240 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

# Chapter 240: Suppression (Part 1) In the blink of an eye, when Qian Wanyu tried to catch up, the trace of Toothless was gone. She released five streams of spiritual power to sense the surroundings, but couldn’t detect Toothless at all. Utilizing her wind element spiritual power, she transmitted her voice in all directions, "Toothless, come out, don’t make her worry about you." Ding Ding heard Qian Wanyu's voice and flew in the opposite direction. Flapping her wings leisurely, she carried a porcelain bottle, dodging the large tree leaves skillfully like a little loach wriggling through the bushes. After some searching, she flew even higher, nearly reaching the sky. The sun's bright rays hid her presence so well that no one noticed the little bee-like figure diligently flying around. She pondered the places Toothless liked most and finally settled on the area where Toothless had previously taken her to collect wild spiritual plants. This area was west of a small river, completely opposite to the direction in which Qian Wanyu had pursued. Ding Ding flew onward and soon spotted a tree's leaves rustling about ten meters ahead. She flew over and perched on the leaves, looking down to find a thick black tail flicking back and forth at the tree's base, creating a faint noise against the leaves. Ding Ding's eyes lit up, and cheerfully, she swooped down. Just before reaching the spot, she suddenly remembered what Dongfang Minghui had specifically told her, and quickly braked, her tiny eyes looking fierce, "Toothless! Toothless!" Toothless glanced at Ding Ding with her crimson eyes, ignoring her, and continued to dig a hole. The fur on her back stood on end. Seeing that Toothless completely ignored her, Ding Ding wore a sorrowful expression. Realizing she couldn't hold the bottle one-handed, she expanded her size until she could grip the porcelain bottle firmly. With a swift dive, she precisely grabbed onto Toothless's fluffy tail. "Roar—" Toothless roared angrily, struggling a bit; but the tug on her tail hurt, lifting her limbs off the ground. Stunned for a moment, she quickly unfurled a pair of black wings, stirring a fierce wind. However hard she flew, she couldn't shake off the little creature gripping her tail. "Roar—" Toothless flew wildly in mid-air, tail flailing desperately. Ding Ding, agile and dodging, clung tightly, trying to protect the white jade bottle in her hand, and laughed gleefully, "Toothless, Toothless, faster, this is fun~" Qian Wanyu followed the sounds and saw Toothless flipping madly in the air, occasionally letting out disgruntled growls. She noted the end of Toothless's tail had a small patch of green, swaying like willow catkins in the wind with Toothless's wild movements. "Heh." Surprised that this little one had found Toothless first, Qian Wanyu watched them playfully scuffle and reminded, "Ding Ding, help Ninth Sister bring Toothless back." Ding Ding, swayed pleasantly by Toothless, heard the reminder and remembered the task. She tugged at Toothless's tail fur, speaking softly, "Toothless, Toothless, let's stop playing." Toothless nearly coughed blood from anger, thinking, who is playing with you!!! In the next moment, Qian Wanyu saw Toothless, who was ten times larger than Ding Ding, being forcibly dragged down by her, crashing hard onto the ground and creating a massive pit. The impact even caused the ground to shake slightly. "Puff, puff." Ding Ding got dirt all over, even tasted some soil, "Toothless, take your medicine—" Toothless was momentarily dazed by Ding Ding's abrupt action, rolling within the pit before stubbornly getting up, her tail drooping, crimson eyes glaring as if to bore a hole through Ding Ding. "Ding Ding, be careful." "Eat—" Ding Ding offered the porcelain bottle to Toothless just as a large fireball came barreling down at her. Protecting the bottle, she flew higher instantly, but the fireball, after missing, chased after her determinedly. Ding Ding zigzagged, muttering, "Toothless, take your medicine." The small pit wasn't sufficient for her evasive maneuvers, her wings almost scorched by the fireball before she finally realized Toothless wasn’t playing with her!!! It was a sign of conflict. "Toothless, I'm done playing with you, o(￣ヘ￣o#)." Chased by the fireball, Ding Ding kept an eye on Toothless, ensuring she didn’t escape again while she wasn’t looking. Toothless jumped