232 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

**Chapter 232: Xiu Qi (1)** A Bunch of Tricksters!!! Dongfang Minghui felt as if the earth was quaking beneath her feet. The platform where they stood shook so much that the frozen ground shattered, and she feared another avalanche was imminent. However, after a few tremors, the ground stabilized. Just as everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, the ground began to vibrate rhythmically, thud—thud— "Roar," Toothless stood up and growled lowly towards a certain direction. The once imposing beast now had its majestic image diminished by the addition of a small artifact spirit on its furry head that mirrored her appearance. The small spirit, rather smugly, also let out a squeaky roar in the distance. Of course, its tiny baby-like voice was essentially negligible. Qian Wanyu drew her thunder water whip and cautioned in a low voice, "Be careful, this must be a beast larger than the ones on the ground." Looking at the quivering ground, two words flashed in Qian Wanyu's mind—fierce beast. "Lien, go find Mu Sheng and the others, explain this situation to them, and proceed to the mountain foot to wait for us," Dongfang Minghui said, clearly frustrated. She didn't have the time to converse profoundly with the two culprits, "Find a flat area, in case of an avalanche, escaping is crucial." Lien remained silent, his fists clenched. "Shaman, I'll distract this beast with my lord while you take them and go." Dongfang Minghui was naturally disinclined, so she brought out the two main culprits and spoke, "This daunting task is assigned to Little Color. You head to the mountain crevice to notify Mu Sheng and ensure they're safely escorted to the mountain base until we return." "You want me to go?" Little Color couldn't believe her partner was arranging such a task. "Heaven and earth treasures!" Dongfang Minghui gritted her teeth as she reminded. "Alright." For those heavenly treasures, Little Color didn't hesitate, assuming a human form. Before leaving, she airily advised, "If you can't win, run. Don't be silly. Life is precious." Dongfang Minghui rolled her eyes, thinking everyone's life is invaluable these days. "Here." "Into the space?" Seeing Little Bean Sprout looking ill, possibly from missing out on the ice flower, she quickly tossed it into the spatial storage, "Little Fatty, be cautious." "Okay." When the beast appeared, everyone tilted their heads to look up at it, like gazing up a small mountain. Compared to the beast, even its leg dwarfed them. The beast had sturdy legs, and with every step, snow flurried and ice shards flew. "Damn it." "Get out of the way." At the sound, Toothless and the artifact spirit took flight, spewing several fireballs at the beast. Little Fatty launched an attack that only made the beast take half a step back, demonstrating the negligible effect brute force had against absolute power. The thirty-six plum blossom pins at Dongfang Minghui's waist hit their target flawlessly, but the beast's body had a tremendous resilience. Some pins fell from its body, landing forlornly at its feet. "Seventh Sister, is this beast impervious to all poison?" she asked, baffled that the poison in the plum blossom pins, known for its instant lethality, proved ineffective on such a gigantic creature. "No, its defense is simply too strong." In short, it was exceptionally thick-skinned. Even though Qian Wanyu's thunder water whip left numerous marks on it, to the beast, their attacks felt like fancy, ineffective strokes, not deserving the slightest regard. "It's a fierce beast, one of the great fierce beasts atop this ice lotus," Qian Wanyu affirmed with certainty. "Oh my." For a few fruits and a heavenly treasure, they had unwittingly provoked a fierce beast. The fierce beast became more intolerant of Toothless flitting around in mid-air before its eyes. With a sharp open of its mouth, it shot out an ice-spiked ice ball, which brutally collided with a fireball spat by Toothless, with the ice ball emerging victorious. Toothless was struck on the wing, causing a brief falter mid-flight, tilting her body and inadvertently throwing the artifact spirit off her head. "Roar." The small artifact spirit, roughly the size of Dongfang Minghui’s palm, appeared as a speck in the fierce beast's eye, posing no threat. "Roar—" The beast extended its paw towards Toothless but aimed for that little speck. In its eyes, catching the king’s