Players who were watching the other teams’ live streams outside already knew what was happening.
Obviously, the short-term improvement effect brought by the injection of the potential catalyst was indeed very significant. It finally successfully allowed the players to completely withstand the pressure of the last wave of monster attacks. However, at this moment, everything calmed down and the side effects were finally exposed.
According to the original instructions for the potion, it wasn’t recommended for players to use it if the alienation level exceeded 75%. But when the captains of those teams were in a desperate situation and chose to inject it, this far had already far exceeded it.
No one expected the process of alienation to break out so suddenly.
In the previous moment, the players of each team were still paying close attention to the captain’s condition. The next moment, the most worrying situation finally happened.
“Captain! It is us. Wake up—!”
“Captain—!”
“No, we must think of a way!”
The members of the Dawn team faced such a chaotic scene when they hurriedly arrived.
The sharp cry brought a huge sonic impact. Fortunately, Song Xuefeng quickly set up a whole protective barrier to prevent the other players at the scene from bleeding from all seven orifices.
Once used on players, the impact from Xi QInxin’s personal skill would be even greater than facing those alien species.
Dozens of long vines rose from the ground, blocking out the sun and leaving only a huge shadow. It was about to fall down heavily. Hua Qianmei raised the large scythe high in her hand. She gritted her teeth with a grim expression and stood firmly in front of it.
She gritted her teeth secretly. Seeing that everyone in the Heichao team was still in a daze, she couldn’t help cursing out loud. “What are you looking at? Why don’t you run away quickly? Are you all stupid? If you do this again next time, I won’t stop it. You deserve to be smashed to death by your captain!”
Hua Qianmei started cursing as soon as she opened her mouth. The aftereffects of the huge shock made her feel a tearing pain in the base of her palm, and her face suddenly became uglier.
What was this instance? After defeating all the monsters, they still had to deal with their own people, right?
Yes, deal with their own people.
Once all the alien armies were wiped out, the only ‘enemies’ left on the field were the players who had completely entered the alienation stage under the influence of the potential catalyst.
Lu Nanling had already instructed Ji Xingque to confuse the vision of the other captains. Even though their numbers could be counted with the naked eye, as the top combat forces among all the players, the sense of shock they brought would be even greater than the alien armies once their abilities were stimulated.
Lu Nanling gave Ji Xingque several precise coordinates in a short time. Seeing the smoke and dust from the explosions spreading at the locations he arranged, he turned around and said to Chi Ting, “Captain, leave the rest to us. You can take a rest.”
Chi Ting stood there, neither answering Lu Nanling’s words nor refusing.
Once the other rescued players retreated to his side one after another, he saw a figure returning with the support of a group of people. He paused for a moment. Then he forcibly lifted his spirits and walked over.
The one supporting Qi Xiu was a member of the Prisoner team. Seeing Chi Ting and the others coming over, he immediately asked anxiously, “Healer! Where is the healer player? Hurry up and check him. He just took a punch from our captain for me! Hurry up, or else…”
The punch that Qi Xiu took did look quite strong. His face turned pale, and he pulled the player. Just as he was about to say something, his chest surged twice, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He lowered his eyes and gasped. After a while, he recovered his breath and raised his eyes again. “No, I don’t need it in my current situation.”
Chi Ting stopped, frowned, and said nothing.
The Prisoner team member looked between Qi Xiu and Chi Ting, becoming more and more anxious. “Why are you still standing there? Save the person first!”
Chi Ting glanced at him and said, “He is right. It is indeed no longer necessary.”
The Prisoner team member said, “How do you know if you don’t try it?”
“It isn’t the injury. It is the alienation level.” Chi Ting shifted his gaze back to Qi Xiu and said slowly, “His alienation level should’ve almost reached the limit of human beings.”
The Prisoner team member was stunned, but Qi Xiu slowly smiled. “Ah Ting, you still understand me as well as before.”
