In the sprawling universe of Battle Through the Heavens (斗破苍穹), certain legendary artifacts hold the power to reshape destinies. Among these, the Bodhi Tree stands as a monumental mystery. Appearing once every millennium, this ancient entity, also known as the Tree of Wisdom and Reincarnation, unleashes chaos across the continent as even the mightiest masters, the Dou Saints, fight and fall for its blessings.
Yet, a puzzling question remains: why have the eight most powerful ancient clans, with their vast resources and influence, never joined forces to claim this divine tree for themselves? The answer lies not in a lack of power, but in the intricate and fragile web of ambition, fear, and self-interest that defines their world.
A Fragile Alliance
The deep-seated rivalries among the ancient clans make any lasting alliance impossible. We see this clearly with another legendary artifact, the Tuo She (陀舍) Ancient Emperor Jade. This key to an emperor's tomb holds secrets to reaching the pinnacle of power, the Dou Emperor rank. Instead of cooperating to use it, the clans chose to split the jade into fragments, each guarding their piece with paranoid secrecy. This arrangement reveals a fundamental truth: when every faction dreams of absolute supremacy, trust becomes their greatest weakness. Collaboration is just a temporary pause in their eternal struggle for dominance.
This dynamic of distrust directly applies to the Bodhi Tree. The tree offers three legendary treasures: the Bodhi Seed, the Bodhi Heart, and the chance for enlightenment beneath its branches. While the seeds might be divided, the Heart appears only once, and the enlightenment is a unique, intangible experience. How could such prizes be split evenly among eight jealous clans? The chance to gain a Dou Saint, or even a hint of the Dou Emperor realm, is a winner-takes-all opportunity. Attempting to share it would inevitably lead to betrayal and internal war the moment the tree appeared.
For them, a temporary truce is not worth the risk. The potential reward of the Bodhi Tree is immense, but it is also a one-time trigger for conflict. It is far safer to maintain their cold war and occasionally fight over the tree when it emerges, than to form a brittle alliance that would certainly shatter, potentially causing catastrophic damage to their own forces in the process.
The Tree's Own Power
It is a grave mistake to think of the Bodhi Tree as a passive resource waiting to be harvested. This is no ordinary plant; it is a sentient being of immense spiritual power, with a will of its own. Historical records within their world suggest it participated in battles at the Dou Emperor level in ancient times. Though it was wounded, its foundational strength remains terrifyingly close to that supreme rank. It is a force of nature, not a piece of treasure.
The tree possesses a formidable defense mechanism: the ability to create powerful illusions. Any coordinated attack by the clans would be met with a mental assault that could trap half of their forces in debilitating illusion. Worse still, legends say it can turn trapped attackers into puppets, forcing them to turn their weapons on their own allies. An assault on the tree would not be a simple siege; it would be a chaotic battle where friend and foe become indistinguishable.
Furthermore, the Bodhi Tree embodies a "rather be jade broken than tile intact" philosophy. If faced with the certainty of capture and enslavement, it would not hesitate to destroy its own spiritual core. The clans would be left with nothing but ashes, having sacrificed their strongest fighters for no gain. This inherent risk makes any plan for permanent occupation a potentially suicidal venture.
A Question of Need
For the ancient clans, the allure of the Bodhi Tree is powerful, but not entirely irreplaceable. They are not desperate. Each clan possesses profound ancient heritage, secret techniques, and unique resources that allow them to cultivate Dou Saints through their own means. The Bodhi Heart might offer a shortcut, but it is not the only path to power for these established empires.
The other treasures also have their limitations. The Bodhi Seed only increases the probability of a breakthrough; it is not a guarantee. As for the legendary enlightenment under the tree, before Xiao Yan's (萧炎) experience, its true value was unproven and shrouded in myth. For clans that think in terms of centuries and generations, betting everything on a single, risky chance is poor strategy.
This contrasts sharply with a place like the Heavenly Tomb (天墓). The clans successfully manage this trial ground because it provides a stable, recurring, and shareable benefit. It is a sustainable resource. The Bodhi Tree, with its thousand-year cycles and winner-takes-all rewards, is the opposite. It is a catalyst for conflict, not a foundation for cooperation.
Ultimately, the clans' decision to not seize the tree is a cold, calculated choice. They have weighed the immense risks of internal conflict and the tree's own retaliatory power against the uncertain and non-essential rewards. In the grand chessboard of the Dou Qi continent, even a divine entity must bow to the relentless logic of survival and long-term ambition.
