Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Chapter 385: Discerning One's Nature

Stella's foot paused before the portal with a bone-chilling fear gripping her heart. Even with the Phantom Veil Amulet hanging from her neck, masking her cultivation and bloodline, making her appear as nothing but a mortal, she still couldn't take the next step.

Taking a step back, Stella gulped before looking to the ceiling, where she could feel Ash's presence. "Tree, how can you be so sure that Vincent isn't lurking in Nightrose City?" Stella asked, making everyone else pause at her side. The portal seemed to lead to an inviting scene, with a majestic tree's leaves softly rustling in a wind they could not yet feel. However, there was still a sense of danger. None of them had eaten a void protection fruit, and they also hadn't set up spatial anchors to pull them back if something terrible happened. Only Stella had set up a secondary anchor that triggered if she lost a body part.

"There are no guarantees in life," Ash answered honestly, "But I can say with near certainty that Vincent will not be there, nor will he return to Nightrose City."

Stella let out a long breath to try and calm her inner turmoil. While she trusted Tree unquestionably, her body refused to comply. It was as if her legs were convinced that if they took a step through the portal, it would be the end of her and everyone she had come to care about. This wasn't just her fight. It involved everyone else as well.

"Vincent is quite similar to me, you see..." Ash continued.

Stella scowled, "He's nothing like you. How could you even compare yourself to that monster."

"Oh, but he is." Ash said casually, "We are both rulers who gain power from those under us. He founded the Blood Lotus Sect as a breeding ground for bloodlines and a place to safely cultivate by growing a family to protect him and controlling those around him to be absolutely loyal." Ash paused, "Meanwhile, I founded the Ashfallen Sect to raise cultivators to protect me and created the cult of the All-Seeing Eye because I gain power from believers. Those who refuse to comply with me are forced to take oaths of loyalty, secrecy or service me in death as Ents, trees, or are outright devoured to further my cultivation."

"But you are different!" Stella retorted, "You care about us, the sect. Vincent is a monster who only cares about himself."

"You are right, Stella." Ash agreed, "That's why I said Vincent and I are very similar, not the exact same. While our methods and goals differ slightly, I believe I can predict Vincent's next move by thinking what I would do in his situation."

"Is that how you know Vincent isn't in Nightrose City and has no plans to return?" Diana asked.

"Yes. While I care about nurturing and protecting those around me, Vincent is the total opposite. He sees everyone as pawns to be used to satisfy his goals. We can see this aspect of his character through the way he happily abandoned his family members and watched from afar as his guardians were devoured. That is why he won't return to Nightrose City. It has expended its purpose, and he has no lingering attachments to this place. The castle that had served as a stronghold is gone, his family is either dead or fleeing, and he has no use for the mortal population."

Stella felt disgusted at the idea of abandoning one's home so easily. To her, Red Vine Peak was her everything. She had grown up there, laughed and cried there, and, more importantly, made friends and family there. How could Vincent abandon his home so easily?

"Patriarch, where do you think he is going next?" The Redclaw Grand Elder asked.

"There is only one place he has to go," Ash replied, "To me—well, more specifically, Stella. The last place Stella went without wearing her artifact was Red Vine Peak, so that is where he will go. It might not be today, tomorrow, next week, or even this year. But one day, he will go where Stella is to get her bloodline. From Valandor, we know Vincent can smell bloodlines at vast ranges, so we can effectively lead him by the nose to wherever we want. That is how we will kill him."

"How can you be sure he is after Stella's bloodline?" Elaine asked, and everyone in the room glanced at her.

"Because Vincent is a slave to his own nature. Bloodlines give him power, but they also control his actions, and you should know this better than most, Elaine. Knowledge is power."

As if to reinforce his point, Ash took the aether technique manuals out of Stella's hands with telekinesis and had them floating in the air, flicking through the pages.

"We can see his obsession with getting information by focusing on obtaining the Starweaver bloodline that lets one peer into the threads of fate. Stella's bloodline is not only likely one of the greatest bloodlines to emerge out of the Blood Lotus Sect, but it's also one that would give him access to a vast amount of knowledge not only about cultivation but also about the many bloodlines out there in higher realms and who to obtain them from. Vincent is close to the peak of what this layer of creation can offer him and is likely starving for ways to progress. Stella's bloodline is likely the key, and he knows that."

