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……
After much persuasion, you finally managed to get the two mischievous spirit girls to stop their pranks, and then you started running again.
Although it only lasted a few minutes, the feeling of complete immersion and pleasure is unforgettable, like a spa treatment for your soul—an experience you've never imagined.
[Could this be soul intercourse? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. This was far too much for a pure-hearted guy like you! And… if this is soul intercourse, wouldn't I have just been having an outdoor play session where no one could see me?!]
You quickly banished this dangerous thought from your mind, but the more you thought about it, the more you felt your moral compass was in a precarious state. You could only console yourself, "Not thinking about it is the same as not doing it!"
[Struggling with your thoughts, you crossed several ravines. Whether it was due to the thick fog or some other reason, no strange birds attacked you.]
After running for an unknown amount of time, you finally felt a strange tremor coming from the ground. This tremor was much clearer than before, proving that you were getting close to the legendary demon wolf!
Meanwhile, you also luckily found another teammate of the Lantern Skeleton on the road. He wasn't in good condition; one of his arms appeared to have been severed by a walking demon wolf. Fortunately, his mind wasn't too affected.
[You extended your bone armor, creating raised sections and spiked handrails on either side of the horse's back to securely carry everyone. Fortunately, your height is nearly three meters, so even with passengers on board, there is still plenty of room.]
The passengers chatted with a sense of relief. They weren't unfamiliar with death, but the time spent in the thick fog instilled a deep-seated fear in them. They couldn't perceive the passage of time, and no matter where they ran, they seemed to be stuck in the same place. The occasional tremors and the huge shadows that seemed to be hidden in the fog made them feel like they were in a nightmare... They only regained their senses when they were illuminated by lanterns and lifted up from the ground by Latis.
The conversations, born of the ordeal, gradually subsided. A growing sense of oppression drew the passengers into silence. As time ticked by, their bodies began to stiffen, a chill creeping into their bones, as if their very souls were being frozen.
Finally, amidst this atmosphere of terror, you heard a deafening roar. The ground trembled, jolting you violently. You looked up and, in the dim light emitted by the elderly bone spirit, saw a towering, slanted, columnar black shadow through the mist.
Looking up, the dark shadow stretched to the very edge of the dense fog, its height impossible to estimate.
In that instant, a sense of awe suddenly arose within you. Such a colossal thing was beyond your ability to discern whether it was inanimate or alive, even through your sense of life. You also couldn't fathom the immense power that remained within its body.
The cold mist brought you back to your senses. You took a deep breath, and suddenly heard Haiyue'er softly humming a song just for you. You rubbed your ears, as if you were wearing noise-canceling headphones, instantly casting aside the distracting thoughts brought on by external pressures.
You nodded to yourself, watching the dark figure slowly rise from the thick fog, clenched your fists, and ran forward, braving the cold air that brushed against your body.
……
"After the left front leg lands, there will be a few minutes of stillness before the wolf moves its other legs."
The wolf spirit's face was also damp with cold sweat without it even realizing it. It wiped its face haphazardly and said in a very fast voice:
"You absolutely must crawl to the first joint and secure yourself firmly there before this leg starts moving again! If it's too late..."
It swallowed hard, a hint of nervousness flashing across its face, and said to Latis:
"If we don't make it in time, we will all lose our lives in that enormous turbulence!"
"I understand."
Latis, however, had already calmed down amidst the abundant soul power of the soul-powered girls. He raised his head, looking at the dark figure about to descend at the edge of his vision, a resolute and confident expression appearing on his face, and calmly said:
"Don't worry, I will send you to the wolf's head and rescue all of Lantern Skeleton's teammates. After that, I will climb Mount Sankturui. My determination will not be changed by anything."
Having said that, he leaped into the air to face the enormous bone claw that had already come into view.
Chapter 263 Brother Niu's Philosophical Thoughts
The white bones beneath your feet are covered in rust. Your bone wings spread wide and suddenly flap. As you leap upward, your muscles and veins bulge, and your waist, like a tightly twisted towel, firmly controls your body's sway, pressing tightly against the white bones.
