Chapter 350 Crimson Awakening
"The key lies in the fifth star."
"But... its activation conditions are unclear."
As soon as the words were spoken, the fourth star on the Pear Water-type card lit up instantly.
This is?
The reward for completing the quest to find the Book of the Goddess of the Luo River is now gone, as the headquarters' voice has completely disappeared.
Thunder rumbled incessantly in the sky.
Luo Chuan, Lian Zhuo, Wen Jin, Yan Xi, and Shen Yu, along with Xiao Ta and Zhao Heng, were all trying their best to protect Hua Li behind them.
The lighting up of the Water-type Star finally healed Karin's injuries, allowing her to return to her peak condition.
Luo Shenshu paused for a moment: "Huali, I can feel the immense love in these cards."
"But the last star was not lit by love."
Ao Bai: "It's the headquarters system."
"It doesn't allow your cards to be linked in the form of 'love'. The final shackles are set up so that it can control you at the last moment."
As soon as Ao Bai finished speaking, the system, whose true nature had been completely exposed, finally became furious.
It was no longer a simple attack, but a barrage of light spears!
When Wen Tingyun and the others finally understood what had happened, their faces turned frighteningly ugly.
"Ranran, is what Huali said true?" Li Yuan stared intently at Qi Ran. "You also... only approached me because of the mission?"
"Were all those acts of selfless protection in the Black Abyss... planned from the very beginning?"
"Is your talk of companionship genuine?"
Qi Ran lowered her head in embarrassment.
She wanted to deny it.
But the luck of those around them is not so easily fooled.
If Karin hadn't said these things, she could have gotten away with it, but what good would it do now?
The world was doomed the moment Karin revealed the truth.
Her mission... also failed.
Disheartened.
Everything before her eyes made Qi Ran feel disheartened.
In this world, she was doing nothing but futile work from beginning to end.
They even turned into villains.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Tong suggested, "Host, there is no need to stay in this world any longer."
"Let's leave."
leave?
Qi Ran was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked behind her—
Having already realized what was happening, Fu Yan and the others were working together to channel their spiritual energy into the barrier of Hua Li's luck.
Everyone had a resolute look in their eyes and a solemn expression.
A complex emotion flashed in Qi Ran's eyes.
Stay? The world has already begun to crumble.
But should we really let these people face certain death?
If she...
No, that's not right! What is she thinking?!
Everything is over; she absolutely cannot be entangled in this little world.
Almost subconsciously, Qi Ran quickly suppressed this "unreasonable" emotion.
Xiaotong's judgment is correct; leaving is the optimal solution.
Everyone has their own choices, and cause and effect are predetermined.
"Xiao Tong, initiate the emergency evacuation procedure."
Xiao Tong: "Command received, countdown begins: three, two..."
"Warning: The world's core energy is severely insufficient and cannot meet the energy requirements for separation."
"Failed to start without a program".
What?
Qi Ran's expression changed.
Breaking free requires luck? She'd never heard of that!
Doesn't the system always take her through time directly?
Realizing something, Qi Ran suddenly looked at the dark silver sky that was still trying to bombard Hua Li.
And the black mist that had gradually spread and become a disaster all around, starting from who knows when.
What's with this black mist...?
Xiao Tong paused suspiciously for two seconds, "The black aura... is a signal that the world's origin is being constantly eroded... and is about to be depleted."
Qi Ran seemed unable to understand what it was saying.
"What do you mean by 'about to be exhausted'? Weren't these black energies already there when we were conquering Fu Yan? And isn't everything happening here now because of Hua Li Tou..."
The sound stopped abruptly.
A hypothesis, as cold as a venomous snake, slithered into her mind.
if……
If every person who appears here not only has to collect all the stars on the cards, but also needs "luck" to support every step they take...
After several such incidents...
Is this little world still functioning properly?
Answer--
The answer lies in the black mist that had long appeared in the Cangming Sea and the Boundary Abyss.
A terrifying doubt, one that Qi Ran had never dared to ponder before, surged into her mind like a tidal wave.
What if... the "order" and "balance" she has always believed in were built on lies and plunder from the very beginning?
What if what Karin said... is the truth?
Just as Qi Ran's faith crumbled and she lost her composure, standing frozen in place—
High in the sky, headquarters keenly sensed the "abnormality" and "wavering" of the mission takers at this moment.