Stella was rather impressed with Ash's analysis of Vincent, and somehow, laying out his personality and goals like this helped calm her down. It turned this all-powerful grim reaper in her mind into just another person. A powerful person for sure, but not an undefeatable phantom.

The Grand Elder hummed in thought before asking, "So you don't believe he will visit other families like the Azurecrest or Terraforge families still loyal to him?"

"That, I'm not sure." Ash hummed in thought, "Mhm, let's think. We all know affinities often shape a person's personality as they grow their soul with the Qi of their affinity, right? Earth cultivators are usually more hard-headed and down for a fistfight, while fire cultivators are usually more short-tempered. From this, we can infer that Vincent is obsessed with control. His affinities are blood, gravity and his last one is shadow or, more likely, illusion. What do all of these have in common? An aspect of control over one's body, mind or surroundings."

Ash paused, "My point is, he discovered today that he has lost control over many of the families in the Blood Lotus Sect. The question is if that challenges his pride on a deeper level, and he feels compelled to reestablish control. If it does, he will likely visit the noble families first and try to regain control over them and possibly the families that fell out of favor with him."

"I don't think he will bother to visit the other families," Stella said without thinking.

"Oh?" Diana raised a brow, "Why not?"

"Because he's arrogant." Stella shrugged.

Perhaps it was because she was also self-admittedly too prideful sometimes; she felt like she also understood Vincent on a deeper level now that Ash had laid out his personality for her.

"As Ash has already pointed out, in Vincent's eyes, everyone in the sect is a pawn. They aren't allies to lean on or people worth keeping around once they become a hindrance. Imagine you are a cultivator nearing the Monarch Realm. What use would a bunch of Star Core Realm Elders be to you? Remember, Vincent founded this sect to breed bloodlines. He has never cared about the families that make up the sect. If he did, he would have cared more when entire families like the Winterwrath and Evergreens were wiped out."

"Mhm, that's true," Diana nodded, "So, in conclusion, Vincent is likely to abandon all ties to Nightrose City and the Blood Lotus Sect and will someday come after Stella's scent as he desires her bloodline."

"That's my assumption, yes."

Stella frowned, "There's just one part I don't understand, how are we going to kill him? So far, he has evaded our capture and likes to use clones instead of ever putting himself in danger."

"Ah, that won't be so hard. Our favorite shadow tree saw quite the upgrade today," Ashlock chuckled, "Once Nyxalia gets control of her body, she will be able to handle Vincent like a toy."

"Nyxalia?" Stella didn't know who that was.

"It's the name I gave Nox's new form. She is a Netherwood Wraith, a mythical being that feasts on souls. The problem is the body I transplanted her soul into surpasses the Monarch Realm, so she is lacking control over the body's ravenous hunger for souls."

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Diana rubbed her temples, "How did you even... you know what, never mind. Where is Nyxalia now?"

"That, I'm not sure. She can effortlessly phase through reality, making her impossible to track. She devoured the souls of a few Nightrose Elders and then vanished."

Diana sighed, "So the person we need to defeat Vincent, is currently off somewhere devouring souls?"

"Very likely, yes." Ash paused, "But she should be back soon... maybe."

Stella exchanged a knowing glance with everyone, and Diana rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Stella said, stepping through the portal. She tensed up for a moment as the smell of rubble and destruction tickled her nose. A distant bell was also ringing, and she could feel the cold aura from the celestial tree before her. But she relaxed. Vincent didn't appear out of nowhere and kill her. Ash hadn't been wrong. Her hand, which had unknowingly tightly clutched the Phantom Veil Amulet around her neck, fell to her side.

The portal behind her rippled as the others stepped through, looking around curiously. Stella could feel their spiritual presence spreading out to scope out the area. She did the same and was surprised at how much mystic Qi was drenching the city.

Elysia must have gone all out. Stella thought as her spiritual presence encompassed the entire courtyard, what was left of the castle and surrounding streets. Just how powerful has that crazy girl gotten? I hope she liked Ash's seed, which I gave her as a present.

"Where are the rest of the Nightrose family?" Diana asked.

