Chapter 408 - 284: Don’t Move! Let This Dragon Have a Lick

Chapter 408: Chapter 284: Don’t Move! Let This Dragon Have a Lick

At this, Su Xuan could only grit his teeth and say, "It’s really much better!"

"Your expression still looks pained. I guess I’ll have to ramp it up!" Mare Rhine seemed to misunderstand Su Xuan’s look and increased the intensity of the healing.

"???"

"SLURP SLURP!"

...

「One hour later.」

"Human! What were you doing?! Why couldn’t you hold it in?!"

Mare Rhine crouched by the hot spring, full of resentment. She gently wiped her face with the warm spring water, trying to wash off the layer of Holy Light that had accidentally gotten on her.

She also dipped her head into the water to rinse out her mouth, trying to get rid of the sacred taste.

"I did warn you. You just weren’t paying attention."

Su Xuan defended himself as he quickly got dressed.

"How did you warn me? I didn’t hear a thing!" Mare Rhine turned her head, huffily baring two sharp dragon fangs. She was clearly very unhappy with Su Xuan’s response.

"Ahem."

Su Xuan awkwardly rubbed his nose, then hastily left the room, leaving Mare Rhine to sulk alone by the hot spring.

’He had, in fact, warned Mare Rhine when the Holy Light was about to burst, just... the warning was the rapid flashing of the Holy Light itself...’

Back in the Guild hall, Su Xuan went ahead and turned in the C-level Task he had completed today.

Coincidentally, Rosaline and the others had also returned to the Guild after completing their three daily tasks.

[C-level Task Complete!]

[Task Reward: Gold Coins +5, Experience +500,000]

[Special Reward: Fire Core x1 (Epic)]

[Daily Tasks Complete!]

[Task Rewards: Gold Coins +9, Experience +150,000!]

[Lucky Critical Hit Acquired! Daily Special Reward: Epic Item x1 (Choose one!)]

"Oh? A pleasant surprise?"

Su Xuan glanced at the rewards panel, a smile touching the corners of his lips.

In his inventory was a new, crimson Fire Core. It was shaped like a blazing heart and radiated intense heat.

[Fire Core (Epic): A core that radiates an epic fire. It possesses the power to evolve flames!]

’The power to evolve flames?’

Looking at the Fire Core’s description, Su Xuan fell into thought, pondering who should receive this precious item.

Currently, the only Guild members who used Fire Elemental Magic were the Elf Sisters and Mare Rhine. However, the Elf Sisters already possessed a pure Flame Element and had no need for further evolution.

As for Mare Rhine, the flame she wielded symbolized destruction, and its rank was likely even higher than a pure Flame Element.

Therefore, the Fire Core didn’t seem to be the best choice for her, either.

So then...

As Su Xuan pondered, his gaze fell on Xue’er and the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly playing with Viora.

’Perhaps... the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly is the most suitable owner for this Fire Core?’

On top of that, he had just obtained the Additional Trait [Flame Fire]. He could give that to the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly along with the Fire Core.

"I’ll give them both to the little one," Su Xuan murmured to himself, deciding to bestow both the Fire Core and the Additional Trait [Flame Fire] upon the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly.

[Your Magic Pet—Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly—has acquired the Additional Trait: Flame Fire!]

[Flame Fire: A flame as brilliant as the stars, burning at the center of the universe! Grants immunity to all flame damage! Fire Element damage gains 100% penetration!]

[Fire Core: Your Magic Pet has fused with the Fire Core! She is now evolving...]

’Evolving?’

Su Xuan’s face showed his confusion as he looked at the notification that had suddenly appeared in his vision.

Based on the Fire Core’s description, he had assumed it would help the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly evolve its Fire Element abilities.

’Instead, the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly itself is undergoing some sort of evolution?’

"What’s happening to you, Phoenix Butterfly?"

Just then, Viora’s cry of alarm shattered the peace of the Guild hall, drawing everyone’s attention.

When everyone looked at the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly, they saw its entire body enveloped in a silver, fiery light. The glow was brilliant and dazzling, as if it would completely consume its tiny form.

