Giving up (print edition now on sale)
"Bifang" is dead.
As his "Heart Domain" slowly dissipated, his power and aura gradually disappeared, and the Evil of Heaven and Earth emanating from the Demon Ancestor Gantuo vanished, the energy environment of the entire passage became abnormally stable.
All the "Tier 4" Player, or those capable of sensing changes in the energy environment within the channel, understood what had happened.
Inside that passage, the Demon Ancestor Gantuo and Bifang... perished together.
Both sides on every battlefield were aware of this.
No one stopped what they were doing, because every battle was a situation where every second counted.
But...
Change is still happening.
"What a pity, Demon Ancestor Gantuo... such an ancient 'living fossil,' who had just escaped his confinement, would die here."
The Diviner sighed, a hint of regret in his voice.
"What are you lamenting? You heartless bastard, you've killed another innocent person!"
Jian Cunyi's stern question came from behind.
The Diviner looked in Jian Cunyi's direction.
He used his Long Banner to block the Wooden Sword that was enveloped in a vast and Pure Qi, and sighed again.
"It wasn't me who killed him, he asked for his own death..."
"But I'm used to it. Put it on my tab, I don't care."
The Diviner spoke casually, his expression calm, as if he truly had a clear conscience.
And after the Diviner finished speaking...
The passageway suddenly changed drastically.
"Puff!"
A charred mass flew out, leaving the Diviner somewhat taken aback.
"Demon Ancestor Gantuo... is he still alive?"
More than ten senses fell upon the charred mass of matter, and everyone felt the essence of that thing.
It was a Deity in the form of an "embryo," carrying a hidden aura belonging to the Demon Ancestor Gantuo.
Is it the Demon Ancestor Gantuo's trump card for survival, or has he been reduced to this precarious state by Bifang's methods?
Before anyone could draw a conclusion, the embryo began to tremble violently.
Then, suddenly, before those "Tier 4" beings could react, it shot towards the crowd like a black meteor.
"Not good!"
The Swordsman immediately sensed something was wrong and prepared to leave to intercept the charred demonic embryo that the Demon Ancestor Gantuo had transformed into.
Immediately afterwards, Old Wu Comedian also shouted.
"Damn! Let's go for them!"
"Chen Le, Xiao Yun, watch out!"
The final destination of that demonic fetus was the location of the "Freedom Alliance".
But it was too late to warn them. The demonic fetus was too fast and too unstoppable; before anyone could react, it crashed down...
On Li Nian's body!
"Holy crap!"
Li Nian herself was startled and jumped up, pulling out Utility knife and screaming.
Then, Xiao Yun and the God of Cookery came to her side.
"A Nian, are you alright?"
The two men grabbed Li Nian from either side, checking on Li Nian condition.
Before Li Nian could even draw her own conclusion and answer the question, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems fine."
"That's what the God of Cookery said."
Xiao Yun nodded, "It's nothing serious... A Nian is doing well."
Li Nian looked at the demonic fetus on the ground and gently broke free from the two of them.
"Wait, wait... there seems to be something in here."
The last vestiges of life and faint breath on the demonic fetus vanished, turning into wisps of black smoke that dissipated, revealing what lay within.
Li Nian walked over, saw the things on the ground, and picked them up with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"What is this...?"
It was a thick kraft paper bag with a line of neatly written words on it.
I wish you success in getting into your dream university.
Li Nian could probably guess what it was without even opening it.
"This teacher is really dedicated... but all that trouble just to bring me some test papers and materials...?"
Li Nian spoke softly, then looked at Xiao Yun and the God of Cookery.
Xiao Yun reacted even faster. "No... it's not just that, these materials might actually be 'bonus'."
As Xiao Yun spoke, the last wisp of black smoke that the Demon Ancestor had transformed into dissipated.
Li Nian was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
"I see... I see."
Then, Li Nian's figure disappeared from the spot.
But this is not a bad thing, nor has she encountered any misfortune.
Instead...
She passed the test ahead of schedule.
The embryo of the Demon Ancestor Gantuo that finally collided with her was still a "Living Beings," a complete and independent life.
His cause of death was ultimately determined to be "killed in a car accident."
Therefore, Li Nian met the Clearance Conditions and left this [Instance]!
Old Wu Comedian also noticed the changes here.
"Damn it, the Night Watcher... they're really something."
Old Wu rarely swore, but he actually did.
The Comedian nodded in agreement. "Yes... Bifang is truly a good teacher."
As they spoke, the two simultaneously turned around and, in perfect unison, rushed towards the "Diviner" again.
"Old Wu, I'm not holding back today!"
