Chapter Thirty-Two: Teaching the Little White Lotus a Lesson

To verify her suspicions, Su Li dashed forward, her claws infused with demonic energy slashing deep into the belly of the Silver-scaled Blue Scorpion, revealing bone beneath. Strangely, the beast's body shuddered and paused its attack. Su Li was momentarily stunned.

The next instant, the Silver-scaled Blue Scorpion suppressed a roar and whipped its tail toward her.

“Ah Hua, bind it up!” Su Li shouted.

No sooner had she spoken than countless green, spiked vines surged from the earth, locking the Silver-scaled Blue Scorpion securely in place. The beast struggled violently, but the Demon Flower King tightened its grip.

Su Li leapt onto the scorpion’s head, her sharp claws embedding deeply, forcefully channeling the power of the beast she carried into its body. Gradually, the Silver-scaled Blue Scorpion ceased its struggle. Su Li glanced at its eyes and found they had returned to their original tea-colored hue.

Her heart trembled.

What kind of demon beast was her companion? Its abilities seemed to far surpass those of ordinary demon beasts. She even had a strong intuition: the cause of its death must be tied to its identity.

Unable to unravel this mystery, Su Li set it aside; she was not one for melancholy. Answers would come in time, but before that day arrived, she would have to grow stronger.

No—she would become stronger.

She was confident in herself. Everything was already diverging from the comic’s storyline; perhaps, in time, she would encounter her own stroke of destiny.

Thinking this, Su Li raised her head, watching the young man running toward her, a smile flickering in her eyes.

Besides, she still had him, the foolish bird, Tiger Soul, and Ah Hua.

Once Su Li was confirmed unharmed, Shen Luo’s anxious heart eased. The abnormality among the beasts left him with many doubts, so he asked, “Elder Nineteen, did you encounter demon beasts like this as well?”

Su Li perked her ears.

Shen Fengling nodded, “Yes, the symptoms are identical: bloodshot eyes, yellow-brown foam at the mouth, violent and irritable.” He had lived most of his life but had never seen such a bizarre phenomenon. “I suspect something in this space is affecting their minds.”

Shen Luo frowned, his gaze sweeping to the listless but not berserk Thunderbird beside Shen Fengling, and asked again, “Elder, have you and the others noticed what the demon beasts have or haven’t come into contact with these days?”

Everyone fell into contemplation.

After a moment, Sixth Uncle Shen Hao said, “We haven’t consumed any spiritual herbs or fruits from the secret realm.”

The others nodded.

Su Li’s eyes flashed: water!

“I suspect it’s the water source,” Shen Luo said thoughtfully. “For a simultaneous mutation among all demon beasts, it must be something they all regularly contact—air or water. If we trace the water, perhaps we can discover the cause of their frenzy.”

The crowd pondered deeply.

Su Li lifted her chin slightly, feeling immense pride in the young man’s cleverness.

Just then, she sensed someone approaching. Turning her head, she saw two female cultivators walking over, one clad in red, exceedingly beautiful.

Instinctively, she flicked her tail to block the young man's view.

Suddenly, Shen Luo found himself face-full of tail: …

“Oh, so you’re the zero-tier cat beast from the secret realm’s entrance!” Gu Hongshang exclaimed in surprise, pointing at Su Li with delight.

The female cultivator’s voice was soft and sweet, drawing the attention of Shen Fengling’s group.

Shen Luo frowned in displeasure, his gaze vigilant. Perhaps recalling past events, his face darkened and his tone was unfriendly: “Are you here to fight?”

The scene fell into dead silence.

A silence as stagnant as still water.

Su Li dove into the young man's arms, her mood bright as she swayed her tail.

Shen Fengling and the others were utterly baffled.

Gu Hongshang’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly waved her hands, “I—I didn’t mean that.”

A beauty, especially such a stunning one, feeling awkward easily stirred protective instincts in the men.

Su Li pressed her paws firmly on the young man's arm, possessively declaring, “You can only look at me.”

What if he fancied that female cultivator and, to please her, gave Su Li away as a gift? The thought made her dark-red cat eyes gleam.

Shen Luo suppressed a smile, lips pressed tight.

Su Li’s cat eyes widened; she could hardly believe it. Meeting his gaze, she thought angrily: Men are fickle—once they have a female cultivator, they forget their beast.

Unable to hold back, Shen Luo laughed aloud. He bent down and kissed the Manjusri totem on her forehead.

Warm and passionate!

Su Li’s body stiffened.

She was anxiously worried, and he still teased her?

Furious and embarrassed, she struggled, leaping onto his shoulder and turning her back to his face in a sulk.

Her proud demeanor only made her all the more endearing.

Not only did the three female cultivators soften, even Shen Fengling’s group looked at her with gentler eyes.

“May I pet her?” Gu Hongshang bravely asked.

Shen Luo’s expression changed instantly, and he took several steps back.

“Sorry, my senior sister didn’t mean any harm.” A delicate voice came from behind. Nian Ciyun was true to her name, pure as a white cloud, radiating a strong aura of innocence. “That day, she said she wanted the beast, and Senior Mo acted on impulse.”

She wore an innocent look; even if her words held double meaning, others wouldn’t think much of it.

Sure enough, all attention shifted abruptly to Gu Hongshang, every gaze now fixed on her.

Gu Hongshang’s expression grew complicated—anger, embarrassment, and disdain entwined—but she kept her composure. She’d suffered too much at this girl’s hands, or perhaps she wasn’t adept with words.

No matter the lifetime, Su Li disliked such “innocent lotus” types most.

She crouched and leapt into Gu Hongshang's arms.

The beautiful cultivator quickly embraced her, touched by the goodwill the beast conveyed.

Everyone was stunned.

Especially Shen Luo. He knew her companion was extremely fastidious; she wouldn’t let anyone touch her, much less hold her.

What was she plotting now?

Nian Ciyun forced a couple of laughs, “Looks like the little demon beast really likes Senior Sister; Senior Mo’s efforts weren’t in vain.” Yet inwardly she thought: Why did everyone choose Gu Hongshang? What does she lack compared to her?

She could have throttled this blind cat!

Her eyes flickered as she continued, “Senior Sister is always careless; let me hold the beast for you.” She reached out with a smile, determined to snatch the white demon beast.

Su Li quickly raised her paw.

“Ah—”

A scream shot skyward.

Nian Ciyun clutched her bleeding right arm, weak eyes hiding a trace of hatred. Damn creature, she’d skin it alive.

Demon beasts were always more sensitive to murderous intent than humans.

Su Li leapt onto Gu Hongshang’s shoulder, claws flexing coldly, “Ah Hua, tie up this little lotus for me.”

The Demon Flower King obeyed, and hard green barbed vines instantly wrapped Nian Ciyun into a ball, binding her tightly alongside the Silver-scaled Blue Scorpion.

Nian Ciyun turned pale with fright, her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the spot.