared up rapidly!
Even his vision became sharp and distinct!
When Ji Yang looked down again, he noticed a significant difference: none of the people below were familiar to him. They were dressed strangely, wearing crude garments made of ancient-looking animal hides in peculiar styles!
Lowering his gaze further, Ji Yang wanted to check his current state. Had his soul ascended?
But when Ji Yang saw the body he now inhabited—barely two meters tall, as thin as a bamboo pole, and resembling withered wood—he was struck speechless.
This wasn't a metaphorical "withered wood"; it was literal!
He had actually turned into a tree!
Although he couldn't identify the species, the dry, grayish-yellow branches made it abundantly clear that this tree wasn't in good shape.
At the same time, the influx of memories into his mind left Ji Yang deep in thought.
...
"Ritual complete!"
"Commence the sacrifice!"
As the crowd rose to their feet, a few individuals carried the corpses of several unknown animals to the exposed soil beneath the stone platform.
After the offerings were placed, an elder clad in coarse cloth stepped forward, holding a piece of yellowed animal hide aloft. He raised one hand and began chanting a series of strange, guttural words:
"Oh great Divine Tree, grant us your divine power! Bestow upon us the hope of life! Show us your boundless radiance..."
Although the language was foreign, Ji Yang could clearly understand its meaning.
Combining it with the fragmented memories that had just surfaced in his mind, the bizarre scene before him started to make sense.
Not only had he become a tree, but he had also become the sacred tree worshipped by this small tribe!
This ritual's purpose was to venerate him.
From the memories of this tree, Ji Yang learned that this was not his original world, but a completely different one.
Furthermore, it was a high-martial world where clans flourished!
Here, people could harness their life force to its utmost potential, unleashing incredible power and developing a unique cultivation system!
In this world, some could shatter mountains and split boulders, while others could soar through the skies!
The impossibilities of his previous life were now entirely real!
Beyond this cultivation system, there was also a concept known as "worship totems."
Regarding this, Ji Yang's inherited memories were sparse, leaving him with only a vague understanding.
What was certain, however, was that he was now the totem of this particular tribe.
As a modern individual with an open mind, Ji Yang quickly accepted the reality of his transmigration. Yet, becoming a tree—even a worshipped sacred tree—still left him feeling conflicted.
Ji Yang tried to stretch his body, but no matter how hard he tried, the branches below him didn't budge an inch. Only the breeze swayed his frail form, making him feel as if he might topple over at any moment.
After several futile attempts, Ji Yang gave up helplessly. He lowered his gaze and silently observed the people below, watching this peculiar ritual unfold.
Following the elder's chants, the animal carcasses in the soil were soon slit open.
Large amounts of blood gushed out, instantly staining the ground a vivid crimson!
Even without a physical body, the sight made Ji Yang instinctively frown.
A blood sacrifice?
What kind of deity would require such offerings?
But then he remembered the one being worshipped here was himself, so it was fine.
As the blood seeped into the soil, Ji Yang's body experienced a strange sensation.
He wasn't sure if it was good or bad, but his rational mind, as a law-abiding citizen, wanted to reject it.
Yet when the blood reached the roots beneath the soil, Ji Yang's soul trembled violently!
It was a deep craving—a desire from his very core.
In the next moment, the roots buried underground began absorbing the blood, draining every last drop before finally stopping.
The elder glanced at the sacred tree. Seeing no visible change, his eyes filled with disappointment and confusion. He lowered his head to pray once more.
Meanwhile, the others had varied expressions; some even looked at the sacred tree with hints of disdain and resentment.
However, Ji Yang didn't notice this. He was lost in a unique euphoria.
As soon as the roots finished absorbing the blood, a crisp "ding" echoed in his mind.
Then, a series of floating texts appeared before his eyes like a holographic screen:
[Name: Ji Yang]
[Species: Weak Locust Tree]
[Vitality: 0.5]
[Ability: Eye of Insight]
[Techniques: None]
[Combat Skills: None]
[Blood Qi: 5 (convertible to Vitality)]
[Spiritual Power: 2]
[Status: As the tribe's sacred tree, you are a dying ember, withered and on the verge of collapse!]
[Simulation: ???]
[Please bind to the clan to unlock more features!]
Seeing these virtual prompts, Ji Yang instantly realized what was happening—he had a cheat system!
But why did it have to emphasize "Weak Locust Tree"?
His only skill, "Eye of Insight," allowed him to analyze basic information about targets.
Vitality clearly represented his lifespan, and a mere 0.5 meant he didn't have long to live.
The "Status" section confirmed this in no uncertain terms.
As for Blood Qi and Spiritual Power, Ji Yang wasn't entirely sure what they were, but the peculiar sensation from earlier gave him a rough idea. It seemed they came from the blood sacrifices.
Moreover, Blood Qi could be converted into Vitality, meaning he could potentially extend his life!
Realizing his precarious state, Ji Yang didn't hesitate. Using his will, he activated the Blood Qi option.
The moment he did, another line of bold red text appeared before him:
"To use this feature, you must first bind to a clan. Detected clan: Chen Clan. Bind now?"
"Once bound, this decision is irreversible, and your physical form cannot be relocated!"
[Yes] [No]
Faced with this sudden choice, Ji Yang hesitated.
Activating it would indeed enhance his Vitality, but the irreversible binding and immobility spelled potential trouble.
If he chose the wrong clan or location, he'd be stuck and doomed.
As Ji Yang prepared to explore his cheat system further before making a decision, a panicked voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Clan Chief! Bad news! The Li Clan is attacking us!"