She looked at the clothing's sentience in surprise, while also hearing a "tsk tsk" sound from somewhere.
"Yo, the Phoenix Feather Robe recognizes its master so easily. It seems to be getting old, with no discernment at all." The voice carried a hint of teasing and the usual disdain for Qin Xiangyi, making Qin Xiangyi immediately identify the owner of the voice as the Hua Nu.
But around her, she couldn't see the Hua Nu. Instead, Oleander, kneeling on the ground, said coldly, "Hua Nu, how can you be disrespectful to the Flower Master!"
As she spoke, she seemed about to get up to find the Hua Nu, but then remembered she had just hurt Qin Xiangyi's clothing and was still under punishment. Gritting her teeth, she maintained her kneeling posture.
Oleander's character was like an ancient female general, with loyalty to her lord ingrained in her bones. At the same time, Oleander hated evil as if it were her enemy. Perhaps the Hua Nu had said something that led to the current mess.
"If the Flower Master doesn't mind, why should you, a Flower Person, mind?" The Hua Nu's voice was even more teasing. Immediately, Qin Xiangyi felt something soft gently press against her. Looking closer, a hazy phantom became clear. The Hua Nu embraced Qin Xiangyi's waist from behind, smiling even more enchantingly.
But Qin Xiangyi understood that the Hua Nu wasn't expressing intimacy with her; rather, Qin Xiangyi was a perfect human shield. As long as she was controlled by the Hua Nu, Oleander wouldn't dare to act.
Qin Xiangyi had thought Oleander's addition was a cause for celebration, but she was wrong. Because Oleander's personality was the complete opposite of the Hua Nu's, and coupled with Oleander being a top-tier Flower Person, Qin Xiangyi couldn't control her now, nor could she replicate any of her skills.
"You... let go of the Flower Master! If you have the guts, come at me!" Oleander's palm-sized body exuded tons of aura, a domineering presence that made Qin Xiangyi feel pressured.
Oleander, who was only level one, was already like this. If she absorbed enough Spiritual Power to grow, who knew how mighty and powerful she would become. She would definitely be the most suitable candidate to be Qin Xiangyi's personal guard.
"Heeheehee, you want me to let go just because you say so? Then I'd lose a lot of face." The Hua Nu laughed even harder. Her hand touched the garment called the Phoenix Feather Robe. The robe seemed to despise her, growing steel armor that protected Qin Xiangyi completely.
This self-defense move stunned the Hua Nu. Then, as if resisting being touched by an ordinary person, sharp spikes grew on the steel armor, attempting to force the Hua Nu out of her safety zone.
"Hahahaha... this is really interesting." The Hua Nu laughed and let go, her gaze falling on the Flower God Huangquan with more emotion. "As expected of Lord Huangquan, you always produce top-tier items. If your two mothers knew you gave away their token of love so easily, they'd probably cry their eyes out."
The Hua Nu mentioned the Flower God Huangquan and her two mothers again. Qin Xiangyi was still processing the bizarre things this world conjured up. Huangquan had already walked towards the chair, resuming her leisurely posture of reading a book.
Her expression and demeanor suggested she didn't mind giving this plaything to Qin Xiangyi.
However, Qin Xiangyi felt a bit embarrassed, worried she couldn't afford the price of taking this magic item. Thinking this, she picked up a piece of clothing she had left from yesterday. Just as she was about to change, she found that the Phoenix Feather Robe was sticking to her.
Not only that, but the Phoenix Feather Robe seemed to have merged with her. When she reached out to pull it, the Phoenix Feather Robe clung even tighter, transforming into a form resembling a tight-fitting suit. It was incredibly thin, revealing Qin Xiangyi's body shape without reservation.
"Flower Master, don't waste your effort. This Phoenix Feather Robe has already recognized you as its master." The Hua Nu's eyes held a hint of jealousy, her tone filled with resentment.
"Recognizing a master isn't like being malt candy, sticking so closely. How am I supposed to live my daily life?" Qin Xiangyi was at a loss for words. Forget the Phoenix Feather Robe, she hadn't even written about a phoenix before. Now, another overpowered magic item had appeared, leaving her completely bewildered.
"This Phoenix Feather Robe is made from the flesh and blood of a phoenix. It's impervious to blades and spears, and immune to water and fire. Most importantly, it can transform into any form. Just think of the style of clothing you want to wear, and it can change for you."
