The mist flew like the wind as its speed increased by the second. Gusts were formed, blocking Zixin's path. Zixin, in turn, changed directions, avoiding the wall of wind.
As he ran, Zixin thought: I'm not sure where the killing intent is headed, but something tells me that I should find a way to trap it. But how? There must be a way…
Just as his mind began racing, an idea surfaced: What if I become the bait, luring it into a cage? Wait, isn't this irrational? This plan relies on completely encompassing the formless killing intent inside a cage, but luring every part of it would be impossible.
Zixin lowered his head in disappointment, his eyes filled with annoyance.
Zixin shook his head, gazing back at the purple mist, but the moment his vision crossed it, his heart sank.
It's after my Heart! Zixin quickened his steps, rushing relentlessly at the killing intent.
Although he was concerned, he was also confused: But why is it after my Heart? It shouldn't even know about Holders, right? Ugh, forget it, what matters now is stopping it, since even I'm not certain what would occur if an external entity interacts with my Heart.
Zixin halted in his tracks and pulled his thoughts above, letting them surface in front of the wolf. Without hesitation, he crushed them together, creating a wall and blocking off the wolf's route.
The mist crashed onto the wall, dispersing before splitting itself into dozens of wolves.
Huh? How is it suddenly stronger than before? Zixin fell silent, his hands trembling.
Don't tell me… it was consuming my thoughts?! Zixin's heart jumped to his throat at the thought.
But how did I not notice? Did it send out those gusts to distract me when it was devouring my thoughts? But how were there even thoughts to begin with? Was it because I was thinking too much? Zixin clenched his fist and bit his lips upon this realisation.
Zixin straightened his stance, gazing firmly at the dozens of wolves.
Before he knew it, dozens of wolves encircled him from all directions. Some jumped, lunging ferociously, while others waited for their turn.
Zixin laughed bitterly, his eyes turning dull, muttering to himself, "It finally caught on to my greatest weakness–inexperience."
Zixin concentrated on his legs and jumped high into the air. The wolves followed suit, but not how he expected them to. One wolf jumped, and another jumped twice, using the previous wolf as their footing. They repeated this cycle until they finally caught up.
Zixin's lips twitched, his eyes widened in disbelief. But his confusion quickly faded, as a question surfaced inside his mind: Why did it jump?
At that moment, time seemed to slow down, as his thoughts jumped to a conclusion: Its transformation must have a timer.
Zixin drew in a cold breath, as he began counting inwardly: One…
Whilst falling mid-air, Zixin punched and kicked at the nearby wolves, defending as much as he could. Once he was near the ground, he pulled at one of the wolves, using it to soften his landing. In turn, the wolf was destroyed, turning into dust before dissipating.
The moment he landed, the remaining wolves lunged, baring their fangs. Zixin stepped sideways, slamming a wolf down and destroying it.
The wolves howled as the wolves mid-air began falling like rain. Zixin lifted his gaze, glancing at it, his eyes widening.
Rows of razor-sharp fangs fell in rows, creating the image of a flower. Saliva dripped from their teeth, raining down on Zixin's messy body.
Zixin withdrew his gaze, leaping backwards and dodging the flower of fangs. But just as he did, a wolf lunged from behind.
Fortunately, his white robe moved on its own, defending his body, but wolves gnawed their way through, damaging and slowly tearing the cloth into pieces.
Zixin punched and kicked at the wolves, sending them flying and crashing into each other, destroying them. But no matter how many were annihilated, more seemed to come.
Soon enough, a relentless wolf tide filled his vision. When one perishes, another comes and replaces it.
Zixin created walls, blocking wolves from three sides and choosing to deal at one side, but eventually, the endless onslaught tore the walls apart like cloth, forcing him to defend on all four sides.
At that moment, Zixin had a bright idea. Without hesitation, he gathered his thoughts, forming a sharp blade–a knife!
However, whilst he was forming his blade, the wolves continued their attack, almost tearing the white robe completely.
Wolf after wolf attacked his robe like a bunch of madmen. The moment one wolf pulled the robe, it began falling apart.
At that moment, Zixin's eyes lit up, as he leapt into the air, slicing and dicing one wolf after another.
The wolves paused, their eyes widening in tandem. Zixin didn't wait a second and continued to cut the wolves, tearing through their skin and letting blood gush out like a fountain.
Soon enough, he had enough time to create a black cloak. He then tossed it aside, blocking dozens of wolves' sight before striking fiercely.
Wolves upon wolves were defeated, their bodies fading into nothingness. Eventually, every wolf that came after Zixin had already died.
The only wolves left were the ones who consumed his thoughts.
Zixin sighed, letting go of his knives and cloaks as they dissipated into nothingness. Due to his prior experience of using a knife in combat against Kraushel for the first time, it can be said that he had already gained a basic understanding of its structure. However, most of his experience came from the kitchen. As for the cloak, he had bought one sold by Lady Silk, which he had also used in combat alongside the knife that Xiaoxiao lent him.
