Success

Zhou Zhi's expression was ice-cold.

Qiu Ti had caused the Blue Stone Town massacre, using everyone's lives to perform a ritual—all for this lung?

The phantom shadow churned, and the strange smell seemed almost tangible.

Qiu Ti spoke of his past.

But Zhou Zhi was more interested in the [Messenger of God] and [that woman] Qiu Ti had mentioned.

It seemed the source of this plague outbreak wasn't Qiu Ti, but someone else.

Zhou Zhi wasn't planning to run anymore. Given the circumstances, there was no way he could get away.

His Pathogenization Index had now exceeded sixty.

A sticky sensation stirred restlessly inside him. His head felt slightly heavy, and mucus had begun to seep from his nose. By his reckoning, he was already on the brink of pathogenization.

Perhaps his Epidemic Prevention Suit and mask had slowed it down a little.

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

Qiu Ti froze.

He hadn't expected the ordinary fellow beside him to have the nerve to speak to him.

Wu Ji, who was far more talented, was trembling like a leaf.

Qiu Ti found it rather amusing. "Do you know a little about Plague Extermination Art?"

Zhou Zhi gave a slight nod. "I know a little."

"I'm just curious. Mr. Qiu, you've poured so much effort into creating this lung, even going so far as to oppose the Medical Department and Xuanyuan. What exactly is it for? I'm merely curious."

Zhou Zhi's voice was calm. He showed none of the fear one might expect when his life was in someone else's hands, as though he were Qiu Ti's student.

Qiu Ti studied Zhou Zhi.

The young man before him wasn't very old.

He didn't look like anything special, but his eyes held a calmness as though he saw through everything.

Qiu Ti hadn't noticed it before.

Unlike Wu Ji, who was only pretending to be composed, this young man seemed genuinely calm.

"What's your name?"

Qiu Ti asked softly.

"Zhou Zhi."

Zhou Zhi replied.

"That's a fine name."

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

"When I was at the Medical Academy, my research in Plague Extermination Art focused on [Influenza]. It was a very basic field, and the techniques under it were all commonplace."

"But influenza is only one kind. There are many classifications beyond it, and one of them is called..."

Qiu Ti's eyes lit up. "[Pneumonia]."

At the words "pneumonia," Wu Ji shuddered.

"This pestilence is far more dangerous than influenza... At the very least, it's at the Pathogen level."

Wu Ji spoke in a low voice.

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

"To learn the corresponding Plague Extermination Art, you have to master the traits of the pestilence and understand its essence. But pneumonia belongs to a higher level... At least, it's completely beyond my grasp."

Qiu Ti spoke calmly. "That's why I deliberately infected myself with the pestilence.

"My goal was to use all the living people in Qingshi to create this special organ."

Zhou Zhi lifted his head slightly. "A special organ capable of supporting [Pneumonia]."

"Then you'd attach it to your own body."

A note of approval appeared in Qiu Ti's eyes.

The young man before him had mastered a little spiritual power and had a steady temperament. He was just the sort of person Qiu Ti needed to help him.

"You've got to be kidding!"

Wu Ji's face was now terribly grim. "[Rejection]!"

"Organ transplants are strictly forbidden by the Medical Department. Rejection is enough to kill anyone!"

"If rejection occurs, [Pestilence] will follow!"

Zhou Zhi looked at Wu Ji.

So rejection did exist in this world.

Then...

Why hadn't he experienced any rejection when he transplanted Bai Xiu's lungs?

Zhou Zhi had originally thought it might be a universal rule of this world.

But it seemed that wasn't the case.

And in this world, [rejection] was extremely serious and could bring about terrifying consequences.

"That's true," Qiu Ti said. "That's what students from orthodox medical academies all believe."

"But although the consequences of rejection are severe, that doesn't mean it can't be avoided. You just have to use the right method."

Above them.

All the Mucus Men hanging high overhead dropped down.

At the same time.

