The man-eating flower instantly grew larger, its appearance dramatically altered. Five petals, the size and thickness of cotton quilts, trembled and undulated rhythmically, like waves.
They were a bloody crimson, and the绒毛 (róngmáo - fuzz) on them, each as thick as a chopstick, were as sharp as knives.
The most terrifying part was the center, resembling a gaping maw, as if it would swallow them all in the next second.
Without a word, the group produced their respective magical artifacts and launched attacks at the fearsome man-eating flower.
Ji Shiyou struck first, his purple-gold hammers whistling through the air as they hurtled towards the flower.
"You're being unreasonable. I've grown so big, and you still won't give me delicious food, and you want to hit me? Huahua is angry!"
Seeing Ji Shiyou attack it, the flower spoke in a sweet, tender tone, like a little girl throwing a tantrum.
Then, a petal rose and blocked the thunderous purple-gold hammers, enveloping them.
The petal remained completely unharmed. It then unfurled, and the purple-gold hammers clanged onto the ground, covered in viscous fluid.
"Be careful of its slime!"
Ji Shiyou felt his connection to the purple-gold hammers severed. He immediately warned the others, but it was too late.
Bu Zhi's Sky Water Pearl, Tian Shang's Green Wood Fan, Gong Que's Black Tortoise Shield, and Jin Xi's Blazing Sun Pearl fell to the ground one after another.
This was because they had been hit by the viscous fluid sprayed from the man-eating flower's mouth. Not only did their magical artifacts lose their connection and fall to the ground, but the four of them were also covered in the fluid, unable to move.
They had no idea what kind of ability this viscous fluid possessed to be so potent.
Shi Henian immediately turned and ran towards the transforming vehicle. He had already launched several attacks at the man-eating flower using his mental abilities.
However, even with the enhancement of the psychic crystal, his mental attacks were like a mud ox entering the sea, having no effect whatsoever.
So, he wanted to quickly return to the transforming vehicle, so he could rescue the others from the flower's grasp and escape the area with them.
Ji Shiyou understood Shi Henian's plan. He now intended to buy Shi Henian time, so he directly conjured a mountain-splitting saber and slashed at the man-eating flower.
Before he could even get close, he was hit by the viscous fluid and fell to the ground, unable to move.
Shi Henian's hand had already touched the door of the transforming vehicle when he felt a tightening sensation on his back, and then his body flew backward as if riding on clouds.
When he stopped and looked back, he saw the man-eating flower's terrifying maw pressed tightly against his back.
"Hand over the delicious food! Otherwise, I'll, I'll, I'll take it myself."
The man-eating flower hesitated for a long time, seemingly unable to organize its threat, and gave up.
A petal flew up and slapped Shi Henian away, sending him to land beside Ji Shiyou and the other five.
Then, its maw opened, emitting a powerful suction. The backpacks of all six people flew up and into the man-eating flower's maw, falling into that gaping mouth.
The man-eating flower's maw wriggled a few times, then spat out the six backpacks covered in viscous fluid, leaving only the potions made with the Water of Life in its mouth.
The petals trembled gently, as if savoring the taste. After a few minutes, it felt somewhat unsatisfied because the potion was too little, so it began to interrogate Ji Shiyou and the others.
"It's so delicious! Tell me, where did this come from, and do you have any more?"
Although Ji Shiyou and the others were unable to move and filled with fear, they remained silent.
"If you don't tell me, don't blame me for being impolite. What did you call me just now? A man-eating flower, right?
If you don't tell me, I'll eat you. Who should I eat first? I'll eat this fair and plump little girl first!"
Seeing that the group remained silent, the man-eating flower began to issue threats, targeting Tian Shang.
"Eat me first. She's not tasty, really. Eat me. Don't look at her being plump, but it's all fat.
You'll get diarrhea. Eat me, my meat is the most delicious."
"No, he's lying. I'm tastier than him. Eat me!"
Seeing the man-eating flower target Tian Shang, Bu Zhi spoke up, offering to be eaten in her place. Tian Shang also argued, insisting the flower eat her.
"You'd rather be eaten by me than tell me what that delicious thing is? Then you can all go together."
Seeing Bu Zhi and Tian Shang vying to sacrifice themselves, the man-eating flower became enraged. It opened its maw wide and prepared to suck them in.
"Flowers should act like flowers. Why eat people? Eating people will incur divine retribution!"
Just then, a voice came from the sky, followed by a bolt of lightning that struck the man-eating flower directly.
"Sister Mingyue!"
"Mingyue!"
"Captain!"
Hearing the voice, Ji Shiyou and the others knew that Mingyue had returned.
They all cried out in surprise and joy, knowing they were no longer going to die.
Mingyue was rushing over from Yunmeng Mountain. As she flew through the air, she saw the man-eating flower about to suck Bu Zhi and Tian Shang into its maw.
So, she directly summoned a bolt of lightning to stop it and rescue the two. She descended from the sky, dismounted her Azure Luan, and walked up to the man-eating flower.
"It didn't die from the lightning? And it has no abilities?"
Looking at the man-eating flower before her, its petals covered in dust, blackened by the lightning, yet completely intact with not a single fuzz broken, Mingyue was very surprised.
What puzzled her most was that she couldn't detect any fluctuation of abilities from this man-eating flower, nor could she sense its level.
The lightning she had summoned using witchcraft was equivalent to a level ten ability, yet it had only managed to dirty the flower, causing no apparent damage.
"You dare to strike me with lightning? I won't let you go! What abilities, what abilities? Huahua is an ancient mutated plant.
The viscous fluid produced within me ignores all kinds of power. Even the power of lightning cannot harm me! Today, you are dead!"
The man-eating flower's petals trembled desperately, shaking off the dirt. It roared at Mingyue, its mouth opening and closing.
Then, its mouth opened and closed again, spraying a stream of viscous fluid at Mingyue, attempting to subdue her in the same manner.
"An ancient mutated plant? That makes things easier."
Hearing the man-eating flower announce its lineage, Mingyue suddenly understood. Then, a green light emanated from her body.
As the viscous fluid reached her, it hit the green light and fell to the ground with a splat, dissolving into nothingness.
Then, Mingyue waved her hand, and a wisp of the green light from her body shot out and struck the man-eating flower.
The man-eating flower, which had originally been over ten meters in diameter, rapidly shrank, returning to the size of a fist.
"Who are you? Let me go! What is this light? Why can it restrain me?"
Enveloped by the green light, the man-eating flower struggled desperately within it, crying out loudly.
Mingyue ignored it completely. She walked over to Ji Shiyou and the others and used the light from her body to dissolve the viscous fluid on them.
"Sister Mingyue, why is your light so powerful? What ability is this?"
Standing up from the ground, Tian Shang asked in amazement. Under the illumination of the green light, she felt a warmth spreading through her body.
Her wood-elemental abilities stirred, and even her ability level showed signs of breaking through, making her very curious.
The man-eating flower, which had been restless, fell silent upon hearing Tian Shang's question.
Tian Shang's question was the same as its own. It also wanted to hear Mingyue's explanation, so it quietly prepared to eavesdrop.