subordinate led to victory. Grasping blindly, it caught the artifact spirit in its paw. However, like a slippery eel, the artifact spirit wriggled free of the fierce grip, transformed into a smaller Toothless, and fluttered for safety. Toothless looked at the fierce beast with a deep gaze, spitting out fireballs continuously. One after another, ten fireballs formed a circle. The artifact spirit gazed at Toothless admiringly. The circle of flames swiftly flew towards the beast, intent on an attack. Below, Little Fatty watched, stomped her foot, and leaped into the air, morphing into a heavenly sound helmet mid-air, crashing towards the beast with great force. Seeing the Sound Helmet, the small artifact spirit wobbled, shaking off the Changsheng Ding from its head, which like a growing balloon, expanded from pinky-size to human-size, and eventually into a small mountain, enveloping the beast along with Toothless's fiery circle. Thud— Dongfang Minghui watched, dumbfounded. The fierce beast, naturally talented but like a soft persimmon, immediately tangled with either Toothless or this Changsheng Ding. Ding—Dong— Sounds of something striking echoed, deafening. "Seventh Sister, can the Changsheng Ding trap that fierce beast?" She worried aloud, considering its sheer size. "It can." The heavenly sound helmet spun in the air before stabilizing, morphing back into a human form, surprised at the sight of the Changsheng Ding. This Ding, covered in thousands of longevity vines, never failed to dazzle those who saw it. The little artifact spirit sat grandly atop the Changsheng Ding. It watched as the hovering Ding descended, stirring countless ice blocks once more. Dongfang Minghui, observing the massive Ding, nodded at the silly artifact spirit, "Little artifact spirit, can this Ding shrink?" "It can." And so, the Changsheng Ding contracted once more to a size proportionate to the small artifact spirit. The prior, boisterous pounding sound from within transformed into a subtle drizzle, nearly inaudible. Qian Wanyu retracted her thunder water whip, "We're lucky to have the Changsheng Ding today. Otherwise, that fierce beast wouldn't have been easy to handle." She had prepared for a tough fight, but to be settled by this inexperienced artifact spirit left her feeling somewhat peculiar. Hearing its mention, the small artifact spirit radiated with starry eyes, yearning for praise, admiration, and reward. Qian Wanyu glanced at it briefly, noticing the blatant eagerness in its little eyes. Restricting a chuckle, she reluctantly poked its little belly, identical to Toothless's, sending the artifact spirit tumbling. It got up and shook its fur, an undeniable resemblance to another Toothless. Toothless, on the other hand, disdainfully eyed the artifact spirit, nuzzling her large head against Dongfang Minghui in a show of grievance. As she affectionately stroked Toothless's head, she proposed, "Seventh Sister, shall we go meet up with Mother and the others?" Qian Wanyu shook her head gently before suddenly tossing the Hehuan Jade into the air. In the Changsheng Ding, she noticed that this jade seemed connected to something, as the red light on it had never dimmed. "Seventh Sister, this—" Dongfang Minghui was stunned, "Seventh Sister, when did you find another piece of the jade?" "That's mine." Lien responded somewhat indignantly, gazing at Qian Wanyu, "Shouldn't you now fulfill what you promised in the Changsheng Ding?" Dongfang Minghui's gaze darted between Lien and Qian Wanyu, sensing a hidden tension between them. “But Lien, I never saw you having it?” Lien, chased to the point of appearing like a ragged little beggar, clad in torn clothes and wielding wooden bows, seemed unlikely to possess such a precious jade. How had she not noticed? Furthermore, through twists and turns, the one Qian Wanyu sought—the offspring of Qian Ying—turned out to be Lien. Dongfang Minghui felt the urge to knock her head against a tree for missing the clues earlier. Lien hesitated, unable to reveal that it came to him in a dream, picked up from an ice coffin, and had stayed with him since. In his dreams, the jade was always around his neck, making it destined to be his. "Very soon," Qian Wanyu smiled slightly. "This Hehuan Jade is a key. Once that door is opened, whatever you wish to know will be revealed." And with it, the legacy of Qian family! Qian Wanyu scrutinized Lien. Over the past year, his tall frame combined with a gentler aura made