Chapter 457: The Wind Between Heaven and Earth

"Li... Li An?" the giant panda asked cautiously, his voice thick, deep, and rich."It's me," Li An nodded."Yes, something?" the giant panda was nervous, his words stumbling.Li An said, "Yes, take me to the Heartwood."The giant panda swallowed and asked, "Heartwood... for what?"He completely doubted that Li An would choose the Heartwood, wondering if he had something to ask the old tree god.This time, Li An frowned and asked, "Aren't you hiring?"As soon as he said this, the giant panda rubbed his big black head with his paw, wondering if he was still half asleep.After a while, he took a deep breath and said, "Do you want to be our employee?""Yes," Li An nodded heavily.At this moment, the giant panda suddenly stood up and looked around. He stepped in front of Li An, taking in the ferocious looks around him, and nervously said, "Go, go, go."He didn't know why Li An had chosen him.But he felt they couldn't control their situation; someone would come and snatch them away soon.Since they had spoken, they should hurry and take them back first.The giant panda quickly produced a small shuttle, opened the hatch, and said, "Master Li, come aboard quickly. I'll take you to the Heartwood."Li An, standing outside the hatch, wondered, "Aren't you going to take the others?""Yes, I will..." the giant panda stumbled, "But forget about the others. I'll take you to the elders of the Heartwood."Li An understood the giant panda's thoughts.He was afraid of being snatched away. Sitting in the back seat of the spaceship, Li An watched the clumsy bear paw operating the delicate shuttle and said, "Actually, you don't have to be so nervous.""I really want to choose Heartwood."The giant panda looked up at the mirror, where Li An's calm eyes were reflected.So handsome.The giant panda took a deep breath and started the shuttle's engine.After the shuttle was airborne and began automatic cruise control, the giant panda nervously asked, "Did the old tree god send you here?""No, I want to go on my own," Li An replied seriously.The giant panda took a deep breath.After a moment's silence,his emotions calmed down a bit.He tilted his head and said innocently, "Thank you.""Thank you for what?""Thank you for choosing Heartwood." Li An shook his head, expressionless. Then, he turned to look out the window and asked, "What's your name?""Gray Gray, just call me Gray Gray.""Your sword intent is unique.""Huh?" Gray Gray's small eyes suddenly widened."I'm not unique.""No," Li An said softly. "I felt it the moment you opened your eyes when I snatched your bamboo.""You're very strong, but you don't seem to know it.""Is...is that so?" Gray Gray's voice was thick and naive, unsure. At this point, Li An continued, "Tell me about the Heartwood Forest.""Why can't Heartwood Forest mobilize resources to recruit employees?"Gray Gray shook his head and said, "The old tree god said the waters are too deep for the seven clans' struggle for supremacy this time.""We can't control it.""Spending money on recruiting people will definitely be a loss."Li An was surprised when he heard this: "So you're not down and out? You're just deliberately not paying?""But I heard you've been badly bullied by the Insect Garden in recent years.""Insect Garden..." Gray Gray hesitated, thinking for a moment before saying, "It seems the Insect Garden attacked our Heartwood Forest a few years ago.""We gave them a piece of land.""That's all."Li An was puzzled again and asked, "Were they able to defeat them and gave it over on purpose?""I don't understand these things. That's an adult matter. I'm a child, so I can't ask too much." Gray Gray shook his head. "Okay." Li An changed the subject and asked, "So, how do you usually practice in the Heartwood?""Me?" Huihui pointed at himself and said, "My master taught me, but I'm lazy and always sneak off to sleep.""My master said if I keep going like this, I'll never become a strong warrior.""But... why do you want to become a strong warrior?"Huihui's eyes flickered with confusion as he said, "Just sleeping every day is enough to make me happy."Li An smiled and nodded, "Yes.""Then, Brother Li, why do you want to become a strong warrior?"Li An replied, "To protect people, to win, for the martial arts, for so many things.""Becoming a strong warrior allows you to fulfill many wishes and avoid many problems.""Okay." Huihui nodded."We're almost there."Li An raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "That's pretty fast."We've only been chatting for half an hour and we're already there.And then...The spaceship slowly descended.Outside the window, Li An was greeted by only a small silver flower and a bird with colorful feathers. A bird perched on a branch of a small flower, seemingly chirping something.After the cabin door opened."Wow, Li An, Li An, the legendary Li An!""So handsome, even more handsome than I imagined, hehehe."The silver flower grumbled, "Yuri, Second Uncle said, be quiet and don't bother Young Master Li."After that, the silver flower bowed to Li An and said, "Mr. Li, the elders of my clan are all ancient trees and can't be moved freely, so there's nothing fancy about them. Please bear with me."Li An shook his head, "That's okay.""Then I'll take you to the heartwood to meet my elders.""Okay."A flower led the way along the forest path.Li An walked behind him, and a bird named Yuri fluttered its wings beside him, chirping incessantly in Huihui's ear.After entering the heartwood... Li An looked up. Everywhere he looked, he saw towering, lush, ancient trees, with charming little creatures peeking out from behind them, but not a single insect.A powerful vitality washed over him, the scent of nature refreshing and invigorating.He placed his hands in his pockets, his heart at peace.The surrounding trees gave him strange looks, and in their own unique way, they spoke to one another, discussing Li An, a man who had no reason to be there.Finally,Silver Flower led Li An to an ancient tree, a deeper yellow.A human face appeared within the tree.The face spoke in human language, saying, "Gray, Yuri, Flower, you two leave first. I need to speak to Li An alone."After the three little brats left,a dark green barrier rose, enclosing the ancient tree and Li An.Li An raised an eyebrow; it seemed their conversation was quite private. At this moment, the ancient tree slowly spoke: "You can call me Lin Lao Er.""As the species closest to nature, we possess extremely strong perceptions.""Li An, you didn't come to the Heartwood Forest with a conspiracy.""I'm sorry, but the Heartwood Forest is currently unprofitable. Even the most precious Tree Heart Spirit Qi can't suddenly transform a young person's strength.""So, it's inevitable that there will be doubts.""I understand." Li An smiled and nodded."Lin Lao Er's breathing was very long and gentle." After a few seconds, he continued, "Li An, you're different from Huihui.""You're ambitious, so we can't let you waste your time here.""Logically, we should refuse your joining, because your presence disrupts the original plan of the Heart of Tree Forest.""In the future, the heavens will be engulfed by wind and rain.""A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. The old tree god decided to retreat in order to advance, allowing the Heart of Tree Forest to gradually fade from the world's sight, separate from the Eight Great Clans, and hibernate through the future catastrophe of the heavens.""But you happened to come.""On your way here.""I and Old Lin were still... "The old tree spirit has already communicated with us.""The old tree spirit said that the laws of nature operate according to their own laws.""You wouldn't have come here for no reason. This must be nature guiding us."Li An's heart sank upon hearing this. He said, "It sounds like something big is about to happen.""Yes." Lin Lao Er smiled. "We're just old enough to have learned some of the truth in advance.""But everyone's reaction is the same as yours.""No one is prepared.""But the wind between heaven and earth decides whether to blow, where to blow, and when to blow.""Heaven has the final say."