They landed on the ground.

Meanwhile, Qiu Ti walked step by step toward the entrance of the [Mucus Collection Device].

"That woman's [Vaccine Effect] is about to wear off. Fortunately, the [Human Sacrifice Pill] recipe worked."

Qiu Ti's gaze flickered over the two skulls inside the device, all that remained of their owners.

Then he stepped inside.

"Wh-what do we do now?!"

Wu Ji was completely panicked.

Qiu Ti had stopped controlling Great Sneeze Space, which meant the Mucus Men he'd kept in check were beginning to move.

The Mucus Men weren't scary. What was scary was that there were also...

[Mucus Man Vanguards].

There were three of them, transformed from Medical Students.

One had only just finished transforming. It was Yu Jinhai, the one from before!

His numb, pallid face was enough to make anyone suffocate!

"What do you mean, what do we do?"

Zhou Zhi watched Qiu Ti's retreating figure.

Mucus swallowed him.

"At least, as things stand, we can't escape."

"We need to change our thinking. At the very least, we shouldn't let the successful Qiu Ti kill us."

As the Mucus Men closed in around them, Wu Ji's face darkened.

The Plague-Slaying Blade slid from its sheath!

But even the Mucus Man Vanguards didn't approach. None of the influenza-based monsters came near.

They seemed afraid.

Okay.

So much for that show of force.

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

The air grew heavier and heavier.

Even the ground began to tremble.

Mucus streamed ceaselessly inward.

The strange, sticky sensation was driving Wu Ji mad. He couldn't understand why Zhou Zhi, an ordinary person, was so calm.

[Pathogenization Index rising].

Wu Ji's breathing grew ragged, and mucus slowly surfaced on his body.

It felt as if fleshy buds were about to grow in his throat.

"At this rate, he's not going to last much longer."

Zhou Zhi thought.

A ringing sound came from his ears.

In an instant.

The sticky presence seemed to stop dead.

All the Mucus Men collapsed to the ground, as though the mucus had been sucked out of them.

Wu Ji panted, down on one knee.

In the distance.

The [Mucus Collection Device] slowly cracked apart.

Qiu Ti walked over, stark naked.

His chest bore the marks of something like a windpipe fused to it.

His aura was reined in.

Zhou Zhi felt that the man before him was terrifying beyond words.

[Great Sneeze-Qiu Ti]

[Pathogenization Index: ???]

[???]

Information flowed past.

It was all question marks.

Clearly, the gap between Zhou Zhi and this doctor was far too great.

Wu Ji went from stunned to forcing a smile. "Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Doctor Qiu!"

"Congratulations on entering a new realm and mastering the power of [Pestilence]. From now on, you'll be invincible!"

"I, Wu Ji, am willing to serve you and do your bidding!"

Qiu Ti glanced past Wu Ji, not caring about him at all.

He looked at Zhou Zhi.

"To be a Plague Exterminator, you need exceptional mental fortitude."

"I rather like you."

"Would you like to become my student?"

Hearing this, Zhou Zhi fell silent.

Wu Ji, standing nearby, thought he'd misheard.

What was going on?

What did that mean?

That guy wasn't even a Medical Student—he was an ordinary person!

And Wu Ji himself was a top student at Pingchang First Medical College!

Qiu Ti!

A wave of indignation surged through Wu Ji.

Wu Ji shot Zhou Zhi a venomous look.

Well, there's not much I can do about it. Go blame Qiu Ti, why are you looking at me?

Zhou Zhi thought.

But he didn't answer right away.

Because...

Qiu Ti's head had already tilted toward the ceiling.

The ceiling of the Dean's Office.

He narrowed his eyes.

It seemed...

Something was coming.

Then...

Rumble!

The entire ceiling.

It was sliced open, smooth and clean.

It had literally been cut open.

The rumbling continued without end.

"Chen Yao..."

A low voice rang out, as though it had ripped its way out of hell. "Is she here?"