him increasingly resemble the human race. "Drop a bit of your blood on this jade pendant, and it will lead us to the gate," she instructed. Lien hesitated, casting a wary glance at Qian Wanyu before focusing on the bewildered Dongfang Minghui. After a moment, he sliced his finger, allowing a drop of crimson blood to fall onto the jade. Immediately, the Hehuan Jade glowed brightly, just as it had inside the Changsheng Ding. "Qian Ying, I have found your son for you. You should keep your promise," Qian Wanyu stated solemnly. Dongfang Minghui felt utterly confused. The only thing she understood was that Seventh Sister's blood oath might finally be undone! As for the supposed son of Qian Ying she mentioned, Dongfang Minghui was skeptical, believing it to be a slip of the tongue. However, knowing Seventh Sister as meticulous, she realized there could be more to it—though the thought of Qian Ying's son being vastly different from a descendant was perplexing. Suppressing her doubts, she followed along. The small artifact spirit placed the Changsheng Ding, which housed the fierce beast, back atop its head, chasing after the glowing Hehuan Jade. However, each time it approached, the fiery red glow repelled it. Despite repeated failures, the little spirit persisted, earning cold stares from Qian Wanyu. "Artifact spirit, come here," Dongfang Minghui called, worrying that the little creature might inadvertently anger Seventh Sister, making life difficult for her. "It's no fun," the artifact spirit said. It found the red light from the Hehuan Jade to be a different kind of heat compared to fire, losing interest after a few attempts. Noticing Dongfang Minghui's calling gesture, it darted into her embrace like a bullet. Dongfang Minghui cradled it against her cheek, listening carefully to the sounds from the Changsheng Ding on its head. "Hmm, is that beast still battering the Changsheng Ding?" The little spirit stretched a paw to gently scratch her cheek, softly patting her. "Beast?" With her ear close, she discerned faint noises within the Ding, easily overlooked unless one paid attention. "Artifact spirit, could the beast’s attacks cause you any harm?" The little spirit observed the beast's movements within the Ding. Since being captured, it had erratically battered the Ding with its robust frame. Fortunately, Toothless's true fire was inside the Ding. As an ice-elemental beast, its icy blades and spikes attacked the fire in vain. "It's stupid," the little spirit remarked arrogantly, rubbing its face against hers. "You mean the beast?" "Indeed." The beast's size adjusted with the Changsheng Ding's dimensions—smaller Ding, smaller beast, reducing its strength to a tenth of its original power. Thus, its attacks were inconsequential. Dongfang Minghui reached a sudden realization, gently stroking the little spirit, casually flicking her fingers on the Ding. For the beast inside, it was like thunderous booming sounds reverberating deafeningly. The little spirit, gleeful, flailed its limbs. "Again, again!" Ahead, Qian Wanyu and Lien somberly followed the Hehuan Jade's guiding red glow across the snowy landscape. Behind them, Dongfang Minghui used plum blossom pins to strike the Changsheng Ding with a rhythmic beat that miraculously formed a disjointed tune. "Artifact spirit, I have a favor to ask." "What's that?" Dongfang Minghui shook the remaining four plum blossom pins in front of the little spirit. "There are thirty-two more plum blossom pins on that beast. Can you retrieve them for me?" The little spirit reached out to grab them, but she withdrew them, "These pins are extremely poisonous. Any mishap and you could be affected. Use caution." The little spirit didn't quite understand the concept of poison. Thus, on their way down the mountain, they encountered two oblivious invisible beasts. Dongfang Minghui dispatched one with a plum blossom pin, which the little spirit watched intently, quickly grasping the lesson. "I got it." Their journey led them to rendezvous with Qian Ziyan, Qian Yiling, and the others anxiously waiting at the foot of the mountain. "They're back, they're back," called Little Color, swiftly returning to her soul sea. "I thought it'd be as chaotic as the other day. I waited down below, fearing something had happened to you." "Nothing happened." That big beast had been wholly subdued by the artifact spirit's Changsheng Ding, with not a word more from it. Little Color inquired further about the beast. Dongfang Minghui revealed little, as Seventh Sister had explained to the leads earlier, then continued pursuing the Hehuan Jade towards the first mountain. "Strange," Qian Yiling mused. "The Qian family's legacy is around this Ice Lotus Mountain?" Naturally, Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling followed, pausing to question Dongfang Minghui, "Xiao Jiu, did Yu'er say where she's heading?" Dongfang Minghui immediately dropped her casual tone from before with Little Color. "Mother, Seventh Sister didn't say, but by following this Hehuan Jade, we can find the other half of the Qian family legacy." "What!" Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling stared at each other, exclaiming in unison, "Why would the Qian family's legacy be here?" Neither had ever reached the Qian family's Ninth Peak, oblivious to Qian Ying's past grievances with the family or her 'trick of swapping the dragon and phoenix,' where she took half the legacy, potentially crippling the Qian family. Were it not for Seventh Sister's serendipity, the other half of the Qian legacy would have likely been lost in another few decades when Qian Ying's son passed... possibly seized by others. Terrifying! Seeing their emotional and tense reactions, Dongfang Minghui realized her slip, hurriedly covering her mouth. Like someone caught red-handed, she glanced at both, noting their serious expressions. "Mother, Uncle. This matter... it's a long story." "I’ll ask Yu'er about what this all means." When it comes to the Qian family, it's a matter of clan significance. Moreover, the entire family legacy hangs in the balance, and Qian Yiling quickly resolved to act. Dongfang Minghui glanced helplessly at her maternal uncle for aid. "Ling Ling, let's wait until Wanyu deals with her issue with Lien. We can inquire afterward," Qian Ziyan suggested. "Yes, yes." Dongfang Minghui quickly concurred, urging, "Mother, Uncle, let’s catch up so we can find out what Seventh Sister is planning." The matter between Seventh Sister and Lien puzzled her, but nothing seemed as urgent as freeing Seventh Sister from her blood oath. Qian Yiling pursed her lips, hastening forward. "Mother—" Dongfang Minghui lamented, tapping her head in frustration, thinking this should be explained by Seventh Sister herself. "Let her be. She’s just anxious about the legacy matter," Qian Ziyan consoled. Having been raised with deep awareness of the Qian family legacy, he too wanted clarity, especially with the revelation that the legacy they cherished was fractured. Turning to Dongfang Minghui, he asked, "Xiao Jiu, do you know the ins and outs of Wanyu's blood oath?" Dongfang Minghui nodded briefly, summarizing what she knew. "But whether Lien is truly Qian Ying's son, I am uncertain." "After you were pulled into the magma, Wanyu, entrapped in a heart demon, killed Lien," he recounted. "Uh." She gasped, the chilling sensation reverberating through her being, causing her to cough violently. "Uncle, did you just say Seventh Sister had a heart demon?" Qian Ziyan nodded solemnly. "Yes, she attacked indiscriminately. Even tried to consume us." The situation had been precarious. It was Lien’s sudden attention-grabbing with the painting book that diverted her focus, averting disaster. Dongfang Minghui felt a sharp pang in her heart. Watching the erect figure ahead, she felt an overwhelming urge to run forward and embrace her, "Seventh Sister." Qian Ziyan gently advised, "Though the blood oath woke her, a heart demon remains a perilous thing. Ensure she avoids falling into it again. Its habitual grip can obstruct future advancements greatly." He recalled someone who unknowingly harbored a heart demon, becoming unable to discern illusion from reality during an advancement, leading to madness and self-destruction. "Uncle, I understand." They soon caught up, but Dongfang Minghui was distracted, unnerved by Qian Ziyan’s revelations. She brooded, repeatedly sighing. "Is this true, Little Color?" "It is," affirmed Little Color. "Once ensnared by a heart demon, advancement becomes fraught with challenges. Moreover, your Seventh Sister’s Five-Spirit Constitution already presents many hurdles. Additional heart demon episodes would further disrupt her path forward," Little Color explained, wanting to spare her further worry. Those who fall prey to a heart demon must not only face everyday hurdles in their advancements but also confront a particularly arduous