Chapter 34: My Dear Little Ball-Todos são bajuladores, a pequena aprendiz é um cachorro de verdade(Segurando as mãos sob as luzes dos fogos de artifício)

Before leaving the Mirage Garden, the little black ball looked up at the sky, a fleeting flash of pain crossing its tiny eyes.

Once they were outside, Feng Xi said to the little black ball, "Pack up all the high-grade spiritual plants in the secret realm for me. I don’t want you pining for them after we leave."

The little black ball: ...Is it really me pining, or is it you?

It glared with its tiny eyes and retorted, "The most I can do is control the guardian beasts so they don't attack you; you’ll have to dig up the plants yourself. Besides, the secret realm needs to maintain balance; you can't just harvest too many high-grade spiritual plants at once."

Feng Xi narrowed her eyes and stared at it. "This won't work, that won't work—what use are you then?! I’d have been better off signing a contract with a pig; at least I could fatten it up and slaughter it for meat!"

The little black ball was incensed!

"Useless? Do you have any idea that this secret realm itself is a spatial divine artifact? Once I absorb enough demonic energy, not only I, but you too will be able to enter and exit the Heaven’s Scar Secret Realm at will. All the beasts and spiritual plants inside will be yours for the taking! Can you find a more useful partner than me in this entire world?!"

Even after signing the contract with Feng Xi, the little black ball refused to admit it was her spirit pet. At most, they were partners.

Feng Xi: (✧◡✧)

A spatial divine artifact? Spiritual plants and beasts available at will? This was a massive windfall!

"My dear little ball, I was just joking! Useful or not, since we’ve signed a contract, you are my little darling, my precious baby. From now on, you and I are closest—even my Fifth Senior Brother will have to take a back seat!"

The little black ball: "..."
Jun Wen: "..."
You change your face faster than flipping a book!

The little black ball instantly puffed up with pride. "You better believe it. Being able to sign a contract with me means your family’s ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke!"

Feng Xi smiled sweetly. "Emitting smoke? It’s more like being struck by lightning! Little ball, besides this secret realm, what other skills do you have? Tell me, let me broaden my horizons!"

The little black ball was floating on air now, its two tiny horns radiating an aura of kingly dominance!

"I have countless skills! Because I can absorb both spiritual energy and demonic energy, after we’ve signed the contract, I can disguise you as a member of the demon race at any time, and no one will ever spot the flaw. And that’s not all! Because I am composed of primordial chaos energy, in an emergency, I can release some of my own spiritual or demonic energy to you. For example, if you reach a place devoid of spiritual energy where others can't use their powers, you won't have to worry about it with me by your side! How about that? Stunned, aren't you? It’s truly the blessing of eight lifetimes that you met me..."

Once it finished bragging, Feng Xi pressed, "Anything else? Like combat abilities?"

The little black ball grew even more arrogant. "See these horns? I can generate lightning—this is the lightning from when the heavens and earth were first created, a thousand times stronger than any pathetic tribulation lightning! One strike from my lightning, and the target is turned to ash instantly!"

Feng Xi nodded. "Anything else?"

The little black ball looked smug. "Not for now, but as my cultivation improves, I’ll have even more skills. Each one would terrify you! So, be sensible. Don't think that just because we signed a contract, you can boss me around. If you provoke me, I’ll zap you to death with my horns!"

Feng Xi asked, seemingly casually, "Can you use these skills at any time? Or are there restrictions?"

The little black ball’s tiny eyes flickered. "There are… some minor limitations. Because I haven't absorbed enough demonic energy, I can't use them too frequently, and the effect is… also a bit weakened."

Feng Xi sneered upon hearing this. "Then what are you being so cocky about? You’ve been blowing smoke this whole time! Even this so-called spatial divine artifact—who knows how many years it will take before I can enter and exit as I please. So, get your position straight. You are my spirit pet, and from now on, you will address me as 'Master' with respect, or I won't be polite!"

As she spoke, Feng Xi moved her divine sense slightly, and the little black ball let out a miserable shriek.

It finally realized, too late, that the brat had done it on purpose! It had intended to keep its cards close to its chest and never reveal its secrets. But the brat was too treacherous; she had intentionally buttered it up, tricking it into spilling all its family assets!

Despicable! Shameless! Unscrupulous!

Feng Xi continued, "Also, you need a clear understanding of yourself. Forget about being some 'Spirit of Chaos'—right now, you’re just a weakling, a tiny shrimp! No one but me would pity you enough to sign a contract, so you must serve me loyally, you understand?"

After Feng Xi’s long lecture, the little black ball, which had been brimming with kingly dominance, wilted. Even its tiny horns drooped.

*Yes, those past glories are just history now. I have to make a living following this brat!*

Poor little black ball had no idea that a term like "gaslighting" existed in this world. Feng Xi’s combination of tactics had manipulated it completely. Although she had signed a contract with it, this thing’s origins were unknown, and it definitely had more in mind than just using her to absorb demonic energy, so she had to be on guard.

Standing to the side like a timid quail, Jun Wen had his jaw dropped, frozen in shock. If it were him, he would have treated the little black ball like an ancestor, considering its immense background and capabilities. Yet, in his Junior Sister's hands, the little black ball was being disciplined like... a pathetic grandson.

Next, the little black ball led Jun Wen and Feng Xi to harvest the high-grade spiritual plants. It knew the secret realm like the back of its hand, so it chose an area dense with high-grade flora. The guardian beasts, sensing the little black ball’s presence, prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling.

The little black ball’s confidence, once shattered, instantly recovered, and its tiny horns stood tall again.

Feng Xi glanced at it. "You, come here! Use your horns to dig up the plants!"

The little black ball: "..."

Is that even human language? Are my noble horns meant for digging up weeds?!

It was just about to refuse when its divine sense erupted in sharp pain, and it almost cried! It had truly fallen into the hands of a wicked stepmother! If it had known this would happen, it would never have let her capture it!

In the end, the little black ball summoned a group of Spirit-Eating Rats. These small beasts loved to gnaw on spiritual plants and had a habit of storing them. Because of this, they were experts at digging them up without damaging the roots.

With these rats, Feng Xi and Jun Wen were free to just stand by and wait.

Feng Xi suddenly felt a bit hungry, especially looking at the plants the rats were bringing over. Why did they look so delicious? She gulped. Should she have a taste?

She had always believed in a simple principle: if you crave something, it’s because your body is lacking it.