: I Am Your Boss, You Know!

"Boss!" Ning Zhuo was shocked, rushing to Sun Lingtong's side.

He quickly cast spells to examine Sun Lingtong's condition.

Soon, Ning Zhuo frowned deeply, his expression turning anxious.

Countless fine cracks gradually appeared all over Sun Lingtong's body, crisscrossing and revealing sparkling starlight within.

Ning Zhuo immediately used healing spells, but none worked.

He then took out a large amount of elixirs and poured them into Sun Lingtong's mouth, while channeling spiritual energy into him to help him quickly absorb the elixirs' effects throughout his body.

Still ineffective!

Ning Zhuo grew so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, his face pale.

Although his Five Elements cultivation was profound, encountering the void left him feeling powerless!

"Boss! Boss!"

Ning Zhuo began using various methods, like the Life Thread and Stone Cast Earth Treasure techniques, but none showed remarkable effects.

Ning Zhuo's body trembled as he watched the cracks on Sun Lingtong's body widen.

He gasped for breath, drenched in sweat, seeing Sun Lingtong fall unconscious, his life hanging by a thread, losing all his earlier calm!

"Boss, boss..."

Ning Zhuo kept pulling out his reserves from his storage belt, frantically trying everything.

Suddenly, he paused, his bloodshot eyes fixing on the Breath of Life Boat in his hand.

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, a faint glimmer of hope shining in his eyes.

He immediately channeled spiritual energy, restoring the Breath of Life Boat to its normal size.

Then, he placed Sun Lingtong inside it.

Ning Zhuo also placed the Breath of Life Boat inside the stone monster's corpse, recreating the previous scenario.

The Breath of Life Boat was forced to reveal its restrictions again, displaying the full text of the "Heaven-Born, Earth-Nurtured Breath of Life Great Method."

A stone garment began to cover Sun Lingtong's body.

The spread of the stone garment was much slower than before.

Ning Zhuo watched anxiously, his gaze turning to the Breath of Life Boat as he forcefully injected spiritual energy into it.

As a result, the boat's restrictions vanished, and the stone garment on Sun Lingtong began to fade!

Ning Zhuo's heart jolted; he smacked his forehead in frustration.

The Breath of Life Boat triggered its restrictions to protect itself, using all its power to harness the energy of heaven and earth to create a breath-like state.

Now, with Ning Zhuo's strong support, it no longer needed to exert itself, failing to reach the threshold to activate the restrictions.

Without the breath-like state, the stone garment, derived from the stone elder's "principles," lacked the proper environment to manifest.

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, frowning tightly, his eyes gleaming as he tried to steady his mind.

This ordeal made him realize his state—he could hardly think straight!

Gritting his teeth, Ning Zhuo immediately withdrew his spiritual energy. The Breath of Life Boat trembled, once again left isolated. The nascent spirit within it went into overdrive to save itself.

Sun Lingtong regained the breath-like state, and the stone garment gradually spread.

"It's getting slower!" Ning Zhuo noticed the stone garment's growth slowing; at this rate, it wouldn't cover Sun Lingtong's head before stopping.

Ning Zhuo sharply turned his gaze to the Breath of Life Boat.

Steeling himself, he used a Metal-element spell, a sharp golden aura swirling around his palm, sharp as swords or needles.

He placed his hand on the boat, rubbing it continuously.

Zzzzt, zzzzt...

The golden light was extremely sharp, striking the boat and sparking countless flying sparks.

Under attack, the boat trembled slightly, unleashing its potential and brightening the restrictions several times over.

Sun Lingtong's breath-like state deepened!

Ning Zhuo happily saw the stone garment on him resume its previous speed, steadily spreading to cover his entire body.

"It works!"

Ning Zhuo's spiritual sense remained on Sun Lingtong, detecting that his injuries were suppressed by the stone garment.

However, the good times didn't last.

Although the stone garment covered Sun Lingtong, void cracks gradually appeared on it.

The stone garment began to break too.

"Based on previous performance, the stone garment should quickly multiply and thicken into stone skin."

"But hindered by void energy, the stone garment remained thin and is now being penetrated by void cracks!"

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth, placing both hands on the Breath of Life Boat.

Zzzzt, zzzzt...

His Metal-element spell continuously pierced the boat, forcing it to unleash even greater potential.

The boat trembled violently, its restrictions emitting a dazzling light.

