Lan Lingdu took a sharp look, and her heart sank instantly.
A black bamboo hat, violet eyes, and an aura radiating a chilling, bloodthirsty intent—was this not the butcher she had just encountered a short while ago?
The corner of Lan Lingdu’s mouth twitched. She pointed at the tall Ice Ability user standing before her. "You’re late. I’ve already chosen this gentleman."
Ye Xingze spared the tall man a glance.
A pale, slender hand slowly rose. Amidst the confused stares of the crowd, the previously arrogant Ice Ability user suddenly let out a startled, piercing shriek.
"Aaaarrgh!"
Lan Lingdu’s pupils contracted. Whether the others saw it or not, from her perspective, she could clearly see countless black filaments lashing out toward the Ice Ability user as the man raised his hand.
From the violet-eyed youth’s strike to the Ice Ability user’s injury, it all happened within mere seconds. By the time the crowd registered what occurred, the Ice Ability user was already lying on the ground, blood streaming from his seven orifices.
This guy was truly terrifying! The crowd fell into a terrified silence.
Even the official team to which Lan Nuannuan belonged merely frowned, not daring to voice any condemnation of the man in black.
The youth lowered his hand as if nothing had happened. He tilted his head, his violet eyes locking onto Lan Lingdu. "He’s injured."
Lan Lingdu felt a breath catch in her throat, unable to go up or down.
How overbearing! The Purifier clearly didn't want to team up with this guy, yet he had brazenly injured the man's teammate to force his way into the group.
Tier 6 Transcendence might not be the pinnacle of combat power in the Interstellar, but this hooded youth’s abilities were unsettlingly bizarre. Before finding a way to counter his powers, no one dared to provoke him.
Ye Xingze’s overly refined, pale face curled into a sickly, morbid smile. "I am Ye Xingze. I am your teammate now."
Lan Lingdu: "..." Honestly, she wanted a refund.
Teaming up with this guy—she didn't know if she was hiring a bodyguard or inviting a living demon into her life.
Lan Lingdu looked around. Others were still watching her with eager eyes, yet no one dared to step forward and invite her to join their team anymore.
For the first time, Lan Lingdu tasted the feeling of dropping a rock on her own toes.
She had intentionally exposed her identity as a Purifier, first to better integrate into the expedition team, and second, to provoke Lan Nuannuan. She wanted to test if this woman recognized her, while also creating a legitimate pretext for her own public debut. After all, the original owner of this body had lived too wretchedly in the Lan Family for the past decade or so.
Lan Lingdu had no intention of hiding and scurrying around like a rat in a gutter for the rest of her life.
To hide and be killed quietly—that was the most foolish path.
After all, if a female as significant as her were to meet with an accident, even the mistress of the Lan Family wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.
When she lacked strength, lying low was fine. But with strength, one had to strike back at the enemy. For instance, if Ye Xingze dared to pull any tricks, she would poison him to death without a second thought.
Over there, Lan Nuannuan was stealing the spotlight once again.
"Ahhh! It’s a Healing Ability! Miss Lan is truly as beautiful and kind-hearted as the legends say—she’s just like a little fairy."
Lan Nuannuan, acting like a magical girl, brandished an exquisite wand. With a gentle wave, it shimmered with a faint white light.
Amidst the chorus of admiration from the male Orcs, Lan Lingdu curled her toes hard against the soles of her shoes, feeling frustrated at why her tendency to feel second-hand embarrassment was getting worse.
It was obvious that this "little fairy" had studied her poses in depth.
Regardless of Lan Nuannuan’s theatrical posturing, Lan Lingdu could clearly perceive a powerful surge of life force flowing from her. The blood flowing from the Ice Ability user’s seven orifices began to slow at a visible rate.
His deathly complexion gradually returned to a healthy flush.
Lan Nuannuan, however, did not look well. As the Ice Ability user’s condition improved, her own face grew visibly pale. Lan Lingdu could sense the powerful life force within her body waning.
Lan Lingdu narrowed her eyes. Was this the true strength of a Tier 3 Healing Ability user in this world?
After a moment, Lan Nuannuan withdrew her hand. With a pale face, she apologized, "I’m sorry, with my current abilities, this is all I can do..."
Before she could finish, the Ice Ability user offered himself up: "Miss Lan, there is no need for guilt. Thank you for saving me. From this day forward, I, Nie Shiba, am at your command for one favor..."
"Nie Shiba! That super genius from the Nie family! Only nineteen years old! He might just be the youngest Natural Ability user in Orc history to reach the Transcendence Realm!"
"Calling him the youngest is an exaggeration. In our Orc history, there was someone who reached Transcendence at eighteen..."
"Those details don't matter! The point is, Nie Shiba is a Natural Ability user, and an Ice type at that! You know that once this ability reaches Transcendence, it becomes truly terrifying."
The crowd chimed in, filling in the details of Nie Shiba’s background.
Lan Nuannuan, however, did not look surprised by his offer. She spoke coldly, "This is what I, as a Healing Ability user, ought to do. Even if someone else were injured before me today, I would still reach out to help."
Look at that—her words made the surrounding males wish they could rip their hearts out or bash their heads against a wall for her, completely forgetting that there was someone like Lan Lingdu—a Tier 4 Purifier, someone far more precious than a Healing Ability user—standing right there.
Seeing how easily Lan Nuannuan bought the hearts of so many, Lan Lingdu clicked her tongue in amazement. Remembering the two different faces this woman wore in private and in public, she realized this was no ordinary "white lotus"—she was a master of pretense.
"My lady... can you help me purify the Bestialization Index in my body? I can pay any price." Just then, a rough, hoarse voice sounded in Lan Lingdu’s ear.
His words successfully reminded everyone of the existence of the precious Purifier, Lan Lingdu.
"I almost forgot! A Tier 4 Purifier has actually appeared on Gengdi Planet!"
"Heavens! Is she a wild Purifier? When did she arrive on Gengdi Planet?"
No one doubted Lan Lingdu’s claim of being a Purifier, because such a lie would be too easily exposed.
Lan Lingdu turned her gaze toward the speaker: a middle-aged man with long horns on his head, a cow’s tail visible, and thick fur growing across his face. Such an appearance indicated that his Bestialization Index had reached a terrifying level.
Lan Lingdu’s eyes glinted. How could she refuse such Purification Value delivered to her doorstep?
"Of course I can."
"I can pay you a handsome reward," the Orc seeking help said, his voice trembling.
Lan Lingdu and the minotaur spoke almost simultaneously.
The minotaur was anxious. Purifiers had a very rigid stereotype among the public: aloof and arrogant. Their opportunities to act were precious because their daily purification quotas were limited and reserved for people of importance—fighters coming off the battlefield needing life-saving aid, or nobles...
Purifiers were simply too rare, and their abilities weren't infinite; they could only treat emergencies and those close by. Commoners... could only rely on potions to suppress their Bestialization Index.
Lan Lingdu paused. "What is your Bestialization Index?"
"My lady, are... are you really willing to save me?" The minotaur couldn't believe his ears. A noble Purifier had agreed so easily? It felt surreal.
Lan Lingdu raised an eyebrow. Mimicking the posture Ye Xingze had used just moments ago, she slowly raised a hand, controlling her spiritual energy to flow toward the Orc.
This was the first time she had abandoned a plant catalyst and used her spiritual energy to manipulate wood elements directly.