and landed steadily. "Toothless, come back with me." Qian Wanyu stood before her, particularly facing Toothless’s red eyes, "Ninth Sister will surely find a way to cure you." "Ouch." Ding Ding rushed straight toward Qian Wanyu, who easily stepped aside, snapping a whip at the fireball, scattering sparks. She noticed a black thread-like flash, then saw Toothless’s forelegs etching new marks in the ground anxiously. Qian Wanyu retreated a step, cautious, "You, you're not Toothless, who are you!" Ding Ding fluttered her wings, tilting her head at Qian Wanyu, and then at Toothless. The fireball finally ceased its chase after being whipped out. "Toothless, eat—" "Roar—" Seeing the stubbornness, Ding Ding suddenly remembered the term ‘forcefully’. She scratched her head, touched the Longevity Cauldron on her head, and then took it down. "Ding Ding, what are you going to do?" "Toothless needs her medicine." Today, Toothless was not obedient at all, which would make Xiao Jiu unhappy. Ding Ding blew on the Longevity Cauldron twice, which grew rapidly until it exceeded Qian Wanyu's height, forcing her to retreat several steps. She watched as the Longevity Cauldron swallowed Toothless, who was about to flee, catching a glimpse of the ferocious creature’s sturdy leg. "Ding Ding—boom boom—" Ding Ding put her ear against the outside of the Longevity Cauldron to listen; it seemed the giant inside wanted to play with Toothless, resulting in deafening noise and constant thuds. Qian Wanyu watched as Ding Ding suddenly shrank smaller than before, down to a nearly imperceptible point. "Ding Ding, what do you want to do?" "Administer medicine." Forcefully. She then slipped back into the Longevity Cauldron. Qian Wanyu furrowed her brow, “This doesn’t seem good.” The situation was almost identical to when Mo Ce had been possessed. With a heavy heart, she rushed toward the Yin-Yang spring, only to encounter Dongfang Minghui, who had come following the sound. "Seventh Sister, where’s Toothless?" "Toothless is inside the Longevity Cauldron with Ding Ding, it should be safe for now." Dongfang Minghui gasped. How could this be considered safe? Clearly, there was trouble, "Toothless's state is not good; if she fights with that beast, the consequences will be disastrous." Qian Wanyu grabbed her wrist, “You said earlier that that dragon pill has developed its own consciousness?” "Yes, Seventh Sister, that dragon pill, I always thought was masterless. Toothless treasured it a lot, but I didn't expect it not only had memories but also tried to devour Toothless's consciousness and replace it." Dongfang Minghui hurriedly explained, “At the dragon's burial ground, that dragon pill chose a suitable predecessor's remains by itself.” Qian Wanyu listened silently as she deduced the overall situation leading to the current state, “So that's why the dragon pill became infused with black mist components—” If she were handling this, she might have first negotiated a mutually beneficial solution with the dragon pill’s owner, rather than pushing it to a desperate point. By not offering a way out, it was bound to a do-or-die confrontation. But now, regret would solve nothing. "Ninth Sister, do you still remember Mo Ce?" "I remember." She would never forget. That person was wonderful, yet they could only watch as Mo Ce was gradually consumed. Mo Ce’s longed-for familial bond might never be realized in this lifetime. Dongfang Minghui dared not imagine Mo Ce's fate befalling Toothless. "Seventh Sister, what are you trying to say?" "Toothless’s situation is much better than Mo Ce’s. Back then, Mo Ce had very low cultivation and was vulnerable, yet he still managed to maintain partial control with his willpower. So, aside from Toothless resisting the consciousness within the dragon pill, we need to keep reminding Toothless of her reliance on you." A person holds onto beliefs and attachments they cannot easily forsake. "I will." Dongfang Minghui approached the immense Longevity Cauldron to listen closely, but she couldn’t hear any commotion. This was the second time she observed the Longevity Cauldron. "Ding Ding can grow that big, but why does she always transform into something so tiny?" "That’s because her intellect hasn’t fully developed, and transforming that way consumes minimal spiritual power." "I see." Being small has its perks; growing larger makes her seem less adorable than when she was little. As a seasoned caretaker, Dongfang