Jian Dan flipped backward just in time, narrowly dodging a piercing strike—where she had just stood, the willow branch had stabbed a hole clean through the ground. There was no pause. The branch surged forward again, splitting into three strikes: high, middle, and low. Even Brother Parrot, tucked into her chest, had one branch sent his way as a "courtesy."
"Eek! So scary!" Brother Parrot immediately shrank back into her robes, but not before transmitting his voice anxiously to her mind.
With a flick of her hand, Jian Dan drew a sword from her storage pouch. She spun it in an arc, meeting the willow's assault head-on.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three crisp strikes rang out as her blade intercepted the branches, the impact metallic—proof of their unnatural hardness.
Jian Dan dared not get distracted. Drawing upon the Primordial Chaos Art, she activated its sword form: the Primordial Chaos Sword Technique. Her blade danced—parrying, deflecting, thrusting, lifting, cleaving, and pinpointing—each motion more fluid than the last.
Infusing spiritual energy into her steps, she employed the Shadowstep Movement Technique, moving with such close precision that she weaved along the arc of the branches themselves. Swordplay and movement merged, gradually slowing the willow's relentless offense.
Momentum building, Jian Dan vaulted into the air, infusing her sword with pure spiritual power. She brought it down in a forceful cleave, aiming straight for the root of the attacking branch.
Crack!
To her shock, the moment her blade struck the root, it fractured from the impact.
Stunned, she kicked off a retaliating branch and lightly landed near the edge of the spirit field.
The guardian willow had withdrawn, retreating back to its original plot of land. Leaves scattered around its base like fallen soldiers, and where Jian Dan's blade had struck, a deep scar now marred its root.
Jian Dan herself looked far from composed. Though her attacks had appeared seamless, her body bore evidence of the exchange—her hands, cheeks, legs, and back had each been lashed by the willow's whips. The welts still burned.
With a flick of her wrist, she planted the broken sword into the ground and drew a broad-bladed saber from her pouch. Gripping it with both hands, she prepared to charge again.
"Xiao Zhuzi! Stop, stop, stop!"
"What?" Jian Dan asked, pressing her lips together in frustration.
"Look!" Brother Parrot's voice was hushed but urgent. "The willow... it's smaller than before. And it's pulling back!"
She paused, frowning slightly, and focused on the tree. Sure enough, the branch had receded again. This time, it stood completely still.
Eyebrow raised, she stowed the saber and swapped it for a jade shovel, darting toward the nearest Heart's Blood Fruit.
With delicate care, she harvested the ripe fruits and sealed them in a jade box. Then, she uprooted ten healthy plants along with their roots and secured them in a separate container, sliding it into the storage ring hung around her neck.
One by one, she made her way through each of the nine spirit fields. From each, she only took ten specimens—preserving balance and ensuring regeneration. She planned to replant them in her own spiritual space later.
Finally, she approached the willow's domain.
"I know you possess sentience. Ancient texts name you the Guardian Willow—bound solely to your master's will."
"Our battle was just your test, wasn't it? To see if I'm worthy of these spirit fields."
The willow swayed faintly in response.
"Your gifts are appreciated. In return, I can take you from this place. Would you like that?"
This time, the willow remained motionless.
After a silent moment, Jian Dan clasped her hands in respect and turned to the stone tablet.
"Xiao Zhuzi, do you know the exit? Did you always know about this Guardian Willow?"
"I read of it in a mortal-world ancient text."
"As for leaving… we'll have to figure it out. The only untouched thing here is this tablet."
She ran her fingers over the carved characters—Jiachen Spirit Field. The letters were sunken into the surface, and beneath her touch, she sensed nearly worn-away runes inside the stone.
Eyes brightening, Jian Dan infused spiritual power into the engravings. As her energy seeped into the text, the entire stele began to glow with a white radiance.
Rumble...
The stone slab slowly receded, revealing a hole in the ground. From within, a potent rush of spiritual energy surged upward.
"A spirit spring!" Brother Parrot burst out of her robes, chirping with glee.
"Haha! We've struck gold! Xiao Zhuzi, we gotta bottle this up!"
Jian Dan reached out and snatched him back into her arms.
"Greedy little thing. This is the heavens' blessing—a natural wonder. No one can own it."
"So we just… stare at it?"
"Not necessarily."
"?"
"I'll use it to establish my foundation."
She pulled out a long-unused Spirit-Gathering Cushion, placing it above the spring's mouth. Adjusting her breath, she sat cross-legged and began circulating the Primordial Chaos Art, initiating a second Foundation Establishment.
With the spirit spring feeding her an endless stream of qi, her progress was smooth. Again and again, she drew the energy into her meridians, refining it through the great cycle before settling it within the Yang side of the Yin-Yang Taiji Disk in her dantian.
Once the Yang side was filled and stabilized, the cloudy qi ball at the center of the Yin side began to thicken. When its density reached the tipping point, it began to liquefy—step by step, the transformation flowed naturally until the core was entirely liquid.
Foundation Establishment—success!
Crack!
A violet lightning bolt split the sky—aimed straight at Jian Dan.