"Hey! What's with you? Why are you so quick to fight?" Phoenix Chrysanthemum cried out in alarm, feeling the terrifying pressure radiating from Xian Lin'er.
"Didn't you just say you weren't easy to talk to? Well, I'll keep hitting you until you are," Xian Lin'er replied with a frown.
"Ah—wait!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum instantly regretted her earlier words. She hurriedly backpedaled. "That was just me putting on a tough front! In truth, I'm very easy to talk to."
"Really?" Xian Lin'er raised a skeptical brow.
"Really, really!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum nodded so hard her large red blossom swayed dangerously. "If you have any requests, tell me. If I can do it, I'll oblige—just please don't attack me or wake the others."
"In that case, it's simple. We're here for one thing," Zhu Ziyang said, stepping forward with a smile.
"And what's that?" Phoenix Chrysanthemum asked instinctively.
"To find her a seventh spirit ring." Zhu Ziyang nudged Ma Xiaotao into view.
"Find her a seventh spirit ring?" Phoenix Chrysanthemum tilted her head, her not-so-big brain struggling to process it. "I can feel the Phoenix bloodline from her. One of my children was eaten by her, right? What sort of ring are you thinking of?"
"I want you to become my spirit ring," Ma Xiaotao said softly—like a whisper in Phoenix Chrysanthemum's ear. But to the plant, it was like a bolt of thunder from the Ninth Heaven.
"W–What?!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum recoiled in horror, leaning away from Ma Xiaotao. "No, absolutely not! I don't want to die! How about I introduce you to some other plant soul beasts instead? There's a ninety-thousand-year Fireflame Grass over there, and an eighty-thousand-year Falling Blaze Heart Flower over there…"
In her panic, Phoenix Chrysanthemum began frantically advertising other spirit plants, her submissive tone utterly devoid of the pride a hundred-thousand-year soul beast should have. But then again, it wasn't surprising—these immortal herbs turned soul beasts lacked the innate combat power of traditional ones. They had the cultivation, but not the strength.
Before those like Zhu Ziyang—Soul Kings and Soul Emperors—they could be lofty. But when faced with Super Douluo like Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er, they became meek and fawning.
"No. I want an immortal herb—a hundred-thousand-year immortal herb!" Ma Xiaotao said with a smile, her gaze locked on Phoenix Chrysanthemum.
"Aaah…" The plant now fully understood—they were here specifically for her. But she still tried to wriggle free. "Wait! There's a hundred-thousand-year Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu in the Yang Spring. She's an Ultimate Fire immortal herb—she's a far better match for you than I am!"
Her words stunned Ma Xiaotao, Xian Lin'er, and Cai Mei'er alike, and even made Zhu Ziyang twitch at the corner of his mouth.
But before anyone could speak, an angry female voice erupted from the blazing Yang Spring.
"Oh, Kuikui! After how well I've treated you, this is how you repay me?"
A red blossom emerged from the scalding waters—it was none other than the Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu.
"Ahaha… Jiao Jiao, y-you're awake?" Phoenix Chrysanthemum laughed weakly, caught red-handed in the act of selling out her friend.
"Hmph! If I hadn't woken, you really would have sold me off, wouldn't you?" Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu said coldly. "I misjudged you!"
"No, no, Jiao Jiao—please, let me… um… explain!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum cried, her tone pitiful.
"Oh? Then go ahead, explain," Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu replied with a "say what you want, I might listen" expression. That tiny opening filled Phoenix Chrysanthemum with hope, and she immediately began chattering out her defense.
"Ziyang, that red plant that looks like a giant cabbage—is she really Ultimate Fire?" Xian Lin'er whispered.
"Yes. She's called Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu, a heavenly treasure born from the Yang Spring. It's perfectly normal for her to possess Ultimate Fire," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"In that case… can I have her?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes sparkled. She was starting to think this "Kuikui" was too unreliable—better to take the stronger-looking immortal herb instead.
"That… might be difficult," Zhu Ziyang admitted with a touch of awkwardness. "The Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu is one of the strongest fighters among the Icefire Yin Yang Well's immortal herbs—on par with an actual hundred-thousand-year soul beast. With your current strength, you couldn't control her. But once you reach your eighth or ninth ring, then it's worth considering."
"I see… well then, Kuikui it is," Ma Xiaotao said, a bit deflated but quick to recover.
"Hey! You're really not even pretending to consider my opinion here!" Phoenix Chrysanthemum called out, still focused on her frantic explanations to Jiao Jiao, oblivious to the four predatory humans eyeing her.
Neither she nor Jiao Jiao responded to Zhu Ziyang's muttered complaint—or perhaps they heard but simply ignored it.
Just as the group was about to lose patience, a familiar voice sounded from behind them.
"Hey, hey—boy! Why didn't that silver-haired girl come this time?"
Zhu Ziyang turned to see Moonlit Tea Tree speaking.
"You mean Nan Nan? She didn't come. She doesn't need a hundred-thousand-year ring yet," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"I see…" Moonlit Tea Tree swayed its branches. "So you brought them here just to take Kuikui?"
"Yes, though our method might be different from what you're imagining," Zhu Ziyang replied patiently.
"What's different? You humans always want to eat her, take her ring and bone. So greedy!" Moonlit Tea Tree said unhappily.
"Are you talking like this because you think Ziyang's too nice to do anything to you?" Ma Xiaotao stepped forward, flames blazing in her hands as she loomed threateningly.
"Ah! Zhu Ziyang—get her away from me! She's dangerous!" Moonlit Tea Tree shrieked.
"Alright, Xiao Tao, don't tease her," Zhu Ziyang chuckled, pulling her back. Then to Moonlit Tea Tree, he said, "Tea Tea, you've misunderstood us. You'll understand soon enough."
"Hmph! Do as you please. But you're not from that person, so you can't take any immortal herbs. If you want them, have that person's people come," Moonlit Tea Tree said sourly.
"That person?" Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er exchanged startled glances—they hadn't expected the Icefire Yin Yang Well to already be under someone else's claim.
"Yes. That person's people—something 'Gate'?" Moonlit Tea Tree sounded uncertain, then impatient. "Anyway, no one can take immortal herbs except them. Oh, except Kuikui—Jiao Jiao's already rejected her."
"This…" The women glanced at each other in confusion, not quite understanding.
"Tang Sect," Zhu Ziyang said at once. It could only be Tang San—and the 'Gate' had to be the Tang Sect.
"Yes! The Tang Sect!" Moonlit Tea Tree nodded eagerly. "Only Tang Sect people can get Youyou's approval and take seven immortal herbs. Others will be attacked if they try. Kuikui's the only exception."
"This…" Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er exchanged looks again—now they suspected something far more significant was at play.
"Should've brought Tang Ya along," Ma Xiaotao muttered, seeing only the missed opportunity.
"It's fine. Kuikui is our goal. The rest can wait—we have time," Zhu Ziyang said reassuringly.
"Ziyang's right. Let's secure Kuikui first," Xian Lin'er agreed, her voice carrying a hint of respect now. She and Cai Mei'er had lived long enough to catch certain hidden meanings in what Moonlit Tea Tree had said.
The four turned back to Phoenix Chrysanthemum. She now looked wilted and withered, clearly having failed to convince Fiery Apricot Jiao Shu—hence Moonlit Tea Tree's remark that Jiao Jiao had rejected her.
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