Beidou and Lin Yi slowly descended from high above and landed beside Black Cloud to assess the situation.
Black Cloud had already been battered beyond recognition, its surface pitted and scorched black.
"Heh... this puppet is finally finished." A smile played on Lin Yi's lips.
"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Emperor. It was all thanks to your great power." Beidou bowed gracefully.
"Think nothing of it." Lin Yi waved a hand and turned toward Black Cloud.
"Hm?"
Just then, Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. He vaguely detected a strange scent drifting through the surrounding air.
"Hm?"
His heart sank, and he immediately stopped.
"What's wrong, Emperor?" Beidou asked in confusion.
"Nothing." Lin Yi shook his head and continued forward.
Soon, he reached Black Cloud.
Suddenly, his gaze froze and his pupils contracted. He looked as though he had been struck by lightning!
Boom!
With an earth-shattering crash, Lin Yi's body stiffened. He felt as though something was trying to seize control of him.
But it lasted only a few seconds before everything returned to normal.
"Strange..." Lin Yi rubbed his head, bewildered.
What just happened? Why did I suddenly feel as though something was controlling me?
"Beidou, did you notice anything unusual?" Lin Yi asked.
"Nothing at all, Emperor," Beidou replied. "Perhaps you're exhausted and were imagining things."
Lin Yi nodded. He, too, thought he might simply have been so tired that he had imagined it.
After all, his successive fierce battles had drained a great deal of his strength and elemental energy.
Moreover, the Rock Castle had been damaged, placing an even greater strain on his mental energy. It was only natural for something like this to happen.
"The Strangling Vortex has stopped for now. This gives us time to rest and think of a solution."
Lin Yi and