"Dead," Ash replied coldly, "Larry just devoured the remaining few. Of course, there's a chance a few escaped during the chaos, but we got most of them."

Stella glanced down the central street and saw a shifting mass of silver ash heading straight for her. It surged up the steps to the courtyard and paused before her before condensing into the vague shape of a spider.

"Princess, I'm glad to see you are alright," Larry said.

Stella smiled and fluently responded in kind with the runic language, "You have grown since I last saw you, Larry."

"Master gave me the honor of reducing these vermin that have plagued you since young to ash, Princess." The divine spider bowed his head, "I will now return to Master to evolve into a form that will be able to better protect you in the future."

Stella patted Larry's head, but her hand went through the ash. "I'll look forward to it. But make sure to take your time, okay? Maple will look after me in the meantime."

The lazy squirrel that had been hanging around Quill and had hopped onto her head at some point rolled over at the mention of his name but didn't so much as open an eyelid.

Larry's many eyes glared at Maple, "That squirrel is a fickle one. I would be careful about putting your life in his hands."

Stella reached up and gently rubbed Maple's head, which earned a satisfied cry out of the world-devouring eldritch horror, "He may be lazy, but he does act when it counts."

"If the Princess says so then it must be true," Larry said, earning an amused smirk from Stella.

"Go on, don't let me keep you." Stella gestured to the portal, which was still open behind them, to her house. Larry obliged by strangely walking through the air and phasing through the rift. With the Ashfallen Sect's guardian gone, Stella coughed as the runic language was a bit rough on human vocal cords before turning her attention to the others. They were all crowded around the tree lording over the destroyed courtyard. Stella came to stand beside Diana, who was squinting at the leaves.

"What you looking at?" Stella asked. The leaves were breathtakingly beautiful, and the blue sky served as a backdrop to the translucent leaves, with a tapestry of celestial energy running through them.

"I'm not so sure," Diana mused as she pointed at the leaves above, "The patterns within the leaves, do you notice them changing ever so slightly?"

Stella watched for a while and slowly nodded, "Yeah, I think so. Especially the ones around here. Are they supposed to mean something?"

Diana crossed her arms in thought before looking to the sky. "Ashlock, you said this tree was made from the Starweaver Grand Elder?" She stepped back and glanced around at the roots that looked like golden threads sprawling out through the courtyard, "Are these the threads of fate?"

"Huh, now that you point it out. Maybe they are?" Ash said, "Can you discern anything from the changing leaves?"

Diana shook her head, "All I can see is them changing, not what they mean. Maybe if we got Celeste to take a look at it, she could tell us what it means since she has the bloodline?"

"One problem with that is how will I explain the tree's origin? I can't admit it's their father now, can I?

Diana had a look of realization, "That's true..."

"We can figure this out later. For now, can you guys clean up this place and assist the cult in convincing the populace to accept me as their new god?"

Douglas froze up, "By clean up, do you mean..."

"Yes. The castle needs to be rebuilt. It serves as a focal point of authority here in Nightrose City, and we need the people to know they have a new, hopefully nicer ruler. You can get the help of the Mudcloaks if you need. Just ensure the courtyard can freely detach from the castle, as I made Orion here into a Bastion."

Douglas sighed, "Is there a time limit?"

"No... but could you get it done by tomorrow?"

Douglas cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, "By tomorrow... sure, why not. One grand castle coming right up. Stella, could you assist me?"

"Huh?" Stella raised a brow, "Sure, but what for?"

"I bet this monstrosity is decked out to the brim with defensive formations." Douglas pointed to the melted castle with his thumb, "You're likely the only cookie smart enough to know anything about them."

Stella smiled at the praise and joined Douglas in walking over to the castle, leaving the others around Orion. They walked in silence for a while until Douglas mumbled under his breath, "Things are really starting to get crazy, aren't they?"

"What do you mean?" Stella asked while continuing to give Maple head rubs and dodging random pieces of rubble.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just feeling sentimental?" Douglas chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck, "It's just that I remember when we were a rag-tag group struggling to survive on Red Vine Peak a few months ago. But now..." He trailed off as they walked through the castle's cracked grand entrance, "We are conquering distant cities in a single day, and not just any city, mind you. This is Nightrose City, the capital of the Blood Lotus Sect, and here I am, casually walking through their castle, which was half eaten by heaven knows what."

