Hearing Shi Hao’s words, the Willow God was left speechless.
“I’ll send you back. Let the villagers get you some beast milk,” the Willow God said, preparing to send Shi Hao away.
“No! I am the Supreme Immortal Emperor. How can I drink such unnutritious beast milk? I’ve only just been born, and I need to build a supreme foundation. You wouldn’t want me to have a poor foundation, would you, Willow God? For the sake of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, and all future living beings, I can only trouble you.”
“I know you can manifest a human form, so please feed me,” Shi Hao said shamelessly, stating his desire.
The nourishment of an Immortal King Giant was far better than any spirit liquid.
If he could be personally fed by the Willow God, his future cultivation would be infinitely easier.
Hearing Shi Hao’s shameless words, the Willow God stared at him, her gaze fixed.
For some reason, she felt that Shi Hao was very different from the youth she had glimpsed in the future, the one who bore the burden of all living beings on his back.
However, recalling Shi Hao’s previous words and the image of that youth from the future, the Willow God thought it over and finally sighed.
Hearing the Willow God’s sigh…
Shi Hao watched as the willow branches parted like curtains, and a figure stepped out of the light.
She walked barefoot, her toes untouched by dust.
Her skirt, woven from ten million willow leaves, rippled with every step, as if she wore a pool of spring water.
Her eyebrows were like distant, mist-shrouded mountains, yet her eyes held the primordial azure of the dawn of chaos.
A faint golden mark at the corner of her eye resembled a seal personally inscribed by an ancient deity.
“I always feel you’re doing this on purpose,” Willow God’s voice was soft and enchanting.
“But if it’s you, I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”
An hour later, Willow God saw Shi Hao off, his face filled with reluctance.
She had finally realized that Shi Hao was deliberately letting her nourish him.
This left her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
After Shi Hao left, Willow God returned to her original form.
She discovered that after nourishing Shi Hao, her charred body had suddenly burst into new spring growth, sprouting several tender green branches.
This further convinced her of the truth in Shi Hao’s words.
And so, Shi Hao settled in Stone Village.
Under Willow God’s guidance, he grew at an astonishing rate.
By the age of one, he had already reached the Blood-Moving Realm.
Such rapid progress was, of course, due in no small part to Willow God’s nourishment.
Caring for Shi Hao became the Willow God’s primary task, as she had to nourish him at least four times a day.
Under her nourishment, Shi Hao’s progress was astonishing.
Meanwhile, the Willow God herself reaped many benefits from nourishing him.
Her scorched, stump-like body had transformed, regrowing into a towering willow tree over ten meters tall.
Three thousand willow branches cascaded down, her restored strength on full display.
Another four years passed.
One day, Shi Hao rose from the Willow God’s embrace, feeling his body had reached its limit.
“Willow God, I’m about to break through to the Cave Heaven Realm,” he declared, beginning his breakthrough right beside her.
The Willow God adjusted her robes and watched him, her presence a protective shield.
She was ready to intervene the moment anything went wrong.
Over these five years, she had developed a unique bond with Shi Hao.
Whether for the sake of all living beings or for her own reasons, she could not let any harm befall him.
Before long, Shi Hao successfully opened his Cave Heavens—not just one, but five in a single breath.
Even the Willow God was stunned.
*Accumulated strength, unleashed in an instant?* Though surprised, she quickly found it logical, remembering how he had grown under her constant nourishment each day.
After successfully breaking through, Shi Hao turned to the Willow God and immediately threw himself into her embrace.
The Willow God could only hold him helplessly.
The day after advancing to the Cave Heaven Realm, Shi Hao began venturing deep into the Cangmang Mountain Range alone for training.
Relying on his Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body, Shi Hao rampaged through the mountains.
Many great demons fled at the mere sight of him.
*This damn kid is more ferocious than us,* they thought.
*Who is the real ferocious beast here?*
As night fell and he had his fill of fun, Shi Hao randomly selected a few “lucky” creatures, hoisted them over his shoulders, and returned to Stone Village.
