9 The Villainess’ First Ploy

The corpse had already begun to bloat, exuding a rotten odor into the air. Despite the countless deaths that occur in the Obsidian Forest, such a scent was actually rare. Once one died in the forest, there would hardly be any remains. However, these corpses were left untouched due to the presence of so many high ranked spirit beasts and spirit masters during the sunrise water lily blooming. The spirit beasts would be angered if one of their kind were looted before their eyes and likewise for the spirit masters. As though there was a wordless agreement, none of the corpses were touched, left to naturally decay.

Bai Lian took a break from growing her roots as she began to absorb from the corpse. There was an abundance of dark qi around the corpse, which Bai Lian drew within her and used to cultivate.

As she cultivated and absorbed, Bai Lian's fatigue faded, allowing her to continue her root growth towards the other corpses. The more Bai Lian absorbed from the corpse, the darker her petals gradually became.

As the sun rose to signal the start of the next day, Bai Lian made contact with a second corpse. Her absorption progress for the first corpse had yet to reach the halfway point. Unlike the first corpse, this second corpse was a spirit beast. Both this silver wolf and the soul master corpses were of a higher level of cultivation than Bai Lian while they were still among the living. With her current level, she could not identify their cultivation levels.

There were three other corpses left from the clash before the sunrise water lily had bloomed. All three were spirit masters of unknown cultivation levels.

After a week, all that remained of the five corpses was their belongings. From the lake, a grey lotus with the cultivation level of a rank nine spirit warrior gazed at the belongings with disappointment. She was unable to absorb the four storage rings that had belonged to the dead spirit masters nor could she establish a link with them. In her previous life, she could not use a storage ring because one had to be a spirit master to establish a link with a storage ring using their blood. A storage ring could only establish a link with one person, which would break when the person dies. Currently, Bai Lian could not establish a link because she had no means of making herself bleed onto the rings. 'Who would have thought there would be a day where I would be concerned over not bleeding?' With haste, Bai Lian dispersed such thoughts from her mind, afraid her determination to bleed would truly come to fruit, disastrously, in her next evolution.

'One day, I will be able to absorb them.' Filled with unwillingness, Bai Lian attached the rings onto her roots and brought them underground. Although she was currently unable to absorb the rings, it did not mean her absorption would never be able to evolve to such a level. 'That's right. Absorbing is truly the best. Much better than bleeding,' thought Bai Lian to herself with great fervor as though she were praying to the evolution gods.

As soon as Bai Lian felt she had accomplished the tasks she set out on doing, a rush of energy began filling within her, causing her mind to blank out. However, she was at ease and free of worry for she knew her body was undergoing changes.

From the moonlight, one would be able to see a single white lotus above the lake, looking as pure as any white lotus would. However, in contrast to the other lotuses, this white lotus did not descend below the lake for the night and there was a dark aura hidden within. Had the aura not been hidden, any spirit master would identify the flower as demonic.

Although she had absorbed properties from humans and a spirit beast, Bai Lian was still as much a plant as she had always been in this life, much to her dissatisfaction. She would be lying if she had said she did not have much expectation for this evolution. The evolution had brought her the usual body strengthening and improvements to her current abilities. Unlike her previous evolution, the properties of the humans and spirit beasts had not developed within her. The properties of the sunrise water lily had properly integrated into her in the previous evolution. Bai Lian theorized the reason was affinity.

The sunrise water lily and herself were both plants and they both shared a strong affinity with fire, which her phoenix blood enhanced. On the other hand, the spirit masters and spirit beast had very different characteristics from her. Only the dark qi that lingered in their body due to their deaths had a natural affinity with her. Bai Lian believed that even if she did not develop the new characteristics, her affinity for them would increase. 'I guess I'll be needing to absorb hundreds of humans until I can gain a human body… or would I be gaining the body of a devil.'

Bai Lian couldn't help but sigh to herself, 'Where did my compassion for humans go?' Only towards the memories of her family could she feel warmth and compassion. However, as she thought of other people, she couldn't help but feel a sense of enmity as though everyone else was in on her tragic death. After all, she was still uncertain on the identity of the one who induced the crown prince into killing her. No matter how much hate she felt due to his narcissistic display before burning her alive, she knew her real enemy was someone else. The narcissist was merely the blade they had borrowed to kill her.

As she thought of her unknown foe, she solidified her determination. 'I cannot rush. I must be patient and calm, unnoticed by all. No more unnecessary risks. Slowly, I will build up my strength.'

Bai Lian revised her training plans. Rather than training plans, they could be called a vengeful ploy instead. However, it was not nearly enough to be considered her revenge.

She would no longer practice combat or train her stems, petals, or leaves. Remembering her close encounter with death as she nearly revealed herself while fishing, Bai Lian resolutely decided to eliminate such risks. She would act like any other lotus above the surface, regardless of whether she sensed anyone near. Her training focus would be her roots and cultivation.

Bai Lian planned on spreading her roots across the entire Obsidian Forest. Despite the years it will take, such growth will go unnoticed. She will absorb from all plants in the forest. Bai Lian felt more compassion towards plants than humans. She would absorb them until they did not have properties beneficial to others. Without such properties, they would be left alone, prolonging their lives.

However, Bai Lian did not plan on absorbing them to such a state until her roots stretched across the entire forest. Only then will she begin her slow absorption of the plants. Gradually, the plants will lose the properties beneficial to others and turn pure white. The soul masters of the kingdom will only begin their investigation when the effects were noticeable. However, they will be unable to find the source of the issue because the whole, vast forest will be changing at the same time, albeit slowly. Not a single clue will point towards the innocent white lotus growing peacefully in one of the many lakes within the Obsidian Forest.They will only be able to spectate as the most important forest in the Evergreen Kingdom loses its value to the kingdom. The key herb ingredients that were often found in the forest would need to be purchased from other kingdoms since the other forests in the Evergreen Kingdom could not compare to the Obsidian Forest. Some of the important alchemists may choose to leave for a kingdom with more available resources. That narcissist's kingdom will surely weaken and become vulnerable to neighboring nations.

'I thought I would not be able to play the villainess now that I'm a plant, but it seems I was too quick to judge.' Feeling joy from her new plan, Bai Lian began to cultivate in high spirits while urging her roots to grow. If one were to gaze at her, all they would see was a normal white lotus growing in the tranquil lake. 'Patiently, gradually, and surely. I am no longer as kind as that narcissist. They will not even know who this villainess that fights against them is as they die filled with grievances.'