The other two plants were exotic specimens brought by Mo Tianya. One was a pomegranate tree, completely translucent and crystal-clear like an ice sculpture. Under the refraction of light, it emitted a dazzling glow. Ninety-nine ice-crystal-like flowers bloomed on its branches, each petal resembling carved ice, exuding a biting chill that felt freezing to the touch.
The other plant was a small tree, entirely blood-red, with gnarled branches like burning flames. Its leaves rustled in the breeze, as if whispering. Its species was unknown. This small tree also bore 99 blood-colored flowers, each petal like a burning flame, emitting intense heat. Even from several meters away, one could feel its wild energy.
It was truly unbelievable that these two plants, with their opposing ice and fire attributes, could coexist.
This was also the first time Zuo Feng had seen mutated plants with inherent attributes, and their effects were also unknown.
The last exotic plant was brought by Jun Moce, and it was the most bizarre one.
It was a small tree, black as charcoal, its surface covered with blood-red patterns like ancient runes, faintly glowing with a mysterious luster. The most eerie thing was that the 99 fruits on the tree were actually 99 coffins. Each coffin was only palm-sized, yet it exuded a chilling aura. Obscure inscriptions were carved on the surface of the coffins, and faint, low murmurs could be heard, like the call of an ancient existence, or perhaps the wails of countless vengeful spirits.
The existence of this plant seemed to defy the laws of nature, making one's blood run cold, yet it was filled with an unspeakable mysterious power.
The strangest thing was that when Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling saw this black small tree, they uncharacteristically showed signs of fear. They then circled around it repeatedly, preventing Zuo Feng and the girls from approaching, while chattering and squeaking, seemingly warning everyone that this small tree was extremely dangerous.
Zuo Feng frowned. As companion beasts that controlled plants, Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling's understanding of plants was far beyond theirs.
The black small tree, covered with blood-red patterns, appeared even more sinister and eerie in everyone's eyes, especially the ninety-nine miniature coffin fruits. Their silent whispers seemed to weave an invisible net in the air, filling the entire space with unease.
"Jingjing, Lingling, are you saying this thing is very dangerous? We shouldn't get close?"
Zuo Feng asked in a deep voice, simultaneously raising his hand to signal the girls to step back a few paces.
Mu Jingjing nodded vigorously. After pondering for a moment, it pointed at the coffins on the black small tree, then at the coffins of the two twin Mutant, chattering and squeaking.
Seeing Mu Jingjing's actions, Zuo Feng's pupils suddenly constricted. He seemed to understand something, his voice low and solemn: "Are you saying… this tree, there's some kind of existence sealed inside the coffins? Or rather… some kind of thing that shouldn't exist in this world?"
He didn't think that all the coffins in the small tree sealed Mutant with thirteen vertical stripes, because the low murmurs from the coffins didn't sound like individual voices, but more like the interwoven whispers of countless vengeful spirits.
Mu Lingling breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Zuo Feng's words. Finally, someone understood their concerns.
It nodded gently, then pointed at the coffins on the small tree, its eyes full of apprehension, and even made a throat-slitting gesture, as if warning that rashly touching them would bring disaster.
Zuo Feng and the girls held their breath, the air seeming to solidify. Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling hadn't shown such intense apprehension even when they saw the Mutant with 13 vertical stripes.
This meant that the existence sealed within the coffins of this black small tree was far more terrifying and bizarre than the Mutant with 13 vertical stripes.
Zuo Feng felt a chill run from his spine to the back of his neck, and he silently complained: "Good heavens! Turns out this small tree is the biggest gain!"
The higher the danger, the greater the value, but this value was definitely not something ordinary people could bear.
Zuo Feng felt numb. What was all this? He had just thought that the Mutant with 13 vertical stripes were the pinnacle of existence in the world, and then something even more terrifying appeared.
He lowered his head in thought, asking in a grave tone: "Mu Jingjing, Mu Lingling, are they also in a sealed and dormant state, like the Mutant with 13 vertical stripes?"
Mu Lingling's eyes flickered with hesitation upon hearing the question, then it gently shook its head.
Mu Jingjing looked nervous, constantly nodding and shaking its head, as if even it couldn't be sure.
Zuo Feng's heart suddenly sank, and he pressed on: "Are you trying to say that they are in a sealed state, but not dormant? They are awake, just sealed in the coffins?"
Upon hearing the repeated question, Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling exchanged a solemn glance, then both nodded.
Zuo Feng's breathing became hurried, and the surrounding air seemed heavier, every second feeling stretched out.
Zuo Feng stared intently at the black small tree, a storm raging in his heart.
Awake yet sealed… what did that mean?
It meant that those existences had always been listening, perceiving everything in the outside world, and perhaps even waiting, waiting for an opportunity to break free from their seal?
He suddenly turned to look at Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling, his voice hoarse and urgent: "Is there any possibility of them breaking through the seal?"
Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling nodded, pointing their fingers at the coffins where the Mutant were, and then took out a zombie crystal.
Seeing their actions, Zuo Feng breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least for now, these existences couldn't break through the seal, unless a zombie crystal was used to accelerate it or external forces intervened.
Zuo Feng wasn't foolish. Such an existence, beyond taboo, he wouldn't easily touch unless he had absolute confidence in controlling it.
He once again gazed deeply at the small tree, which exuded an ominous aura. Its black trunk, blood-red patterns, and miniature coffins cast distorted shadows under the light, as if silently mocking their insignificance and ignorance.
A faint, indistinct whisper lingered in his ears, sending a chill down his spine.
Zuo Feng forced himself to look away. For some reason, he always felt that the existence of this small tree was not as simple as just a seal. It was like a key, and also like a door, and on the other side of the door was an unimaginable abyss.
It stood silently in place, exuding an ancient, oppressive stillness, as if a nightmare that had slept for endless years had quietly opened its invisible eyes, silently watching this novel and fragile world.
After another exchange with Mu Jingjing and Mu Lingling, and confirming that these existences would not pose a threat in the short term as long as no zombie crystals were fed and no terrible external forces intervened.
Zuo Feng temporarily put down the heavy burden in his heart. He didn't know how to describe his luck. This transaction with E City was too unexpected: two Mutant with thirteen vertical stripes, and a plant even more terrifying than the Mutant with thirteen vertical stripes. What on earth was happening to Earth?
Now, Firefly had eight mutated plants. After discussing with the girls, they named these eight mutated plants.
The little pine tree's name remained unchanged, still called little pine tree. The xiao songta (little pine cone) it produced could cause ordinary people to mutate and came with the Sheng Sheng Bu Xi (Life Without End) skill.
The chili tree's name remained unchanged, still called chili tree. The little chili it produced could preserve youth.
The gourd vine's name remained gourd vine, its effects unknown.
The small tree that could attract zombies was named "corpse-attracting tree," its full effects not yet determined.
The smooth black vine, like black jade, collected from Pan Yeluo was named "Ink Eye Vine."
The pomegranate tree was named "Ice Crystal Pomegranate Tree," its effects unknown.
The tree of burning flames was named "Tree of Blazing Flames," its effects unknown.
As for the most terrifying coffin tree, it was named "burial coffin wood," its effects unknown.
At this point, all eight mutated plants owned by Firefly had their own names: little pine tree, chili tree, gourd vine, corpse-attracting tree, Ink Eye Vine, Ice Crystal Pomegranate Tree, Tree of Blazing Flames, and the most bizarre and unpredictable burial coffin wood.