"Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, do you have any last words?" Xian Lin'er asked calmly.
"Hmph!" Though drooping, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower still tried to sound tough. "I'd rather shatter like jade than survive as tile! You want my soul ring and soul bone? Impossible!"
"Now, why be so dramatic?" Zhu Ziyang said with a relaxed smile. "Are you so sure we'd just kill you?"
"What else? You want my soul ring and soul bone, which means killing me! I'll never submit to you humans!"
"Heh, but what if I told you there's another way? A method that lets us get your soul ring and soul bone, while you keep your full consciousness and leave this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well alive. Interested?" Zhu Ziyang's voice held a deep allure.
"What? What did you just say?" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was full of disbelief.
"Is that true?" Even Moon Immortal Tea Laurel and Infernal Delicate Apricot perked up, voices tinged with surprise as they questioned Zhu Ziyang.
"Well, we can just test it out and see, right?" Zhu Ziyang chuckled without explaining.
"Kuikui, agree to it!" Infernal Delicate Apricot immediately ordered. "If you agree, I'll let go of you betraying me earlier. How about it?"
"R-Really?" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower suddenly lit up, her voice trembling with hope and anxiety.
"Of course!" Infernal Delicate Apricot answered seriously. Compared to the chance to leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and gain freedom, what did a betrayal really matter?
Based on the human's words, there really might be a special method that let soul beasts donate their rings and bones without dying. And even if there wasn't, at worst only Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower would suffer — not much of a loss for the others.
Besides, once this Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was taken away, they could always cultivate a new one using the Hot Spring's power. As long as the rootstock remained, they could reproduce endlessly, even if each flower was technically different.
"Alright, I agree!" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was still a bit naive. She didn't realize that whether she agreed or not, her fate had already been sealed. It was only a matter of whether it was voluntary or forced. She turned her bloom toward Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao and said, "Hey, you two humans, let's get it over with. I'm ready!"
"You'll be glad you did," Zhu Ziyang exchanged a glance with Ma Xiaotao, then smiled. "Just relax your mind. Don't resist or reject the process — leave everything else to me."
Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao walked over to Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er followed closely, shielding the trio. Several other immortal herbs by the spring edge also watched intently, not daring to blink.
"Sister Xiaotao, do exactly as I say," Zhu Ziyang said, ignoring everything else. "Draw out a drop of your blood and drip it onto her blossom, then sit cross-legged."
"Got it." Ma Xiaotao gently patted her chest, opened her lips, and a bright red drop of blood flew out, landing precisely on Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower's core. Then she sat down cross-legged, facing the flower.
"Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, do not resist. Understood?" Zhu Ziyang warned.
"Mm!" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower nodded quickly, though a mysterious fear lingered.
Zhu Ziyang began reciting the Spirit Soul Contract. A light composed of countless symbols appeared, splitting into two and falling onto Ma Xiaotao and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. Red light began to radiate from both of them, then merged in perfect harmony.
A large red cocoon formed around the two, emanating a peaceful yet intense heat.
Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Perfect. Now we just wait for Sister Xiaotao to finish fusing with the soul ring and bone."
"Wonderful!" Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier both looked delighted.
Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the awakened herbs — Infernal Delicate Apricot, Moon Immortal Tea Laurel, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass — all stared unblinking at the red cocoon. They had a feeling that Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower had just struck gold. She might really become the first of them to leave this place.
Time ticked by. An hour later, the red cocoon dissolved. A clear, majestic phoenix cry echoed through the valley. A red-gold phoenix soared into the sky, circling high before landing gracefully by the hot spring. As the golden flames faded, a curvy red-haired beauty was revealed — who else but Ma Xiaotao?
Behind her floated seven soul rings: two yellow, two purple, two black, and one red. Perched on her shoulder was a miniature humanoid dressed in a red dress, hair styled like a flower, limbs delicate and adorable, but with features remarkably similar to Ma Xiaotao. Transparent wings flapped behind her like a flower fairy from myth.
There was no mistaking it — that little red fairy was Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower in her new Spirit Soul form!
Zhu Ziyang was stunned. He hadn't expected a plant-type soul beast to manifest as a flower fairy in Spirit Soul form. Was this unique to immortal herbs? Or common for plant-type beasts? It was worth researching later. But for now, his focus returned to Ma Xiaotao.
"Sister Xiaotao, how do you feel?" Zhu Ziyang walked up, smiling.
"I feel amazing! Better than ever before!" Ma Xiaotao beamed, eyes full of joy. She looked from her new companion to Zhu Ziyang.
"I can tell — your fusion went perfectly!" Zhu Ziyang nodded at the flower fairy version of Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, then asked, "Which soul bone did she give you?"
"Torso bone!" Ma Xiaotao answered without hesitation, eyes sparkling. "And it came with two awesome soul skills too!"
"Torso bone, huh?" Zhu Ziyang was surprised, but didn't dwell on it. He turned to Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. "See? I didn't lie. How do you feel?"
"I-I feel incredible!" Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was still giddy from finally having arms and legs. She flew to Zhu Ziyang excitedly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Then, to everyone's surprise, she hugged his face and planted a big kiss on his cheek. Zhu Ziyang froze. Ma Xiaotao looked extremely displeased.
"Get back here!" Ma Xiaotao snapped, scowling. 'Seriously? I haven't even kissed him yet and you beat me to it, you little thing?!'
Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower didn't listen. Her newfound courage soared. She flew toward Infernal Delicate Apricot and shouted proudly, "Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao, look at me! I'm so happy now!"
The immortal herbs were dumbfounded. Infernal Delicate Apricot screamed, "Kuikui? You're Kuikui? What the heck happened?!"
"Yeah! How did Kuikui turn into this? She lost her soul ring and soul bone but didn't die — and even gained arms and legs!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass exclaimed.
"Could it be that humans have mastered some insane new power?"
"I'm so jealous!"
"Ahhh!"
Then Moon Immortal Tea Laurel's voice rose above the chaos. "Hey, hey! That boy! Can I use that method too, with that silver-haired girl?!"
"Of course!" Zhu Ziyang grinned and nodded.
And to Moon Immortal Tea Laurel, that smile… was the most beautiful thing in the world.
(End of Chapter)
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