Great Sneeze-Qiu Ti

[Mucus Collection Device]

A grotesque smell wafted out.

What kind of smell was it?

Wu Ji furrowed his brows almost imperceptibly.

Qiu Ti, dressed in Western-style clothes, wore a smile.

As if he were wearing a mask with a bizarre expression.

"Wonderful... Something like a [Vaccine] was once a product only the upper echelons of the Medical Department could access. Ordinary people like us had no right to get near it."

In Qiu Ti's eyes, it was as if some sticky, shadowy apparition lay hidden.

"Do you know, Wu Ji?"

At that moment, Qiu Ti seemed like a kindly old man, earnestly lecturing his student. "I used to be just like you."

Wu Ji lowered his head, his handsome face tense.

Qiu Ti's narrow eyes shifted slightly.

"I graduated from a Medical Academy once..."

"More or less like [Pingchang], though of course, if we're being honest, it wasn't even close."

"It's just..."

Qiu Ti seemed to recall something and lowered his head slightly. "You haven't taken the [Selection] yet, have you?"

"No..."

Wu Ji answered quietly.

"Heh."

Qiu Ti chuckled. "How nice."

"Just like I was back then."

"If I hadn't taken the [Selection], perhaps I never would have seen myself clearly for what I was: someone with no talent."

"Someone with no talent in the field of Plague Extermination could never reach greater heights, no matter what."

Listening to Qiu Ti, Wu Ji could only click his tongue in disbelief.

Qiu Ti was an Official-level Plague Exterminator who had graduated from a Medical Academy!

He had earned a professional license issued by the Medical Department.

It was worth noting that fewer than a third of the students at a school like Pingchang First Medical College were like him.

Pingchang First Medical College was the finest college in Pingchang Circuit, bar none!

What was this guy talking about?

Had Pestilence eaten away at his brain?

Wu Ji didn't dare speak.

"So people must learn to see themselves clearly."

Qiu Ti looked down below. "The Pestilence I study is [the flu]. Simple Plague Extermination Arts based on this kind of Pestilence are useless. Only by truly embracing Pestilence and drawing strength from disease can you reach a higher level."

"To do that, I need some sacrifices."

"That's precisely why I let you pass along the message."

At those words, Wu Ji's spine went cold.

In that instant, the chill struck through him, nearly suffocating him.

Qiu Ti's little mustache twitched, and his smile widened.

"Do you know? The Disease Control Center headquarters in Pingchang Circuit has plenty of powerful people. There are even some at [that level]. But... Blue Stone Town is so far out on the edge that it hardly gets any attention."

"Heh heh."

Qiu Ti stroked his little mustache.

"[Two Plague Exterminators], plus seven or eight ordinary people who don't amount to much."

"That'll be enough."

Zhou Zhi leaned against the wall, moving slowly.

"How's that bitch... doing?"

From inside, the sharp voice of the woman who called herself Chen Yao rang out.

Zhou Zhi had to admit, it really was unpleasant to listen to.

Her voice brimmed with arrogance and spite.

Zhou Zhi didn't answer. Instead, he edged closer carefully, made sure nobody else was nearby, then peered through the gap and saw what the woman looked like.

The woman was beautiful, with fair skin. Even through such a narrow gap, her striking looks were plain to see.

Her narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes lent her a seductive air.

"I'm fine."

Clearly, Chen Yao had seen Zhou Zhi through the faint light as well.

"I already sent word, but your brother hasn't replied."

Zhou Zhi spoke calmly.

"How is that possible!!!"

Chen Yao's voice grew even shriller, but she soon calmed down. "Go find the key. I want to get out of here."

Zhou Zhi was now certain that this woman was used to throwing her weight around at home.

He didn't care.

Qiu Ti wouldn't leave the key lying around. It was probably on him.

He'd have to be suicidal to go looking for that monster.

Zhou Zhi ignored Chen Yao's incessant noise and looked into the distance.

Mucus had begun to spread over Yu Jinhai's suspended body, and something seemed to be growing in his throat as well.

Zhou Zhi knew this was the precursor to [Mucus Man Transformation]. He didn't even need the message in his mind to tell him.

But...

"Xia Yu..."

Zhou Zhi frowned slightly.

[Xia Yu]

[Pathogenization Index: 5.62 percent]

Although she was unconscious, her Pathogenization Index had barely increased.

What was going on with this woman?

A thought stirred in his mind.

"You bastard!"

Chen Yao was furious. Who in her home would dare speak to her like that? Who would dare ignore her?

Resentment filled her eyes.

Once her brother arrived, all you commoners would die!

Just then.

A sound like an explosion rang out.

[Great Sneeze Space] trembled.

The gate shattered.

Two bursts of spiritual energy shot in.

"You're dead!"

Two Plague Exterminators, one lean and one tall, charged in with seven or eight well-equipped squad members!

And Zhou Zhi finally got his first look at a complete set of Plague Extermination gear.

"[Plague-Slaying Blade], [Plague Armor], and..."

Zhou Zhi looked at the masks on their faces.

[Inferior Plague Mask]

[Can effectively prevent pathogenization]

So those were the Plague Exterminators' three essentials!

Zhou Zhi's lips curled into a smile.

The sudden sight didn't surprise Zhou Zhi.

It was obvious that this was the team Wu Ji had mentioned contacting earlier.

The two men leading them were well-equipped. Clearly, they were genuine Plague Exterminators!

"I'm He Qi, captain of the Fifth Squad, Third Branch, Disease Control Center in [Changdu], Pingchang Circuit."

"Qiu Ti, director of Blue Stone Town Central Hospital, you stand accused of [human experimentation] and [spreading Pestilence]. You've violated the Medical Department's regulations and the Xuanyuan Law. I'm here to purge and subdue you!"

He Qi held a Plague-Slaying Blade that glimmered with a dull yellow light, a faint smile on his face.

Not bad.

An Official-level Plague Exterminator actually spreading Pestilence.

You hardly ever saw criminals like this anymore. If he reported it, the contribution points for this would be incredibly generous!

"[Corrosion Drainage Art]!"

He Qi charged forward.

He opened his right hand, and a strange liquid gushed out.

It carried a faint stench.

"Everyone else, move in!"

Behind him, another Plague Exterminator shouted.

With two Plague Exterminators backing them up, this was a perfect chance for the auxiliary members to earn merit!

"Pus... Disgusting."

Qiu Ti shook his head.

Beside him, Wu Ji was somewhat frightened.

"Two Plague Exterminators. That'll be enough."

His gaze shifted.

Spiritual energy stirred in the air.

[Great Sneeze-Qiu Ti]

In an instant!

Zhou Zhi's eyes flickered!

In his field of vision,

a message appeared above Qiu Ti's head.

It didn't vanish in a flash like before. It simply hung there above Qiu Ti!

"What is this... some kind of elite soul monster?"

Zhou Zhi's expression shifted slightly.

And then something even more terrifying happened.

He Qi felt a tightness in his chest.

Ha...

He opened his mouth.

For no reason at all, he sneezed.

At the same time,

a sudden, unprecedented pain struck the area above his abdomen, where his spleen was.

His pupils dilated.

He had no idea what was happening.

"He Qi... what..."

The Plague Exterminator behind him paled.