Chapter 83: The Odd Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum
"Ah—!"
A slightly effeminate shriek drew everyone's attention. They turned to see Yue Guan's eyes fluttering open, shimmering with a golden light. As he awoke, a colossal, golden phantom of his Spirit bloomed around him. His spirit ring configuration, like Gui Mei's, was now yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
Instead of showing off, however, Yue Guan immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Qin Xuan. "Many thanks, my lord," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "If not for your rescue last night, I would have likely exploded and died while absorbing the 100,000-year spirit ring."
"From now on, my life is yours. I will not hesitate to face death for any command."
As the one who had gone through it, no one knew the danger of the previous night better than he did. If he had previously pledged allegiance out of fear and greed, now, it was a sincere and heartfelt submission.
Hearing this, Gui Mei instantly understood what had happened, and his respect for Qin Xuan deepened. The last trace of resentment he held for being threatened vanished. In that moment, Qin Xuan's figure seemed to magnify in his heart, representing a bright future for both himself and for Spirit Hall.
Several system prompts sounded in Qin Xuan's mind:
[Yue Guan's Favorability +10]
[Gui Mei's Favorability +5]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Yue Guan's Favorability has reached 100, earning the 'Undying Love' achievement. Reward: 1,000,000 emotional value.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Gui Mei's Favorability has reached 100, earning the 'Blind Devotion' achievement. Reward: 500,000 emotional value.]
This can happen? Qin Xuan felt a shiver run down his spine. Gui Mei's achievement was one thing, but 'Undying Love' from Yue Guan just felt wrong, no matter how he looked at it. He secretly resolved that this man would never be his personal guardian Douluo.
Ling Yuan, standing beside him, chimed in. "Yue Guan, I also helped you. Shouldn't you thank me too?"
"Thank you, Lady Ling Yuan. And thank you, Lady Jing Ni," Yue Guan added, including Jing Ni in his gratitude.
This made Ling Yuan feel as if she were punching cotton. Seeing that Yue Guan had also reached level 93, she felt another pang of jealousy. She couldn't understand that at this moment, Yue Guan was simply grateful to be alive. Bowing to her was nothing.
"I can sense your spirit power has reached level 93," Qin Xuan said, changing the subject. "Tell me about the two Spirit Abilities from your new ring."
"Yes, my lord." Yue Guan held out his palm as his ninth spirit ring lit up. He uttered an enchanting incantation, "Odd Velvet Chrysanthemum, Sky-Piercing Flower, a little chrysanthemum I now bear."
As his words fell, an ordinary-looking chrysanthemum materialized in his palm.
"That's a 100,000-year Spirit Ability?" Ling Yuan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Qin Xuan, however, recognized it from his studies. "It's actually a food-system Spirit Ability!"
"Yes, my lord. This is the 'Paragon Indestructible Little Chrysanthemum.' After consumption, one becomes indestructible for five seconds, immune to any attack below the divine level. Strength is increased by 100% for half an hour. It can be used ten times a day," Yue Guan explained. "Additionally, if a teammate consumes it, their next skill's attack power is increased by 30%. If I consume it, it's a 50% increase."
"It's similar to the Soft Bone Rabbit's Paragon Golden Body, but with an attack boost. A very good skill," Qin Xuan praised.
"There's more, my lord!" Yue Guan grew more excited and shot into the sky. "Please follow me."
The others exchanged glances before Qin Xuan nodded, summoning his sword and flying after him. They followed him just outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Yue Guan raised his hand, and a giant golden chrysanthemum appeared above it. "My second Spirit Ability is called 'Chrysanthemum Withered, Wounds All Over, Flowers Fall, Hearts Break.' It is an area-of-effect skill with extreme destructive power."
"It shatters the chrysanthemum into tens of thousands of tiny crescent blades that ignore 100% of physical defense and 50% of spirit power defense. Once hit, the wound will be continuously torn apart by the blades' sharp qi until the victim's spirit power is exhausted and their body is shredded."
Hearing this, both Gui Mei and Ling Yuan were startled. With a move like that, Yue Guan had the power to instantly kill Ling Yuan.
"However, if you eat the Paragon Indestructible Little Chrysanthemum beforehand, you are immune," Yue Guan added, swallowing the small flower from earlier. His body was enveloped in golden light as he flew toward a nearby barren mountain. He then unleashed his ninth Spirit Ability upon himself.
The giant chrysanthemum instantly shattered into a storm of countless crescent blades, engulfing both him and the mountain behind him.
Bang, bang, bang!
The colossal granite mountain was riddled with holes like a sieve, then collapsed with a roar, turning into a pile of rubble under the infinite cutting of the blades. Yue Guan, however, stood completely unharmed within his golden shield.
"Amazing," Gui Mei couldn't help but exclaim.
Even Jing Ni gave a rare nod of approval. "Not bad."
"What a terrifying skill," Ling Yuan swallowed, shooting a pitiful look at Qin Xuan, clearly feeling sour again.
"Don't worry," Qin Xuan comforted her, patting her shoulder. "You'll get your 100,000-year spirit rings eventually." At the same time, he privately mused that his own elementalization skill should also be able to block the attack, but he'd never be foolish enough to test it. He didn't believe in turn-based combat.