Chapter 167 The Bridge of Broken Souls: He was the one who fell in love with Xue Chao the moment he saw him.

"I've heard so much about you." Xue Chao crawled backwards into the underwater cabin and suddenly appeared.

The dimly lit space was quiet for a moment, then a figure dressed in a black robe slowly emerged, his head covered by a hood.

The host's uniform? But there were no eyes on the hood, and Xue Chao didn't smell any nauseating odor from the crevices, so he didn't make a move.

Work clothes cannot be worn into dungeons; they are items with the same function, which can conceal a person's features.

However, Xue Chao, who had gained experience from reincarnation, noticed something amiss: "The squad leader who catches traitors."

The first time he walked inside the company, he encountered a group of colleagues arresting someone, and he was the leader.

The host nodded silently. He wasn't surprised, nor did he ask any further questions, but he stood furthest away from Xue Chao, looking dejected, like a mouse encountering a cat.

Xue Chao surveyed the area. Lamia's divine eye was embedded in the center of the monitoring screen, which was divided into eight sections by cracks, showing the players' live feeds.

This is so strange. Camera positions can be considered the host's "superpower," but there are limitations. In the early stages, it's about the number of positions available, and later players can disable sharing. But this instance comes with a complete set of camera positions.

Once the instance begins, you can find the host in the control room to synchronize the status of 8 players. You can still monitor the players even after your popularity reaches 60 points.

The game's camera position has become purely a factor in popularity ranking.

Xue Chao carefully observed the player, but then asked the evil god, "When did he appear?"

Tao Yuanyuan: "Popularity score: 89 points."

Just as Xue Chao had thought, Jiang Ming was trying to prevent the complete corruption of the instance. He suddenly heard Tao Yuanyuan say, "But the players' points are still increasing."

He didn't react immediately. Player points depend on dungeon contribution and popularity contribution. The room was disconnected, but the main quest was still progressing. They were all experts, and they were getting closer and closer to the maze exit. Wasn't it normal for their points to rise?

But Lü Lianshan's points... seem to be always synchronized with the room's popularity!

Tao Yuanyuan nodded: "Before the popularity score was capped, they were in sync with the top scorer in this round. After the popularity score was capped, their score didn't stop either."

"Moreover, there is no shop in the dungeon. With 30 popularity points, they can use some superpowers. 60 points fully unlocks them, and the superpowers become stronger as the game progresses."

Popularity value represents the contamination level of the instance, and points represent the alienation level of the players. The higher the points, the stronger the superpowers... Xue Chao's expression suddenly changed: "Have we found any clues about the boss yet?"

Tao Yuanyuan paused for a moment, then said, "No." He knew Xue Chao was referring to the original boss of the instance.

The original bosses are rooted in the dungeon's storyline; they don't appear out of thin air.

But unlike the old school days, this instance doesn't have a main storyline under each episode. It only has an island that can't be returned to and a maze that leads to the stars. The instance stories that players face are independent of each other, so how can there be a common boss?

Xue Chao left the cabin, emerged from the sea, and stared intently at the end of the maze with his third eye.

He finally glimpsed the colors of the starry sky through the gaps in the clouds, colors more intense and evil than those of the most mad god.

There is no boss in this instance because the boss hasn't been created yet—the main quest is about hatching the boss!

The end of the maze is not the exit, but the terminal of alienation. Players who reach the end will become the boss!

Once the boss battle is triggered, the players will connect with each other.

However, players who are completely isolated will not bother to gather together to kill the boss; their best strategy is to speed up the final stretch of the maze.

In the end, there might be more than one boss! Any cooperation will be too late.

The "Cracks Awareness" has already made its move, and its attitude is clear: these valuable top-tier players, if they cannot become bosses and be used for its own purposes, will die here.

This is the final harvest.

Jiang Ming may not have been unaware that the rift had deliberately lured him here and used the stars to drive him mad, but he could not allow these players to unknowingly march towards destruction and become an ally of the enemy.

Since there's no boss in the dungeon, let him be the boss.

Xue Chao returned to the cabin, his expression as gloomy as ink.

Tao Yuanyuan's hair stood on end. A sense of crisis even stronger than when facing this instance climbed up his nerves. He subconsciously stepped back, but he was already against the wall. He could only weakly push his back against it. When Xue Chao looked at him with fierce blue eyes, he took the initiative to say, "The company's task for you is to finish the instance?"

These are the four words, but the meaning is clear. Xue Chao whispered, "Kill the boss, or help the player complete the quest."

Eliminate the biggest enemy in the cracks, or completely alienate the player, and add a few more powerful generals to the cracks.

Regardless of which one is accomplished, it can serve as a demonstration of loyalty.