challenge. They need to shatter illusions and emerge independently to successfully advance. Dongfang Minghui suddenly realized why Seventh Sister had developed a heart demon. "Going forward, I'll need to carefully nurse Seventh Sister's condition. Are there any remedies that could help suppress it?" In her soul sea, Little Color stayed quiet as a mouse, fixated on the heavenly treasure before it, contemplating the perfect moment to consume it for optimal cultivation benefits. Nearby, the Pig Immortal Grass couldn’t withstand the silence and chirped, "A little conditioning might work. Since you both practice dual cultivation, engaging often can ease her mind, lessening chances of a heart demon intrusion." The Pig Immortal Grass spoke earnestly, while Dongfang Minghui’s face flushed as red as a monkey's bottom. After a moment, she asked, "Ensuring Seventh Sister's peace of mind should suffice, right?" "Right." Suddenly, the ever-innocent artifact spirit on her shoulder exclaimed, "Oh! This is fun!" It fluttered its wings and flew out, chasing a seven-colored bead, dipping and soaring through the air. Dongfang Minghui noticed the previously stored seven-colored bead, the mark of the Soul Yin Grass, suddenly escape from her spatial storage. Puzzled, she mused, "Didn't the Old Gentlemen say the mark only reacts to the presence of those seven fruits?" "Could it be that there are Soul Yin Grass fruits nearby?" "Absolutely, chase it down before that artifact spirit swallows it whole," urged the Pig Immortal Grass before it promptly dove into Dongfang Minghui's soul sea. Dongfang Minghui hurried after it, with Little Fatty and Toothless following suite. Qian Ziyan, originally trailing behind Qian Wanyu and the others, paused to observe the fluttering artifact spirit chasing something. He waited for Dongfang Minghui, "Xiao Jiu, did something happen?" Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan approached as well, witnessing the little artifact spirit’s pursuit, "Minghui, what’s up with the little guy?" Scratching her head, Dongfang Minghui replied, "It's nothing. It's just taking me to find something. You all go ahead; I'll catch up soon." With that, she dashed off following the Soul Yin Grass mark. Seeing Toothless and Little Fatty tagging along with her, Qian Ziyan felt reassured. "She has Toothless and Little Fatty with her. No need to worry; we'll leave markers for her. Once done, she'll catch up." Mu Sheng hesitated, "I wonder what Minghui is looking for. But this is probably the best course." Minghui was after the three additional fruits, an effort she wouldn’t take lightly, especially if it involved Qing Mo. Taking one last look at Qian Wanyu's disappearing form, she bolstered her resolve, "The mark escaped on its own, which means the items should be nearby, right?" In her soul sea, the two spirit plants were stunned into silence, not making a peep. Little Color was drooling over the heavenly treasure, while the Pig Immortal Grass dared not make a sound, fearing its aura might betray it—the cold snowy landscape may hide some of it, but someone with a keen nose might still detect it. "Don't run," the artifact spirit kept trying to clasp the colorful bead with its paws, tempted to lick its enticing colors. The Soul Yin Grass mark bobbed up and down in mid-air. "Artifact spirit, don't chase it—it’s poisonous." "Ah," the artifact spirit immediately recalled the fallen invisible beasts, which succumbed within seconds. It hesitated, obediently flying back onto Toothless's broad head, its face showing melancholy. Can't touch this, nor that. Everything seems poisonous… For a moment, it wallowed in gloom, then became distracted by the activity within the Changsheng Ding, remembering Dongfang Minghui’s earlier request and began to busy itself again, ready to torment the beast inside, bringing peace. Reaching the ruins, Dongfang Minghui stood still, exasperated. "Don't tell me your three fruits are under this rubble..." The first mountain of Ice Lotus had collapsed with a thunderous roar, covered by heavy snowstorms. Past traces lay buried beneath dense layers of snow, making relic hunting akin to finding a needle in a haystack. "Little Fatty, Toothless, let's work together. I hope you can help me locate these three fruits." She brought out the other three Soul Yin Grass fruits for Toothless to scent. Beasts are just as keen as plants when it comes to smells. Little Fatty, remembering her desire for the