“It was Qi Xia who told you to activate the ‘Celestial Moment’…” Lin Qin felt there were still many doubts about this matter. “Why did you comply? Did you two collaborate?”
“Not exactly a collaboration,” Tian Gou replied. “But as I said, I just want to survive. Though I haven’t interacted with him much, I’ve known for a long time that crossing Bai Yang would end badly.”
Lin Qin sensed that Tian Gou had been psychologically influenced by Qi Xia, intentionally or not. Despite never having crossed paths, Tian Gou had observed everything Qi Xia had done over time.
He might be the only one who truly understood Qi Xia’s “full picture.”
“So you were threatened?” Di Gou nodded. “Brother Yang knew you wouldn’t die, so he planned to assign this task to you from the start…”
“Calling it a threat isn’t entirely accurate…” Tian Gou shook his head. “He knew I could hear him, and I knew he knew. It’s… complicated. It felt like both a collaboration and a one-sided order. But if I wanted to survive, I had no choice.”
Di Gou pondered for a few seconds before asking, “Did Brother Yang tell you… that activating the ‘Celestial Moment’ now would end this war?”
Tian Gou remained silent for a long moment before answering. “He promised me that if I did as he said, I would live.”
The others found this response strange.
If this plan ensured Tian Gou’s survival, what did that mean for everyone else?
Just then, Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue hurried over from a distance. Seeing Lin Qin, Xiao Xiao, and Zheng Yingxiong unharmed, they finally let out a sigh of relief.
Lin Qin and the others also relaxed—with the presence of “Soul Snatcher,” their chances of defeating the two “Zodiacs” had increased.
Lin Qin quickly briefed them on the next steps of the plan, causing both women’s hearts to leap into their throats.
Activate the “Celestial Moment” now?
Almost instinctively, everyone turned to Yan Zhichun, as she was likely the only one who could determine whether this absurd plan made sense.
Yan Zhichun stared at Tian Gou for a long time before slowly asking, “Whose ‘Celestial Moment’ are we activating?”
Tian Gou didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked, “Are you Yan Zhichun?”
“Yes.”
Tian Gou swallowed hard, then pointed at her and enunciated each word: “Yours.”
“Mine…?” Yan Zhichun’s expression darkened. “What kind of joke is this? Activate *my* ‘Celestial Moment’?! I’m a ‘Participant’—what ‘Celestial Moment’ could I possibly activate?”
“‘Celestial Moment’ is just a name,” Tian Gou explained. “Theoretically, any ‘Immortal Technique’ can trigger one. And Bai—Qi Xia told me himself that if you were still alive, I should lead you through that door to add the final touch to this rebellion. In exchange, he’d guarantee my survival.”
“This is getting more absurd by the minute…” Yan Zhichun frowned, growing wary of Tian Gou. “When people think of the ‘Celestial Moment,’ the only things that come to mind are death and slaughter. Why would you activate it in *my* name?”
“Death and slaughter? No, no…” Tian Gou shook his head, his chubby cheeks trembling slightly. “Like I said, death and slaughter are just *possible* outcomes of the ‘Celestial Moment.’ But that’s not its true purpose. Its function is simply to spread ‘Immortal Techniques.’ Whether people die or not… depends entirely on what kind of ‘Immortal Technique’ the ‘activator’ bestows upon it.”
Yan Zhichun found it hard to trust Tian Gou—after all, they had been enemies earlier.
But this was Qi Xia’s arrangement. From another perspective… would Qi Xia really harm the “Participants” at this stage?
Seeing their lingering skepticism, Tian Gou quickly added, “If you don’t believe me, we can go take a look inside the ‘door.’ Once you see it, you’ll understand…”
Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue glanced at the door at the end of the corridor. It looked even more concealed than the “cargo hold.” Where did it lead?
“Everyone…” Tian Gou called out. “I’ve told you everything I can. I just want to survive. With so many of you here, what reason would I have to lie? If I take you to activate the ‘Celestial Moment,’ I fulfill Bai Yang’s request and save my own life. That’s all.”
Jiang Ruoxue turned to Zheng Yingxiong, who nodded. Though Tian Gou no longer carried the scent of “lies,” Di Gou still did.
“So what lie did you tell?” Lin Qin asked Di Gou. “Are you deceiving us?”
“Of course not,” Di Gou replied, shaking his head. “Why are you all so suspicious of someone who just wants to slack off? I did have my own thoughts earlier, but after hearing Tian Gou’s explanation, I don’t anymore. Let’s move forward as an unbreakable team.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the door at the end of the corridor. After a brief hesitation, Tian Gou followed.
“No…” Zheng Yingxiong sighed. “The scent is strong… He’s still lying…”
Yan Zhichun watched Di Gou’s retreating back warily, exchanging glances with the others. “Don’t worry, Hero. We’ll keep an eye on him.”
The group followed, soon arriving at the door.
Yan Zhichun instructed Xiao Xiao and the other “Extremists” to stand guard outside while Jiang Ruoxue, Lin Qin, and Zheng Yingxiong entered with her.
As Tian Gou pushed the door open, a blinding white light flooded their vision. Zheng Yingxiong immediately covered his nose and mouth.
Jiang Ruoxue quickly pulled him aside, casting a wary glance inside.
The door seemed to lead to a bizarre space—a pre-dawn darkness stretched over an endless expanse of pale yellow earth.
Seeing Zheng Yingxiong’s reaction, Yan Zhichun sniffed the air but detected nothing unusual—just the usual scent of “Doomsday.”
“Everyone, don’t close the door, or things might get complicated,” Tian Gou warned before stepping inside.
Di Gou followed, and after a moment’s hesitation, Yan Zhichun, Lin Qin, and Jiang Ruoxue entered as well. Xiao Xiao tried to stop Zheng Yingxiong, but he ignored the discomfort in his nose and dashed in after them.
The moment they set foot on the land, they sensed something odd—the ground beneath them wasn’t solid. It felt like stepping on a water-filled membrane, firm yet elastic.
A foul-smelling breeze swept across the vast, desolate expanse.
Far in the distance, a small black silhouette stood on the ground, resembling an abandoned workstation.
Other than that, there was nothing.
Staring at the seemingly endless emptiness, Yan Zhichun murmured, “Where… are we?”
Tian Gou raised both hands, closed his eyes, and whispered:
“**The Sun.**”
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