Chapter 427: The Scorpion’s Heartbeat
Within the central cradle of the Myriad Spirit Flower Ring, a realm of interconnected, petal-shaped rings…
The Peach Blossom Concubine, its long, pink hair flowing, its face breathtakingly beautiful, sat on a throne formed from its nine, curled-up tails, like a fairy queen from a dream.
Its every move, its every breath, was a display of perfect, captivating beauty, its aura shimmering like a thousand polished diamonds, a sight that could steal one’s breath away.
The Peach Blossom Concubine, the Nine-Petal Peach Silk Snow Lotus Flower, a perfect being!
And beside her, on either side of the throne, sat two other figures: a beautiful, green-haired woman with leaves for hair, You Qu Hanyuye, King of the First Ring of the Ten Prison Flowers, and a stunning, white-haired woman in a reverent pose, Sanzu Baixue, leader of the Six-Tailed Phoenixes.
At this moment, the Peach Blossom Concubine was watching several spirit energy projections, scenes from the ongoing battles in the other rings.
In the Ninth Ring, Zui Hai Qingluan, one of the Six-Tailed Phoenixes, was battling the Myriad Water Demon Willow, one of the Ten Prison Flowers, a deluge of watery vines ensnaring the ice-blue qingluan.
In the Eighth Ring, the massive, elephant-trunked woman from the Seven Killing Blades, its strength immense, was being pinned down and… ravaged by the Black Spot Soul-Extinguishing Chrysanthemum, one of the Ten Prison Flowers.
In the Seventh Ring, the Poppy-Faced Laughing Wind Vine, its laughter echoing, unleashed a furious hurricane, the silver-white tiger from the Seven Killing Blades, its body covered in wounds, desperately dodging.
In the Sixth Ring, You Yu Mingwang, one of the Six-Tailed Phoenixes, its beautiful peacock feathers scorched, unable to even approach the Crimson Sun Disaster Flower.
In the Fifth Ring, the Nine Heavens Forged Sea Orchid, its nine massive buds, had trapped the Frost Snow Woman within its icy coffin, chewing and swallowing.
In the Fourth Ring, the Winter Greeting Death Lotus, one of the Ten Prison Flowers, and the golden-haired, phoenix-robed girl, one of the Six-Tailed Phoenixes, faced off, their icy winds and scorching flames clashing.
In the Third Ring, the Silver Forged Steel Dragon had been instantly annihilated by the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower’s evolved form.
In the Second Ring, the massive, maroon sunflower, the Great Throat Noble Wasabi, with a single bite, had crippled the second strongest member of the Seven Killing Blades, its core fleeing.
And in the First Ring, Yin Kui, the snake-tailed woman, leader of the Seven Killing Blades, was confidently approaching the Central Cradle, having seemingly located Yu Jinfei.
“Little Bai Xue, look! My family is so beautiful!!” The Peach Blossom Concubine, its heart-shaped eyes fixated on the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower in the Third Ring, its voice filled with excitement.
“…”
“…”
“Mm,” Sanzu Baixue hummed in response, avoiding the Nether Cold Jade Leaf’s curious gaze.
The Ten Prison Flowers… they were truly monstrous. They had completely suppressed her companions.
Even she herself might not be a match for this strongest of the Ten Prison Flowers.
And the Peach Blossom Concubine, knowing everything, watching their every move… It was like a play, and they were the actors.
Sanzu Baixue nervously twirled a strand of white hair, its voice slightly strained,
“It’s… an honor to be noticed by the Peach Blossom Concubine…”
“Heh, I only see what I want to see. After all, I’ve reached perfection~~~ Youyou, tell Yu Jinfei to leave. It’s time.”
You Qu Hanyuye, the Nether Cold Jade Leaf, nodded respectfully and left the Central Cradle.
Watching the green-haired woman leave, Sanzu Baixue felt a growing unease.
It seemed the Peach Blossom Concubine and Yu Jinfei weren’t allies, merely tolerating each other’s presence, now discarding Yu Jinfei like a broken toy.
“Little Bai Xue, how is Little Caifeng doing?”
“She’s well. The Boom Calamity is in good spirits, likely due to the Moon Calamity’s awakening…”
Sanzu Baixue’s voice was stiff. Only the Peach Blossom Concubine would dare address a member of the Six Disasters so casually.
Although it didn’t know the details, it had heard from Wanfu Caifeng that they had once been allies, fighting side by side.
Thousands of years later, one had become one of the Seven Concubines, the other bearing the infamous title of a Disaster.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, the Peach Blossom Concubine paused, a puzzled expression on its face.
Its heart-shaped eyes were fixed on the Third Ring, seemingly focused on the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower.
Myriad Spirit Flower Ring, edge of the Third Ring.
Within a hidden floral nest, a beautiful, red-haired woman with a scorpion tail sat on a boulder, gently stroking the cold, lifeless body lying across her lap.
Whether by chance or by fate, in its final moments, Yu Jinfei had encountered one of its own kind.
And both of them, in their own ways, were… failures. One, a support-type spirit beast among the Seven Concubines, considered the weakest, the other, a high-rank spirit beast artificially elevated to Saint-rank, its chances of reaching legendary status slim.
At this moment, the blue scorpion woman’s life force had faded, its eyes dull and lifeless, its body, however, strangely unable to return to its Spirit Master’s soul core.
“Lady Yu Jinfei, there’s trouble in the Myriad Spirit Flower Ring. You should leave,” You Qu Hanyuye’s gentle voice called from outside the nest.
The red-haired woman’s gentle expression instantly hardened.
Yu Jinfei gently pushed the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion’s body aside and stood up, dragging its long, crimson tail as it walked towards the exit.
[I’ve often wondered… if I had simply become a companion to a stronger being… Perhaps my life wouldn’t be so… difficult.]
[Is this the limit of a weaker being? Is there truly no hope of surpassing them?]
[I suppose I’ll never know…]
[If I could live again, I would defeat the invincible White Moon Lord, the breathtaking Snow Monarch, the terrifying Dark Night Concubine, the flawless Peach Blossom Concubine, the world-ending World-Ending Azure Sky, the chilling Ice Banquet Cold Rakshasa, the scorching Myriad Volt Phoenix, the all-powerful Dragon Sleeve Assassin, and the colossal Mad Crown Sky Whale.]
[So… you must witness for me… what lies beyond… the legendary rank…]
Whoosh—
Yu Jinfei, its beautiful, crimson figure, vanished behind the curtain of vines.
As You Qu Hanyuye turned to leave, a deafening heartbeat echoed.
Thump!
The sound, so loud it almost burst her eardrums, startled You Qu Hanyuye, who quickly looked back into the nest, but it was empty.
Strange. What was that sound? Could it have been… her imagination? She should probably… abstain… for a while.
You Qu Hanyuye touched its leaves, puzzled, then left the floral nest.
A short while later, the scorpion, lying unnoticed within the nest, its eyes opening slowly, its sharp, blue hair turning a hellish crimson, stirred.
