Heavy Casualties

"Don't speak too soon!"

Ma Yuan's eyes widened as he stared at the clay figures walking towards the kiln. As long as it wasn't the final moment, there was still hope.

"Heh!"

Song Li chuckled and turned to look at Lin Baici, only to find him looking calm, not at all like someone facing death.

Something's wrong!

Why wasn't he afraid?

Could it be that whoever's clay figure moved, that person dies?

So that's why he was so fearless?

When Song Li thought of this possibility, cold sweat immediately broke out on her.

"Lin Baici, aren't you afraid? That monster said 'enter the kiln,' and according to the steps for making clay figures, there's definitely a drying step. If your clay figures don't move, you're dead for sure. Hurry and think of a solution!"

Song Li muttered.

"If you attack that clay figure monster now and kill it, you might still have a chance to survive."

Lin Baici suggested.

Afraid?

Sorry, I'm afraid the God's Taboo Game is too simple and can't kill me!

The clay figures made by these travelers walked to the kiln closest to them, then with a leap, jumped into the kiln.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The kiln lids immediately closed.

"Light the fire!"

The Clay Figure Monster's voice was melodious, with a strange tone, like a shaman from a primitive tribe chanting a spell, exorcising evil spirits and communicating with the divine.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The firewood piled in the hearths below the kilns immediately ignited.

Orange-red flames rose and flickered, like dancing sirens.

The noisy chatter on the platform gradually died down. The travelers stopped talking, their eyes fixed on the kiln.

The Programmer with Dark Circles was intelligent and preferred to plan before acting. He believed that even if they passed this step, the subsequent ones would be fraught with peril. Thus, he began to incite the failed travelers.

"Your lives are on a countdown. The only way to survive now is to unite and fight that Clay Figure Monster to the death!"

The programmer persuaded the travelers around him to risk their lives. Even if they couldn't win, they might be able to discover the Clay Figure Monster's weakness.

These people hesitated.

To be honest, if the Fat Man hadn't had his head smashed by the Clay Figure Monster just now, displaying its terrifying lethality, they would have already made a move.

Seeing their timidity and fear of death, the programmer shook his head in disappointment and quickly walked towards Lin Baici, intending to talk to him.

This male student was willing to take risks at critical moments. If he took the lead, these failures should dare to make a gamble.

However, after walking more than ten steps, the programmer suddenly felt very hot and began to sweat. Then, he felt a burning sensation, like his arm accidentally touching a stove while eating barbecue.

"What's going on? Are travelers not allowed to move around freely?"

The programmer frowned, looked around, and then was horrified to discover that he wasn't the only one experiencing a problem.

"Why do I feel so hot?"

"So hot! So hot! What's happening?"

"Damn it, what now?"

The travelers clamored, and a woman screamed.

"Baici..."

Ma Yuan's expression brightened.

He was worthy of being a God Hunter; his reaction was swift. He noticed that the travelers shouting about the heat and burning were the ones who had molded clay figures and jumped into the kiln.

Song Li could no longer remain composed. She felt extremely hot, like being in a sauna. Sweat poured from her like water, soaking her clothes in less than ten seconds.

Afterward, her body began to heat up, with a burning sensation as if being scorched by red-hot charcoal.

"Brother Lin, look at her..."

18D's face was filled with terror.

Not just Song Li; many travelers' skin had turned red, as if scalded by red-hot charcoal, and blisters began to form in clusters.

"Brother Lin, save me, I don't want to die!"

Song Li struggled and lunged towards Lin Baici, seeking help.

The tears in her eyes had just welled up when, before they could trace a path down her face, they hissed and evaporated.

Ma Yuan strode over and kicked Song Li in the thigh.

BANG!

AH!

Song Li screamed and fell to the ground. She couldn't get up, writhing in pain.

"Help me! Please!"

Song Li's skin visibly dehydrated, shriveled, and turned black, like lamb skewers on a grill.

On the Platform, all the travelers whose clay figures had entered the Kiln felt as if they were being scorched by intense flames, each one in agonizing pain.

"Why is it my fault?"

The programmer roared, heartbroken.

He thought Lin Baici was the failure, but he never expected to be the pathetic Clown himself.

"If you want to live, quickly attack that Clay Figure Monster!"

Xia Hongyao shouted.

About a dozen travelers, in this desperate situation, stumbled towards the Clay Figure Monster. However, even more people ran towards the Kiln, wanting to retrieve their clay figures.

But the Kiln was too hot, the flames too fierce.

As they placed their hands on the Kiln's opening, a sizzling sound erupted, and their palms were instantly scorched black.

The smell of burning fat and flesh began to drift through the air above the Red Clay Mud Pond, pungent and nauseating.

"Lin... Brother Lin..."

Song Li's voice was hoarse. Her once fair and smooth skin had turned black and wrinkled, completely unrecognizable from her former beauty.

Her body was so hot that even her Studded High Heels were starting to melt, sticking to her flesh.

Sigh.

Lin Baici sighed and looked at the Clay Figure Monster.

It stood in the center of the Platform, taking a deep breath of the scorched smell wafting through the air, a look of enjoyment on its face.

"Brother Lin, we passed!"

