67: Willow Goddess: Okay, I agree.

Chu Feng's gaze became even more intense, his emotions surging like a tide, pouring out without the slightest concealment:

"I like Senior! From the first moment I saw Senior, I fell in love with you! It's not the admiration for a powerhouse, nor is it a craving for beauty, but the purest and most sincere adoration a man has for a woman! I want to become Dao Companions with Senior, to walk hand in hand, sharing our lives and the Great Dao!"

He suddenly dropped to one knee—a gesture not common in the world of cultivation, yet it was the most solemn posture from the depths of his heart—looking up at the Willow Deity, he made a promise with a voice that rang out like clanging metal:

"As long as Senior agrees to my request, once I have grown, I will do everything in my power to help this era endure the future Dark Turmoil! I am willing to share Karma and face the tribulations together with Senior! Senior, please agree to my request!"

Silence.

Within the Chaos space, there was only the faint light of life essence slowly flowing.

the Witch was completely stunned, her mind a total blank; she could only stare foolishly at the kneeling Chu Feng and the silently standing Willow Deity.

She felt that the shocks she received today were more than the past hundred years combined.

The Willow Deity quietly looked down at Chu Feng.

She remained skeptical for the time being regarding Chu Feng's remarks about how the "Chaos Body" could help her recover, needing further verification.

But what made her mind stir slightly were the two pieces of information revealed in Chu Feng's words.

First was his undisguised love for her, which was so passionate it bordered on reckless.

This kind of pure and intense emotion was rare in her long life.

During the Immortal Ancient era, as the Ancestral Spirit of Sacrifice, she was revered and worshipped by all living beings, but that emotion was more of awe and dependence.

A confession like Chu Feng's, expressing his heart from an equal or even slightly "suitor-like" stance, indeed made her feel a hint of... novelty? Or rather, a long-lost emotional ripple belonging to a "human."

Second was the "Dark Turmoil" he emphasized again.

Although Chu Feng had previously mentioned that the future of this era was bleak, this time he used the phrase "help this era endure" and tied it to his promise of courtship.

This made her even more certain that the future Chu Feng knew was likely far more cruel and tragic than the snippets he had revealed before. It wasn't just a tribulation; it might be a cataclysmic disaster.

The Willow Deity's gaze became distant. She remembered the bloody battles at the end of the Immortal Ancient era, the old friends who fell after fighting side by side, and the loneliness and persistence during her own Nirvana.

In this era, she had stayed because of the Stone Village Karma; how could she not have the intention to protect it in her heart? But even this person from the future, who seemed to know destiny, was so solemn about the darkness of the future... Perhaps, it really was necessary to make some unconventional plans.

Leaving behind a Bloodline and continuing a Legacy was not necessarily a bad way to deal with an unpredictable future.

Especially if Chu Feng's "Chaos Body" was truly as miraculous as he claimed... Her gaze refocused on Chu Feng, her clear eyes seemingly able to see through every trace of his blood circulation and every strand of Dao Law fluctuations.

Chu Feng's Physique was indeed extraordinary; that Chaos aura was pure and primordial, with unfathomable potential.

Although his current cultivation had not reached True Immortal, his essence was extremely high.

"I have acknowledged your feelings," the Willow Deity finally spoke, her voice still gentle and calm, betraying no joy or anger. "Your proposal... is also not entirely beyond consideration."

Chu Feng's heart pounded wildly, and a light of pleasant surprise burst from his eyes.

"However," the Willow Deity's tone shifted, "your strength is indeed somewhat... weak to me."

She spoke very bluntly, without the slightest euphemism.

Between an Immortal King and one who has not yet become an immortal, the difference in life levels is like clouds and mud. Even if Chu Feng's Physique was special, the gap in cultivation was real.

"If you are truly sincere and prove that you are indeed qualified to stand beside me..."

The Willow Deity paused slightly and gave her condition, "Then, when you break through to the Peak of the Mortal Realm in this world, I can agree to become Dao Companions with you and... bear your offspring."