Chi Ting didn’t answer but asked, “You also injected the potential catalyst.”
Qi Xiu shook his head. “No, just like you said, I’ve almost reached my limit. Once the injection is given, I will become a completely out-of-control monster like those people. But now, at least I can still maintain my temporary sanity. Cough, cough, cough.”
He controlled the blood surging in his chest and looked at Chi Ting steadily. “Ah Ting, your team members won’t be able to hold on for long. The instance isn’t over yet. If you want to solve the last problem and leave smoothly, maybe this is the best arrangement. It is destined by God to let us work together one more time.”
Chi Ting thought for a moment. “So, you call this cooperation?”
Qi Xiu met his gaze directly. “We have always been the best partners from beginning to end.”
Lou Yueren’s sudden sneer became the only background sound.
Such a movement attracted Qi Xiu to look over. “Of course, you might already have a new partner.”
“No, I never only had you as a partner.” Chi Ting answered. Without waiting for any fluctuations in Qi Xiu’s demeanor, he continued, “Lou Yueren is my boyfriend.”
Hearing this, Lou Yueren actually laughed out loud.
Qi Xiu’s expression paused for a moment before he sneered. “Really?”
His current condition was indeed very bad. There was shocking blood staining his clothes, making his face look even more lifeless. It was hard to tell what his expression was. Finally, he tightly grasped the hand of the Prisoner team member next to him to steady himself and not fall down. “Ahem… no matter what, the current situation needs to be dealt with.”
The members of the Prisoner team had just escaped death with the help of Qi Xiu, so they naturally knew how terrifying their captain was after he lost control. However, after listening to the conversation between the two of them, they were embarrassed and hesitated to speak.
Having survived in the unlimited world with Captain He Yuanqing for so long, they could clearly see what the current situation was like. But if they were really asked to draw his sword against the captain…
All thoughts were pulled back by Chi Ting’s words.
“Of course, this situation needs to be dealt with.” Chi Ting’s voice was filled with fatigue, but inexplicably, there was a power that could calm people down. Facing Qi Xiu’s invitation, he didn’t move forward but always kept a distance. “However, that type of cooperation happened once that year. It shouldn’t need to happen a second time.”
“You know very well what my special ability is. In my current state, it is impossible for me to complete the operation. You have the superpower ability to completely take me over and completely resolve this battle in the least damaging way,” Qi Xiu whispered. “Ah Ting, come on while I still have my sense of reason. You need my Puppet Control. It is the only way to minimize the damage in the battle.”
“Yes, this is indeed the best way to minimize the casualties. There is no other way.” Chi Ting paused here and suddenly sighed softly. At this moment, his expression seemed a bit helpless and disappointed. “But in fact, it isn’t necessary for me to take action.”
The fierce battle not far away caused the ground to shake slightly. Chi Ting said slowly, “They are already under your control, aren’t they, Qi Xiu?”
The air around them seemed to freeze in an instant.
A strong sense of oppression hit them right in the face. Once the members of the Prisoner team realized the meaning of Chi Ting’s words, they turned back to look at the person beside them in shock. They subconsciously took two steps back.
This action widened the distance between the two groups. Qi Xiu, who originally relied almost entirely on their support to stand firmly, still stood steadily in the same place.
At this moment, Qi Xiu’s expression flashed with complexity as he looked at Chi Ting.
It seemed that after a very complicated ideological struggle, he finally just sighed. “When did you find out?”
Chi Ting answered, “Not too long. It was before the ninth wave officially broke out.”
“It was Qu Leng.” Qi Xiu thought for a moment and nodded slowly. “I was wondering where the flaw was revealed. I forgot that you took over my body in the past. Now it seems that you know more about my ability than I thought.”
“It is more than that?”
“Hmm?”
