Free Web NovelChapter 425: Chapter 355: White Bone Ferris Wheel
"Finally, we have a chance to come here."
Looking at the White Bone Wheel Ferris Wheel, which was so tall that its top was out of sight, Yan Qing pressed the Flesh Cage Bracelet against the entrance, and the gate immediately rumbled open.
As the most prominent structure in the Demon Gathering Land, the White Bone Wheel Ferris Wheel was naturally an entertainment facility. However, despite being here for many days, this was their first time visiting it for fun. They hadn’t come before not because they weren’t interested, but because the risk was too high.
"White Bone Ferris Wheel"
"Entering different cabins provides different keyword bonuses"
"Each ride takes 45 minutes"
Playing once takes 45 minutes. Time wasn’t the issue; the issue was what to do if they got blocked at the door? The Baibao Guards were searching for them everywhere, and finding them on the White Bone Ferris Wheel wouldn’t be difficult. Besides, the rewards weren’t particularly critical, only slightly increasing combat power, so Yan Qing and the others didn’t enter before while passing by.
However, all the Baibao Guards had gathered at the Skeleton Document Square, while the White Bone Ferris Wheel was on the northwestern edge. Even if they discovered Yan Qing and his two companions, it would take them over an hour to come over, allowing plenty of time.
Yan Qing even hoped they would come. The Baibao Guards had a significant advantage in positional warfare, but if it came to a pursuit battle or an encounter, he might shatter these walking earthly ghouls today.
Once the three of them entered, they realized that although the cabins on the White Bone Ferris Wheel were part of the wheel, the bonuses differed depending on the skeleton on the wheel.
Shield Skeleton: Gain one [Holy Shield].
Battle Knife Skeleton: Increase attack power by 1000 points.
Cloak Skeleton: Gain one [Stealth] (before attacking, the enemy won’t attack you)
Curse Skeleton: Gain one [Soul Scatter] (instant kill)
Skeleton Prophet: Gain one [Time Reversal] (activates once more at the end of each day)
Skeleton Priest: Gain one [Resurrection]
Honestly, they’re all extremely practical, but apart from the Battle Knife Skeleton, the others only trigger once, which feels a bit less favorable. But since they’re already here, if the Baibao Guards indeed choose this place for the final battle, these bonuses could be immediately useful.
After a brief consideration, Yan Qing decided to let the Demon Puppets go to the Shield Skeleton’s cabin to obtain the [Holy Shield].
Although they only trigger once, the other effects are guaranteed to trigger at the start of a battle. With their current sweeping puppet lineup, taking them would be wasteful. Only [Holy Shield] and [Resurrection] can be maintained until the puppets are injured or killed. However, [Resurrection] has a significant downside: revived puppets won’t retain previous bonuses, and their health is forcibly set to 1. Creatures like "Qiong Qi," with attributes of 100,000, would revert to their original form with 1 health after resurrection.
The exception is a Corpse Ghost puppet like the Dragon Attendant, whose trait bonuses have a prefix of ’no matter where this puppet is,’ which includes the resurrected state.
"Eh?" Murong Hui suddenly said, "It seems like we can’t all sit together."
Yan Qing looked at the sign, which read: "Each cabin can hold a maximum of two Messengers. If more than two Messengers enter, they won’t receive a keyword bonus."
It seems this is a strategic location for late-game battles... Yan Qing quickly understood the subtext of this rule: this place is so critical that players would rather queue up to come here for buffs.
The reason Yan Qing considered the White Bone Ferris Wheel unimportant was from a PVE perspective, but what about PVP? In the ’number battle’ type game world of the Demon Gathering Land, giving all their puppets a layer of [Holy Shield] could completely turn the tides of battle.
Different races of puppet lineups have unique keywords: Corpse Ghosts have resurrection, mechanisms have Holy Shield, and Demons have instant kill. To obtain keywords from other races, the White Bone Ferris Wheel is the simplest method. For example, the [Resurrection] keyword might not be useful for the Demon race, but if given to the Demons, it becomes powerful. Demons have low health and rely on [Soul Scatter] for deadly output. With [Resurrection], Demon puppets could reliably kill two enemies instantly.
"Let’s all go to the Shield Skeleton’s cabin," Yan Qing suggested. The other keywords were meaningless to them. [Resurrection] seemed practical, but besides the fact that resurrection leaves them with only 1 health, the key question was whether this resurrection truly revived someone or just brought back some data? It’s better to have a [Holy Shield] to block damage once.
"As for how to split the team..."