The Peak of the Mortal Realm! In this world, that was the limit of the Supreme Realm, the level that touched the threshold of the Immortal Dao!

It was equivalent to the Great Emperor Realm of Chu Feng's original world, yet not entirely identical, because the Laws of this world were more complete; a Breakthrough might not require Fusion with the unique mark of heavenly heart.

"The Peak of the Mortal Realm?!" Hearing this, Chu Feng was not discouraged but instead overjoyed! This was not a rejection, but a clear path and expectation! To him, this was practically the Willow Deity's disguised agreement!

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!" Chu Feng stood up excitedly.

"Senior, to tell you the truth, after coming to this era, I can clearly feel that the Laws of Heaven and Earth here are more complete and stable than in my time, and the suppression of the Great Dao is also clearer and more orderly!

In my era, to step onto the final Peak of the Mortal Realm, one must defeat all competitors and fuse with the unique mark of heavenly heart; the process is incredibly difficult. But here..."

The light of confidence and ambition flickered in his eyes:

"I might not need to follow the path of fusing with the mark of heavenly heart! With the Chaos Body's tolerance and mastery over all Daos, I can directly charge for the Peak of the Mortal Realm in this world!

However, the environment and resources of the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm are likely insufficient to support my final Breakthrough. I need to go to the Upper Realm, where the Laws are more perfect and there are more Opportunities!"

Hearing Chu Feng's confident analysis, the corner of the Willow Deity's flawless lips curled up almost imperceptibly into an extremely minute arc, like the first thawing of a frozen river or the slight melting of spring snow. The charm that bloomed in that instant made even this Chaos space seem to brighten for a moment.

"Good." She nodded slightly, her voice gaining a hint of subtle softness, "In that case, I shall wait for you to ascend to the Peak of the Mortal Realm."

She paused, her gaze seemingly penetrating space to look toward the direction of Stone Village.

"Before that, I need to first find that child you mentioned who has deep Karma with me. Since you come from the future, you should know that he is of extraordinary significance to me and this place. I can sense that this Karma has already sprouted, but it is not yet clear."

Chu Feng immediately nodded: "That is natural! Regarding the matter of finding that child, this Junior is willing to serve you! However, Senior, regarding the matter of you bestowing Origin blood essence upon the Witch and the others, can it be postponed for a while?"

"Oh? Why?" The Willow Deity looked at him.

"This Junior's thinking is as follows," Chu Feng explained, his tone sincere.

"Firstly, Senior has not yet fully recovered, and separating your blood essence at this time might damage your Origin. Secondly, although Little Moon, the Witch, and the others are pregnant, it is still several months before the actual 'birthing period,' so there is no rush.

It would be better to wait until I break through to the Peak of the Mortal Realm, at which point I can use the method of Dual Cultivation to help Senior recover more strength, or even return to the Immortal King realm!

At that time, when Senior bestows your blood essence, not only will the impact on you be smaller, but the benefits to the children will be greater! Besides, by then, perhaps Senior yourself will also..."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was obvious—perhaps by then, the Willow Deity herself would be pregnant, and wouldn't it be better to bestow it all together?

The Willow Deity naturally understood the underlying meaning. She was not ashamed or annoyed, but simply gave Chu Feng a deep look, her gaze seemingly able to see through his little schemes. After a moment, she nodded slightly again.

"As you say. I... will wait for you."

"Thank you, Senior!" A large stone fell from Chu Feng's heart, and he was overjoyed, bowing solemnly to the Willow Deity once more.

"Then, this Junior will take his leave first to find clues about that child for Senior!" Chu Feng knew that this matter should be done sooner rather than later, and he also wanted to confirm Shi Hao's current situation as soon as possible.

"Go then." The Willow Deity waved her slender hand, and the surrounding Chaos space began to fade.

Chu Feng pulled the still-dazed Witch, and their figures gradually blurred, leaving this space of life and reappearing in front of that charred willow tree stump at the entrance of Stone Village.

The night wind continued, and the stars filled the sky. Everything that had just happened felt like a magnificent and shocking dream.