Bi Ji's voice was soft—exceedingly gentle.
That healing smile of hers was enough to rekindle a love for life in anyone teetering on the edge of despair.
But to Zi Ji, hearing it now made every scale on her body stand on end.
Feels better than before?
Sister, that doesn't sound right at all!
Are you hoping my butt gets beaten into a pulp?!
Zi Ji froze on the spot. The expression on her face completely solidified—mouth agape, words refusing to come out for a long time.
She looked at Bi Ji's saintly, gentle face, then at the surrounding colleagues whose eyes were full of "Comrade, you've suffered" and "The future of the Soul Beast Clan rests on you."
An unprecedented sense of loneliness and helplessness surged into her heart.
It was over.
This home—she absolutely could not stay in it anymore.
She had already been sold out as a "tribute."
"Bi Ji, Zi Ji."
Silver Dragon King's voice rang out again, cutting off Zi Ji's spiraling thoughts.
She looked at the two capable subordinates before her—one gently calculating, the other utterly resigned—and nodded in satisfaction.
"Make your preparations. You will depart tomorrow."
"Remember—this mission must succeed. Failure is not an option."
Her tone grew exceptionally grave.
"No matter what methods you use, no matter what price you pay, you must determine that Divinity's purpose. Win his friendship—or at the very least, make him develop a favorable impression of our Soul Beast Clan."
Bi Ji bowed lightly, her expression solemn.
"Rest assured, My Lord. Bi Ji will not fail."
Only Zi Ji remained standing there, her face a portrait of despair.
Pay whatever price…
She always felt those words were aimed squarely at her.
That "price"—wasn't it just her face and her butt?
"What? Zi Ji, do you still have doubts?" Silver Dragon King's gaze fell upon her, tinged with scrutiny.
"N-no!"
Zi Ji shuddered, survival instincts kicking in. She snapped to attention and shook her head like a rattle-drum.
"To be able to contribute my butt—ah no! To contribute my strength to the future of the Soul Beast Clan—is Zi Ji's honor!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself.
It was over.
Her mouth had been faster than her brain.
Silver Dragon King's violet eyes gazed deeply at Zi Ji's resolute "ready to die" expression.
For the first time, genuine approval appeared on her face.
"Very good."
"Zi Ji, I am very pleased with your awareness."
"You will become a hero of the Soul Beast Clan. Your name—your butt—ahem, your achievements will be remembered by all Soul Beasts."
Hearing such a solemn promise, Zi Ji felt no pride at all.
Instead, her butt hurt even more.
She could already imagine how history would record her deeds.
'On the Strategic Significance of the Buttocks of the Hell Demonic Dragon King Zi Ji in the Rise of the Soul Beast Clan.'
Just thinking about it made her want to find a block of tofu and smash her head against it.
Her dragon life was finished. Completely hopeless.
"Alright. You may all disperse."
Silver Dragon King waved her hand and turned, disappearing into the depths of the subspace.
She needed time—to process everything that had happened today and to formulate a detailed plan for the upcoming Divine Ally Conquest Strategy.
With Di Tian and Zi Ji successively "handled," the area before Feng Ran Pavilion returned once more to its usual… strangely harmonious state.
The battle had ended, but the shock lingered.
That said, none of this had anything to do with the newly appointed Apprentice Gardener Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, or the Contract Gardener Ye Lingshuang.
At this moment, their entire world consisted solely of that Immortal Herb paradise, enveloped in the energies of ice and fire.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ye Lingshuang knelt side by side beside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, each holding a small trowel carved from a single piece of warm white jade.
Their posture was as devout as pilgrims paying homage to a sacred land.
At first, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was unconvinced.
He was a dignified Titled Douluo—an Elder of Spirit Hall. Across the entire continent, who dared claim a deeper understanding of Immortal Herbs than him?
The senior entrusting him with their care was proof of unparalleled insight.
But why could this snot-nosed little girl beside him receive the same honor?
Did she even know what an Immortal Herb was?
Did she understand the soil humidity preferences of the Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum?
With a mindset of testing—and a hint of finding fault—Yue Guan gently loosened the soil around a Splendid Gold Perfume Orchid, all the while secretly observing Ye Lingshuang from the corner of his eye.
When she worked on the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, the force of her trowel was as light as a feather's touch.
Every movement brimmed with reverence and care.
Though some details were still a little inexperienced, her focus and devotion were unmistakably genuine.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's narrow eyes slowly narrowed.
There's something to this girl.
He gave a fair assessment in his heart.
This was no amateur Spirit Master.
Suppressing his impatience, he continued observing.
After finishing with the soil, Ye Lingshuang extended her slender jade fingers and gently lifted a leaf of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
A faint wisp of spirit power lingered at her fingertips, slowly tracing the veins of the leaf—guiding and regulating its internal energy.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's pupils suddenly shrank.
Using spirit power to regulate an Immortal Herb's meridians?!
This was far beyond what ordinary plant-type Spirit Masters could comprehend!
Where had this little girl learned such techniques?!
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Yue Guan set down his trowel, formed an elegant orchid-finger gesture, and minced over, his tone mixing surprise and probing curiosity.
"Little girl, your techniques are quite refined. May I ask—which master taught you?"
Ye Lingshuang, still absorbed in her communion with the Immortal Herb, merely glanced at him indifferently.
"Family tradition."
Two simple words.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was momentarily choked—but instead of irritation, excitement lit his eyes.
Pointing at the Immortal Herb he had just tended, he asked eagerly,
"Then tell me—do you understand the subtle differences between regulating the meridians of a Splendid Gold Perfume Orchid and an Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid?"
He lifted his chin slightly, a trace of smug testing in his expression.
Ye Lingshuang looked at him calmly.
"The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid possesses gentle medicinal properties. Its meridians are as delicate as a newborn infant's. Spirit power must be applied like a spring breeze brushing willows—only guiding, never resisting."
"And as for the Splendid Gold Perfume Orchid…"
As she continued explaining, Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression gradually transformed.
This was no longer the gaze of a senior judging a junior.
It was the look one expert reserved for another.
"To think that I, Yue Guan, searched my entire life for a kindred spirit—only to find one today, in such a young girl!"
Compared to Yue Guan's excitement, Ye Lingshuang's reaction was ice-cold.
She didn't even bother acknowledging him, her full attention returning to the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
Yue Guan felt as though all his enthusiasm had smashed into a wall of ice.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Regaining his composure, Chrysanthemum Douluo struck a senior's pose, orchid fingers poised, chin raised slightly as he glanced at her sideways.
"Little girl, what you've said is indeed reasonable."
He deliberately dragged out his words, then smoothly shifted the topic.
"However—you're still too young."
"You understand one aspect…"
"But you've overlooked another."