Actually, Zhang Tinglei had wanted to say "clearing the dungeon," but he quickly realized that to a native, there was no concept of a "dungeon" at all.
Therefore, he could only phrase it differently.
Zuo Lin'an didn't agree right away. Instead, he asked, “How much can you give me?”
Hearing this question, Zhang Tinglei rejoiced inwardly.
He had guessed right!
However, he still maintained his smile, keeping his composure.
When negotiating a deal with someone, one must never let others read their true emotions from their facial expressions.
“I once practiced an extremely obscure martial art that allows me to control another's mind for a short period.”
Zuo Lin'an immediately understood Zhang Tinglei's plan.
He would control the minds of other players, such as Zhong Cheng.
After all, other than Zhang Tinglei, Zhong Cheng was currently the strongest. He would have Zhong Cheng kill all the other players.
Meanwhile, Zhang Tinglei himself could remain completely safe.
Zuo Lin'an couldn't help but start doing the math.
There were currently sixteen players in total.
Excluding Zhang Tinglei and the person doing the dirty work, that left fourteen.
In other words, Zhang Tinglei could provide him with fourteen unsolvable specters. Combined with the one he had created earlier, that would be fifteen in total.
Each unsolvable specter was worth five Contribution points.
That would be... seventy-five points!
Adding his existing forty-three points, that would bring him to a total of one hundred and eighteen Contribution points.
Perfect!
Zuo Lin'an was a bit excited.
He hadn't expected this... talk about finding a way out when all hope seemed lost!
After all, he had been prepared for the worst-case scenario!
Seeing Zuo Lin'an remain silent for so long without a reply, Zhang Tinglei wondered if he hadn't made himself clear enough.
However, it turned out he was overthinking it.
Zuo Lin'an seemed to have made a decision.
“Why do you think I, a mere executioner, have the authority to let you leave here alive?”
“Logically speaking, someone like me is just an insignificant lackey under some powerful figures...”
Zhang Tinglei suddenly chuckled.
“I don't think a Specter Master would be an insignificant lackey.”
A smile suddenly appeared on Zuo Lin'an's previously expressionless face.
“Fair enough. Since we've laid all our cards on the table, I won't beat around the bush anymore.”
“I agree to your deal!”
“It's just letting you leave. I can make the call on a minor matter like that.”
At this point, Zuo Lin'an's tone shifted.
“However, only you!”
At this, Zhang Tinglei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good. Then it's a deal.”
Having finally settled a major concern, Zhang Tinglei slowly stood up.
“Let's go.”
Zuo Lin'an didn't ask where they were going either; he just quietly followed him away from the area.
Of course, his speed was a bit too slow, so in the end, Zhang Tinglei hoisted him onto his shoulder. The surrounding darkness flew past them, and they quickly arrived near the puddle.
Noticing figures approaching, Zhong Cheng suddenly stood up.
From the moment Zhang Tinglei had left earlier, he had been living in fear until now!
“Senior?”
When he saw Zhang Tinglei return with Zuo Lin'an, the unease in his heart instantly peaked.
Having spent a long time on the battlefield, he had developed an extraordinary perception of unknown dangers.
Right now, the heart in his chest was beating faster and faster, and even the muscles all over his body were starting to tense up involuntarily.
Every single bodily instinct was telling him:
Danger!
Danger!
Run, fast!!
Zhang Tinglei casually set Zuo Lin'an aside, then walked over with a normal expression.
“Zhong Cheng.”
Hearing him call his name, Zhong Cheng snapped out of it and involuntarily took a step back.
Zhang Tinglei naturally noticed this, but acted as if he had seen nothing.
“Honestly, you have a really good name.”
His tone was incredibly calm, like the quiet before a storm.
“Senior, this is...”
Zhong Cheng raised his guard to two hundred percent.
Yet Zhang Tinglei merely stroked his beard casually.
“It's nothing. Go call Wu Zhao over for me.”
Zhong Cheng was stunned. He had originally thought Zhang Tinglei was going to make a move on him, but who would have thought he was just being asked to call Wu Zhao? Was it really that simple?
He was somewhat puzzled.
However, just as he was slightly distracted and about to go find Wu Zhao, a sudden change occurred!
Without any warning, Zhang Tinglei struck Zhong Cheng with a palm.
This strike landed squarely on his dantian.
“Ah!”
Zhong Cheng felt a sharp pain in his dantian. Letting out a miserable shriek, he fell to one knee.
“You!”
A torrent of true qi that did not belong to him flooded in. After shattering his dantian, it continued to rampage through his meridians, wreaking absolute havoc.
In just the span of two breaths, Zhong Cheng had been completely crippled.
His expression contorted in agony, he suddenly reached out and tightly grabbed Zhang Tinglei's arm.
“You... what on earth are you...”
Zhang Tinglei chuckled softly twice.
“You are a good general, the guardian deity of the people of the western border. I originally promised to spare you, but... compared to your life, I feel my own is far more valuable.”
“So, I can only say sorry.”
“Besides, we were enemies to begin with, so don't blame me.”
Zhong Cheng trembled all over, as if he had suffered an immense shock!
“You...”
“Zhang Tinglei!”
“You will die a horrible death!”
The smile on Zhang Tinglei's face remained unchanged, and he opened his mouth as if to say something more.
However, in the very next second, his expression changed drastically!
“Oh no!”
He violently flung off Zhong Cheng's hand and even struck out with another vicious palm, not even caring if this blow would kill him.
But Zuo Lin'an noticed that this rage-fueled strike actually failed to take effect.
The externalized true qi of his Xiantian Rank had suddenly vanished.
After being thrown back, Zhong Cheng twisted his body in mid-air, adjusted his posture, and actually landed steadily on his feet.
Meanwhile, Zhang Tinglei spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the ground.
This...
Seeing this scene, Zuo Lin'an was also temporarily puzzled.
But after a closer look, he realized what had happened.
It was Zhong Cheng's talent.
This was likely the special talent, 【Injury Transfer】.
This talent had three ways of being used:
【First: As long as the player is conscious, they can transfer their own injuries at any time—for example, from a foot to a hand.】
【Second: Transfer an injury to someone else once. Cooldown: 12 hours.】
【Third: Transfer one's own injuries to someone else once. Cooldown: 3 days.】
Zuo Lin'an recalled the description of 【Injury Transfer】 he had seen on the forums.
Yes, that seemed about right.
He hadn't expected Zhong Cheng's talent to be this.
Was this considered Zhang Tinglei slipping up in an unexpected way?
Oh, wait.
Although Zhang Tinglei's dantian was shattered and his meridians were severed, leaving him unable to use true qi, he could still use his talent and specter items.
In other words, Zhang Tinglei still had a chance to turn the tables.
However... even if he won in the end, how would he execute that obscure martial art he mentioned earlier without any true qi?
Rate on N.U.
