Chapter 159
A-Yan, noticing Su Ci’s sudden movement, quickly teleported to his side.
Seeing the little wild grass in its withered state, he furrowed his brows. It hadn’t looked like this when he watered it earlier in the morning…
But as A-Yan carefully examined the grass, trying to determine the problem, he froze.
At the same time, the tension on Su Ci’s face eased. Turning to look at A-Yan, their eyes met, and both saw the surprise and delight reflected in the other’s gaze.
“Su Su…”
“Mm.”
Su Ci picked up the spirit soil canister and headed straight for the teleportation array. A-Yan quickly followed. As for Guo Hui and her colleague, who were still waiting downstairs—they could wait a bit longer.
Right now, they had more pressing matters to attend to.
In a flash of light, Su Ci and A-Yan appeared by the riverbank.
After a night of purification, the spiritual energy concentration along the riverbank had increased slightly.
With the spirit of resentment no longer controlling the blood mist, the mist naturally dispersed toward less dense areas. As it passed through the purification barrier, the resentment within it was steadily purified.
The spiritual energy, in turn, began spreading outward, lowering the concentration of blood mist in the surrounding area.
The fruits and vegetables harvested yesterday had already regrown, and the riverbank was lush and verdant, with no exposed soil to be seen.
However, as they arrived, the little wild grass—already on the verge of collapse—seemed even more wilted.
Su Ci quickly shielded it, ignoring the fruits and vegetables on the riverbank and the rescued iron-eating beast from yesterday. Clutching the wild grass, he dashed toward the plain beneath the waterfall.
The plain was still shrouded in a thick blood mist. Only the purification barrier in the river emitted a faint glow, cleansing the polluted water as it flowed through.
Compared to the vibrant riverbank above the waterfall, the plain below was desolate and barren, a wasteland where only wandering spirits drifted, sometimes gathering and sometimes dispersing, steadily releasing resentment into the air.
In such an environment, no plant should have been able to survive.
However, as soon as Su Ci brought the little wild grass here, its previously withered form perked up instantly.
“Wow~”
For the first time, the usually reserved and quiet grass released an intense wave of joyous emotion.
It swayed its tiny leaves and began slowly absorbing the dense resentment in the air. Then…
It released a faint wisp of spiritual energy.
Continuously absorbing resentment and converting it into spiritual energy, its leaves visibly grew longer and greener with each passing moment.
Indeed, this little wild grass, which had struggled to survive in an environment filled with resentment, had not turned into a demonic plant. Instead, with Su Ci’s help, it had successfully transformed into a true purifying spiritual plant!
The little spiritual grass used resentment as its nourishment, absorbing it and then releasing spiritual energy like an ordinary spiritual plant.
Its ability to absorb and purify resentment had become its new evolved trait!
To Su Ci, it was nothing short of a treasure, and A-Yan, who stood beside him, was equally overjoyed.
Once this little wild grass was planted and allowed to propagate, it could become an effective solution to resentment, beyond the artificial purification barriers they currently relied on.
“A-Yan,” Su Ci called, but before he could continue, A-Yan nodded, already understanding. Together, they set out to find the best location for the little spiritual grass to grow.
They moved farther from the waterfall, heading into areas with denser resentment. Eventually, they stopped at a damp patch of land near the river.
The resentment here was so thick that any ordinary plant would wither in seconds. Yet, the little spiritual grass seemed to thrive, becoming more vibrant with every step closer.
A-Yan dug a small hole, and together they planted the spiritual grass, gently watering it afterward.
The little grass stretched its leaves in the wind, radiating joy amidst the blood mist. It also expressed its gratitude and happiness to Su Ci.
Su Ci reached out and lightly touched its leaves. When the grass cautiously brushed against his fingertips, he blessed it with the Earth Spirit’s Blessing, hoping it would take root and flourish on the plain.
With such strong vitality, as long as it had the right environment, it could unleash incredible potential.
After completing this, Su Ci stood up and summoned a water dragon from the river. The dragon transformed into a gentle drizzle, falling over the vast, barren plain, bringing life to the parched soil.
In the steady rain, the tiny spiritual grass, just a few centimeters tall, stood alone amidst the desolate, mist-shrouded plain. Its small and solitary presence was heart-wrenching, raising doubts about whether it could truly survive here.
