Chapter 220: Chapter 208: The Function of the Plant Roots
Flora Bloom plucked the Golden Crow from her hair.
"Explain clearly. How am I supposed to subdue it?"
"For a big oaf like that, you just need to tempt it with a little spiritual water. It’ll be a piece of cake. I’m telling you, human, don’t you realize the spiritual water in your space holds a fatal attraction for all living things?"
The Golden Crow’s words made Flora Bloom think. ’I’ve definitely experienced that firsthand,’ she considered. "But that Three-Eyes gorilla is enormous. How am I supposed to get close to it?"
"Don’t be fooled by its size. That big oaf is incredibly dumb. It’s an idiot with an extremely sensitive sense of smell. As long as you take out some spiritual water, it will absolutely not harm you!"
"It’s that simple?" Flora Bloom held the Golden Crow by the scruff of its neck, staring directly into its golden eyes.
"It really is that simple. What more could you want? It’s not like they’re some highly intelligent species. The Three-Eyes gorilla clan may have incredible attack power, but the entire race is nothing but brainless foodies. Taking care of one is a piece of cake."
"Let’s go, let’s go! Let’s go subdue that big oaf!" Hearing the Golden Crow’s explanation, Five immediately tried to charge back into the pitch-black tunnel.
’The Three-Eyes gorilla... its attack power is no joke! We saw its might when it locked onto Saul Sterling’s superpower and struck from across space and time!’
"Boss, Boss Lady, let’s go! We’re gonna go subdue that big oaf!"
Flora Bloom placed a hand on her forehead, speechless. "Let’s forget it for today. It’s already dark. Even if we subdued it now, we couldn’t go explore the secret area." She still didn’t know what kind of blessed land this secret area was; rushing in would be too dangerous. A single Three-Eyes gorilla was that formidable—who knew what else might be waiting for them.
"We’ll discuss our plan and go in the morning. Right now, I want to check out the other tunnel!"
"Boss Lady, the other tunnel has almost completely collapsed. It’s filled with concrete and rocks. We can’t get in."
Flora Bloom gave a mysterious smile. "Is that so?" Then, ignoring everyone’s disapproving looks, she started walking in alone.
Lex Cross and the other three men simply followed behind her at a steady pace. After just ten minutes of walking, the seawater on the floor was already past their calves. Since Flora Bloom was shorter than Lex Cross and the others, the water was already up to her knees.
She kicked at the ice-cold seawater, only to be suddenly lifted up by Lex Cross.
"You shouldn’t be soaking in this water. Just stay still. I’ll carry you."
Flora Bloom was now cradled in Lex Cross’s arms as if he were carrying a child, her hips resting squarely on his muscular forearm.
Flora Bloom suddenly leaned against Lex Cross’s shoulder and whispered in his ear, "You’re going to be a great dad someday!"
The words were spoken without intention, but they were heard with a heavy heart.
When Five, Saul Sterling, and Holden Warren overheard their whispered exchange, they immediately erupted in catcalls.
"Whoa, the Boss is mighty! And the Boss Lady is fierce!"
"Boss, when did you and the Boss Lady get so chummy?"
"Yeah, seriously! It’s so sweet I’m getting goosebumps!"
The three men bantered back and forth, teasing the couple’s interaction. But for Lex Cross, Flora Bloom’s words were a tangled mix of sweetness and bitterness that left him feeling incredibly conflicted.
"Sit still and behave!" Lex Cross shot Flora Bloom an irritated glare before striding forward again.
Flora Bloom glared back at Five and the other two. "They’re called GOOSEbumps! What are you, a chicken? Always clucking! You talk way too much!"
Seeing the conflicted look on Lex Cross’s face, Flora Bloom knew. ’He’s getting jealous about the baby’s parentage again.’
’Sigh. I wonder what his face will look like when he reaches the Middle Level and finds out the baby is his after all.’
「Fifteen minutes later」 Plant roots began to appear on the ceiling and walls of the tunnel. The farther they went, the more densely the roots packed together, until they enveloped the entire passage. Her mental link with the plants had never been clearer.
Soon, the five of them arrived at what looked like a collapsed section of the tunnel.
Before them, a tangled mass of rubble, concrete, and plant roots formed a solid wall, completely blocking their path.
"It’s a dead end. Boss Lady, can we go back? I haven’t had a proper meal in two days!"
"Yeah, why did we even come here?"
Saul Sterling, Five, and Holden Warren were utterly bewildered. Lex Cross had his own questions, but he remained silent.
’This girl is always full of surprises. What she’s planning this time is probably something spectacular.’
"Heh heh. Who said it’s a dead end?"
After a sly grin, a mist of spiritual water began to emanate from Flora Bloom’s body, drifting up toward the surrounding plant roots.
Lex Cross was closest to Flora Bloom. When the mist of spiritual water touched his face, he licked the moisture from his lips. He didn’t know what connection Flora Bloom had to these roots, only that as soon as her spiritual water mist reached them, they began to dance wildly.
"Boss Lady, th-these roots... they’re alive? They’re not going to attack us, are they?" Five asked, staring at the roots in shock.
Meanwhile, a white superpower surged from Saul Sterling’s body. It penetrated the mass of roots, and he quickly determined their origin: the two lawns in the villa district above.
"Boss Lady, what are you planning?" Saul Sterling truly couldn’t figure out what Flora Bloom was up to.
Flora Bloom didn’t stop releasing the mist of spiritual water. Upon contact with it, the roots not only grew wildly but also followed her commands. They pulverized the rubble and concrete that had blocked the passage and carved out a new path, just wide enough for one person to pass through.
The small path was completely encased by the roots, making them look like decorative vines adorning the walls.
The once stuffy and humid tunnel instantly became fresh and cool, filled with a unique Spiritual Energy. The aroma of this energy was identical to the scent of Flora Bloom’s spiritual water.
The spiritual water mist continued to spread, and the roots grew longer and longer. They wrapped around the passage, seemingly shouldering the weight of the entire tunnel, and continued to creep deeper inside.
Everywhere the mist passed, the tunnel was transformed into a passage of green. The roots intertwined in complex, overlapping patterns.
The roots had completely fused with the surrounding rock and earth of the tunnel.
After a short while, the group finally reached the end of the tunnel. It was still a dead end, but now the roots had woven themselves into a thick, massive net, covering a small hole that had been there before.
All the seawater had been leaking from this hole. Now, blocked by the net of roots, the water began to stream steadily from its center.
Flora Bloom clapped her hands together lightly. "Mission accomplished."
"What mission accomplished?" The men’s confusion only deepened.
Flora Bloom held out her hand, and a single root, like a living tendril, automatically coiled into her palm. On its tip was a single drop of water.
Flora Bloom took the droplet and popped it into her mouth. As Lex Cross and the others watched nervously, she raised an eyebrow and said, "It’s a far cry from my spiritual water, but it tastes pretty good. You guys should try some."
Lex Cross was the first to taste the water flowing from the net of roots.
"Huh? It’s not salty?"
