The Story

Intense pain accompanied a miserable sound.

A visible fissure appeared on He Qi's abdomen.

My internal organs... have ruptured.

How is this possible? I was clearly wearing the epidemic-prevention suit...

He Qi gritted his teeth, his face a mask of disbelief.

At the same time.

The squad members behind him also opened their mouths.

They could not control themselves.

"No!"

He Qi's expression changed drastically, but it was already too late.

The moment these people let out their first sneeze, they became like human bombs; something seemed to surge out from within their bodies, and they shattered on the spot!

Tap, tap, tap.

He Qi snapped back to reality and abruptly raised his scalpel.

Only to see Qiu Ti walking slowly toward him.

In his hand, he cradled a human head.

It was none other than the other tall, thin Plague Exterminator!

"The high-level ability of the [Influenza Plague]... you actually!"

Fear flashed through He Qi's eyes.

Qiu Ti's face gradually twisted, yet he still wore a smile, as if his ideals were about to be realized.

"[Sneeze] leads to [High Abdominal Pressure]. This power, which is never taught in the Plague Extermination Art and exists only within the plague itself, is precisely the power that the Medical Department forbids and fears."

Qiu Ti's voice rose, and some substance seemed to be secreted within his body, making him extremely elated.

"Plague Exterminators are aggregates of spiritual power; they are excellent sources of energy."

"Although you are not pure enough, you will barely suffice."

Qiu Ti wore a morbid expression.

"You...!"

Extreme terror struck, and He Qi tried to speak.

But in an instant.

That urge to sneeze washed over him once more.

The next second.

Bang!

He Qi's body exploded.

Mucus flowed from within, gathering at Qiu Ti's feet.

Watching this scene, a wider, more morbid smile appeared on Qiu Ti's face.

"How interesting, truly interesting."

"If I were still that piece of trash who only knew how to study plague extermination, I would never have been able to master such powerful strength."

The head of the Plague Exterminator He Qi rolled to Qiu Ti's feet.

He died with his eyes wide open in resentment.

Qiu Ti casually tossed the other head onto the ground.

"Wu Ji."

"Pick up those two heads."

"It's a pity that these two pieces of trash couldn't give birth to [Spirit Remains]."

Wu Ji was completely terrified out of his wits.

He had never imagined that the plague extermination squad he had brought would be so fragile.

He stood there stiffly.

Qiu Ti was in a very good mood now, his face continuing to beam: "Within Xuanyuan, most are plague events at the Disease Seed level; events reaching the Pathogen level are rare. After all, this is a human dwelling, under the jurisdiction of the Medical Department in the center of Xuanyuan."

"And then... this place has been peaceful for too long. I really want to know if this squad leader has ever independently suppressed a plague... probably not."

Qiu Ti walked forward.

Only then did Wu Ji snap out of it, picking up the two heads and walking forward.

The corpses covering the ground gradually turned into mucus.

It flowed toward the device at the very center.

[Great Sneeze - Qiu Ti].

This title dissipated before Zhou Zhi.

"Is the gap really this wide?"

Zhou Zhi's eyes were deep in thought.

Logically speaking, the Plague Exterminators from the outside should have been on the same level as Qiu Ti.

At the very least, they should have been able to put up a fight.

As it turned out, they were all wiped out instantly.

"Is this the result of obtaining the Power of Pestilence?"

Zhou Zhi finally saw it clearly now.

Drainage Art, lung resection... these medical techniques from his past life had become the Plague Extermination Arts of the Plague Exterminators here.

And the Power of Pestilence...

Clearly, the power of the [Sneeze] that Qiu Ti could command, which was exaggerated enough to shatter internal organs, came from the Power of Pestilence.

"This is going to be difficult."

Zhou Zhi thought to himself.

Suddenly, a cold sensation surged behind his neck.

"Hmm, there's still a little bug left?"

Qiu Ti's voice came through, icy and cold.

In an instant, Zhou Zhi was hoisted into the air.

A giant Mucus Man Vanguard lifted Zhou Zhi above its head and then slammed him onto the ground.

"How strange. I remember you. Why is it that you not only haven't succumbed to the plague, but you also broke free?"

Qiu Ti stood on high ground, with Wu Ji following behind him.

Wu Ji kept his head low, not daring to say a word.

"Forget it."

Qiu Ti waved his hand.

A little guy who wasn't even a Plague Exterminator didn't deserve for him to waste any more effort.

"Watch him for me."

Qiu Ti said softly.

"The surgery is about to begin."

Qiu Ti put on his gloves.

Zhou Zhi felt the temperature in the air plummet.

"Although it hasn't reached the level of perfection yet, well... two Plague Exterminators from Changdu have already died. Changdu should know by now, so I can't wait any longer."

Qiu Ti said indifferently.

Countless amounts of mucus began to converge toward the [Mucus Collection Device].

The smell began to grow thick; it wasn't exactly foul, but it made one uncontrollably nauseous.

"I didn't go to school in Changdu; I was at a small school in one of the surrounding towns."

Qiu Ti seemed to have nothing to do for the moment; he stared at the device and began to speak.

Leaving Wu Ji and Zhou Zhi behind seemed to be because he wanted someone to talk to.

He wanted someone to share in the joy of his success.

"I was number one since I was a child."

"From the most basic subjects at the start to the study of plague extermination later on."

"I won scholarships, supported my impoverished family, and was even able to attend medical school."

"Although it wasn't a very good medical school, only a few people in each grade could master a Plague Extermination Art upon graduation and obtain a professional qualification certificate."

Qiu Ti seemed to be reminiscing about something.

His eyes were lost in the past.

"If I hadn't been recommended as the only student to go to the [Selection], perhaps I could have lived a quiet life in some corner."

"Talent... is a barrier."

"People with talent don't need to put in any effort to succeed."

Qiu Ti seemed to recall memories he didn't want to revisit.

His expression became somewhat ferocious.

Wu Ji grew fearful as well, but he dared not move a muscle.

"Do you know, when I was struggling to obtain my professional license for graduation, some people already possessed the abilities of a formal Plague Exterminator before they had even enrolled?"

"Even among formal Plague Exterminators, the gap is simply unimaginable."

"Without talent, you can achieve nothing; you can only end up in a place like this, a garbage place like this, acting as a common doctor."

"Every day, I have to greet those ignorant masses, putting on a friendly facade."

"It's disgusting, absolutely disgusting!!!"

As Qiu Ti spoke, his entire face became distorted.

"Fortunately, that day..."

"The Messenger of God [descended]."

"That great lady..."

"Brought the method to master the [Influenza]."

Qiu Ti was lost in his own world.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhi exchanged a look with Wu Ji.

Clearly, Wu Ji had been scared out of his wits.

Zhou Zhi shifted his gaze.

There was a small opening above the collection device; from Zhou Zhi's position, he could see the mucus inside converging to form a strange object.

A phantom image flickered and rolled within the mucus.

Is that... an organ...

No, it's a [Lung].

Zhou Zhi was certain that it was the phantom outline of a lung.