Yet, the ever-growing vitality it radiated seemed to tell Su Ci and A-Yan:
It could. It wouldn’t let them down.
Su Ci watched it silently for a moment before deciding against setting up any protective barriers.
Unlike other delicate spiritual plants, the little grass thrived in harsh environments. A protective barrier would not safeguard it but stifle its growth.
As long as it had access to water and nourishment, it should encounter no major problems.
With this assurance, Su Ci and A-Yan departed.
After they left, the wandering spirits on the plain began to gather around the little spiritual grass. Encircling this new life that had appeared so unexpectedly on the plain, they released waves of resentment.
The seemingly fragile and unassuming grass, however, showed no fear or resistance. Instead, it radiated an even stronger wave of excitement, as though welcoming them.
More and more resentful spirits were drawn to the area, gathering around the small spiritual grass.
Standing above the waterfall, Su Ci glanced back, his gaze falling on the scene below. He could feel the joyful and exuberant energy radiating from the little grass, even as it was surrounded by the spirits. He fell silent.
Well, it seemed he didn’t need to worry about the little grass. It looked like it would thrive just fine amidst the mist.
With that thought, Su Ci shifted his gaze back to the lush greenery surrounding the riverbank. His mood lightened considerably.
The iron-eating beast that had been there yesterday was no longer in the same spot.
Extending his spiritual sense, Su Ci quickly located it in the bamboo grove.
The bamboo had grown rapidly. Stimulated by spiritual energy and supplied with ample nutrients and water, the grove had expanded from a small cluster into a small forest.
The bamboo shoots were still tender and slender, making them ideal food for a giant panda.
In addition to the bamboo, the riverbank was now planted with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, providing not only plentiful food but also a variety of options.
For the panda, who had spent years surviving in the blood mist, relying on hunting giant insects and enduring hunger, this was nothing short of a paradise.
At that moment, having feasted on tender bamboo and fruits, the panda had returned to the grove and fallen into a deep sleep.
When Su Ci and A-Yan revealed themselves, the panda, still dozing peacefully, suddenly opened its eyes wide.
Startled, it rolled to the side and rose to its feet in a defensive posture. However, upon recognizing Su Ci, it froze slightly, its guard wavering.
Over time, Su Ci had made regular trips to the mountains to check on the growth of the Star-chain Fruit and leave food behind. The panda, who often visited the area for the food, had come to recognize the human.
Though it hesitated and relaxed its defensive stance somewhat, the panda remained cautious. Its survival in the blood mist had taught it to stay alert at all times.
A-Yan, meanwhile, was studying the panda carefully.
Though he wasn’t pleased with this new “competitor” for Su Ci’s attention, he didn’t feel much hostility toward it either.
After all, the panda was just a passerby. In the end, the only one who would remain by Su Ci’s side was him—now and always.
Satisfied with that thought, A-Yan turned away and began foraging for fresh bamboo shoots in the grove.
Bamboo shoots weren’t just good for stir-fries and soups—they also made excellent fillings. While they didn’t have rice or wheat, sweet potato starch was now available. Once harvested, it could be dried and ground into flour, perfect for making dumpling skins or sweet potato noodles.
Of course, the simplest method was to steam or boil it like taro or turn it into a sweet dessert.
While A-Yan contemplated these culinary possibilities, Su Ci crouched in front of the panda.
“Can you understand what I’m saying?” Su Ci asked.
The panda didn’t react much, but its eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion, confirming to Su Ci that it had some degree of awareness.
Perhaps it was the effects of the Star-chain Fruit, but the panda’s condition seemed slightly improved compared to when they had first met.
“There’s no need to be afraid. I don’t intend to harm you,” Su Ci said gently.
The panda blinked, scrutinizing the slender human in front of it. Though it was visibly thin from years of scarce food, the panda’s own massive frame remained imposing. Even standing on all fours, it was nearly as tall as Su Ci.
Su Ci continued, “Of course, if you want to stay here, you’ll need to help with some work.”
The giant panda stared at him in disbelief but eventually nodded and plopped down on the ground.
Aside from being fed the spiritual fruits, it also remembered being rescued by this human and his companion after being swept down the waterfall. Doing a bit of work as repayment seemed fair.
Seeing the panda completely calm and free of its aggressive demeanor, Su Ci nodded slightly. Though it was a bit scrawny, its gentle and clumsy appearance remained endearing.
