Nether Spirit Flower!

Zi Ji stood where she was, watching the scene with a complicated look in her eyes.

As a Fierce Beast, she had long grown accustomed to slaughter.

She silently stepped forward and waved her hand. Several streaks of purple light flashed past, and the wolf corpses on the ground were instantly reduced to ashes. Even the pungent stench of blood faded considerably.

It took Ning Rongrong quite a while to recover from vomiting. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with grievance and helplessness.

When she looked up at Su Yu, tears began to fall again.

"Brother Su Yu... I... am I really useless...?"

"How could that be?"

Su Yu crouched down to meet her gaze, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Rongrong was very brave. You protected yourself the first time you faced a Soul Beast. You already did very well."

Ning Rongrong sniffled and nodded. Her little hand tightly clutched Su Yu's sleeve, as though she could draw strength from it.

Zi Ji walked over and offered her a small bottle of water. "Drink some water and rinse your mouth. You'll feel better."

Ning Rongrong hesitated for a moment before accepting it and taking small sips.

The cool water slid down her throat, suppressing the nausea somewhat.

Su Yu helped smooth her messy hair. "Can you still walk? Do you want to rest for a while?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head and vigorously wiped away her tears. "I'm fine, Brother Su Yu."

Su Yu lifted Ning Rongrong into his arms and slowly walked over to the Nether Spirit Flower.

The dark purple Petals glimmered with a faint azure light in the dim surroundings, much like Stars scattered through the forest.

On closer inspection, tiny dewdrops clung to the edges of the Petals, carrying a trace of dampness.

Ning Rongrong stared in fascination and instinctively stretched out her little hand, wanting to touch that mysterious glow.

"Miss, be careful!" Zi Ji hurriedly stopped her, stepping forward to warn her.

"The Roots of this flower contain a potent poison. Your skin will go numb if it touches you, so don't touch it carelessly."

Ning Rongrong froze, then quickly pulled back her hand. She stuck out her tongue and looked at Zi Ji somewhat embarrassedly.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Thank you for reminding me, Sister Zi Ji!"

After their earlier interaction, her fear of Zi Ji had faded considerably, and even the way she addressed her had become more natural.

Zi Ji paused slightly, then nodded. A faint softness flickered through her eyes.

Seeing the Young Girl's frustrated expression in his arms, Su Yu could not help smiling. He took out a pair of thin silver Gloves from his Soul Tool.

The Gloves were made of a special material and gleamed faintly. They had clearly been custom-made from corrosion-resistant materials.

"You little fool, older brother prepared these for you long ago."

Lowering his head, he carefully opened the Gloves and gently slipped them onto Ning Rongrong's little hands.

His fingertips brushed against her slightly cool skin, his movements as gentle as though he were protecting a fragile treasure.

"Hehe, I knew Brother Su Yu cared for me the most!"

Ning Rongrong immediately beamed. She waved her little hands clad in silver Gloves. They fit snugly around her wrists and did not hinder her movements at all.

She stretched out her hand again. This time, with protection, she was much bolder.

Her fingertips lightly landed on a Petal, and she found it smooth and cool to the touch.

The azure light Pierced through the Gloves and reflected across the back of her hand, like a layer of scattered starlight.

"So pretty..."

Ning Rongrong murmured in amazement, her eyes brimming with delight.

Holding her, Su Yu watched her cautiously interact with the flower, a gentle smile rippling in his eyes.

Zi Ji stood nearby, watching the scene. Light and shadow flowed through her violet eyes as she quietly stepped back two paces, leaving the space to them.

The forest was quiet. Only the soft rustle of wind passing through leaves and Ning Rongrong's occasional hushed exclamations could be heard.

The azure flower light illuminated two young faces, adding a touch of peace and warmth to the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Rongrong, let's pick some. These Nether Spirit Flowers can be stored for a long time in a Jade Container."

As he spoke, Su Yu took a White Jade Box from the Soul Tool at his waist.

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay!"

She looked at the White Jade Box Su Yu had taken from his Soul Tool. Fine Cloud Patterns had been carved into its surface.

The jade was warm and lustrous, glowing softly beneath the Azure Flower Light. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item.

"This Jade Box can insulate against heat, making it perfect for storing Nether Spirit Flowers."

Su Yu opened the Jade Box. A layer of soft White Velvet Cloth lined its interior.

"You pick them. Be careful—take only the Petals. Leave the Roots alone, and don't touch them."

Ning Rongrong's gloved little hand lightly brushed across the Petals before selecting the fullest bloom.

She pinched the stem close to the Petals and gave it a gentle twist. The Nether Spirit Flower came off intact.

Azure light danced in her palm, as though she were holding a small, lively flame.

"Wow, it's still glowing!"

She whispered excitedly, carefully placing the flower into the Jade Box for fear of damaging the Petals.

Su Yu watched from the side and occasionally reminded her, "Slow down. Don't touch the thorns beside it."

The edges of those Petals were actually covered in extremely fine fuzz, which could easily catch on something if one was not careful.

Ning Rongrong learned quickly. She picked one flower after another, her movements becoming increasingly practiced.

Zi Ji stood a little farther away, vigilantly sweeping her gaze over their surroundings to ensure no Soul Beasts approached to disturb them.

Before long, seven or eight Nether Spirit Flowers lay inside the White Jade Box. Their dark purple Petals overlapped in layers, while azure light faintly shone through the jade, making them as beautiful as a painting.

"That's enough, right? These should be enough?"

Ning Rongrong looked up at Su Yu. A little dirt had gotten on her face, but it could not hide the excitement in her eyes.

"That's enough." Su Yu smiled and wiped her cheek.

"If we pick any more, we'll damage the growth here. Leave some for the other living creatures."

He closed the Jade Box, and the azure glow was immediately contained within the jade, leaving only the box's own warm luster.

Su Yu handed the Jade Box to Ning Rongrong. "Put it away. You picked these yourself."

Ning Rongrong accepted it as though it were a treasure and carefully placed it in her own Soul Tool. She patted it, as though she had accomplished something tremendously important.

She looked up at Su Yu, her eyes sparkling. "Brother Su Yu, where are we going next?"

"First, we'll leave this valley and find a clean place to rest."

"Didn't you want to go to Shrek Academy? We can have fun along the way and go take a look."

"Mhm!"

Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously and leaned against Su Yu's chest, her heart filled with security and joy.

The discomfort from vomiting earlier seemed to have been completely driven away by the Nether Spirit Flowers filling the box.

Seeing this, Zi Ji took the lead and headed out, continuing to guide the way ahead.

Su Yu and Ning Rongrong followed. Sunlight filtered through gaps between the leaves and fell over them, carrying a gentle warmth.

Early the next morning—

Zi Ji, Su Yu, and Ning Rongrong left the Star Dou Great Forest.

Shrek Academy was in Suotuo City, and Suotuo City was still some distance from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Su Yu rented a carriage in a small town outside the Star Dou Great Forest, and the three of them set off for Suotuo City.