Chapter 257: Race Against Time  

Great Puppet City, Ghastly Puppet Cult division.

Inside the spacious hall, many figures were scattered around while a dark and tense atmosphere stealthily set in, causing most people’s hearts to be burdened. In fact, for most of them, they ended up unconsciously suppressing their breath.

In the large hall now, nearly every elite member of this Ghastly Puppet Cult division had gathered here. However, right now, most of their heads were lowered down as they did not dare to look right at the front. At that spot, there was a elder dressed in grey robes silently seated down. Even though there were no emotions on his old and wrinkled face, everyone could sense a maniacal killing intent flowing below that emotionless face.

In the middle of that large hall were two figures standing in trepidation with their heads lowered down. The two of them were precisely the eagle-nosed duo that had accompanied Hua Zong to hunt after Lin Dong. Right now, both of their bodies were continuously trembling as they were evidently frightened.

“According to the two of you, because both of you fell for his diversion trick, you caused my Zong-er to be in danger?” When he heard the trembling words from the eagle-nosed duo, that elder seated in front casually opened his mouth. His voice sounded exceedingly coarse and cold. Just hearing the tone of his voice alone was enough to cause one’s heart to turn cold.

“Elder Hua, at that time, we thought that Custodian Hua would be able to handle that kid by himself…” As he detected the anger in the elder’s voice, that eagle-nosed practitioner hurriedly explained.

“Bang!”

However, before he could finish speaking, a vicious Yuan Power exploded forth and viciously slammed against his body, causing him to be directly blown away before he finally slammed against a pillar. Immediately, he vomited out a mouthful of fresh blood.

“Useless bastards. So many of you went after a single brat, yet you suffered so many casualties. What is the point of keeping all of you?” That elder’s voice was icy-cold while his glare resembled that of a devil.magic

“Your subordinates have failed you.”

That eagle-nosed practitioner spat out the fresh blood inside his mouth. He did not dare to object anymore as he hurriedly replied, while his face turned pale.

“Elder Hua, though Adminstrator Li had failed in his duties, now is not the time to pursue this matter. The most important thing now is to capture that bastard and avenge Custodian Hua!” A middle-aged man, that likely held some status, immediately spoke up.

“That little bastard is quite cunning. He must have hidden himself within the deep mountains. It will not be easy to locate him....: Another middle aged man sighed as he said.

“Send out a search warrant. Li Gou, I want you to sketch that little bastard’s face and spread it across the entire Great Desolate Province. I want to ensure that he will have no place to hide in this entire Great Desolate Province!” Standing ahead, the elder in grey robes once again coldly said.

“Yes!”

When they heard his words, that eagle-nosed practitioner hurriedly agreed respectfully. Based on the influence that their Ghastly Puppet Sect held in Great Desolate Province, if they sent out a search warrant, then their intended target would be in for a rough time.Little Marten hovered in mid-air as its eyes stared somewhat solemnly at Lin Dong, who was seated in the middle of a lake. Right now, the latter’s skin was completely blood-red. In fact, drops of fresh blood were seeping out of his pores, before they dyed the boulder below him blood-red.

Just as Little Marten said, the energy within the Thousand Beast Fruit was extremely savage. Even though he tempered it with “Starry Yang Fruit”, it’s energy was still too much for most ordinary people to handle. If Lin Dong had not mastered Bronze Thunder Body and Demonic Ape Transformation, right now, his body would have likely been blown to bits by the savage energy within that Thousand Beast Fruit.

Little Flame patrolled around the boulders. Right now, it could feel that Lin Dong was not in a stable condition. A tinge of anxiety was contained in it’s tiger eyes. However, in order not to disturb the latter, it chose to suppress its voice.

Under Little Marten and Little Flame’s intense attention, Lin Dong’s body grew increasingly reddish, while traces of fresh blood on his body’s surface began to transform into a blood cocoon. Right now, his appearance seemed quite alarming.

“This kid is simply too anxious…” Little Marten furrowed his eyebrows. He could sense that Lin Dong’s current condition was not ideal. Right now, there must surely be a revolutionary transformation occurring within his body. If Lin Dong could endure this transformation, his strength would likely surge. However, if he failed to do so, his body would likely be destroyed into pieces.

Time stealthily passed by. In a blink of an eye, half a day’s time had passed by. Meanwhile, Lin Dong’s breath became increasingly faint. In fact, his heart rate seemed to have slowed down significantly.

“Crack!”

This nearly lifeless state continued for an hour, before suddenly, an extremely soft sound echoed out. Then, cracks began to emerge on the blood cocoon on Lin Dong’s body, before pieces began to fall off...

When those blood shackles fell off, Lin Dong’s bronze-green skin was slowly revealed. However, right now, there seemed to be a tinge of a warm jade-like color mixed within the dark bronze-green hue...

“Is Bronze Thunder Body evolving…”

When he saw that jade-like speck, Little Marten’s eyes sparkled. Promptly, its eyes turned exceedingly solemn. This was the most critical juncture for Lin Dong. If he could successfully evolve Great Thunder Body to Jade Thunder Body, then Lin Dong would be able to completely absorb the tyrannical energy within the Thousand Beast Fruit!

“Growl!”

Little Flame also knew about Lin Dong’s current predicament. Immediately, it released a deep growl before it fluttered its lightning-wings and flew into the skies. Then, it majestically surveyed its surroundings while acting as Lin Dong’s most loyal bodyguard.

...

Just as Lin Dong was in a race against time to evolve his Jade Thunder Body, at a distant mountain range, an elder dressed in grey robes was coldly surveying a messy site, which had just been through a massive battle.

“Vibrations from Symbol Puppet Mark…”

That elder’s eyes suddenly stopped, before he suddenly lifted his head violently. Then, he stared at a distant mountain range, before an exceedingly venomous smile emerged on his wrinkled face.

“Little Bastard, you will not escape from me!”