The flowers released a toxic mist, enveloping the wolf pack, clinging to their soft fur, and slowly corroding their skin. The mist infiltrated their bodies, transforming the petrified wolves into masses of liquefied flesh and bones.
Witnessing this, Yan Xiaobao froze for a moment and couldn’t help but whistle in admiration. Though the flowers were immobile, it was evident they had managed to deal with the wolves in a simple yet effective manner.
The stench of blood quickly agitated the wolf pack, and deep in the tunnel, one howl after another echoed through the air. The howls were so piercing that the guards standing outside the tunnel’s entrance trembled from the sheer sound. They immediately sent a message to the City Lord, informing him that something was amiss inside the tunnel. Even these guards, despite their limited capability, understood that this was caused by the companions they had permitted inside.
As the remnants left behind by the first wolf caught Yan Xiaobao’s eye, he noticed the nearby flowers appear to draw the slimy liquid from the carcass via budding rootlets above the ground, triggering a transformation in the poppies.
Seeing this unexpected result, Yan Xiaobao abandoned his earlier thought of instantly cultivating and instead chose to let Wang Julong persist for as long as possible, as he found the transformation quite intriguing.
Although watching valuable materials turn into plant fodder brought a twinge of pain to his heart, he did not complain. Instead, he decided to observe and see whether these plants could retain themselves.
Moments later, Xu Hui was stunned as he witnessed the flowers fighting amongst themselves to absorb the beast cores. Every flower in the area seemed to go mad in their efforts to consume others. Some attacked outright, while others preferred ambush tactics.
The once sprawling field of poppies rapidly dwindled, leaving only a few larger survivors. Just as the final poppies were about to engage in mutual combat, another wolf’s sound emerged. They immediately froze in their tracks, slowly settling onto the stone floor, patiently waiting once more for the wolves to intrude upon their domain.
The petals were a radiant red, now glowing with crimson hues, the mist eerily similar to the Qi inside Yan Xiaobao’s Dantian Cave. This time, Yan Xiaobao dared not divert his gaze from the flowers, meticulously observing every moment of their assault.
The incoming wolf could not see the previous beast’s corpse, giving it an unwarranted sense of confidence as it passed near the flowers. But the instant it came within reach, Yan Xiaobao was astonished. He saw the flowers refraining from emitting their previously toxic smoke. Instead, they used their roots to entangle the unsuspecting wolf, spreading poison and immediately absorbing the remaining flesh.
Not content with merely attending the wolf feast, the flowers tore their roots apart and moved toward the already dead wolf, injecting their toxins, digesting its corpse, and enhancing their own power.
From that moment on, vines and roots coiled around the wolf, claiming its life in less time than it took for an incense stick to burn. The wolf didn’t even have the chance for a desperate cry.
Although the smell of blood intensified, more wolves appeared in the distance, drawn by their assumption that the first wolf had triumphed without experiencing any pain. However, once they saw the flowers feasting on their fallen brethren, hatred and fury burned in their cunning eyes. As two wolves crowded together, a few angry barks rang out, redirecting their focus from the young human to the flowers consuming their comrades.