They followed Li Chen until they reached a small square. At its far end stood a towering tree, beneath which several bare-chested children were training.
Two villagers were instructing them.
The other villagers went about their work while watching the children train.
When they saw the newcomers, the villagers stopped what they were doing and turned to look.
"Chief Li, who are these people...?"
One villager looked at Li Chen in confusion and asked quietly.
"They wandered in by chance. A Food Beast was chasing them, so they came here to take shelter."
"Get back to whatever you were doing. No need to mind us."
Li Chen gave the villagers a casual wave and smiled.
He then led Li Xiaoyao and the others to the towering tree and pointed to it as he began his introduction.
"This is Heavenly Chan. She's always protected our village. Without her, the Food Beasts might have wiped out our little village long ago."
Li Chen bowed respectfully to the tree as he introduced her.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the tree swayed, its leaves rustling.
"A plant True Spirit, and one on the verge of taking human form. Her life force is immense."
Wang Tian gazed at the tree and murmured to himself.
He had recognized what she was at a glance.
It was exceedingly difficult for plants to take human form. Before they did, they developed sentience, known as a plant True Spirit.
He had never expected to find a plant True Spirit here.
If nothing unexpected happened, the tree before them would fully take human form in ten years at most.
Then, with a Fate Rank of her own, she would naturally be able to pursue the Great Dao.
Wang Tian hesitated.
Standing before the tree, he felt an inexplicable