Withdraw Charcoal, Extinguish Fire, Open Kiln!

"Idiot, stop pulling the bellows!"

Ma Yuan roared, also reminding the others.

After shouting, he quickly glanced at the Clay Figure Monster. The other party didn't seem to intend to punish him for his words, which put him at ease.

"Right! Right! It can be done like this too!"

18D suddenly realized.

Everyone stopped, rubbing their sore arms, finally able to catch their breath.

But before two minutes passed, the Clay Figure Monster spoke again.

"Reduce firepower!"

At this, everyone was dumbfounded.

The bellows weren't being pulled anymore, so how could they reduce the firepower?

Actually, there was another answer: pull out the Charcoal. With less Charcoal, the flames would definitely weaken, but the problem was...

That stuff was really hot to the touch!

Lin Baici looked at the blazing furnace, picked up a Pine Torch, and prepared to use it as a poker.

[These furnaces have strong firepower. Besides the stoker, any external object thrown in will be burned to ashes.]

The God of Gluttony warned.

Lin Baici frowned deeply. Did this mean...

He could only use his hands?

"Baici, hurry up and get the Charcoal. After you're done with that torch, lend it to me!"

Ma Yuan urged.

"If you use the torch, or anything else, you'll die!"

Lin Baici reminded him.

"Ah? Then what should I use?"

Ma Yuan thought Lin Baici was being overly cautious.

"Use your hands!"

Lin Baici glanced at his left hand, which was wrapped in a thick layer of Red Clay, and quickly and decisively plunged it into the furnace.

Swish!

Lin Baici pinched a piece of charcoal between his index and middle fingers and yanked it back hard.

Snap!

The charcoal was pulled out of the furnace and fell onto the muddy ground.

"Holy shit!"

Ma Yuan was stunned. Did he really have to be so reckless?

He had a torch, but for the sake of a mere 'possibility,' he refused to use it and grabbed the charcoal with his bare hands?

What a ruthless person!

He was absolutely ruthless!

Ma Yuan felt that within two or three years, this male student would definitely become famous in the God Hunter circle!

"It's fine, not hot!"

Lin Baici curled his lips. "You guys should hurry up and get yours too!"

"I think Xiao Bai's concerns are valid!"

Xia Hongyao said, then reached out to grab a piece of charcoal.

Because of her strong physique and her training in National Martial Arts, her movements were swift and agile, so fast that Lin Baici couldn't even see clearly.

As expected of the Strength Speed Double A High Ponytail!

"Mmm, it really doesn't hurt. It seems wrapping ourselves in red clay was the right move!"

Xia Hongyao breathed a sigh of relief. Without the layer of red clay, her entire hand would have definitely been burned.

Seeing Ma Yuan grab the charcoal after reducing the firepower, 18D gritted his teeth and also reached into the furnace, pulling out a piece of charcoal.

"Huh? I'm not hurt!"

18D looked at his unharmed left hand, ecstatic, as if he had struck gold. "Brother Lin, your prediction is too strong!"

Seeing this, the others immediately ran towards the mud pond, intending to cover themselves in red clay.

[Those who do not reduce charcoal and lower firepower within five seconds will be judged as failed!]

[Failure means death!]

The Clay Figure Monster announced.

Everyone froze upon hearing this, their faces instantly draining of color.

There wasn't enough time to reach the mud pond, let alone cover themselves in mud.

The onlookers, the passengers, while terrified, were also glad they weren't the first group.

Many of them even ran towards the mud pond, starting to cover themselves in mud to avoid running out of time later.

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman, fearing death, still wanted to play mahjong every day, dance in the square, and collect free eggs at the supermarket. So, she let out a yell and reached into the kiln, pulling out a piece of charcoal.

"Ah!"

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman screamed. Her entire hand turned red from the heat. Especially the three fingers that had touched the glowing charcoal were covered in blistered welts the size of grapes.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman cursed loudly, hopping around in pain.

"Hurry to the mud pond and cover yourselves in mud!"

Xia Hongyao shouted a reminder.

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman took off running.

"Faster, there's no time left!"

Xia Hongyao urged.

"Damn it, I'll risk it!"

The Female Attendant made up her mind. Just as she was about to reach into the kiln, her body suddenly burst into flames with a boom.

It was the clay figure she had made in the kiln. Because it cooled too slowly, it had ignited.

The damage taken by the clay figure would be completely reflected onto its creator.

"Ah!"

The Female Attendant rolled on the ground in pain.

Her red uniform, hair, and leather shoes all caught fire.

The other three unlucky individuals also didn't have time to reduce their carbon emissions and were all ignited. They became like human torches, running wildly, rolling around.

However, soon they lay on the ground, silent.

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman looked at these three charred, smoking corpses and suddenly felt that the blisters on her hand didn't hurt as much anymore.

"Reduce charcoal, lower firepower!"

The Clay Figure Monster spoke.

With the experience from last time, everyone was calmer. Only the Douyin Middle-aged Woman was miserable, screaming as she was scalded.

"Add charcoal! Bellows!"

The Clay Figure Monster didn't want the Passengers to be idle.

18D and the others scrambled, grabbing charcoal and about to throw it into the kiln when Lin Baici stopped them.

"Wait, use new charcoal, not this burnt stuff!"

