“Squeak! Squeak, squeak, squeak—!” (Let go! Let us go now!) The Wood Sprites cried out muffledly from within their wings, vigorously protesting on behalf of all the White Phoenix Beasts.
Their gazes towards the Silk Crystal were filled with incredulous accusation—what happened to sharing good fortune?
This was clearly dragging others down with them!
The Silk Crystal completely ignored its companions' struggles and wails. Its ring-like body straightened slightly (although the Silk Glow didn't move, this was clearly a joint scheme), emitting a few short, firm “Squeak! Squeak, squeak!” (Share the hardship! Work together!).
The Silk Glow nodded vigorously beside it, making an echoing “squeak, squeak” sound, its large eyes gleaming with a resolute “live and die together” light.
Da Bai Tu (Yun Qianqian)'s smile had indeed frozen the moment Silk Crystal suddenly tied up the White Phoenix Beasts, and the tapping of her fingertips on the armrest also stopped, a flicker of genuine astonishment crossing her eyes.
But when she realized Silk Crystal's goal wasn't rebellion but “conscription,” that astonishment was quickly replaced by a deeper, more playful smile.
She let out a soft “heh,” leaning back in her chair, relaxing, and watched the “White Phoenix Beast infighting drama” before her with great interest.
Silk Crystal's move, pulling the rug out from under them, greatly exceeded her expectations.
This little thing, usually so polite and well-behaved, actually had a plan in a crucial moment? It knew how to share the pressure.
“Oh?”
Da Bai Tu drew out her tone, her voice full of undisguised admiration and… pleasure,
“So that's how it is…” Her gaze swept over the struggling, bundled-up White Phoenix Beasts, finally landing on Silk Crystal, a curve forming on her lips that sent shivers down all the White Phoenix Beasts' spines,
“Silk Crystal, do you mean… you want everyone to go ‘help’?”
“Squeak!” Silk Crystal nodded vigorously, emitting an affirmative sound.
Da Bai Tu chuckled softly, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes,
“But they only have four vertical stripes, not like your eight vertical stripes. Can they defeat a thirteen-striped zombie crystal?”
The strength of the companion White Phoenix Beasts had always been a mystery; firstly, there hadn't been enemies strong enough for them to demonstrate it, and secondly, these White Phoenix Beasts were very good at hiding their true abilities. Now was a good chance to probe their actual strength.
As soon as Da Bai Tu finished speaking, Silk Crystal and Silk Glow nodded rapidly and fiercely, clearly expressing,
“Yes, yes! They're very strong! Stronger than thirteen-striped zombie crystals!”
Da Bai Tu narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of shock flashing in their depths, and the smile on her lips deepened a few degrees. She had never expected these little guys' strength to be so terrifying; with only four vertical stripes, they could contend with thirteen-striped zombie crystals.
She had originally thought that only the eight-striped combination of Silk Crystal and Silk Glow possessed such strength, never imagining that these little guys had hidden themselves so deeply.
With Silk Crystal and Silk Glow's nods, the other White Phoenix Beasts instantly deflated. The White Phoenix Beasts who had been desperately struggling earlier, as if doused with cold water, uniformly quieted down, their eyes filled with despair and resignation. What was terrifying wasn't that they had to work, but that Da Bai Tu now knew their true capabilities. They could forget about having good days in the future.
Da Bai Tu nodded in satisfaction, her fingers once again lightly tapping the armrest, the rhythm brisk as if keeping time for this unexpected harvest.
She slowly looked at the other White Phoenix Beasts, her eyes holding a mix of playfulness and scrutiny, the smile on her lips only growing,
“Little ones, is what Silk Crystal and Silk Glow said true? Can you really defeat thirteen-striped zombie crystals?”
Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of pressure, directly hitting the most vulnerable part of these White Phoenix Beasts' hearts.
The White Phoenix Beasts looked at each other, panic and struggle flashing in their eyes, yet none dared to speak up and deny it.
The air seemed to still for a moment, and finally, all the White Phoenix Beasts, as if resigned to their fate, uniformly nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth with their subtle movements.
Da Bai Tu nodded in satisfaction, her fingertips resuming their rhythmic tapping on the armrest, emitting soft thuds, like the beat of a death drum.
“Hmm… this suggestion…”
She deliberately paused, enjoying the sight of the White Phoenix Beasts collectively holding their breath, even forgetting to struggle, their tension palpable,
“It's quite fair, isn't it? More White Phoenix Beasts mean greater strength, and naturally higher efficiency.”
As soon as her words fell, the air in the entire room seemed to solidify.
