Chapter 1317: Clearing Obstacles
The two of them could clearly sense a change in Qing Long's state, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what had changed.
"Damn... you and I each took a swing at him, seems like we knocked him silly," Qiao Jiajin said.
"Looks that way to me."
"I have an idea." Qiao Jiajin turned to look at Zhang Shan.
"What?"
"He can't go on like this," Qiao Jiajin said with a smile. "Let's punch him awake."
"Good idea. It's settled then." Zhang Shan also flexed his shoulders and walked forward.
The two of them came to the front, one on each side. Facing Qing Long, who was gradually growing silent, they both raised their right fists.
Qing Long slowly raised his head, looking at them with a blank expression. "Once I remove the obstacles... this battle can be won."
"Obstacles...?" Zhang Shan frowned, not knowing what nonsense Qing Long was talking about.
But now there was no time to lose; it was the best chance to kill Qing Long. Both of them thrust straight punches at Qing Long's face and heart.
The next instant, as expected, Qing Long vanished from sight again.
Their punches struck the wall. They had anticipated this situation, so they quickly turned around to cautiously respond.
But strangely, there was no trace of Qing Long in the entire room. Only Tian Long, who was beginning to frown slightly in the distance, and the messy bloody footprints all over the floor remained.
"What's going on...?" Qiao Jiajin turned to look at Zhang Shan, asking uncertainly. "Little Green... talked big and then ran off?"
"This..."
Zhang Shan had never imagined this scenario. Qing Long actually left Tian Long behind and left alone?
What should the two of them do now? Kill Tian Long...?
"Damn, I don't think so," Zhang Shan said. "We still can't touch Tian Long. Let's go out and look for him!"
"Alright!"
Having decided on a plan, the two ran to the door and without hesitation reached out to pull it open.
Inside the doorframe, there was only a bare wall; there was no passage at all.
...
Numerous "Ants" began to gather at the "Locomotive."
There were almost no traces of "Heaven-level" on the car, but there were still some "Eyeballs" here. The owner of those eyeballs seemed to have some means of self-preservation, but not as lethal as a "Divine Beast"; clearly, it was a "Heaven-level."
They all raised their hollow eyes and looked ahead. In their black vision, three faintly glowing orbs were clearly floating, but when they reached out to touch them, they only felt flesh and bone.
One "Ant" frowned in thought for a moment, then decisively extended a finger and stabbed into the flesh. Scalding blood instantly splashed onto his arm.
Xiao Ran, at the deepest part of the room, let out a scream, but her shrill cry did not reach the ears of any "Ant."
At that moment, the "Ant" that had pierced Xiao Ran's palm received a clear piece of information: this thing was alive, and this person's body was very fragile.
This person had "Eyeballs" and had hidden themselves in the room. They were probably a "Heaven-level" who was very afraid of death, and would not be difficult to kill.
The "Ant" didn't know how to notify the other companions, so they simply continued attacking Xiao Ran's palm on their own. Little did they know that many nearby "Ants," after a brief moment of thought, also began to do the same.
Xiao Ran only felt countless iron needles piercing into her palm. The pain was excruciating, but she didn't know how to evade with such a huge hand. She could only keep screaming.
Her tears smeared her makeup completely, and her voice echoed continuously within the room.
The "Ants" clearly felt that the obstacle before them was retreating, seeming about to completely crumble in no time. But the next second, five "Eyeballs" suddenly appeared out of thin air before them.
These five "Eyeballs" were different from the layout of the "Heaven-level" inside the room. They seemed to be occupying the five organs—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—of a single person. Their brightness far exceeded that of the "Heaven-level" in the room.
More and more "Ants" were attracted to the five "Eyeballs." After all, they were so close, seemingly within reach. They gradually stopped attacking the huge flesh and turned instead toward these five newly appeared eyeballs.
With a dark expression, Qing Long looked at the "Ants" gathered outside his room and said with some anger, "Qi Xia... you really know how to make a grand move..."
He waved his hand lightly, and several "Ants" before him were repelled by a great force.
""Ants" among "Ants"..." Qing Long said angrily. "After I deal with these troublesome things, I'll let you experience what it means to never be able to turn over for eternity."
Qing Long turned his head and looked at the huge hand inside the room; a flicker of confusion passed over his expression.
The tables, chairs, and benches in the room had all been crushed. Several "Ants" were also pinned against the wall by the huge hand.
But what exactly was going on?
"Qing Long... is that Qing Long?!" The screams inside instantly turned into cries for help. "I'm here!! I'm at the very back!!"
Qing Long's expression turned cold. He quickly waved his hand and slashed a passage through the center of Xiao Ran's huge palm.
"Aaaaaah!!"
Xiao Ran felt that none of the previous needles had caused her such excruciating pain. Her "Faith" rapidly dissipated, and her right hand deflated like a punctured balloon, shrinking back.
She lifted her hand to look; her entire palm was a bloody mess, and in the center, someone had cut a coin-sized hole.
"Qing, Qing Long... what's wrong with you..." Xiao Ran held her bleeding palm and forced a smile. "Don't you recognize me...? It's me..."
Qing Long's face was extremely angry, but finally he slowly revealed a hint of a smile. "How could I not recognize you...?"
"Th, that's great..." Xiao Ran said. "You don't know how much hardship I endured to finally see you... I didn't know how to fix that hand just now. Thank goodness you... helped me fix it... I knew if I waited here long enough, I would definitely meet you..."
Qing Long instantly flashed in front of Xiao Ran, reached out and grabbed her neck, lifting her slowly from the ground. "This voice. What... exactly are you?"
"Qing, Qing Long... don't you remember..." Xiao Ran said with difficulty, "Oh, right... Tianshe told me to tell you... 'The masterpiece is complete'... It's me!"
Qing Long slowly narrowed his eyes. Right, if not for this phrase "The masterpiece is complete," he really would have almost forgotten about this.
"A new 'Divine Beast'?" Qing Long asked in a low voice, still gripping Xiao Ran's neck.
"Yes! I am the new 'Divine Beast'!" Xiao Ran hurriedly agreed. "I am 'Qiongqi'! Qing, Qing Long... are you in a bad mood...? Please let go first..."
Qing Long showed no intention of letting go, and his eyes were full of suspicion. "But a name like 'Qiongqi' only brings disaster."
"No, no, it's not like that... Tianshe chose that name, not me..." Xiao Ran denied. "And I've helped you deal with a lot of things along the way... At least put me down first..."
"No need." Qing Long said as he increased his grip strength. "I can't stand your voice, which sounds like a ghost calling for someone's life."
"Don, don't..." Xiao Ran said with tears in her eyes. "Qing Long... I am truly loyal to you. Even if you kill me here, even if I become a wandering ghost, I will still help you... Then you will know how loyal I am to you..."