But does showing loyalty mean you don't have to die? These eyesores are the ones who should die.

If the Crevice Consciousness has remembered who he is and what he did, then in this chaotic battle, he is the one the Crevice Consciousness most wants to die.

“You don’t like work, and neither do I. I especially dislike it when I help others work overtime while they leisurely slack off. I’m petty, and if I can’t stand it, I’ll drag others down with me.” Xue Chao said with a half-smile.

Tao Yuanyuan, the "other person," stiffened: "It's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility, but even the most powerful evil god can't beat me..."

“He’s in my hands,” Xue Chao interrupted.

"...The maze is closed and isolated, so even if I wanted to help them advance the main quest, I couldn't interfere."

"Can't intervene? You mean each player has up to 3 voice call permissions?" Xue Chao sneered. "In this instance, the host has the most power and must be an important role. If they can monitor the maze, they can change it. I don't need you to go to the front line. You just need to hide here and do one thing—cause trouble for the players."

Tao Yuanyuan instantly understood his meaning. Xue Chao didn't need him to advance the main storyline; on the contrary, he wanted him to disrupt the game, prevent players from completing the main quest, and delay the game.

This is what hosts do best.

"I can't afford to be distracted when facing an evil god, so it's all up to you. If you just want to finish the dungeon quickly, there's nothing I can do." Xue Chao smiled and forcefully put his arm around the host's shoulder. "Then we'll just have to meet down there. I'll be going to hell all by myself; it'll be lonely."

Tao Yuanyuan's heart throbbed strangely, startling him so much that he almost lost his composure. It wasn't just a warning of danger; something had taken root in his heart, moving gently... like flapping wings!

When did he know that Holder's students were also extremely formidable and knew his weaknesses inside and out?

The host has immense mental strength, but it's not always stable. He's a typical example; he can't withstand turmoil and is best advised to avoid madness and chaos and remain aloof.

However, Xue Chao's mental strength has no weaknesses. As the chosen host, there is no need to seize the opportunity when he is mentally unstable. He may plant the strange winged thing into his heart as soon as they meet.

Tao Yuanyuan glanced at Xue Chao's forehead. "With this eye?"

"I see."

If it were someone like Jiang Ming, being threatened like this would only incite rebellion, and there would be no way to restrain him even if they were to die together. But Tao Yuanyuan accepted it without hesitation.

"Just hold on," he thought calmly. But he wasn't that good at stirring up trouble...

Xue Chao seemed to sense his distress and casually said before leaving, "If it doesn't suit your style, then use my name. For example, you can call Xu Feiying first and tell him to be wary of He Yang."

These words were obviously intentional. He Yang was the only president present. In the infinite world, the consciousness in the gaps could use him to spy on the inside of the instance. He was the informant for this event.

We can't hand it over to Lü Lianshan. He's too ruthless, and he's currently ranked first in points. It's dangerous for him and for the instance space affected by popularity.

Xue Chao stood on the empty island. The blood-soaked land was like a steamer, emitting a fishy smell, but it was cold.

The abyss hangs upside down in the sky, the stars like shining skeletons, the clouds and mist cannot obscure them, but instead seem to be dragged into the abyss.

The red light flashed like lightning, and the mournful, sharp dragon roar was louder than thunder. Xue Chao's heart pounded heavier than a drum, as if responding to the dragon's roar.

Xue Chao stepped into the maze entrance. He was not a player and did not venture into his own maze. The path ahead of the entrance was ever-changing, seemingly struggling to decide whose maze to push him into.

Ignoring the self-delusional maze, he hung upside down on the back of the stairs, refusing to enter any path, treating the entire maze as a climbing wall, and using the tools to climb to the end.

However, the spans between the small mazes are too great; he cannot fly across them unless he grows wings.

The dragon's tail lashed out, crashing into the maze like the desperate drumming of a wronged soul. The maze remained unbroken, and the evil god's blood splattered onto the translucent, seven-colored staircase and onto Xue Chao's face.

Xue Chao pursed his lips, forcing himself to look away from the sky.

He gripped the rope, dangling high in the air, his third eye coldly staring at his left hand, where a surveillance symbol had appeared in his palm.

Tao Yuanyuan broke out in a cold sweat after monitoring the situation. He had also left props on Xue Chao when they made contact.

Xue Chao knew this was exactly what he wanted, making it convenient for them to communicate remotely. He was being informed that he could start causing trouble for the players now.

Tao Yuanyuan made a voice call to Xu Feiying.

Xue Chao was hanging in Xu Feiying's maze when the maze suddenly moved slowly, tilting towards another maze and narrowing the distance to He Yang's maze. He took the opportunity to switch mazes.

