Chapter 1096: Skipping Stones and Mounts

Skipping Stones and Mounts

Clown was bored... very, extremely bored.

For the past two days, he returned to the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path to eat, but couldn't even see a single person. Although First Senior Brother had told him in advance that he was going out for a trip, and Third Senior Brother also told him that the meals were prepared and placed on the kitchen stove, to just heat them up when he wanted to eat, and although he could still eat fragrant meals every day...

But he just felt that these two days passed as long as two years, and the amount he ate for each meal also changed from the original one bucket to half a bucket.

Tap——tap...

On the bare mountain peak, Clown could only sit at the door alone, resting his head on one hand, and playing a skipping stones game with the other hand. A patch of White Ash smeared on his nose, revealing an indescribable loneliness amidst the comicality.

It was unknown how long had passed.

A figure draped in a Theatrical Robe slowly stepped onto the stairs of the stone peak.

Clown fiercely stood up from the ground, his eyes staring tightly at that direction... After that familiar Theatrical Robe figure appeared, his eyes immediately showed pleasant surprise!

He kicked his feet, whooshing as he threw himself into the Red King's embrace.

His speed was too fast, even producing a sonic boom in the air. But when he crashed into the Red King, it didn't knock him back in the slightest. Instead, it was light and floating, like an ordinary child acting spoiled to an elder.

"Alright, alright..." The Red King gently stroked Clown's head, smiling somewhat helplessly,

"You only went down the mountain for two days, why make it so grand..."

"Iya!!"

"Okay, okay, okay, your Master knows, it's your Master's fault."

As the Red King spoke, he seemingly perceived something, turning his head to look at the sky behind him...

In that direction, an unknown number of kilometers away, a cluster of starlight was rising from the South Sea Domain, like a meteor flying up from the ground. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared into the pitch blackness beyond the sky.

Seeing this scene, the smile on the Red King's face gradually restrained, replaced by an indescribable complexity and depth.

He stroked Clown's head, murmuring to himself:

"Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother... This era is going to be in great chaos again..."

Clown didn't seem to understand what the Red King was saying. He looked up blankly, blinking those small bean-like eyes, then tugged the Red King towards the pile of stones, wanting him to play skipping stones together.

The Red King withdrew his gaze, waving his hand:

"Your Master won't play anymore, your Master still has things to be busy with... How about letting Fourth Brother come play with you later? Or... if you're really bored, do you want to try learning to cook with Third Brother?"

"Iya, iya, iya..." Clown was somewhat regretful, but still danced with joy to express something.

"Good, good, then your Master will leave first."

The Red King took a step out, directly entering the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path, disappearing from sight.

A gentle breeze brushed past the bare stone peak. Clown became alone again, but he seemed very happy this time. He went to sit by the pile of stones alone first, humming a little tune "iya iya", as if patiently waiting for something.

Time passed minute by minute. By the time Clown finished throwing a dozen stones himself, a figure walked out from the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path.

"Iya!!" Seeing that unremarkable familiar figure, Clown immediately waved his hand.

"Coming, coming..."

Mo Jue patted the corner of his clothes, sitting down in front of Clown, "Still playing skipping stones? You first or me first?"

"Iya!"

"Alright, then you first."

Clown reached out, just about to grab a stone, when suddenly he seemed to think of something, tilting his head somewhat doubtfully: "Iya, iya?"

"You mean Little Junior Brother... He probably still has to be busy outside for a period of time..."

"... Iya?"

"He will." Mo Jue paused for a moment, his gaze looking towards the distance, "He will definitely come back... When he comes back, you can also ask him to play skipping stones together, okay?"

"Iya?!!"

"I didn't say I'm unwilling to play with you. I'm just afraid he'll be bored then... You should also spend more time with him."

"Iya, iya~"

...

Lead-gray clouds drifted silently.

On the desolate earth, several figures were slowly advancing.

"Chen Ling, don't walk too fast. You finally recovered a little, don't vomit blood again later." Zhao Yi's worried voice sounded.

That bright Great Crimson Theatrical Robe beside him, even in the Gray World, didn't fade in the slightest, causing the Old Wolf and the other accompanying Fusionists to cast sidelong glances one after another. It was impossible not to pay attention...

They had stayed in the Gray World for so long, and had never seen anyone able to retain color here. The gaze they looked at Chen Ling with was full of curiosity, like looking at a giant panda in a zoo. But seeing his ugly expression and stumbling steps, they were embarrassed to step forward to strike up a conversation, and could only silently trail behind him.

"... I'm fine." Chen Ling lowered his eyes, answering slowly.

It had been more than half a day since leaving the Wuji Domain. Chen Ling had also slowly recovered bit by bit from the initial state of wishing for death. Now he could no longer feel the exhaustion in his body, only his head was still faintly aching.

Chen Ling felt that humans were truly magical creatures. No matter what kind of pain they experienced, they could always stubbornly repair themselves bit by bit, and obtain a new life within it... Perhaps, this was what advancing meant.

"Do you really not need me to carry you?" The Old Wolf, who had reverted back to human form, couldn't help but speak. "If I turn into my Calamity form, carrying you would still be very easy."

"... No need, I can walk myself."

Chen Ling didn't have the habit of "riding people". Although he knew that after transformation they were Calamities, riding on someone else's head always felt strange... Especially since he wasn't that familiar with the Integration Faction now, it was better to keep his distance.

Seeing this, the Old Wolf also didn't persuade further. He exchanged a glance with the others, silently shrugging helplessly, and continued advancing.

"Aiya, actually you really don't need to be so polite. I told you, coming to the Integration Faction is like going home. I've ridden on Old Wolf many times. Although it's a bit hard on the butt, it really saves effort..."

Before Zhao Yi's words fell, Chen Ling suddenly seemingly perceived something, fiercely stopping his footsteps.

As he stopped, Zhao Yi also stopped. The other Integration Faction members behind them also stopped, the gazes looking at him full of bewilderment.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?" Zhao Yi frowned and asked.

Chen Ling shook his head. He squatted down lightly, his palm slowly pressing against the Gray World earth, those eyes tinged with red narrowing slightly.

Bang——!

He smashed a fist down on a certain spot on the earth.

The next moment, a Shadow Centipede shrieked as it drilled out from the ground dozens of meters away. It was about six or seven meters long. Seeing Chen Ling was like seeing a ghost, crazily twisting and curling up on the ground, fundamentally not daring to move an inch.

Amidst the crowd's astonished gazes, the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe slowly walked in front of the Shadow Centipede, gently touching that sinister and terrifying centipede head with his hand... The crowd saw very clearly, that centipede was crazily trembling.

"I'll just ride it." Chen Ling spoke indifferently.