Huohuo Is Super Popular (23)

Zhou Lu decided he would absolutely never use the Enlarged Delicious Mushroom so carelessly again.

This thing attacked indiscriminately; a slight misstep would lead to self-inflicted damage.

He watched the Delicious Mushrooms rush towards him in an instant, their robust muscles radiating an aura of power.

Being charged by six muscular men was a visual shock that couldn't be easily overcome just by getting stronger.

"Huohuo!"

Zhou Lu shouted without hesitation.

Ever since entering the Secret Realm, Zhou Lu had kept Huohuo leaving behind offshoots and not severing its runner stems.

Although this constantly consumed Huohuo's stamina, using its Mad Growth to retract at a critical moment could genuinely save his life.

Huohuo immediately understood. It used Entangling Vines to block the mushrooms' charge while tightly gripping Zhou Lu's waist.

This time, it was holding its master, so it naturally couldn't be as casual as when it bound Liang Quan last time.

As the runner stems retracted, Zhou Lu felt himself lift into the air.

At the same time, the Delicious Mushrooms had already torn through Huohuo's vines.

Under the furious release of energy, the mushrooms displayed the oppressive pressure expected of a Tier 2 Spirit Beast.

While they were much weaker than normal Tier 2 Spirit Beasts due to their properties, they were still not something a Level 12, Tier 1 little grass like Huohuo could mess with.

Zhou Lu didn't expect Huohuo to defeat the Delicious Mushrooms. He just needed it to stall until their duration expired.

Who would have thought that the biggest crisis in this Secret Realm exploration would be one he created himself?

Looking at the Delicious Mushrooms still relentlessly charging at him, Zhou Lu thought helplessly.

Huohuo seemed to sense the danger.

If the Delicious Mushrooms continued their charge at their current speed, even if it retracted while holding its master to the limit of its runner stems, they would still be caught.

Huohuo had to help its master in its own way!

With that thought, Huohuo extended its vines.

The vines quickly brushed past the trees on either side.

Help Huohuo!

Help Huohuo!

The little grass decided to ask the older sisters for help.

Plant Spirit Beasts moved slowly, especially trees. Even if they could shed soil at Tier 2, they didn't like to move around casually.

However, they seemed happy to help Huohuo.

In response to Huohuo's plea, the surrounding trees slowly swayed in the gentle breeze.

Thick branches or roots occasionally appeared in front of the Delicious Mushrooms, blocking their path.

Bang!

Huohuo's runner stems had a limit. Zhou Lu was quickly brought to the edge of that limit.

He felt a heavy blow to his back, followed by a scraping sensation as he was dragged forward.

"Are you okay?" At the last moment, Zhou Lu chose to hold Huohuo. Looking at the little grass in his arms, he asked with concern.

Huohuo patted its leaves, indicating it was fine, and looked at Zhou Lu with concern.

"I'm fine too," Zhou Lu said with a smile.

That was a lie!

It hurt like hell!

As the adrenaline faded, the pain from the impact and friction surged into his brain.

His back was definitely in a bad state right now.

Zhou Lu quickly adjusted his mindset, got up from the ground, and stared intently at the Delicious Mushrooms breaking through the branches blocking their path.

Judging by the time, their limit was almost up!

"Huohuo, stop them," Zhou Lu said to Huohuo.

Huohuo immediately understood. Countless vines shot out from the offshoots it had planted along the way, using entanglement to block the Delicious Mushrooms' advance.

The moment the Delicious Mushrooms entered Huohuo's limited control range, it seemed to sense something.

Suddenly, the pace of three of the mushrooms began to slow.

Small green grasses grew on them. As the roots voraciously drew sustenance from within their bodies, their final energy was rapidly depleted.

Huohuo fully activated the offshoots it had parasitically planted on them, instantly siphoning their energy.

At the same time, the three leading mushrooms had reached their active limit and gradually lost their momentum, their bodies rapidly withering.

Pfft!

Zhou Lu only heard a few hissing sounds.

Then, the cap of the Delicious Mushroom split open, and a large amount of white spores erupted from within.

The snow-white spores drifted down slowly from the opening, as if a snowfall had descended upon the dense forest.

It was a shame that, under Wu Xiaoqing's cultivation, none of these spores possessed any reproductive activity; they could only serve as nutrients for the soil.

Finally, it's over...

Zhou Lu ungracefully plopped onto the ground and let out a long sigh of relief.

Huohuo extended its leaves and patted Zhou Lu's back, feeling a bit concerned.

"It's okay, nothing's wrong," Zhou Lu said with a smile. "Don't we have medicine with us?"

Huohuo: (〃'▽'〃)

It immediately pulled out a first-aid kit from its flowerpot.

It was great that Huohuo had the [Carry] ability, saving Zhou Lu from most of the burden.

With Huohuo's help, Zhou Lu quickly finished disinfecting the wound.

Although the process was quite intense, the pain almost sent his soul flying.

"Alright, let's go get our spoils of war," Zhou Lu said to Huohuo, baring his teeth.

He wasn't the only one in the Linxi Secret Realm; if someone else managed to snatch the hard-won items, he would cry.

Huohuo patted its leaves, indicating to Zhou Lu that it still had a vine.

It turned out that while carrying Zhou Lu and fleeing, Huohuo had also taken the time to plant a cutting at the original spot.

"Uh... let's just walk back. It's not far," Zhou Lu said, forcing a smile as he felt the pain in his back.

Fine.

Huohuo wasn't disappointed and followed Zhou Lu towards the stream.

Along the way, it kept greeting the trees that had helped it over the years.

"Thanks! This is for you!"

"Thanks! This is for you!"

Huohuo continuously took out bottles from its flowerpot and gave them to the trees along the path.

As it gave away the items, Little Grass Grass was reluctant.

These were all gifts from its master.

Zhou Lu also noticed Huohuo's actions.

These bottles were actually from Low-level Growth Potions. Huohuo had collected them after "eating" the potions inside.

The bottles were made of standard biodegradable material, so they wouldn't pollute the environment.

There were still some residual potion traces on the walls of the bottles. Although not much, this token of gratitude made the trees along the way very happy.

They liked this enthusiastic, polite, and generous little grass even more.

As a result, when Zhou Lu and Huohuo arrived at the stream, Huohuo's flowerpot was once again filled with the trees' return gifts, consisting of small fruits and insects.

Wait! Why do these nuts look like a squirrel's collection?

If the squirrel found its stash stolen by its own home, it would probably be devastated.

The Jade Snails by the stream had already fled. In fact, they had been preparing to leave during the battle, but they were too slow.

The spoils of war were still lying there, and no one else had come.

Zhou Lu picked out the largest snail shell. Standing upright, it was as tall as his knee.

Actually, such a large Jade Snail shell wasn't very valuable. This item was mainly used as an art piece or as equipment for some Spirit Pets; bigger wasn't always better.

But it was perfect to serve as a new home for Huohuo.

If it was large enough, Huohuo could store even more things inside.

"This will be your new home from now on," Zhou Lu said, holding Huohuo and smiling.

Huohuo: Yay! (^▽^)

Second update, one more to go.