Dr. Zhao followed Yan Zhichun forward while whispering,
“Yan Zhichun… what exactly do you want me to destroy?”
Yan Zhichun turned back, her lips curling slightly. “Here… is there anything else?”
Dr. Zhao froze, his face instantly contorting with horror as his steps slowed to a halt. “You’re f*cking insane…”
“I’m not insane,” Yan Zhichun replied. “Dr. Zhao, even if you leave now, it doesn’t matter. We’ll find a way to destroy it ourselves.”
“You—”
“Though having you here does increase our chances of success,” she added.
“Whether this succeeds or not, we’re all dead anyway!!” Dr. Zhao grabbed her arm. “Who the hell are you…? Gathering so many people for something like this—it’s absurd!”
“Running now won’t save anyone,” Yan Zhichun said, pushing his hand away. “The die is cast. Even if we do nothing this cycle, someone will still wipe us out.”
“What…?”
“The entire ‘Land of Finality’ is in chaos,” she explained. “All we can do is seize this slim chance.”
As they spoke, they arrived beneath the massive bell and display screen.
Jiang Ruoxue and Zhou Mo leaned against two towering pillars, watching them.
“Tsk, wearing heels?” Zhou Mo quipped. “Took you long enough.”
“We’re fast enough,” Yan Zhichun replied. “Now, we need to initiate ‘Heavenly Demon’s Chant.’ Everything depends on our actions.”
“Tsk, been ready,” Zhou Mo said. “Let’s begin.”
Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward, resting a hand on Zhou Mo’s shoulder.
Yan Zhichun nodded and turned.
**”Everyone.”**
All nearby halted their movements, turning to face her.
**”I am the King of the Extremists and the organizer of this operation. I will now announce our final objective.”**
As she spoke, the giant bell began to sway gently before erupting into chaotic clangs.
Names of “Echoes” flickered rapidly across the screen.
**DONG!**
It seemed even before the final goal was revealed, the Extremists were already raring to go.
**”Though the road ahead is long, for this plan, it’s only the beginning. If we execute this phase well, everything else will fall into place.”**
**DONG!**
More and more “Echoes” lit up, the screen now densely packed with text, illegible in its sheer volume.
Dr. Zhao’s heart pounded wildly. He glanced up at the bell—then noticed something odd. Figures stood atop the building’s roof.
Following the darkness, he spotted black-clad figures in leather jackets lining the rooftops. They stood motionless, expressionless, like statues.
These people were clearly different from those below… Dr. Zhao felt he’d seen them before.
They were the ones who’d killed him at “Paradise Port.”
**”Next, everyone must do their utmost to destroy the giant bell and display screen behind me,”** Yan Zhichun said gravely. **”Once I finish speaking, we’ll face overwhelming resistance. Every one of us may die, but we’ll meet again at the end.”**
The crowd hesitated briefly—then a storm of “Echoes” erupted.
**DONG!**
Jiang Ruoxue waved at Yan Zhichun, whispering something in her ear. Yan Zhichun nodded and continued:
**”If by chance we succeed, follow the nearest of the eight temporary squad leaders. They know the escape routes. Leaders, raise your hands now to signal your team.”**
Hands rose one by one—pre-selected by Jiang Ruoxue via Zhou Mo’s “Voice Transmission.”
Yan Zhichun scanned the crowd: Jiang Ruoxue, Zhou Mo, Old Sun, Xiao Xiao, Old Deng, Aunt Tong… and an unfamiliar elder. Then she raised her own hand, claiming leadership of the eighth squad.
**”The mission is set,”** she concluded. **”Survive as best you can. If I live, I’ll guide you via ‘Voice Transmission.’ If I die, follow your leaders. Hope to see you at the end.”**
Silence. No one spoke.
**”Long live the Extremists.”**
“Long live the Extremists!”
“Long live the Extremists!”
Cheers erupted from all sides.
Before the echoes faded, a gaunt, disheveled old man materialized behind Yan Zhichun.
Leaning on a twisted wooden cane, draped in ill-fitting white robes, he stared blankly at the crowd.
Panic swept through the ranks as combat stances were assumed.
But the old man only shook his head bitterly, unmoving.
Yan Zhichun recognized him—**White Tiger**—and retreated hastily with Zhou Mo and Jiang Ruoxue.
“How… peculiar,” White Tiger rasped. “This is truly peculiar.”
On the **”Train,”** Tengu’s eyes widened abruptly. Sensing chaos, he bolted up from the round table.
“What’s wrong…?” Tenjin asked—then his own eyes bulged. “WHAT!?”
“Not good… not good at all…” Tengu scratched his plump cheeks. “Tenjin… what do we do…?”
“Spit it out,” Heavenly Ox said, cracking her knuckles. “No need to panic.”
“The ‘Participants’…!” Tengu gulped. “They’ve gathered a massive group to destroy the display and bell!”
The **Celestials** froze, baffled by the motive.
Even “Participants” relied on the screen and bell to confirm their “Echoes.” Why destroy them?
“We must inform Azure Dragon…” Tenjin muttered, eyes darting. “This isn’t our call! But the bell and screen *cannot* be destroyed! I need them to track the eyeballs!”
“But do you even know where Azure Dragon is?” Heavenly Horse asked.
Silence.
“Relax,” Heavenly Ox said. “I’ll handle it.”
All eyes turned to her.
“No need to trouble Azure Dragon,” she continued. “These ‘Participants’ are opposing *all* ‘Participants.’ To them, losing the bell and screen is a greater loss.”
“So… you’ll…?” Tenjin’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant… absolutely brilliant…”
“I’ll activate ‘Amplification,'” Heavenly Ox said. “A simple incentive will resolve this—say, a thousand ‘Dao’ for anyone who protects the screen and bell.”
—
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