Chapter 105: Spiritual Awakening and Demonic Transformation

Qingyuan County was ravaged by floods for three consecutive days. The torrential rain not only showed no sign of abating but grew increasingly ferocious.

At Enchanted Bay, the river swelled dramatically. What was once merely a shallow stretch had now become a deep water zone, and much of Wooden Fish Island, a peninsula extending into the water, was submerged beneath the rising tide.

On Crowing Rooster Mountain, bathed in wind and rain, Jiang Chen took in all these changes with a steady gaze.

Qingyuan River was three parts plains and seven parts mountains—a former disadvantage that now proved beneficial. Had this been a vast plain like Changfeng County, countless lives would have been lost in the flood.

“Sect Leader, the flood is relentless. I fear Wooden Fish Island cannot be saved,” Wang Yuan said, his face etched with pain as he watched the island’s outline blur in the storm. Previously, the Taiping Sect had invested enormous manpower and resources into developing Wooden Fish Island. Jiang Chen himself had poured his heart and soul into it, only to see it all vanish beneath the waters.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at the shrinking island.

“Preserve the people, even if the land is lost. Preserve the land, even if people are lost. As long as people live, it’s not a disaster. Even if Wooden Fish Island is submerged, it’s no more than rebuilding it once again.”

His words were calm, reflecting a deep understanding that gain and loss are constants of life—one’s existence forever balanced between the two.

Wang Yuan felt a tremor in his heart at these words.

“Any news from Qinghe County’s town?” Jiang Chen shifted the topic.

Wang Yuan shook his head. “Sect Leader, with the raging storms and floodwaters, all contact with Qinghe County has been severed. However, the county seat sits on higher ground, guarded by Shouhou and Cao Banshan. It should be safe for now.”

After a pause, Wang Yuan shared his thoughts hesitantly.

Jiang Chen said nothing further but sighed softly.

“We are still too weak.”

His sigh was carried away by the wind and rain as he turned and entered a temporary cave dwelling. Against such a natural disaster, even a Qi practitioner like himself felt powerless, with little he could do.

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Two more days passed, the rain unceasing. The floodwaters rose above the peak of Wooden Fish Island, completely submerging it.

At that moment, a strange rhythm pulsed from the island. Suddenly, spiritual energy poured out, and the entire island seemed to stir, emitting a low, humming sound as if it had truly come alive.

As Wooden Fish Island trembled, Enchanted Bay itself became turbulent. Underneath, dark currents surged, and towering waves battered the surface—like some enormous creature struggling to break free from its bondage. Such was the nature of the Chain-Linked Bluefish: alive once it entered the water.

Meanwhile, in Jiang Chen’s former courtyard, as the flood of spiritual energy surged from the island’s heart, a faint gleam of light quietly blossomed—the withered peach wood.

Its branches had long since snapped under the flood’s assault, leaving only a bare tree stump. Yet now, bathed in spiritual light, its roots began to grow vigorously, infiltrating every corner of Wooden Fish Island.

Long ago, it had devoted all its vitality to root expansion, allowing itself to appear dead above ground while anchoring deep beneath the earth. Now, with the bluefish in the water and spiritual energy erupting, the peach wood found a chance for revival.

Crackling sounds echoed as roots burst through soil and rock, instinctively chasing the source of the spiritual energy, greedily absorbing its essence.

Over time, its form gradually took on a spiritual sheen. Every root glowed jade-green, resembling a finely carved emerald from afar. Its aura surged steadily, nearing the limit of spiritual awareness.

At a certain moment, the roots intertwined into a net, completing a cycle of life and death transformation and successfully becoming a demonic spirit. It captured something hidden deep within Wooden Fish Island—a spiritual cave, self-contained and brimming with dense spiritual energy.

Sensing the cave’s presence, the peach wood instinctively extended its roots inside, drawing even more spiritual energy. Its unique nature meant it seemed to have no limit to how much energy it could absorb, surpassing even Qi practitioners approaching spiritual awareness.

With the cave’s energy as nourishment, the peach wood advanced further, entering the realm of Qi cultivation.

At this stage, the once-bare tree stump finally began to grow anew. Bursting with vitality, it sprouted fresh leaves and branches, transforming from decay to flourishing in the blink of an eye.

Though submerged in the river’s depths, its growth remained unhindered, thriving vibrantly in stark contrast to the surrounding devastation.

At that very moment, atop Crowing Rooster Mountain, Jiang Chen opened his eyes during meditation.

“There’s something calling me from there!”

Realizing this, Jiang Chen cast his gaze toward Wooden Fish Island’s location, now a vast floodplain.

“The feeling is subtle, yet familiar.”

His thoughts turned immediately to the Rodent Prodigy.

“Could it be…”

Guessing the connection, he soared on the wind, breaking through the storm to hover above Wooden Fish Island.

Thanks to the delicate link in his soul, he sensed the presence of the peach wood even across the river.

“It truly has come alive and become a demon spirit.”

Drawing closer, the call grew clearer. Jiang Chen confirmed his suspicion—the peach wood planted in his courtyard had indeed awakened its spiritual nature.

“One is a Rodent Prodigy, the other a peach wood tree. This is no mere coincidence. Perhaps my soul’s special ability truly fosters spiritual awakening.”

“Rodents are animals; peach wood is a plant. Their natures differ, yet both have spent considerable time in contact with me and have been stimulated by the Mysterious Killing Finger.”

“Perhaps the reason this power didn’t manifest in my past life is due to the differing nature of the worlds. Compared to that past realm, this one recognizes spirit in all things. That spirit may be the key.”

These thoughts collided in his mind, stirring many reflections.

Suddenly, the increasingly urgent call pulled Jiang Chen back to the present.

“There is indeed some unknown mystery to Wooden Fish Island. This flood has triggered a profound transformation.”

Following the peach wood’s summons, Jiang Chen wove a Daoist robe with true energy and plunged into the floodwaters.

Parting the waters and stepping once more onto Wooden Fish Island, his eyes immediately fell upon the one-zhang-tall peach wood tree, lush with branches and leaves, radiating a spiritual glow.

“The spiritual energy is incredibly dense, yet all restrained by the peach wood itself, never released outward.”

Realizing this, Jiang Chen’s expression shifted. Though he had known some upheaval had occurred on Wooden Fish Island before setting foot there, he had not expected to witness such an outbreak of spiritual energy. This revealed just how strong the peach wood’s ability was to contain it.