Chapter 249 – Sky Full of Frost and Snow (Part 1)
“What are you planning to do after we return to the continent?”
After bringing another cup of hot water to Bai Zhi for instant noodles, Su Jiu leaned against a steel wall on the deck, propped on one knee, and gazed quietly into the distance through the aqua blue protective shield, her gaze long and distant, asking faintly.
“Go find a mountain to sleep on! You have the flower bud, what can I do?”
Gently hugging the instant noodles, Bai Zhi pouted, her gaze also turning towards the distance, looking at the shimmering seawater, her pupils slowly deepening, a hint of sadness occasionally flashing through.
This sea view, however, lacked one person to enjoy it with.
“It’s not that I can’t give the flower bud back to you, but you have to make three promises with me: obey the law and no longer harm others, cultivate honestly, and owe me a favor.”
The white flower bud, Floating Life Blossom, reappeared in Su Jiu’s hand. She turned to look at Bai Zhi, tossing it lightly with a smile, the white flower bud exceptionally alluring under the morning sun.
This was her considered thought. She couldn’t bring herself to kill Bai Zhi, so she might as well take her favor… As for Bernice wanting to exchange for the Nine-Transformation Soul-Returning Grass.
She not only completed the investigation this time but also the mission. The reward she would likely receive should be roughly equivalent to the Nine-Transformation Soul-Returning Grass.
“Attack those riffraff? Slurp!”
Upon hearing Su Jiu’s words, Bai Zhi glanced over, her gaze fixed on the flower bud. She then lowered her head and slurped a mouthful of instant noodles covered in red oil, and after a slight pause, said,
“I don’t care for those things, and besides, doing so would incur karma. If it weren’t for Little Root… forget it, that flower bud likely also has karma. I…”
Taking another sip of the soup, Bai Zhi’s gaze met Su Jiu’s, with a hint of relief in her eyes. She then gently shifted her gaze away, pondered for a moment in silence, and then said softly,
“I don’t want it.”
This was Bai Zhi’s answer after calming down. If she had wanted it, she could have sneaked to take it last night.
Bai Zhi’s words made Su Jiu freeze slightly. After a moment, she turned her head, wanting to see the thoughts in her eyes, but unexpectedly saw her holding the instant noodles to her face, slurping the soup as if she hadn’t eaten in days…
Seeing that Bai Zhi didn’t want the flower bud, Su Jiu’s last lingering doubt about selling it disappeared. She put away the flower and asked with a playful tone, “You’re not using this flower bud, are you planning to cultivate another one? I know this flower is the foundation of you Plant Demons.”
“Re-cultivate? Not really. Breaking to establish, I want to go further… further than my first life.”
Putting down the instant noodles, Bai Zhi snapped her fingers. Small white flowers floated in front of her, turning into a piece of white paper. Holding the flower-paper, she gently wiped her mouth, which was full of red oil, and said faintly.
“First life?”
Upon hearing Bai Zhi’s words, Su Jiu’s mind once again drifted to the plaque. When she first entered that ancient house, she could clearly feel the aura on the plaque comparable to the stone monument at the entrance of Magical Capital University. However, Bai Zhi’s strength, even by burning herself, was only at the half-step War God level, which was unreasonable.
“To cultivate the techniques left by the person from the first life, I can only cultivate honestly. That Floating Life Blossom is also a shortcut, and it carries karma… Look at this flower…”
When Bai Zhi mentioned “that person,” a rare look of respect appeared in her eyes. As she spoke, she slowly extended a finger, and a small white flower bloomed at her fingertip. Upon closer inspection, one could see golden threads on the online of the flower bud, carrying a mysterious aura, like life force constantly expanding.
“This is what the cultivation technique gave me… after death. It’s quite peculiar, isn’t it?”
Looking deeply at Bai Zhi, Su Jiu didn’t understand who “that person” she spoke of was. However, according to Bernice’s words, ordinary Plant Demons could absolutely not be reborn continuously like Bai Zhi, with the only price being a regression in cultivation.
The person behind her might be a being of very high cultivation, perhaps even comparable to a true “God” level. With the plaque, Su Jiu speculated that Bai Zhi might have reached the Wanderer level among War Gods in her first life…
As for how she died, that was completely unknown. Su Jiu only saw the place where Bai Zhi died in her second life, and what she heard was also about what happened in her second life.
As the ship continued to venture deeper into the Great Cuttlefish Sea Area, the mist grew thicker. Strange whistling sounds circled in the sky, and occasionally white shadows flashed through the mist, flying into the distance.
At the visible horizon, some floating black shadows gradually appeared. After a while, as the ship approached, they were revealed to be leaping, shark-like monsters. Upon discovering the ship, they flocked towards it as if sensing blood.
After a night’s voyage, they had now completely entered the middle of the Great Cuttlefish Sea Area. Sunlight shone through the mist, making everything appear hazy, as if the mist contained a unique dark gas.
With her hands resting on the railing, looking down at the Demon Tooth Sharks beneath the ship alongside Bai Zhi, Su Jiu’s gaze swept over the grim-faced students from Chuan Yu University.
