Everyone's Envy

According to the Healing Frog's memories, there was an ancient lotus in Turtle Zone.

The lotus seeds it produced could strengthen Healing Arts, raise the level of Healing Arts, reduce its consumption, and make it more powerful.

Unfortunately, the lotus had been claimed by two large turtles. Every time the Healing Frog approached, it was attacked and had been wounded many times.

Even the Healing Frog's mate had been killed by the turtles, leaving it alone. Yet it still could not let go, wanting to reclaim that lotus.

"Being able to improve Healing Arts is pretty good. Let's give it a try, see if I can get some lotus seeds, and get hurt while I'm at it to test the effects of Healing Arts."

Curious, Li Xuan kicked hard against the ground with his hind legs. His body shot upward before he plunged straight into the beautiful little river.

Splash!

Icy river water slid around his body. Li Xuan did not feel the slightest discomfort. Instead, he felt utterly free.

"What a free feeling. Being in the water feels so comfortable."

Li Xuan swam freely through the little river, his limbs constantly paddling the water as his round body drifted through the clear blue-green current.

Not long afterward,

Li Xuan swam into Turtle Zone's territory and spotted a huge, beautiful lotus blooming in the middle of the water from afar.

The pinkish-white lotus bloomed brilliantly, as eye-catching as a beautiful young woman.

At the sight of the lovely lotus, Li Xuan gradually slowed down. He began searching for the two turtles while approaching along the edge of the riverbank.

"I see them. Those turtles aren't small at all, each one is as big as a washbasin."

After swimming for a while, Li Xuan saw two large green-shelled turtles paddling around the lotus, as though they were preparing to leave.

"Could they be going out to find food?" Li Xuan stopped swimming and hid in a corner, silently observing.

Very soon,

One of the two large turtles swam away, leaving only one behind to guard the lotus.

"Only one left. Perfect opportunity."

Li Xuan swiftly scanned the riverbed, looking for where the lotus seeds and lotus roots were stored.

Every year, the lotus produced quite a few lotus seeds and lotus roots. The seeds could improve Healing Arts, while the roots could increase magic power.

The reason the large turtles occupied this place was for the lotus roots. As for the lotus seeds, they had gathered them as well and buried them in the mud at the bottom of the river.

The former Healing Frog had limited intelligence and did not understand the art of taking a roundabout path. It would only charge headlong into Turtle Zone to fight the two large turtles, hoping to drive them away.

But Li Xuan was human. He would not be that foolish. Instead, he silently swam toward the riverbed.

In barely a minute, Li Xuan easily reached the bottom of the river and found the cave where supplies were stored.

"This is ridiculously easy. That stupid turtle is still up there guarding the lotus." Li Xuan had not expected it to be so simple, and he felt as though he had crushed it with superior intelligence.

"Whatever. I'll eat the lotus seeds first. I need to eat a lot of these."

Li Xuan quickly slipped into the cave and soon saw a large quantity of lotus seeds, along with a small number of lotus roots.

"The large turtles don't eat lotus seeds, so they're all mine now." Li Xuan went over to the seeds and rapidly swallowed them one after another.

They were very hard, and other creatures digested them slowly. But that was no problem at all for a Healing Frog, since the lotus originally belonged to Healing Frogs.

Gulp!

One lotus seed after another went down, and Li Xuan's belly gradually swelled. His already round body became even plumper.

As he continued swallowing lotus seeds, Li Xuan noticed that the words Healing Arts on his status panel had begun to tremble slowly, the text growing slightly blurry as though it were about to advance.

"Very good. Keep eating."

Li Xuan directly switched into glutton mode, gulping down the lotus seeds mouthful after mouthful.

At the same time, he put every lotus root he came across into the auction house for sale.

They could increase magic power, which was mainly stored in the body. Li Xuan planned to self-destruct after he finished eating, so the lotus roots would be of little use to him.

Besides, they were truly inconvenient to carry, and he had no storage ability. So Li Xuan simply tossed the lotus roots into the auction house.

The chat channel had originally quieted down. Everyone needed to survive, find shelter, and search for food and water, so they were all busy.

But when the lotus roots Li Xuan had listed appeared, the chat channel instantly exploded with activity.

"Holy crap! These lotus roots can increase magic power? A big shot is already auctioning treasures this soon?"

"Could it be fake? There are lots of scammers now. The seller is a Shapeshifter Beast, which doesn't sound very impressive, does it?" said someone named Black-Furred Dog.

"It isn't fake. Look at the auction house description. Fake items can't be auctioned," Gale Mouse said.

"It really is genuine. Auctioning something this good... this big shot is way too generous."

"My god, I'm still worrying about finding something to eat, while the big shot is already selling magic-power treasures."

A crowd began posting frantically, marveling at the lotus roots Li Xuan had put up for auction.

"Shapeshifter Beast boss, you're amazing. Are you taking followers? I'm Black-Tailed Snake, and I can keep wagging my tail."

"I'm a girl. My race is a lark, and I can cast illusions. Shapeshifter Beast boss, can we form a team together?"

"Shapeshifter Beast, can you give me your lotus roots for free? I can carry you," Blazing Hound said.

The regional chat channel kept scrolling as many people tried to cling to a powerful backer.

Even Blazing Hound, the only Black Iron summoned beast, could not resist speaking up, saying it would carry Li Xuan.

Unfortunately, no one paid them any attention. The big shot they were hoping for did not say a word.

"Shapeshifter Beast boss is probably busy. We should figure out how to bid for the lotus roots. They can increase magic power and are extremely useful for advancing."

"But buying those lotus roots requires a treasure that can strengthen the soul. Where are we supposed to get something like that?"

"Yeah. I think Shapeshifter Beast boss must have gotten a lot of lotus roots. I'm so jealous I could die."

A flood of messages appeared in the chat box again. Many people were deeply envious, but all they could do was envy.

"Everyone, keep an eye on all kinds of plants. You might find something similar," Gale Mouse said.

"Alright, thanks for the reminder, Brother Gale Mouse."

The summoned beasts became busy, starting to watch for every kind of plant in hopes of finding similar treasures.

Unfortunately, they were completely unfamiliar with this world. Unlike Li Xuan, who could locate treasures based on the Healing Frog's memories, they could only look on with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Gulp!

Li Xuan swallowed another lotus seed and felt his belly painfully bloated. He was already starting to be unable to eat anymore.

There were simply too many lotus seeds piled up here. He was only a Healing Frog the size of a bowling ball. How could he possibly eat so many?

So Li Xuan stopped eating and lay in the cave, silently digesting.

Time trickled by, and half an hour soon passed.

During that time, Li Xuan kept an eye on the large turtle above while checking his status panel.

The words Healing Arts on the status panel were trembling violently now.

They seemed as though they could advance at any moment, making Li Xuan even more expectant.

But just then,

Just as Li Xuan was waiting in anticipation,

What was bound to come finally arrived.