In contrast, Brother Jiu's expression was bizarre. It was a mix of wanting to stop yet being reluctant, wanting to speak yet hesitating. A hint of regret flickered in his eyes, and hidden within that regret was a touch of enjoyment... He looked like someone who had just indulged in some private 'crafty handiwork.'

Perhaps noticing Wang Mu, Brother Jiu's expression suddenly changed. He smiled and said, "Boy, what is this..."

"Sea Granny wants me to take Little Xi as my adopted younger sister... to obtain the Blue Sea Tide," Wang Mu said. "I couldn't refuse, so I had to accept."

Brother Jiu nodded in sudden realization. He then smiled mirthfully as he watched Wang Mu and Little Jiao Huo walk up to the Changqing Tree.

"That little sister, she doesn't look like she's from the Human Clan," Qing Yuan remarked from the side.

"She's from the Merfolk Clan of the Glazed Lake in the Huangtian Continent," Brother Jiu chuckled.

"A Water Clan Spirit?" Qing Yuan exclaimed. "They're also considered an Ancient Clan like ours, just aquatic. Taking her as an adopted younger sister... I've never heard of anyone coming to the Changqing Tree to do such a thing."

"But this junior brother of yours... I feel like he's missing something. Does he even have feelings for that little Merfolk sister?"

Brother Jiu shook his head. With the Supreme Sword Heart summoned by severing emotions, he feared he had lost all sorts of feelings. How could he possibly develop feelings for the little Merfolk sister?

"If not, how can they establish a romantic destiny for the next life?" Qing Yuan asked.

Brother Jiu just smiled without saying a word. Who says one can't form a romantic bond without feelings...?

「Under the Changqing Tree.」

"Wang Mu, are we going under that big tree?" Little Jiao Huo asked. "I heard from people here that if you make a wish under this big tree, you can meet again in the next life."

"Yes, you could understand it that way," Wang Mu said. This little girl might grasp a bit, but not much. What could she understand about love? Her older sister's generation, on the other hand, would know.

"Then I want to meet Wang Mu in the next life too!" Little Jiao Huo giggled.

"..." Wang Mu.

He glared at Little Jiao Huo and said, "Alright, then I'll come to Yunlai Creek to fish for you in the next life."

Little Jiao Huo chuckled naively.

"Are the two of you a Taoist couple?"

As they approached the Changqing Tree, a Green Fox Clan girl weaving bracelets looked up at them.

"Fellow Taoist Wang?" the girl exclaimed in surprise.

"Fellow Taoist Hu?" Wang Mu also glanced at the girl.

"You actually came here?" The girl was indeed Hu Yu'er, but she looked somewhat haggard. She was currently under the Changqing Tree, guiding the couples who came and went.

Wang Mu nodded and exchanged a few brief words.

Hu Yu'er glanced at Little Jiao Huo, hesitating. This little sister doesn't seem to be the one whose marital Qi Fortune appeared with Fellow Taoist Wang back then, does she? What a scummy Cultivator! She remembered the Magpie Bridge Festival well; the heaven-matched, golden-consummate level of Qi Fortune. Especially that one from the match made in heaven—though unsightly, they were terrifying... a Cultivator at least at the Divinity Transformation realm or higher. With a Taoist couple of this caliber, he still dared to flirt around? For a moment, Hu Yu'er even felt a strange sense of admiration for him.

"Fellow Taoist Wang, your aura is quite strange..." Hu Yu'er said, scrutinizing Wang Mu.

She seemed to have discovered something and grew thoughtful.

"Here, these are your Blessing Grass Rings," Hu Yu'er said with a faint smile. "They are fashioned from Changqing Tree branches. Every visiting couple receives these. After putting on your Blessing Grass Rings, you can trigger an interaction with the Changqing Tree when you are beneath it."

"It will sense the connection between you two but will not pry into your memories. Please do not resist it."

Regarding others' romantic destinies, Hu Yu'er did not inquire too much.

"Besides, to forge a bond for the next life, you haven't even held hands," Hu Yu'er said. "That seems a bit inappropriate."

"..." Wang Mu.

After putting on the bracelets, Wang Mu took Little Jiao Huo's hand. It felt icy cool, like a piece of Water Jade. Otherwise, he felt no stirring in his heart...

Little Jiao Huo glanced at Hu Yu'er. This big sister seems to know a lot.

Hu Yu'er winked at her.

Little Jiao Huo's face turned red. She lowered her head, her heart pounding like a frightened deer. Hand-in-hand with Wang Mu, she came to stand beneath the Changqing Tree.

"Changqing Tree..."

Wang Mu closed his eyes and faintly sensed.

His connection to nature activated.

"Eh, you human, you can actually sense me!"

An ancient voice slowly resonated in Wang Mu's Sea of Consciousness. It carried a hint of surprise.

The tree was speaking!

This legendary ancient tree of the Nine Provinces Cultivation World possessed spiritual wisdom surpassing that of humans; it was just that ordinary Cultivators couldn't communicate with it. Only the Green Fox Clan could communicate with it.

"Senior, I would like a blessing of the Blue Sea Tide..." Wang Mu transmitted via his Divine Sense. "Could you bestow it directly upon this little sister by my side?"

"You human Cultivator are rather direct," the Long-term Tree Spirit said lightly. "Everything proceeds according to the rules."

"..." Wang Mu.

So the deal failed. There was nothing to be done. After all, he didn't have much rapport with the Green Fox Clan, nor with this Changqing Tree.

Following the rules, Wang Mu held Little Jiao Huo's small hand. The Long Love Grass Rings on their wrists began to glow faintly.

The next moment, a light shone from between their joined palms, slowly ascending the pillar-like trunk of the Changqing Tree.

"OHH..." the Long-term Tree Spirit uttered, its voice melodious, as if sensing the emotions between the two.

"..." Wang Mu.

This Long-term Tree Spirit wasn't very proper. He was the only one who could sense this Tree Spirit.

"What a rare romantic destiny indeed..."

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