Chapter 1120: The Manic
Yan Zhichun stood in the center of the arena, dazed. Zhou Mo and Jiang Ruoxue sensed something was wrong and quickly pushed through the chaotic crowd to reach her side.
Both of them awaited Yan Zhichun's instructions, but they could clearly see beads of sweat trickling down her cheeks.
Yes, it was unbearably hot here.
They were surrounded by two to three hundred people, each moving violently. Deafening shouts and sounds of combat filled the air, and the "Blaze Burst" unleashed by White Tiger earlier had caused the surrounding temperature to rise sharply.
"Zhichun..." Jiang Ruoxue called out. "Are you okay?"
"I..." Yan Zhichun shook her head after hearing this, feeling a bit dizzy. "I've used 'Soul Capture' too many times in a row... It's nothing serious. We have to finish the mission quickly..."
Jiang Ruoxue knew that Yan Zhichun had taken control of dozens of people in a short time, and now her conviction was bound to be wavering. She could only support her frail shoulders with both hands and whispered softly, "If you trust me, leave the rest of the battle to me."
"Leave it to you..." Yan Zhichun was slightly taken aback, then said, "No... Ruoxue... have you seen... so many enemies..."
"I know, I know." Jiang Ruoxue patted Yan Zhichun's shoulder again, trying to calm her down. "Even if there are more enemies, it doesn't matter. Our mission isn't to kill people. It's the giant bell and the display screen."
After hearing this, Yan Zhichun nodded. "Yes... we need to destroy the giant bell and the display screen."
"Rest here for a while. Wait until your 'Conviction' recovers. Leave the rest to me."
"Alright..."
Jiang Ruoxue then turned to Zhou Mo. "We need to buy time for Doctor Zhao's team. So we have to keep finding ways to attack White Tiger. We don't need to worry about the 'Participants' and 'Zodiacs' around us. Zhichun has already saved many lives. From now on, they have to find a way to survive on their own."
Zhou Mo looked at Jiang Ruoxue with some hesitation after hearing this. "Tsk, so we're relaying that word for word?"
"Yes," Jiang Ruoxue nodded. "Word for word."
"Tsk, at a time like this... I'm afraid it'll shake morale," Zhou Mo said quietly. "In this situation, if the first person chooses to run, a lot of people will follow them..."
"Broken Windows Theory..." Yan Zhichun interjected from the side.
"No, it won't break." Jiang Ruoxue said. "These people aren't just connected by the 'Extreme Path'; they're also kept here by the two words 'Cause and Effect.' Since 'Cause and Effect' has brought them here, then 'Cause and Effect' will also make us win."
"What did you say...?" Zhou Mo paused.
"I said 'Cause and Effect' will make us win."
Zheng Yingxiong, who was listening nearby, looked up at Jiang Ruoxue with a somewhat complicated expression.
Because when Jiang Ruoxue said these words, there was no scent of 'Cause and Effect' on her.
But what exactly determines 'Cause and Effect'...?
Although she hadn't activated 'Cause and Effect,' the moment she spoke those words with such conviction, some invisible threads of 'Cause and Effect' had already begun to take effect in the shadows.
This was the 'Cause and Effect' set in motion by human will.
"Since you, you wretch, have spoken..." Zhou Mo stared into Jiang Ruoxue's eyes for a moment. "Tsk, then it's pretty much settled."
"So, broadcast to the 'Extreme Path' users. Have them keep holding the front line and buy time for the teams in the back." Jiang Ruoxue continued. "We can't hold back anymore. Even if we have to temporarily forget about the second ring mission, we absolutely cannot fail here."
"Tsk, got it."
Zhou Mo took a few steps back, lowered his head, and began to transmit his message.
...
Before Han Yimo, Doctor Zhao, Xiaoxiao, and Lin Qin could finish running around the square, they were quickly blocked by several strangers.
The group looked up at the four men in front of them. They all carried iron pipes in their hands, looking hostile. However, they didn't attack Doctor Zhao's team right away.
"It's so hot..." Xiaoxiao murmured.
Lin Qin thought for a moment and quickly understood the situation.
Because their team was walking along the edge of the square, far from the crowd, the others couldn't immediately tell friend from foe.
In their eyes, Doctor Zhao and his group were probably also "Reinforcements" arriving from somewhere else.
"What's going on...?" Said the man in the front, wearing a loose tank top. "Is the fight still going on inside?"
"Huh...?" Doctor Zhao paused, then quickly caught on. "Yeah... it's a blazing battle... Are you planning to charge in?"
"Who's stupid enough to charge in now..." Another man in shorts said. "This kind of mission, in the end, it's all about grabbing the last bit of credit, right?"
"Hey, want to team up?" The tank-top man said to Doctor Zhao's group. "I brought everyone from my room, six strong men total, probably the most powerful squad around. With the four of you, that's ten people. When we get the thousand 'Dao,' each of us gets a hundred, no complaints. How about it?"
Lin Qin found it almost laughable. On one hand, the guy was saying the mission was just about grabbing credit, and on the other, he wanted to recruit them. How could such a lame attempt ever succeed?
Soon, two other teammates of theirs also arrived from both sides, joining the four.
Everyone took a closer look. These six were all sturdy men, clearly not to be trifled with.
Seeing this, Lin Qin took a small step back. Although they hadn't attacked immediately, the situation was as good as a fight. They were up against six men who looked hard to deal with, while their own side, counting both men and women, only had four.
Moreover, among the four, aside from Xiaoxiao, himself, Han Yimo, and Doctor Zhao were not "Echoes" suited for combat...
If they refused the cooperation request, they would likely end up fighting right here. But if they agreed, they'd have to go back to the battlefield with them.
Whether they fought or returned to the battlefield, it would attract more "Reinforcements." The situation was already as bad as it could get.
Xiaoxiao fanned herself with her hand, looking unwell. She seemed no longer listening to what was being said, only murmuring to herself, "So hot..."
"We also have some teammates on the other side..." Lin Qin stepped forward and spoke decisively. "We've arranged to meet up with them. If they see we haven't shown up, they'll come looking for us... How about we each do our own thing?"
The other party paused, processing Lin Qin's words. Seeing his expression was very sincere, not like a hurried lie, they could only choose to believe him for now. To avoid internal conflict among the "Reinforcements," they nodded hesitantly.
Lin Qin tugged at Doctor Zhao and Han Yimo, and the group was about to leave.
"Wait..." The man felt something was off. The direction these people were heading was just too strange.
Before he could finish, Xiaoxiao stepped forward. She grabbed the tank-top man by the collar, then executed a perfect over-the-shoulder throw, slamming him hard onto the ground.