"What exactly is this thing?"

Shen Xun shielded her behind him and said to her, "The needles of the tree fir are leaves that grow on the divine tree. They absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth all year round and have great destructive power."

There was a rustling sound all around, and Qinghe could barely hear what he was saying. After a two-second pause, he asked, "Then why did it attack us?"

Shen Xun manipulated the lotus to dodge the flying needles. "This is a warning from the divine tree. It will activate its security measures when it senses any threatening outsiders, forcing us to retreat."

Qinghe peeked ahead and saw Lingxi advancing slowly and steadily at a distance of not too far, the flying needles seemingly avoiding her.

When will they stop?

Shen Xun's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze unfathomable. The flying needles reflected in his eyes, gleaming with golden light, and golden runes flickered faintly deep within his pupils.

A flying needle, shaped like a leaf, hovered less than an inch in front of him, with clearly visible patterns, but with a faint golden hue.

Its needle body swayed, blocked by the golden light in Shen Xun's pupils, unable to move forward for even a moment.

It stopped attacking in a moment, its power gradually diminished, and the rustling wind seemed to be a soft murmur, communicating with Shen Xun.

After a moment, the flying needles attacking it from all around stopped, and after a brief pause, they turned back and returned along the same path until they disappeared.

Qing asked incredulously, "You can control them?"

Shen Xun chuckled and said, "It's just to tell them that we are not bad people and will not harm the divine tree."

Qinghe looked at him intently, "I'm becoming more and more curious about your identity."

Shen Xunxu coughed and silently turned his head back.

The surroundings returned to calm, and the lotus beneath my feet moved steadily and slowly, gradually approaching the white light at the end.

Lingxi stopped at some point, looking at the white light in front of her. She placed her fair fingers on it, and the surrounding mist gradually dissipated until its true form was revealed.

It turned out that this white light was a natural barrier, impervious to water and fire, and unknown to human affairs, keeping all worldly matters outside the barrier.

Qing and Shenxun do not belong to the realm of gods, so they are not qualified to enter. The only one who can open the barrier is the goddess Lingxi who guards it.

Lingxi clasped her hands together, her fingertips twirling in a complex gesture, spiritual energy surging from her fingertips and forming a special symbol on the barrier.

"It's an old friend. Come in."

A solemn and deep voice came from the other side of the barrier. Then, as if being corroded, the barrier disappeared completely from top to bottom, gradually opening a door.

Lingxi went in first, then turned back to signal the other two to follow.

The space inside was completely different from the outside, ancient and solemn, yet full of vitality, as if one were in the universe, with stars scattered everywhere and the sun and moon rising together. At the center point between the sun and the moon, there stood a huge tree that reached straight to the sky, with a thick trunk, deep roots, and many branches and leaves. It was the tree fir needle that had attacked them before.

The appearance of the divine tree was largely the same as what Qinghe had seen in his dream. The spirits on the tree were pure white, but bright red blood flowed from the trunk.

The surroundings were clean and dust-free, with nothing but thick, long tree roots.

Qing looked around but couldn't find the tree coffin.

That deep voice rang out again, sounding like a call from ancient times, "Ke Yao, how long has it been since you last came?"

Lingxi stepped forward and said, "It's been a hundred years, hasn't it?"

The deep, resonant voice transcended time, recalling: "A hundred years ago, I remember you came to see me and told me that you had fallen in love with someone and wanted to marry him and live an ordinary life. How did things turn out like this?"

Lingxi lowered her head, her expression somewhat saddened. "It's all in the past, let's not talk about it. I just feel very sorry for you. Because of my selfish desires, I made you spend a hundred years in loneliness."

The divine tree said, "It's nothing, just a hundred years is nothing to me, just a drop in the ocean."

It shook its trunk, the wind rustling the leaves, and its spirit uttered shrill cries, like the wailing of a baby.

The needles of the tree fir flew out from the top of the tree, swirled and danced in the air, and slowly formed a human shape, standing in front of everyone.

The person formed from the leaves is not frightening at all; on the contrary, he exudes a kind and peaceful aura. He truly deserves to be called an ancient divine tree, possessing great love and an enduring Daoist heart.

He tilted his head to look behind Lingxi and asked, "Are these two your friends?"

Lingxi smiled and said, "It was just a brief encounter; they asked me to come find you."

The Divine Tree: "Oh? What do you want with me?"

As it spoke, it walked up to the two of them. Its body, made of leaves, had no facial features, yet it gave off an undeniable illusion.

He scrutinized the two of them from head to toe. The girl wasn't anything special, but the man next to her...

His aura was restrained, his spirit extraordinary, and there was a sense of familiarity in his every breath.

Qinghe bowed respectfully and said, "I am looking for someone named Qi Rong, dressed in red, who is my husband."

Shen Xun's amused gaze fell on her: You really don't mince words.

The sacred tree scrutinized her, its two hollow eyes, like tree holes, deep and unfathomable.

Qinghe remained calm and composed, but inwardly he muttered that it felt strange to be watched by a tree-man.

How did you know he was here?

Qinghe raised an eyebrow, realizing from these words that Qi Rong was indeed here.

“He appeared to me in a dream and said he missed me, so I came.”

Shen Xun: ...Showing off your love will lead to a quick death.

Lingxi's eyes were filled with tenderness, as if she were recalling something sad.

The divine tree, however, showed no expression; its face, composed of leaves, revealed no emotion whatsoever.

He strolled along leisurely with his hands behind his back, and asked Qinghe, "Do you have any proof?"

Qinghe thought for a moment, then raised her hand to reveal the bracelet on her wrist.

The divine tree looked at the bracelet. "It is indeed his. This bracelet is an important item that he condensed with his soul fire. He would not give it to anyone who is not important."

He then looked at Qinghe and said, "I'll take you to see him."

He led the three to the tree, waved his hand to open the door on the trunk leading to another dimension, and white light enveloped everyone, instantly sucking them in.

In the vast, empty space, the only thing in sight was a tree coffin, inside which lay the handsome Qi Rong, dressed in red, peacefully.

Around the tree coffin, countless slender tree roots stretched into Qi Rong's body, and bright red blood was continuously poured into it, making the whole scene resemble the blood transfusion tubes used in modern society when performing surgery on patients.

Qinghe rushed to the tree coffin in two strides. Qi Rong inside the coffin had a rosy complexion and did not look like she was on the verge of death at all.

Qinghe stared intently at Qirong, her eyes as tender and gentle as ice melting into water.

Looking at the perfect couple, Lingxi said softly, "The power of love is always strong. I think Qirong will wake up."

The three of them watched this touching scene together.

Qing stroked Qi Rong's black hair, revealing her pointed ears that were previously hidden by the hair.

For a moment, Qinghe was in a daze. His hand slowly slid down and touched the soft ear. He jolted and stood up abruptly.

Red dress, pointed ears—she should have expected it.

Qi Rong's appearance was so similar to that of the long-lost little red fox.

Now that she thinks back on it carefully, she realized that the little fox disappeared when Qi Rong appeared, and the little fox appeared just as Qi Rong was leaving. Such suspicious behavior was something she only just figured out.

It was truly...unexpected and a pleasant surprise.