The Tang Sword severed the Flower Neck, and the bloom fell to the ground.
The Winkle Flower was seriously injured, temporarily losing control of its Technique.
Free from the restraint of the Dream Cultivator’s Technique, Li Banfeng could easily awaken at this moment.
The Wine Gourd sprayed a mouthful of alcohol onto Li Banfeng’s face; under the scorching stimulus of the liquor, Li Banfeng regained consciousness.
"My lord, you’re finally awake," the Tang Sword exclaimed with joy.
While the Tang Sword was looking at Li Banfeng, a section of the stamen drilled out from the petals, attempting to burrow into the ground.
The Tang Sword swiftly rose up and sliced the stamen in two. Did you really think that a word with Li Banfeng would distract the Tang Sword? Think again. Even if the Tang Sword were sparring with Li Banfeng, it would still have cut down the Winkle Flower if it dared to flee.
The lower half of the stamen could no longer move, but the upper half was still struggling.
Li Banfeng clutched the upper half of the stamen in his hand; the stamen cried out hoarsely, "Mercy, I know my fault, please have mercy on me!"
Li Banfeng considered crushing the Winkle Flower there and then but suddenly remembered something.
The Folding Fan had been heavily refined by Red Lotus and still lacked some Spirit Attribute.
Li Banfeng asked the Gourd, "Is the Spirit Attribute of this flower enough?"
After pondering for a moment, the Gourd replied, "The Winkle Flower is quite rare, so naturally its Spirit Attribute is sufficient, but it’s best to let the big sister handle it first."
When it mentioned the big sister, it was referring to the Phonograph.
Li Banfeng prepared to take the stamen into the Portable Residence, but then he heard the stamen cry, "Oh grandfather, with only half a body left, I won’t live half a day and will surely die. You are a kind-hearted person, please show some compassion and take up my remaining half as well. I will serve you every day from now on, doing whatever you ask of me!"
Li Banfeng was indeed soft-hearted. Seeing those peculiar petals and flower, it truly didn’t seem right to leave them outside. What if they could be used in Alchemy?
He took the entire Winkle Flower into the Portable Residence, and the Winkle Flower offered endless thanks.
The Clock Pendulum sneered inwardly,
As expected, the Phonograph woke up.
Not from sleep, but because of the Winkle Flower’s disturbance.
Just after entering the Portable Residence, the Winkle Flower was well-behaved, honestly staying in the vase without making a sound.
As soon as Li Banfeng left, and the Magical Treasures followed, the Winkle Flower couldn’t help but start singing.
It was in her nature, and she couldn’t restrain herself.
While alive, she had to perform even when critically ill.
She died on stage and then lingered in the dance hall for seven days.
After seven days, instead of being reincarnated, she went to the New Land, turned into a Winkle Flower, and continued singing.
Over the years, countless beings, including passersby, died from her singing.
These people, after listening to her song, stayed still in their tracks. They listened on for three days and nights, until their bodies decayed, and in the end, they turned into leaves on her body.
This Winkle Flower’s evening attire was pieced together from these audiences. But today, she chose the wrong audience.
Red Lotus found her noise annoying and had long intended to deal with her, but as the Insect Leader was in a critical stage of Refining, Red Lotus had not yet made a move.
Moreover, Red Lotus did not consume the living; even if she destroyed the Winkle Flower’s form, she could not extinguish its Soul.
But when the Phonograph was woken up, the trouble became serious.
"Damn harlot, singing so horribly, and just wailing away without end!" Three styluses pierced simultaneously into the petals, and amid the mournful cries, the Soul of the singing enchantress was devoured completely.
After the Soul was gone, wife kept the Spirit Attribute. The Winkle Flower, retaining only its Spirit Attribute, had lost most of its memories, remembered only a few lyrics, and stood by the bed, continuing to sing.
wife spewed a breath of Steam, blocking the songstress’s mouth, "Hearing you hum even a single note dirties my ears."
Red Lotus sneered, "Wicked woman, where do you get ears from?"
The Phonograph commanded, "Wench, hurry up and finish eating that insect’s head, we’re waiting for you to work on the Magical Treasure!"
「That evening」
Li Banfeng returned and discussed the Treasure Refinement with the Phonograph. wife said, "Dream Cultivators excel in sneak attacks, Virtue Cultivators in maneuvering. Using the Dream Cultivator’s Spirit Attribute along with the Virtue Cultivator’s sinew and bone, we really can refine a Magical Treasure that’s good for both offense and defense. However, the quality of this treasure still depends on Sister Red Lotus’s skill. Husband, you should think of a name for this Magical Treasure first."
"Dream Cultivator plus Virtue Cultivator," Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and then said, "just call it Meng De!"
The Phonograph praised, "Husband, that’s a good name you’ve come up with!"
The Tang Sword snorted coldly, "So the Lord can come up with nice names too."
Li Banfeng shot the Tang Sword a glare, "Is the name Two Blades not pleasing to the ear?"
In the meantime, the Winkle Flower standing by the bed began to sing again.
Li Banfeng was surprised, "Wasn’t her Soul eaten by wife? How can she still be so fond of singing?"
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
"Oh husband, the Soul may be gone, but the Spirit Attribute remains. This wretch’s fondness for singing is simply innate."
After a pause, Li Banfeng said, "So, refining a Magical Treasure doesn’t seem to be related to consuming or not consuming the Soul."
"Oh, husband, you are mistaken. If we don’t consume this wretch’s Soul, she’ll never forget her own identity. It would be very difficult to refine a Magical Treasure, and even harder to control it after it’s made..."
wife then explained further.
To put it bluntly, consuming the Soul is to eliminate the other’s self-awareness.
Take the Winkle Flower for example; if we allow her to retain her self-awareness, we can’t redefine her.
She wouldn’t become a loyal and able subject like the Tang Sword, nor a beloved confidante like the Gourd.
She’d still be that songstress, the one who would rather die than leave the stage. In such a case, even if a Magical Treasure was refined, it would bring many troublesome issues.