The Withered Tree's Head, Yet a Thousand Trees Bloomed in Spring

The Desolate Heaven Alliance.

Ji Yuanqing led his clansmen to this place, and after announcing their arrival, they quickly entered the Alliance Hall.

"Senior, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Huo Ling'er asked with a smile, as they and Ji Yuanqing were already old friends.

Ji Yuanqing spoke up, saying:

"Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader! Our clan is safe and sound!"

"I have come today to request to join the Desolate Heaven Alliance!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Ling'er and Mu Qianning immediately exchanged a glance.

Mu Qianning asked in confusion, "Senior, why did you suddenly make this decision?"

They already knew that Ji Yuanqing's lineage was a branch of the Ji Clan!

The Ji family is an imperial clan; according to common sense, they should return to their Lineage.

Now, they've actually decided to join the Desolate Heaven Alliance?

Ji Yuanqing sighed deeply and said:

"Our Lineage won't tolerate us. We've already rebelled against the Ji family, and we have nowhere to go."

"Everything we have is a gift from Senior Li. From this day forward, we only wish to follow Senior Li and serve him!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Ling'er pondered for a moment.

"We should report this to Senior Li."

She spoke.

After all, this matter involves the imperial family!

"Sister Ling'er, let's go find Senior Li now!"

Mu Qianning stood up and spoke.

Small Mountain Village.

It was already dusk.

"I wonder what happened to Dade and the others..."

Li Fan sat under the peach tree, leisurely sipping his tea, quite looking forward to it!

After all, according to Huo Ling'er, once her White Tiger Roaring Sky Diagram was released, someone outside could paint a Qilin painting that could rival it!

I've also created a Kirin Emerging from the Valley Painting; I wonder if it can surpass the other's?

For the first time in many years, he felt a bit competitive and a little expectant!

After all, his various skills had previously been used only for his own amusement.

"Master, we're back."

At that moment, Wu Dade's voice rang out from outside the door.

Come in.

Li Fan immediately spoke up.

Wu Dade and Lin Jiuzheng pushed open the door and entered, with the big black dog following behind Wu Dade, and a small creature sitting on Lin Jiuzheng's shoulder!

The little creature has a dragon's head, a deer's body, an ox's tail, and horse's hoove

As soon as it entered the Small Courtyard, a timid look appeared in its big eyes, indicating some fear!

Upon seeing this little creature, everyone in the Small Courtyard was both surprised and delighted!

"Wow, what kind of animal is this? It's so cute!"

Ziling's eyes sparkled, and she immediately walked over, looking at the little Kirin with curiosity!

"This... could it be a Qilin? It looks exactly like the Kirin Emerging from the Valley Painting by Master!"

Nan Feng's expression was somewhat complicated!

It seems that the Master painted the Kirin Emerging from the Valley Painting precisely for this little Kirin?

The old man had long anticipated the presence of a Qilin outside, which is why he sent Junior Brother Lin and the others out!

"The legendary mythical beast was actually brought back by Junior Brother Lin..."

Jiang Li and the others were even more shocked!

"Great, great! I wonder what this little guy eats? If he eats grass, that would be wonderful; I could raise him along with my little golden bull!"

Lu Rang was also very excited. He pulled the little golden ox over, and when the little golden ox saw the little Kirin, its big eyes were immediately filled with curiosity.

The little Kirin was initially quite timid, but upon seeing the little golden ox, it suddenly became happy and called out to the little golden ox in a soft, childish voice.

The little golden ox responded with a "moo"!

The two little ones seem to be greeting each other.

Lin Jiuzheng bowed to Li Fan and said:

"Master, the mission is successfully completed!"

"In addition, we have found a rare animal and a rare plant!"

As he spoke, he also took out the old tree stump.

When the old tree stump appeared in the Small Courtyard, its aged wooden body seemed to tremble slightly!

Li Fan was quite surprised to hear this.

The crystal is glowing; there's no mistake.

This time, the harvest was truly substantial!

He walked over, looked at the little Kirin, and couldn't help but smile, saying:

"I never imagined that such creatures truly existed in this world!"

As expected of the Immortal Realm, it's full of wonders!

They even have Qilin? Li Fan had only ever heard of such creatures in myths and legends; no wonder they're considered rare.

He couldn't help but gently pat the little Kirin's head.

The little Kirin looked at Li Fan with its big eyes, showing no fear whatsoever. Instead, it obediently rubbed against Li Fan's palm.

"That's good, Jiuzheng. You can keep this little animal from now on."

Li Fan spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiuzheng overjoyed and said:

"Yes, sir! This disciple will certainly treat it well!"

The little Kirin seemed to understand, and immediately began to frolick in Lin Jiuzheng's arms.

"Ah, Master, I want to go out and find pets again next time! I can't resist!"

Seeing this, Ziling's big eyes were filled with envy.

The other disciples were also increasingly eager, wondering when their master would bestow such fortuitous opportunity upon them.

After all, adopting a mythical beast is a rare and precious opportunity!

Li Fan smiled as well.

"By the way, Master,"

At this moment, Lin Jiuzheng continued, saying:

"This old tree..."

His eyes held hope.

The tree was almost dead, and he was really worried about whether it could be saved.

The little Kirin also leaped to the side of the old tree stump, its big eyes looking at Li Fan pitifully, as if pleading for the old tree root.

Li Fan looked at the old tree stump and pondered for a moment.

This old tree stump is indeed beyond saving; it's almost completely exhausted.

