Celestial Beast Taming

Chapter 290: Chapter 178: Foundation Level: Endless Wood

At this, the Flower Venerable paused for a moment before continuing in the same tone.

”I heard you had some conflict with Cao Xing’an in Longya City. If you’re willing to use one of your opportunities...”

”...I would even kill Cao Xing’an for you.”

The Flower Venerable spoke these words with utter conviction.

As she spoke, the hand she had placed on Zhong Yi’s shoulder trembled slightly, a tremor born from a mix of turbulent emotions.

Ever since the seed had taken root in her, it felt as though a gray fog had shrouded the Flower Venerable’s heart.

At that moment, the Flower Venerable felt as if the clouds were finally parting and the fog was lifting.

Zhong Yi watched the change in the Flower Venerable’s emotions and completely understood her state of mind.

The Flower Venerable had been like a terminally ill patient, every day filled with uncertainty.

Now that the Flower Venerable knew her grave illness was about to be cured, her joy was only natural.

To Zhong Yi, the three favors the Flower Venerable had just promised were far more valuable than any resources she could have offered.

Zhong Yi didn’t lack resources at the moment; what he lacked was truly formidable power.

For a top-tier expert like the Flower Venerable to be willing to help him unconditionally three times—even to the point of assassinating Cao Xing’an—was an immense boon.

It meant that the Flower Venerable would carry out any request he made, no matter how extreme.

The Flower Venerable’s promise thoroughly bridged the gap between her and Zhong Yi.

”Aunt Ying, the process of removing the seed from your body is extremely complex.”

”I will need you to use the juice of the Drunken God Flower to anesthetize both your body and soul. Only then can I safely remove the seed that has taken root inside you.”

”I’m telling you the method of treatment in advance, and I hope you’ll understand why.”

Zhong Yi had been somewhat worried the Flower Venerable would object to anesthetizing herself with the juice of the Drunken God Flower.

Although using the Drunken God Flower Juice to paralyze her body and soul would leave no lasting side effects upon waking, it would leave the Flower Venerable completely defenseless and vulnerable for a period of time.

Zhong Yi was still pondering how he would persuade the Flower Venerable if she refused.

’I can’t let anyone find out about the Soul-Controlling Flower.’ That was Zhong Yi’s absolute bottom line.

”Xiaoyi, as long as you can remove this seed from my body, I’d do more than just use something as harmless as Drunken God Flower Juice.”

”I would be willing to use something harmful if that’s what it took.”

”I don’t have any Drunken God Flower Juice on hand. Xiaoyi, give me a few days to prepare it.”

”I hope this remains a secret between the two of us. No one else can know.”

After this brief interaction, Zhong Yi had a much better understanding of the Flower Venerable’s personality.

The Flower Venerable’s personality and way of thinking were vastly different from those of Star Night, You Weiwei, and even Wen Tao and Lin Zhuo.

Cao Xing’an was a Five-finger Peak Creator from Longya City. Even if someone like Star Night had the power to kill him, he never would.

Cao Xing’an was considered a foundational asset of the Xin Xia Federation. Star Night could ensure his own safety, but he wouldn’t kill Cao Xing’an without reason just for Zhong Yi’s sake.

But the Flower Venerable was willing, even though she held no personal grudge against Cao Xing’an.

’In essence, she was actually quite similar to Cao Xing’an.’

The Flower Venerable had established the Hua Kuo Trading Company, painstakingly building her own sphere of influence.

The Hua Kuo Trading Company did indeed help Guardian Beast Masters who were in dire straits, but a single loan could plunge those in poor financial situations into a vicious cycle.

They would need to spend years working hard just to repay their debt, struggling to escape the negative feedback loop.

When considering any matter, she prioritized her own interests far above the overall benefit of the Xin Xia Alliance.

’A person like that would be a terrifying enemy!’

Cao Xing’an had only been a Five-finger Peak Creator for a few years, but because of his affable nature and his efforts to win over other Five-finger Creators, his influence within the Creator community was immense, even surpassing some of the more established Five-finger Peak Creators.

If Tao En hadn’t been a Five-finger Peak Creator himself, and one with extremely high Talent at that... if Tao En had merely been a new Five-finger Creator, Zhong Yi would have had to think twice before trying to recruit him.

Even though Zhong Yi was based in Starlight City and had little interaction with Cao Xing’an, it simply wouldn’t be worth making an enemy of a Five-finger Peak Creator like Cao Xing’an over a newly-ascended Five-finger Creator.

But if someone like the Flower Venerable became an ally, forming a community of mutual interest... ’now that would provide a great sense of security!’

”Aunt Ying, I never intended to speak of your condition to anyone else. Now that you’ve said so yourself, I certainly won’t mention it to others.”

”If Star Night asks, I’ll simply tell him you forbade me from discussing your injury. I’m sure Star Night will understand.”

Hearing Zhong Yi’s words, a brilliant smile finally bloomed on the Flower Venerable’s face.

It was like a peony, heavy with morning dew, silently unfurling its petals, its released fragrance outshining even the light of dawn.

”Xiaoyi, this is for you,” she said, presenting an item. ”It’s a Signal Cicada. If you need anything, you can use it to contact me directly.”

”I only have three of these Signal Cicadas, which are linked by a common Bloodline. I have one, and Suxin has another.”

”As long as you don’t enter a Secret Realm, you can use this Signal Cicada to contact me instantly from anywhere.”

”It will also allow me to pinpoint your location, so I’ll know where to find you.”

”Once I’ve found the Drunken God Flower Juice, I will contact you via the Signal Cicada.”