Chapter 189: Extracting the Beauty

Chapter 189: Extracting the Beauty

Gu Tian lifted his flute to his lips. Hui turned back around and pressed his hands against the lotus blossom again. This time, he quietly reached out to the qi inside the blossom, sensing its composition.

Mostly qi, laced with life qi. Ah, oh well. Ill take it. Any life qi is better than none, and I can always use the qi to advance my cultivation base.

Not too much, though! I dont want to draw Senior Heavenly Tribulation before Im ready!

Hui turned to Gu Tian, his expression serious. Im going to draw her out. Gu Tian, you help call her to the surface with your arts, then Ill pull her free.

Gu Tian nodded.

Elder Brothers, could you please be ready in case she turns hostile?

Hostile? Isnt it love?

Oh well, its fine.

As long as you dont draw anyone here. Be quick about it. And quiet!

On my signal. He turned back to the lotus.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Within the lotus, Bai Jingwen pressed her hands against Huis. She tipped her head, as if trying to understand, but her eyes remained as lifeless and clouded as before.

I shouldnt think of her as Bai Jingwen. The previous lotus woman didnt have Bai Fenfengs consciousness, after all. Shes merely a lotus monster using the face of Bai Jingwen. I have to be prepared to fight!

Shes an immature lotus blossom, so hopefully that means shes weaker than Bai Fenfeng! If not if not, well just have to hope shes not hostile!

Hui lifted his hand to his storage ring and swapped Jin Xian toward the surface, ready to grab her out at a moments notice. He nodded at Gu Tian and began to draw qi from the lotus.

Lotus-Bai Jingwen frowned. Her hands clenched slightly.

The first notes of the flute sounded out, plaintive and yearning. Gu Tian swayed slightly, his hair flowing on the wind. His fingers danced over the flute. The notes climbed higher. Faster and faster, soaring upward.

Bai Jingwens brow furrowed. She blinked, and her misty eyes grew clearer, as if on the verge of waking up.

Taking advantage of her distraction, Hui drew more qi from the lotus, circulating it into his dantian. Almost subconsciously, he followed the pattern of circulation hed comprehended from the piece of Mount Mu earlier. Qi coursed through his body, forming new, slender qi passages through every inch of his skin. His body burned. Every iota of flesh ached, qi burning as it twisted into his muscles and organs. He trembled and nearly released the lotus.

Dammit! Even magical body cultivation hurts? No one told me it would hurt!

Gritting his teeth, Hui pushed on, determined. Veins stood out on his forehead, and sweat dripped down his forehead. Ive already taken the first steps. I cant stop now.

As he drew out and circulated the lotus qi, Bai Jingwen pressed up against the lotus petals. Her hands pushed into his, and he grabbed her hands and pulled. Soft, petal-like flesh gave under his hands. Her body had as much resistance as a ripe fruit. The slightest squeeze would burst her apart.

Even as he thought it, one of her hands crushed under his grasp. Hui jolted and looked up into her shiny black seed-like eyes, but no pain crossed her face. A second later, her hand reformed, as perfect as it had ever been.

Huis eyes widened. My body cultivation is that of petrification, of becoming crystal. But petrification comes from wood. If I can also comprehend the dao of plants and plant bodies, I can incorporate both the hardness and situational healing of crystal, as well as the softness, powerful regeneration, and the deformable bodies of soft-stemmed plants. After all, Bai Jingwen doesnt appear to be in pain, despite that gruesome injury! If I can fake injuries more easily, while feeling no pain, then wont I be able to fake my death in new and impressive ways?

I wonder I am in the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, a sect that specializes in plants. Do they have a plant-based body cultivation technique? I imagine it wouldnt suit me perfectly, but I could adapt it to my comprehension of petrified wood and soft plants!

Bai Jingwen howled. The barrier muffled the sound. The powerful sound waves slammed into the barrier and shattered it apart one layer at a time. The second the final barrier broke, Jin Xian and the sword-wielding triplet raced in. The second triplet threw gouts of fire at Bai Jingwen, and Hui threw out a fistful of fire talismans.