However, since it's a rare plant, we have to give it a try no matter what!

"Gongya, bring me a pot of chilled tea."

He spoke up immediately!

Upon hearing this, Gongya immediately said from behind:

"Yes, sir!"

She quickly brought over a pot of iced tea and handed it to Li Fan.

Li Fan immediately picked up the teapot and poured the cold tea onto the old tree stump!

In an instant, a tender green branch sprouted from that withered old tree stump!

Those branches resembled willow twigs in early spring; though seemingly delicate, they carried boundless vitality!

Upon witnessing this scene, all the disciples were instantly shocked!

"This... Master's pot of tea can actually bring the dead Kirin Divine Tree back to life?"

Wu Dade was shocked.

"Master, this is a method to reverse life and death! It's terrifying..."

Lu Rang's eyes were filled with even greater solemnity as he murmured:

"Indeed, the Farming Dao, when cultivated to its ultimate level, can become the most wondrous secret technique in the world!"

His eyes were filled with unparalleled confidence!

"Master's medical skills can heal all things in the world... It's too incredible!"

Su Baiqian was even more shocked. She took a deep breath. At this moment, she felt that Li Fan had opened up a new world for her.

A healer can heal all things in the world!

Li Fan was somewhat surprised to see this!

He had learned this when he was being tortured by the system: brewed tea contains various minerals and organic matter, which are very beneficial to plant growth!

Surprisingly, it actually worked.

It seems that although the system is terrible at cultivation, it's quite reliable when it comes to agricultural technology!

If I could travel to another world, that would be great! With my farming skills, I could make a living by cultivating the land!

Li Fan couldn't help but sigh, looking at the old tree stump and saying:

"A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship; ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree."

"It's fate that life has been restored today!"

"Lu Rang, plant the old tree next to the sapling, and remember to protect its roots with the tea leaves from the herbal tea."

The tea leaves in herbal tea are brewed and rich in organic matter, which is very good for the plant roots after they decompose!

Upon hearing this, Lu Rang, who was standing nearby, immediately said:

"Alright, Master!"

He carried the old tree stump and went to plant it.

"A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship, ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree..." Big Brother, these two lines of poetry... are so profound!

At this moment, Xin Ning, who was standing beside her, spoke up, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, and said:

"Big Brother, can you teach me?"

She clearly sensed in these two lines of poetry a sense of the vicissitudes of time, a desolation born from witnessing life and death, and a profound loneliness of walking alone...

If you can truly understand it, you might be able to reach another level!

Upon hearing this, Li Fan smiled. Xin Ning was indeed eager to learn, and all his teaching had finally paid off.

He immediately said:

"Sure."

As he spoke, he immediately recited the entire poem:

"In this desolate land of Bashan and Chushui, I have been abandoned for twenty-three years."

"Nostalgic poems are sung in vain, like the flute's lament; returning home, I feel like a stranger who has lost his way."

"A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship; ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree."

"Today I listen to your song, and for now, I'll rely on a cup of wine to lift my spirits."

He finished reading.

As he finished reciting his poem, Xin Ning's large eyes fell into deep contemplation!

"Nostalgic poems are sung in vain, like the flute's lament; returning home, I feel like a stranger... A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship; ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree... Big Brother, what great ages have you experienced?"

"The Buddha's teachings say that one is alone on the Other Shore... What is Master waiting for on the Other Shore? His great vow is to see all sentient beings cross the river and spring return to life... Is this to deliver all sentient beings? Master's spirit is awe-inspiring throughout the ages; he truly deserves to be called the Supreme True Buddha!"

Qing Chen gazed at Li Fan with piety and fervor in his eyes!

"In this desolate land of Bashan and Chushui, I have been abandoned for twenty-three years... Master, did you wait in solitude? How many years of change did he endure to gain such understanding?"

Nan Feng murmured to herself, looking at Li Fan, a strange emotion suddenly appearing in her beautiful eyes.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that behind her master's seemingly calm and carefree demeanor lay an unspeakable and tragic past...

"A thousand sails pass by the sunken ship, ten thousand trees bloom before the withered tree... Is this why Master accepted us? He survived a great calamity, and was all alone... Is that why he needed successors to fight against another great calamity...?"

Jiang Li's heart suddenly surged with emotion. He stared at Li Fan and suddenly remembered what the Emperor of Black and White had once said, "In the flow of time, Master alone will bear the calamities of ten thousand ages!"

His eyes held immense reverence!

Ziling, seemingly lost in thought, her large eyes welling up with tears, said, "Master... we'll all be by your side from now on... you won't be lonely!"

Li Fan was taken aback upon seeing this.

What are these disciples doing?

However, he quickly realized that they had taken the poem as their own heartfelt expression. After all, the poem carried a sense of desolation and loneliness.

"You don't need to be like this. Master was just expressing his feelings casually; it's nothing."

Li Fan smiled, looked at Wu Dade, and said:

"Dade, where did you get such a fat bluefish?"

After listening to Li Fan's poem, Wu Dade was still confused, wondering why his Senior Brother and sisters all had that expression... because he had never been to school!

I don't know what it means in the poem...

Upon hearing his master speak, he immediately exclaimed with delight:

"Master, we owe this fish to that damn dog! It was it that got it!"

"Look, they're still fresh! Top-quality ingredients!"

Li Fan nodded and said:

"It looks really good. Such a big fish should be enough for a meal."

"Tonight, Master will make you a fish hot pot!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples were overjoyed, and their previous sadness vanished.