茶杯狐 -CUPFOX

However, Xiang Kun hadn’t flown in a while, and his control wasn’t quite there. He flew too fast, overshot his target, and didn’t manage to accurately hit the “mutated big bird”.

After adjusting his direction with his electrified hair, Xiang Kun circled around in the air and continued to charge towards the “mutated big bird”.

His initial plan was to grab hold of the “mutated big bird” and give it a beating until it was too scared to fight back, then capture it and bring it down the mountain.

Although Xiang Kun’s straight-line acceleration and short-distance explosive power in the air were superior to that of the “mutated big bird”, he had limited flight experience and his abilities were constantly mutating and evolving. Not yet proficient in “Electric Mastery Flight”, he struggled to control himself in the air, causing all his attacks to miss.

Xiang Kun was now excited and high-spirited for the fight, but he knew this was not the secluded wilderness of the Qinling Uninhabited Area. Even though the thunderstorm provided “cover”, he couldn’t afford to prolong the fight, he needed a “quick fight and quick decision”.

He quickly devised a new plan. Soon, all the “Super-connected Objects” that he had used on the ground to guide and stir up the electric potential were under Xiang Kun’s control, and they floated to his side in the air.

This lightning storm didn’t need the “Super-connected Objects” to guide it anymore. In fact, even Xiang Kun couldn’t make it stop, he could only wait for its energy to be exhausted.

So these “Super-connected Objects” could naturally be added to the battle.

When he once again launched an attack that failed to hit the “mutated big bird”, the fist he swung out brought a series of electric arcs, like cracks spreading across a screen. Guided by the “Super-connected Objects”, they connected accurately to the “mutated big bird” body.

Taking advantage of its brief paralysis, Xiang Kun, who had circled around using his hair for control and second acceleration, finally accurately hit the “mutated big bird”. He gripped its beak with one hand and punched its head with the other. Each punch, with the help of the “Super-connected Objects”, brought up bolts of electricity, giving a paralyzing shock effect.

The “mutated big bird” struggled non-stop, bobbing up and down in the air with Xiang kun on its back, but under his brutal force and continuous electric shocks, it kept descending, about to crash to the ground.

To be honest, the “mutated big bird’s” ability to withstand attack and electric shocks had exceeded Xiang Kun’s expectations. In his original thought, it would have surrendered and obediently landed after a few punches. Unexpectedly, it was still struggling even under electric shocks.

As they were about to hit the ground, a pair of hooked limbs like iron hooks suddenly stretched out from under the “mutated big bird’s” wings, gripping tightly onto the arm Xiang Kun was using to grab its beak. The long claws penetrated his arm from top to bottom, almost making a through-and-through wound.

Obviously, these limbs were also the result of “mutation”, but it was unknown whether they came from absorbing a “mutated ant” or were there beforehand.

Despite the pain, Xiang Kun could endure. He still held tightly onto the bird’s beak, but the bird adjusted its body position in mid-air with the two long limbs as pivots, then swung its clawed feet towards Xiang Kun’s lower abdomen.

When he observed the “mutated big bird” digging into the ground at Wushu Mountain, Xiang Kun knew how deadly the bird’s claws were. If they hit him, he would inevitably be disemboweled.

He swung a strong punch, causing massive electric arcs to crawl over the “mutated big bird”, causing its hind legs to stiffen and convulse due to the electricity, unable to launch its attack.

Although the bird was electrocuted, its recovery speed was faster than Xiang Kun had anticipated.

Taking advantage of Xiang Kun’s slight release of control, it exerted force with its two limbs hooked onto his arm, flapped its wings powerfully, and managed to free its beak from his hold.

The “mutated big bird” was resolute. The moment its beak broke free from Xiang Kun’s grip, the two forelimbs extending from its shoulders broke off abruptly, remaining attached to his arm.

The “mutated big bird”, meanwhile, seized this opportunity to soar into the distance, creating some space between them.

Xiang Kun pulled off the two limbs, which were hooked like hooks on his arm. He wasn’t worried, the bird couldn’t escape from his grasp.

Using the electric potential, he controlled his posture in the air and prepared to charge at the bird once more.

But at this moment, the “mutated big bird”, which was stumbling in the air and basically unable to fly, about to crash to the ground, was unexpectedly struck by a bolt of lightning. Amidst the blinding flash, it exploded into a ball of fire and fell into the mountains.