Minghui reflected that she could no longer hug or pinch Little Fatty as she used to, feeling awkward when those calm eyes seemed to see through her thoughts. How could something as inexperienced as an artifact spirit emanate such a sense of wisdom? —— Inside the Longevity Cauldron, the flames roared hotter, turning the walls crimson, and the atmosphere weakened. The beast grew vexed, occasionally casting ice balls to cool down. Comparatively, upon re-entering the cauldron, Toothless seemed much calmer. She glanced at the beast, maddened by Ding Ding's torment, then issued a soft growl, initiating a challenge. Toothless and the enormous beast locked eyes, their expressions fierce. With little hesitation, they collided forcefully. The massive spiritual powers clashing caused them to stagger several steps back. Ding Ding, posing as a wall ornament, peeked out and then withdrew, feeling conflicted. In this situation, how could she force Toothless to take the medicine? It was a vexing problem. The fireballs and ice balls crashed violently, scattering across the floor. The beast and Toothless exchanged a glance, agreeing to rest before resuming the fight. As Toothless prepared to rest, Ding Ding made her move, diving into Toothless's mouth with the porcelain bottle… Floating along the esophagus, Ding Ding observed the fiery interior akin to molten lava at the cauldron's edge. Fortunately, she was accustomed to the heat, so she moved forward unperturbed. Ding Ding prodded around, her fingers bouncing back from a curious elastic force. Finding it amusing, she retracted her wings, walking through the rough terrain, and astonishingly found two dragon pills in Toothless's dantian, one large entangled in black threads, concealing the surrounding firelight, the smaller emitting fire-elemental spiritual power. The black threads, having emerged from the larger dragon pill, menacingly encroached upon the smaller one. Ding Ding stood awed by the dragon pills, oversized for her small frame. "Little one, come here." The larger dragon pill morphed into Toothless’s face, sounding fiercely authoritative. "Ding Ding, step back." The smaller dragon pill had no face, its voice weak and resigned. Ding Ding’s eyes twinkled as she ran toward the smaller pill within Toothless, extending her tiny arms to hug it, only to realize her limbs were too short for the task. She tried and failed to even embrace it, feeling a twinge of sadness. "Toothless, Toothless, are you better now?" "Little one, come over here." The black threads from the larger dragon pill, controlled by an ominous will, reached for Ding Ding. Growing anxious, Toothless urged, "Ding Ding, you must leave. This is not to be touched." Ding Ding glanced at the porcelain bottle in her hand, then at the encroaching black line, vexed. "No way, you haven’t taken your medicine. Xiao Jiu will be angry." If Xiao Jiu were angry, there would be no fish flakes. And if Qian Wanyu were angry, she’d have no spiritual power to absorb. "Ding Ding." "Little one, come." Ding Ding opened the bottle cap, peered inside, and found a potent elixir with a familiar scent. Trying to recall what the scent was, she tipped the bottle, letting the green liquid pool at her feet. Suddenly, the black threads pulling closer recoiled, the elixir spreading between the two dragon pills, submerging the threads entangling Toothless’s dragon pill. The threads struggled, slowly vanishing. Ding Ding watched for a good while and understood. She then grew larger than the dragon pill, pausing once slightly bigger, throwing a punch at the pill, "Bad egg." The dragon pill was flattened by her blow, seemingly unprepared for this attack, as Ding Ding kept hitting and stomping it. Oddly, the threads dared not approach, allowing her to vent out freely. "You made Toothless sick." Toothless felt both amused and exasperated, but soon noticed something different about Ding Ding. "Ding Ding, I need your help." "Um." Ding Ding pondered Toothless’s request, face reluctant, so she brought up past grievances, "You burned my wings with your fire." Not to mention her backside. Toothless: "..." "It wasn’t me; that was someone else’s doing. You can hit it again if you like." "Oh." Ding Ding didn't quite understand but accepted Toothless's words. She continued to pummel the dragon pill until the face resembling Toothless was dented. "Little one, stop! Or I will show no mercy!" "What do you mean by mercy?" Almost