Chapter 2821: Chapter 2822: "Familiar Flower
Generally speaking, this type of research experiment requires very detailed operations, meaning precise instruments, related laboratories, and a lot of time.
And these conditions are currently almost impossible to satisfy.
So, Angel adopted a slightly tricky method.
He prepared an active mineral and slightly modified the external structure of the mineral using the Fire Melting Method, allowing it to present a vortex web surface, and inside, Speedy created a small wind eye that wouldnât last too long. In this way, a simple active mineral for absorbing wind was completed.
After finishing all this, Angel placed the active mineral outside the Moving Mirage through Earl Mi.
Now all that was left was to wait for the active mineral to absorb the "scent" that filled the surroundings.
Everyone understood Angelâs operation, but they didnât understand why he used an active mineral. Active minerals can be used to create non-natural Magic Blood Ores. Although the market price isnât particularly expensive, itâs still a number that previously made Dox feel the pinch. Now using it to store "scent" seemed like an overuse of resources.
If the goal was to capture the external scent, they could have simply used a Qi Bottle. This is an experimental bottle specifically for storing gases, which is not only cheap but also eliminates the risk of leakage.
Faced with everyoneâs confusion, Angel didnât respond.
Because the experimental tool he needed next was the "Extraordinary Extractor," obtained from Culoriâs secret room, a tool that didnât exist in the Southern Domain.
Although explaining the reason wasnât a big deal, it was quite troublesome.
Seeing that Angel didnât speak, no one pressed further, as experiments are a very private matter, and it was normal for Angel not to want to answer.
About two minutes later, Angel had Earl Mi retrieve the active mineral.
The surface of the active mineral remained unchanged; however, the small wind eye set by Speedy had disappeared, indicating that the interior had absorbed the "scent" from outside.
The vortex web surface on the active mineral locked in the scent, so there was no worry of leakage.
After confirming there were no abnormalities with the active mineral, Angel took out the Extraordinary Extractor.
The Extraordinary Extractor was undoubtedly useful, but it had a major drawback: it could only extract extraordinary power from inside crystals or minerals. Thatâs why Angel chose to use an active mineral to absorb the scent rather than a Qi Bottle.
After placing the active mineral in the Extraordinary Extractor, Angel began his observation.
The whole process left others bewildered, as they could only watch Angel continuously operate the device and take out pen and paper to record some strange data.
Initially, Angelâs reactions were normal, just ordinary recording. But when he wrote a set of data filled with question marks, he began to change. Sometimes frowning, sometimes relaxing, sometimes pondering, sometimes deep in thought.
This didnât seem like data analysis, but rather contemplation of the results.
While everyone speculated whether Angel had already reached a conclusion, Angel removed the active mineral, halfway through the experiment, from the odd device.
Following this, Angel acted even more puzzlingly.
He poked a hole in the active mineral, then brought it to his nose and took a deep breath.
After doing all this, Angelâs eyes grew distant again, as if he was ready to fall into contemplation once more...
Only this time, before the contemplation fully set in, it was interrupted by Dox.
"Why donât you share your thoughts with us before contemplating further, we can help you think too. Youâre making us itch with curiosity, itâs simply..." Dox stopped mid-sentence when he saw Angel squinting at him, a sense of crisis rose sharply, and the words he wanted to say were swallowed back, replaced by a single word: "Naughty!"
This "naughty" was spoken by Dox with the charming and enchanting tone of the previous Clownfish.
On the side, Vay rolled his eyes and clutched his chest, making a vomiting gesture.
Angel was initially somewhat angry because Dox broke his train of thought, but Doxâs antics immediately deflated his anger. Although he didnât express his emotions as directly as Vay, Angel still took a few steps back, looking as if he didnât know Dox.
Even though this little episode was somewhat cringe-worthy, Doxâs antics successfully pulled Angel out of his own world.
The Black Earl seized the opportunity to ask, "Have you reached a result?"
If others asked, Angel could refuse to answer, but with the Black Earl speaking, Angel could only sigh and nod.
"Sort of."
Angel: "Earlier, when we just arrived at the Underground Aqueduct, I mentioned that we might encounter some magical creatures."
