Yiguo, not Baixing, whispered the wind as Sandra shook his head, disappointment etched in his features. "If you stumble at the first hurdle, he's not the contractor I'm seeking."

"Understood," Ran affirmed solemnly.

"Stay vigilant; someone's watching us," Sindra cautioned.

"Clearly."

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Within the confines of the shooting range, the echoes of gunfire reverberated.

Li Chengyi lowered his firearm, removed the earplugs, and exhaled deeply.

Thirty meters away, the target bore witness to his precision, riddled with precise yet distorted bullet holes.

"Thirty and fifty meters—the realm of close-quarters shooting. This is where your focus lies." A burly figure in black attire, presumably the coach, elucidated.

"Firearms are tools of the close combatant. Mastery at close range is paramount following point-of-origin training."

"Rifles are superfluous; the pistol is your craft." The coach retrieved the sleek black pistol from Li Chengyi's grasp.

"Custom-chosen for you: the Deling G17, engineered from plastic, weighing a mere 600 grams, with a capacity for 17 rounds. Fully automatic, but exercise caution to avoid depletion."

"Emotional composure reigns supreme in handling it, correct?" Li Chengyi inquired.

"Indeed. These reinforced plastic bullets shatter upon impact, mitigating ricochet. Emotional stability is key in such confined spaces."

The coach's smile was reassuring. "However, the ammunition at your disposal now is standard, meant solely for practice."

Li Chengyi nodded, removing his ear protection.

"May I have some solo practice time?"

"Of course, ammunition is at your disposal, but confined within this space. And do not tarry; dodge training awaits."

"Understood!" Li Chengyi affirmed eagerly, his thoughts consumed by the desire to test the efficacy of his attire.

With the pistol in hand, it was time for experimentation.

It was a simple task, really.

"Rest assured, I shall retire briefly. You have fifteen minutes of autonomy. And remember, never aim the muzzle at yourself," the instructor reminded before exiting the room, leaving Li Chengyi alone with his newfound toy.

The firearm—a pinnacle of human ingenuity—held a peculiar allure.

Ordinarily, such liberties with a firearm would be forbidden, especially with a fully automatic weapon. Yet, Li Chengyi was exempt.

This shooting range belonged to Mr. Sindra, a testament to privilege.

With the Deling G17 in hand, Li Chengyi eyed the surveillance camera in the corner. With practiced ease, he aimed at the distant target, adorned in red and white.

For this endeavor, he had even donned cosplay-style gloves, embroidered with motifs of profound significance.

Li Chengyi retrieved the gloves from his pocket, sliding them on meticulously. With a theatrical flourish, he reassumed his grip on the firearm, striking absurd poses reminiscent of characters from animated dramas.

With a swift motion, Li Chengyi raised his gun and took aim.

Bang!

But this shot was different—it wasn't a simple straight shot.

Instead, just before the trigger was pulled, Li Chengyi discreetly covered the tip of his left finger with the barrel of the pistol, concealed beneath a piece of armor woven with flower scales.

The bullet grazed the edge of the barrel, deflected slightly off course. The thickness and angle of the armor ensured that Li Chengyi's finger remained unscathed.

In an instant, he withdrew the flower scale armor without betraying a hint of emotion, lowering his hand. His fingertip tingled faintly, the only evidence of the near miss.

"The scale armor sustained damage. Please repair it promptly," the message from the Flower of Evil hinted at the consequences.

Indeed, the armor lacked the strength to withstand bullets completely.

However, Li Chengyi had tested it against other threats—cuts and slashes from kitchen knives—and found that while the surface was resilient, its thickness couldn't withstand significant force.

Now, it seemed inadequate against bullets.

"What if it evolves?" pondered Li Chengyi, his mind already envisioning the possibilities of upgraded flower scale armor with enhanced strength and abilities.

With the realization that the current armor couldn't withstand bullets, Li Chengyi pinned his hopes on its evolution.

Setting aside his concerns, he removed his gloves and inspected the slight tear left by the bullet on the fingertip.

"In two days, the appointment at the flower base will reveal the extent of its evolution..."

Focusing once more, he discarded distractions, donned his gloves, and resumed his shooting practice.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Accompanied by Sindra, Li Chengyi boarded a shuttle to the flower base.

Nestled within woodland on the outskirts of Suiyang City, Qingrun Flower Base boasted an array of silver-white greenhouses, enveloping the entire site.

Rows of vibrant flowers vied for attention, attracting butterflies and bees in the lush greenhouses.

"Follow me to the Fujimoto Ward," a young guide directed Li Chengyi.

As they strolled between the greenhouses, the guide prattled on about various flower varieties and discounts, oblivious to Li Chengyi's disinterest.

Eventually, they arrived at a lengthy greenhouse, where a staff member awaited them with a watering pipe.

"We're waiting for the mist to settle; then, we can enter," the guide explained, eagerly extolling the base's virtues.

Bored, Li Chengyi idly scanned his surroundings until a peculiar green plant caught his eye.

"Is that... an Iron Tree in bloom?!" he exclaimed, taken aback.

"Lucky you, sir. Our Iron Tree just recently bloomed—an uncommon sight," the guide chimed in, eager to share tales of their prized possession.

Lost in thought, Li Chengyi approached the plant, observing its pale yellow spherical flowers amidst the spiked foliage.

"This is the female Iron Tree flower. Males have cylindrical blooms—bright yellow," the guide explained.

Curiously, Li Chengyi inquired further, feigning ignorance.

Indeed, the Iron Tree's flowers were not as precious as the guide claimed, evident from her nonchalant response.

Gently parting the spiked leaves, Li Chengyi reached out to touch the flower's delicate petals.

As his fingertips made contact, a cool sensation enveloped them.

"Female Iron Tree Flower: Renowned for its iron-like wood, it requires ample iron for growth. Slow to bloom, it's categorized into male and female variants. The stem contains starch for nourishment, while the seeds possess slight toxicity, aiding in treating dysentery, coughs, and hemorrhages. Typically blooms every 10 to 20 years."

"Flower Language: Unyielding Needles (Projects an invisible force field, pricking any who touch it with equal force, proportional to the scale's hardness)."

"Flower Language: Fortification (Passively reinforces the body's bones and scales)."

"Flower Scale Armor: Flower God Seat unopened."

Two flower language abilities?

Li Chengyi's eyes widened in astonishment. He had explored many flowers but had never encountered one with two abilities, let alone one with a passive ability.

Intrigued, he contemplated the synergy between the two abilities—the fortification enhancing the armor's strength, while the unyielding needles determined its resilience.

"This... could be incredible!" he marveled silently, resolving to secure the Iron Tree Flower.

With renewed determination, Li Chengyi joined the guide as they entered the greenhouse.

"White wisteria, special section, third row on the right," the guide pointed out eagerly.

Li Chengyi's gaze followed, spotting the conspicuous white blooms in the distance.

White-flowered purple wisteria—the target of his quest.