"Why not," Ying Rushi suddenly said, "you two go as a team?"
With these words, not only Yan Qing and Murong Hui but even Ying Rushi herself was stunned. Murong Hui immediately shook her head, ran over, and hugged Ying Rushi’s arm: "No, I want to sit with Little Fox. Yellow Dog, don’t miss me too much, but I’m the Murong Family’s beauty who loves novelty without forgetting the old. In a choice between two, I will always choose the soft and delicious Little Fox! Little Fox, the most delicious!"
"I’m a little suspicious that after three quarters of an hour, only you will come out of the cabin," Yan Qing remarked: "But don’t entertain any delusions; the next moment is your alone time. Come over, I have something to tell you."
Watching Yan Qing and Murong Hui whispering like two chattering squirrels, the corners of Ying Rushi’s mouth slightly lifted, but the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
Why did she make such a suggestion? Or rather, why did she see such an unsettling scene in the illusion? Why was the female lead Murong Hui and not Black Wolf or Red Snake?
Because deep down, she was keenly aware of this fact: Murong Hui liked Yan Qing.
How could she not like him? Despite mingling widely over the years, outside Murong Hui was the Murong Family’s Patriarch, both amiable and authoritative, entrusting most affairs to the Bi Family’s elder, while she enjoyed touring with attendants. Truly close friends, she had only Ying Rushi, and now Yan Qing too.
Perhaps Murong Hui hadn’t realized it herself, subconsciously interacting with Yan Qing just as she did with Ying Rushi, yet she wasn’t a truly naive little girl of seven or eight; one day she’ll understand her own feelings. One day... they’ll be together.
If the female lead in the illusion was Black Wolf or Red Snake, Ying Rushi might be surprised, angry, or gnash her teeth, but she wouldn’t harbor murderous intent. She felt guilt toward Black Wolf and Red Snake, knowing she was an outsider. Even if Black Wolf or Red Snake claimed her sovereignty, it was reasonable; she’d just leave and wouldn’t even have the right to vent her anger.
Murong Hui was different; if it were her, Ying Rushi would feel betrayed, compelling her to wield the Heaven-Swaying Sword to slay the illusions tainting Murong Hui and Yan Qing, like tearing off a scab to expose the wound beneath, even though it might bleed profusely.
Yet, just now, Ying Rushi realized a possibility she was reluctant to imagine but had to face:
What if Yan Qing and Murong Hui got together in reality?
What if they entwined as passionately as the illusion last night?
Then, might she... slay them just like she did the illusion?
Ying Rushi desperately wanted to dismiss such a possibility. They wouldn’t be together, and she wouldn’t confuse illusion with reality. After all, she was of the Qi Kingdom lineage, with the Divine Martial Bloodline, the Lanling Commandery Prince Ying Rushi—how could she be led around by an illusion?
But each time she looked in the mirror, Ying Rushi’s courage gradually dwindled, replaced by a rising fear.
The girl in the mirror increasingly resembled Ying Le, as she had seen in her childhood.
So beautiful, so indifferent, with eyes hiding struggle and cruelty.
Without Ying Le, Ying Rushi might dare bet she could overcome the illusion, but Ying Le... The one praised as the ’Divine Martial Reborn’ Ying Le, the most outstanding bloodline of the clan in a century, her most beloved aunt. Even Ying Le couldn’t control herself from slaughtering the clan and murdering friends—how could she dare to bet she was stronger than Ying Le? Without encountering Yan Qing, she couldn’t even persist!
Thus, she had blurted out the suggestion for Murong Hui and Yan Qing to team up and enter the cabin.
One way to dispel fear is to confront it; the other is... to allow fear to come true.
Thinking carefully, aren’t Murong Hui and Yan Qing a great match? Murong Hui is lively and adorable; most people can’t keep up with her or end up bullied. Even Ying Rushi occasionally found herself speechless with her wild imagination and extraordinary actions. Yan Qing was the only one she had met who not only could keep up with Murong Hui but even suppress her. He would indulge her whims; she would accept his guidance, as if they had known each other for ages, long enough to understand each other perfectly.
Ying Rushi would also bless them, wishing her best friend and her dearest could find joy together. She would pay any price for their happiness. Even if they intertwined as in the illusion last night, Ying Rushi might feel sorrow, heartache, cry, and turn away, fleeing from the place, but she wouldn’t draw her sword against them.
At least, she wouldn’t follow in Ying Le’s footsteps,
At least, she wouldn’t commit any irreparable mistakes.