Xiang Kun was momentarily stunned. He had the ridiculous feeling of a police officer chasing a criminal, only for the criminal to be hit by a truck.

It seemed that the bird was influenced by Xiang Kun’s “Super-connected Objects” and ran directly into the path of lightning discharge.

But the next moment, a harsh cry came from the mountains. The bird, its wings aflame, managed to fly back into the air.

Is it still not dead?

A surge of joy welled up in Xiang Kun’s heart as he didn’t waste any moment and rapidly ascended towards the sky to engage again with the “mutated big bird”, ablaze with fire.

Instinctually now, Xiang Kun was pretty much averse to fire. The injured and burnt parts of his body were not recovering as quickly.

Therefore, facing this blazing, like a fiery, “mutated big bird”, Xiang Kun didn’t get close and use his explosive power like before. Instead, he approached it at a safe distance and hurled several “Super-connected Objects” balls directly onto it. He then used his ability to crawl into every hole on the bird’s body: be it the nose, the mouth or the ears, everything was a feasible entrance.

Once inside, he used the electric field to conduct electricity. Even if the bird could withstand electrocution, it wouldn’t be immune to paralysis. Unable to maintain its flight, it fell to the ground once more.

In addition, by embedding the balls within the creature, Xiang Kun posed an even greater threat to it.

Xiang Kun himself stayed firmly in the air, maintaining a safe distance with the “mutated big bird”, so as to accurately control the balls and prevent the bird from fleeing the thunderstorm-disrupted area.

From initially experiencing hand-to-hand combat in the sky, to later being struck by lightning, Xiang Kun had noticed that this “mutated big bird” had an extraordinary ability to resist blows. Its adaptation to being struck by lightning was also strong. It now seemed to be quite resistant to high temperature, its feathers were ablaze, yet it could still fly.

He had a feeling that the “mutated ant” in Wushu Mountain he’d encountered earlier was likely not the first “mutant” this bird had consumed.

Despite being a bird itself, this creature was far more formidable than the “Giant Owl” Xiang Kun had first encountered.

By the time Xia Libing arrived at the foot of Zi Huan Mountain, where she had dropped off Xiang Kun, in her Camry, the thunderstorm had ceased but a downpour had started.

However, the rain came and went quickly, and before long the sky had cleared and the sun was out again.

Upon checking her phone, Xia Libing finally had a signal and sent a WeChat message to Xiang Kun. When she had first arrived at the foot of the mountain, the phone reception was non-existent. It just got restored.

She distinctly remembered there was a signal when she dropped off Xiang Kun the early morning before. She guessed that the loss of signal must have to do with the sudden thunderstorm.

After some time without a response from Xiang Kun, Xia Libing dialed his number and got a message that his phone was turned off.

Xia Libing wasn’t surprised. She turned off the car headlight and killed the engine, then sat patiently inside the car waiting.

Even though Xiang Kun told her to come back only after receiving a call from him, or at 6 o’clock in the evening if no call was received, she inferred from the storm that he was likely to leave early.

Her plan was to wait until nine in the morning. If Xiang Kun didn’t show up, she would leave and come back at six in the evening.

The temperature in the mountains was lower than in the city, and Xia Libing felt a bit chilly. She rolled up the car windows and put on the jacket that Xiang Kun had left in the car.

A box of roses and two bouquets of carnations from the previous night were still in the car, so the inside was filled with floral scent which smelled rather pleasant.

Xia Libing reached back and grabbed the box of roses. As she stared at the bright and delicate rose petals, she wondered how it would feel for women in love to receive these flowers?

Excited? Happy? Thrilled?

Was it similar to her feeling when she saw Crispy Pig’s Elbow and grilled chicken wings while she was hungry?

As she pondered, her stomach rumbled, apparently, she was a little hungry.

She had eaten her dinner quite early last night and didn’t have supper, It was indeed hunger calling.

Looking down at the box of flowers in her hand, she vaguely remembered that roses could also be edible, right?

While she was hesitating whether or not to pluck a petal to taste, she heard a knock on the car window and saw Xiang Kun, bare-chested, standing outside her car, bending over to look at her.

Xia Libing unlocked the car to let Xiang Kun in. His jeans were now full of holes and covered in mud. His upper body was in a similar state, he looked like a mud monkey.

With a pile of items wrapped in his torn t-shirt, Xiang Kun gave Xia Libing an apologetic smile. “You’ll have to help your aunt later by taking the car for a thorough wash later.”