Chapter 1225: Looking for a Fight

After hearing this, Zhang Shan paused slightly and couldn’t help but blurt out five words—

“Capture the leader first to defeat the gang.”

Chu Tianqiu nodded slightly after listening: “So your target is also Tianlong or Qinglong? We’re actually heading the same way.”

“But I feel like this mission is a bit too difficult.”

Zhang Shan lowered his head and clenched his fist, sensing something extremely unusual. Even after the fight was over, “Tian Xing Jian” was still active.

Even during the battles in “Vortex City,” “Tian Xing Jian” had never lasted this long.

If even someone like him could sustain his “Echo” for so long, then others who gained “Echo” should theoretically never lose it.

This might be because the “barrier” in the sky had disappeared, or perhaps because the giant clock and display screen had been destroyed.

In the past, people here had relied too heavily on the prompts from the display screen and the giant clock.

When they gained an “Echo,” the bell would ring; when they lost it, the bell would ring again.

This convenient and straightforward method allowed them to stabilize their “Echo,” but it also severely limited their potential.

For something as elusive as the “Echo,” if someone kept thinking, “The bell will ring, and my Echo will disappear,” it meant their will was wavering—and the bell would inevitably ring.

Now that the giant clock and display were gone, no one would hear the “announcement of Echo dissipation,” so they had no idea when their “Echo” might vanish.

Zhang Shan briefly explained his thoughts to Chu Tianqiu.

After all, even his “simple mind” had managed to piece this much together—surely Chu Tianqiu could deduce even more.

Sure enough, after hearing Zhang Shan’s reasoning, Chu Tianqiu quickly processed it, attempting to connect the scattered clues in his mind.

“You said there was always a ‘barrier’ here…?”

If there was an important figure who died today due to someone’s “scheme”—

It could only be the referee of the “Cangjie Chess” game, Dilong.

When he first saw her, Chu Tianqiu had vaguely sensed something unusual about her aura. Now, he realized it was her unwavering determination to “die willingly.”

Dilong had been prepared for death from the moment she appeared.

Thus, she was the one who had cast the “barrier.”

When she was caught in a life-or-death gamble with a “participant,” she immediately chose suicide—staking her own death to trade for the lives of Chu Tianqiu’s entire team against Qinglong.

This unexpected death, unforeseen by Qinglong, held immense tactical value in Chu Tianqiu’s eyes, single-handedly altering the entire battlefield.

So the signal for “rebellion” didn’t start with the destruction of the giant clock and display—it began with Dilong’s death.

“Removing the ‘barrier’ enhances the ‘Echo,’ while destroying the clock prolongs its duration,” Chu Tianqiu murmured. “These two actions seem unrelated, but in reality, they amplify the remaining ‘participants’ comprehensively.”

“But aren’t both moves double-edged swords?” Zhang Shan said. “Removing the ‘barrier’ not only strengthens the ‘Echo’ but could also drive people mad. Destroying the clock might make the ‘Echo’ harder to dissipate, but it could also make it harder for those with weak willpower to gain it in the first place.”

“At this point, there are hardly any ‘weak-willed’ people left,” Chu Tianqiu replied. “Anyone who boarded this ‘train’ is no ordinary person.”

Zhang Shan paused, then looked at Chu Tianqiu and Qin Dingdong with confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“It’s just… strange,” Zhang Shan scratched his head. “We’re talking about things that ‘affect participants,’ but you two… haven’t been affected at all?”

“These changes might impact most people, but exceptions exist,” Chu Tianqiu said, glancing meaningfully at Qin Dingdong before adding calmly, “Those who have preserved their memories for long enough won’t be confused by additional recollections. They already have a strong enough ‘Echo.'”

“Is that even possible…?” Zhang Shan nodded, though not entirely convinced.

Chu Tianqiu chuckled lightly and turned back to Qin Dingdong. “The formidable people I know all have their own ways of preserving memories. What’s your method?”

“Big sister isn’t telling you,” Qin Dingdong pouted. “You all keep asking questions like this is some press conference or something.”

Chu Tianqiu shrugged and dropped the subject, turning back to Zhang Shan. “Zhang Shan, you said you want to ‘capture the leader first’—is that your entire strategy?”

“Pretty much,” Zhang Shan nodded. “I plan to fight them head-on.”

“One-on-one against Tianlong and Qinglong? That sounds reckless—not something Qi Xia would do.” Chu Tianqiu thought for a moment. “You’d at least need a partner of similar skill.”

“Hey! Big guy!” A heavily accented voice called out from down the hallway as two figures approached.

Chu Tianqiu looked at them. “That’s more like it.”

Zhang Shan turned to see Qian Wu and Qiao Jiejin walking toward them.

“Tianqiu, my man!” Qiao Jiejin greeted them warmly. “Wow, even Big Rat and Sister Dingdong are here!”

If not for the “Zodiacs” standing nearby, one might have mistaken this for a casual reunion at a night market.

“Damn…” Zhang Shan sized up Qiao Jiejin. “You made it up here too?”

“Yeah,” Qiao Jiejin nodded. “Big guy, you busy later? Wanna go beat some people up with me?”

“I’m busy,” Zhang Shan replied. “I’m heading to the ‘front of the train’ to pick a fight.”

“No way, really?” Qiao Jiejin laughed. “I was just about to do the same…”

Then he froze and quickly asked, “Wait, you’re not coming to fight me, are you?”

“What the hell? Are you nuts?” Zhang Shan was baffled by his logic, frowning. “I came all the way to the front of this ‘train’ to fight you? Who’s the crazy one here—you or me?”

“Oh, haha,” Qiao Jiejin chuckled awkwardly. “Good, good. I was worried you might hold a grudge.”

“A grudge…?”

“Ah, never mind.” Qiao Jiejin waved it off and slung an arm over Zhang Shan’s shoulder. “Now that I know you’re not here for me, I feel way better. Another fight would’ve really worn me out.”

“You’re acting weird…” Zhang Shan scratched his head. “So, just the two of us going?”

“And the creepy guy,” Qiao Jiejin jerked a thumb at Qian Wu. “The three of us will go together.”

“I’m not going,” Qian Wu interjected. “And don’t call me ‘creepy guy.'”

“Huh?” Qiao Jiejin looked at him. “You’re not coming? But didn’t Trickster say—”

“I’m not. My mission is to use ‘Twin Flowers’ to make sure both of your bodies fully manifest ‘Tian Xing Jian.'”

“Wait, what?”