exasperated, the dragon pill swelled with flames but still couldn't break Toothless's barrier. The green elixir drew a boundary between the two dragon pills. Ding Ding, returning to her smaller form, looked up, "Toothless, I'm leaving." She’d stayed too long in the magma, feeling uncomfortable. "Ding Ding, go!" "Okay." Ding Ding swiftly dashed out of Toothless’s mouth. The beast opposite mistook it for a projectile from Toothless, infuriated, and unleashed ice shards and balls from above. Ding Ding zipped aside, her swift movements allowing her to slide out of the Longevity Cauldron unnoticed. With the black threads gone, Toothless revitalized, facing the ice shards with newfound courage. Ding Ding emerged outside the Longevity Cauldron, cutely seeking attention from Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu, "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, I saw the bad egg." "Bad egg?" Dongfang Minghui initially thought of the beast, soon dismissing it. She quickly asked, "Ding Ding, did you manage to give Toothless the medicine I gave you?" Ding Ding answered truthfully, "She drank it, but the super big bad egg is still there. Should I give Toothless more medicine?" Qian Wanyu understood from her innocent words and patiently asked, "Ding Ding, how did you make Toothless take the medicine?" Proudly, Ding Ding replied, "I forced her, just like Xiao Jiu said." "What Seventh Sister meant was, how did you make Toothless ingest the elixir?" Dongfang Minghui observed Ding Ding’s small limbs and wondered if she had imparted a misguided message about "forceful" methods, feeling guilty as if she had misled a child. Could it have been as she imagined? "I poured the elixir inside Toothless's belly." Dongfang Minghui: "..." Qian Wanyu: "..." Exchanging glances, Qian Wanyu asked, "Did you run into Toothless's stomach?" Ding Ding, looking pleased they finally understood, "Yes, I saw the super big bad egg and even punched it." Ding Ding clenched a small fist, "But it wasn't fun there, too hot, and not as pretty inside as my cauldron." Dongfang Minghui scrutinized Ding Ding as if she were an alien but quickly set aside her shock for Toothless’s sake. "Ding Ding, did you encounter the black threads?" Ding Ding perched on her shoulder, flapping her wings, "I saw them. They made Toothless sick." Qian Wanyu suddenly inquired, "Ding Ding, was the bad egg a spherical object exuding fire-elemental spiritual energy?" "Yeah, but it strangely looked like Toothless," Ding Ding mused. "Luckily, I had already punched its face flat, so we can now tell which one is Toothless." Dongfang Minghui gripped Qian Wanyu's wrist, "Seventh Sister, does this mean Toothless hasn’t fully merged with the dragon pill? Do we still have a chance?" Qian Wanyu wasn’t as optimistic but continued to ask Ding Ding a few more questions, "Ding Ding, did the dragon pill truly look like Toothless?" Ding Ding nodded gently, illustrating with a gesture, "The bad egg is this big, and Toothless is a little smaller." "And plus, Toothless doesn't have a face." Qian Wanyu's worst fear had manifested. "The power disparity is significant. I hadn't expected that this dragon pill, despite its prolonged consumption of energy, would still possess such capability." Dongfang Minghui also realized a problem from Ding Ding's description. The size of the dragon pill indicated a disparity in power; evidently, the dragon pill held the upper hand. She glanced at Ding Ding, noticing its little feet joyfully swaying before her. "Ding Ding, did Toothless say anything?" "Hmm, she seemed to say she needed my help with something." Ding Ding blinked. Dongfang Minghui placed the little one in her palm, asking further, "What did Toothless want you to help with?" Ding Ding thought for a moment and then realized she had forgotten to ask... Faced with Xiao Jiu's expectant gaze, Ding Ding blinked a couple more times before lying in her palm, turning over and fitting perfectly in it, whispering dejectedly, "Forgot to ask..." Dongfang Minghui: "..." Qian Wanyu couldn't help but facepalm, but what worked in their favor was Ding Ding's capability to enter Toothless’s body to observe her situation, significantly better than them making wild guesses. She released a stream of gold-elemental spiritual power, "Ding Ding." Spotting the gold spiritual power, Ding Ding bounced over from Dongfang Minghui's hand to Qian Wanyu's shoulder, sliding down and hugging