Chapter 516: An Important Figure
By the time Qi Xia and his group returned to the prison, Wang Ba and his people were already preparing the next day's rations.
Row after row of worn-out backpacks were neatly stacked, each containing a bottle of water and some oddly shaped flatbreads.
"Qi Xia," Qian Wu said. "Since we're back, everyone should go rest separately. Hard day's work, everyone."
He was about to turn and leave when Qi Xia grabbed his forearm. "Qian Wu, find a place where we can talk."
"Oh...?" Qian Wu's brow furrowed instantly. He realized he had misinterpreted Qi Xia's intentions. Earlier, when Qi Xia had wanted to return to the prison immediately, it should have been to find a suitable place for conversation.
"Nineteen." Saturday, standing beside Qian Wu, happened to spot Yun Shijiu in the distance. "Tsk. Can your 'Faith' hold up? We need you here."
"No problem." Yun Shijiu nodded. "I didn't activate 'Echo' earlier, so I'm much better now."
Qi Xia gave Chen Junnan, Qiao Jiajin, and Officer Li a meaningful look. The four of them followed Qian Wu into the meeting room together. Only after Yun Shijiu entered the room and began to activate his ability did Qi Xia finally start speaking.
"Qian Wu..." His expression looked extremely grim, his face ashen as he said, "'Xuanwu's' ability must also include 'Indestructibility.' We can't succeed. There's no way we can kill someone who's 'Indestructible'..."
"What...?"
Seeing the shock on everyone's faces, Qi Xia had no choice but to elaborate on the scene when he had fought 'Xuanwu.' He had faced her alone with a single knife, leaving countless wounds on her body.
But those wounds hadn't bled at all—almost identical to Jiang Shi's 'Indestructibility.'
Both of their wounds emitted the same pitch-black color, like a vast starry sky.
And when the knife pierced 'Xuanwu's' body, it felt less like stabbing flesh and more like stabbing into a withered, dead tree.
"Even if you have 'Twin Blossoms'... I don't think you have a hundred percent chance of killing 'Xuanwu' along with you." Qi Xia paused before adding, "Maybe only you would die, not her."
Qian Wu felt that Qi Xia had indeed brought up a very thorny issue. In the past, although 'Xuanwu' had always actively sought death every time they met, everyone also knew her status in the 'Land of the End.' She could slaughter Ground-level 'Zodiacs' at will. For so long, no one had ever chosen to attack 'Xuanwu' voluntarily, and naturally, no one knew what state she was in when injured. But the man before him had actually taken a small knife and tried it.
"So, to what extent can your 'Twin Blossoms' function...?" Qi Xia looked seriously at Qian Wu. "Can you really live and die together with someone you touch?"
Qian Wu nodded. Now that Yun Shijiu's 'Silence' was in effect, some words that had never been spoken could finally be uttered.
"In the interview room, I once tried it. I exchanged my life for the life of the 'Zodiac' conducting the interview," Qian Wu said. "As you all know, the 'Zodiacs' in the interview rooms usually have the physical constitution of a Ground-level 'Zodiac' in order to subdue participants. So killing them isn't much different from killing a 'Ground-level.' But I found it strange. According to what the people in my room relayed, at that moment, we both died simultaneously, all the games automatically dissolved, and the exit door opened. That is to say, after I, as a 'participant,' killed the 'Zodiac,' no 'Divine Beast' showed up."
Qian Wu's words plunged everyone into deep thought. Could it be that because both the killer and the killed died at the same time, even the 'Divine Beasts' intervening wouldn't have had any effect?
"So you think killing a 'Divine Beast' would be the same...?" Qi Xia asked.
"I can't say for sure..." Qian Wu shook his head. "We're doing something no one has ever done before, so everything is unknown."
Qi Xia was about to nod and say something when Officer Li, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
"Qian Wu, the 'Zodiac' you killed—did he have anything on him?"
Hearing this question, Qi Xia also looked at Qian Wu.
"Things...? Like what?"
"Like paper documents," Officer Li said.
"No." Qian Wu answered without hesitation. "I've searched countless times. His body was completely empty—not even a scrap of paper."
At these words, Qi Xia and Officer Li exchanged a glance. For now, only the two of them knew about the 'Zodiac Ascension Betting Contract,' and neither brought it up at this point.
Qi Xia stroked his chin, deep in thought, feeling that this matter was a bit strange.
Could it be that for the 'Zodiac Ascension Betting Contract' to take effect, it didn't even need to be carried on one's person?
If so, why did the Goat-Man keep it on him?
Qi Xia felt something was off. Usually, such an easily obtained important clue would have its authenticity greatly diminished. But the Goat-Man had indeed been fulfilling the terms of the contract. Last time, when Yu Nian'an appeared, he chose to commit suicide directly.
If the Goat-Man hadn't lied to him, could the Goat-Man himself have been deceived?
"At least it shows that the contract isn't entirely fake..." Qi Xia thought to himself. "The Goat-Man smashed a person's head on the table with his bare hands, which means his body is indeed enhanced..."
Seeing Qi Xia and Officer Li both fall silent, Qian Wu decided not to dwell on this issue and continued, "So, in the final analysis, killing 'Xuanwu' isn't entirely impossible. 'Indestructibility' is, after all, just an 'Echo.' She isn't truly immortal—she just possesses this ability."
Qi Xia felt there was something ineffably strange about this. Although Qian Wu insisted that 'Xuanwu's' various abilities were all 'Echoes,' every time 'Xuanwu' activated her abilities, there was no bell toll. Even whether Qiao Jiajin's 'Breaker of Ten Thousand Laws' would work on 'Xuanwu' was unknown.
"In that case... I have a second question," Qi Xia said.
"Go ahead."
"Can all the abilities of the 'Divine Beasts' find their prototypes among the 'participants'?"
"In theory, yes." Qian Wu nodded.
"And what about the 'Heaven-level'?" Qi Xia asked. "Are their special abilities also 'Echoes'?"
Qian Wu thought carefully about this question, then nodded. "Aside from 'Heaven-level Time,' some of the extraordinary powers they use also appear to be multiple 'Echoes.'"
"In that case..." Qi Xia nodded. "That means there's one very important figure on this land who hasn't appeared yet."
"An important figure?" Qian Wu looked at Qi Xia, confused. "Who do you mean?"
"The Heavenly Snake's 'Mind Reading.'" Qi Xia looked seriously at Qian Wu. "I don't believe that such a capable person would remain in obscurity. Before we execute our grand plan, we must find him no matter what. The ability of 'Mind Reading' is extremely crucial to us."