Fire broke in waves over Bai Jingwen. Her arms went up in fire. She screamed in horror and backed away, staring at her flaming arms. Her arms crinkled to black charcoal and fell off, but a second later, new arms grew.

Jin Xian lashed out. Green wires flew from her fingertips. Bai Jingwen spun and charged at Jin Xian, unaware of the wires. The green wires caught on Bai Jingwen and sunk into her skin. Jin Xian drew her hand back, manipulating her fingers. Bai Jingwen went slack, then jerked away, drawn by the threads.

Yes! Puppeteering arts are the best! When they arent used against me, that is. Hui grinned, already relaxing.

Bai Jingwen dug in her heels and stopped herself dead. The green threads strained at her, attempting to pull her free. She reached up and yanked blindly at the green wires. Like thread through dough, the wires cut through her soft flesh and broke free.

Huis eyes widened. Her bodys too soft for the wires to get a good hold! With a body cultivation art like that, Ill never have to fear the Xi clan again. I need it, I need it!

He darted in, drawing the black dagger. Bai Jingwen whirled to face him. She bared her teeth and lunged, raking her claws. Her hand blurred, moving faster than Hui could see, let alone counter. Huis eyes widened. Im dead!

Jin Xian leaped in front of him, blocking Bai Jingwens attack with her own claws. Claws flashed. Bai Jingwens claws continuously collapsed and reformed, but despite that, she fought Jin Xian on even footing.

Hui backed away, lowering the dagger. Dammit! Shes too fast. I need to back her into a corner somehow.

Or stop her where she stands!

Jin Xian! Hui shouted, throwing out talismans. They struck the floor, forming a line in front of him. Jin Xian instantly fell back, darting to Huis side. Bai Jingwen charged after her, eyes blank.

As she crossed the line of talismans, Hui snapped his fingers. Ice charged up at Bai Jingwen. She flinched and leaped into the air. The ice caught her leg.

Rather than allow the ice to catch her, Bai Jingwen instantly severed her leg and continued upward. She landed and hopped, listing to the side. A vine twisted out of her severed leg and slowly grew thicker, vine bending into joints, the bud on the end sprouting toes, a heel, and growing into a foot.

Her regeneration is slowing. Good! We can defeat her!

Hui glanced at Bai Jingwen. She battled Jin Xian, hobbling backward on a too-small leg. Jin Xian pressed her back, outmatching her at the moment. Seeing he had a moment, he slashed at the ice, cutting the leg free. He waved his sleeve and collected the leg into his storage ring. Now I can study the leg later, at my leisure. Its a stretch, but with some luck, I might be able to connect the petrification and the soft deformation technique, even if I cant find a Mysterious Heavenly Forest body cultivation technique!

Watch out!

Behind!

Shes coming!

Hui dropped to the ground, going limp. Claws raked through the air where hed been seconds ago. Bai Jingwen snarled, but before she could chase him, Jin Xian materialized. She whirled and kicked Bai Jingwen in the head. Bai Jingwens neck tore. Green and purple gunk splattered over Hui and the ground. Bai Jingwen stumbled back a step. A bud appeared from her neck, quickly blossoming into another head. The new head bared its teeth at Jin Xian, and the two rushed at one another again.

Bai Jingwen and Jin Xian fought back and forth over him. They trampled over Hui, martial arts slippers slamming down on his back, arms, hips, and legs. Hui flinched, gritting his teeth. Good thing I fell on my face! Id be ruined if I fell on my back!

Jin Xian stomped her foot on Huis back and landed a fierce kick on Bai Jingwen. Her foot scythed through Bai Jingwens midriff and cut her in two horizontally.

Hui jumped up, unwilling to be trampled any longer. He threw a dozen talismans at Bai Jingwens lower half. Fire roasted her legs, burning them to cinders.

The second triplet charged at Bai Jingwens upper half, throwing handfuls of fire. Her body withered up. She diminished down to a single seed.

The triplets paused. Hui hefted a handful of talismans.

Is she dead?