You guessed right!

Players cannot be completely unrelated; otherwise, they would be divided into eight instances. The content of the instances is constructed by the players, so they cannot be relied upon, and the connection is not with the players but with the host.

Monitoring and manipulating the maze are powers unique to the host.

The host may seem to be excluded, but he is actually connected to the maze and can be seen as the maze itself.

Tao Yuanyuan realized this and didn't want to get involved, but now he had no choice.

As the current number one host, although she doesn't often do such unethical things, she knows what kind of effect Xue Chao wants and can manipulate him with ease.

Taking advantage of the maze's transformations, Xue Chao approached the maze's exit at top speed.

But the exit, located in the starry sky, was above the clouds. As soon as he entered the unique cold and misty clouds of Xibei Mountain, his heart pounded with a desperate rhythm, as if it were about to burst open his chest.

The red light danced wildly, without any order, and the stench of blood permeated the clouds and mist. It was lighter than the smell of the island, but when it entered Xue Chao's heart, it was heavier than the entire sea of ​​blood.

Going mad—just two words. It wasn't sudden; it was the result of years of torment.

Jiang Ming wasn't completely alienated, but he was close. The longer it went on, the more severe the alienation became. He retained a bit of human intelligence and constantly resisted 99% of the mental pollution. Madness was his most dignified form.

Now it's almost at its breaking point. As the consciousness within the cracks desires, it must completely transform, or else it will die.

Xue Chao had been in the instance for some time. The white dragon attacked every corner of the instance indiscriminately. The sea of ​​blood was stirred into a vortex, the wrecked ship was pierced, and the maze was constantly being smashed. Only two places were spared: the central control room where the host was hiding and... him.

He stood brightly on the island, passed through the most densely attacked maze, and stopped in the mist, yet he was not harmed at all.

It seems that Jiang Ming's last remaining consciousness, on the verge of collapse, was entirely focused on "not being able to hurt him." Having lost his reason, his instincts would also make the evil god obey.

So you refuse to see him? Xue Chao let go and fell.

A flash of red light appeared, and the cold, damp dragon tail wrapped around his waist, quickly coiling around him and binding him tightly.

As the clouds and mist dissipated, Xue Chao finally saw what Jiang Ming looked like.

A pale, paper-thin dragon floated in the air, its scales torn and bleeding. In its scarlet eyes, the pupils shrank to a vertical line and trembled uncontrollably.

Xue Chao was lost in thought.

The dragon's tail was still wrapped around him, afraid that he would fall, but its mouth opened uncontrollably, its long teeth like thorns, and fell towards Xue Chao.

Xue Chao said softly, "Is this how you're going to face me?"

The tooth tip suddenly stopped, just a hair's breadth away from Xue Chao's artery.

The evil god's mind was in chaos, but distant memories slowly surfaced. The tavern owner was his mentor. Although he had a guild, he often went to the tavern outside of the game.

He encountered Xue Chao drinking alone at the bar. The lighting was dim, and the handsome man rested his chin on his hand, lazily sipped his drink, and casually glanced over before his eyes landed precisely on him.

He was mesmerized by those ocean-blue eyes and fell into them without even realizing it.

His heart was pounding so hard it made his ears go numb. He immediately straightened his appearance, determined to make a good impression.

Later, he discovered that Xue Chao liked his face, so every time he went to the bar, he would spend an hour getting ready, just to attract Xue Chao's attention for a moment during a rare chance encounter.

He hoped that every time Xue Chao saw him, he would look his best.

The dragon's tail tightened, but its upper body slowly dissolved into mist, transforming into an evil god in a mourning hat and wedding dress, revealing only a pair of bloody lips. Its long white hair was blown onto Xue Chao, like a restrained caress.

The coldness felt, yet it also fueled a fire in Xue Chao's heart.

Xue Chao: "Are you awake now?"

The evil god shook his head in agony, the pain feeling like it was splitting his skull open, but his mouth obediently replied, "Only two thoughts..."

The soft, feminine tone became too hoarse, losing its allure and pleasantness. Even the evil god heard his own voice and shut his mouth again.

It doesn't sound good... I don't want him to hear it.

Xue Chao grabbed Jiang Ming's hand, which was hidden in his red sleeve, and before Jiang Ming could dodge, he pressed his hand to his face: "I want to hear."

The evil god remained silent, trembling all over, enduring to the extreme.

Xue Chao's fingers dug into Jiang Ming's, drawing his hand to his own heart, and he sneered, "Weren't you quite impressive just now for stealing my host identity...?"

Whether it was his words or actions that provoked the evil god, the evil god suddenly tightened his grip on his hand, almost crushing it.

