Chapter 49 - 47: Which Sunflower Seed is the Spiritual Plant?

Chapter 49: Chapter 47: Which Sunflower Seed is the Spiritual Plant?

Xia Yu looked at the sunflower seeds in the backpack, her brow twitching slightly.

But instead, she looked pleased.

"Yu, I made sure to check them last night, and there were no problems. But when I got up and looked this morning, they were like this. This one sunflower seed is so aggressive. It actually grew roots and pierced the other sunflower seeds to absorb their nutrients."

"It’s growing strong, but if this continues, the other sunflower seeds are going to die."

It was the first time Xie Shaokun had encountered such a situation. He didn’t understand what was happening and wore a look of utter amazement.

"Don’t worry."

"I only ever intended to get the most powerful one."

Xia Yu continued to examine the strongest sunflower seed and said, "I bought some fertile soil from the flower market and got some water. You should water them daily and keep a close eye on their condition. Don’t interfere with their competition."

The dumbest, yet most accurate, way to find a Spiritual Plant was:

Plant them all together. The more vital and aggressive Spiritual Plant will steal the nutrients from the other sunflower seeds. Compared to soil and water, the nutrients contained within the sunflower seeds themselves are the richest. Therefore, these sunflower seeds are bound to engage in cannibalism.

Of course, you wouldn’t see much in just one night. You had to wait much longer, until only one sunflower survived. That one would definitely be the Spiritual Plant.

"Based on experience, this process should take about a month."

But Xia Yu didn’t have that kind of patience.

In a little over three months, the Apocalypse would break out. The difficulty of survival would then increase exponentially. She needed the sunflower seed to be ready by then to protect the survival base, to become its first line of defense.

So...

"You can keep the Crystal Cores you have. Just remember to place one at the very bottom of the flowerpot each day."

Xia Yu said.

"???"

Xie Shaokun was taken aback and couldn’t help but ask, "Why?"

Xia Yu didn’t hide it from him. She explained, "Crystal Cores can accelerate their growth..."

Whether human, animal, or plant, the Devouring Species exists among them all.

A Devouring Species is a living being that achieves rapid growth by devouring Crystal Cores. Their speed of getting stronger leaves all others in the dust. Even beings with immense natural talent can’t keep up, unless they too consume vast amounts of resources.

Of course, the more Crystal Cores they devour, the more unpredictable their temperament becomes, and their bodies will undergo various degrees of change—for example, growing an extra arm or a few extra eyes—until they reach a certain critical point...

Human and animal Devouring Species will lose control of themselves, becoming mere killing machines, or even monsters.

They are even more terrifying than Mutants and Mutated Beasts because they possess high intelligence!

Plant-based Devouring Species are even more savage, with a stronger desire to attack and kill than even a Mutated Plant.

However, a biology Ph.D. who had studied the Devouring Species for years discovered a way to control, or rather, influence the behavior of a plant-based Devouring Species: water it with a mixture of blood and water.

Shortly after, a method was discovered to control or influence the behavior of animal Devouring Species: feeding them one’s own flesh and blood.

Then, a method was found to control or influence human Devouring Species: feed them your own flesh and blood, and also make them feel your love.

Of course, regardless of whether it’s a human, animal, or plant Devouring Species, if you were already close to it before it became one, you can also influence its behavior to a certain extent.

So...

There was another reason why Xia Yu was turning the Spiritual Plant into a Devouring Species: to control it!

’Compared to animal and human Devouring Species, a plant-based one is much more suitable for me.’

Thinking this, she took the Blood Butterfly from Xie Shaokun’s hand and ordered, "Go move the stuff."

Xie Shaokun didn’t ask any more questions and went to the car to move the flowerpots, water, and food.

He knew that they would probably have to stay here for a long time.

However, after the Joyful Picking Garden incident, his physical constitution had been further enhanced, and his temperament had changed as well. He was much more mature now.

He knew he had to endure the loneliness.

Xia Yu was a little surprised not to hear Xie Shaokun ask when they could leave. She spoke up, "Ten days at the least, half a month at the most, and you’ll be able to leave."

Hearing this, Xie Shaokun was instantly overjoyed and moved the items with renewed vigor.

If he weren’t a wanted man, if he didn’t have work to do, and if the bizarre incident hadn’t matured his character, it would have been truly difficult for someone of his temperament to stay in such a godforsaken place.

Watching Xie Shaokun’s departing figure, Xia Yu cut her finger.

Fresh blood dripped onto the soil in the flowerpot.

The stakes were too high. This matter could not be known by any outsiders, not even Xie Shaokun.

Her work here was done.

Xia Yu drove away.

「Three days after the Joyful Picking Garden incident.」

「The abandoned building.」

"These three sunflower seeds have completely withered. There’s no vitality left in them."

Xie Shaokun dug through the soil and asked, "Yu, should I get rid of them?"

The aggressive sunflower seed had grown even stronger. The other sunflower seeds that hadn’t been pierced by its roots were also growing quickly, extending their own roots toward the others.

But one sunflower seed stood out. It hadn’t been pierced, nor had it pierced any others with its roots. It seemed to be an outcast.

"No need."

"Even if a sunflower seed has no vitality, its ’corpse’ still contains nutrients."

Xia Yu said, feeling a bit puzzled herself.

"Mm."

Xie Shaokun nodded.

Xia Yu had never raised a Devouring Species before and had no experience. For now, she could only wait and see. Not wanting to overthink it, she commanded, "There’s gym equipment in the car. Go get it."

After Xie Shaokun left, she once again dripped two drops of blood and added a little water.

The wound healed quickly.

「Day Four.」

"Seven sunflower seeds died."

"Some were killed by that most aggressive sunflower seed, others were killed by the other seeds. This... the plant world is so cruel."

Xie Shaokun was filled with shock and doubt.

The most aggressive sunflower seed was already a full size larger than the others. It was indeed the most likely candidate for the Spiritual Plant.

"Mm."

Xia Yu nodded. She once again noticed the outcast sunflower seed. Still, no other sunflower seed ’dared to provoke’ it, nor did it ’provoke’ any others.

Solitary and at ease.

After sending Xie Shaokun away, she again dripped two drops of blood and poured a little water.

「Day Five.」

"Nineteen sunflower seeds have died,"

Xie Shaokun said.

The most aggressive sunflower seed was now twice the size of the others.

The outcast sunflower seed remained the same as ever.

Of all the sunflower seeds in the large flowerpot, those two were the most peculiar.

Xia Yu once again sent Xie Shaokun away, then dripped blood and watered the soil.

This time, however, she didn’t leave in a hurry. After Xie Shaokun returned, she said, "Tomorrow is Chinese New Year’s Eve. The fifth Mist Event will break out tomorrow night."

"Find an opportune moment to enter the city."

"They’ve added a lot more surveillance cameras in the city. The route I marked for you doesn’t have any yet, but I can’t guarantee they won’t install some tomorrow. Be careful, and don’t get caught."

"The location of the fifth Mist Event is..."