Chapter 62

61. Elf Inheritance (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Li Ang recalled the goal he had set for himself—his team should be composed of members with high execution, calmness, and steadiness.

Then he met Zoe, which felt a bit like being clung to by a little wild cat while out for a walk.

The little wild cat was obedient and understood human nature, and although he often worried about her suddenness, how to get along was basically determined.

And this canary before him—

Li Ang sighed: "Since it's something I said, it's valid."

Dorothy made a small celebratory gesture with her fist.

"However."

The lady sat up straight: "You say."

"How can I be sure you're not just on a whim? Are you prepared for adventuring?"

"I'm serious, although it was a decision made in a very short time. As for preparation, I haven't had time yet."

"I must emphasize that being prepared naturally includes the part of taking care of yourself."

"Eh? Don't be like that."

Li Ang sighed: "When you said you were useless just now, I actually had something to say, but it suddenly turned into listening to your inner journey."

"You say," Dorothy sat up with her back straight.

"So-called usefulness or uselessness is just one's own perception. If you really want to talk about useless, it's your mindset. Lighting a magic lamp—can't you even learn that? The same goes for self-care in other aspects of life."

"I'll learn."

Dorothy's fingers gripped the legs under her skirt tightly, sinking into them softly.

"Of course I don't want you to take care of everything. I'm an adult, small things are no problem. I'm emphasizing that feeling—the feeling of someone pointing out what to do based on my situation."

"That's no problem; I was the one who planned this in my previous group."

The lady smiled and whispered: "As expected of something you would do."

"However, I haven't agreed just yet."

"Why is there more?" Dorothy pouted coquettishly.

"Do you have the determination to work hard in your cultivation? Mistream Academy, one of the three major academies in Thousand Towers—although you only attended the elementary academy, your professional rank—"

"I'm very useful, really."

Dorothy suddenly stood up.

She spread her fair palms toward Li Ang, brewed for a few seconds, and then began to stammer.

"My power isn't just the Priest profession; there's something else, which is also the reason I dared to go out adventuring alone back then.

"It's just that because of past events, I didn't want to use its power.

"I've thought it through this time; I want to learn to control it. Mom said its power would be very strong.

"I'll show you, but you can't think I'm a monster," Dorothy frowned.

"I've seen all sorts of mysterious things in the sky; I'll view it with a normal heart," Li Ang said.

Having received the assurance, the lady nodded, closed her eyes, and began to accumulate power.

Her breathing gradually became heavy, and her spread palms seemed to spasm. She bit her lip, fighting against this spasm and not letting her hands clench into fists.

As she exerted force, Li Ang saw several "blue veins" bulge at the edge of her sleeves, converging toward her palms. The skin there suddenly ruptured, bleeding, and several tender green vine-like things emerged from within.

The vines twisted together and stretched forward, and at the very tip of the extension, a white flower bud grew rapidly. In an instant, it bloomed into a pure white five-petaled flower.

Looking closely, the stamens of this flower were all sharp blades with barbs, instantly imbuing the beautiful flower with a sense of terror.

"Demon-Flower," Dorothy said softly.

Li Ang frowned, and the system displayed information about this "flower."

【Demon-Flower (Growth Stage)】

【Plant-type magical beast, extremely bloodthirsty. Ancient elf inheritance contains methods for cultivating legendary warriors using its seeds. A Demon-Flower only produces one seed every hundred years. When the seed lands, the original Demon-Flower will escape into the magic dimension. The growth of the seed requires parasitizing a gifted host, breaking out of the body upon maturity, and taking the host's life. If the host relies on willpower to extract its power in reverse, it can delay its maturity speed and strengthen themselves.】

【Species: Plant Type】

【Combat Wisdom: Rank 4】

【Servant: Demon-Flower Lasher, Rank 2】

【Energy Source: Magic-Absorbing Roots, Rank 4】

【Body Strength: Active Vine Stems, Rank 4. Slaughter Stamens, Rank 4. Blade Corolla, Rank 4】

【Special Attack: Bloom Sowing, Devour Slaughter】

【Skills: Magic Nourishment, Plant Domination, Undead Nature, Absorb Power】

【Combat Power Boost: 45%】

What a special magical beast.

So this is the Demon-Flower.

Li Ang had seen similar things before, but only as carvings on elf ruins. The mission at the time was to escort scholars on an inspection. Some scholars believed that this plant on the stone carvings was just a decorative pattern, while others said it might be a specific object worshipped by elves.

Looking at it now, the latter group of scholars was right.

Seeing it break out of the body, Li Ang confirmed his guess from earlier when looking at Dorothy's own panel. It seemed this thing would indeed take her life early.

Perhaps wanting to escape her current life to go on an adventure was also related to this life limit chasing her. It's just that she hadn't told Li Ang about this, and Li Ang felt she might not know that she could extend her lifespan by defeating the Demon-Flower.

Being parasitized by a Demon-Flower certainly wasn't innate. What on earth did her family do?

Li Ang glanced at the system information again; the term "legendary warrior" was a bit eye-catching.

If the legend on the panel referred to Rank 10, Dorothy looked like a canary now, but her potential was also ridiculously high.

However, this potential still required her to rely on her own willpower to squeeze it out.

Seeing Li Ang thinking for a while, Dorothy was a bit uneasy: "Is it not okay?"

She pursed her lips and said: "Because of the Demon-Flower, it doesn't matter what kind of injury I suffer. A healer who doesn't need protection—that's passable, right?"

Li Ang glanced at the scars she had revealed earlier when she took off her gloves to eat the cloud dumpling. Dorothy noticed his gaze and explained: "If I sleep, all wounds will heal."

"I'm really very useful. At worst, you can tie me to your body as a meat shield."

"That won't be necessary."

Li Ang said: "I know your situation."

He pointed to the darkness ahead: "Adventure awaits ahead. Let me see your determination."

"Then let's go," Dorothy picked up the magic lamp excitedly: "After meeting you again and decisively starting to act, I even feel I'm a bit amazing."

"..."

Li Ang lit the lantern and walked in front.

There was nothing special outside the several secret passage exits that followed. There were long-abandoned cellars, the walls of water wells, and even bedrooms that emitted strange shouts. Li Ang certainly wouldn't open those doors, but Dorothy had a tendency to not want to move her feet.

After a long time of moving forward, the two arrived underground at the Count's mansion.

Behind the first secret door of the Count's mansion, there were unusual things.

In the vast space, coffins with sculptures were arranged in a ring, and on an altar in the center of the ring, several round, white spheres were placed quietly.