Success

Zhou Zhi's expression was cold.

Qiu Ti had orchestrated the tragedy at Blue Stone Town, using the lives of everyone there to create a ritual—all for the sake of this lung?

Spectral shadows surged, and the strange stench felt almost tangible.

Qiu Ti spoke of his own past.

But Zhou Zhi was more concerned with the [Messenger of God] and [that woman] mentioned by Qiu Ti.

It seemed that the source of this epidemic was not Qiu Ti himself, but someone else entirely.

Zhou Zhi had no intention of running anymore; given the circumstances, escape was impossible.

As of now, Zhou Zhi's Pathogenization Index had already exceeded sixty.

The viscous sensation within his body was stirring, his head felt slightly dizzy, and mucus was beginning to leak from his nasal cavity. According to Zhou Zhi's estimation, he had reached the brink of pathogenization.

Perhaps it was due to the protective suit and mask he wore that he had managed to delay it slightly.

Zhou Zhi looked at Qiu Ti: "Mr. Qiu Ti, is this thing a lung?"

Qiu Ti was stunned.

He had not expected that this ordinary fellow beside him would have the audacity to speak to him.

The far more talented Wu Ji, by contrast, was trembling like a leaf.

Qiu Ti found it quite interesting: "Do you understand a little bit of the Plague Extermination Art?"

Zhou Zhi nodded slightly: "I understand a little."

"I am simply curious. What is the purpose of this lung that you, Mr. Qiu Ti, went to such great lengths to create, even at the cost of opposing the Medical Department and Xuanyuan? I am merely curious."

Zhou Zhi's voice was calm, devoid of the fear one would expect from someone whose life was in another's hands; he sounded as if he were one of Qiu Ti's students.

Qiu Ti scrutinized Zhou Zhi.

The young man before him was not very old.

He did not look particularly special, yet those eyes were calm, as if they could see through everything.

He hadn't noticed it before.

Unlike Wu Ji, who was merely feigning composure, this boy seemed truly calm.

"What is your name?"

Qiu Ti asked softly.

"Zhou Zhi."

Zhou Zhi replied.

"A very good name."

Qiu Ti smiled: "I can answer your question."

"When I was at the medical academy, the direction of my Plague Extermination Art research was regarding [Influenza]. It counts as a very basic discipline, and the Plague Extermination Arts under it are all common goods."

"But that is merely influenza. Above influenza, there are many classifications, one of which is named..."

Qiu Ti's eyes brightened: "[Pneumonia]."

Hearing the word pneumonia, Wu Ji's body shuddered.

"This type of epidemic is far more dangerous than influenza... it is at least at the Pathogen level."

Wu Ji whispered.

Qiu Ti glanced at Wu Ji: "You've learned well."

"To learn the corresponding Plague Extermination Art, one must master the characteristics of the corresponding epidemic and understand its essence. But pneumonia already belongs to the upper echelons... at least for me, it is completely impossible to master."

Qiu Ti said calmly: "That is the reason I voluntarily infected myself with the epidemic."

"It was to use the living bodies of all of Blue Stone to forge such a special organ."

Zhou Zhi looked up slightly: "A special organ capable of bearing [Pneumonia]."

"And then graft it onto myself."

A look of admiration appeared in Qiu Ti's eyes.

The youth before him possessed a bit of spiritual power and a steady temperament; he happened to be in need of an assistant.

"Are you joking!"

Wu Ji's face was extremely ugly at this moment: "[Rejection Reaction]!"

"Organ transplantation is strictly prohibited by the Medical Department. A Rejection Reaction is enough to kill anyone!"

"Once a Rejection Reaction occurs, the [epidemic] will appear along with it!"

Zhou Zhi looked at Wu Ji.

So, Rejection Reactions existed in this world after all.

Then...

Why did he experience no Rejection Reaction when he transplanted Bai Xiu's lungs?

Originally, Zhou Zhi had assumed this might be a general rule of this world.

But now, it seemed that was not the case.

Furthermore, [Rejection] in this world was extremely severe and could lead to terrifying consequences.

"That is indeed correct," Qiu Ti said. "Students who come out of the orthodox medical schools all think so."

"However, although the consequences of rejection are severe, they are not necessarily unavoidable, provided one uses the right methods."

