Chapter 6: This Ornamental Willow Loves Swinging A Big Hammer
Hearing Ge Bai say this, the Weeping Ancient Willow shook its Willow Branches, somewhat lazily.
“I haven’t thought about it. I’ve had Spiritual Sense for over a decade and roughly know what a contract is, but I’ve really never thought about contracting with a human.”
“What benefits would contracting with you bring me?”
Ge Bai thought for a moment. This Weeping Ancient Willow was actually well taken care of, with researchers checking on it regularly, and it got Nutrient Solution too.
What she could offer it was probably just a somewhat different path.
“I can help you evolve.”
“Hmm? What can a willow tree evolve into?”
The Weeping Ancient Willow became interested.
Ge Bai spread her hands: “I don’t know yet either. We’d have to contract first to find out.”
“Then aren’t you just getting something for nothing?”
The Weeping Ancient Willow said that, but one of its Willow Threads actively drooped and extended, reaching Ge Bai’s head and picking up a strand of her hair to entangle it.
It was clear that it was quite looking forward to evolution.
“I’m really not deceiving you. After contracting with you, through Spiritual Sense Communication, I can understand you more comprehensively, and only then can I find the evolution path.”
Ge Bai tried her best to explain the Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas in a more logical way.
“Those researchers have studied me for a long time, and they haven’t found an evolution path either.”
“I heard the seedlings taken from me for cuttings are now just Ornamental Spirit Plants.”
When mentioning Ornamental Spirit Plants, the Weeping Ancient Willow seemed a bit uninterested.
Ge Bai didn’t follow his lead and instead asked: “What do you want to evolve into? Do you have any dreams?”
Why did the style suddenly change?
It turned into CCTV interview style all of a sudden???
This question stumped the Weeping Ancient Willow, and it faltered a bit.
Stammering.
The nearby little shrub chimed in: “He just wants to be next to the Peach Demoness every day.”
The Weeping Ancient Willow was trying hard to think when it heard the little shrub say that, and it fiercely swung its Willow Branches, desperately refuting.
“That’s not true!”
“I, I want to become really powerful.”
“Like, when those bad birds come to peck my Leaves, I can drive them all away.”
For the Weeping Ancient Willow in the Botanical Garden, not being able to beat the birds seemed like a huge deal.
Though the childish words sounded a bit funny, Ge Bai keenly noticed that this Weeping Ancient Willow had a dream of swinging its arm to punch people!
Her eyes lit up. This dream was good, worth cultivating.
Instantly, she became even more invested, secretly resolving: She had to take it away.
“Then, you’d have to evolve skills with Attack Power like the Devil Vine.”
Ge Bai chose her words carefully.
The Weeping Ancient Willow listened and seemed somewhat disdainful.
“That vine Spirit Plant crawling on the ground, what’s so great about it? Its Twigs aren’t as hard as my Willow Branches, and its flexibility is just average.”
“Objectively speaking, a Devil Vine below First Order might not have Twigs as hard as yours, but from Second Order up, it’s definitely much stronger than you.”
“Can you help me promote to Second Order?”
Ge Bai thought seriously, mobilizing her Spiritual Sense to look at the Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas.
From the current situation, everything the System said was correct. She was confident in pulling the Weeping Ancient Willow into Second Order.
“No problem, I guarantee it.”
“Then, can you guarantee I’ll have Attack Skills?”
Ge Bai considered it and felt it wasn’t a big issue.
Gritting her teeth, she said: “That should be no problem either.”
Seeing the Weeping Ancient Willow still hesitating, she continued.
“Here’s the deal: We’ll contract first. You wait while I research it. If I really can’t help you develop skills, we can cancel the contract, I’ll send you back. If you’re not willing, I can’t tie you up forever, right.”
The Weeping Ancient Willow thought for a moment and was quite tempted.
The nearby Banyan Tree had listened quietly for a while and now spoke up.
“Little Willow, if you want to go out and see the world, go with this girl.”
“The wind told me she’s not a bad person.”
Ge Bai was a bit surprised and looked up at the Banyan Tree, showing a happy smile.
She didn’t know if it was because of her high Spirit Plant Affinity, but since entering this Botanical Garden, she seemed to truly feel the comfort the Spirit Plants brought her.
Though she really wanted to contract a Spirit Plant, she truly had no ulterior motives.
Hearing the Banyan Tree say this, the Weeping Ancient Willow seemed to make up its mind.
“Alright, I’ll contract with you.”
“One more thing: Later, can you come with me to ask the Peach Demoness if she’s willing to contract with you too.”
How much did the Weeping Ancient Willow like the Peach Demoness?
Ge Bai subconsciously replied: “No problem.”
