Amid the vast mountain range, an Ancient Tree, ten meters in height, flourishes in the sun's gentle rays, rendering its dense foliage ever more verdant.
Suddenly.
A snow-white rabbit leapt out of a man-tall thicket, far larger than normal rabbits. Its red eyes glowed with a dangerous light.
Just as the rabbit peacefully foraged, the once-calm earth abruptly trembled. A sturdy root shot up from the ground, impaling the rabbit in an instant.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the previously plump rabbit shriveled away, its withered carcass soon dragged into the soil by the root, becoming nourishment for the earth.
...
Name: Gu Qingyang
Essence: Ancient Tree
Lifespan: 10/500
Rank: Zero-Grade Superior (60/100)
Innate Divine Techniques: Death Tentacles (Zero-Grade)
...
"Sixty Evolution Value points. Just a few more rabbits, and I can fulfill the requirements for evolution and finally make my breakthrough!"
Gu Qingyang's consciousness settled on himself, an ethereal value panel emerging in his mind, clearly recording his current physical stats.
Since inadvertently falling off a cliff and waking to find himself a newly sprouted sapling, Gu Qingyang was initially shocked. Over time, he gradually embraced his new identity.
Simultaneously.
He also awakened a system-like advantage. By devouring creatures, he could acquire Evolution Value and proceed with evolution.
The lamentable fact was, at the beginning, Gu Qingyang had no means of attack, forcing him to cautiously absorb nutrients from the soil, anxious about any unforeseen dangers.
As time passed.
The sapling that embodied Gu Qingyang steadily grew, and by the tenth year, he awakened an Innate Divine Technique known as Death Root.
With this Innate Divine Technique, Gu Qingyang could hunt down some weaker creatures, like the rabbit that had perished moments ago.
After a decade in this world, Gu Qingyang gradually came to understand a few things.
Creatures in this world were generally several times larger than those in his previous one, and some possessed extraordinary abilities.
Like controlling fire.
Or manipulating ice.
In the eighth year, Gu Qingyang even witnessed a beast as massive as a hill languidly passing by, demolishing countless century-old Ancient Trees, its astonishing power leaving an everlasting impression on him.
Hence.
Gu Qingyang had long concluded that this world was certainly not his previous one.
Despite having been reborn as a tree, Gu Qingyang harbored no intention of meeting an early demise.
After all.
Even as a tree, there are certain joys to be found in living; clinging to life is better than dying in vain.
After awakening his Innate Divine Technique, Gu Qingyang quietly hunted any creature that came within his reach. After ten years of growth, his roots could extend within a radius of thirty meters.
The pity, however, was.
Gu Qingyang could only manipulate one root at a time.
Over the past half-year.
Gu Qingyang hunted six rabbits altogether, with each rabbit providing ten Evolution Value points. At this pace, he only needed to kill four more rabbits to gather enough Evolution Value for a breakthrough in rank.
Thinking this,
Gu Qingyang's emotions gradually calmed.
Having become a tree for ten years, moving not even half a step was hard to reconcile at first, but over time, Gu Qingyang accustomed himself to this life.
Neither haughty nor impatient.
Steady and diligent.
...
As the sun set in the west and Taiyin rose, soft moonlight cascaded down, casting the entire mountain range into an eerie darkness.
After a brief lull, the roars of Fierce Beasts echoed throughout.
These were some nocturnal Fierce Beasts of the mountain preparing to hunt for food.
The perilousness of the nighttime mountain far surpassed that of the day by several ranks.
Gu Qingyang listened to the roars of the Fierce Beasts and the faint tremors, indicating a powerful Fierce Beast was engaged in battle.
Born a tree.
He couldn't move from his spot.
Thus, Gu Qingyang could only pray that these Fierce Beasts wouldn't wander into his territory during their battle, or else he might get caught in the crossfire.
The ten-meter Ancient Tree seemed quite majestic, but the mountain harbored numerous Ancient Trees over a hundred meters tall.
Compared to those, the Ancient Tree embodying Gu Qingyang seemed like a child beside an adult.
Perhaps heeding Gu Qingyang's prayers, while the roars of the Fierce Beasts continued unabated, the tremors noticeably receded.
This indicated that the fighting Fierce Beasts had drawn to a conclusion.
The outcome.
Often determines life and death.
As night slowly waned, the sun rose from the east, dispelling all darkness.
Just then.
The branches and leaves of the Ancient Tree embodying Gu Qingyang shuddered. Within his perception, a powerful aura was swiftly approaching his direction.
Before he could think further, a five-meter-tall black bear came striding by, its black fur standing on end like hardened needles, its chest a gory mess with internal organs faintly visible.
This was a severely injured Fierce Beast!
Gu Qingyang felt a surge of excitement.
The aura emitted by the black bear was potent, clearly unmatched by any rabbit-like Fierce Beast. Were it unscathed, he would not dare harbor any notions.
But now the black bear was seriously wounded, its injuries bordering on the mortal realm.
If this Fierce Beast could be slain, Gu Qingyang was certain he could achieve his breakthrough.
However—
For safety, Gu Qingyang held back from acting rashly.
He waited.
Waited for the Fierce Beast to truly perish, then devoured its corpse to gain Evolution Value.
After all, whether the creature was living or deceased, the effects of devouring remained similar, as long as it was fresh enough.
If it was dead for too long, the loss of vital energy and blood would greatly diminish the devouring effect.
At this moment.
The black bear leaned against the Ancient Tree to rest, its once powerful aura steadily weakening, seemingly on the verge of death.
Just as Gu Qingyang delighted in secret, the previously motionless black bear began to struggle, attempting to depart.
Seeing this,
anxiety welled up in Gu Qingyang's heart, and he could no longer restrain his inner impulse. He harnessed the power of his Innate Divine Technique, and a root broke through the soil, tightly binding the black bear.
The sudden attack startled the black bear. It roared in fury, its arms mustering immense strength to break free of the root's grip.
The stout root creaked explosively, seemingly about to snap at any moment, and the excruciating pain shook Gu Qingyang's spirit.
However.
Gu Qingyang didn't relent. He endured the pain, persistently entwining the black bear, while the root's end burrowed through its wound, piercing deep into its flesh, and pierced into its heart.