Above.

All the suspended Mucus Men descended.

In synchronization.

They landed on the ground.

At the same time, Qiu Ti stepped into the entrance of the [Mucus Collection Device].

"That woman's [Vaccine Effect] is about to fade, but fortunately, the [Human Sacrifice Pill] formula is useful."

Qiu Ti's gaze flickered toward the two skulls inside the device, which were reduced to nothing but bone.

Then, he walked inside.

"Now... what do we do now!"

Wu Ji was completely panicked.

Qiu Ti was no longer controlling the Great Sneeze Space, which meant that these Mucus Men, previously bound by him, were beginning to act.

The Mucus Men were not the scary part; the scary part was...

The [Mucus Man Vanguard].

Transformed from medical students, there were three of them in total.

One of them, having just completed its transformation, was none other than the former Yu Jinhai!

That numb, pale face was simply suffocating!

"There is no 'what do we do'."

Zhou Zhi watched Qiu Ti's retreating back.

The mucus swallowed him up.

"At least from where we stand now, we cannot escape."

"Change your way of thinking; at the very least, don't get killed by Qiu Ti after he succeeds."

Watching the Mucus Men closing in from all sides, Wu Ji's expression darkened.

The Plague-Slaying Blade, unsheathed!

However, these pathogenized monsters that relied on the influenza, including the Mucus Man Vanguard, did not approach.

They seemed to be afraid.

Okay.

He had made that expression for nothing.

Zhou Zhi lowered the Plague-Slaying Blade in his hand.

The air grew increasingly heavy.

The ground began to tremble.

The mucus flowed incessantly toward the interior.

That strange, sticky sensation was enough to drive Wu Ji mad; he could not understand why the ordinary person beside him, Zhou Zhi, could be so calm.

[Pathogenization Index rising].

Wu Ji's breathing began to grow rapid, and mucus slowly started to appear on his body.

It felt as if granulation tissue was about to sprout from his throat.

If this continues, this guy is going to lose it.

Zhou Zhi thought to himself.

A ringing sound echoed in his ears.

In an instant.

The sticky aura seemed to come to an abrupt halt.

All the Mucus Men collapsed onto the ground, as if the mucus had been drained from them.

Wu Ji gasped for air, kneeling on one knee.

In the distance.

The [Mucus Collection Device] slowly crumbled.

Qiu Ti walked over, completely naked.

On his chest, there were traces of something resembling a windpipe adhered to the cavity.

His aura was completely restrained.

Zhou Zhi felt that the man before him was far too terrifying.

[Great Sneeze - Qiu Ti].

[Pathogenization Index: ???].

[???].

The information flickered.

It was nothing but question marks.

Clearly, the gap in rank between Zhou Zhi and this doctor was simply too vast.

Wu Ji went from astonishment to forcing a smile: "Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Doctor Qiu Ti!"

"Congratulations to Doctor Qiu Ti for stepping into a new realm, mastering the power of [Epidemic], and from this day forth, may you be invincible!"

"I, Wu Ji, am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

Qiu Ti swept a glance over Wu Ji, not caring in the slightest.

He looked toward Zhou Zhi.

"To be a Plague Exterminator, one must possess extraordinary psychological fortitude."

"I quite like you."

"Would you like to become my student?"

Hearing this, Zhou Zhi fell silent.

Meanwhile, Wu Ji thought he had misheard.

What was going on?

What did this mean?

This guy was just an ordinary person who wasn't even a Medical Student!

And he himself was a top-tier student at the Pingchang First Medical College!

Qiu Ti!

A sense of being insulted surged within him.

Wu Ji cast a venomous look at Zhou Zhi.

There's nothing I can do about it; if you have a grievance, go take it up with Qiu Ti. Why are you looking at me?

Zhou Zhi thought to himself.

However, he did not answer immediately.

Because...

Qiu Ti's head was already tilted upward.

Toward the ceiling of the Dean's Office.

He narrowed his eyes.

It seemed.

Something was coming.

And then...

BOOM!

The entire ceiling.

Was sliced open, smooth and clean.

In the literal sense, it had been cut through.

The roaring sound was incessant.

"Chen Yao..."

A low voice drifted down, as if torn from the depths of hell: "Is it right here?"