[Crack! With a cracking sound, your forefoot became wedged in the bone crevice. Losing your balance, you jerked your hands onto the bone, bringing you to a halt.]
You take a deep breath, pull your forefoot out, and look up once more at the towering skeleton.
Its diameter might be many times longer than your entire body. Its corroded surface, like a long-neglected floor, is covered in dust and wispy, decaying traces. Although such a bony surface would crumble under your foot, you know that the damage you cause is merely a negligible scratch to it. This behemoth cannot share the same senses as you.
"Hurry, hurry up!" The wolf spirit's fur was already soaked with its own sweat. Looking at the wolf movement device in its hand, it cried out desperately, "The other three legs have already moved, they'll be here with us soon!"
You take a deep breath. During the climb, you've already sensed the forward momentum emanating from the skeleton. What might be a mere stroll for this wolf is an unimaginable speed on a human scale.
[Now that things have come to this, you have no choice but to use your trump card! The "Cancel Post-Awake" talent, aside from its use during your passionate encounters with Haiyue'er, hasn't allowed you to use it during any other crisis... and now, it's time to unleash your unparalleled cheat code!]
You calm yourself, and your whole body begins to slowly gather momentum like a compressed spring. Your muscles bulge inch by inch, and the popping sound of your bones stretching extends from your cervical spine to your tailbone. Your back slowly expands like a bat spreading its wings, and to the passengers' astonishment, your powerful back muscles bulge, forming deep, grotesque lines.
The oppressive atmosphere rendered the passengers speechless for a moment. Wolf Spirit couldn't help but swallow hard, watching you suddenly stop, wiping away her sweat, and mustering her courage to anxiously call out, "Your Excellency, please don't stop... our time..."
"No rush." You turned around, grinning, feeling your body stretched to its limit, and gave a thumbs up. "You guys need to be careful from now on, remember to keep your hands and feet out of your seats."
"W-what?" A sense of foreboding made the old skeletal spirit instinctively shrink back into the lantern-carrying skeleton. He poked his head out and asked nervously, "What are we going to do...?"
[Whoosh! Before he could finish speaking, he felt as if his head had been left in place. The thick fog around him, moving in a bizarre, electric-like motion, made him feel as if his brain had stopped thinking. He dazedly pulled his head back into the lantern-carrying skeleton, only able to vaguely see the outside world through the skeleton's eye sockets.]
The thick fog that rushed towards you slammed into your face as you accelerated without warning; at that speed, even the light, drifting fog turned into heavy bricks.
[Your visor relentlessly repairs itself amidst the continuous cracking sounds. With each crack, you soar like a sturdy icebreaker, your indestructible bull's head hurtling straight into the sky!]
The energy within your body began to deplete rapidly. The stored energy, transformed into powerful kinetic energy in the surging heat, propelled your strong, bony wings forward with a continuous, uninterrupted force, instantly filling your muscles with a tingling, throbbing sensation. You gasped, grimacing and grimacing, and cursed as you shouted:
"Damn it, it's just facial compensation, charge!"
As if moved by your determination, or perhaps because the connection was opened during the recent fusion, the soul power of the spirit maidens resonated with your soul instantly, and you felt a surge of passion wash over you from head to toe.
At this moment, you must transcend the overlapping mists, the boundless wilderness, and the unimaginable demonic wolves. You must ascend step by step, for you were born to surpass everything!
The first joint the wolf spirit mentioned quickly came into view. It was a joint resembling a bent knee, with remaining cartilage forming a hollow cavity. You realized that this was the place the wolf spirit had told you to stop and wait for the next safe period.
A slight tremor emanated from the thick fog. Your eyes instantly caught the twitching of the bones—a sign that the demon wolf's left foreleg was about to take a step forward. In a fraction of a second, you made your decision: without pausing or waiting, charge straight upwards!
[So your gaze didn't linger for a moment, instantly leaving that safe cavity, casting aside the thought of proceeding slowly. You felt a sudden, genuine exhilaration... Yes, you've already experienced too many twists and turns on your journey to the Star Sea! Now you want to reach the highest point in one breath, amidst the roaring roar! You want to see, in this flight, what kind of creature those sky-obscuring demonic wolves really are!]