The nearby little shrub smacked its leaves.
“Willow, you’re dreaming. The Peach Demoness won’t pay attention to you; she dislikes you the most.”
Like its sore spot was stepped on, the Weeping Ancient Willow became furious.
“You’re not the Peach Demoness, how do you know!”
“Nyah nyah nyah.”
The little shrub shook its dense Leaves.
Ge Bai soothingly stroked the Weeping Ancient Willow’s Branches.
“Alright, don’t be mad. Where does the Peach Demoness live? We’ll go see her later and ask. It’s that simple.”
The Weeping Ancient Willow huffed angrily and wrapped its drooping Willow Branches around Ge Bai’s wrist.
“Exactly, ignore them. Come on, let’s contract.”
Ge Bai hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly and was a bit excited.
Steadying her mind, she mobilized her Spiritual Sense and outlined the contract rune.
Golden runes gradually appeared in the air.
Deep in her Spiritual Sense, the System flashed and quietly added something to the contract rune, making the rune glow brighter.
But the Spirit Plants present and Ge Bai didn’t notice this.
Once the rune solidified, Ge Bai urged her Spiritual Power and slowly pushed the contract rune toward the Weeping Ancient Willow.
The Weeping Ancient Willow also actively mobilized its own Spiritual Power and smoothly accepted the Spiritual Sense Contract rune.
The two sides’ Spiritual Power connected, and the contract was established.
In an instant, Ge Bai felt as if her soul connected with the Weeping Ancient Willow’s, their minds linked.
Strong Spiritual Power Fluctuations also burst from the Weeping Ancient Willow’s Branches.
——
Meanwhile.
At the Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute dozens of kilometers away.
An instrument’s steady readings suddenly spiked, and it emitted a sharp alert beep.
Lu Nan, a white-coated researcher who had just brewed a cup of coffee and was about to savor it leisurely, was startled into a jolt, spilling coffee all over the floor.
He didn’t care about wiping it up, threw the coffee cup onto the table, and rushed to the beeping instrument.
Pushing up his Glasses, he stared intently at the readings on the instrument, but the beeping didn’t last long and gradually stabilized.
At that moment, a middle-aged researcher with gold-rimmed glasses, a square face, and graying hair pushed the door open.
“What happened? Which monitor gave a high Spiritual Power Explosiveness alert?”
Lu Nan turned around, somewhat awkwardly saying: “Professor Luo Wan, the alert only lasted two seconds. It’s the monitor in the Forest Area of the Botanical Garden.”
Professor Luo Wan carefully examined the abnormal Spiritual Power wave graph just printed by the instrument and picked up the phone.
“Hello, is this the Blue Star Botanical Garden? This is the Jinggang Spirit Plant Research Institute.”
“We’ve detected possible Spiritual Power Fluctuations in the Botanical Garden, which may indicate a plant mutation.”
“No need to panic too much; it’s not confirmed, just possible. We’re sending researchers over right away.”
“Please stay vigilant too. For any special situations, we’ll communicate anytime.”
——
The scene returned to the Botanical Garden.
The Spiritual Power burst from the Weeping Ancient Willow quickly stabilized.
A crisp System voice sounded in Ge Bai’s mind.
“Congratulations to the host for completing the beginner task: Successfully contracted with a Spirit Plant.
“Congratulations to the host: No Annihilation risk for now.”
What a buzzkill. She had happily succeeded in the contract and taken home a Big Willow.
Just notify task completion; why mention Annihilation out of nowhere.
Ge Bai rolled her eyes. This System was afraid she’d forget about the Annihilation thing.
The System couldn’t see Ge Bai’s eye roll and continued its emotionless notification.
“Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas has been unlocked. Details page for Weeping Ancient Willow is viewable.”
“Please cultivate Spirit Plants diligently, host. The next System Task (beginner) will be released in 24 hours.”
Ge Bai ignored the System and directly urged her Spiritual Sense to open the Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas.
[Type: Weeping Ancient Willow]
[Age: Spirit Plant biological age 212, Spiritual Sense birth age: 11]
[Spiritual Power Value: Zero Order Second Level (31/200)]
[Beginner Attribute: Wind Element]
[Skills: Willow Whip-Beginner (0/100); Wind Blade-Beginner (0/100); Storm Willow Blade Hammer-Beginner (0/100)]
Though she didn’t fully understand the skills yet, seeing that the Weeping Ancient Willow indeed had a skills panel, Ge Bai immediately felt relieved.
Now she could account to her Big Willow.
Closing the Spirit Plant Cultivation Atlas, Ge Bai let out a long breath, looked at the Weeping Ancient Willow, and smiled especially relaxed.
“Big Willow, trust me. You can become really powerful!”
