Perhaps one needs to take a chance outside.

This place seems full, like stray dogs on the roadside...

His eyes lit up.

He began to look forward to what he might witness in the Spiritual Fertility Hall.

At this moment.

The road ahead suddenly became rough and difficult to traverse, with what used to be a flat surface now scattered with stones, gradually forming an ascending staircase.

The steps were extremely steep.

Even for a mortal accustomed to mountain climbing and collecting herbs, it would likely feel perilous and challenging.

Li Ye trailed behind Senior Brother Ling, hopping step by step.

Soon enough.

The fog in front suddenly cleared.

A colossal willow tree appeared in his sight, towering so high it seemed to block out the sky.

The willow tree...

It had two different types of branches.

One type branched into five colors and hung densely downward, seemingly reaching into the foundation of this stone mountain, filled with surging Spiritual Qi.

The other type resembled the Immortal Ribbon Li Ye used when performing the Emotion Song, a light and nimble glow extending directly towards the near Heavenly Dome, seemingly absorbing some unique radiance.

Spiritual Qi from both heaven and earth rotated on its two types of willow branches, flowing freely with an indescribable vitality.

And it itself shone with a gray, chaotic Spiritual Light as if bearing the weight of heaven and earth.

Monumental and mysterious.

[Name]: Bearing Heaven and Earth

[Mood]: Cannot be observed directly

[Status]: A spiritual object born from a spiritual essence of a willow branch once used by an Ancient Great God to mold beings from clay.

A simple introduction.

Yet, complexity has its reasons, and simplicity has its reasons too.

Ancient Great Gods.

Molding beings from clay.

This must refer to the legendary Nuwa?

"Hmm?"

"Why do you look so entranced, young one?"

A voice suddenly emerged from the willow tree.

The voice was indistinctly male or female but very gentle.

Li Ye quickly snapped back to his senses.

He immediately clasped his hands and saluted, saying, "Disciple was momentarily astonished, hence lost composure, I ask the Ancestor to forgive me!"

"Heh."

"You must have glimpsed something just now."

"There is an indescribable destiny about you."

After the willow said this, Li Ye's expression didn't change much; he candidly admitted, "The disciple does indeed possess some destiny, but I sense a presence on the Ancestor that seems very close to the Five-Colored Stone."

One would think the willow would say nothing.

Yet, surprisingly, it directly replied:

"Molding beings from clay, mending the sky with stone."

"My ancestors received such a gift, barely forming a shape, and I am merely a child of the Bearing Heaven lineage."

After it finished speaking.

It paused, extending a willow branch.

"Use the wonderful method of viewing spirits to see what spirit patterns are within."

Upon hearing this.

Li Ye immediately began to use the wonderful method of viewing spirits to examine it.

But truthfully, it wasn't easy.

Even though the owner of this willow branch didn't reject his "peering," the difficulty was indeed not low; Li Ye had to muster all his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense to barely make out...

A pair of wings.

Specifically, wings resembling those he once saw at the East Pole Yang Sea, each feather flawless and pure, with a golden ripple at the tips.

He could barely perceive: that these wings seemed to carry the Spiritual Power of wind and sunlight, akin to the Golden Sand blood on Jiang Tingchao he harbored.

"What did you see?" the willow gently inquired.

"... I saw a pair of wings, seemingly with a trace of Golden Sand blood."

"This rune perhaps is..."

Li Ye extended a finger, drawing in front of him.

Strands of Spiritual Power formed slowly in the void from his fingertips — those wings were simple, yet complexly drawn in three strokes of runes.

The left and right lines depicted wind and sunlight, respectively.

The middle one was a special spirit pattern Li Ye couldn't understand.

When the three joined, the wings took form, floating mid-air, dazzling brightly.

"Not bad."

There was a hint of laughter in the willow's voice: "This Golden Sand spiritual wing rune is both the simplest and the most complex; being able to draw it earns you official eligibility in the Spiritual Fertility Hall.

Next, you need to carefully read these books.

In three days, you will undergo an examination.

If you pass, you will be able to engrave runes on spirit beasts and spirit plants by yourself, remember to select a life spirit pattern here.

Ling Xiao will inform you of the specifics.

Go now!"

The willow fell silent.

"Thank you, Ancestor!"

The Spiritual Mechanism Vine respectfully saluted the willow, then led Li Ye away.

On the way out, Li Ye glanced at the Jade Scrolls, finding them similar to the "Basic Spirit Pattern Primer" he'd seen before.

But categorized into two usage methods.

The first was naturally to inscribe the spirit pattern into the "essence" of the spirit plant or beast.

This method allowed the spirit pattern to perfectly merge with living beings, with time growing or undergoing miraculous changes, passed down through generations.

The second was to inscribe the spirit pattern on the surface or certain parts of the spirit beast or plant, activated by Spiritual Power when needed, temporarily acquiring the spirit pattern's power.

Commonly known as "transformation."

The reason the Bearing Heaven Willow used the "Golden Sand Spiritual Wing" spirit pattern to test Li Ye is precisely because this spirit pattern is typical, usable both externally and internally.

And once flight is mastered.

It would have a huge impact on the living environment, habits, and everything of spirit plants and beasts; nothing tests "change" better than flight.

Within the Four Seasons Sect, many birds once lived on land or even in waters, learning to fly using this rune, living in different places.

Developing many tribes.

Even adapting to environment changes, obtaining unique forms in certain regions.

"So my first lesson should be on this rune, right?"

Li Ye wasn't a fool.

He could guess what the following examination would entail for him.

Seeing him guess directly, Senior Brother Spiritual Mechanism Vine didn't hide it, nodding: "This is a necessary examination for all Spirit Plant Masters."

"Then, you must choose one from three random spirit plants or beasts to engrave this spirit pattern on the spot."

"Succeed, and you'll have the chance for deeper learning."

The Spiritual Mechanism Vine found nothing difficult about this.

Generally, if it can be perceived, it should pose no problem.

After all, the Spiritual Fertility Hall provides spirit plants and beasts devoid of spirituality and self-awareness; only after engraving and stabilizing, can they undergo "spiritual infusion."

Frankly speaking.

Without spirituality, it's like painting freely on white paper; if there is spirituality, it would be quite difficult.

But no one expected that Li Ye would seriously consider and inquire, "Can I use my Spirit Plant seed for engraving?"

"Huh?" Spiritual Mechanism Vine became immediately puzzled, questioning: "Your seed must be one with complete spirituality."

To change the examination is feasible.

The rules aren't so rigid, especially with the Phoenix Pure Land witnessed by Divine Snow True Man, an abode floating in the sky.

But the issue is.

This would certainly increase the examination's difficulty.

If Li Ye fails then, it could be troublesome.

"Yes."

Li Ye opened his palm.

In his palm floated a polished, glassy lotus seed.

It seemed as if one could glimpse a lotus blooming in the snow, alone and untouched by the world.

He gazed at the lotus seed, with a touch of sentimentality:

"I once had a Spirit Plant."

"Back then, I couldn't fulfill its wish."

"Now, I finally can."

This lotus seed was the original one that followed him, the seed of the Glazed Snow Lotus that yearned for a bird to carry it in flight.

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