"So?" Stella asked as she ran her finger along a section of wall that had a part of a formation exposed. "We are a big fish in a small pond. Senior Lee could come down and end us with a mere thought. The beast tide on the horizon may still wipe out all of us, and if Vincent tried his absolute best to kill me, I'm sure he would succeed. Hell, we are on the 9th layer of creation. Who knows what powerhouses are still above us?"

Douglas let out a long breath of resignation, "I suppose you're right. It's just quite the adjustment from my decades as a street rat and fighting for fucking gangs in slums. You're really unfazed by all this?"

Stella shrugged, "Maybe it will all hit me when I see Vincent dead at my feet, but in my mind, the threats that have loomed over my head since my childhood are still ever present despite our leap in power. Instead of being far away and unbeatable, they are now very much in my face while still feeling threatening despite my growth in cultivation." Stella put a hand on the stone and looked up at the vaulted ceiling. "It's frustrating, to say the least. I just want to live in peace with Ash." She looked over her shoulder and met Douglas's eyes, "Is that so much to ask?"

"No, it's not," Douglas shook his head, "Unfortunately, we live in a rather cruel world that doesn't give a rat's ass about our dreams."

"Exactly, so stop thinking so much. We have indeed come far in a short amount of time, but in the grand scheme of things, we are still a frog trapped in a well."

Douglas snorted, "Where did you learn an old phrase like that?"

"I pick things up here and there from books I have 'acquired' from various places," Stella returned her focus to the runic formation, "Now, as for this runic formation, it's a little too complex for my current understanding." She followed the trail of silver up a nearby pillar, "I think the formation spreads throughout the entire castle, though, which means you either need to rebuild the entire castle with the runic formation or simply tear it all out. It also seems like the formation was powered beyond its intended capability as most of the runic circuitry is dulled and will need replacing."

"Mhm," Douglas rubbed his chin, "How long do you think it would take you to analyze and rebuild the formation."

"Quite a while? Days possibly." Stella sighed and stepped away, "But that's assuming there's enough intact formation buried in all this stone to rebuild the entire thing. If a vital section has been destroyed, then I'll have to improvise, and at that point..."

"It's better to start from scratch with a formation of our own." Douglas finished what she was going to say. "Alright, I'm on a time limit to build something worthy of Ashlock, so I'll have the Mudcloaks tear it all out."

"Hold on, I have a better idea." Stella opened a rift to the aether, "Come on out, Guppy, I have a meal for you."

"Who's Guppy?" Douglas eyed the tear in reality with confusion.

"My adorable pet," Stella grinned as a shadow moved toward the rift entrance, followed by a clicking noise. Guppy poked his head through a moment later, earning a string of curses from Douglas as the man stumbled back.

"Pet? You call that abomination a pet?!"

Stella pouted as she rubbed Guppy's snout, "Douglas, you're being rude."

"S-Sorry," Douglas grimaced, "What is it?"

"A Darktide Devourer, they are known to devour islands and grow in power by eating spirit stones—Guppy stop drooling." Stella gently smacked the monster, and it let off a soft cry.

"Unbelievable," Douglas pinched the bridge of his nose, "Sometimes I forget just how screwed in the head... you know what, never mind. Let's get this show on the road." He reached up to his crude stone crown, "Could you open a portal to Red Vine Peak? It's about darn time for the Mudcloaks to assemble."

Hello everyone! Merry Christmas. I'm posting this announcement here as most people seem to ignore author notes.

First of all, I will take a break from now until around the 1st of January as I'm flying back to London to say hello to my family for the holidays. I also just finished book six over on Patreon, and I need some time to plot the next major arcs.

Continuing that point, in the spirit of Christmas, I'm offering a deal! From now until the 1st of January, you can get 22 chapters for 90% off on my Patreon, right now! That's only $1 for an entire month of access. All you need to do is use code ASHLOCK for the 90% discount! An offer like this is very limited and won't appear again for a long time, so don't miss out!

Help feed a hungry demonic tree this Christmas... I mean, just look at him...