Chi Ting smiled. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
In fact, as the captain of the Jazz team, it wasn’t surprising that Qu Leng had been affected by Puppet Control during the period of fighting beside QI Xiu for such a long time. Another reason was that since Lou Yueren had a frank conversation with him, Chi Ting had been paying attention to all the clues in the instance. After all, since so many preparations were arranged to force him out of control, it was impossible to give up just before succeeding. Along the way, nothing else happened until Qi Xiu took the initiative to propose the injection of the potential catalyst, wanting to make himself the last weapon in Chi Ting’s hands to resist the alien attacks like they did in the past.
Spiritual Authority would inherit the alienation value of the target to a certain extent. Qi Xiu’s suggestion could be understood as a subconscious action of being accustomed to self-sacrifice for protection, but it would indeed become the last straw that might break the camel’s back for Chi Ting in the later stage of the instance.
It was at this time that Chi Ting noticed something strange about Qu Leng.
After making so many guesses before, Chi Ting couldn’t tell what he felt when it was finally confirmed.
He looked at his former partner, who should’ve been very familiar but was too unfamiliar. He thought for a moment and asked, “So, what is your request?”
“My request?” Qi Xiu’s face was still pale. There was even blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. However, he slowly stood up in front of everyone’s shocked gazes and smiled. “Of course, I hope you can stay by my side forever, Ah Ting.”
In response, Lou Yueren sneered. “You are almost dead, and you are still dreaming.”
Qi Xiu glanced at this person. Finally, there was the coldness that had been hidden in his eyes all the way.
He continued speaking to Chi Ting as if he hadn’t heard the sarcasm, “Originally, I also wanted to leave beautiful memories in your heart. Since you have already discovered it, it doesn’t matter. Come on, Ah Ting, didn’t you just admit it? Our cooperation will always be the best choice for you.”
Qi Xiu slowly extended his hand to Chi Ting and said in a bewitching tone, “You should know that your team members can’t hold on for too long. Take over me, and let me become a weapon in your hands… Ah Ting, the existence of this instance is to welcome your arrival. Only you can make these people leave here alive. You have always respected your duties the most. Can you really bear to watch them all die in front of you one by one?”
Just as he finished his words, a shadow suddenly passed by him. Qi Xiu dodged it swiftly, but it still left a deep scar on his cheek that was visible to the bone.
The swift movement caused him to cough violently. In the end, he curled up into a ball and spat out a few mouthfuls of blood. Then he raised his eyelids with great difficulty. “If I die, you won’t be able to leave here alive. Yes, those captains are indeed controlled by me. Only I can make them stop. Otherwise, cough, they will kill everyone here.”
Before the voice faded away, the surrounding ground started to vibrate slightly.
The surroundings were instantly thrown into a panic. Then vines several meters thick rose from the ground and densely intertwined to form a dense cage, trapping everyone inside.
It was Lang Xuelin’s personal skill, Force of Nature.
Qi Xiu smiled slightly. His gaze passed over Lou Yueren and looked at Chi Ting, who had been pulled back. “Come on, Ah Ting. In my heart, you are the only one who is worthy of being the savior.”
Every second that passed seemed to last longer.
After noticing Chi Ting moving slightly behind him, Lou Yueren subconsciously reached out and pressed on his shoulder, smiling coldly. “Dear, you shouldn’t be listening to such nonsense, right/”
Chi Ting glanced at Lou Yueren and said, “Of course not.”
The force that Lou Yueren had placed on his shoulders finally loosened a bit.
Chi Ting looked at Qi Xiu calmly and slowly spoke under the gazes of everyone around him. “In fact, I am really happy to be the savior, but there is no need to play the desperate scenario of the past.”
Qi Xiu’s eyes moved slightly.
Chi Ting caught the momentary hesitation in his expression and finally laughed softly. “Who said that in order to pass the instance, I have to ‘cooperate’ with you? Qi Xiu, it seems that the option you gave isn’t the best choice.”
As he said this, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box that was very familiar to everyone.
It was a potential catalyst.
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