Chapter 27: Willow Deity, protect me now, and I will protect you in the future!

"Useful. This substance contains not only endless spiritual qi, but also the breath of celestial divinity permeating within. If I consume it, I shall surely benefit greatly."

Liu Shen's voice drifted slowly from the tree stump.

Her evaluation of this Sky-Reaching Creation Dew was quite high.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yunfeng and the others all showed expressions of joy.

Little Shi Hao was even so excited that he jumped up: "That's great, Liu Shen! Please, consume it quickly so your injuries can recover!"

Liu Shen did not speak, but instead waved a willow branch, circling it around Zhu Chen.

However, as that willow branch approached the bottle of Sky-Reaching Creation Dew, it suddenly came to a halt.

"What is it, Liu Shen? Is there something wrong with the Sky-Reaching Creation Dew?"

Zhu Chen asked with a frown, wondering if that old rogue Han Li had poisoned it.

"There is nothing wrong with this substance, but since it comes from your hands, if I consume it, I will inevitably form a profound karma with you..."

Liu Shen let out a sigh.

She was hesitating.

Not only did this Sky-Reaching Creation Dew possess a dense celestial aura, but it also carried a trace of Law power. If she consumed it, she wouldn't necessarily be fully healed, but she could certainly recover significantly.

But this thing was given by Zhu Chen.

She had already deduced that Zhu Chen did not belong to this world; his very existence was a variable for everyone in this world.

If she accepted something given by him, she would surely become entangled in karma with him.

To be entwined by karma is to be burdened by karmic obstacles.

In the future, it might be difficult for her to remain untainted.

Just as Liu Shen was hesitating, Zhu Chen suddenly stepped forward.

"Liu Shen, if this is useful to you, please take it. Any karma arising from this object can be placed entirely upon me."

—Boom!

The moment Zhu Chen spoke these words, an indescribable aura suddenly descended upon him from the depths of the void.

This aura coiled around his body, wrapping him tightly as if intending to leave a permanent mark upon him.

Zhu Chen knew this was the Will of the Great Dao of this world, the path cultivated by all cultivators in this realm.

If a cultivator of this realm made an oath with their Dao heart, or if they became involved in karma, they would attract its attention.

And his words just now—stating that he would take all the karma meant for Liu Shen upon himself—had already triggered the Will of the Great Dao.

However.

Just as that Great Dao aura was about to leave a Dao Mark on Zhu Chen and forcibly pour all the karma into him...

The tree stump that Liu Shen had transformed into suddenly erupted with a dazzling radiance.

Under the shroud of divine light, a layer of pale green divine glow gradually emerged on the surface of Zhu Chen's body.

The Great Dao aura was repelled.

Subsequently, Liu Shen's voice drifted from the tree stump once more: "I have received your kindness; how could I allow you to bear this karma? Very well. Since you were able to come here to find me, it must be the will of heaven in the unseen. Such karma, I shall accept..."

Today's cause, tomorrow's effect.

The fact that Liu Shen could say such words meant she had acknowledged Zhu Chen and was willing to tie this karmic thread to him.

As for what kind of tribulations this karma might bring in the future, it was not something she could consider at this moment.

Because that involved Zhu Chen's future.

And for a person who was himself a multitude of variables, no one could deduce his future—not even Liu Shen, who had once been a supreme Immortal King.

After drawing all the karma from Zhu Chen into her own body, Liu Shen used a willow branch to sweep the bottle of Sky-Reaching Creation Dew toward herself.

However, while taking the dew, she also gifted Zhu Chen a willow leaf that radiated bursts of life energy.

"Within this leaf lies a remnant of my will. Take it. If you encounter a powerful enemy in the future, you may use this leaf to avert calamity."

Hearing this, Zhu Chen's thoughts raced, and he quickly asked, "Liu Shen, how much of your peak cultivation can that remnant will within this willow leaf exert?"

"Across the Three Thousand States, throughout the world, no matter which orthodox lineage it may be, my will can settle the score."

Liu Shen's voice echoed slowly.

Although she did not explicitly state how strong the remnant will was, the weight of her words was more intimidating than any formal guarantee.

This was the first time Shi Yunfeng and the others had heard Liu Shen speak such words, and they were momentarily stunned.

They hadn't expected that this little fellow from the Fire Nation could earn such high regard from Liu Shen.

"Grandpa Patriarch, where are the Three Thousand States? Why have I never heard of them?"

Shi Hao asked curiously, looking at Shi Yunfeng with a hint of childishness in his voice.

Shi Yunfeng stroked his long beard thoughtfully before explaining, "They are likely the various city-states and tribes of this Desolate Region. Liu Shen's origins are mysterious; she is certainly not a creature of this Great Desolation, but must come from a world beyond it."

After speaking, he crouched down and gently patted Shi Hao's shoulder, encouraging him, "Little One, you have already undergone the baptism of the Suanni's essence blood. As long as you work hard in your cultivation, you will surely be able to walk out of this Desolate Region and carve out your own world in the outside lands."

Shi Yunfeng placed "high expectations" on Shi Hao, and Shi Hao nodded with a serious expression, indicating that he would definitely leave the Desolate Region to see the wider world.

Zhu Chen accepted the willow leaf gifted by Liu Shen.

He had not yet grown into his full strength; having the protection of a remnant will of a supreme Immortal King served as a valuable trump card.

However.

What he disliked most was owing people favors.

Especially if that favor was owed to his future wife.

Thus, after accepting the leaf, he immediately stepped forward, walked straight up to Liu Shen, and spoke heroically: "Liu Shen, I accept this gift, but I will not accept it for nothing. I promise you: once my cultivation is successful, no matter who it is in this world, if anyone dares to bully you, I will exterminate their entire clan and wipe out their whole lineage!"

The crowd looked at one another, their eyes filled with shock.

Everyone was stunned by Zhu Chen's words.

Wasn't this kid being too arrogant?

Who was Liu Shen?

She was the Ancestral Spirit of their Stone Village.

Last time in the Great Desolation, when Shi Hao and the others were attacked by the Spirit of Beibei Village, Liu Shen had struck from dozens of miles away and instantly killed that Spirit. Did she really need the protection of a brat like him?

The villagers of Stone Village all thought Zhu Chen was bragging.

Even Huo Ling'er thought so.

She guessed that Zhu Chen must have had his brain rattled when he was punched by Zhuan Yan last time; otherwise, how could he say something like that?

In the entire Stone Village, only little Shi Hao gazed at Zhu Chen's high-spirited back, his face filled with envy and longing.

Zhu Chen's actions had unintentionally ignited Shi Hao's desire to become stronger.

He felt that what Zhu Chen said made a lot of sense.

Liu Shen and the villagers of Stone Village could protect him for a time, but they could not protect him for a lifetime.

His future path had to be forged by himself.

He did not want to grow up forever under the protection of others.

He wanted to become strong—very, very strong—so that he could protect his family and friends.

If anyone dared to bully them, he would suppress them all!

...

(End of Chapter)