The [Gluttony Cutlery] pierced into the severed arm. No blood flowed out; instead, rich, juicy sauce seeped forth, while the flesh released an aroma tempting enough to stir anyone's appetite as it was cut.
Ji Yan put it into his mouth and chewed.
Liu Congming, watching this scene, realized it a moment too late.
Looking at his severed right arm, which bore only the wounds he had inflicted himself, and recalling what had just happened, he realized he had been fooled.
"That [Human-Faced Tree] in the [Shrine Area] couldn't actually hurt me at all, could it?"
Kong Yi yawned. "I never said it could."
"The [Human-Faced Tree] can absorb the flesh, blood, and vitality of any living creature. The laughter of its human-faced fruits can also affect the brain's nerves and create illusions."
In other words, the [Human-Faced Tree] had merely restrained Liu Congming and had never harmed him at all. On the contrary, Liu Congming had cut off his own arm in order to escape...
"With such a clumsy deception, I thought you'd see through it. Looks like you aren't very vigilant after all?"
Liu Congming said, "I believed it because the game panel clearly told me that if I didn't escape within the time limit, it would..."
"It would annihilate everything."
Doctor Long adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "Here, 'annihilate everything' refers to the [Shrine Area] being annihilated. It does not include you."
"The authority couldn't last long to begin with. Once the time ran out, everything would be automatically annihilated."
Liu Congming understood. With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he said, "A wording trap? So the game panel can deceive people too."
"You were behind this, weren't you?"
Although Liu Congming still appeared composed, he had vaguely sensed that something was wrong, especially