Qian Wanyu's hand, enveloped entirely in golden glow. Dongfang Minghui watched the carefree little one, unsure whether to worry or be glad. "Toothless must have some plan, that's why she asked Ding Ding to help. Seventh Sister, why not let Ding Ding release Toothless? There's still a fierce beast in there." Qian Wanyu replied calmly, "Precisely because there's a fierce beast, it can help Toothless suppress the dragon pill temporarily, giving us time to prepare." Any smart person, confronted with a formidable enemy, would not senselessly vie for control but instead unite to subdue the external threat. This dragon pill, too cunning to act otherwise, unless it sought death. But observing all indicators, that dragon pill wished to live. This time, Dongfang Minghui was quick to catch on, "Seventh Sister implies that the fierce beast can intimidate the dragon pill, preventing it from acting recklessly." "Exactly." "Gurgle—gurgle—" Wrapped snugly in gold-elemental power, Ding Ding rolled comfortably, flipping a few times before dozing off in Qian Wanyu's palm, accompanied by soft snores. As a reward for its unintentional help, Qian Wanyu even provided an extra hour of relaxation. Dongfang Minghui found a space to prepare a stone pot of fish slices for Ding Ding, the enticing scent awakening it from slumber, even drawing Little Fatty and the Little Gold False Dragon over. With a swift flip, Ding Ding stood steady in Qian Wanyu’s palm, feeling rejuvenated. The Longevity Cauldron again chimed with intermittent clangs. "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, fish slices!" "Yes indeed." Dongfang Minghui beckoned Ding Ding to her shoulder, "There was a little mishap last time, so this time you can fully indulge." Eyes sparkling, Ding Ding stared at the pot of gleaming white fish slices, "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, they’re all mine?" "All yours." Little Fatty and the Little Gold False Dragon swallowed hard, eyeing the feast. Qian Wanyu chuckled, shaking her head. Though Ninght Sister’s approach seemed childish, she couldn’t deny its effectiveness. Someone had just indulged Ding Ding a little extra, herself. Thrilled, Ding Ding zoomed off into the sky before barreling like a cannonball into Dongfang Minghui’s embrace, almost knocking her over. "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, you’re the best, I adore you." Qian Wanyu’s face darkened a shade, fingers resting on the golden web, contemplating whether to discipline it. "Ding Ding, eat first, and after, ask Toothless what she needs us to do." "Okay." Guilty, Ding Ding agreed immediately, running off with the stone pot under the envious gaze of Little Fatty and the Little Gold False Dragon. Little Fatty approached the Longevity Cauldron, peering curiously. "Cauldron." Dongfang Minghui watched her express herself word by word, wondering how someone adult-sized could still communicate like an undeveloped child. With strength needing no lessons, but her other faculties left much to be desired. "Toothless encountered a minor mishap, so I had Ding Ding temporarily contain her in the Longevity Cauldron." "Ah." Little Fatty gestured anxiously. "The adult is in this cauldron?" Dongfang Minghui first appeased the Little Gold False Dragon and reassured her, "Rest assured, with Ding Ding keeping watch, the fierce beast won’t stir up any trouble." The Little Gold False Dragon queried repeatedly, "Is the adult really okay in there?" Dongfang Minghui nodded, patiently reiterating, "Don't worry, everything's fine. We won’t let anything happen to her." Later, she sidled up to Qian Wanyu, "Seventh Sister, I've always assumed Little Fatty’s speech difficulty stemmed from being a Gold-devouring Mouse, but if she’s an artifact spirit, why does she still struggle to speak fluently?" Will it be like this forever? Qian Wanyu cast a complex look at Little Fatty, "In general, it takes a long time for a helmet to birth an artifact spirit. But Qing Mo told me that the Tianyin Helmet doesn't yet have the capacity to produce one, especially since if she were truly an artifact spirit, Little Fatty’s spiritual awakening should have been of the metal attribute, not fire." Dongfang Minghui was taken aback, "Seventh Sister, what do you mean by this?" Qian Wanyu pinched her hand gently, "Perhaps you should ask her yourself what she really is." Little Fatty sat by the Longevity Cauldron, head bowed, expressionless, her words