“Senior, not yet.”

“No?” Qian Liqiu asked, taken aback. “This is already incredible, that you managed to forge one clone like this. It isn’t merely your plant-based clones. Almost all clones burn up in contact with flame qi, except for one or two techniques… demonic techniques, that require a phoenix’s body or feathers, or righteous techniques, that involve materials so rare and dangerous that only one clone has ever been built, and it is lost to us. We phoenixes will be grateful to you for your services for all time—”

Setting the small clone to the side, Hui rested a hand on the chest of the full-size clone beside him. Qi burst from Hui’s hand, rippling through the netted-together lotus roots. Since I’m used to having a root network of my own, naturally, it’s easy to adapt to using the lotus’ network!

The network spread before him. As his qi spread, so, too, did his understanding of the network. Compared to his long-distance network that he could send materials through, the lotus roots’ network was far simpler. It spread between him, the nodes twisted together wherever two roots crossed. The network had no ability to send information, messages, or items, but merely the ability to pass qi around.

Almost disappointed, Hui frowned a little. This is barely different from the qi passages inside a person! How boring, how boring.

…ah, well, what did I expect? Until they become clones, they’re literally plants, and not even sentient ones. Being able to pass qi around is already impressive. I should instead be praising these lotuses for such an ingenious way to share energy between separate plants!

The second he mapped out the entire network, Hui pressed his hand down and sent same qi cycle he’d used on the tiny clone through the twisted lotus roots. One after another, the clones blackened, then burned red, then white, their shapes twisting subtly back to the generic androgynous clone as they did so. As long as I’m remodeling their qi… I might as well remodel their bodies as well.

Bai Xue clicked her tongue. “What a waste.”

“Hmm,” Song Wei agreed.

Ignoring the two of them, Hui pushed forward. Onward. A hundred. A thousand. As the clones changed forms, the water began to boil around them. In the space it takes for an incense stick to burn, the water in the field boiled away, and nearly innumerable lotus clones stood before Hui, ready for souls.

Hui panted. That was… more energy than I expected. I’m still not used to handling fire qi, and even if I’m seventh-stage, I… there are still limits to my qi reserves. He drooped slightly, but still held out his hand. “Please, go ahead.”

Qian Liqiu flew forth, hesitantly, then dropped into one of the clones. Before their eyes, the clone reshaped itself in her image, growing clothes as it did so. In the space of a breath, the generic clone transformed into Qian Liqiu, exactly as she appeared in her flame qi construct form.

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Hui held his breath. Come on… come on. It has to work!

Qian Liqiu opened her phoenix eyes and smiled. “Come.”

Phoenixes burst from Hui’s dantian. Each one sunk into a clone, and each clone took the face and body of the phoenix. Excitedly, they turned to one another, grabbing each other’s arms. Some of the younger-looking ones jumped in place, beaming. The older ones smiled at one another, clasping hands at their friends in greeting.

Hui drooped yet further. He dropped to his knees. Moving to his side, Bai Xue gently sent him some qi. He gratefully accepted it, circulating it into his dantian. It’s barely a trickle from my perspective… is the gulf between sixth and seventh stage so great? Then… how great must the gulf be between seventh and eighth, eighth and ninth, ninth and Immortal?

Hui glanced up, but quickly looked away. I don’t need to draw Heaven’s attention any more than I surely already have, messing about with the Underworld and phoenixes!

A few of the phoenixes stayed back, flapping listlessly in his dantian. Hui put a hand to his stomach, brows furrowed. Why aren’t they leaving? Are the bodies not good enough? My apologies, Elder Brothers and Sisters. Maybe in the future, this small cultivator can create forms good enough for your standards.

Qian Liqiu turned. She bowed to Hui, and as she did so, all the phoenixes quickly dropped into kowtows. “Thank you. We will put our all into finding your children. Even if we have to scour the Underworld and the Heavens, even if it takes an eternity, we will leave no stone unturned.”

Hui nodded back. Uncomfortable, he gestured for her to stand up. “Thank you, Senior. Please, please, stand.”

She ignored him. “We phoenixes are forever in your debt. Call upon us any time.”

“Debt—ah?” Hui jolted, then stared. Eh… other people are in my debt again? I do like that … even if it’s still a little foreign to me!

Standing at last, she pointed at his dantian. “Some of our kind were too injured by Huo Fenghuang to survive on their own, whether physically or mentally. Please consider them yours. This is part of my gratitude toward you.”

“Ah, thank you, thank you,” Hui said. Hmm. It is nice to have flame qi at my fingertips!

“As for your children… what do you know about their disappearance?” Qian Liqiu asked.

He cleared his throat. Straightening his back, he looked into her eyes. “The Eight Tiers Palace sent someone from the Fourth Tier… that is, the tier that deals with poisons and hidden weapons, to kidnap my children. No one can remember them aside from myself and Bai Xue, Bai Xingxue’s mother.”

“A karmic technique, perhaps?” Qian Liqiu mused. She shook her head. “We phoenixes are none too fond of the Eight Tiers Palace. Before we were absorbed in Huo Fenghuang, we lived in the Northern Lands.” She fell silent, drifting off.

Given that the Northern Lands and the Eastern Alliance are at war, I can imagine her grudge. Hui nodded. “I understand, Elder—ahem, Your Majesty. There’s no need to say any more.”

Giving him one last nod, Qian Liqiu took off. As she leaped from the ground, she flapped her arms, and her body transformed from human to phoenix. The other phoenixes followed her, transforming as well.

It seems the lotus clones have kept their flexibility despite increasing in hardness. Interesting, interesting! Perhaps there’s yet more to discover with these clones?

Though… if these new clones got out of hand… I’d be in trouble. Able to use flame qi, hardened, and yet flexible enough to change forms? Ahh… I don’t need to set a second unstoppable army into the world.

Hui stiffened. He stared up at the sky.

…Wait. Did I just send a second unstoppable army into the world?