The breath-like state strengthened further, enhancing Sun Lingtong.

All over Sun Lingtong's body, stone skin began to slowly grow.

The stone skin thickened but stopped after reaching three inches.

"Huh?" Ning Zhuo's brow, just relaxed, furrowed again.

He stared intently at the boat: "Hold on, little boat!"

He exhaled spiritual energy, casting more spells that swirled around the boat.

Injured by numerous spells, the boat shook wildly, its restrictions illuminating the surroundings, making the cabin as bright as day.

The stone skin on Sun Lingtong became thicker, turning his small frame into that of a stone "fatty."

"Almost there, almost!"

Ning Zhuo's spiritual sense detected that although the void cracks were greatly suppressed, upon closer inspection, they were still slowly strengthening.

He turned his gaze back to the boat.

"Little boat." He reached out and stroked the hull. "I believe in you! Keep it up!"

With a light shout, Ning Zhuo unleashed a surge of spiritual energy, transforming it into a multicolored glow of five elements.

Within the glow, various Five Elements spells played out in turn, enveloping the boat from the outside.

The boat didn't just tremble wildly this time—it vibrated, as if trying to break free from the five-colored glow.

But Ning Zhuo pressed down hard on the hull with both hands, preventing it from shaking loose.

The boat's restrictions expanded to three times their previous size, filling the cabin with blindingly bright light, turning everything white to the naked eye!

Ning Zhuo's vision was obstructed, but his spiritual sense continuously monitored the boat and Sun Lingtong.

"The Breath of Life Boat has reached its limit!" Ning Zhuo noticed many cracks appearing on the hull.

The void cracks had almost stalled.

Almost!

Ning Zhuo couldn't help but grit his teeth in frustration.

Suddenly, he thought of a certain demon god.

As the idea arose, he extended his spiritual sense, controlling the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon.

The cabin door opened, and a bracelet was lifted by an invisible force, brought to Ning Zhuo's side.

It turned out that since being subdued by Ning Zhuo, the Dice Bone Demon God had transformed into a dice bracelet.

Not yet fully convinced of its loyalty, Ning Zhuo had previously placed the bracelet in an empty cabin of the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon while impersonating the stone elder.

"Dice Bone Demon God, quickly deploy your domain and take us in," Ning Zhuo commanded.

The bracelet immediately transformed, reverting to the Dice Bone Demon God.

It prostrated on the ground: "Before my master, this old servant dare not claim godhood. Master, rest assured, this old servant will spare no effort!"

The next moment, the dice domain spread out, enveloping Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo, the Breath of Life Boat, and the stone sphere.

A dice appeared above Sun Lingtong's head, spinning and landing on six.

The Dice Bone Demon God's eye dice rolled two ones.

"This?!" The demon god was dumbfounded.

How could this happen after pledging allegiance to Ning Zhuo?

But fortunately, the dice above Ning Zhuo's head also showed a six.

Thus, six plus one plus one equaled eight, greater than Sun Lingtong's six.

The void cracks on Sun Lingtong were suppressed, and the stone skin continued to thicken, its speed increasing slightly.

Though only a slight improvement, it created a qualitative change!

The void cracks finally stopped eroding and expanding, completely still.

Satisfied, Ning Zhuo stopped damaging the Breath of Life Boat.

Crack, crack.

The Breath of Life Boat was covered in cracks.

The Dice Bone Demon God also knelt on one knee, cracks appearing on its skeletal body. Even one of the dice serving as its eyeballs shattered.

Its power was greatly diminished!

"Old Dice, you've done well," Ning Zhuo reassured.

The Dice Bone Demon God immediately expressed its willingness to serve Ning Zhuo, even at the cost of its life!

"Return now."

At Ning Zhuo's command, the demon god transformed back into a bracelet, placing itself on Ning Zhuo's wrist.

Ning Zhuo's spiritual sense enveloped Sun Lingtong, confirming once more that his injuries were stabilized.

All void cracks were suppressed, no longer spreading or generating.

"Boss absorbed that bone marrow and needs time to digest it."

"I can't help much with that."

"But as long as his body doesn't collapse, there's hope!"

After confirming Sun Lingtong's stable condition, Ning Zhuo plopped down on the ground.

Completely exhausted, his clothes soaked with sweat, his whole body weak and sore.

For a moment, he sat on the ground, not wanting to move at all.

