"What did you say?"
The voice of the Tree of Life held astonishment, "You mean... you can..."
Zi Lingling nodded, saying mysteriously, "Yes!"
This was beyond incredible!
The Tree of Life was overjoyed, its leaves rustling with excitement.
It was the peak of excitement!
The height of surprise!
The absolute limit of disbelief!
"You can truly take the entire Peach Blossom Spring away?"
Zi Lingling nodded again, "Then will you come with me?"
"Yes!"
The Tree of Life declared with unwavering resolve.
Having resolved the matter of the Spring of Life, its only remaining concern was the Peach Blossom Spring itself!
Now that the Peach Blossom Spring was to be taken away, what reason did it have to stay?
Go!
It absolutely had to go!
"Good!"
Zi Lingling nodded and looked at Ye Lingyuan, smiling, "It's time for us to leave too."
Ye Lingyuan's lips curved into a faint smile, "Whatever Ling'er says goes."
"What about me? What about me? What do I do?"
Bai Ze looked intently at Zi Lingling.
For some inexplicable reason, from the moment it saw Zi Lingling, it had a subconscious urge to cling to her.
That's right!
Cling to her!
"You?"
Zi Lingling glanced at it with a half-smile, "Aren't you supposed to be searching for the one you are meant to assist?"
Bai Ze shook its head, "The world is so vast, where would I find them?"
"Is that so?"
Zi Lingling's eyes flashed, and she said slowly, "Then you can continue to stay in the Peach Blossom Spring!"
Bai Ze leaped into Zi Lingling's arms with a sudden movement.
It nudged its fluffy head affectionately against Zi Lingling's chest, "Sister Xiangxiang, please take me away from here! I've been in this Peach Blossom Spring for over a thousand years, I'm so bored."
Bai Ze was so engrossed in charming Zi Lingling that it completely failed to notice that one of its actions had crossed a certain person's line.
A killing... no, a beast-killing gaze fell upon it, as if wishing to directly fry it.
"Bored?"
Zi Lingling said with a smirk, "What does that have to do with me?"
Bai Ze blinked, then again tried to be charming, "Sister Xiangxiang, good sister, considering I guided you here, won't you take me out?"
"Not enough!"
Zi Lingling slyly chuckled, "That reason isn't enough!"
Bai Ze was dumbfounded again, staring blankly, "Good sister, I'm so cute, aren't you even a little moved?"
Zi Lingling shook her head, "There are many cute things in the world. I can't take them all with me, can I?"
"Besides, are you cute?"
Though she said this, she inwardly nodded. Cute? Indeed, it was.
Bai Ze was dumbfounded for the third time. It wasn't cute?
Didn't women like fluffy things, to satisfy their desire for petting?
It looked at Zi Lingling mournfully, "Then what will it take for you to bring me out?"
Zi Lingling nodded towards Ye Lingyuan, "I will only keep what belongs to me by my side."
A trace of struggle appeared in Bai Ze's eyes.
Zi Lingling's meaning was clear: it had to belong to her!
How could it belong to her?
Naturally, by becoming her subordinate.
"Of course..."
As Bai Ze was contemplating whether to pledge allegiance, Zi Lingling's voice came again.
Its eyes lit up, "Of course what?"
"Of course, if it belongs to him, I can reluctantly take it along."
Zi Lingling said this while looking at Ye Lingyuan.
The light in Bai Ze's eyes dimmed once more.
This was as good as saying nothing at all.
If it didn't recognize Zi Lingling as its master, it would have to recognize that ice block, Ye Lingyuan, as its master.
In the end, it all came down to trading freedom.
Bai Ze felt incredibly wronged.
It wasn't that it didn't want to pledge allegiance, but rather that it didn't want to be coerced into it.
Actually, Bai Ze had somewhat misunderstood Zi Lingling.
Under normal circumstances, Zi Lingling would have unconditionally taken Bai Ze with her.
After all, it was a mythical beast, and who wouldn't want to bask in its auspicious aura?
But now, the Altar Spirit was lurking outside, coveting it.
If Bai Ze were to leave like this, it would undoubtedly be forcibly kept by the Altar Spirit.
The Altar Spirit and that sinister man looked like trouble.
Therefore, a benevolent beast like Bai Ze absolutely could not fall into their hands.
Only by forming a contract with her or Ye Lingyuan could the Altar Spirit be prevented from separating Bai Ze.
Thus, Zi Lingling was actually protecting Bai Ze.
Who could blame her, when she had taken the Spring of Life, an item that concerned all living beings in the world?
"So, what do you think? Have you decided?"
Zi Lingling gazed intently at Bai Ze.
Her stance suggested that if Bai Ze did not pledge allegiance to either of them, it would be left behind in the Peach Blossom Spring.
Of course, Zi Lingling and the Tree of Life communicated through telepathy.
Therefore, Bai Ze had no idea that Zi Lingling intended to take the entire Peach Blossom Spring with her.
Bai Ze's eyes held a hint of pleading, "Can't I avoid pledging allegiance?"
Zi Lingling shook her head.
"Must I pledge allegiance?"
Zi Lingling nodded.
Bai Ze's last sliver of hope was shattered. Resignedly, it said, "Alright, then I'll pledge allegiance!"
"However, I don't like men!"
"Therefore, I've decided to recognize you as my master!"
At the very least, she still smelled nice, Bai Ze added silently in its heart.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Zi Lingling's eyes.
Actually, she had hoped Bai Ze would stay by Ye Lingyuan's side.
However, since it was Bai Ze's choice, she couldn't force it.
After all, the coercion used earlier had been a last resort.
Zi Lingling nodded and said, "Good! I won't mistreat you either, so let's form a life-and-death contract!"
A life-and-death contract?
Bai Ze could hardly believe its ears.
It had thought Zi Lingling would take the opportunity to form a master-servant contract with it!
Bai Ze looked at Zi Lingling in surprise, "Did I hear that correctly?"
Zi Lingling said impatiently, "What? Or do you want a master-servant contract instead?"
Bai Ze quickly shook its head, "No! A life-and-death contract is better!"
Zi Lingling smiled, "Then hurry up!"
Bai Ze nodded, squeezed out a drop of its essence blood, and then looked at Zi Lingling, "A life-and-death contract requires an incantation, do you know it?"
Zi Lingling also squeezed out a drop of essence blood, "You don't need to worry about that!"
Then, she turned to the Tree of Life and said, "The rest is up to you."
The Tree of Life transformed into human form and nodded, "Let's begin!"
It chanted a series of ancient incantations, and the serene Peach Blossom Spring was suddenly filled with lightning and thunder.
Zi Lingling's and Bai Ze's essence blood flew into the air amidst the thunder and lightning, merging rapidly.
Then, the Tree of Life's ancient voice echoed through the air.
"I, in the name of the Book of Life, bear witness to this miracle!"
"Today, Bai Ze and Zi Lingling voluntarily form a life-and-death contract, seeking not to be born on the same year, month, and day, but only to die on the same year, month, and day! I pray for Heaven's pity and for the bestowed light of protection!"