[“Wait! We’ll wait there…” Before the wolf spirit’s cry could reach your ears, you plummeted to the ground, your body suddenly shooting upwards again. At that speed, the flapping of your bone wings created sonic booms!]
"Ugh... my ears are leaking air, I feel like a draft is blowing through my head..." A bored thought flashed through your mind, as if something was still missing amidst the apprehension of those watching you walk.
"What's missing?" You thought for a moment, then said to Haiyue'er in your heart, "My mermaid lady, could you please play a Linkin Park song, uh, one of those really upbeat ones?"
"A stirring melody... how about a naval battle song?" Hai Yue'er's voice was slightly hoarse as she fully unleashed her soul power. She cleared her throat and said, "This is a battle song left behind by the merfolk during their battle with the sea sharks. In the heat of battle, the deep, resonant song echoes throughout the sea, becoming incredibly loud even in the dark depths."
[Haiyue'er's song echoes in your ears. Riding on this chilling war song, your heart begins to pound violently. Broad and strong bone wings, like two sharp sabers, coldly slash at your sides...]
"No, that's not right." Your brow twitched suddenly. Although this feeling made you incredibly powerful, it was still missing something. Right now, you had plenty of strength, but you lacked that feeling of your soul soaring...
"Oh, I see." You suddenly realized, snapped your fingers, and said to Haiyue'er, "Haiyue'er, let's play something a little more elegant, elegant... and sophisticated."
"...The upper class?" Hai Yue'er paused, then remained silent for a moment, indicating her incomprehension.
"It's... rhythm, cadence, melody, you know? Like the feeling of wearing a tuxedo and holding a glass of red wine," you explained very abstractly.
"...Understood!" Hai Yue'er's voice sounded strained. She paused, sighed helplessly, and then began to hum a waltz-like tune.
[Drip, drip... The mist on both sides swept past you like muddy snowmelt. Your figure broke through the thick fog, like an off-road vehicle driving freely and leisurely through the vast天地 (heaven and earth).]
Your brow instantly relaxed; this was the feel you wanted, this was the elegant and sophisticated feeling! The surrounding noise faded away in an instant, and your inner self and trembling body gradually moved towards a harmonious unity.
The wolf's left foreleg began to rise, and what should have been a powerful, unstoppable movement suddenly slowed down in your eyes. Its destination was now clearly revealed in the swirling fog.
You chuckled silently, though the sudden gust of wind made your mouth gape like a monkey's, but it didn't diminish your self-perceived elegance.
[Tick-tock... The rhythm of the little dance music made you involuntarily shift your body slightly, yet even so, the skeleton, wider than a thousand-year-old tree, still crashed towards you with unstoppable force. The pale, decaying skeleton posed no threat, but you knew that with just a slight touch, your entire body would turn to dust.]
But... so what? Without the clamor of the world, that immense, heavy object suddenly appears to you like a deck slowly swaying in calm waters; you can easily dodge it with a single step.
[You recalled the dance steps that Master Yinxiu had taught you. The side step didn't require much body twisting, so you did the same. You didn't change the direction of your bone wings to fly sideways, but instead used a small soul bone...]
Yes, that's Brother Niu's double jump! No, strictly speaking, it should be called "Brother Niu's Air Cannon"!
[Bang! Amidst the faint cheers of the audience (and screams of the passengers), you gracefully sidestepped the impact of the skeleton. The swirling wake behind the skeleton made you spin twice on the spot. You closed your eyes and gave a reserved nod to the audience, then politely patted your chest in thanks.]
[Hmm? Suddenly, a strange feeling made you instinctively open your eyes. You looked at the empty, thick fog in front of you, scratched your head, and followed the direction of the airflow to the dark silhouette of the skeleton that had already disappeared into the distance.]
"Holy crap!" You exclaimed in shock, your eyes widening. You hurriedly flapped your wings and gave chase. As you sped closer to the skeleton, you couldn't help but yell, "How come my dance partner ran off without me even noticing?!"
