In Yu Zi Yu's previous life, the Willow Deity was a legendary figure from films and novels — a peerless existence whose true form was a majestic Willow Tree.
Her power was unmatched; her battle prowess shook both ancient and modern times. Yu Zi Yu could still recall the vivid description:
"A tall and slender figure stepped out of the Willow Tree, radiating magnificence and invincibility. It gazed down upon the world with utter disdain.The figure was flawless and ethereal, possessing a perfect physical body beyond mere tree form. Its snow-white robes glowed like the moon, a faint mist swirling gently around it. Three thousand orbs of light floated nearby — each one a world unto itself."
(Ashish: referring to Liu Shen / Willow Deity from Perfect World)
Tsk tsk… a man should aspire to that.
Yu Zi Yu, however, had no such grand ambitions. He didn't wish to carry three thousand worlds on his back like the Willow Deity. He simply dreamed of breaking free from his tree form and becoming human again.
He rarely indulged in fantasies, but with Evolution Points in hand and a promising road ahead, even he occasionally drifted into wishful thinking. Still, transforming into a human was nothing but a dream. Evolution Points were amazing, but not godlike.
"Cough…"Dragging himself out of his daydream, Yu Zi Yu glanced around in embarrassment.
Fortunately, there's no one here to see that.
Then he added:
Though honestly, who would wander into a canyon this deserted?
His attention returned to the real priority.
Upgrade… I must evolve quickly!
He had originally planned to save his Evolution Points for emergencies, but after earning so many from hunting and devouring other creatures, upgrading himself took precedence.
Only by becoming stronger can I kill more— no, no… survive longer.
Without hesitation, he invested the remaining 0.3 Evolution Points into his other branches.
Rustle… rustle…
The Willow Tree shuddered. Three more branches lit up faintly. Because the sun was setting, the glow wasn't obvious, but Yu Zi Yu felt a new surge of energy flowing into them.
Upon closer inspection, these upgraded branches were noticeably thicker and greener than before.
Swish… swish…
Three emerald afterimages sliced through the air, followed by sharp sonic booms that echoed through the canyon.
"Four branches…"Yu Zi Yu's heart raced as four branches danced at his command. Even a single branch was terrifying enough… four moving together was something no creature could withstand.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Anyone struck by these wouldn't survive. And I have fifty branches in total… if I upgrade them all…
His excitement grew.
"At that point, I might really become a Tree Demon."
Half a Month Later
Humans grow in ten years; a tree takes a hundred.But for Yu Zi Yu, time passed like water.
In just half a month, deep within the canyon stood a towering Willow Tree — twenty to thirty meters tall, straight and imposing.
The canyon had many trees, but anyone entering would instantly notice only this one. Its countless branches swayed like vibrant green waterfalls. Sometimes they hung low; sometimes they danced like lively sprites. Each branch moved with a strange, almost sentient grace.
At this moment, the massive Willow Tree suddenly froze, as if receiving a command.
Then—
Swish… swish… swish…
Thousands of branches thrust toward a single point.
BOOOOM!
A deafening shockwave exploded outward, shaking the canyon walls.
Yet despite the incredible force, the branches stopped half a meter short of a giant boulder — just barely out of reach.
Yu Zi Yu had grown rapidly, reaching nearly twenty meters in height, his branches extending ten meters or more. But even so, he still couldn't physically touch that distant rock.
However, one thing was impossible to ignore: in just half a month, he had upgraded every branch.
And when thousands of branches struck together, the compressed air they produced shot forward like a cannon blast.
It was this compressed air that slammed into the huge rock—
Crack…
—and shattered the two-to-three-meter boulder into rubble.