After glancing at the Splendor of Tranquil Waters in his hand, Lin Xing casually twirled the sword, then put it away.
His hair gradually lost its color, turning from white back to black, and his eyes returned to normal as well.
As Fufu's power receded, Lin Xing felt the emptiness inside him. His body went limp in an instant, and he nearly stumbled and fell straight to the ground.
No warning, not the slightest windup.
Once Fufu's power faded, he felt his body, which had only just recovered a little, instantly weaken again.
"I'd better get out of here first."
Finding a relatively sturdy stick on the ground, Lin Xing took it in hand and tottered outward, one step at a time.
But unfamiliar with the way, he had no idea that he wasn't heading toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. He was only using the sun's position to judge his direction.
He could only pray he was going the right way.
Yet the Star Dou Great Forest certainly lived up to its name. It really did have every manner of ghost and monster.
"Lin Xing, look over there. Doesn't that thing look like a Hydro Slime?"
"And that red fruit! Doesn't it look delicious?"
Fufu's voice kept ringing in his mind, but this time, Lin Xing patiently answered her.
"That's definitely not a Hydro Slime. Hydro Slimes don't grow tentacles."
A chill ran through Lin Xing, and he hurried away.
That thing resembling a Hydro Slime reminded him of some less-than-clean material. He had no desire to become the protagonist of some doujin.
"That fruit really does look delicious. A-Xing, are you really not going to try it?"
Furina's unconscious use of "A-Xing" made Lin Xing pause, but Fufu clearly hadn't noticed. She was still staring at that vivid red fruit with shining eyes.
That thing really, really looked delicious.
Lin Xing merely glanced at it before looking away.
"Although I am a little hungry, and although that thing does look edible, this is the Star Dou Great Forest. We'd better be cautious."
Ignoring Fufu's protests, Lin Xing hurried on as quickly as he could.
As he traveled, rustling sounds occasionally came from nearby. Lin Xing judged that they were most likely the sounds of small Soul Beasts passing through the undergrowth.
He had already been as careful as possible, but he had still picked up some injuries.
Wounds of varying sizes covered his ankles and arms, left by the surrounding branches scratching him as he passed through the dense forest.
Although he could use Fufu's power to heal himself now, that healing was bugged. It did restore his injuries, but once he left that state, his body would become even weaker.
That healing seemed better suited to injuries sustained while in that state.
As for why he didn't activate Fufu mode and quickly leave this place...
What a joke. He had only casually done a couple of things earlier, and he had already ended up that weak. Although he wouldn't feel any weakness before leaving Fufu mode, if he used it for too long, his original body would probably pass out on the spot once he switched it off.
This was the Douluo Continent, after all. With his tender skin and delicate flesh, wouldn't he be screwed if someone with certain unsavory tastes picked him up?
After all, the people of the Douluo Continent were very open-minded. The chances of something like that happening were very, very high.
Just look at all that rotten business involving Ma Hongjun in the original story.
Lin Xing involuntarily shuddered.
"By the way, Fufu, what's the highest level your power can reach here?"
"I haven't really thought about that."
Within the sea of consciousness, Furina sat cross-legged on the ground, propping her head on one hand as she considered Lin Xing's question.
"Under normal circumstances... around Soul Saint, I suppose."
"And under abnormal circumstances?" Lin Xing continued asking.
"Hmm... I don't know. I haven't tried, but I should be able to reach that so-called Titled Douluo level."
Without showing anything, Lin Xing continued fishing for information.
"Then tell me, with my body in its current condition, how far could I get if I used your power at full strength?"
"Uh..."
Fufu sank into thought again, as though drawing information from that brain of hers that so often failed to turn.
"Probably around level 40, but afterward, you might not be able to take it and pass out."
"Then is your power infinite, Fufu?"
"It won't suddenly run out one day while I'm using it, will it?"
Lin Xing deliberately put on a worried expression, but that made Fufu very unhappy.
"Of course not! My power is very strong, okay?"
"Looks like I misjudged you before. So you're actually this amazing, Fufu."
Hearing his praise, Furina couldn't help growing smug.
"Of course! I am the former Hydro Archon, after all. This stuff is nothing at all!"
"Then when was the first time you used your power on the Douluo Continent, Fufu?"
"Well, of course it was..."
Fufu suddenly stopped halfway through. She seemed to have realized something.
"Wasn't my first time when I saved you from fire and water?"
"If I hadn't shown up in time, that Soul Beast would have swallowed you!"
"Is that so... Then thank you very much, Lady Furina."
Lin Xing couldn't help inwardly lamenting the missed opportunity. This Fufu had awakened her wits at the critical moment and become Wise Fufu. Otherwise, he should have been able to fish out some information.
Now that Wild Fufu had awakened her wits and become Wise Fufu, tricking anything else out of her in the future might become somewhat difficult.
Boom!
Lin Xing was still making his way along when a tremendous rumble suddenly erupted not far ahead.
The terrifying force of the impact knocked Lin Xing straight to the ground.
Reaching up to rub his head, which was slightly dizzy from the blast, Lin Xing quickly backed away while looking high into the sky ahead.
An enormous eagle, roughly seven meters in size, was there.
Hmm... it was probably an eagle. Many red crystals grew on its back, and scraps of flesh and blood still clung to its sharp talons.
Just looking at its imposing presence was enough to tell it was anything but ordinary.
Lin Xing's eyelid twitched.
Why would there be a Soul Beast this powerful on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?
Could it be... that he wasn't on the road toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?
At that thought, Lin Xing had no time to worry about anything else. He activated Fufu mode at light speed, then turned and ran.
That eagle was definitely fighting something. He had better run first, lest the fallout from their battle catch him in a moment. That would be bad.
The Splendor of Tranquil Waters appeared in his hand. Lin Xing swept aside a patch of undergrowth blocking his path with one slash, then took off running like mad.
He truly didn't have the slightest will to fight. Although the power inside him was quite strong, his actual combat experience lagged a hundred and eight thousand miles behind.
His reaction speed simply couldn't keep up.
In plain terms, his combat awareness was too weak. At least, that was what he thought.