Lin Baici reminded them.

Ma Yuan understood when he heard this. Lin Baici was worried that if they didn't need to withdraw charcoal to cool down later, a piece of burnt charcoal would definitely provide less heat than a brand new piece.

This would cause an error, potentially leading to the clay figure being fired imperfectly or failing.

"This kid has a huge heart!"

Ma Yuan exclaimed.

To be able to think calmly amidst the Rule Pollution, where death was a constant possibility, was truly amazing.

Another twenty minutes passed. After a series of tedious and busy operations, the fourth firing step finally concluded.

"Withdraw charcoal!"

"Extinguish fire!"

"Open the kiln!"

The Clay Figure Monster's voice was melodious.

"I survived! I survived!"

The Douyin Middle-aged Woman cried tears of joy, but her expression quickly contorted again, her teeth bared.

She was already drenched in sweat, looking as if she had been pulled from water. Her entire left arm was severely burned, covered in grape-sized blisters packed tightly together, a disgusting sight.

After Lin Baici and the other four pulled out the red-hot charcoal, the kiln opening went Bang!

A wave of heat carrying sparks rushed out.

"Take the clay figure!"

The Clay Figure Monster urged them on.

Inside the furnace, the temperature was extremely high, but the group had no choice but to retrieve the clay figures with their bare hands.

Fortunately, the red clay in the mud pond had an insulating effect, so Lin Baici and the other three wouldn't be burned. However, the Douyin Middle-aged Woman couldn't withstand it.

If she stuck her arm in, it would be ruined. So, she immediately ran towards the Red Clay Mud Pond to wrap her arm in mud.

As she ran, the Douyin Middle-aged Woman kept her eyes on the Clay Figure Monster.

If it didn't allow her, she would stop immediately.

But this time, she was lucky. The Clay Figure Monster didn't stop her.

Lin Baici and the other three retrieved their clay figures.

[A foolishly clever low-level creature, it's doomed. The residents who have been disturbed by her square dancing music over the years can open champagne and celebrate!]

After coating herself in a thick layer of red clay, the Douyin Middle-aged Woman ran back to the kiln. Gritting her teeth and enduring the pain, she extended her arm into the kiln opening and reached for the clay figure.

The next moment, the clay figure suddenly moved and grabbed the Douyin Middle-aged Woman's wrist, yanking her back!

This was the consequence of not retrieving the clay figure immediately.

Ah!

Amidst the Douyin Middle-aged Woman's screams, she was pulled into the kiln, followed by heart-wrenching cries and pleas for help.

The Passengers on the platform turned as pale as death.

Gulp!

18D swallowed hard, looking fearfully at the clay figure on the ground that belonged to him.

The Clay Figure Monster raised its right arm and then lowered it flat in front of itself.

"The people on the left side of my arm are the second batch. The assessment begins. Please pick up your clay figures and wait by a kiln!"

The unlucky ones who were chosen looked dejected. They cursed and complained, but they were helpless and could only follow the Clay Figure Monster's instructions.

With Lin Baici and the others as examples, they had gained experience. They all scrambled to get close to the kilns near the edge of the mud pond, leading to shoving and arguments.

A good kiln position could increase survival rates, so everyone abandoned gentlemanly conduct and even resorted to fighting.

Some Passengers ran into the mud pond again, grabbing wet mud and smearing it on themselves.

"Open the kiln!"

"Enter the clay figure into the kiln!"

The clay figures made by those passengers immediately came to life and jumped into the nearest kilns.

Some people who were smearing mud in the mud pond heard this and quickly ran back. They were still holding clay figures in their hands, but it was too late.

"Ignite!"

As the Clay Figure Monster gave the order, the kiln lids closed with a bang, and the charcoal inside was lit.

The clay figures that did not enter the kilns in time cracked at that moment and then shattered with a crunch.

Their owners, without even time to cry for help, were torn to pieces like their clay figures and lay dead on the spot.

Crimson blood flowed, moistening the platform.

"36 people are dead!"

Ma Yuan sighed. Most of the deceased were women. They were only thinking about covering themselves with red clay to avoid burns. As for the kilns, they felt they were too small and weak to compete for one, so they planned to pick any one at random.

But did they ever consider if the Clay Figure Monster would give them enough time to run to a kiln?

The Clay Figure Monster began to issue instructions.

Every passenger tried their best to be perfect.

Because they were mentally prepared, they did not hesitate when reducing the charcoal. Coupled with the red clay on their arms, apart from feeling a bit hot, they were not burned.

This put their minds at ease.

They could live!

Every passenger's eyes were filled with hope.

Lin Baici looked at the Rolex on his wrist, comparing it with the orders given by the Clay Figure Monster.

"Why do you keep looking at your watch?"

18D asked worriedly, "Is there a problem?"

"No!"

Lin Baici replied, then frowned.

Something was wrong.

At this time, it should be time to reduce charcoal and lower the firepower. Why hadn't the Clay Figure Monster given the order?

Lin Baici looked up at those standing in front of the kilns, listening intently, waiting for the Clay Figure Monster's instructions.

If this continued, They would all die!

"It's time to reduce the charcoal!"

Lin Baici shouted. He stared at the Clay Figure Monster, ready to shut up immediately if the creature disallowed him to speak.