The Stone Village was unusually peaceful.
Birds perched quietly on rooftops.
The fierce beasts in the forest dared not roar.
Even the wind blew softer than usual.
Because beneath the divine willow tree…
a golden-green glow pulsed gently.
Inside it, a toddler—barely one year old—slept soundly.
His name given by Shi Hao was simple: Qingmu ("Greenwood").
But the world had already begun calling him:
"The Willow Child."
"Divine Son of the Spirit Willow."
And he had no idea.
He just yawned and rubbed his eyes.
Liu Shen's voice whispered warmly from the branches above:
"Awake, little one?"
Qingmu blinked up at her, then reached his tiny hands toward the divine willow vines.
The branches instinctively wrapped around him, lifting him gently like a cradle of light.
"Uwaaah…"
He giggled as the leaves brushed his cheeks.
Inside, the system chimed.
[Ding! Host has slept under Liu Shen's divine essence.
Vitality +300%.
Spirit +200%.]
Qingmu frowned internally.
"…System, I'm literally a baby. Why are you giving me cultivation stats at age ONE?"
But the system ignored him and chimed again:
[New Passive Activated — "Willow Body Tempering."
Host gains strength by basking in sunlight and touching spiritual plants.]
Great.
He was basically a solar-powered baby with a plant affinity.
---
A Village in Awe
As Qingmu toddled on the grass, every step made tiny green sprouts burst from the soil.
The villagers stared.
"A step… and flowers bloom?"
"This child is not human…"
"Be respectful! He is Liu Shen's child!"
Even Shi Hao, now older and sharper, was speechless.
"Hey… little brother, do you want to race?"
Qingmu nodded enthusiastically.
Shi Hao took a step forward.
Qingmu took a step forward.
BOOM.
A ring of green light exploded from around Qingmu, throwing Shi Hao off his feet.
Shi Hao lay on the ground, stunned.
"…Liu Shen, are you sure he's just ONE?!"
Liu Shen's willow branches rustled as if she were laughing.
"He is growing… quickly."
Qingmu blinked innocently.
---
The World Watches
High in the distant heavens, a group of ancient beings sat within a floating palace.
Their eyes reflected scenes from Stone Village.
"Liu Shen gave birth…? Impossible."
"That child's bloodline… even the Immortal Clans would covet it."
"A divine spirit born with human form? If he matures, he could rival the Ancestral Kings."
Their eyes turned cold.
"Capture him."
"Study him."
"Use him."
Somewhere else:
A terrifying woman with phoenix wings soared above an active volcano.
She looked toward the village.
"That aura… interesting. If I had a child with him, the descendant would shake the heavens…"
The world stirred.
And the MC burped in Liu Shen's branches.
---
Danger Arrives
Night fell.
Suddenly—
A shadow rushed toward the village.
Fast. Silent. Deadly.
A figure cloaked in black dropped down near the divine willow.
Shi Hao leapt forward, shouting, "Intruder!"
The shadow flicked a finger—
Shi Hao was blasted back.
The villagers screamed.
The assassin sneered.
"So this is the Willow Child. The one worth more than a Divine Bone…"
He extended a hand toward the toddler.
Qingmu only tilted his head.
[Danger detected!
Activating automatic defense: "Mother's Temper."]
Liu Shen didn't even need the warning.
Her branches glowed with divine radiance, and a single leaf flew out—
sharp enough to kill a god.
The assassin froze—
his body instantly turning to ash.
The wind carried his remains away.
Liu Shen's voice echoed softly:
"Touch my child… and vanish."
The atmosphere turned chilling.
But Qingmu only clapped happily.
"Leaf… shiny~"
Shi Hao, covered in dirt, groaned.
"How is he still cute at a time like this?!"
---
The First Blessing Activates
Qingmu was lifted again by Liu Shen's vines and brought to the heart of the willow.
There, a glowing green bud floated before him.
"Little one," Liu Shen said gently.
"You took your first protected step today. Fate acknowledges you."
The bud opened—
golden-green petals bursting forth.
The system chimed.
[Ding!
First Blessing Unlocked:
Blessing of the Eternal Sap!
Host gains:
• Infinite spiritual growth
• Body recovers rapidly in sunlight
• Plants obey your will]
Qingmu blinked.
"…Plants obey my what—"
Suddenly vines rose from the ground and followed him like loyal puppies.
Shi Hao shouted from afar:
"HEY! Why does he have a plant army?!"
Qingmu giggled as a flower crown placed itself on his head.
---
The Willow Child Had Taken His First Step.
A blessing awakened.
The world was watching.
And destiny was only beginning.
---