Chapter 1093: Gains

He had no idea what had happened, only seeing that the “life gamble” seemed to have started—and yet, it also appeared to have ended.

The Earth Dragon lay dead on the ground, while Wen Qiaoyun stood unharmed.

Qi Xia stepped aside, revealing the path to “rout” for the people in the arena.

Then he turned to Qinglong and said, “Let me confirm one last time—they can leave now, right?”

“They can,” Qinglong nodded.

“No foul play, correct?” Qi Xia pressed.

“None,” Qinglong replied. “This game no longer concerns them. It’s just between you and me now.”

“Good.” Qi Xia glanced at Chu Tianqiu once more, his eyes conveying a silent message.

Naturally, Chu Tianqiu was bewildered by the scene. Qinglong and Xuanwu stood there, yet they willingly let the entire team go…

There was only one explanation: his team had won the “life gamble.”

But how had the “life gamble” in the Earth Dragon game progressed from start to finish in just two or three minutes?

And how had the Earth Dragon ended up dead in such a short time, its blood pooling on the ground?

With too many questions swirling in his mind, Chu Tianqiu abandoned his thoughts for the moment and instead focused on what came next.

“The ‘Cangjie Chess’… What a ridiculous game.”

What had he truly gained from this “Cangjie Chess”?

Midway through the game, Yan Zhichun had struck a deal with him—offering “Paradise Port” as leverage to assist the “Extreme Path” in exchange for the use of two “characters.”

And now, at the game’s conclusion, he was forced into another deal with Qi Xia.

He had wagered “infiltrating Tianlong’s dream” against the survival of the entire team.

From a process standpoint, he had been making choices all along. But looking at the outcome, it seemed he had gained nothing—instead, he had fallen into two deeper pits.

Was this path of emptiness truly the right one?

“Wait…”

Chu Tianqiu’s brow suddenly furrowed as Qi Xia’s words echoed faintly in his mind.

Why did he always feel like he had gained nothing…?

Looking at his numerous teammates in the “Cangjie Chess,” a thought flashed through his mind—

Hadn’t his teammates all survived?

Wen Qiaoyun, Dr. Zhao, Jin Yuanxun, Xu Liunian, and even Yan Zhichun, whom he had encountered several times.

Except for Zhang Shan… weren’t they all alive?

For the first time, a peculiar contradiction arose in his mind.

Why had he never considered his teammates’ survival as a “gain,” nor their deaths as a “loss”?

With this realization, he sighed deeply and looked up at Qi Xia. “Qi Xia, if I’m not mistaken, this bet was about the ‘entire team’ surviving.”

He didn’t spell it out—Qinglong was too close—but Qi Xia understood.

Qi Xia nodded. “I said the ‘entire team,’ and I meant it. Not a single one will be missing.”

“You…”

Chu Tianqiu’s expression darkened. He knew this was nothing difficult for Qi Xia. With a resigned nod, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Meanwhile, everyone in his team stepped forward and, before Qinglong could change his mind, entered the “door” leading to “rout.”

No one had expected the game to end like this—had they won, or had they lost?

Soon, a “door” that had never appeared before materialized before them.

Chu Tianqiu pushed it open and found the “Land of the End” beyond.

He knew the situation was absurd.

They had already boarded the “train,” yet now they had to voluntarily disembark.

After struggling at the edge of death, he and Qi Xia would once again enter the “locomotive.”

But if he didn’t board this ship, was there a better opportunity for him?

“Tianqiu…” Wen Qiaoyun spoke beside him. “Have you thought about the path ahead?”

Hearing her familiar voice, Chu Tianqiu felt an uncharacteristic chill down his spine.

In that moment, he seemed to understand something.

Qi Xia’s ultimate goal in this game wasn’t to make him personally bury Wen Qiaoyun’s life—it was to make him realize her importance through the game.

Because the moment Wen Qiaoyun proposed the “life gamble” with the Earth Dragon, Qi Xia would have intervened to save her, no matter the circumstances.

“Do you truly believe ‘gods’ are just mortals in the end…?” Chu Tianqiu smiled bitterly. “You think only those burdened with ‘attachments’ can reach heights no one else can.”

Chu Tianqiu realized Qi Xia had used this opportunity to prove which path was the right one—but he had done so in a way no one else would dare imagine.

“Qiaoyun, let’s go,” Chu Tianqiu said.

“Where to…?” Wen Qiaoyun asked.

Chu Tianqiu pointed beyond the door to the “Land of the End.” “If possible, let’s see the world outside together.”

“The world outside…?” Wen Qiaoyun followed his gaze.

But what “world outside” was there?

Only a crimson “end.”

Chu Tianqiu didn’t answer. He stepped through the “door” and vanished from the “Cangjie Chess” arena.

The others hesitated no longer and followed him out.

Back in the game arena, Qinglong surveyed the high walls around him, a faint smirk crossing his lips before he leaped onto the platform.

Whatever he did up there, within seconds, all the walls and “doors” in the center began to descend—as if sinking into the ground—leaving only the outermost perimeter intact.

The “riverbed” and both “preparation zones” merged into one vast space, with only Zhang Shan’s corpse and a silent pile of “characters” remaining at the center.

The group in the red team’s “preparation zone” finally had a clear line of sight to Qi Xia in the distance.

Still reeling from the drastic changes, they saw Qi Xia and Qinglong standing in a standoff.

“Damn it,” Chen Junnan said decisively. “Old Qi’s up against Qinglong.”

“Bloody hell!” Qiao Jiajin limped forward. “Handsome lad, should we go beat him up together?”

Chen Junnan winced as his ribs throbbed. “Old Qiao, we’d probably drop dead on the way there. Maybe let’s not push our luck?”

“But what about Liar?” Qiao Jiajin asked. “Can he handle that guy?”

“Well…”

As they watched with concern, another change swept through the arena.

A white wall rose from the center, bearing a massive screen.