fruits earlier, brightened up, eyes aglow. "Ah." She remembered. Working in harmony, they scoured the icy terrain. Little Fatty and Toothless used the faint scents to estimate the items' vicinity. When encountering frozen patches, they melted the ice with fire, making way. Dongfang Minghui, devoid of proper tools, used her spiritual power to rub the ice barehanded, the mark in hand probing for reactions. Engrossed, a gentle voice behind broke her concentration, startling her. "What are you searching for?" The voice, as refreshing as a spring breeze, startled her. Lost in thought, she was caught off-guard. Curiously, Toothless and Little Fatty had not noticed either. Turning around, Dongfang Minghui locked eyes with the newcomer, unable to break her gaze. She’d seen many attractive people, but never someone so pristine. Dressed in white, with jet-black hair tied by a white ribbon, he wore a soft smile, exuding elegance—a portrait brought to life by snowy backdrops. If it weren't for his eyes intensely fixed on her, she might’ve continued staring indefinitely. "Who are you?" "My name is Xiu Qi." Dongfang Minghui: "..." Internally, a flood of "Grass Mud Horse" galloped joyfully through her mind. Surely, it’s just a name coincidence? She reassured herself with that thought. In the soul sea, the Pig Immortal Grass froze, while Little Color, pulling its focus away from the heavenly treasure, expressed surprise, "Is this the person the Pig Immortal Grass mentioned? He seems easygoing, unlike its description." Dongfang Minghui couldn't help but facepalm, feeling Little Color’s focus seemed misplaced. "Miss, what are you searching for? Can I assist?" "Well—" Initially intending to decline, she frowned. Rejecting his offer outright might arouse suspicion. Moreover, making the Pig Immortal Grass avoid trouble meant he should leave promptly. "We’re looking for a sort of fruit, like this." She presented one Soul Yin fruit. Xiu Qi glanced it over. "If you don't mind, I’d gladly lend a hand." Minghui felt flustered, her heart pounding. Could Xiu Qi be aware of the Pig Immortal Grass she housed, explaining this unexpected encounter? Within a hundred-mile radius, they had not seen another soul upon arrival. "Very well," finding Soul Yin fruits alone was challenging, each extra pair of hands helped. Renewed in her search, she warned in her soul sea, "While he’s here, none of you should emerge." Including Little Bean Sprout, whom she’d tossed into her spatial storage. Resuming her search, anxiety gnawed at her focus, her peripheral vision frequently darting towards the celestial personage—not for his grandeur but to remain aware of his actions. Xiu Qi strolled through the ruins gracefully, his movements ethereal, giving one the impression he was gliding a red carpet rather than treading on ruins. Unable to resist, she criticized internally. Not just her, even Toothless and Little Fatty, who had been diligent, cast frequent glances given the newcomer's presence. Mid-thought, Xiu Qi gently stomped, shattering a massive block of ice beneath him. Exposed was a platform buried under substantial ice, concealed thoroughly by nature. Single-handedly extracting a vivid piece from the platform, he weighed it, then smiled at Dongfang Minghui. "Miss, see if these are the three fruits you're searching for." Dongfang Minghui: "..." Admittedly astonished, she revealed only one fruit, yet he discerned her quest included three. Before she could reply, the Soul Yin Grass mark zipped to him, hovering over a twenty-centimeter-thick ice layer. Awkwardly smiling, she retrieved the item from his elegant hand, briefly admiring its beauty again. "I see, encased in the ice layer, that’s why it was hard to find." The endeavor had been akin to digging three feet deep, layers of snow insulating the scents. No wonder she, Toothless, and Little Fatty had searched so long in vain. But how did he locate it? Sensing her inquisitive gaze, Xiu Qi chuckled, "What intrigues you, Miss?" Dongfang Minghui hastily averted her eyes, "I was merely curious how you knew exactly which ones we sought." Xiu Qi spoke candidly, "The Soul Yin Fruits appear once every four hundred years, totaling seven. Each fruit is imbued with the chilling essence of the mother plant and has a distinct scent. Coincidentally, I have an exceptionally keen nose and can sense their presence merely by sniffing." A keen nose... Dongfang Minghui clutched the icy fruit, instinctively stepping