“It looks like things are going smoothly.” Black Sheep glanced at the leaders of the teams before him.
An unnamed elder, Old Deng, Aunt Tong, and the newly arrived teams of Yan Zhichun, Jiang Ruoxue, and Old Sun—six out of the expected seven teams had gathered.
“We can’t wait for the last team anymore,” Black Sheep said. “All ‘Participants,’ bring your ‘Convictions’ and get ready to move. ‘Zodiacs,’ do as you please.”
A few ‘Zodiacs’ exchanged glances before scattering to take action.
“What’s going on…?” Old Sun turned to Yan Zhichun. “Why is there a team missing? Sis, who didn’t show up?”
Yan Zhichun sensed a discrepancy with the actual situation and quickly replied, “There should still be two more teams—Xiao Xiao’s group and Zhou Mo’s group. They’re both alive.”
“Then where are they?! Why aren’t they here?!” Old Sun pressed. “This is a straight path—just come already!”
As they spoke, Zhou Mo came running from a distance with a few others in tow.
“Tch, damn it… some ‘Human-level’ fools blocked the way…” Zhou Mo panted as he arrived. “But they’re dealt with now. Peace and quiet.”
The group felt relieved at Zhou Mo’s arrival—until they realized the people running toward them weren’t the ‘Extremists’ they expected.
Instead, it was the infamous ‘Cats’—Qian Wu, Zhou Liu, Bai Jiu, and Luo Shiyi—along with Officer Li and Su Shan.
Noticing the stares, Zhou Mo shook his head. “Something went wrong. The ‘Extremists’ ran into a ‘Death Door,’ so we had to let the ‘Cats’ in instead.”
“As long as you’re here,” Yan Zhichun said. “Then that just leaves…”
Though they couldn’t see it, everyone could imagine that trouble had befallen Xiao Xiao, Lin Qin, and Zheng Yingxiong’s group.
Even if they hadn’t encountered danger outside, death was still a possibility inside the ‘Train.’
By now, that team was likely wiped out.
Jiang Ruoxue turned to Zhou Mo. “Why are you just standing there? Use your ‘Telepathy’ and ask them! What good are you if you don’t?”
“Tch, don’t be a pain, bitch. If I could, I would’ve already,” Zhou Mo snapped, frowning. “None of our ‘Echoes’ work in this damn place.”
“‘Echoes’ don’t work here?” The ‘Extremists’ grew uneasy.
Their only advantage in challenging the ‘Train’ was their ‘Echoes.’ Without them, how could they fight the ‘Zodiacs’?
“They *can* work…” Yan Zhichun said.
Zhou Mo looked at her. “Tch, how?”
“I…” She hesitated, the words stuck in her throat.
According to Chu Tianqiu’s explanation, one only needed to firmly believe they had already obtained their ‘Echo.’
But saying that out loud would backfire for those with weaker subconscious minds—they’d spiral into uncertainty and never trigger their ‘Echo.’
Her mind raced—how had Qi Xia managed to make everyone activate their ‘Echoes’ back then?
“Wait… Zheng Yingxiong…” Yan Zhichun froze, suddenly remembering the living ‘Bell.’
If he declared that someone had an ‘Echo,’ then they *would* have one.
But Zheng Yingxiong was in the same team as Xiao Xiao, along with that self-proclaimed ‘Catalyst,’ Lin Qin—and none of them had arrived yet.
Was there really no other way?
“No one has their ‘Echo’?” Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward. “I can’t even tell if *mine* is active. Let me try!”
She reached out and took Yan Zhichun’s hand.
“Zhichun, what are you thinking?” Jiang Ruoxue asked.
“I…” Yan Zhichun sighed. “I’m thinking about how to make sure everyone stabilizes their ‘Echoes.'”
“Alright.” Jiang Ruoxue nodded. “Zhichun, you need to understand the logic here… Close your eyes, then open them again, and you’ll see the person who can help you solve this.”
Yan Zhichun knew Jiang Ruoxue’s ability well, so she closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she reopened them—but still only saw Jiang Ruoxue.
Of course… If Jiang Ruoxue was standing right there, who else *could* she see?
“This…” Yan Zhichun was baffled. “Ruoxue… Are you *sure* your ‘Echo’ is active?”
“Uh…” Jiang Ruoxue chuckled awkwardly. “Heh, I don’t know… I don’t feel anything at all.”
“I think you should—”
Yan Zhichun was about to say something when she suddenly paused. Her gaze wasn’t just on Jiang Ruoxue—it also landed on Su Shan, who stood a short distance behind her.
Why was this unfamiliar woman here?
“Wait… Could she…?”
Yan Zhichun released Jiang Ruoxue’s hand and approached Su Shan. “Sis, what’s your ‘Echo’?”
“I’m… ‘Clairvoyance’…”
Yan Zhichun’s eyes widened slightly. Was this a coincidence or ‘Causality’ at work?
Whether Jiang Ruoxue had stumbled into it or truly activated her ability, the solution had appeared right before them.
“Sis! I need to ask you a favor…” Yan Zhichun pulled Su Shan aside, speaking in a hushed tone.
Old Sun glanced back at the gathered teammates, his gaze lingering on the elderly man.
He prided himself on being the ‘Extremists’ social butterfly,’ yet he’d never spoken to this old man before.
“Hey, old-timer,” Old Sun called out. “You’re pretty spry for your age.”
“Ah, yeah, young man,” the elder nodded. “Did manual labor all my life—of course I’m sturdy.”
“What’d you do for work?”
“Farming.” He shook his head. “No, wait—now I’m a researcher.”
“Damn, that’s one hell of a career jump,” Old Sun remarked. “Talk about switching lanes—pretty drastic, huh?”
“Yeah…” The old man lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I just hope we wrap this up soon. I’ve got research to get back to.”
“Research on what?”
“‘Evolution.'” The elder pointed at himself. “Tell me, young man… what do you think humans evolved from?”
“The hell…?” Old Sun was bewildered. “You’re studying *evolution* in this damn place?”
“Yes… It’s almost done… I’m close to a breakthrough,” the old man insisted. “I remember I was just about to dig up something important, then suddenly I was standing in the street. I’m *itching* to get back to it.”
After just a few sentences, Old Sun concluded the old man was a bit off his rocker and decided not to engage further.
Whatever he was researching, as long as it didn’t endanger the team, it didn’t matter.
Meanwhile, Su Shan and Yan Zhichun finished their discussion. After a few nods, Su Shan turned to address the group.
“Everyone… I have something important to announce.”
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