"You're the one who's always been afraid, aren't you? Every time you see me, your heart races like this."

The evil god, unable to bear it any longer, bent down, his chaotic, blood-red vertical pupils beneath his mourning cap staring intently at him, like a wild beast admiring its prey before a meal.

With his other hand, he gripped Xue Chao's neck, the cold dragon scales on his hand brushing against his cheek.

The evil god curled his lips into a nervous smile and said, "Tell me, should I kiss you now, or should I kill you?"

After making this provocative remark, Xue Chao's status as a host was once again clouded, becoming "to be unlocked".

"I think there's something even more fun to do." Xue Chao thrust the knife into the evil god's heart with his other hand, while simultaneously kissing Jiang Ming's lips.

The heart is the source of the soul; supernatural abilities originate from here, mobilizing the body and spirit.

The more freely and powerful one's superpowers are, the more one's soul strays towards heresy.

Having acquired superhuman strength, one's body and mind must evolve to withstand that strength.

The completely mutated heart is the boss's core. The God of Joy is humanoid, so his heart is easy to find. Its location and shape may not have changed, since he still retains some human parts.

A painful dragon's roar pierced through the clouds, revealing the starry sky, which looked down upon them as they fell.

The dragon's body crashed into the maze with a "bang," but the seemingly indestructible maze cracked and broke apart!

Eight mazes were smashed along the way, and the scattered rainbow fragments were more dazzling than the starry sky.

The players seized the opportunity to escape the maze, while in the distance, a white dragon plunged into the sea, creating a raging storm that splashed them with blood.

Influenced by the alienation and the power of the evil god, they are in a state of madness and unable to make sense of things. They haven't even killed the host from a distance yet. How do they break through the maze?

Players who sense a trap at the end can also guess the theme of the dungeon: the Rainbow Bridge is the host. They cannot destroy the maze because the host is still alive.

Only by killing the host can you escape the maze.

But what is this now?

In the deep sea, the dragon tail that had been binding Xue Chao lost its strength and transformed into a long wedding dress, but it did not drift away. Xue Chao held on tightly to the evil god, ignoring his broken leg.

He grabbed the evil god's wedding dress and climbed up, his body writhing in pain as he awkwardly wrapped his arms around the evil god's neck, their bodies pressed tightly together, heart to heart.

Thump, thump, thump.

Xue Chao's violent heartbeat caused Jiang Ming's chest to heave, as if trying to awaken the silent chest of the evil god.

The evil god was too weak to hug him, but he remembered not having answered his question, and whispered, "For example?"

"Kill this game."

They came together because of this and developed a mutual respect for each other.

The evil god leaned weakly against him, brazenly feeling his heartbeat, and smiled, "Admit it, you love me."

"I love you."

"..." The evil god's smile faltered, yet he still murmured coquettishly, "Hmph, I'm going to give you a hard time, I won't..."

"Your heart beats so fast if you don't love me?" Xue Chao's palm covered the gash on Jiang Ming's chest, and he pulled out the dagger without any resistance. "Your chest is empty."

His evil god froze.

“In my previous life, it was my first time as a host. I wanted to find a solution in this new identity, but the price was losing my reincarnation ability. A host doesn't have abilities, so I should have died completely,” Xue Chao said softly. “But you gave me your heart, didn't you?”

The explanation that his heart was pounding was Jiang Ming's animalistic alertness. However, there was a flaw in this explanation. Sometimes, his heart beat too early, and the warning should not be so premature. On other occasions, he noticed Jiang Ming first, but his heart beat later.

He was completely baffled, but then an idea struck him in the library.

It wasn't that his heart started racing when he sensed Jiang Ming's presence; rather, it was that Jiang Ming's heart started pounding the moment he saw him.

Jiang Ming's heart was beating in his chest.

Every time they met, it wasn't him who was wary of Jiang Ming...

He fell in love with Xue Chao the moment he saw him. The Evil God silently completed the second half of the sentence.

Jiang Ming awkwardly looked away: "I... didn't want to become a monster, so I dug out my heart and had Ivy hide it for you..."

Xue Chao was forcibly kept half-alive by this heart, and the player's heart urged his superpower to be activated one last time.

But it wasn't his heart after all, so it couldn't be a perfect match. He couldn't grow rapidly anymore, and was later sent to the real world by Ivy. His inner consciousness couldn't find him there.

Therefore, Jiang Ming was not completely alienated; his remaining human intelligence resided in Xue Chao's chest.

One heart nourishes two souls; as long as Xue Chao exists, he exists.

“I don’t care what your reason is, your heart is with me…” Xue Chao turned Jiang Ming’s face and kissed him again. In the painful sucking and biting, he said, “We are one in life and death.”