A temporary floating bridge has been built across the lake, leading directly to the center of the lake.
The bridge is wide enough for six people to walk side by side.
Qin Ze and Lu Tongtong walked forward unsteadily, one in front of the other.
Boiling lake water flows beneath the bridge.
If you slip and fall, your bones will dislocate in less than a minute.
Not long ago, the clone provided proof through its own personal experience.
Soon, Qin Ze and Lu Tongtong arrived at the center of the lake.
A vast platform has been built here.
Dozens of mercenaries wearing breathing masks were busy around a black egg.
The egg is nearly three meters tall, entirely black, with dark gray stripes on its surface.
The "prey" lined up in a long, straight line in front of the eggs.
When the "prey" approaches the egg, the parasite leaves its brain and returns to the egg.
At the same time, several black tentacles emerged from the egg and pierced the prey's brain.
In an instant, the prey's spiritual energy and Source of Life were completely drained.
With a "plop," the prey, now a dried-up corpse, lay flat on its back.
The mercenaries standing by immediately dragged the mummified corpse away, making room for their prey.
Qin Ze and Lu Tongtong were at the back of the line; it would be at least ten more minutes before it was their turn.
Below the egg was a light blue incubator, covered with various electronic wires, the other end of which was connected to several computers.
A slightly hunched man, also wearing a black breathing mask, was staring intently at the data on the screen.
"Doctor, the entire batch of prey has arrived."
"The new predatory parasites have just been released."
The assistant came to the man's side to report the situation.
The doctor glanced at the long line of over a hundred people and shook his head.
"It's still not enough."
"Release another batch of parasites."
"The target is set at level two or three martial artists."
"Ordinary people can't handle it, and even Level One Martial Artist's mental strength is too weak; it wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap."
The assistant hesitated upon hearing this. "We've already attracted the attention of the Snow City Inspection Team."
"If too many parasites are released at once, our risk of exposure will increase."
The doctor shook his head. "The longer we stay here, the greater the risk will be."
"Now, it only needs two more batches of prey to awaken."
"Once our mission is complete, we can leave this awful place."
The assistant nodded and then walked towards the egg.
A mercenary standing nearby asked, puzzled, " The Northern Territory so vast, why choose this place?"
"I steam it every day, I feel like even just a sprinkle of salt would make it flavorful."
The professor looked up at the sky and said calmly, "This place is surrounded by mountains, forming a bowl shape."
"The moisture from the central lake lingers year-round, condensing above it to form an ice cap, making the area almost completely sealed off."
"High temperature and high pressure are the most suitable environments for its incubation and awakening."
The mercenary only half understood what he was hearing and didn't bother to ask any further questions.
The assistant had already walked to the eggs and was operating the incubator.
The professor suddenly asked, "Where is Manager Zhou?"
The mercenary shook his head. "I don't know."
"But you can rest assured."
" Manager Zhou is Level Eight Martial Artist; he'll definitely ensure your safety. He's probably observing you discreetly somewhere in the mist right now."
The PhD student thought about it and agreed.
True masters don't like to show their faces in public.
Qin Ze overheard the entire conversation between the doctor and the others, who were standing not far away.
They brought this egg to the Northern Territory; something is incubating inside.
Qin Ze judged that it was something similar to Ghost-Type Exotic Beast.
There's still an Level Eight Martial Artist who hasn't shown up yet, which makes things a bit tricky.
Furthermore, based on the title "manager" and the high-tech facilities and instruments on site, Qin Ze roughly deduced the identities of this group of people; they were likely dispatched by a certain company.
With such a substantial fortune, Qin Ze couldn't think of any other possibility besides a company.
Qin Ze's gaze was fixed on the egg.
This egg is so bizarre; it doesn't look like a technological product at all.
Where did you get the company from?
Lu Tongtong peeked out from behind Qin Ze.
Following Qin Ze's gaze, she couldn't help but look at the egg, and driven by curiosity, she activated her ability.
Deduction on her abilities, she saw the egg hatch after consuming two-thirds of the people in the group.
Immediately afterwards, a large purple mushroom jumped out of the egg and went on a killing spree.
Lu Tongtong was trembling all over; she had never seen such a bizarre and terrifying existence.
Even the local security forces and Advanced Martial Artist are no match for it.
Qin Ze noticed Lu Tongtong's unusual behavior and quickly placed his hands on her shoulders, saying, "Stop using your abilities."
Lu Tongtong immediately closed her eyes, her body still trembling uncontrollably.
Qin Ze frowned slightly.
He noticed that Lu Tongtong's mental state was fluctuating drastically at this moment.
My Spiritual Sea of Consciousness seems to have been Corruption.
Qin Ze raised his hand and placed his right hand on Lu Tongtong's head, releasing a wisp of gentle spiritual energy to remove the Corruption.
"What did you see with your abilities?"
Qin Ze was puzzled.
He was right next to Lu Tongtong, yet he didn't even notice that the girl had been Corruption.
Lu Tongtong's body stopped trembling, and when she opened her eyes and saw Qin Ze, she immediately felt at ease.
"After two-thirds of the people are eaten, the thing inside the egg will hatch."
"That is an extremely terrifying being; we must never let it hatch."
Qin Ze withdrew his hand from the Little Deer's head.
"Two-thirds of the people..."
It seems that the PhD student's calculations were incorrect.
No more prey is needed.
The terrifying being that hatched—could it be that guy Corruption Lu Tongtong's spiritual power?
But it hasn't hatched yet; the Little Deer only caught a glimpse of it in the ability Deduction.
It's really outrageous that it could be Corruption like this.
"Done!"
The assistant pressed the start button, and a huge swarm of parasites was released from the egg, flying towards Snow City in a massive, overwhelming manner.
At the same time, the doctor noticed that Qin Ze and Lu Tongtong at the back of the group were making some unnecessary movements, so he instructed the mercenary beside him, "Go and see what's going on."
Just as Qin Ze was about to make a move against the parasitic beast in the sky, the mercenary walked straight over.
What problems could possibly arise with the prey?
The mercenary muttered something under his breath and swung the steel rod at him.
Before the steel rod could even fall, Qin Ze kicked the mercenary in the chest, sending him flying more than ten meters away.
Caught off guard, the mercenary stumbled backward, falling off the platform and into the boiling lake.
Immediately afterwards, Qin Ze released several mental shocks, Annihilation all the parasites in the sky.
"Hide yourself first."
"Also, notify the Slacking on the Sidelines to come over quickly."
Lu Tongtong grabbed Qin Ze's arm and put a wireless earphone on his ear.
"Keep in touch."
Qin Ze nodded and rushed towards the black egg.
The doctor jumped up instantly, as if his hair had been bristled.
"That guy isn't the prey!"
"Stop him!"
"Don't let him near the egg!"
The surrounding mercenaries, regaining their senses, immediately went to intercept them.
Unfortunately, this bunch of scoundrels had no impact on Qin Ze whatsoever.
In just one glance, they were either lying on the ground or flying into the sky.
Just as Qin Ze was about to touch the egg, a powerful aura descended from the sky.
"I noticed something was off about you a while ago; you really are a rat."