However, looking at its enormous size, Su Ci frowned and casually cast a spell.
Under the glow of the spell, the panda’s body began to shrink. Its sitting height gradually decreased until it was only as tall as Su Ci’s chest.
The panda’s eyes widened in shock.
As it looked around, noticing how everything around it suddenly seemed much larger, it quickly realized that it had shrunk.
It stood up in disbelief, only to find that its view was now even lower when standing on all fours than it had been while sitting.
Sensing the panda’s confusion and panic, Su Ci reached out and gently patted its head.
Due to prolonged malnutrition, the panda’s fur wasn’t as soft and fine as the Crimson Flame Tiger’s, but its ears were quite pleasant to touch.
The panda tilted its head upward, glaring at Su Ci with a fierce expression as if protesting against the unexpected head rub.
Su Ci smiled faintly and said, “If you want to return to your original size, just think ‘restore’ in your mind. To shrink again, think ‘transform.’”
The panda understood his words and instinctively followed his instructions.
Sure enough, in an instant, its body returned to its original size.
“Woo!”
The panda let out a happy cry.
Su Ci looked at it and issued a warning. “You are to stay in your smaller form when moving around the riverbank. You can eat as many fruits, vegetables, and bamboo shoots as you like, but you must not waste food or damage the plants unnecessarily. Do you understand?”
Despite the young man’s thin and seemingly fragile appearance, the seriousness in his expression was enough to make the panda feel a twinge of fear. It nodded its large head obediently and shrank itself back down.
Finally, the panda looked up at Su Ci, its eyes filled with a questioning expression.
Seeing its scrawny body, Su Ci softened slightly. Instead of immediately assigning it work, he said, “Take some time to recover first. Once you’re healthy, I’ll tell you what to do.”
“Wooh!” The giant panda responded softly, then sat back down.
In its smaller form, the panda appeared much calmer, shedding most of its fierceness. Its once glowing red eyes now looked gentle and warm.
If it ate properly and was well cared for, it might even grow into a very good-looking creature.
Unable to resist, Su Ci reached out again and patted its ears, softly instructing, “Take care of your health and recover quickly.”
“Wooh!”
This time, the panda didn’t glare at him or show any aggression. Instead, it nodded clumsily, then obediently grabbed a handful of tender bamboo shoots, skillfully stripped off the leaves, and began munching on them.
Its eyes, hidden within black fur rings, squinted slightly, revealing an expression of pure enjoyment.
Su Ci chuckled. At that moment, A-Yan returned.
He had harvested a good number of bamboo shoots and left two behind for the panda before he and Su Ci departed.
As the two walked toward the teleportation array, the panda, sitting behind them, even waved a paw at them in a surprisingly human-like gesture.
The riverbank was rich with spiritual energy. Even without Su Ci’s intervention, as long as the panda continued living here, it should eventually fully regain its consciousness.
“Su Su, that iron-eating beast… do you like it?” Back at the dormitory, A-Yan couldn’t help but ask.
“It’s kind of cute,” Su Ci replied casually.
Then, without further comment, he left the dormitory to meet with Guo Hui.
Watching Su Ci’s retreating figure, A-Yan reached up and touched the sharp furry ears on his head.
So… was it time to transform his ears again?
While Su Ci was meeting with Guo Hui, a spaceship departed from Base 24, heading toward Base 26.
Onboard were members of the operations team assigned to Base 26, returning after their mission at Base 24. Although the little spiritual garlic at Base 24 had sprouted new cloves, they weren’t yet mature.
Meanwhile, Base 26 had been under increasing pressure since the resurgence of the blood mist, with frequent monster invasions testing the defenses of its garrison.
The situation was similar across most of the bases on Prison Star, with many struggling to hold their ground. Naturally, Yun Zixu and his team needed to return to defend their home base.
After all, with Su Ci now stationed at Base 24, the situation there had drastically improved. The base no longer required such a large force to maintain stability.
On the way back, Yun Zixu was deep in thought, contemplating how to recruit Su Ci.
That’s when he overheard a conversation between two team members.
“Do any of you know someone named Song Zehe from our base? He’s supposed to be a new recruit.”
“Why are you looking for him?”
“Before we left, Base 24 asked me to deliver a crate of Star-chain Fruit to him. Apparently, it’s a gift from Caretaker Su.”
Yun Zixu, who had been lounging carelessly, immediately sat up straight.
