Chapter 052. Battle of Wits (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)
The Senluo Seed clone immediately transformed into a giant rolling ball to block Qin Gou and the Stone Spirit. Another living dead vine tightly wrapped around the Stone Spirit. Qin Gou turned and fled.
At this moment, he finally understood why Gu Feiyan and Liu Ying had turned and run without a word when he encountered them earlier.
“That damned Stone Spirit, does it randomly turn into the appearance of anyone in the gray mist maze? But why are you so fixated on my face, changing into Xi Pingchen’s appearance and then back? What’s the meaning of this?”
The rolling ball and the living dead vine were unable to stop the Stone Spirit at all. It had no emotions or pain. It instantly tore through the living dead vine and crashed into the giant rolling ball, creating a humanoid hole. Unharmed, it relentlessly pursued Qin Gou.
True Man Wangji’s words were not false. All outsiders in the gray mist maze were at most at the peak of the Hidden Weapon Realm. To this Stone Spirit, they were all like ants.
“Alright, you’re still chasing.”
Qin Gou suddenly turned around. Two wing-like green leaves appeared out of thin air behind him. A gust of wind blew, and his whole body shot up into the sky. He looked down at the Stone Spirit and arrogantly declared, “Stay put. Your father is going to buy two oranges and will be back soon.”
The Stone Spirit raised its face, exactly like Qin Gou’s, and stared blankly into Qin Gou’s eyes. It suddenly tore off its right arm. No blood flowed out, only a piercing sound of metal striking stone. It then threw its arm fiercely at Qin Gou.
The Stone Spirit was not merely self-harming. Its right arm shot towards Qin Gou like a maggot gnawing on bone, accurately and without error!
Qin Gou’s pupils dilated. These two green leaves were not real wings after all, and he couldn’t evade rapidly in the air like Gu Xunhe. In a flash, he drew his staff sword and slashed with all his might at the bloodless, pale right arm.
“Bang!”
With a loud noise, the Astonishing Immortal Sword in Qin Gou’s hand buzzed and trembled. The green leaves behind him instantly disintegrated, and he fell from the sky. The wrist of his sword-wielding right hand was twisted and bleeding profusely, but thankfully, the Astonishing Immortal Sword didn’t slip from his grasp.
“Crack.” The suspended pale right arm quickly reattached to the Stone Spirit’s body, merging perfectly.
The Stone Spirit strode towards Qin Gou, its footsteps like the death knell of the Grim Reaper.
Qin Gou’s face was as pale as paper. He gave two miserable laughs. After enduring just a simple strike from the Stone Spirit, his face had become the same as that of the emotionless broken stone. Who would believe they weren’t twin brothers?
“Your… mother?”
The Stone Spirit approached Qin Gou and again laboriously and awkwardly spat out the greeting Qin Gou had given it earlier.
Qin Gou struggled to stand up, grinned, and said, “Who my mother is, that’s a secret between her and me forever.”
“Die!”
The Stone Spirit roared, shattering the ground with a kick, and punched Qin Gou’s chest with all its might.
Could this stone lump have really developed intelligence and gotten angry?
As quick as lightning, Qin Gou poured almost all his spiritual power into the three Senluo Seeds.
The first Senluo Seed clone transformed into an incredibly tough Yellow Tier ironwood tree, forming the front line. The second Senluo Seed clone also became an ironwood tree, following closely behind.
The last Senluo Seed, the main body, grew into a compact spring grass, pressing tightly against Qin Gou’s own chest.
The Stone Spirit’s merciless fist pierced through the trunks of the two ironwood trees. After being weakened multiple times, it struck the spring grass, compressing it to less than five inches… Qin Gou’s face turned even paler, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. However, the smile on his lips gradually became more unrestrained.
For a moment, Qin Gou was sent flying by the immense force released by the spring grass. The speed was so fast that it was like a landslide, leaving no trace behind.
Even the Stone Spirit’s mind was in a muddle, and it stood frozen for a moment. After chasing a few steps, it simply changed its target and attacked in another direction.
“Chen Dayi, thanks to you.” Gu Xunhe patted the shoulder of a subordinate beside him, his gaze sincere and gentle as he smiled, “If not for your ‘Eavesdropping Ear’ spirit tool, this young master would have definitely been deceived by that damned Stone Spirit and died without a burial place!”
“It is my honor to serve you, Young Master.” Chen Dayi cupped his fists in gratitude, his eyes shining.
Gu Xunhe’s eyes dimmed, and he waved his sleeve, saying, “It’s a pity for that chivalrous Xi Pingchen, who voluntarily stayed behind to cover our retreat. He’s probably been dismembered by now. Chen Dayi, don’t worry, this young master will definitely not treat a meritorious official like you unfairly. The first thing I’ll do after returning to the Sacred Cult is to heavily reward you, making you a core disciple.”
Chen Dayi was overjoyed, “Young Master, you are wise and mighty. This subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for you.”
“Roar ahhh…”
“What sound is that?”
Chen Dayi frowned, his metal-gleaming ears twitching. “Young Master, be careful.”
Gu Xunhe waved his hand nonchalantly, “This young master hears nothing. If only your ‘Eavesdropping Ear’ can hear it, it means the owner of the sound is still quite a distance away.”
“No, Young Master, that sound is getting closer!” Chen Dayi exclaimed in alarm.
“Hmm, this young master can hear it too. It seems someone is being chased…”
Gu Xunhe stood with his hands behind his back, speaking eloquently, but before he could finish, a rapidly flying white shadow hit his chest directly, sending Gu Xunhe flying out in a spread-eagle posture.
With a bone-chilling sound of twisting bones, Gu Xunhe screamed, his mouth full of blood.
“Eldest Young Master!”
Chen Dayi immediately chased after him and watched in disbelief as Qin Gou, covered in blood and with a pale, lifeless face, climbed up from Gu Xunhe’s embrace like a rusty machine, stumbling with each step.
In fact, as he was sent flying, Qin Gou had used his last bit of spiritual power to transform the Senluo Seed into a soft ball of cotton to cushion his landing. However, due to his depleted spiritual power, the cotton could not completely encase him. Just as he despaired, he unexpectedly crashed into a broad, warm embrace…
This was truly a gift from heaven. The owner of this embrace must be a gentleman with boundless ambition and talent.
“It’s the Stone Spirit!”
Chen Dayi shouted with all his might. Yes, he was absolutely sure! The guy was covered in the blood of innocent people, and his face lacked the gentle hue of a living creature. His every movement was dull and stiff, like an old, rusty puppet that hadn’t been operated for years.
Coupled with this face that was exactly like Qin Gou’s, this was undoubtedly the terrifying Stone Spirit that he and Gu Xunhe had encountered before and narrowly escaped death from!
“Stone… Stone Spirit?” Gu Xunhe’s heart trembled violently, and he turned his head in shock to look at Qin Gou.
Qin Gou’s face was expressionless, his eyes vacant. His neck was tilted, his hands hung limply, his body convulsed violently, and he let out a beast-like roar, pouncing at Gu Xunhe.
“My heavens! It, it’s crazier than before! It must have evolved!” Gu Xunhe was so terrified that his soul had scattered and his spirit vanished. He didn’t know how many of his bones were broken, but he couldn’t care about that now. He desperately grabbed the ground with his hands and, at an astonishing speed, crawled like a dog towards Chen Dayi, scrambling in a sorry state.
