“It seems like ‘Qingxiang’…” Zheng Yingxiong said again, “I originally thought it was the scent of the ‘Endgame Land,’ but I never noticed it was the scent of ‘Qingxiang’… because it wasn’t that strong to begin with!”
“I’m a bit confused,” Chen Junnan said. “‘Qingxiang’ is ‘Echo,’ right? You’re saying that thing has always been an ‘Echo,’ but since it’s been floating in the sky all this time, you got used to it… and didn’t think of it as an ‘Echo’?”
Qiao Jiajin finally caught on and nodded. “Got it. Right under our noses.”
“Exactly! Right under our noses!” Zheng Yingxiong said urgently. “It’s faint! Even though it’s dissipating now, it was always faint.”
“This is trouble,” Chen Junnan said. “Only you can smell that scent, kid. We can’t help you.”
“If only I could get out now! If I could just get out, I’d know its name! The scent that’s dissipating now… it’s way too faint from here…”
“Old Qi probably knows what’s going on,” Chen Junnan said, gazing toward the “Door” from the preparation area. “Maybe he’s carrying out some plan over there?”
Zheng Yingxiong froze. “This huge, disappearing thing… is related to Qi Xia?”
Chen Junnan nodded. “Could be.”
Zhang Chenze paused after hearing this and asked, “There’s one thing I don’t quite understand…”
“What?”
“From your descriptions…” Zhang Chenze ventured cautiously, “that thing that’s disappearing is a kind of… ‘Echo,’ right?”
Chen Junnan thought for a moment before replying, “Sounds like it. Like a ‘Continuous Echo.'”
“Then…” Zhang Chenze continued, “under what circumstances… would a ‘Continuous Echo’ disappear?”
Her mind involuntarily flashed to her own black jacket, which had “escaped.” It was probably still active somewhere in the “Endgame Land.” Would it keep moving forever?
Chen Junnan found her question quite interesting.
“Make an ability disappear? Isn’t that easy?” Qiao Jiajin said. “All I have to do is say—”
“Cut it out,” Chen Junnan quickly interrupted. “Your method is way too brute-force. Lawyer Zhang is asking about normal circumstances.”
“Right, I mean under normal conditions,” Zhang Chenze nodded. “Is there any way to deactivate this kind of ‘Continuous Echo’?”
Everyone turned to look at Chen Junnan, as in their minds, he had retained memories long enough to know. Chen Junnan, in turn, glanced meaningfully at Zheng Yingxiong.
Zheng Yingxiong shook his head after receiving the look. “I don’t know. You tell them.”
“Alright, then I’ll go ahead and make a wild guess,” Chen Junnan said. “I think it varies from person to person. Different ‘Echoes’ have different conditions for deactivation. Most people in the ‘Endgame Land’ have instant ‘Echoes’—use it once and it’s done, like me and Old Qiao. But there are exceptions.”
Zhang Chenze nodded with interest. “What exceptions?”
“For example, Zhang Lijuan,” Chen Junnan said. “Her ‘Echo’ is more permanent. The things she creates will stay as long as they aren’t destroyed.”
“Huh?” Tian Tian blinked. “Really?”
“Yep. And there’s another exception,” Chen Junnan added, glancing at Han Yimo.
“…?” Han Yimo blinked. “Why are you looking at me?”
“Some people’s ‘Echoes’ subtly persist and keep taking effect,” Chen Junnan explained, still staring at Han Yimo. “In that case, there’s a very simple and brutal way to make the ‘Echo’ disappear—the owner of the ‘Echo’ kicks the bucket.”
“Hey, can you stop staring at me when you say that?” Han Yimo protested.
“Relax, I just find you interesting,” Chen Junnan laughed.
“I feel like I’ve heard that line a few times today…” Han Yimo muttered under his breath.
“Then the answer should be easy to figure out,” Zhang Chenze interjected, cutting short their banter. “Later, we can ask Qi Xia who just died. That person must be the owner of this ‘Echo.'”
Zheng Yingxiong and Chen Junnan both felt something was slightly off about this.
If this “Echo” had always been here, how come none of them noticed?
The “Display” didn’t notice, and Qinglong didn’t either?
This thing had been hanging blatantly in the sky, yet no one here noticed… Wasn’t that a bit too ridiculous?
Was it really, as Qiao Jiajin said, right under their noses?
Qinglong also sensed something strange. He looked up and around, scanning the surroundings. A weird feeling flickered through him—though odd sensations were common in this land, this one felt particularly eerie.
Qinglong couldn’t help but frown… Could this be some crucial clue?
He glanced at the lifeless Earth Dragon and chuckled softly.
Qi Xia trusted these so-called “teammates” so much that most of them probably carried “Echoes.”
Even if their dying struggle had caused this anomaly, what of it?
No one in this land had their “Echo” grow stronger after death—it only weakened or disappeared.
So, most likely, some “Echo” had just vanished.
“Qinglong,” Qi Xia called out. “A bet’s a bet. Let them go, and then it’s just you and me.”
Qi Xia then turned to Yan Zhichun, his gaze so complex it was impossible to decipher.
It wasn’t just a cold stare—it felt more like the signal for something to “begin.”
Yan Zhichun knew she had gotten what she wanted.
Not only had Qi Xia thoroughly defeated her in a one-on-one game, but according to Chu Tianqiu, he had also orchestrated such tight teamwork that Chu Tianqiu’s entire squad was cornered.
If that were all, he wouldn’t be much of a leader. But now, the defeated team could retreat unscathed, avoiding death in this dark, twisted place, while Qi Xia stepped up alone to challenge Qinglong, flipping the stakes of the “life gamble.”
Originally, it had been Wen Qiaoyun and Earth Dragon’s wager, but now it had transformed into Qi Xia versus Qinglong.
Though Yan Zhichun didn’t understand how this had happened, she knew Qi Xia’s scheming had to be behind it.
Rather than wasting time figuring out Qi Xia’s exact moves, it was better to decisively ride this wave.
If everything was part of the plan, then everything happening now was according to plan.
With that thought, Yan Zhichun nodded at Qi Xia.
Qi Xia gave a slight nod in return and turned back to Qinglong. “Have you settled on the new rules?”
Qinglong smirked. “Of course. I always have a backup plan.”
“Good.”
With that, Qi Xia walked to the far side of the “preparation area” and opened the door labeled “Rout.”
Chu Tianqiu stood outside, his expression grave as he looked into the room.
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