The helpless Hua Nu had no choice but to explain the origin and function of the Phoenix Feather Robe. The more she looked at it, the more she felt it was being wasted. She seemed to like the Phoenix Feather Robe very much, but the robe was indifferent to her.
Qin Xiangyi hummed in confusion and, in her mind, envisioned the outfits she had seen on television. Instantly, the clothes on her body wriggled and transformed into modern attire. Not only the color but also the style were identical. The feel of the fabric was perfectly simulated, and the tactile sensation, as natural as breathing, made Qin Xiangyi realize how wonderful the Phoenix Feather Robe truly was.
Just as Qin Xiangyi thought Huangquan had gone to great lengths, she suddenly remembered asking Huangquan to make clothes for her before.
No need to guess, Huangquan would probably never make clothes for her again and wouldn't bother. So, she had given her the least valuable item from her small warehouse.
Qin Xiangyi felt a subtle shift in her heart and couldn't help but look at Huangquan again. After thinking for a moment, she still adopted an ancient posture and respectfully cupped her fists towards Huangquan.
"Thank you, Lord Huangquan."
Huangquan didn't even lift her eyebrows, continuing to read the book in her hand. Seeing Huangquan's continued indifference, Qin Xiangyi continued to experiment with a few more outfits, having a great time.
At this very moment, Shaoyao, who could no longer stand it, appeared.
"Are you guys going to fight or not!"
Everyone's gaze focused on the Phoenix Feather Robe, having clearly forgotten what had just happened.
Hearing Shaoyao's question, the killing intent on Oleander's body resurfaced. But because Qin Xiangyi didn't signal her to get up, she maintained her kneeling posture in mid-air, like a valiant and heroic figurine.
But unlike a figurine, she possessed beauty beyond human standards, and the killing intent from the sword Oleander carried was even more intense.
"Oleander, you can get up now, but don't make a move yet." Qin Xiangyi thought she hadn't properly greeted Oleander yet, so she temporarily put aside her exploration of the Phoenix Feather Robe. Just as she was about to step forward, Oleander immediately retreated, as if Qin Xiangyi were some kind of monster.
Qin Xiangyi froze in confusion. The Hua Nu chuckled and explained, "Flower Master, don't you know what kind of flower Oleander is?"
"A beautiful flower, what else."
Qin Xiangyi recalled her faint memories. She remembered that Oleander was inherently poisonous and extremely dangerous.
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Chapter 105 [6] So Versailles~
"She is full of potent poison. Except for Lord Huangquan, none of us Flower People dare to touch her," the Hua Nu explained with a smile. It seemed she had also learned about Qin Xiangyi's power source through recent observations.
Qin Xiangyi transmitted Spiritual Power through kisses and copied the abilities of others. If it were someone like Oleander, let alone transmitting Spiritual Power, she would probably die just by getting close.
Huangquan was immune to all poisons, but Qin Xiangyi, in the end, was just an ordinary person. Qin Xiangyi listened, dumbfounded. Her expression was a little pained, and she almost blurted out, "Then I can't kiss her?"
"Flower Master, I'm sorry." Oleander also appeared very self-reproachful. Then, she raised her head and said firmly, "However, if the Flower Master is interested in me, I can show you anything."
That tone and way of speaking gave Qin Xiangyi a strange illusion: before she entered, the Hua Nu, that old vixen, had described Qin Xiangyi in a depraved manner.
But during the transmission, the Hua Nu and Oleander had some disagreement, leading to the current conflict, which only paused slightly when she entered.
"No, how could I be interested." Qin Xiangyi forced a strained smile, her gaze subconsciously drifting back to the Hua Nu. As expected, the Hua Nu's lips curved into a sly smirk, as if she were very happy to see Qin Xiangyi embarrassed.
Oleander had two forms of defense. One was the potent poison on her body, which clearly required obtaining the "immune to all poisons" passive skill later to unlock.
The second was Oleander's own personality, combined with the Hua Nu's instigation, which had completely increased the difficulty of survival.
Regardless, Oleander could only be left to her own devices until her defensive alert lines were slowly deactivated.
The more Qin Xiangyi thought about it, the more regretful she felt. Oleander was still standing there, as if she would go through fire and water at Qin Xiangyi's command.
"Alright, Oleander, you can go about your business now."
"Flower Master, what should I be busy with?"
"Just do whatever you did when you were a Flower Person before."
Xiangyi thought for a moment and added more details. Oleander nodded slightly, glanced at Hua Nu, and then walked to the corner. She drew her long sword, and as she moved, several black butterflies appeared, transforming into skulls.
