Li Chengyi stared intently at the glowing purple light, watching as it slowly approached.
It was a purple circular ring.
The ring was divided into twelve segments, each containing a crystal base.
At the very center of the ring, there was still darkness, but within the darkness, something seemed to be emerging, something slowly becoming visible.
Li Chengyi's gaze was naturally drawn to the darkness at the center of the ring.
He focused, trying to discern what was beginning to materialize.
Buzz!!!
Suddenly, two silver lights flickered within the darkness.
A purple-black, crystal-like, monstrous metal armor slowly emerged from the shadows.
The armor was assembled into a humanoid form, resembling someone sitting down.
The helmet was diamond-shaped, with intricate, ornate patterns etched on the face and forehead.
At the back of the helmet, an X-shaped gray armor extended, though its purpose was unclear.
The back of the armor bore two massive straight swords, resembling folded wings.
The scabbards of the swords were covered in beautiful, ornate patterns.
From an overall perspective, the armor was not thick; it looked more like a decorative battle armor worn by an ancient warrior.
However, upon closer inspection, one could see signs of wear and damage. There were cracks and spiderweb-like fractures on the arms and legs, as if it had endured brutal battles.
Success: Malicious Flower Loaded.
A stream of intangible information flowed into Li Chengyi's mind.
Please choose from twelve different flowers. Each flower will form its own floral armor and possess unique floral language abilities.
You may fill all twelve moon-time flower deity positions. Once all positions are filled, the flower armors will merge, creating your ultimate floral armor.
Different flowers have different floral language abilities and evolutionary paths. Once chosen, each flower will permanently occupy a flower deity position, and it cannot be changed. Please choose carefully.
A reminder will self-destruct in five seconds.
Finally, successor, do not forget your original intention when inheriting the power.
Destruction or creation, it all depends on your will.
The darkness abruptly dissipated.
Li Chengyi stood frozen, still holding his phone, his eyes still fixed on the back of his right hand.
The black flower pattern on his hand had now transformed into a purple-black circular ring.
The ring was divided into twelve segments.
Each segment seemed to contain life, constantly sending him messages of longing.
They were calling out for specific flowers to fill the segments.
What... what is this?! Twelve different flowers?
He looked down at the purple-black ring on his hand, unsure of what to do next.
Does it really have to be flowers?
He glanced around at the green grass beneath his feet. There were no flowers there.
The green grass was interspersed with dark green shrubs about half his height, and a row of black, leafless trees whose species he didn't recognize.
Flowers! I must find flowers quickly! I could be dragged in at any moment!
Li Chengyi snapped out of his daze and quickly regained his senses. He needed to find flowers to fill the segments—this was the key!
He immediately began looking around.
It was early May, and there weren't many flowers in the neighborhood.
The first flowers he spotted were a group of small white and yellow flowers swaying in the breeze near the corner of the neighborhood wall.
Without hesitation, Li Chengyi stepped off the green belt and ran straight toward the flowers.
Whatever the flower is, I'll try it!
He sprinted toward the corner, bent down, and reached out to gently touch the small flowers.
Touching should be enough, just like before.
His chest heaved with rapid breaths, but his hand moved delicately, careful not to damage the flowers.
He extended his index finger, gently and slowly, to touch one of the small white flowers.
The flower was about the size of a fingernail, with white fan-shaped petals surrounding a pale yellow stamen. The stamen resembled a small honeycomb, composed of tiny round bubbles the size of sesame seeds.
This... isn't this a wild chrysanthemum? Li Chengyi's previous studies in plant care had allowed him to recognize the flower, despite his fuzzy memories.
He didn't hesitate and decided to try using the flower's ability.
As his fingertip made contact, a sensation like an electric shock surged from the flower's petals, flowing into his finger.
The sensation then moved from his finger to the back of his hand, filling one of the segments in the purple-black ring.
Simultaneously, a stream of information flowed into Li Chengyi's mind.
White Wild Chrysanthemum: Commonly found by the roadside, known for its strong vitality. Even when its stems and leaves are cut, it quickly recovers after rain. It has medicinal properties for clearing heat and detoxifying.
Floral Language: Tenacious Heart.
