After Di Jun and Tai Yi finished their playful scuffle, Tai Yi walked around the Fusang tree, stopping here and there. He would occasionally touch the trunk of the Fusang tree, looking left and right before turning to Di Jun and saying,
"Elder Brother, there's no other way but to dig out this Fusang tree!"
Before Di Jun could reply, the branches of the Fusang tree suddenly moved, striking Tai Yi forcefully. A voice then came from within the Fusang tree:
"Brat, who are you trying to dig up? You seemed so well-behaved when you were little, and now you dare to set your sights on me?"
Tai Yi yelped in pain as he was struck. Hearing the voice from the Fusang tree, he was startled and quickly ran behind Di Jun, shouting as he went,
"Elder Brother, this tree has become sentient!"
The Fusang tree, hearing Tai Yi's words, extended its branches again and beat Tai Yi fiercely, scolding as it struck,
"Who has become sentient? You are sentient! Your whole family is sentient!"
Tai Yi, in pain, scrambled behind Di Jun, not daring to show his head, fearing another beating!
Di Jun was also startled and quickly asked,
"Who are you?"
The voice chuckled heartily,
"I can understand why Tai Yi doesn't recognize me, but it's a bit much for Di Jun not to. Have you forgotten how I took care of you two back then?"
Upon hearing this, Di Jun immediately said,
"Are you Senior Fusang Uncle?"
The voice let out a hum and said,
"At least you have some conscience to remember me!"
Di Jun exclaimed happily,
"Senior, it really is you!"
The voice replied impatiently,
"Of course, it's me! I never expected that after just one sleep, you two would have grown so big!"
Tai Yi, upon hearing this, quickly asked Di Jun,
"Elder Brother, who is this person?"
Di Jun said joyfully,
"Tai Yi, show some respect. This is Senior Fusang Uncle!"
Tai Yi listened, disbelievingly,
"The Fusang tree is sentient? Why didn't I notice?"
The Fusang tree said with displeasure,
"You little Golden Crow wouldn't know. The moment you gained consciousness, I went to sleep. After taking care of you two brats for so many years, don't I deserve some rest? Ask your brother if it wasn't me who absorbed the energy of heaven and earth and then passed it on to you two!"
Di Jun nodded and said to Tai Yi,
"Senior is right. Before we had consciousness, it was Senior Fusang Tree who always transferred energy to us!"
Tai Yi listened to Di Jun's words and remained stunned for a long time, unable to believe that the Fusang tree was sentient!
Seeing Tai Yi dumbfounded, the Fusang tree ignored him and began to scold Di Jun,
"How could you teach your younger brother like this, actually wanting to dig me up! This kid woke up late, but didn't you know about me?"
Hearing this, Di Jun quickly explained,
"Senior, you've misunderstood. Tai Yi wanted to move you to a better spot, not dig you up!"
Upon hearing this, the Fusang tree's tone softened slightly. It then asked,
"Tai Yi! Is that the name of that kid?"
Di Jun replied,
"Yes, Senior. I am Di Jun, and my younger brother is Tai Yi!"
"Di Jun, Tai Yi, good names!" the Fusang tree said.
Tai Yi then asked,
"By the way, Senior, what is your name?"
The Fusang tree looked at Di Jun and Tai Yi, as if they were its own children. Hearing Tai Yi's question, it replied,
"Me? I have no name. You can just call me Fusang!"
Di Jun suddenly spoke,
"Right, Senior Fusang, where did you go? Why couldn't I feel your presence after Tai Yi gained consciousness?"
The Fusang tree sighed and said,
"I didn't go anywhere. It's just that when you two had no consciousness and couldn't absorb the energy of heaven and earth yourselves, I had to absorb it and then transmit it to you brothers.
However, the energy you required was too immense. I could only exert myself to the fullest to barely provide the energy you needed. So, after Tai Yi gained consciousness and you could absorb the energy of heaven and earth yourselves, I fell into a deep sleep. I only just woke up!"
Hearing this, Tai Yi and Di Jun immediately bowed to the Fusang tree and said, Thank you for your great kindness, Senior! Di Jun (Tai Yi) will never forget it!"
Seeing Tai Yi and Di Jun's demeanor, the Fusang tree laughed heartily,
"Alright, alright! Get up. Ever since I was born here, I have been alone and lonely.
I never expected that one day the pure yang energy of heaven and earth would surge towards my branches, forming two three-legged birds.
However, at that time, you were just forms without consciousness. To pass the time, I would talk to you every day! But you hadn't yet formed souls. Since I finally had two people to talk to, I naturally had to help you!"
After speaking, the Fusang tree continued,
"Right, Di Jun just mentioned that Tai Yi wanted to move me. Why is that?"
Di Jun then explained the matter of the Sanqing visiting the Sun Star and Tai Yi becoming Yuanshi's disciple.
Upon hearing this, the Fusang tree said to Di Jun and Tai Yi,
"I am a spiritual root of heaven and earth. I can survive anywhere. You two are simply overthinking it!"
Tai Yi, hearing the Fusang tree say this, exclaimed happily,
"Is what you're saying true, Senior?"
The Fusang tree replied impatiently,
"Of course, it's true. Why would I lie to you?"
With confirmation, Tai Yi immediately said excitedly,
"Senior, then let's go! We'll go to Kunlun Mountain to find my Master right away!"
The Fusang tree angrily said,
"You brat, the Sun Star is greatly beneficial for your cultivation. Why must you go to Kunlun Mountain!"
Hearing this, Tai Yi immediately hugged the Fusang tree and pleaded,
"Senior, let's go to Kunlun Mountain together. I still need to find my Master to teach me artifact refining!"
After Tai Yi finished speaking, an elder dressed in golden robes with golden hair walked out of the Fusang tree. He grabbed Tai Yi by the back of his collar, lifted him up, and said disdainfully,
"You brat, stay away from me. Look, your snot has landed on me!"
Saying this, he threw Tai Yi to Di Jun and told Di Jun,
"Keep an eye on him. I'll go to Kunlun Mountain to see what kind of person this brat's Master is, and then I'll decide whether to go with you!"
Di Jun hadn't expected the Fusang tree to have transformed either. He took Tai Yi and said,
"Senior, you've transformed too!"
The Fusang tree replied irritably,
"Who are you looking down on? I was born even before you brothers. Since you two have transformed, how could I not have?"
Di Jun hadn't expected the old man to have such a fiery temper and said with a wry smile,
"Senior, you've misunderstood. I was just curious!"
Fusang replied impatiently,
"Curiosity killed the cat, you know!"
As soon as Fusang finished speaking, Tai Yi, who was still in Di Jun's arms, immediately bowed to Fusang and said,
"Greetings, Uncle Fusang!"
Di Jun almost couldn't help himself and quickly pulled Tai Yi, saying,
"Tai Yi!"
Fusang was also amused by Tai Yi and walked over, ruffling Tai Yi's hair and smiling at him,
"I'll deal with you later, you brat. You dare to tease me now!"
Tai Yi quickly shook his head, denying vehemently,
"No, absolutely not!"
Fusang ignored Tai Yi and said to Di Jun,
"Keep an eye on this kid!"
With that, Fusang turned and headed into the distance!