The remaining wolves howled, their eyes glowing in crimson. In a matter of seconds, their bodies began deforming, melting into a pool of flesh and blood. An awful smell came along with it, and made Zixin hold his breath. But as he did, the pool started transforming. From a disgusting pile of mush came a wolf, a wolf the size of a cabin.
A faint dark aura was emanating from the wolf, with its ominous smile sending chills across Zixin's body.
Zixin sighed, muttering to himself, "One hundred seventy-eight seconds… that's the timer."
The wolf lunged, causing Zixin to jump back, evading the attack. Zixin reshaped his thoughts, throwing several cloaks and knives.
Unfortunately, the wolf had already seen through his plans and leapt into the air, dodging the cloaks and knives.
Zixin lifted his gaze and noticed a weakness: Its belly is exposed.
Zixin tried to conjure knives, but the moment they began taking shape, they immediately shattered.
Noticing an opportunity, the wolf pounced, tearing the remaining cloth from his robe, leaving him naked.
The wolf pounced again, but Zixin had already predicted it. He rolled on the ground, dodging it left and right until finally, he was close enough to his Heart.
Without hesitation, Zixin got back up, stretching his arm and grabbing at the rusty key.
The wolf howled, its eyes and muscles bulging, growing several folds until it was the size of a mound.
It can actually enter its Berserk State here? Zixin exclaimed in shock.
The wolf rushed towards him, bearing its fangs. But as it did, a knife shot from below it, piercing through its belly and wounding the beast.
Sigh, it actually worked. Zixin sighed internally, feeling relieved after having his plan confirmed.
When he was dodging and rolling, he had planted down thoughts that would be activated the moment someone came near it.
Now that I have gained a battlefield advantage, I'll have to continue fighting until it gives up. Zixin held the key tightly, thinking to himself.
Zixin shifted his gaze, looking at the wolf. Its body had already returned to its previous size. However, using the Berserk mode didn't come without its cons. For one, its strength began dwindling.
Huh? Why is it shrinking suddenly? Could it be because of the Concept Manifest Theory? Based on it, my understanding is that the foundation of every action taken inside the White Palace is. So is the wolf losing strength because I believe that its Berserk State comes with consequences? I think so… Zixin rubbed his chin, feeling awe.
"Either way, this is my chance to strike," Zixin uttered right before gathering his thoughts around the rusty key and forming a pristine blue blade which emanated a sense of urgency.
"It should be around two minutes by now, so it probably wants to transform the moment it gets the chance, but I can't let it."
With one swift leap, Zixin closed the gap between him and the wolf. Without a second thought, he formed a cloak in his right hand, tossing it aside and blocking the wolf's vision.
The wolf immediately went mad, howling furiously.
With their distance closed, Zixin gripped the key harder, slashing down. However, the moment the blade met the wolf's body, it failed to cut it.
Zixin sighed, reshaping the blade into a knife and piercing the wolf.
The wolf groaned, countering back as it whipped its tail and sent Zixin flying back.
Zixin landed on the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He quickly stood back up and thought: I got too reckless. Thank goodness the wolf chose not to chase after me; otherwise, I might have been done for.
Zixin took a deep breath and ran towards the wolf. The moment the wolf noticed his incoming figure, it fell silent before rushing towards him to crash against him. Unfortunately for the wolf, Zixin had already leapt into the air, landing safely on top of the wolf's back.
The wolf went mad, shaking its body, but Zixin held tight, riding the wolf whilst slicing against its back.
As time ticked by, the wolf grew more and more ferocious, intentionally crashing against the rubble left behind by Zixin, but Zixin only began to hold tighter.
Zixin slowly moved his legs, locking onto the wolf's neck. A second later–
Crack
The wolf's neck cracked, its body plopping to the ground like a corpse. Zixin jumped down, finding its head and smashing it with his foot. After which, Zixin used his knife to tear the wolf's body apart. After cutting open a hole in its chest, Zixin stretched his hand inside. Blood dyed his hands red as he searched for the wolf's heart. After a while, he found it and crushed it.
"These body parts are just representations of the whole, which is the wolf, but even so, destroying these should still deal a significant amount of damage." Zixin plopped to the ground, his expression filled with contempt.
And before Zixin knew it, a small wolf formed near the corpse.
Zixin glanced at the wolf, ready to attack the moment it tried to do anything strange.
The wolf howled, and an interpretation appeared inside Zixin's mind: "I thoroughly admit defeat. You have bested me in all ways, from when my body was still breathing to now, where I am but a mere will."
"And now, I shall help you to the best of my abilities to learn this 'Lending'. However, it is under the condition that you make sure that my comrades live well."
Zixin tilted his head in confusion.
The wolf howled again: "When you fought against me, I had two other comrades."
Hmm? Oh, those two… they probably hate me, don't they? Uh… forget it, I went through all the trouble for this, so I might as well go further. Zixin sighed and agreed.