“Grandpa Shi, here’s today’s food. Distribute it to everyone. These bones might contain a Treasure Technique, so I’ll leave that to your judgment,” Shi Hao said, setting down his haul before bidding farewell to Shi Yunfeng and the villagers.
After a quick bath, he hurried to the village entrance.
Seeing Shi Hao, several tender green branches reached out, wrapped around him, and lifted him into the tree.
Soon, Shi Hao saw the voluptuous and gentle Willow God.
He immediately rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly.
The Willow God helplessly held him to keep him from falling, though she knew he wouldn’t.
Perhaps after nurturing Shi Hao for five years, her maternal instincts had awakened, causing her to unconsciously treat him as her own child.
She responded to Shi Hao’s coquettishness with nothing but gentleness.
After advancing to the Cave Heaven Realm, Willow God began to instruct Shi Hao more strictly.
By day, she would take him out to find various fierce beasts for training; by night, she assumed the role of a gentle mother.
Time flew.
Another five years passed.
The once small child had grown into a budding adolescent.
Thanks to Willow God’s continuous nurturing over these ten-odd years, Shi Hao’s Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body had reached preliminary success.
When he was one year old, he had discovered that his constitution was actually the Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body—a colossal surprise.
*With this constitution, I feel even more confident in front of Willow God.
The Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body… it’s a constitution as powerful as the Chaos Body.*
After learning he possessed the Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body, Shi Hao told Willow God about his unique constitution.
Faced with Shi Hao using his Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body as an excuse, Willow God had no choice but to nurture him four to five times a day.
And this nurturing went on for a full ten years.
Under her meticulous care, Shi Hao’s strength advanced from the Cave Heaven Realm to the Inscription Realm.
Yes, the ten-year-old Shi Hao had already reached the Inscription Realm.
His Cave Heavens had also achieved the Ten Caves and One, and the Spirit Transformation Realm was the easiest realm of all.
Nurtured by the Willow God for ten years, Shi Hao’s physical body could be described as the most perfect body, let alone that it was the Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body.
“Shi Hao, you have now reached the Inscription Realm. It is time to find a suitable Treasure Technique.”
The Willow God gently pushed Shi Hao out of her embrace and began to discuss the plan for his next steps.
“I don’t really need Treasure Techniques. My physique is enough to support me to the Supreme Realm. My body is the strongest Treasure Technique. I have also preliminarily mastered your Willow God Method. I don’t think anyone can withstand my physical attacks.” After being pushed away, Shi Hao snuggled back into the Willow God’s embrace.
Seeing Shi Hao return, the Willow God showed a helpless expression.
“Even if that is the case, you still need to find something to do. You are already ten years old, you have grown up, and you cannot keep clinging to my embrace every day.”
“I have decided. Starting tomorrow, we will be separated.” The Willow God feared that if she did not make a firm decision, she would sink into Shi Hao’s coquetry.
For Shi Hao’s growth, and for herself, she had to put an end to Shi Hao’s ideas.
Moreover, Shi Hao was already ten years old, having grown from a child into a green youth, with a height that had already reached 1.7 meters.
He was only ten years old.
In a few more years, he would probably be as tall as she was.
When Willow God announced the end of his “food rations,” Shi Hao cried out in protest, hugging her tightly and acting spoiled.
He knew this trick always worked.
But as he clung to her, Willow God only shook her head.
Seeing her resolve, Shi Hao realized his days as a little child were over.
“Alright, I understand, Willow God,” he promised.
“Starting tomorrow, I won’t cling to you anymore.”
Hearing his answer, Willow God smiled happily.
But the next day, as she looked at Shi Hao still nestled in her arms, Willow God sighed and looked up.
“Shi Hao, you promised me yesterday…”
“Yesterday was yesterday, and today is today,” a spoiled voice murmured from her embrace.
“It’s all Willow God’s fault for being so beautiful.”
Willow God didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
With a single line—*It’s all Willow God’s fault*—Shi Hao had successfully renewed his “contract,” allowing him to keep monopolizing her gentle embrace.
(End of Chapter)