The flower that Xu Qing could see in the sky above the west seemed to be rooted in nothingness. As it swayed back and forth, a sinister wind appeared that seemed to bring with it the sound of weeping. It was both demonic and gruish. The stem of the flower writhed like a snake. It was covered by a host of glittering thorns that made it seem surrounded by mystery and terror. It was as if the darkness contained some sort of evil and wicked aura. As for the flower’s leaves, they were long, narrow, and violet. Their edges flickered with uneven flames, and were covered with dark veins that seemed to come from the deepest abyss.

What was more horrifying about the flower were the petals, which were dark red in the middle and black on the edges. They made the flower look like it had bloomed in hell. There were twelve petals, and each one contained the face of a beautiful woman. Some were laughing, others wept in grief. Some looked flirtatious, others were angry.

Every single woman was extraordinarily beautiful. They had long hair that spread through the petals and emerged into the open like tentacles. The way they swayed and writhed made it seem like they were hunting for prey. The flower emanated the lovely perfume of a woman, but if you smelled it for long enough, it turned into a noxious aroma that prompted vomiting.

The sight of the flower caused Xu Qing’s eyes to glitter.

***