We bear people have power

The Green Ox Demon proposed two solutions: one was to rescue Lingxiu directly, and the other was to have Lingxiu refine the Fusang Divine Tree into an external avatar.

"I wonder what price we'll have to pay if we choose the second option?" Nie Shuhuan asked.

Before the Green Ox Demon could answer, the leaves of the Divine Tree trembled, vibrating the air and emitting a melodious voice: "No matter the cost, I cannot sever my connection with the Divine Tree. After I retrieve those three types of rice, I still need the power of the Divine Tree to develop hybrid rice. In any case, I cannot watch the country that Guan Bo built be destroyed because of me. At worst, I will never come out again."

Although it was still a little girl's voice, these words were spoken with absolute certainty, and it was clear at a glance that they were the result of careful consideration, leaving no room for negotiation.

Nie Shuhuan fell silent for a moment, realizing that he could no longer do without the help of the Fusang Divine Tree.

The Green Ox Demon praised, "This girl has some tenacity, which will save me some trouble. Let me tell you, the most precious thing about this Fusang Divine Tree is this layer of veins. Any kind of wood-type spiritual energy in the world can be analyzed, crushed, and recombined through this layer of veins."

"Therefore, it is neither difficult nor difficult to cultivate the divine tree into an external avatar. As long as this layer of veins is engraved on one's body, one can achieve a connection with the divine tree and the avatar will be formed on its own. However, this method of engraving the veins is comparable to the torture of hell, and most people cannot endure it. But I see that the young lady has a firm will and great perseverance, so she should be able to do it."

Nie Shuhuan listened but couldn't offer any advice. He could only relay the situation truthfully to Wu Meiniang. After all, Lingxiu was Wu Meiniang's disciple, and with Guan Bo gone, Wu Meiniang was Lingxiu's only elder.

As a result, Wu Meiniang only sent back a message: "Lingxiu shall make all the decisions herself."

With this permission granted, Lingxiu naturally agreed to the Green Ox Demon's suggestion immediately.

The Green Ox Demon didn't mention the reward at this point, and simply dismissed all the other people.

"The saying goes, 'The Dharma must not be passed on to six ears.' This method of refining the divine tree, once it comes out of my mouth and into your ears, must not be revealed without my permission. Even if your Bodhi Patriarch of Fangcun Mountain asks, you cannot pass it on. Is that possible?" the Green Ox Demon asked.

"I will obey your orders and will never reveal this to anyone," Lingxiu replied.

"Since that's the case, I should remind you that if you can't take it later, just say so. Although having an external avatar is good, if you can't withstand it, your soul will shatter, and you won't even be able to enter the cycle of reincarnation."

"I'm sure I can do it, please guide me, Great Immortal," Lingxiu insisted.

Upon hearing Lingxiu's response, the Green Ox Demon didn't waste any more words and quickly transmitted a mystical incantation into the divine tree.

Soon, the green veins of the Fusang Divine Tree began to flicker and change. Like the neon lights of a modern city, it first dimmed slowly, then gradually brightened, but later it began to flash directly.

With a series of cracking sounds, several cracks appeared on the trunk of the Fusang Divine Tree, which was as hard as steel. However, what flowed out was not tree sap, but thick blood.

This is the blood of a spirited person.

The Green Ox Demon seemed about to speak up and stop Lingxiu.

This secret method is extremely effective, but the side effects are also severe. Judging from the terrifying amount of bleeding, the girl's entire body is probably covered in blood.

But the next moment, the green veins on the divine tree lit up again, emitting a light so bright it was blinding. Then, a large gash opened in the trunk, spitting out the blood-soaked Lingxiu.

The Green Ox Demon quickly took it, and saw that the little girl's skin was covered with dense veins, and countless drops of blood were seeping from these inscriptions.

After the divine tree exhaled its spiritual essence, the crack healed, and the green veins dimmed.

Instead, the markings on Lingxiu's body that resembled her veins began to glow and shine, turning her entire body green.

As the runes on Lingxiu's body lit up, the divine tree dimmed, and when the divine tree lit up, Lingxiu's body dimmed. This repeated dozens of times until the rhythm of light and darkness gradually synchronized, like human breathing, responding to each other.

Lingxiu opened her eyes and weakly asked, "Did I succeed?"

The Green Ox Demon placed a pill into Lingxiu's mouth and used his magic to help her swallow it. This was a healing elixir refined by Laozi, a supreme elixir capable of bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones.

The medicine spread throughout her body, and the bloodstains on Lingxiu's body seeped back into her skin as if they had never flowed out.

The markings on Lingxiu's body gradually faded, restoring her to her normal skin color. However, the light from the divine tree continued to flicker with Lingxiu's breath, as if in resonance.

Seeing this, the Green Ox Demon said to Lingxiu, "That's right, you've succeeded. This Fusang Divine Tree is now your external avatar. Just rest for a while, and then sit under the tree every day to breathe in spiritual energy. In less than three months, this external avatar will be fully formed."

"Really? That's wonderful. Guan Bo will be so happy to be back." Ling Xiu said this before completely fainting.

The Green Ox Demon was speechless for a moment, very curious about who this Guan Bo really was. Lingxiu was a human form transformed from the Dew of the Willow Branch, possessing unparalleled talent, and her cultivation of wood-attribute spiritual energy was progressing by leaps and bounds. Now, with the Fusang Divine Tree as an avatar, given time, she would become another Great Sage of the demon race.

Although plants and trees that become spirits are not necessarily good at fighting, with the Fusang Divine Tree in her possession, the number of people in the world who can harm her can be counted on one hand.

Guan Bo was quite lucky to have such a helper for free. However, the Green Ox Demon wasn't jealous; he was someone who ate elixirs to the point of vomiting, and no one could compare to his extravagance.

Carrying Lingxiu out of the barrier, the Green Ox Demon handed her over to Nie Shuhuan, saying, "This little girl is exhausted; she just needs a rest. But now that the deed is done, my reward can't be less."

Nie Shuhuan quickly asked, "I wonder what reward the immortal requires? As long as it can be done, my Great Zhou Kingdom will certainly not be stingy."

"My request isn't high. Once this young girl has completely refined the Fusang Divine Tree into her incarnation, you only need to offer me ten leaves from the Fusang Divine Tree every year," said the Green Ox Demon.

Nie Shuhuan was a little surprised. It wasn't as simple as the Green Ox Demon's requirement: ten leaves a year. Even if Nie Shuhuan didn't understand wood-type cultivation, he knew that this was nothing.

"In this world, if I want something, I can just exchange it for elixirs. So I'm not really lacking in treasures. It's just that the Fusang Divine Tree is too rare, and I had nowhere to exchange it before. I only want these leaves to decorate the Tushita Palace and plant some grass and trees in my spare time, that's all," the Green Ox Demon explained.

Hearing this, Nie Shuhuan finally felt relieved.

He glanced down at the little girl in his arms and thought: Uncle-Master, please come back soon, Lingxiu has grown up.