The Black Earl nodded: "I remember, you mentioned Ghosteye Witches, Flying Skull Demons, and Maneater Flowers."
The Ghosteye Witches had already appeared in large numbers. What hadnât appeared were only the Flying Skull Demons and... the Maneater Flower.
Seeing Angelâs helpless expression, the Black Earl seemed to understand: "You mean, the scent comes from the Maneater Flower?"
Angel nodded.
When he reached this conclusion, he was also slightly shocked.
If it were just an ordinary Maneater Flower, Angel would have calmly accepted it since he had previously mentioned the potential encounter. However, this time it wasnât an ordinary Maneater Flower; it had a trace of Nightmare Realm aura.
Due to the scent of the Maneater Flower being diluted in the air, the Nightmare Realm aura wasnât obvious, and the Black Earl hadnât sensed it.
But when Angel used the Extraordinary Extractor to more finely separate the scent, he discovered that a trace of Nightmare Realm aura could still be separated from it!
This was the reason for Angelâs shock.
The presence of Nightmare Realm aura suggested that this Maneater Flower had a high chance of originating from the Nightmare Realm.
Could the powerful otherworldly creature that Olao mentioned be this "Nightmare Realm Maneater Flower"?
If that were the case, the Nightmare Realm Maneater Flower might have come through the passage in Naraku City. Could it be a branch of the Maneater Flower King? Or could it directly be the Maneater Flower King itself? If all these assumptions were correct, would it recognize him?
Furthermore, the scent in the air now, due to its dilution, couldnât have the Nightmare Realm aura detected by the Black Earl. But facing the Maneater Flower directly, the Nightmare Realm aura couldnât possibly be hidden from the Black Earl.
Angel had, on multiple occasions, released Nightmare Realm aura along the journey, with even the Moving Mirage having traces of it.
Would the Black Earl suspect a connection between the Maneater Flower and him? If so, how should he explain it?
These were the series of questions Angel was considering during his earlier contemplation.
And these werenât even all of the concerns.
Previously, Angel didnât think Olao was watching him because he wasnât part of the Noah Clan. He came to the ruins or the Qingkong Poetry Room purely for "observation in secret."
His true aim wasnât the Qingkong Poetry Room in reality but the one in the Nightmare Realm.
Now, theyâre likely to encounter the Maneater Flower from the Nightmare Realm ahead, and the one who told him about this initially was Olao.
Did Olao discover some connection between him and the Nightmare Realmâs Maneater Flower, hence the special attention?
Angel just felt his head swell because he found a trace of Nightmare Realmâs aura inside the Extraordinary Extractor. It felt as if doubts, speculations, and various conspiracy theories already filled his mind.
Rubbing his somewhat swollen temples, Angel suddenly felt that Dox had interrupted his thoughts earlier, which wasnât all bad.
Moreover, thinking about it now, nothing has happened yet, thinking too much doesnât mean much.
Heâs not The Sage who needs to know everything. Even sages make mistakes sometimes.
This world is never short of variables; thinking too much will only trouble oneself.
Thinking of this, Angel shook his head, discarding those tedious thoughts from his mind.
However, just as Angel intended not to think, Black Earl began to inquire.
"It seems your information was correct; thereâs indeed a Maneater Flower," Black Earl said flatly. "But is this Maneater Flower the Otherworldly creature Olao spoke of? If so, the range your information covers is quite extensive."
Angel sighed deeply in his heart, but he understood Black Earl. If he were in Black Earlâs position, he would also be puzzled by these issues.
After all, even if you get information from dreams, can your dreams travel to the Otherworld?
Although Angel understood Black Earl in his mind, he absolutely wouldnât admit the reason.
Angel remained calm as he spoke, "Lord Black Earl is interested in my source of information again?"
Angel deliberately emphasized the word âagainâ to remind Black Earl of their prior agreement not to pursue the so-called source of information.
Black Earl: "Just curious, if you donât want to say it, I donât mind."
Angel smiled silently, his meaning already clear; when it comes to the source of information, he wouldnât say a word.
Black Earl also understood Angelâs meaning. Although curious, he didnât continue asking but said, "Back to the point, are you really sure itâs the Maneater Flowerâs scent?"