The moment the advanced risk assessment was completed, a faster, dark purple beam of light shot directly toward Qi Ran.
Little Copper shrieked, "Host, get out of the way!"
Qi Ran's mind went completely blank.
Headquarters wants to kill her?
The chill of death instantly enveloped Qi Ran!
Even though she was in a daze, her combat instincts, honed through years of missions, allowed her to transform her fire card into a sharp fire blade and shoot it out at the critical moment—while dodging with all her might!
"Ranran, watch out!"
At the same time, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side and stood in front of her without hesitation.
The instant the seal was severed from the hands—
Pfft—
The condensed fire blade pierced through Zhanli's chest from behind without any hindrance!
Warm blood, like blooming red plum blossoms, splattered all over Qi Ran's face and body.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Zhan Li paused in his forward momentum, looking down at the huge, lifeless hole in his chest that was rapidly extinguishing his life force.
He slowly turned his head back to look at Qi Ran, who was close at hand and whose blood had faded.
"Ranran..." Zhan Li opened his mouth, then his body went limp...
Qi Ran's pupils shrank to pinpoints!
Blood from her eyelashes flowed down her wide-open eyes, down to the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth, and finally splattered on the ground.
Snap—
Qi Ran suddenly came to her senses.
She rushed forward like a madwoman, grabbed Zhan Li's body, and the two of them fell heavily to the ground. Qi Ran immediately scrambled to her feet, reaching out to try and stop the blood that kept gushing from Zhan Li's chest.
"I didn't...I didn't mean to hurt you, I...I...why..."
The usually composed mission taker's voice trembled uncontrollably at this moment, "Little Copper, exchange your points for medicine, hurry up and redeem it!!!"
Xiao Tong: "...Host, it's useless. The medicine can only slow down the process, but it can't truly stop death."
"Cards...wood-type cards..."
When choosing card skills back then, she personally gave up healing abilities and strategically chose deduction, which was more conducive to mission execution.
As the overwhelming irony struck, Qi Ran felt a sweet taste in her throat, her eyes pale and desperate. "Zhan Li... Zhan Li, why... I didn't mean to hurt you... I..."
“…I know.” Zhan Li forced a smile, as if he wanted to, but ultimately failed.
The boy's bright, double pupils held a complex expression, yet even now, there was not a trace of resentment in them.
"You know?" Qi Ran's face turned pale, and she shook her head desperately. "No, you don't know. Didn't you hear what Hua Li said... I... I'm not worth you doing this for me."
Zhan Li sighed, blood flowing more and more from the corner of his lips. Qi Ran tried desperately to wipe it away, but she couldn't get it clean no matter what she did.
On the boy's pale face, blood vessels like cracks were spreading from the edges of his double pupils.
Each breath shook down tiny specks of light.
"But I still remember... the Valley of Evening Mist Flowers... when my Dao foundation was damaged and I was surrounded by demonic cultivators, it was you... who passed by and saved me."
"From that time on... you... have always been... an important friend... I can't... just watch you..."
Qi Ran was trembling all over.
Zhan Li's words were like the final key, completely shattering the cold, hard barrier instilled in her heart by headquarters.
A friend you've chosen? Someone important to you?
With her eyes blurred by tears, Qi Ran looked at the dying Zhan Li in her arms, then at Wen Tingyun, Li Yuan, Fu Yan, and Mu Feng, who were pale-faced but still protecting her behind them.
An overwhelming grief seemed to crush her.
What should she say?
How can we describe those deliberate acts of rescue, those meticulously designed predicaments...?
She... she simply couldn't bring herself to say it.
As a mission taker, she was told by headquarters that emotions were unnecessary, and that everything should prioritize the mission and efficiency, with the past being just a passing cloud.
Treat yourself as an actor, and leave once it's over.
But now...
But someone was about to die trying to save her...
It was right after she decided to leave...
Heart-wrenching pain and profound realization erupted within Qi Ran like a volcano!
Her face, body, and hands were covered in blood.
But suddenly he raised his hand and rubbed his eyes hard.
Zhanli must not die! Zhanli must not die!!!
"Hualin!!!" Qi Ran's voice was hoarse like never before as she resolutely turned to look at Huali, "Save Zhanli!!"
"I'm willing to help you!! Please, just save him!!"
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