"Cheep?"

The Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly sensed that something was wrong with its body. Looking distressed and confused, it flew toward Su Xuan.

The flames it was emitting followed along, coming to rest beside Su Xuan.

"CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP!"

The Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly let out a series of urgent, worried cries, gently patting Su Xuan with its wings as if seeking his help and comfort.

Viora and the others quickly gathered around, worried that the little creature was sick.

Seeing everyone’s worried expressions, Su Xuan smiled and reached out, gently stroking the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly’s tiny head. "It’s all right," he said softly. "This is your metamorphosis."

"Cheep?"

Hearing Su Xuan’s words, the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly seemed to understand. It stopped its worried chirping and looked at Su Xuan with trusting eyes.

Then, it flapped its wings, flew back to its little nest, and began to spit out threads of flame-like silk, wrapping itself in layer after layer.

Before everyone’s eyes, the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly gradually transformed into an orange-red cocoon.

"The Phoenix Butterfly is...?"

Viora walked toward Su Xuan with a hint of anxiety. Xue’er, riding on her deer-like back, wore the same worried expression.

"Don’t worry, she’s fine," Su Xuan reassured them.

Hearing Su Xuan’s reassurance, Viora and Xue’er finally breathed a sigh of relief, their worries easing slightly.

After adding the trait to the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly, Su Xuan decided to use his accumulated experience to raise everyone’s levels.

Ivsha, Lucia, and Mare Rhine were all raised to Level 49, while the Elf Sisters, Viora, and Alice advanced to Level 45.

Just like that, the Experience Pool accumulated over the last few days of tasks was empty once again.

As for Kanlutia, there was no rush to raise her level.

Although she was only Level 1, her unique attribute mechanics granted her immense combat power, enough to rival Lucia and the others.

The only drawback was the cost in blood. Every time she fought, she had to consume blood stored within her body.

And the source of that stored blood was, naturally, Su Xuan.

"President, Roxia is looking for you."

Rosaline approached Su Xuan as he was organizing the Guild’s resources.

"Roxia?"

Su Xuan was a little surprised to hear Roxia was looking for him. "She’s here already?"

"Mhm."

"Then let her in."

As soon as he spoke, the Teleportation Array began to flash with a soft, white light.

Then, the figures of Roxia and Natasha slowly emerged from the light, stepping out of the Teleportation Array.

"So this is Mr. Su Xuan’s Guild?"

It was Natasha’s first time visiting Su Xuan’s Guild, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

She looked all around, intrigued by the Guild’s decor and its members.

"Hello, everyone!"

Natasha greeted Lucia and the others warmly, offering them exquisite pastries she had made herself as a first-meeting gift.

Roxia, however, didn’t linger. She walked briskly to Su Xuan and said with a grave expression, "President Su Xuan, I’m sorry to disturb you. I have something I need to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

Su Xuan gestured for Roxia to sit and take her time, while also asking Alice to prepare some tea for them.

After sitting down, Roxia’s brow furrowed. "The war in the Star Kingdom has broken out!" she said, her voice tinged with anxiety.

’A war? I suppose that makes sense...’

Su Xuan listened to Roxia’s explanation, his expression thoughtful.

’Since the Star Ceremony ended in failure and Princess Vivian couldn’t ascend the throne, the situation in the Star Kingdom was bound to become turbulent.’

’Both Prince Laps and Prince Tyres have been coveting the throne.’

’So, the outbreak of war was inevitable.’

Su Xuan continued, asking Roxia, "Has the war already spread to Sunset City? If so, I can have Lady Rose dispatch troops to garrison the city immediately."

"The war hasn’t reached Sunset City yet, but..."

Roxia gently shook her head. After a moment’s hesitation, she told Su Xuan, "It’s the new Sunset City Lord. He... he’s decided to pledge allegiance to Duke Jito and have Sunset City join Prince Laps’s faction!"

"That Sunset City Lord?"

Su Xuan’s expression grew thoughtful upon hearing this.

’That Knight volunteered to return to Sunset City from the Royal City, leading everyone to believe he was simply retiring.’

’But in the end, it was all for a purpose...’