Angel nodded: "Sure."
Black Earl muttered softly: "Then itâs strange..."
Angel asked in confusion: "Whatâs wrong?"
Black Earl shook his head: "Nothing, just feels slightly different from the Maneater Flower scent Iâve smelled before."
Maneater Flower is quite rare as a Demon Plant in the Southern Domain, nearly extinct in recent centuries.
However, in other worlds, especially the Manluo Plane, there are quite a few Maneater Flowers.
Black Earl had visited the Manluo Plane a long time ago, smelled the Maneater Flower fragrance then, but it wasnât as flamboyant as now.
Due to this difference, Black Earl didnât recognize it at first, but when Angel mentioned it, on recalling, it indeed resembled it a bit.
Overall similar, yet the impact and aftertaste felt not quite the same as the memory.
Perhaps itâs a mutated Maneater Flower? Or did I remember wrong?
Black Earl contemplated but didnât really mind. Since Angel, as an Alchemist, confirmed it as Maneater Flower, there was no need for him, an outsider, to dispute.
"If itâs just the Maneater Flowerâs scent, it shouldnât be too dangerous." Black Earl pondered, "Maneater Flowers donât attack using scent; itâs more of bait for them. Their attack methods lean more towards the Cannibal Flower."
Using the fragrance to lure prey, then binding with vines, or direct consumption... Maneater Flowers have mouths, with a very large proportion. Mature Maneater Flowers can consume snakes and medium-sized prey, humans are effortlessly handled.
Generally, stronger-bodied Demon Plants tend to have lower toxicity; while highly toxic Demon Plants have relatively weaker bodies.
This is a matter of choosing individual abilities, akin to the distinction between close-range and long-range.
Maneater Flowers belong to the category of powerful carnivorous Demon Plants.
Given the âclose-rangeâ evolutionary branch selection, thereâs no need to worry much about their fragrant emission.
Black Earl: "However, to be cautious, itâs best to activate the Purifying Field."
Angel nodded, he hadnât intended to turn off the Purifying Field. If the Maneater Flower they encounter this time is indeed a "familiar," no, a "familiar flower," then at least the Purifying Field can still isolate the Nightmare Realmâs aura from the Maneater Flower, giving him more time to think about how to explain it.
Since thereâs no need to consider fragrance, they began to contemplate how to tackle the Maneater Flower.
However, this was for Angel, Dox, and Black Earl to consider. Plus, they each have experience dealing with similar magical creatures, so thereâs no need to stop and think, just a bit of exchange to avoid obstructing each other in battle.
During the entire exchange, Angel barely spoke, only briefly mentioning how to protect the two apprentices. Dox and Black Earl werenât concerned because Angel excels in the Illusion Technique, and given his control over it, he certainly wouldnât be a hindrance in battle.
Dox: "Simply dealing with the Maneater Flower, even if itâs at Official Wizard Level, isnât an issue for me. But my current query is, does Maneater Flower have the ability to parasitize the undead?"
Nobody answered, including Black Earl. Although heâs at the pinnacle of the Southern Domain, heâs not omniscient.
However, considering the Maneater Flowerâs combat traits and carnivorous nature, it doesnât seem like a parasitic creature. Parasitic creatures are predominantly spore fungi, and from the parasitic nature of spores, itâs clear their bodies are weak, hence seeking protection through parasitism.
The Maneater Flower itself is very powerful, making parasitism somewhat strange.
But it canât be entirely said that Maneater Flowers lack parasitic abilities. Just like Wizards can cross-disciplinary study, multi-branch development of creatures also exists.
However, these are ultimately rare.
Seeing the silent expressions of everyone, Dox sighed softly: "Iâm now unsure if our main target to deal with is the Maneater Flower or the Infant Spirits... sigh."
Previously, they thought the "main body" might be the flower, with Infant Spirits being parasitized, so they only needed to tackle the main body. But now knowing the "flowerâs" true form is the Maneater Flower, this conclusion seems uncertain again.
Black Earl: "Letâs keep moving forward. Once we see the Maneater Flower directly, all questions will naturally be cleared up."
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