Full of malevolent energy, genuine killing intent washed over them. The long sword had a black hilt, and its blade was smooth and gleamed with coldness, clearly a divine weapon.
"Oleander was the top swordsman of her time before she died," Hua Nu said, seeing Xiangyi watching intently, and briefly reminded her of Oleander's former status.
Xiangyi wanted to ask more, wondering why such a powerful swordsman had fallen to become a Flower Person, but she stopped herself.
Firstly, she hadn't yet processed the incident of Shaoyao eating people.
Secondly, she worried that knowing too much would prevent her from treating the Flower People with a normal mindset.
This was a major taboo for communication; ignorance was more suitable for their interaction than knowing everything. Having decided, Xiangyi dug out the small stool she had made earlier and watched Oleander's usual self-training.
She seemed to be practicing concentration. After a few breaths, she swiftly drew her first sword strike, generating a huge gust of wind that directly blew away the Little Grasses. Huangquan, however, remained seated on her chair, as steady as a rock.
Hua Nu watched the spectacle with a smile. Shaoyao hugged the nearby Peach Blossom Demon, appearing to seek external support.
As for Xiangyi, she used her True Qi to concentrate her entire body, avoiding the embarrassment of being blown away like the Little Grasses.
Oleander was incredibly strong, the kind of overwhelmingly powerful. Xiangyi felt a surge of emotion, and then she saw Oleander's second sword strike. With this one, a tearing sound echoed through the air, as if the swordsmanship had transcended dimensional boundaries, capable of cleaving space itself.
Xiangyi couldn't help herself and curiously asked Hua Nu again.
"Hua Nu, where was she the top swordsman from?"
"Naturally, the Immortal Realm," Hua Nu replied, her tone tinged with a hint of pride.
Xiangyi's expression turned surprised, yet it also felt natural. A swordsman who could tear through space like that couldn't possibly be from the mortal world.
The more this was the case, the deeper Oleander's resentment grew, perhaps leading to another horrifying story.
Xiangyi watched quietly for a while, then began to try channeling her Qi in the same way Oleander did. She focused all her strength onto the long sword and then unleashed it in one burst.
The Flower People all noticed Xiangyi's actions, but most of them watched as if observing a play. In their eyes, human limits were clear, and no matter how extraordinary Xiangyi was, she couldn't possibly learn what Oleander had spent hundreds of years trying to master.
About ten minutes later, Xiangyi had concentrated all the True Qi within her body. She slashed forward fiercely, and in an instant, the immense force engulfed her, causing her to stumble back several steps and cough up a mouthful of blood.
Hua Nu was about to mock her when she saw Xiangyi remain motionless. She seemed to ponder for a moment, then, following the breathing technique Hua Nu had taught her, she began learning how to control the airflow, allowing the True Qi to gently circulate around the sword's body.
Oleander, who had been practicing on her own, seemed to notice the difference in Xiangyi's second attempt. She put down her long sword and focused on Xiangyi's movements.
A few more minutes passed. Xiangyi directed the gathered True Qi towards the wall with her long sword. Instantly, a neat crack appeared in the wall, and the force continued to extend behind it, striking the barrier-like wall.
The force caused damage, but it was quickly absorbed by the barrier. Judging by the indentation, Xiangyi's sword strike was successful. Moreover, she didn't even need to use her full strength to unleash the move at its maximum power.
At the same time, Xiangyi heard the System's slow notification.
System: Sword Proficiency has been upgraded to Level 3.
The notification informed her that these two strikes had directly filled the proficiency experience. Xiangyi found it incredible and also noticed some significant loopholes in the System. The System's upgrade method was clearly based on fighting people and monsters, and creating new techniques.
If that was the case, before she went to Heaven City, she only needed a practice partner to level up. And clearly, Oleander was the most suitable candidate.
Xiangyi turned back and smiled slightly at Oleander.
"Oleander, how do you think I did just now?"
Oleander replied seriously, "Very good, Flower Master has a great talent for swordsmanship."
Xiangyi smiled slightly, still feigning a lack of confidence, "Really? But I feel like I'm terrible."
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Chapter 106 [7] You're too weak~
Oleander responded earnestly, "Oleander never lies. If you have a skilled master, Flower Master will surely become famous in the future."
Seeing Oleander's formulaic response, Xiangyi continued, "Then would you be willing to be that skilled master?"
