In the boundless night, the Off-Sea Rosy-Face Flower perched on the sheer cliff was bathed in moonlight, making its crimson hue appear even more vibrant and its blossom all the more stunning.
Although the Rosy-Face Fruit had not yet fully ripened, sea beasts within a ten-li radius were still drawn by the faint gardenia fragrance, climbing onto the island one after another.
However, this Off-Sea Rosy-Face Flower was by no means unclaimed.
“Dong, dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong—”
“Dong, dong, dong! Dong, dong!”
Along the shoreline, about a hundred large equine demon beasts with pale-white coats galloped with wind at their hooves.
These demon beasts looked like white horses, except for their thick, luxuriant coats, the jagged bone spurs protruding along their spines, a snow-white horn like that of a rhinoceros jutting straight from above their snouts, and rows of sharp, serrated teeth lining their jaws.
White horses treading the waves, single horns upon their brows.
Their cries resonated like drumbeats, beasts capable of swallowing leopards and devouring tigers.
These snow-white spirits frolicked scattered across the sandy beach, lounging or lying in the water, leisurely letting the sea and drifting algae wash over their backs.
With every cry, they stirred up monstrous waves that crashed heavily against the rocky reefs, sending stone shards flying and sea spray bursting in all directions.
Beside the massive Off-Sea Rosy-Face Flower lay an exceptionally colossal equine beast leader.
It appeared to be a female, its gaze calm and steady. Its curly white coat looked as if moonlight had solidified into form. With its forehooves resting on a rock, beneath it were two newborn pups that could not yet stand.
Nan Zhi watched, mesmerized.
—These horse-like creatures were no fairy-tale unicorns, but Bo beasts native to the North Sea.
Bo beasts were even larger than moose; beasts like tigers and leopards were mere “pre-meal snacks” to them.
Demon beasts somewhat similar to the Bo beast included the Taotu, Luoluo, and Qiongqiong, but compared to Bo beasts, those species were much more common and far more docile.
“To think there are so many Bo beasts in the Wuwang Sea!”
Hai Ying poked half her head out from behind the boulder next to Nan Zhi, whispering furtively:
“I’ve never been here before, but I heard my dad say that Bo beasts are fierce—far fiercer than sea beasts.
When a hundred Bo beasts go berserk, they can trigger tsunamis and conjure hundred-zhang waves, capsizing passing ships and flying boats! Even giant squids in the deep sea are no match for them!
Ma Jiu, do you really plan to pluck the Rosy-Face Fruit right under their noses?”
—Bo beasts had a sweet tooth and were especially fond of the nectar of the Off-Sea Rosy-Face Flower. As soon as a young Bo beast was born, the mother would feed it milk mixed with nectar until it could stand on its own.
Stealing the Rosy-Face Fruit in front of a hundred Bo beasts...
Would they really not be trampled into meat paste?
Even if the three of them fought desperately and snatched it, how would they cope with the next two rounds of trials?
Hai Ying gave Nan Zhi a conflicted look as she pondered whether to advise her to reconsider calmly.
Although a fifth-tier Rosy-Face Fruit was precious, their lives were more important.
Tu Jiuxiao said nothing, merely leaning against the stone wall, waiting for Nan Zhi to speak.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Nan Zhi spread her hands.
“If we want to compete for first place, it’s best to conserve our strength during the first two trials and develop quietly. A fifth-tier Off-Sea Rosy-Face Fruit is of a high enough grade to secure our team’s qualification for the next trial.
Besides, fighting and killing isn’t the only way to harvest spirit herbs.”
With that, she released the treasure-seeking mouse, Corn, from her sleeve and lightly flicked its chubby little rump:
“Corn, you’re up. Put on a show for them.”
The treasure-seeking mouse, so plump its species was barely recognizable, landed on the ground. It chattered strangely at the hedgehog on Nan Zhi’s shoulder, rubbed against her hand in a show of defiance, flipped its untamed golden fur, and rolled smoothly down the slope.
【Spirit Beast Name: Corn (Treasure-Seeking Mouse) (Purple Quality)
Spirit Beast Level: 30
Spirit Beast Status: Uncontracted
Spirit Beast Mood: Joyful, Excited
Spirit Beast Talent: Treasure Seeking
Spirit Beast Skill: 1. Trade (Determined by rolling a sixteen-sided die; when the result is an even number, trading with green-named NPCs is allowed)】
【Current Roll: 8】
After munching on so many of her pills and immortal herbs, Corn’s level had steadily risen, finally unlocking a cheat-like skill.
The human and demon beside her could not see the system panel; to them, having “Ma Jiu” send a mouse smaller than a Bo beast’s hoof to steal a spirit fruit seemed like pure fantasy.
Yet, after spending so much time together, they knew Nan Zhi was not one to boast empty words, so they quieted down to watch what would happen.
Incredibly agile, the treasure-seeking mouse scrambled along with all four paws, hopping across the reefs onto the platform, and quickly slipped right up to the Bo beast leader.
Confronted with this sudden “uninvited guest,” the Bo beasts gathered around one after another, snorting in curiosity.
Nan Zhi appeared calm on the surface, but her eyes never blinked as she tracked that tiny figure, prepared to step in immediately to rescue the mouse if anything went wrong.
...
“Squeak, squeak, squeak! Squeak! Squeak, squeak, squeak! (Mouse has pills, mouse wants fruit, mouse wants it!)”
Carrying a storage bag on its back, the golden-furred fat mouse hopped into the air, gesturing vaguely at the Bo beast leader:
“Squeak, squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak... (One fruit in exchange for one bottle of medicine.)”
Covered in long, curly fur, the Bo beast leader stared in utter bewilderment at the tiny creature before it, its round equine eyes almost crossing.
For a Bo beast, the treasure-seeking mouse’s size was simply far too miniature.
The Bo beast leader nudged Corn with its head, picked up the bottle packed with spirit beast pills with its mouth, and crunched down on the bottle, chewing and swallowing it whole—
“Dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong!”
A moment later, the Bo beast leader snorted comfortably, stood up, and shook its silky, satin-like coat in the moonlight:
“Dong, dong! Dong, dong, dong. (No, one fruit for five bottles of those round things.)”
Its master had given it as many bottles of spirit beast pills as two hands could count; giving away what was on one hand still left half!
Corn extended its paws, pondered deeply for a moment, and finally nodded, squeaking happily:
“Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! (Mouse is good, mouse agrees. Horse is good, horse gives fruit.)”
The Bo beast leader nudged the baby Bo beasts beneath it with its forehoof, and immediately, a slightly smaller Bo beast trotted over to the Off-Sea Rosy-Face Flower with a clip-clop of hooves, poked half its head into the dense blossom, and retrieved a bright red fruit in its jaws.
The fruit was vibrant crimson all over, radiating faint specks of floating light like a little bulb, with a black pit dimly visible inside.
It was none other than the fifth-tier spirit herb: the ripe Off-Sea Rosy-Face Fruit.
Rate on N.U.