Woodwheel Town.

Shuang Ling also collapsed on the ritual platform, disheveled and furious: "He didn't die!"

"Stone Elder survived my Falling Star Heavenly Punishment technique! He's still alive!"

"This can't be!"

"This time, to ensure his death, I used at least ten national power bricks!"

Shuang Ling's connection to her storage bag still lingered.

But the location wasn't fixed; it was chaotic. Whenever she focused, it distorted her sense of direction.

Shuang Ling was familiar with this: "Stone Elder is in the void. The void has no directions or distances, hence this illusion."

"If Stone Elder can withstand my Falling Star Heavenly Punishment and traverse the void with his body..."

"Does that mean he's... a God Transformation level?!"

Shuang Ling showed a trace of horror.

If the Thousand Peaks Forest side gained a second God Transformation level expert, it would significantly impact the entire war.

Such crucial military intelligence couldn't be neglected.

Suppressing her anger, Shuang Ling left the platform and hurried to the central command tent to report to Commander Du Tiechuan.

Hearing her report, Du Tiechuan's face turned grave: "God Transformation level!"

"Stone Elder's performance confirms he must be at that level."

"Princess, you've done well to uncover such intelligence! This is extremely important for our army."

Shuang Ling, pale-faced, showed little pride: "Stone Elder stole my platform and materials; most of my assets are in his hands."

"I sensed his last location was here!"

Pointing to a map of Thousand Peaks Forest in the tent, she indicated a spot.

Du Tiechuan looked: "Bikong Mountain?"

"The Golden Halberd Army is about to reach Bikong Mountain. I'll send him this latest intelligence immediately, warning him to be extremely cautious of Stone Elder!"

Then, Du Tiechuan stared at Shuang Ling: "Princess, are you sure you can sense when Stone Elder leaves the void?"

Shuang Ling: "As long as I perform the ritual, as long as Stone Elder hasn't broken my technique, and as long as he hasn't left Liangzhu Country, I can sense him."

"More precisely, I can sense my platforms!"

Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon.

Sun Lingtong contacted Ning Zhuo with his spiritual sense.

Ning Zhuo rushed joyfully to the Breath of Life Boat.

Whether mistaken or not, the battered boat seemed to tremble slightly upon "seeing" Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo transmitted his thoughts: "Boss, you're awake? How's your recovery? How do you feel?"

Sun Lingtong had already checked himself with his spiritual sense. After a moment's thought, he guessed Ning Zhuo had saved him.

But he didn't utter any words of thanks.

Given their relationship, it wasn't necessary.

Sun Lingtong said: "I'm so bored right now!"

"Hurry and get me out of here, Xiao Zhuo."

"Boss, but your injuries..." Ning Zhuo scanned Sun Lingtong with his spiritual sense, thrilled to find him completely healed!

"Hahaha!" Sun Lingtong transmitted. "Who am I?! I'm Sun Lingtong, your boss, you know!"

"This little injury is nothing."

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly, giving a thumbs-up: "Boss, you're truly my boss!"

He didn't mention Sun Lingtong's earlier collapse and unconsciousness.

Sun Lingtong's recovery was far better than Ning Zhuo expected.

"This shows Boss's talent and aptitude for the void are extraordinary."

"No wonder his master valued him so much!"

While thinking, Ning Zhuo worked to remove the thick stone skin from Sun Lingtong, freeing him.

Sun Lingtong stood on the floor, stretching his limbs, bouncing on his toes, then laughed gleefully.

"Xiao Zhuo, watch this!"

He reached out, aiming his palm at the storage bag on Ning Zhuo's waist.

The bag had been emitting faint starlight.

But the next moment, as Sun Lingtong used his theft technique, the bag darkened, the starlight completely vanishing.

"Boss!" Ning Zhuo was overjoyed.

Sun Lingtong put his hands on his hips, laughing heartily: "See that? See that?!"

"I absorbed the void evil god's bone marrow—no, more accurately, the Mark of Emptiness in my divine sea absorbed it."

"This mark has mutated, transformed, allowing me to use many techniques."

"Theft arts, spells, martial arts—anything involving space has improved dramatically!"

"I'm incredibly strong now!!"

At the end, Sun Lingtong spread his fingers, then clenched his small fist tightly, pursing his lips, his reddened little face trying to look "ferocious."

(End of )