Oleander was taken aback and immediately refused, "Sorry, Flower Master, even though you are the Flower Master, I do not take disciples."
Xiangyi was a little surprised. She thought that with the Flower Master's authority, she could trick Oleander, but she hadn't expected Oleander to refuse so directly. However, Xiangyi was unwilling to give up such a useful tool. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Then could you teach me a move or two? You should know my current situation through memory inheritance. I am currently powerless. If I go to a new place, I might die miserably."
Oleander puffed out her chest and raised her voice to guarantee, "Don't worry, Flower Master, I will stay by your side!"
Xiangyi's prepared words of thanks were suddenly rendered useless. She also realized that Oleander, besides having a beautiful face, seemed to be a person with very low emotional intelligence.
The Flower People watching Xiangyi's attempt to trick her from the side were almost laughing themselves to death, especially Hua Nu, who was shaking with laughter. In the end, seeing Xiangyi's pitiful state, she added a sentence.
"Oleander, she can't protect you when she's sleeping with someone."
Hua Nu was as direct as ever. Oleander's face darkened, and she seemed displeased with discussing such matters, appearing on the verge of anger.
Xiangyi felt that Hua Nu was deliberately adding fuel to the fire. She could only soften her tone and say, "You won't always be there."
Oleander's expression and gaze were firm, "I will definitely be there. If anyone wants to harm Flower Master, they must step over my dead body!" Oleander's focus shifted again, as if subtle hints couldn't change her mind at all.
Seeing that the beautiful and handsome older sister before her was actually low in emotional intelligence, Xiangyi could only say more helplessly, "Then if you won't teach me, can you spar with me?"
Oleander continued to shake her head decisively, "But Flower Master, I could kill you with one sword strike. It's really not suitable for me to be your sparring partner."
At that moment, even Xiangyi suddenly felt the urge to smash Oleander's head. However, she still managed to conceal her anger with a smile and looked at Shaoyao, who was also laughing exaggeratedly.
"Shaoyao, spar with me."
Shaoyao had been quite happy, but her face immediately fell when she heard Qin Xiangyi wanted to spar. She was very unwilling to fight Qin Xiangyi. After all, besides Falling Leaves Plucking Flowers, all the moves Qin Xiangyi had learned were the same as hers. This fight would inevitably have no clear outcome, but now, besides herself, it seemed no one else could be a worthy opponent. Remembering the confident words Oleander had spoken earlier, Shaoyao mimicked her.
"Then Flower Master, you better be careful. If I strike you with this blade, you will die."
"Alright!"
Qin Xiangyi picked up a wooden stick from the ground and immediately swung it at Shaoyao.
A few seconds later, Shaoyao was instantly defeated.
"Ah, so tiring," Qin Xiangyi said, stretching her shoulders and continuing her Versailles-esque tale.
Shaoyao seemed very distressed. She opened her mouth for a long time but still couldn't understand why she, after evolving, was no match for Qin Xiangyi, who had copied her skills.
"Good sword!" But Oleander had already seen the reason. Shaoyao was indeed a master of assassination, but her defense was extremely weak. Under the same speed conditions, Shaoyao was no match for Qin Xiangyi, who possessed the Physique attribute.
Moreover, Qin Xiangyi wasn't using assassination techniques entirely. She had just learned Oleander's Qi gathering method, so Shaoyao didn't stand a chance.
But the simple-minded Shaoyao didn't realize how far behind she was from Qin Xiangyi and, unconvinced, continued to pester Qin Xiangyi. Qin Xiangyi smiled slightly and easily defeated Shaoyao again. During these back-and-forth bouts, the System even prompted another level-up.
The experience gained from fighting Shaoyao was highest only the first time; it was meager in other instances. It seemed that even though she could gain experience by fighting Flower People, she couldn't repeatedly farm it. Not only that, but every action and technique counted towards experience settlement, giving Qin Xiangyi the illusion of playing an RPG.
It was a shame that her System seemed a bit buggy, working intermittently, like a half-finished product. For now, it could only be considered an appraisal tool.
"No more! No more! We've been fighting all day!" Shaoyao cried miserably, her self-esteem finally beginning to crumble. She waved her hands, refusing to continue fighting Qin Xiangyi. Qin Xiangyi wore a look of regret and turned her gaze to Hua Nu.
Hua Nu smiled. Qin Xiangyi's attention was involuntarily drawn to the tear mole at the corner of her eye. Then, Hua Nu smiled and raised the silver needle in her hand, asking tentatively.
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