Aside from Silk Crystal and Silk Glow (who now inexplicably felt a tragic sense of being “the ringleaders”), all the other White Phoenix Beasts—whether wrapped in leaves, squeezed into odd shapes, their flames changing color, constantly shedding wood chips, dizzy from spinning eyes, or flapping their wings—instantly froze, collectively petrified.
The terrifying mission of two hundred thirteen-striped zombie crystals, which had been the “workhorse beasts” task for two White Phoenix Beasts, had become… a “collective labor” involving everyone!
Da Bai Tu ignored the dead silence and despair, clapping her hands with a bright smile:
“Good! Then it's happily decided! Silk Crystal will lead the team, and everyone goes together! The goal remains the same, two hundred, oh!”
She even kindly added,
“Teamwork, big sister believes you can complete the mission even faster! White Phoenix and Black Dragon, they will definitely appreciate everyone's ‘hard work’ and effort.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “hard work,” her gaze sweeping over the other few sleeping companion beasts in the corner. The expectation in her eyes now transformed into a massive stone weighing on the heart of every single White Phoenix Beast.
After speaking, Da Bai Tu looked at the White Phoenix Beast, who was tilting its head, and said with a smile,
“Little one, you see, to help you gain freedom sooner, I've sent out all the power I can mobilize.”
She gently stroked the White Phoenix Beast's feathers, her tone carrying a hint of seduction,
“When you're free, you must thank me properly, oh.”
Before her words finished, her fingertips were already gently caressing the White Phoenix Beast's feathers a few times, her movements as tender as if she were handling a rare treasure.
This was a thirteen-striped companion White Phoenix Beast!
A terrifying existence beyond the forbidden, now with the hope of breaking its seal early, and without danger, it was simply a heaven-sent opportunity.
She was indeed the cunning Da Bai Tu, taking all the credit with a single sentence, while all the hard work fell to the White Phoenix Beasts.
The poor White Phoenix Beasts, one by one, hung their heads, as if all their strength had been drained. They hadn't even reacted, and all the credit had already been snatched by Da Bai Tu.
Da Bai Tu smiled and waved her hand, pointing in the direction of H City, her tone as lighthearted as if sending children on a spring outing:
“No time to lose, depart immediately! Target, two hundred thirteen-striped zombie crystals! Big sister is counting on you! Remember, safety first, and efficiency must also be first!” She deliberately emphasized the word “efficiency.”
The White Phoenix Beasts finally recovered, their eyes filled with despair and indignation, but none dared to resist.
Silk Crystal and Silk Glow exchanged glances, their eyes full of helplessness and tragic determination, like warriors being sent to the execution ground.
They took the lead, guiding a group of dejected White Phoenix Beasts, and set off grandly, flying out of the base and towards H City.
The White Phoenix Beasts flew extremely fast, reaching the central area of H City, in front of the ten-thousand-meter crack, in less than ten minutes. Beyond the crack lay the wasteland where high-level zombie crystals roamed.
It seemed that finally being far away from that terrifying woman, Da Bai Tu, the mood of the dozen or so White Phoenix Beasts relaxed slightly. But then, the Wood Sprites and Wood Spirits immediately erupted. They stood with one hand on their tiny hips, pointing at Silk Crystal and Silk Glow's noses, angrily squeaking incessantly, their leafy wings trembling violently from excitement, even their voices cracking:
“Squeak, squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak, squeak—squeak—!!!” (You two! You're too bad! You're unlucky yourselves and you drag us down with you! Da Bai Tu knows our strength now, how are we going to slack off and goof around in the future?!)
Silk Crystal didn't back down. Its ring-like body straightened, its eight vertical stripes glowing faintly, emitting an equally loud “Squeak, squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak…” (Share the hardship! Share the good fortune! You said at the beginning that if anything happened, you'd take responsibility! Now something's happened, and you want us two to bear it? No way!)
Immediately, the dozen or so White Phoenix Beasts argued fiercely in the air, squeaks rising and falling, the air seemingly turning into a small debate arena.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak!” A loud roar from the Earth Mud suppressed all the arguments. It waved its short, earthy-yellow arms, a continuous stream of squeaks emanating from it. Hearing its squeaks, the other White Phoenix Beasts instantly fell silent. No one knew what they said, but the White Phoenix Beasts who had just been arguing fiercely now huddled their little heads together, discussing in low squeaks, seemingly formulating a new plan of action or perhaps reviewing the details of their previous exposure.
In any case, no one knew what they were actually discussing.