Yun Jian's expression also turned serious. If that were the case, then a great battle between the players and the charred corpses was inevitable.

She calmed herself down and continued to ask the charred corpse, "You haven't answered my previous question yet. What are you looking for in the white mist? Why do you still rush in even though the white mist is harmful to you?"

Jiao Shi glanced at Yun Jian with surprise.

Why does she even know this?

Seeing that he was still staring blankly and didn't want to speak, Yun glared at him, picked up a storage ball, and Jiao Shi hurriedly explained everything.

“There’s a powerful figure among us who knows in advance about the reward for completing our mission. Once we’ve killed you all, we can leave this jungle and get the item that will allow our charred corpses to transform and get rid of our current grotesque state. Don’t be fooled by our ability to fly and run; in reality, our bodies endure the pain of being gnawed at every day.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Jian's eyes narrowed.

"Is there someone important? Tell me about him."

The charred corpse stammered, and after thinking for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out two sentences: "As a low-level charred corpse like me, I rarely have the opportunity to participate in that kind of mission. I have only heard about him. I only know that he is the most intelligent among us, with unparalleled cunning, and is currently entrenched in the Tengyun Pavilion's lair."

Bai Yu clicked his tongue. "You guys even have different levels?"

The charred corpse nodded. "Those newly formed ones, devoid of any intelligence, are the lowest level. Those with wings are the next lowest. Those that can evade your attacks are the lower to middle level charred corpses. Those that can use tools are the upper to middle level charred corpses. Above that are the next higher level, and then the higher level..."

"Wow, you guys have a pretty strict hierarchy, huh?"

The charred corpse couldn't help but wipe away a tear as it spoke of this, "The gunpowder ash that can give charred corpses sentience is controlled by those high-level charred corpses. If we want to get the gunpowder ash, we have to make corresponding contributions in exchange."

As for what that contribution was, Yunjian knew without even thinking.

These charred corpses don't need to eat or rest; all they do all day is hurt people.

but……

After learning about these things, Yunjian actually came up with a solution.

She looked at the charred corpse: "At your current level, what rank do you have among charred corpses?"

The charred corpse looked down at its hands, and after a long moment of delight, said, "I've never seen what a high-level charred corpse looks like, but I think someone like me can at least be considered a near-high-level one."

After all, he had just inhaled so much gunpowder ash. If he were to exchange it for contributions, he might not be able to earn that much even after working for half a year.

Yun Jian nodded, then suddenly changed her expression, looking at the charred corpse with a smile.

The charred corpse couldn't help but take a few steps back, looking wary. "You'd better be fiercer to me. I'm scared of you like this."

Yun Jian said gently, "Once you enter my camp, you'll be one of my people! We'll all be family from now on, so don't be afraid."

The charred corpse: "...I'm even more scared now."

It's a charred corpse, you know. Yun Jian said he's family with them, so please show him some respect, okay?

Yun Jian remained silent, then simply adopted a cold demeanor. "Approximately how many of the charred corpses are of the second-highest grade?"

Jiao Shi tilted his head and thought for a while, "Not many. Anyone who can reach this level is a person of importance. They usually give orders from the Tengyun Pavilion's lair."

After he finished speaking, Jiao Shi finally understood what Yun Jian meant.

He is also a second-highest rank. Once he returns, he can secure a position in Tengyun Pavilion and won't have to go outside every day to bite people and earn contributions.

A comfortable life is beckoning him.

Yun Jian watched with great interest the changes in the charred corpse's expression and his final silly grin, and couldn't help but facepalm: "How did we end up bringing back such an idiot?"

Upon hearing this, the charred corpse instantly came to its senses.

He was very dissatisfied.

"I'm at least a second-highest level now, what makes you think I'm stupid? Wait until I get back..."

It quickly covered its mouth halfway through its sentence.

Yun Jian glanced at him with amusement and chuckled softly, "You don't believe me when I say you're stupid. Think about it, with me, you can have as much gunpowder as you want, and you can advance whenever you want. Why would you go back and be exploited by them?"

The charred corpse was taken aback: "That makes sense."

He would wait until he had finished absorbing all their gunpowder before going back.

After he finished speaking, he noticed that Yun Jian and Bai Yu's expressions were not very good. Bai Yu even cursed him, "You traitor."

He then realized that he had just blurted out what was on his mind.

Yun Jian coughed lightly, breaking the awkward atmosphere, "You're really adorably naive. Once you advance to the highest level, you can become king and command the charred corpses yourself. Why go back to be a subordinate to other charred corpses and suffer their mistreatment? Wouldn't it be better to be an emperor yourself?"

The charred corpse was shocked.

Bai Yu walked up to the charred corpse, opened his clenched fingers, and said, "Open up the space!"

Yun Jian continued, "And your ultimate goal is to get out of the jungle, no matter what the process is, as long as you get out of the jungle, right? Coincidentally, we have the same goal."

Bai Yu added fuel to the fire, "Since we have the same goal, why don't we cooperate? Besides, we own a gunpowder manufacturing plant."

Upon hearing about the gunpowder manufacturing plant, the charred corpse's eyes lit up immediately.

I couldn't help but nod.

Yun Jian opened the oath panel and pointed it at the charred corpse, saying, "You just agreed, and the oath is already in effect."

The charred corpse was stunned. He turned his head blankly and saw that Yun Jian's system panel showed that he had successfully made a vow with Yun Jian.

Damn it! Why can charred corpses make oaths with players?

He felt like he had unwittingly boarded a pirate ship.

Waaaaah...

This place is terrifying!

He was going to the gunpowder manufacturing plant.

Bai Yu also opened the oath panel, "You also swear an oath with me that you won't harm anyone in the Cloud Alliance!"

The charred corpse looked at the energy storage ball in Bai Yu's hand. Did he have a choice?

"Don't worry, I'll make them all treat you like one of their own."

The charred corpse was forced to make another oath with Bai Yu.

"Do you have a name? I can't keep calling you 'Charred Corpse' all the time," Bai Yu asked.

The charred corpse made a whooshing sound, and Yun Jian helped translate for him, "He said they all called him White Nose because his nose was high, and when gunpowder ash was sprinkled on it, the tip of his nose would turn white."

Bai Yu muttered in confusion, "But gunpowder ash isn't white."

Unexpectedly, the charred corpse suddenly became agitated and kept making loud noises.

After Yun Jian understood what he meant, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "He said it's because 'White Nose' sounds nice, while other charred corpses usually call him 'Sand Nose'."

Bai Yu was taken aback, but then burst into laughter, "A sandy nose suits you quite well."

The charred corpse stomped its feet in anger.

Taking advantage of this break, Yun Jian checked her system panel and found that the task progress had changed from (0/20) to (1/20).

That's good, her task is settled.

Bai Yu also came over for a look and immediately felt relieved.