Chapter 22 : Devouring
The Dread Wolf was shocked. It had originally believed its condition was not particularly serious, only that it made breaking through difficult. Yet with a single sentence, the Demon Envoy had awakened it!
The Dread Wolf did not doubt Su Xiao’s words in the slightest. A powerful being like her would never stoop to deceiving it.
So my body has already deteriorated to this extent…
“Many thanks, Demon Envoy!”
Looking at the woman before it, the Dread Wolf saw how casually she had given such a precious Purple Heart Grass to it. Staring at the small purple plant, excitement surged within its heart.
Su Xiao watched as the wolf stared at the Purple Heart Grass for a moment. Suddenly, a pained expression appeared on its face. Then it used its claw to split the herb into two parts, a larger portion and a smaller one.
With visible reluctance, the wolf flicked one-third of the smaller portion toward the Armored Crocodile.
“Brother Crocodile, we agreed earlier that I’d take the larger share and you the smaller. This is your portion.”
The Armored Crocodile stared blankly at the Purple Heart Grass tossed toward it. It clearly remembered that their original agreement had been to split it fifty-fifty.
But the crocodile was not foolish now. Under the current circumstances, even if the Dread Wolf swallowed the whole thing itself, it wouldn’t have had the right to complain. After all, the Purple Heart Grass had not been seized by the two of them; it had been given to the Dread Wolf by the Demon Envoy.
Feeling grateful toward the wolf, and completely forgetting how badly it had been tricked earlier, the crocodile opened its mouth and swallowed the herb.
Its situation was similar to the wolf’s, though slightly better. However, that only increased the difficulty of its future breakthrough.
Seeing the crocodile swallow its portion and noticing that the Demon Envoy had no objections, the Dread Wolf finally could not hold back any longer. It opened its jaws and swallowed the herb as well.
In the wild, consuming spirit herbs was extremely dangerous. Besides the herb’s medicinal power impacting the body, the greatest danger came from other predators watching nearby. While the herb’s essence circulated through the bloodstream before being fully absorbed, it easily attracted greedy opportunists.
Thus, the Dread Wolf and the Armored Crocodile swallowing the Purple Heart Grass on the spot was a very reckless act.
But at this moment, even Luo Yi the green snake would not dare make a move. And if other demonic beasts had witnessed what had just happened, they would likely flee in terror. Who would dare target the Dread Wolf now?
Su Xiao watched the enormous wolf as faint purple light began to radiate from its body. The muscles of its face twisted together from the intense pain, making its already fearsome appearance even more ferocious.
Su Xiao had personally experienced the side effects of recklessly consuming spirit herbs. Although the Purple Heart Grass produced symptoms different from the Silver Grass, it was equally dangerous. At the same time, she became even more certain that her inefficient consumption of the Silver Grass was not due to the method she had used. The Dread Wolf and the crocodile had eaten the Purple Heart Grass the same way.
After thinking it over carefully, it made sense. Demonic beasts and Refined Spirits could neither cook nor refine pills. Other than swallowing spirit herbs raw, they really had no better method.
Su Xiao felt a wave of helplessness. The efficiency of gaining strength by consuming spirit herbs was extremely low. If she wanted to become stronger, she would have to rely on converting luck instead. Yet the initial mission pressed against her throat like a heavy stone, leaving her feeling trapped.
Forget it! I’ll focus on strengthening myself first. Only by becoming stronger will I have the ability to obtain more spirit herbs or find other ways to gain luck! Su Xiao told herself firmly as she made her decision.
Ever since her transmigration, the burden of the initial mission had weighed heavily on her, making her feel constantly oppressed. But at the same time, it had awakened a ruthless determination within her.
The Dread Wolf and the Armored Crocodile were still digesting the medicinal power of the Purple Heart Grass. At this moment, even a small demonic beast could easily kill them. If Su Xiao wished, a single blast of Frost-Yin Fox Fire would surely finish them off.
She couldn’t help but admire the Dread Wolf’s courage.
Besides courage, it’s also quite meticulous. It probably calculated that since I gave it the Purple Heart Grass, I wouldn’t ignore what happens afterward, Su Xiao thought, guessing the wolf’s intentions. But what it doesn’t realize is that if some foolish demonic beast attacked now, I might not be able to save it, and I’d very likely expose myself instead. At that point, even I wouldn’t be able to protect myself.
She mocked herself inwardly. Without power, she could only rely on bluffing.
I must strengthen myself as quickly as possible. This area is too dangerous. I can’t keep relying on this fragile acting performance!
The Dread Wolf and the Armored Crocodile absorbed the effects of the Purple Heart Grass much faster than Su Xiao had absorbed the Silver Grass. On one hand, their ranks were higher than Su Xiao’s. On the other hand, the Purple Heart Grass was a lower-grade herb than the Silver Grass.
With both factors combined, the wolf finished digesting the herb in roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Afterward, the herb’s effects would remain in its body for quite some time, gradually clearing away the chaotic energy impurities and smoothing the path toward becoming a higher-tier demonic beast.
Su Xiao patiently waited for the wolf to finish absorbing the medicinal effects. Under these circumstances, even Luo Yi did not dare show the slightest objection.