Li Cailiang had a clear plan: destroy the Divine Tree before the Chen clan discovered him, then escape through the secret passage.
The tree was only a few meters away from the entrance, and with his strength, he had ample time. Moreover, the Ancestral Hall was unguarded, presenting a golden opportunity.
However, as he approached, the intricate patterns on the tree trunk became visible. Suddenly, the seemingly ordinary Divine Tree emitted a brilliant light.
This unexpected phenomenon startled Li Cailiang, causing him to instinctively look up.
In the dark night, the tree's branches shimmered, and each gray fruit glowed with an eerie light.
As they swayed in the wind, their distinct facial features became visible. The rustling sound seemed like malevolent laughter, taunting him.
"What on earth is this?"
Li Cailiang's eyes widened in fear. He involuntarily took a step back.
At that moment, a wave of danger surged within him. Without hesitation, Li Cailiang relied on his keen instincts to dodge.
Just as he moved, a thick, rope-like root burst from the ground, shattering several of the green stone slabs beneath it.
Li Cailiang felt a chill. Had he not dodged in time, the root would have impaled him rather than the stone.
Seeing his attack miss, Ji Yang inwardly lamented.
He had deliberately dissipated the Lunar Eclipse Technique and strengthened his roots to launch a surprise attack.
However, he had underestimated the Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator's perception; Li Cailiang managed to evade even the hidden roots.
Undeterred, Ji Yang reinforced three more roots, determined not to let Li Cailiang escape.
As Ji Yang concentrated on his plan, two new roots erupted from the ground and headed straight for Li Cailiang.
The roots, strengthened by his transformed lineage, now possessed even greater power.
Li Cailiang's expression hardened at the sight of the additional roots. The recent attack had focused his mind and reminded him of his mission.
With the menacing roots closing in, his resolve to eliminate Ji Yang grew stronger.
If the Chen family's Divine Tree continued to grow , the family would have no chance of taking revenge in the future!
Despite the simultaneous assault of three roots, Li Cailiang was determined not to retreat.
With agile movements, he dodged the two roots aiming to entangle him and advanced toward Ji Yang with unwavering resolve.
Ji Yang felt a jolt of surprise. Although his roots had considerable strength, they lacked the agility of a mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm warrior.
However, he had anticipated this scenario.
The two roots that Li Cailiang had dodged did not retract; instead, they struck the back entrance of the Ancestral Hall.
The sound of the Ancestral Hall collapsing echoed throughout the area.
Not only did nearby patrolling clan members hear the tremendous noise, but even those further away could sense something was amiss.
"That sound came from the Ancestral Hall! Hurry, let's go check it out!"
Inside the clan, voices filled the air. After the grand ceremony involving the Divine Tree, the Ancestral Hall held immense significance---it housed the ancestral spirits and the family tree.
There was no room for hesitation or delay.
Hearing the commotion outside, Li Cailiang gritted his teeth.
He had underestimated the Divine Tree; its intelligence surpassed his expectations. However, this realization did not deter him from his mission.
There was only one root blocking his path, and he was determined to overcome it.
As the last root tried to strangle him, Li Cailiang did not dodge. Instead, he charged forward.
When the root was about to strike him, he swiftly grabbed it with both hands.
The immense force threatened to rip the root from his grasp, but he channeled all his blood qi to hold it secure.
With the final root no longer an obstacle, Li Cailiang took determined strides forward. He was now less than half a meter from the tree trunk---within striking distance.
Just as he prepared to kick the Divine Tree, a dense vine suddenly erupted from beneath it.
The appearance of the vine was so abrupt and close that it caught him off guard. Before Li Cailiang could react, the vine had already reached his face.
At his current speed, attacking the tree might cost him his life. Despite the opportunity, he had no choice but to retreat---the secret passage behind him was his only hope for escape.
Before Li Cailiang could make another move, a booming scream echoed behind him. Instantly, a powerful blow rushed toward him.
Sensing the impending danger, Li Cailiang continued to dodge.
As he evaded the attack and turned around, he saw Chen Qingyu standing in the Ancestral Hall.
The recent attack had been his.
Alongside him, other members of the Chen family hurriedly arrived, their expressions shifting from shock to determination as they realized the nature of the invasion.
They quickly surrounded Li Cailiang.
Surrounded, Li Cailiang's heart sank into despair.
He was now facing not only Chen Qingyu, a mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator, but also two other Blood Coagulation Realm warriors who were closing in on him.
The realization that he might have missed his last chance to destroy the Divine Tree filled him with regret. The lifeline he had hoped for turned out to be the very trap that led to his failure.
"Damn it!" Li Cailiang roared bitterly, venting his frustration.
When Chen Xingzhen arrived on the scene, his expression turned solemn.
However, seeing that the Divine Tree remained unharmed, he felt a wave of relief.
The potential damage to the Divine Tree could have been disastrous, how could he justify it to his senior and explain it to the clan?
"Surrender, Li Cailiang! You have nowhere to run!" Chen Xingzhen declared, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with the trapped intruder.
"Heh!" Li Cailiang responded with a contemptuous sneer.
Without further hesitation, the clan members moved in.
With Chen Qingyu, a mid-stage Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator, leading the charge and the support of other clan members, Li Cailiang stood little chance.
After only a few exchanges, he was severely injured and struggling to keep up.
On the brink of death, Li Cailiang cast a desperate glance at Chen Qingyu and asked,
"What technique are you using? Why haven't we seen it before?"
Chen Qingyu didn't answer verbally. Instead, he used a form of Taizu Long Fist to launch Li Cailiang away.
Chen Xingzhen's face lit up with excitement.
Strictly speaking, mastering a combat technique like Taizu Long Fist required a minimum level of cultivation at the Blood Coagulation Realm.
Warriors at the Body Tempering Realm, with their thin Qi and Blood, struggled to fully harness such techniques.
However, this didn't mean they couldn't learn.
Even if they couldn't master the technique, familiarizing themselves with its principles was valuable for future preparation.