……
After spending some time catching up with the receding skeleton, the waltz in your ears returned from its intense climax to a melodious dance. To this music, you exhaled a long breath and, following the chaotic wake, began your ascent anew.
"If we were to consider this a dance partner, the wake should be called 'Little Chanel Breeze.'" While your mind wandered to these nonsensical thoughts, your body had already expertly used Brother Bull's Air Cannon to adjust your position within the wake.
Sometimes you really feel that having a bull is an extremely convenient thing. Not only can it be used as a magic staff, but it can also be used to hone a powerful sword over ten years, enabling extremely powerful piercing attacks. Now it can even be used as the barrel of an air cannon.
It's warm in winter and cool in summer, possessing excellent temperature control; it's flexible, adaptable, and can be both hard and soft, comparable to a Swiss Army knife. It bestows upon you youthful passion, yet can transform into sage-like composure at any moment.
If Archimedes famously said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world," then do you believe that Niu Ge (Brother Bull) is that lever that moves the world? Or rather, in this world, only Niu Ge deserves to be that invincible lever.
[You are relaxed and carefree, your figure graceful, rising rapidly while dancing with bones in the wake. At this moment, the upper and lower realms of your mind reach a strange superposition state, a superposition that defies the conventional laws of physics, collapsing simultaneously in both directions upon observation… You think to yourself, "Maybe this is what I am. From now on, I might as well just call myself a second-rate mage."]
[Amidst this confusion, your skeletal dance partner fell silent once more. Clearly, the Demon Wolf has finally taken this step—Smiley, it's over!]
[Hai Yue'er's voice gradually became hoarse, and the boost she provided to your condition gradually weakened. You could sense that her soul power was already mostly depleted; multitasking like this would ultimately cause her to exhaust herself too quickly. You thought for a moment and told her to stop. As a man, you could only let your lover's voice become hoarse in the throes of passion.]
The whistling wind returned to your ears. You glanced back at the passengers, who seemed frozen in place after a rollercoaster ride, chuckled to yourself, and calmed yourself, adjusting your breathing.
The soreness coursing through your muscle fibers tells you that you've already used up most of your energy.
You looked up at the overwhelming black shadows that seemed to be faintly visible, and a ripple of emotion welled up in your heart.
【The Bone-Eating Demon Wolf, the Bigfoot Demon Wolf—what kind of being is it exactly?】
You know you'll see it soon.
……
"Hooah!"
Latis's chest heaved violently, and the hot air exhaled from his nostrils turned into two dark streams of air, creating two vortexes in the mist in front of him.
Before him, a wolf's mouth full of sharp teeth was moving forward at a constant, unchanging speed.
He raised his head, wanting to get a full look at the demon wolf.
However, all he could see were the teeth, which were several people high. The wolf's head was hidden in the mist. Within this limited field of vision, he couldn't even see half of the wolf's mouth.
"It's unimaginable..."
Latis clenched his fists, flapped his wings, and leaped towards the spot that should have been the top of his head.
Chapter 264 When learning a foreign language, remember to learn swear words first.
The dim light from the lantern-bearing skeleton seemed weak in the increasingly dark fog; the light struggled to travel two or three meters before extinguishing in the darkness.
You fly slowly along the edge of the wolf's head, watching its towering fangs, as tall as the columns of an ancient Roman palace, whiz past you and disappear into the black mist behind you. For a moment, you feel as if you are in the deep sea.
Perhaps the wolf's head blocked the wind and other noises, for you felt only silence around you, with only the rhythmic, faint tapping of your wings.
You take a deep breath, sensing your muscles weakening, and after a moment's thought, you take some time to rise to the wolf's upper jaw and land there.
"We need to get close to its forehead," the wolf spirit whispered. Its fur, which had been soaked with sweat earlier, had dried during the rapid ascent, clinging to its body in clumps and making it look rather disheveled.
You nodded, and as you moved forward lightly, you asked, "Wolf Spirit, how will you control this demonic wolf?"
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