His hesitation also gave Feng Ninghe an opportunity to escape.
Without a second thought, she leaped towards a swirling vortex on the ground.
She had noticed the vortex upon entering this place.
She had entered through a vortex, and she was sure she could leave through one.
Si Jianye, unmoved by the direction Feng Ninghe had fled, strode off in another.
Within the spiritual realm of the vortex, not only a blue cherry blossom was valuable, but other things as well.
His objective was not the blue cherry blossom. He had only pursued her because he hadn't expected anyone to dare compete with him for it.
This woman had taken advantage of him, not only looking down on him but also daring to toy with him!
Meanwhile, in the forest.
The beasts, driven into a frenzy, attacked the outsiders at all costs.
Even with the combined efforts of several major families, they couldn't repel the beast tide.
Bai Liyue, unwilling but helpless, could only turn and flee, "The beast tide is upon us, we must escape first. As for the whereabouts of the Blazing Spirit Blood Lotus, it's unknown. If the Underworld King fancies the Blazing Spirit Lotus, we won't get it anyway. Let's prioritize survival and withdraw from the secret realm!"
He was the first to charge out.
The group retreated outwards, but the beast tide pursued relentlessly. Only when they had left the secret realm and successively emerged from the stone gate did the spirit beasts finally stop.
When Feng Ninghe emerged from the vortex, the surroundings were deserted.
Traces of battle remained on the ground, with the corpses of spirit beasts and cultivators lying scattered everywhere.
She lowered her gaze, glancing towards the vortex. After a moment of thought, she took out a palm-sized pearl and placed it on the ground, leaving a note with it.
She considered herself a good person, and leaving a large pearl was a form of compensation.
After all, there were many even larger pearls in the Spirit River…
"Ninghe!"
Just then, a figure hurried over.
Immortal Xu arrived with a worried expression.
Xiao Zhao immediately leaped from Immortal Xu's shoulder and burrowed into Feng Ninghe's embrace, its round body nuzzling against her as it whimpered incessantly.
Master, it's so good that you're alright.
Feng Ninghe smiled, feeling inexplicably reassured, and turned her gaze to Immortal Xu, "Where did the others go?"
"The beast tide was ferocious, and everyone couldn't bear it and fled the secret realm. Did you obtain the Blazing Spirit Lotus?"
Old Man Xu asked with a hint of concern.
She and the Underworld King had been caught in the vortex, and obtaining the Blazing Spirit Lotus wouldn't have been easy.
Feng Ninghe smiled without answering. She flicked her jade bracelet, and a clear bell chime drifted into her ears.
In her palm appeared a vividly blooming Blazing Spirit Lotus.
A moment later, she raised her crimson lips, a wicked smile gracing her delicate face, "The show is about to begin."
"Master, something is following you."
Xiao Zhao sensed something and rummaged on Feng Ninghe's body.
The next moment, Xiao Zhao abruptly caught a palm-sized sprout from Feng Ninghe.
Held by Xiao Zhao, the sprout struggled fiercely.
Upon closer inspection, the tender leaves actually had eyes and a mouth.
Feng Ninghe abruptly stepped back, looking at the sprout warily, "What are you?"
The sprout seemed displeased, arrogantly raising its two leaves, opening its mouth to explain, "I am the renowned Sky-Reaching Sprout!"
"Sky-Reaching Sprout?"
Feng Ninghe fell into thought.
After a moment, she shook her head, "Never heard of it."
Xiao Zhao's bright eyes were fixed on the Sky-Reaching Sprout.
The next moment, it puffed out its round body, extended its chubby little hand towards the sprout, and asked, "Master, can I eat it? It sounds very nourishing, but it looks so scrawny."
Before Feng Ninghe could respond, Xiao Zhao had already grabbed the sprout and, opening its large mouth, attempted to pop it in.
"Wuwu! Don't eat me, I… I have great uses!"
The Sky-Reaching Sprout cried out in fear, tears streaming from its eyes, its two leaves instantly shriveling.
"You can't eat it!"
Just then, Old Man Xu, as if remembering something, added, "The Sky-Reaching Sprout is a good thing!"
Xiao Zhao then released the sprout. It poked the shriveled leaves with its finger, its eyes full of curiosity, "Old man, what is it used for?"
Old Man Xu leaned in for a closer look, examining the Sky-Reaching Sprout before him. He frowned, somewhat surprised, "Legend has it that Sky-Reaching Sprouts can grow over ten zhang tall and heal wounds, but these two leaves… they are too small!"
Feng Ninghe lightly nicked her arm with a small knife, and a drop of blood instantly welled up from the wound.
She grabbed the Sky-Reaching Sprout and placed it on her arm, "Let me see what use you have."
The Sky-Reaching Sprout cried out in terror, its two tender leaves trembling, tears falling in streams, "The outside world is too dangerous, I want to go back to the vortex! The Blazing Spirit Blood Lotus is my brother, and if you bully me, he will avenge me!"
It had sensed a pleasant scent from Feng Ninghe and had followed her.
Who would have thought it would face the risk of being eaten!
The Sky-Reaching Sprout's tears contained a faint shimmer. The moment the tears touched the wound, a cool sensation spread, and the wound instantly healed.
Feng Ninghe examined the Sky-Reaching Sprout closely, "It is indeed somewhat useful, so I won't eat you for now, but you are far too small…"
With only two green leaves, it could only squeeze out a few drops of tears before shriveling. How could one expect it to heal anything?
Upon hearing that it wouldn't be eaten, the Sky-Reaching Sprout stopped crying, its two large eyes widening, "I can grow bigger! When I grow up, let alone ten zhang, I can grow even larger!"
"Then how can you grow bigger?"
Feng Ninghe looked at the shriveled green leaves of the Sky-Reaching Sprout.
She had no doubt that if this continued, the Sky-Reaching Sprout would wither within two days.
The Sky-Reaching Sprout crawled towards her spatial bracelet, drooling, "There seems to be something good in here, let me take a look!"
Indeed, her spatial bracelet contained many good things.
Feng Ninghe scanned the space with her spiritual sense. The Sky-Reaching Sprout headed straight for the Spirit River and buried itself in it.
Its shriveled green leaves instantly became plump and tender.
The Sky-Reaching Sprout then opened its small mouth and picked up a large pearl to eat.
However, its mouth was too small to fit the pearl or bite it.
Helplessly, it put down the pearl and drank deeply from the Spirit River.
She had taken the Spirit River from the vortex. Logically, the Sky-Reaching Sprout should have known about the Spirit River while it was in the vortex. Why did it act so unworldly?
Soon, she dismissed her doubts and casually fished out two pearls of similar size, handing them to Xiao Zhao and Old Man Xu, "These two are for you."
The pearls contained potent spiritual energy, and in critical moments, one could absorb the spiritual energy from them for their own use.
Xiao Zhao happily cradled a pearl as large as its own body.
"The vortex has reappeared."
Old Man Xu noticed the vortex that had appeared behind Feng Ninghe and alerted her.