Flower Armor Collection: 1%. Evolution Count: Information insufficient.
Do you wish to fill the segment?
Li Chengyi quickly processed the information. He now understood the purpose of the Malicious Flower ability.
The Floral Language was the unique ability that each flower had.
The Flower Armor was like a protective suit that enhanced his strength and the floral language abilities.
Tenacious Heart... He focused on the floral language ability.
What is this ability for?
There was no explanation, just a simple name.
And the Flower Armor Collection is only 1%. That means I need at least 100 wild chrysanthemums to complete the armor?!
Li Chengyi squatted down, thinking rapidly. He quickly reached out to touch more wild chrysanthemums nearby.
Fortunately, these small flowers were abundant. He scanned the corner of the neighborhood and saw many more.
He touched one flower after another, and soon the collection percentage rose to 10%.
However, his gaze fell on a white five-petaled flower, nestled among the chrysanthemums.
The flower looked like a soft, five-pointed star, with subtle yellow lines in the center and dark yellow stamen mixed with black dots.
Li Chengyi carefully touched the petal.
A new wave of information flooded into his mind.
Roadside Thorn: Evergreen shrub, with medicinal roots, stems, and leaves. Used to treat acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and other ailments.
Floral Language: Heart's Mirror.
Flower Armor Collection: 3%. Evolution Count: Information insufficient.
Do you wish to fill the segment?
Li Chengyi sighed. The Heart's Mirror language didn't seem very useful for survival—it was much less practical than the Tenacious Heart.
He quickly stood up and scanned the area.
Around him, the gray-white buildings stood silently, like dormant white giants.
In the distance, a black vehicle slowly exited the underground parking lot, its headlights cutting through the evening, leaving two white streaks behind it.
The tires rolled over the dark ground, scattering yellow-green leaves.
Li Chengyi stood up, quickly scanning his surroundings. He could feel time slipping away.
He had an unshakeable feeling that the Dead Corner was coming.
I must hurry! I must hurry!
Suddenly, his eyes landed on a small wooden frame near a dilapidated gray pavilion in the middle of the neighborhood.
The frame was square, with clusters of purple flowers hanging down, resembling grapes.
The flowers were a bit dark, as if they had been blooming for a while. Many had fallen to the ground, while others had been broken by children playing.
Two children, about seven or eight years old, were standing in front of the flowers, holding sticks and poking at the purple blooms.
Li Chengyi took a deep breath and rushed toward the flowers.
In less than ten seconds, he arrived at the wooden frame, bent down, and grabbed a bunch of the purple flowers hanging down.
These flowers were beautiful. Most of the flowers were long tubes, with purple petals that gradually faded to white at the tips.
The flowers hung like grapes, with dozens of blooms.
The scent was faint, barely noticeable unless he got close.
Li Chengyi's hand shot out, and the moment he touched the flowers, the information came pouring in.
Wisteria: A legume, resistant to sulfur dioxide and hydrogen oxide. Known for absorbing floating dust in the air, it has medicinal properties for water retention, swelling, insect-killing, and pain relief. It is mildly toxic and should not be consumed long-term.
Floral Language: Entranced Hand.
Flower Armor Collection: 3%. Evolution Count: 2.
Do you wish to fill the segment?
This one is much more useful than the last two! Li Chengyi thought.
The Floral Language might help distract the monster...
He stood still for a moment, grabbing the wisteria flowers and muttering to himself. The two children playing nearby slowly backed off, unsure of what he was doing.
Before long, they moved on to another area and stopped bothering the wisteria.
This is the one!!
Li Chengyi quickly decided. Looking at the several clusters of wisteria hanging from the wooden frame, he felt a sense of certainty.
The moment he made the decision, the previous "fill the segment" prompt disappeared.
A cool, refreshing sensation flowed from the wisteria flowers, into his fingertip, and then into the purple-black ring on the back of his hand.
Wisteria added to the Moon-Time Flower Deity: Wisteria.
Flower Armor Collection: 5%. Collecting 100% will materialize the Flower Armor. Please collect more wisteria flowers.
What do you think of the mysterious flower abilities and their powers? What will happen when Li Chengyi fills all the segments?Share your theories below!