back. The icy coldness reaffirmed Xiu Qi's words; the Soul Yin Fruit carried an intense coldness upon formation—bitingly cold. As she retreated, Xiu Qi continued to smile serenely, seemingly oblivious to her fear. "It seems the Wanshou Clan truly has a natural affinity with plants. Even something as cold as the Soul Yin Grass has left its mark with you." Dongfang Minghui's face turned ghostly pale, her horror evident as she felt utterly exposed under those penetrating eyes. Every hidden secret felt laid bare. "Pig Immortal Grass, just who is this Xiu Qi?" The Pig Immortal Grass continued playing dead. Toothless, sensing her unease, vectored close, growling lowly at Xiu Qi. "You—how—how do you know so much?" Dongfang Minghui stammered, her teeth chattering. She was certain she had never met Xiu Qi before, yet he seemed to know her identity immediately. What else could he possibly be aware of? Xiu Qi offered a dazzling smile. "Perhaps I've lived too long. I once met someone from the Wanshou Clan; her aura was much like yours." Aura. He was identifying her by her aura. Could there truly be a sharper sense of smell than that of Little Color and the others? "Hey, descendant of the Dragon Clan, don't spit fire. You'll cause a collapse here, and the consequences aren't something you can bear." "Toothless." Without realizing it, Toothless had already formed seven or eight fireballs. Had Xiu Qi not intervened, she might have unleashed a chain of ten. Reluctantly, she swallowed the fireballs back down. Xiu Qi glanced at Little Fatty and the artifact spirit, pausing to gaze at the spirit with a smile of surprise, "I didn't expect to witness the Changsheng Ding today. Ding Ding, come over." Ding Ding? Turning to observe the artifact spirit, Dongfang Minghui noticed it was curiously tilting its head at Xiu Qi but showed no recognition. Xiu Qi arched an eyebrow, "Did the Changsheng Ding undergo some kind of collision?" Dongfang Minghui shook her head, "I don't know. It was already like this when I found it." She reached out to pat the little spirit's head, making it nuzzle her hand affectionately. "I've found what I came for. I'm leaving now. Goodbye, Xiu Qi." With that, she turned and hurriedly departed. Xiu Qi watched her nearly flee the scene, chuckling softly. "Could it be I've turned into a man-eating beast, scaring everyone away?" Hastily leading Toothless and Little Fatty along unfamiliar paths, Dongfang Minghui feared Xiu Qi might pursue and demand the Pig Immortal Grass or the artifact spirit from the Changsheng Ding. Only once assured no one else followed did she breathe a sigh of relief. "Pig Immortal Grass!" Were it not for seeing Xiu Qi, she'd still be led around in circles by the Pig Immortal Grass. But having faced him, she realized he was indeed a terrifying figure. His knowledge of Toothless’s Dragon Clan heritage, her Wanshou roots, and his recognition of the disguised artifact spirit was unnerving. He even seemed aware of the Changsheng Ding's story. This person was too terrifying. The Pig Immortal Grass persisted in its silent act, refusing to speak. "Don't think ignoring me will end this. At least tell me, who on earth is Xiu Qi?" Her plea met with silence in her soul sea, leaving Dongfang Minghui fuming nearly to the point of anger. Yet she was deeply worried, “Could he truly identify us by our auras? If so, wouldn’t he have known you were with me from the moment he appeared?” Even the Pig Immortal Grass couldn’t be sure. "I wonder if there’s still time for Seventh Sister to reapply the three seals," Dongfang Minghui worried. Never entering the Changsheng Ding and keeping the seals might have prevented her encounter with Xiu Qi. When she gathered her wits, she realized her frantic escape had led her off course. Circling back, she asked, "Toothless, Little Fatty, can you track Big Uncle and Mother by their scents?" "Roar." Toothless lowered herself, inviting her to climb onto her back. Carrying the artifact spirit, Dongfang Minghui climbed atop, while Little Fatty looked enviously at Toothless's back. But Toothless’s low growl dissuaded her, so she trotted beside them. They traveled some distance until Little Fatty suddenly exclaimed. "Ah." On the snowy ground was a distinct barefoot imprint, partially concealed by snow, but its deep impression remained discernible. Little Fatty compared her footprint beside it. Side by side, the two prints—one large, one small—were strikingly evident.