The world has truly changed.
After the intensification of spiritual energy revival, the entire Blue Star's ley lines seemed to be expanding rapidly.
What used to be a mere dozen miles between two county towns could now... very well have a massive mountain suddenly appear overnight.
The shifting terrain naturally triggered earthquakes of varying intensities.
Fortunately, nowadays, everyone practiced cultivation, with Qi Refinement cultivators everywhere, so casualties from such disasters had significantly decreased.
If this had happened before the spiritual energy revival... a global-scale earthquake would have caused unimaginable devastation.
Jiang Che had just returned to the Jiang family villa and almost didn’t recognize his own home—a towering tree over ten meters tall had sprouted right in front of the gate.
[Dig! Dig! I’ll fucking dig through!]
[Damn it all, why is there an air barrier here? System, can you help me break through it? Let me sink my roots in there!]
[This damn membrane... I can already sense the rich spiritual energy inside!]
Jiang Che: "..."
Holding Dong'er in one arm, Jiang Che stood at the entrance, staring at this crooked tree.
The tree was bizarre—despite its height, it was completely bare, without a single leaf, only a few withered vines hanging limply. It was downright ugly.
[Ding! Detected the "Chosen One" — Lin Mu.]
[This is a transmigrator bound to the "Tree God Evolution System." A demonic entity capable of rapid evolution with just spiritual soil and energy, absorbing nutrients from all things. An 8th-tier Son of Destiny.]
Jiang Che was stunned.
Seriously, dude? A Son of Destiny... growing right at the doorstep of a villain like me?
Are you not taking me seriously at all?
[Huh? A man?]
[Could he be the actual owner of this villa?]
Lin Mu was puzzled.
He had transmigrated just last night. Before this, he was a plant hybridization researcher who tripped in an experimental field and ended up here!
And of all things, he transmigrated into a damn tree, bound to some stupid Tree God Evolution System.
Though he retained his intelligence, only one of his roots could move freely.
He sensed something extraordinary inside this villa—his system called it "premium spiritual soil." If he could just sink his roots into it, he’d grow stronger rapidly. But the problem was... there was a fucking barrier in the way!
It was like transmigrating as a physicist with ALS, watching an adorable, petite loli sing and dance in front of you, yet being unable to touch her no matter what.
[This guy looks strong. Probably the owner.]
[Hey, bro, mind opening the barrier? Let me stretch my roots in there... please?]
Jiang Che: "..."
This guy’s inner monologue is something else.
"What the hell is this ugly tree doing here? I’ll have it chopped down tomorrow!" Jiang Che said casually.
[???]
[Bro, what’s your problem? I’m just growing here! Yeah, I’m ugly, but that’s no reason to cut me down!]
"Heh~"
Jiang Che smirked, then slowly walked up to the crooked tree.
He sent a direct mental transmission.
[Lin Mu, right?]
Instantly, Lin Mu was scared out of his wits.
If he had evolved just a bit further, he’d have uprooted himself and bolted.
[How?! How did he find out about me? And how does he know my name? That’s from my past life!]
His roots trembled. He was just a newbie in this strange world—don’t mess with him like this!
Jiang Che’s lips curled slightly. Since Lin Mu had just transmigrated, now was the perfect time to recruit him.
An 8th-tier Son of Destiny would make a fine enforcer.
[You don’t need to know who I am, but I know everything about you. Your fate doesn’t belong to this world—you’re an outsider.]
[And you carry immense destiny... bound to a system, aren’t you?]
Lin Mu: "..."
He was completely paralyzed, his soul quivering.
Even the system was exposed? What kind of being was this?!
[But I’m not interested in your past. Only your future.]
[Sir... you... you can hear my thoughts?] Lin Mu whispered fearfully.
[Enough chatter. Work for me, or I’ll chop you into firewood.]
[Big Brother, I bow to you!]
He didn’t even understand the situation—he had just transmigrated a few days ago!
He thought he’d landed in a beginner’s zone, but instead, he’d stumbled right into the final boss’s lair.
As for his "Tree God System"?
It had gone completely silent, probably scared stiff too.
[Fine. I’ll get you some spiritual soil in a couple of days.]
Jiang Che spoke dismissively before walking straight into the Jiang residence.
He wasn’t worried about betrayal—this guy was a coward through and through, already terrified out of his mind.
Even after Jiang Che disappeared inside, Lin Mu remained frozen in fear, not daring to think anything else.
Despite his youthful appearance, Jiang Che exuded an overwhelming pressure.
Several minutes later...
[Hey... hey? System, you there?]
[Yes, my dear host.]
[What’s with the sudden "dear host"? Weren’t you calling me "insect" before?]
[Well... times have changed, my dear host daddy!]
Lin Mu wasn’t stupid. His Tree God Evolution System had been insufferably arrogant before, but now it was groveling—undoubtedly because of that young man.
[Host, I... I advise you not to oppose that existence. Otherwise, we’ll both be sent back to the forge!]
[...]
If even the system was scared, wasn’t resisting just suicide?
...
"Jiang Che, there’s this hideous crooked tree in front of our house. Should we cut it down?"
Yu Wan'er nestled in Jiang Che’s arms.
Though she usually acted mischievous, she was deeply dependent on him.
This sense of reliance—something only her mother had provided before—now came solely from Jiang Che, her partner.
"Does it bother you? I’ll have it relocated in a few days."
"Hey... stop touching my feet."
"After all this time together, I can’t even touch your feet? Fine, I’ll go touch Xiao Wanwan’s instead."
"...Just keep touching mine."
Heh—easily handled.
Speaking of Xiao Wanwan, this tsundere brat was the only girl Jiang Che hadn’t claimed yet.
But he wasn’t in a hurry—her two older sisters had already fallen, so she was inevitable.
Besides... Jiang Che quite enjoyed the game of "corrupting the little sister."
After dinner, Jiang Che gathered all the girls in the house.
"Alright, let’s see if you’ve improved your cultivation lately."
"Bai Jie... care to explain why you’re still at the Foundation Establishment stage? If I don’t personally guide you, you don’t even try, huh? What’s going on in that head of yours?"
"I... I can't stop thinking about you!" Bai Jie stammered, her voice trembling slightly as if she were nervous.
Jiang Che: "..."