"Understood, Brother Zhuo!"
The Diviner sighed as he listened to the two men's impassioned words.
"Two guys ranked outside the top ten are here, what's with all the enthusiasm... and they're both quite old..."
But before the Diviner could finish speaking, the Comedian and Old Wu simultaneously pulled out two clearly consumable Item from their pockets.
Two Pixel Style [Item].
"Fang Qing, just how many dangerous [Item] did you concoct...?"
The Diviner muttered to himself, and then he saw the Comedian and Old Wu simultaneously make the "take" gesture.
After that...
"Bang!"
Blue flames ignited on the two of them—flames that had no temperature and were more like some kind of light effect.
The energy level on Old Wu Comedian instantly increased several times over.
The benefits this potion provides are simply unprecedented.
Even Diviner couldn't help but break down a little.
He immediately dodged backward to create distance, and the Compass behind him spun rapidly, trying to move him to a greater distance.
The best way to deal with this clearly "temporary upgrade" is, of course, to avoid it and stall for time!
However, in the instant the Formation rotated, the Diviner returned to Old Wu Comedian.
The Chainsaw and the pneumatic hammer struck his waist and abdomen from the left and right sides, respectively, Diviner looked angry.
"Jian Cunyi, when did you tamper with my Formation?"
"Snap!"
A bolt of lightning struck the Diviner from below, and Jian Cunyi gesture, speaking in a cold voice.
I didn't do it.
Lin Yu's voice rang out. "It's me. Leng Jing... You can give up now—you're at your wit's end."
The Diviner said coldly, "Is that so? You think you can really do anything to me just by tampering with my Formation?"
Lin Yu shook his head. "No, what I meant was... you have no more cards to play."
"The Demon Ancestor Gantuo is dead. Whether you are the Emperor or not, even the God of Shadows over there... none of you are destined to stop Tengshe or destroy the spatial structure of this [Instance]."
"Even if we can't kill you, you can't... get past us."
The Diviner sighed.
"Yes, yes, I admit it, but... for me, it's enough."
"You won! Congratulations! You've thwarted yet another plot by the 'Diviner' and the 'Marauders'."
As he spoke, the Diviner took out...
A chicken.
Despite the attacks from all sides, he calmly said, "Revered Deity, let's stop here... I'm leaving now, and you may leave as well."
"I will deliver the agreed-upon payment to you both on time."
With that, the Diviner snapped the rooster's neck and vanished from the spot.
Although he was the initiator of the [Instance], he was also a "Player" and followed the Rule of the [Instance].
So after killing a Living Beings, the Diviner also disappeared.
The emperor and the God of Shadows clearly heard the Diviner's words.
"Oh dear, although I really wanted to play a little longer, it seems... it really is time to go."
"General, I'll face you again someday if the opportunity arises."
As soon as the two voices fell, the God of Shadows gently pushed Gu Mo away. Behind him, a dark, eerie crack filled with eyeballs appeared, and he went into it before disappearing.
Meanwhile, from the "Emperor's" side, the sound of "Prepare the carriage to return to the palace" echoed from the sky. Then, he transformed into a golden streak of light and left the place.
The imperial Imperial Guard created by the emperor on the field also disappeared.
The [Instance] that was once bustling with intense battles has suddenly become... deserted.
The group looked at each other blankly, and Gu Mo scratched her head and spoke.
"What does this mean? Does it mean we just have to wait for 24 hours to pass and then everything will be fine?"
She looked at the "general".
"Hey Old Du, it's rare to see you. What's going on? Can you give me some advice?"
The general shook his head. "I don't know, but... the fact that the 'Diviner' left in such a hurry means he must have had other plans."
"It's true that the spatial structure here won't be damaged, but what happens next..."
The general was interrupted by a voice as he finished speaking.
"From now on, you will eke out a living on this deserted island—I grant you permission to survive here."
"However, none of you can stop this passage to the Real World from opening."
The Diviner's voice, which had previously disappeared, reappeared.
His voice rang out from outside the [Instance].
And just as the "Diviner" said...
Although the core structure of this replicated city was preserved thanks to the efforts of "Tengshe," it truly resembles an isolated island.
The surrounding collapsed spatial structures were reconstructed into passageways leading to reality after the collapse.
Now...
Following the Diviner's words, those who had previously been thrown back into the Reality Passage and forcibly repatriated to their respective worlds reappeared around the city.
Demons, monsters, Yaomo...
Those with malicious intent began to climb upwards along the passage.
Their goal for this trip is no longer within the [Instance], nor is it a replica of the Shenzhen.
Instead...
The real Shenzhen, and the Real World!