Reborn: The Ancient Bodhi Tree

[International Digest: The Ancient Bodhi Tree was stolen half a month ago. Legend has it that Shakyamuni attained enlightenment beneath this tree. Revered as a national treasure of Tianzhu, the incident has drawn serious attention from Tianzhu authorities, who have ordered security agencies to form an investigative task force.] [Curiosities of the World: The Loch Ness Monster has been sighted once again. A hiker posted photographs, preliminarily estimating its length to be at least a hundred meters. Subsequent expert analysis confirmed all photos showed obvious signs of digital manipulation, and the individual responsible has issued an apology.] [Financial Weekly: Recently, a mysterious tycoon in Shanghai has been heavily offloading stocks and real estate, cashing out nearly ten billion yuan, with sales still ongoing. Financial experts state that domestic economic trends remain stable and positive in the short term, warning that this move will cost him at least several hundred million over the next six months.] ... July 18, 2025. A private dock in Shanghai. Lu Yuan scrolled through the news stories on his phone with an impassive look. "Just about time." Lu Yuan locked his phone, pulled out a pair of binoculars, and peered out into the distance. Right now, out on the distant horizon, a ferry was slowly coming into view. It carried only a single shipping container. Looking closely, one could see the container was covered with security seals, clearly holding something exceptionally precious. Half an hour later, the ferry sailed in, dropped anchor, and berthed steadily at the pier. Soon, dozens of men dressed in black suits and sunglasses walked down the gangway. Leading them was a tall, burly bald man with thick muscles. A black centipede tattoo ran from his neck up onto his face, and his eyes held a chilly gleam. Just standing there, he exuded an intense, oppressive presence. The bald man approached and took off his sunglasses. "President Lu, this job nearly cost me several good brothers. When can we expect the final payment?" "Half an hour at most," Lu Yuan replied with a calm smile. He continued, "The Centipede Syndicate has an international reputation. Who would dare welsh on your debt?" The bald man looked at the young man who was clearly only in his early twenties and nodded. "With President Lu's word, I can rest easy. In that case, come aboard with me to inspect the goods first. If there are no issues, we'll unload." "Alright," Lu Yuan agreed. The two boarded the ship. The seals on the container were torn away, and with a screech of grinding metal, the heavy doors swung open. Inside lay an ancient tree, uprooted whole, measuring at least ten meters in length. Its roots, branches, and lush green leaves looked as though it had only just been dug up. Yet right now, it lay peacefully within the container. Seeing it, the bald man sighed in wonder. "I really don't get what you rich folks are thinking—spending so much money just for a damn tree." Hearing this, Lu Yuan gently shook his head. "This isn't an ordinary tree. It's the Ancient Bodhi Tree beneath which the Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment." Indeed. The theft of Tianzhu's national treasure, the Ancient Bodhi Tree, had been orchestrated by him! The bald man beside Lu Yuan was none other than the leader of one of the world's top three thief syndicates, known as the Thousand-Legged Centipede. Rumor had it that so long as the price was right, there was nothing he couldn't acquire. To pull off this job, Lu Yuan had spent nearly a hundred million yuan from start to finish. Yet as long as the prize was in his hands, it was all worth it in his eyes. Because he was a reincarnator. In his memories, just over two months from now—on the evening of September 1, 2025—a global cataclysm would unfold. Myths and legends would descend upon the earth, bringing forth endless tides of demonic beasts and spirits. A new era would dawn! When that time came, the world would no longer be ruled by money, but by the law of the jungle, where the strong reigned supreme. Some would awaken, gaining thunder-forged physiques capable of commanding lightning; some would experience ancestral bloodline awakenings, possessing peerless talent; others would sprout wings from their backs, soaring through the heavens. At that very moment, the Ancient Bodhi Tree would transform into a supreme divine artifact. Once refined, it could multiply one's innate talent hundreds of millions of times over, instantly turning mediocrity into peerless genius. The benefits were beyond imagination; in comparison, a hundred million yuan was less valuable than scrap paper! In his previous life, Lu Yuan had learned about it too late, lagging behind every step of the way. Ultimately unable to keep pace with the new era, he was slain, his blood staining the earth. But in this life... Lu Yuan had been reborn three months before the cataclysm, given a second chance. He would lay out his plans for the future before the global mutation occurred! In this life, he would stay ahead of everyone! In this life, he would ascend to the absolute peak! "Whatever kind of tree it is, money's the only thing that matters." Ignorant of Lu Yuan's thoughts, the bald man waved a hand dismissively. "Since President Lu has confirmed everything is in order, can we unload now?" "Go ahead." Naturally, Lu Yuan wouldn't explain. He smiled and walked down the gangway. Before long, the container holding the Ancient Bodhi Tree was unloaded and secured onto a truck. Lu Yuan had prepared the truck long in advance. There was no hired driver; he would drive it himself. To prevent any mishaps or prying eyes, Lu Yuan had done extensive preparation—such as purchasing this private dock not long ago and dismantling every single surveillance camera in advance. After all, this item was unlike any other. It was a national treasure of Tianzhu steeped in myth and legend. Even with Lu Yuan's current wealth, getting caught with it would be catastrophic. As for the bald man and his crew, their entire livelihood was illegal; naturally, they would never utter a word. "The final balance cleared." Checking the balance on his phone, the bald man broke into a wide grin. "It's been a real pleasure working with you, President Lu. If you ever need anything else, just say the word." Although the Ancient Bodhi Tree was a national treasure, the Tianzhu authorities hadn't put much security in place. After all, who could have imagined anyone would target a tree? For the Centipede Syndicate, strange as the job seemed, it had been easy work and immensely lucrative. He secretly wished Lu Yuan would lose his mind and hire them several more times. As for claiming he'd nearly lost several brothers earlier, that had just been banter. "Definitely," Lu Yuan smiled, shook hands with him, and climbed straight into the truck cabin, starting the engine and driving out of the port. The bald leader and the members of the Centipede Syndicate didn't linger either, leaving shortly after. Late at night. In northern Shanghai lay a sprawling mountain forest, rarely visited by people. Yet at its heart stood a three-story villa. Inside, it was brightly lit and luxuriously decorated. Outside, a towering, solid perimeter wall rose several dozen meters high, enclosing the entire villa so that not a single beam of light could escape, lending the place an air of mystery. Having toiled the entire day, an exhausted Lu Yuan sank into a chair in the first-floor lounge. He casually poured himself a glass of red wine, then turned his gaze toward the courtyard outside. Out there, the Ancient Bodhi Tree transported from the docks had already been planted. He had soaked the surrounding soil with water to keep it moist. Lu Yuan knew full well that this tree could survive for thousands of years, and nothing would happen to it even without such pampering. Still, guided by the principle of utmost caution, he wanted to leave nothing to chance. Ring, ring, ring. Right then, Lu Yuan's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and saw an overseas number on the screen.