Who gave you permission to travel through time with Earth?

Chapter 144 I am Ye Zhi

"..."

Hunting missions are a special type of instance. Although only stowaways can actively accept them, ordinary players are not without the opportunity to encounter them. Once they arrive, it is an absolute command of life and death.

However, these tasks often offer the most generous rewards and can even directly determine a player's advancement in the major life stages. They are often advanced trials from level three to four or from level six to seven, making them very significant.

Furthermore, considering the rumors surrounding Miss Lu and her sporadic achievements, she is indeed a genius and has a chance of already standing on the threshold. This explanation is undeniably very compelling.

"..."

This time, Lin Wei remained silent for a long time, as if he had no reason to refuse, but he just felt something was wrong.

His background shaped his personality. The Forest Merchant Guild recruits a large number of children every year, subjecting them to rigorous training from a young age. Some of these children, after obtaining player status...

They were then thrown into the battlefield for a deeper round of trials, to prove their qualifications and potential with iron and blood. Only those who survived would receive special training from the Xu family and become the backbone of the future Chamber of Commerce.

Lin Wei survived not only because of his exceptional talent, but also because of his innate intuition for advantages and disadvantages, which he had relied on to survive countless times.

After much deliberation, Lin Wei still chose to believe. Moreover, as long as they were killed here without leaving any trace, who could say that he had made a mistake by not taking on this good deal?

"To be honest, the terms are very good, but who can prove your origins? Even if they could, my intuition tells me we should never trust you, so I refuse on behalf of my family..."

"I'm not discussing this with you."

Guo Shi interrupted with a cold laugh. She could clearly sense Lin Wei's killing intent, so she didn't hesitate to play her last card, securing a decisive victory in this encounter.

"Get your head straight. What right do you have to make decisions for the master? Just inform Xu Xinyuan. All you need to do is mention your master's name, and she will make a wiser choice than you."

"Zhou Tongtong, go... Hound."

……

……

Ten days later, at the clock tower.

All those who qualified for the test from the third preparatory class gathered on the first floor, in a room enveloped by countless gear structures. Even the ceiling was submerged in the moving gear structures, emitting a soft, rustling sound.

The ground was made of a single piece of fire jade, with a special spiral-shaped sacrificial plate carved on it. The five of them, along with Du Wei, the principal, stood in the center of the sacrificial plate, waiting for the final agreed time to arrive.

"Above ground, the central elevator has no entrance at all. Only underground, there are specially made crystal tubes that connect to specific locations in all directions. There are no more than ten entrances in the entire Iron City."

"It's virtually impossible to smuggle them in using conventional methods. Each entrance is set up in a specific location, covered by specialists using area-of-effect skills or equipment. Your principal is undoubtedly such an outstanding talent..."

Du Wei was in high spirits, recounting the origins and path of the core layer, although the five people present were unlikely to use this knowledge much. They would just listen to some gossip and then leave, and afterwards they would have to sign a confidentiality agreement.

The five people present weren't really listening to Du Wei. Fang Jin and Zhou Tongtong, for one thing, had never shown much respect to this peacock, and the other three weren't particularly satisfied with Du Wei either.

It's one thing for Fang Jin to have gotten in by buying and selling his way in, but at least his skills are respectable. Now, two more people have been added at the last minute... It would be strange if they weren't furious.

Zhou Hao and Gu Yu were already acquaintances who had met before. When they met Fang Jin again, the two of them actually nodded and greeted each other, and the small gap between them had already melted away after meeting again.

The other one... was a girl with thick bangs, dressed in the simplest and most plain school uniform, with a silver spear slung across her back, and every move she made made her seem cold and aloof.

"Miss, her name is Ruan Xiaoqing."

Fang Jin followed behind Zhou Tongtong, his lips trembling slightly. After introducing the identities of the other three, he emphasized that these last preparatory class students were actually part of his pre-prepared plan and investigation.

"The first two have clear records: on the technology side, Freeze, and on the mythology side, Savage Giant. Their sequences are very high and they have been developed quite well, but overall they are still within the scope of understanding."

"This girl is a bit special. She comes from the wilderness and didn't plan to register after obtaining her player status. However, she attracted attention because she harmed too many people and was forcibly enrolled in the district."

"...What's the reason? Her ability brings a strong urge to kill? But this kind of system shouldn't be incorporated. According to the rules, she should be killed on the spot after making a mistake."

Zhou Tongtong didn't show any aversion, but she was a little surprised by her subordinate's professional competence. How come she remembered... this person used to be a bit timid and foolish? Why is she acting so capable today?

"It's harmful rather than murderous, and it wasn't Ruan Xiaoqing's intention. Her talent system isn't clearly marked, but it's most likely a mythological or mystical ability... and it's also related to the plague."

"All living beings that had physical contact with her have been confirmed dead, and if she activates her powers or simply loses control, the disease could even spread through other means."

"Including air."

Zhou Tongtong felt a chill run down her spine. She frowned and took a few steps back. This indiscriminate ability to distinguish friend from foe was truly disgusting. Whether as an enemy or a teammate, Ruan Xiaoqing's existence was never welcome.

Even if we put ourselves in the girl's shoes, she is indeed pitiful, but Zhou Tongtong is in a precarious situation herself, so she has no intention of playing the saint and must be on guard at all times.

"Well done, Yeats. Father's decision to send you with me on this killing mission was the right one. It was worth the cost we paid to prepare a spot for you as well."

Zhou Tongtong patted Fang Jin on the shoulder, addressing him without any hint of unease, and said with great satisfaction,

"Once it's done, whether you want to improve your position in the Lu family, take this opportunity to act as a mole in Tietu City... or even remove the influence of this knife on you, anything is negotiable."

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss. It is my duty and my heartfelt wish."

Fang Jin bowed slightly to Zhou Tongtong, reached out to turn off her earpiece and end the transmission, then slowly leaned against the corner of the sacrificial altar... her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

The blood-stained knife at his waist, which should have been controlling his body, emitted a red light as a warning, but then a few copper coins crawled out of his pocket and playfully climbed onto it, the bloody hand making a subtle but sharp friction sound against the blade...

"Shh..."