always escaping one at a time, a trait that could drive anyone up the wall. Dongfang Minghui felt no inclination to pry; each of those around her was a handful in their own right. "When the time is right, she'll tell us herself," Qian Wanyu comforted, tired of her furrowed brow. "Seventh Sister, are you trying to placate me too? When will I hear Little Fatty speak cohesively? If she keeps speaking in such single-word utterances, when will I finally hear more than two words from her?" Qian Wanyu was amused by her self-deprecating tone, indicating she was alright now. "No matter what, she did grow from the blood you nourished her with and the essence of the Ghost-faced Tree Spirit clan." "Hmm." "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu." A little green speck dashed towards them in a parabola, prompting Dongfang Minghui to hide behind Qian Wanyu, "If that little one drops the stone pot on me, I’ll be left with a concussion." Qian Wanyu raised an eyebrow playfully, "Not impossible." Ding Ding tossed the pot onto the ground and gleefully chased Dongfang Minghui, "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, what are you doing?" "Playing hide and seek." "What's hide and seek?" Dongfang Minghui suddenly poked her head out, "Ding Ding, I'll give you another porcelain bottle of elixir to take to Toothless. If she needs it, give it to her, and also ask if she has anything she needs us to do." At the sight of the bottle, Ding Ding abruptly remembered, "Oh no, I left the last one in Toothless's stomach." Everyone stared at the bottle: "..." Dongfang Minghui covered her forehead, "Then please retrieve it for me afterward, Ding Ding." Ding Ding nodded solemnly, "Got it." This time, Ding Ding gave the Longevity Cauldron a little tap, slipping inside to find Toothless and the fierce beast lying on the ground, both panting heavily. Toothless had the advantage of time and place within the Longevity Cauldron, allowing Ding Ding to monitor everything. Plus, the flames at the cauldron's top served as a great help in depleting the ice-elemental beast’s spiritual power. The dragon pill tried to seize Toothless's pill amidst the chaos but failed. "Toothless, Toothless." As Ding Ding re-entered, the large beast's eyes pupil narrowed, though Ding Ding swiftly dodged. As Toothless extended her tongue to rest, Ding Ding deftly dragged the porcelain bottle back inside. "Toothless, Toothless." In the dantian, the two dragon pills silently confronted each other. The previously verdant liquid had faded, blending into the crimson glow. At some point, the defining boundary had collapsed. Yet neither dragon pill could completely overpower the other, especially with the fierce beast still guarding them vigilantly. Expertly, Ding Ding brought the bottle before Toothless, "Toothless, do you still need medicine?" Before Toothless could respond, the dragon pill intertwined with black threads mimicked Toothless’s voice, "Ding Ding, I need it." Ding Ding dismissed the foolish dragon pill with disdain, "Toothless, let's ignore this bad egg and talk privately." "Little one, give me whatever’s in that bottle." "(o(￣ヘ￣o#))" Ding Ding instantly enlarged somewhat, cradling the porcelain bottle protectively in her hands while searching extensively within Toothless's dantian. "Toothless, where did the bottle I dropped last time go?" "It got eaten by that thing." Toothless reminded, "Tell Mother that I don't need this elixir for now." Ding Ding tilted her head in confusion, "Why? Don't you need the medicine anymore, Toothless?" Toothless struggled to explain to the little creature, fearing she might say, although the medicine could eliminate the black threads on her, it primarily aided the dragon pill in removing its black threads, leaving her unable to suppress it when the time came. "Ding Ding, tell Mother, she will understand." "Oh," Ding Ding took a glance at the large creature and then scurried over to Toothless, whispering, "Toothless, do you need me to do anything for you?" "Little one, don't think I can't hear you. I can hear everything you're saying. Give me that bottle," demanded the dragon pill. After pondering, Toothless said, "Ding Ding, when you're bored, you come and beat it until it's flat." Ding Ding's eyes sparkled, nodding eagerly, then added, "Xiao Jiu asked if there's anything else we can do for you?" A warm feeling surged through Toothless's heart. After a moment of thought, she shook