Their faces no longer held the carefree ease they had before. Huang Wen, who had appeared quite cheerful earlier, now had her lips tightly closed, her hands gripping the hilt of her sword, their tension revealing her inner nervousness.
The teachers were no longer just watching the show either. Two teachers stood at the front of the deck. One was the female teacher with the red-rimmed glasses, and the other was Mentor Lu Shu. His gaze swept over the surrounding Demon Tooth Sharks, and his face immediately showed a grim expression as he continuously gave instructions to the students around him.
“These sharks are so active when they see ships, they must have formed some habit… they can predict the fate of this ship.”
Looking at the actively leaping Demon Tooth Sharks, Su Jiu flipped over, lightly pushed herself up, and returned to the corner, beginning to introspect within her Spiritual Space. She could feel that E Huo was starting to tremble, as if it was about to hatch…
“Do you have any more of this noodles? When we reach shore, I’d like to get some to try…” Seeing Su Jiu sitting cross-legged like an old monk in meditation, Bai Zhi’s eye twitched. Thinking of the taste she had just had, she licked her lips with her small tongue and asked softly.
“If you become a Night Watcher, you will have some… but someone like you most likely won’t qualify.” Hearing the voice, Su Jiu glanced at Bai Zhi speechlessly, asking, “I just ate, why are you hungry again?”
“Night Watcher, huh…”
Muttering the name, Bai Zhi seemed to recall something, a sharp glint flashing in her flower-like eyes, but then a hint of hesitation followed. She glanced at the instant noodle box again, bit her silver teeth, and as if making a decision, lightly waved a small fist in her hand.
Within her Spiritual Space, Su Jiu glanced at Bernice, who had turned into a cocoon, then stepped forward and gently tapped the giant egg covered in mysterious inscriptions on the other side, watching the cracks on it continue to widen…
“Mama…”
Su Jiu’s face immediately showed excitement. She could feel E Huo emitting the aura of someone who had reached the Battle General level! It was a weathered yet new feeling, very peculiar.
Her long-unused String Moon Swordsmanship could finally be used again!
“Why are there reefs here?! Stop the ship quickly!”
“Can’t we use the ship’s built-in destruction cannon to blast these reefs away!”
Outside, after about three hours, the ship suddenly jolted to a halt, and shouts could be heard. At this moment, Su Jiu, who was sitting cross-legged in the corner, suddenly opened her eyes. She glanced at Bai Zhi, who was peeling flower petals playing nearby, and her mouth twitched…
Why is this girl like a child?
Ignoring Bai Zhi, Su Jiu looked forward. Under the not-so-bright sunlight, countless towering “pillars” rose from the sea. On these pillars were arranged in order white, circular “rocks,” some as large as truck tires, and the smaller ones the size of a human head, looking particularly eerie.
“These aren’t reefs.”
Slowly standing up, she lightly tapped her forefoot and arrived at the second level of the deck. Su Jiu’s gaze settled on the “pillars,” and then with a flash of white light, her Ice Cicada form appeared, her vertical pupils widening.
She looked at the cannon at the ship’s opening that was charging up. From the faint glow emanating from the cannon, she could clearly feel that the cannon possessed power nearing the Battle King level.
“All students at the Advanced Stage Warrior level, come out to deal with those leaping Demon Tooth Sharks. When the cannon fires, our protective shield will temporarily disappear. Those Demon Tooth Sharks at the High-level Warrior stage might leap up and injure the lower-level students.”
As Su Jiu’s gaze fell on the “pillars,” Mentor Lu Shu’s voice suddenly rang out on the deck, the atmosphere becoming even more tense.
About half a minute later, the cannon’s energy had almost fully charged. Mentor Lu Shu’s face showed a slight grimness as he shouted to the surroundings, “Activate the protective shield!”
Upon receiving Lu Shu’s command, the ship’s shield slowly disappeared, like a fountain being cut off from above. Lu Shu stared intently at the pillars in front, took a deep breath, and shouted again:
“Charge and fire!”
At this very moment, the Demon Tooth Sharks seemed to have discovered the disappearance of the shield and, as if receiving an order, leaped onto the deck in swarms, opening their mouths full of sharp teeth to bite at the students.
“Hold the line! It’s only a minute until the shield covers us again!”
The female teacher with the red glasses snorted, holding a fan-like object. With a slight twist, a red External Qi surged outwards, transforming into strips of silk that絞殺 some of the more powerful Advanced Stage Warrior level Demon Tooth Sharks.
“Fight like you do on land, don’t be afraid, their strength is very weak!”
Shouting to the surroundings, Huang Wen, holding a steel sword, revealed her strength nearing the intermediate Battle General level as her aura surged around her.
“Listen to the Chief, let’s not be afraid!”
The students immediately reacted, hastily engaging the attacks of the mere Warrior Class Demon Tooth Sharks. For a moment, they fought back and forth…
Seeing that the students could handle the Demon Tooth Sharks, Mentor Lu Shu slowly withdrew his gaze and looked back at the poised Mana Alchemy Cannon. He silently counted the time, and soon, a “boom!” resounded.
He looked towards it, just about to breathe a sigh of relief, when his eyes suddenly narrowed as if he had seen a terrifying scene.
“That reef… it moved?!”
