"Such a dangerous monster... better kill it!"
Watching the occasionally dimming light of the cylindrical rune formation and a rune ice-attribute arcane gemstone beginning to crack, Ye Feng's eyes narrowed, and the Tang dao in his hand once again materialized with True Energy.
"Whoosh~~"
"Sizzle~!"
Ye Feng controlled the Tang dao materialized with True Energy and quickly stabbed at the head of the dark shadow puppet.
Upon sensing Ye Feng's attack, the dark shadow puppet's entire brain pulp instantly retracted into its abdomen, causing the Tang dao to strike its neck, emitting a sound like hot oil being burned.
"This guy... is the head an important part?"
Although the current observation didn't unfold as Ye Feng had anticipated, he had nonetheless gained a crucial piece of information.
The next moment, Ye Feng swung the Tang dao surging with True Energy again, aiming for the head on the dark shadow puppet's abdomen.
He dared not wield the Tang dao with broad, sweeping slashes, fearing he might damage the cylindrical rune formation as well, which would be troublesome...
After all, Ye Feng didn't know if this dark shadow puppet possessed any peculiar escape abilities...
"Whoosh~"
"Sizzle!~"
"Gulp~Hiss~Gulp~"
The Tang dao struck the dark shadow puppet's abdomen directly, and the creature let out a pained scream.
However, Ye Feng's strike did not hit its head, as the dark shadow puppet's head had shifted to its right arm.
"What kind of monster is this?"
Ye Feng muttered in frustration, and the Tang dao in his hand once again lunged towards the area where the dark shadow puppet's head was located.
The dark shadow puppet clearly sensed that the Tang dao could inflict fatal damage. It opened seven or eight mouths and bit directly at the golden light bars of the cylindrical rune formation, gnawing at them.
"Buzz~Whoosh!~Tear!~"
The cylindrical rune formation immediately erupted with golden light runes, striking the dark shadow puppet and causing its solidified form to scatter somewhat.
Even so, the dark shadow puppet's mouths, clamped onto the golden bars of the rune formation, did not loosen, and its gnawing accelerated.
"Ye Feng, the formation's energy seems... seems to be being devoured by the dark shadow puppet... it's starting to struggle!"
Shen Yun Yao and Xiao Xiao looked on anxiously, yet they had no good solutions.
Sweat beaded on Ye Feng's forehead. He swung the Tang dao faster, but his movements were restricted by the cylindrical rune formation, preventing him from unleashing his full power.
Especially since the dark shadow puppet's head moved with remarkable agility between its body parts...
"Xiao Xiao, Yun Yao, step back!"
Seeing the golden light of the cylindrical rune formation becoming even more unstable, with most of the rune ice-attribute arcane gemstones showing numerous cracks and looking like they could shatter at any moment, Ye Feng's eyes focused as he shouted to the two women.
Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao immediately retreated quickly, their gazes warily fixed on the dark shadow puppet.
Ye Feng did not continue to try and stab at the dark shadow puppet within the cylindrical rune formation; he even retreated a short distance.
He closed his eyes, recalling the mysterious movements he had gained when he ascended to Gold rank, and carefully sensed the changes in his surroundings.
Then, under the gaze of Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao, Ye Feng, holding his Tang dao, assumed a peculiar stance.
"Clang~Crack~!"
At this moment, a crisp sound of ice shattering echoed. The cylindrical rune formation that had trapped the dark shadow puppet, along with the rune ice-attribute arcane gemstones, instantly disintegrated.
Simultaneously, Ye Feng moved. He gripped his Tang dao and surged forward at lightning speed, leaving a trail of afterimages.
The dark shadow puppet, which had reformed into a somewhat blurry black mist, was about to drift away when the white light of the Tang dao flashed rapidly across its form...
"Gulp~Hiss~"
The dark shadow puppet let out a hurried, pained cry. The drifting black mist instantly halted, then emitted a "hissing" sound and slowly dissipated...
"Hoo!~"
At this point, Ye Feng, his forehead covered in a fine sheen of sweat, opened his eyes.
He watched the gradually vanishing dark shadow puppet and let out a soft sigh, his expression significantly more relaxed.
"Big Brother, was the dark shadow puppet killed?"
After a while, Xiao Xiao walked up to Ye Feng and asked.
"Mmm! It should be!"
Ye Feng nodded.
To be honest, he was still a little uncertain in his heart because there was no system notification. However, this didn't necessarily mean the dark shadow puppet was not dead.
After all, he had encountered many mutated monsters in the past, some quite powerful, and yet there were no prompts or usable points awarded...
"The dark shadow puppet's characteristic fluctuations have disappeared. It is indeed dead!"
At this moment, the mechanical female voice from the energy core spoke again.
"I..."
Ye Feng's mouth twitched; he was speechless.
"Hoo!~"
"Hoo!~"
Hearing the voice, Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao both breathed a heavy sigh of relief, found a spot to sit, and began to pant and rest.
Before long, Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao started taking out bandages, alcohol, and other supplies to clean and dress their wounds.
After all, both women had many injuries...
As for Ye Feng, after observing the surroundings for a while, he walked towards the energy core...
...
In an empty area,
In an inconspicuous dark corner,
Within a glass bottle lying on the ground filled with water, a large eye, bloodshot and fixedly staring at the direction of Ye Feng, Xiao Xiao, and Shen Yun Yao, held an expression of utter astonishment...
...
Beneath the floating island,
Under a large tree by the river,
A Jin was closing his eyes, encased in a water sphere within a shimmering, mysterious formation.
Beside him, Hai Chu Zi scanned the surroundings with a vigilant expression, seemingly keeping watch for A Jin.
"Plop!~"
Suddenly, the water sphere encasing A Jin burst open, and A Jin also opened his eyes, his face filled with profound shock.
"A Jin, you've returned just in time!"
"There seems to be something very important on the floating island. Brad's base, the Adventurer's Guild, and the people from the City of Arcane Arts have all gone up there!"
"We..."
Before Hai Chu Zi could finish speaking, A Jin waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Hai Ou, prepare to fly up, but not yet!"
A Jin took a deep breath. "The important thing is indeed on the floating island... and it's something beyond our wildest expectations..."
"Just now... I saw something incredibly extraordinary..."
Having said that, A Jin formed a seal with his hand, and he was once again enveloped in a water sphere.
He nodded at Hai Chu Zi and then closed his eyes again.
Hai Chu Zi frowned slightly but said nothing. He glanced up at the floating island above and resumed his vigil for A Jin...
...
Above the floating island,
In the control core area within the suspended waterfall,
"Are you the energy girl who just spoke to us?"
Beside the energy crystal, Ye Feng looked at a remarkably lifelike projection of a slender, uniform-clad elder sister in front of him, asking with considerable surprise.
...