18D exclaimed excitedly, pumping his fist.

If Song Li and the others died, wouldn't that prove that the creators of the clay figures left behind were all qualified?

As Song Li lay dying, she heard these words, and a wave of immense frustration and regret, like wild grass growing unchecked, instantly filled her chest.

I hate this so much!

Why didn't I listen to that student?

If I had just made a crying face, I could have survived!

"Wife! Wife!"

The Man with Glasses hopped anxiously, wanting to embrace his pregnant wife, but her body was like a red-hot charcoal, far too hot to touch.

"Husband!"

The Pregnant Woman curled into a ball in pain, tears streaming down her face.

She felt so much heartache for the unborn child within her.

Why did this little life have to suffer like this?

"Don't be afraid, I'll go kill that monster!"

The Man with Glasses gritted his teeth, his face contorted with ferocity and killing intent. The only way he could think of to save his wife and child was to kill the Clay Figure Monster.

"Don't go!"

The Pregnant Woman reached out to grab her husband's pant leg, but then worried about burning him and pulled her hand back.

"Don't go, try to survive!"

The Pregnant Woman pleaded.

Because she knew that if her husband went, he would surely die.

"God of Gluttony, is there any way to save them?"

Lin Baici clenched his fists.

[No!]

The God of Gluttony's answer was concise and to the point.

This was Rule Pollution, a supernatural power that could not be defied by human strength. To survive, one had to abide by the rules of God's Taboo Objects.

The high temperature the clay figures endured in the Kiln would be fed back to their creators.

So, a few minutes later...

The programmer is dead!

The pregnant woman is dead!

Song Li is also dead!

Besides them, 478 tourists with distorted expressions were also burned alive.

Their bodies were completely dehydrated, charred, and curled up like burnt charcoal, emitting a strong burnt smell.

Gag! Gag!

Someone couldn't stand the horrific scene and bent over to vomit.

"Brother Lin, gag..."

18D wanted to speak, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he vomited the lunch he had eaten.

Lin Baici also felt a bit nauseous.

"When you join the Safety Bureau and start exploring God Ruins and sealing God's Taboo Objects, you'll see even more terrifying scenes of death!"

Ma Yuan patted Lin Baici on the shoulder.

"There are 288 people left!"

Xia Hongyao counted the remaining people.

With so many dead, the Platform suddenly became much quieter.

The Clay Figure Monster didn't even glance at the corpses, announcing loudly, "Congratulations, everyone, your dough figurines are qualified. The next step is the fourth step, baking and setting!"

Ma Yuan heard the word "qualified" and excitedly slapped Lin Baici on the back.

"My team member is good, isn't he?"

Xia Hongyao boasted, very proud.

"Are there any apprentices willing to step forward and be the first batch of examinees?"

The Clay Figure Monster asked.

The tourists looked around, and no one spoke.

Those who went up in the first batch were likely doomed.

Lin Baici was also waiting, wanting to figure out what this step entailed so he could devise a way to pass. But the God of Gluttony spoke.

[Sign up and step forward. This batch has the highest probability of survival!]

Lin Baici immediately raised his hand after listening.

"I'll participate!"

Swish!

All the travelers' gazes turned towards him, filled with surprise and confusion, but not the look one gives a fool.

Because Lin Baici's previous performance had been excellent, helping many people pass the Body Sculpting stage.

Someone like him, wouldn't do foolish things.

"Little Lin, what did you discover?"

Xia Hongyao asked curiously in a low voice.

In her opinion, Lin Baici's reasoning ability was strong, and he must have found some key points through subtle clues.

Ma Yuan and 18D watched Lin Baici, waiting for an explanation.

"I didn't discover anything. I just thought that perhaps the first batch to go up might receive some preferential treatment?"

Lin Baici casually made up a reason.

"You're very good!"

The Clay Figure Monster grinned, but it looked like he was about to eat someone: "Please take your clay figure and go to a kiln!"

[Choose a kiln close to the mud pond!]

The God of Gluttony reminded.

"If anyone trusts me, follow me!"

Lin Baici shouted loudly.

Everyone looked at each other.

Xia Hongyao picked up the clay figure she had made and followed Lin Baici.

"Hongyao, don't be rash. The best approach is to wait for a wave of people to go first and see what this stage is about,"

Ma Yuan advised.

According to the patterns summarized by the hunters, in Rule Pollution, the first wave of people to go up are almost always cannon fodder, mainly used to collect intelligence.

"I trust him!"

Xia Hongyao was confident in Lin Baici's intelligence. "Besides, he's my reserve team member. I can't just watch him go on an adventure alone!"

Lin Baici was stunned. "Reserve team member?"

"That's right!"

Xia Hongyao smiled brightly. After sealing this God's Taboo Object and going to Haijing, she would call her sister and ask for a quota for Lin Baici to join without an exam.

A newcomer this amazing only appeared once every ten years, right?

I must snatch him up!

Ma Yuan was conflicted. Should I go or not?

18D didn't hesitate. He picked up the mud figure and followed.

Although he hadn't spent much time with Lin Baici, the other party was not only excellent but also incredibly lucky. Every choice Lin Baici made had been the right one!

If he clung tightly to such a powerful figure, he could survive!