OBS Chapter 1381 is available for free; keep going until you're done.
Chapter 1381 is available for free; keep going until you're done.
Chapter 1381 is available for free; keep going until you're done.
The giant snake scrutinized the fleshy ball for a long time before asking in a strange tone, "Who are you?"
The fleshy ball spread out its fourteen segments and bent inward as if in a bow: "I am an envoy of Emperor Phile. I heard that the Tree God has offered a reward for items and power that can mark star flames. My lord happens to have such an item, so I have come here to claim the reward."
As the ancient serpent sized you up, it said, "You're an undead creature, using dragon transformation magic to transform into the appearance of an evil tree to collect a bounty. Who sent you?"
The fleshy ball grabbed its body with all fourteen segments at once, a movement that seemed like an instinctive reaction in an awkward situation, but it looked extremely creepy. The movement of all fourteen segments together gave the feeling of a centipede crawling on your face.
However, the giant snake was not human, and it just found the guy in front of it a bit ridiculous, trying to fool it with such a crude trick.
Just as I was about to smash it flat on the spot, the fleshy ball said, "My lord, Emperor Phile, is the king of immortality. Isn't it normal for me to be an undead creature?"
As it spoke, the fleshy ball returned to its original form, a cloud of undead smoke, but it quickly turned back into a fleshy ball: "It's too hot here, so I had to change my form. Please don't be angry, Tree God."
“Uh…” The ancient snake was a little speechless, it had almost forgotten that King Phile was an undead creature: “Then why did you use the dragon race’s shapeshifting magic?”
"Uh, I only know the dragon race's shapeshifting magic. I was a dragon in my previous life." The ball of flesh quickly turned back into smoke, and then transformed into a first-tier dragon-human again, which was none other than Phoenix.
The temperature was still too high. After only a short while in his new form, Phoenix felt the dragon grime on his body was getting a bit dry, so he quickly transformed back.
Even the giant serpent was speechless: "Why would a dragon like you transform into the shape of an evil tree?"
At this point, Phoenix couldn't help but tear up, saying with grief and indignation, "That evil tree parasitized my child, turning him into this monstrous form. My child hadn't even hatched from the dragon egg, hadn't even seen the magnificence of the void, and was already transformed into this. Yet, it was the only connection between me and my child... I..."
By the end, Phoenix choked up; his emotions were genuine. He had resisted Anthony's attempt to transform him into the form of the Ghost Tree, but Anthony's words had changed his mind: "Use this form to test the Guman Snake and see if it recognizes the Ghost Tree. If it does, we can use it as a starting point to find the Ghost Tree's location and avenge your child."
It now appears that the ancient mantis not only recognizes the strange tree, but also knows about these dragon people.
“Okay, I understand. If you really possess an item that can mark Starfire, I will give you some gifts after the transaction is completed,” said the Guman Snake.
Really? Phoenix's eyes lit up, and he quickly pulled out a small bottle: "Tree God, this is a sample, please verify."
The ground was cracking, and a tree-man rose from the ground, came to Phoenix, took the bottle, opened the cap, and dipped a twig inside to collect some of the contents.
When I picked it up, it was transparent, colorless, odorless, and showed no signs of change.
Facing the questioning intent sweeping towards him from the giant manta ray, Phoenix quickly said, "This is a dye specially made for Starfire, it needs to be burned."
The giant serpent flicked a small spark of starlight, which landed on the tree-man's dye-stained branch and immediately burst into flames.
After being burned like this, everyone present could see the difference; the flames of the burning starlight had turned green.
"Interesting." The serpent took the small bottle. When the tree-man dipped its branch in the liquid, the serpent had thoroughly tested it to ensure it wouldn't harm it, which was why it dared to take it.
Caution and prudence are instincts that all beings at this level should possess.
"Is it really effective against Starfire? Won't it just burn up and disappear?" the Guman Snake asked doubtfully.
Phoenix made a gesture of invitation, or perhaps it was, but since all seven limbs were making the gesture together, no one could tell what it meant: "Please verify."
The giant snake flicked out a new star flame, then dripped a drop of dye onto it. Instantly, the entire star flame burst into green flames. The star flame itself emitted a yellowish-white glow, but the green flames made it exceptionally conspicuous, and even the temperature of the glow seemed to drop.
The ancient serpent manipulated the star flames, splitting them in two. However, both star flames retained their green flames. It then split them into four, then into eight, but each star flame still retained its green flame.
"Even cutting can't erase it?" The ancient manta serpent nodded, gathered them into a ball, and then ejected an even larger ball of starfire, stuffing the green-flaming starfire into the larger ball of starfire.
The two clusters of starfire were clearly distinct, with the smaller one burning inside the larger one and emitting a green light, yet it did not taint the starfire outside.
"Good." This is exactly what the ancient serpent wants. If the star flame gets contaminated by other star flames, then it's meaningless. When the star flame giant drills into the divine star, the entire divine star will be dyed green, and it will be indistinguishable.
"Does it have any drawbacks?" the giant snake asked.
Phoenix said, "Dyes sealed in bottles must be used within two months, otherwise they will lose their effectiveness. If the bottle cap has been opened, it must be used within a few hours, and the color will only last for about ten days after application. After ten days, the green color will disappear."
As the snake listened, it nodded, and when it learned that the effects would wear off after a few hours of being opened, it instinctively closed the lid again to avoid wasting it.
Phoenix took all the shortcomings to heart. It could tell at a glance that this thing was a pheromone dye. It was a plant itself, so of course it knew the advantages and disadvantages of pheromones. If it could produce pheromones with these properties, it would have used this method to mark its target long ago.
After listening, the snake said, "Okay, deal. How do we trade?"
Phoenix said, "I'll give you a bottle of dye, and you give me an equivalent amount of starfire, until the fifth bottle is traded."
"Why are we only trading the fifth bottle? I offered a bounty of ten equivalent Star Flames. Shouldn't we trade them all?" the Guman Snake asked, puzzled.
“Five bottles of dye are enough for you to mark a Starfire Giant. If you decide to continue the trade, we can continue, but would you like to test the dye’s effects first and take down a Starfire Giant?” Phoenix asked.
"Ten days isn't enough time for me to take down a Starfire Giant? What if I can't?" Guman Snake asked, both disgusted and curious.
“We’ll continue to supply the dye for free until you kill one of them,” Phoenix said.
The dwarf snake was extremely satisfied upon hearing this. When had it ever enjoyed such excellent sales service from the dwarves? Wasn't it always a simple transaction where the money was exchanged and everyone went their separate ways? They even offered free restocking?
This is equivalent to the Kumanthong not buying a few bottles of dye, but rather a service to eliminate the Starfire Giant—it couldn't be more cost-effective.
After thinking for a moment, the Guman snake said, "I'm afraid that if another one comes to help, we'll miss the opportunity. If we can't eliminate them, you can give me more dye."
"make a deal."
……
Within the roots of the Myriad Realms Tree, Maibao lay quietly atop Starfire, his consciousness leisurely surveying his surroundings.
Beings of this level do not need to sleep. Their current leisurely state is equivalent to sleep. When applied to a guardian construct, it is equivalent to a low-power throne mode. Although they remain motionless, they can see all the changes around them.
A firebird carrying a bag flew by, cawing. There have been more and more Starborns delivering goods like this lately, especially after the arrival of silver coins. McCree is used to it.
Suddenly, several small bottles rolled out of Firebird's bag and crashed down on where McBurney was.
They had always known that the manta ray was watching them, and Maibao was always ready to react, but what about the few bottles?
(End of this chapter)