her head, "Not for now. Just tell Mother I'm doing fine and not to worry about me." --- "Ding Ding, how is Toothless?" "Not taking it," she presented the porcelain bottle to Dongfang Minghui, "Toothless wants me to go inside and beat the bad egg." After Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu asked several questions, they finally understood Toothless's words. Qian Wanyu stroked her chin, looking at Ding Ding, "Besides telling you to beat the bad egg, did Toothless ask you to do anything else?" Ding Ding shook her head, ecstatic, "I'm going to beat the bad egg now." Qian Wanyu waved her hand, "Go ahead. Later, Ninth Sister will make something delicious as a reward for you." With glee, Ding Ding reentered the Longevity Cauldron, enjoying a leisurely period of days spent beating the bad egg, eating fish slices, and absorbing gold-elemental spiritual power... It soon became a routine to go inside when bored to beat the bad egg, eat fish slices, and gain spiritual power. One day, entering the cauldron with high spirits, Ding Ding emerged, looking troubled. Seeing this, Dongfang Minghui quickly took her into her palm, asking, "Ding Ding, did Toothless bully you?" Having grown plumper and slightly larger due to the nourishment, Ding Ding glanced at her with a pout, "Xiao Jiu, the bad egg keeps shrinking, it’s not fun to beat anymore." "Hmm? Shrinking?" Qian Wanyu suddenly opened her eyes in surprise. Ding Ding hopped onto her, grumbling, "Toothless keeps growing, but that big baddie keeps getting smaller. Even the huge creature looks a bit smaller now." "So, this is what's troubling you?" "Yes." Qian Wanyu looked over at Ninth Sister, saying, "Ding Ding, you should be happy." Ding Ding’s face was filled with confusion, "Why?" "Because you've been diligently absorbing spiritual power recently, so you've grown, and thus, the fierce beast seems smaller to you now. It's a sign you're becoming stronger; isn't that something to be happy about?" "Then, Seventh Sister, does that mean the dragon pill getting smaller implies its power is waning?" "It’s probably being absorbed by Toothless." Realization dawned on Ding Ding. Clapping her hands, she cheered, "Both Toothless and I have grown bigger." Dongfang Minghui offered a relieved smile, "Congratulations, Ding Ding, for growing up." Ding Ding, pondering how she grew, discovered that routinely beating the bad egg (foggy), and eating fish slices (foggy) contributed to her growth—nothing could be more wonderful. She shot up into the sky joyfully, playing in the distance. Impatiently, Dongfang Minghui asked, "Seventh Sister, can Ding Ding release Toothless now?" Qian Wanyu too worried about Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan living in the icy wilderness. "When Ding Ding returns, have her ask Toothless if she can manage the dragon pill without the fierce beast. If she can, then have Ding Ding bring her out." "What if she can't?" "If necessary, I'll find a way to extract the yin-yang spring orb ourselves. We’ve lingered here too long." "Understood." Dongfang Minghui also knew, "But, Seventh Sister, without Toothless, descending to the yin-yang spring is dangerous for you." “That thought had crossed my mind; without Toothless, no one can restrain the fire-elemental spring orb," Qian Wanyu admitted, "We still have Little Fatty and Xiao Miao, and hopefully, Toothless will regain her freedom soon." After a circle of joyous flight, Ding Ding returned, recharged with gold-elemental spiritual power, boldly venturing into the cauldron again, this time bringing Toothless out with her. "Toothless." "Arwooo." Toothless appeared in her beast form, affectionately nudging Dongfang Minghui with her head. Ding Ding climbed onto her head, sitting cross-legged properly. Dongfang Minghui embraced Toothless, "Toothless, you will get better." Toothless responded softly. Later, they returned to the yin-yang spring side, where Qian Wanyu advised, "None of you should descend, especially you, Toothless. Your fire-element power is unstable and may backfire if you go down." Qian Wanyu feared that if Toothless released her fire element, it might be suppressed or ambushed by the dragon pill. "If the imbalance stems from fire-element power, have Little Fatty and Xiao Miao assist me." "Seventh Sister, be careful." "Roar—" Toothless tried to follow but was held back by Dongfang Minghui, "Toothless, your condition isn’t right, listen to Seventh Sister."