“If my people choose the ‘Gate of Death’…” I murmured.

“Then they’ll be killed on the spot,” Baiyang said. “This kind of ‘violation’ will probably have severe punishment. Remember to say ‘goodbye’ to them in advance.”

After hearing this, I sighed deeply. Although I had almost no emotional connection with the people of “Extreme Path,” knowing they were going to die here still made me feel somewhat downcast.

I had said before—they had risked their lives for “Extreme Path.” I couldn’t easily abandon them.

Even if they truly had to die, the cause of death needed to be carefully considered. I absolutely wouldn’t allow them to die just to test “who the mole is.”

“I need a reason,” I said to Baiyang. “Brother Yang, this reason isn’t sufficient. They can’t die like this.”

“It seems you also have your own thoughts,” Baiyang nodded. “Yan Zhichun, to talk about the reason for their deaths, I have to mention the ‘second step’ of this plan.”

“What is it?”

Baiyang didn’t answer, only asking faintly, “Let me ask you—in the entire ‘End Land,’ who most wants the ‘Zodiacs’ to die?”

I thought for a while and answered, “That can only be the ‘Participants.'”

Seeing that Baiyang had no reaction, I said again, “Could it be the ‘Natives’?”

“It’s the ‘Ants,'” Baiyang said.

“The ‘Ants’…?”

“The ‘Ants’ not only have the desire to kill ‘Zodiacs,’ but also the ability to kill ‘Zodiacs’—it’s just that they’ve been trapped,” Baiyang said. “Your ultimate mission is to enter the ‘Train,’ overcome all difficulties to find a Black Sheep, and have him lead you to liberate all the ‘Ants.’ This is the reason for your subordinates’ organization to die.”

Black Sheep…?

No… my brain was about to shut down.

I suddenly felt a bit envious of that young man whose ears had gone deaf.

What Baiyang said today was just like when I first met him… the amount of information contained between his words was simply too much. I had no way to digest it all at once.

“Your opponent is ‘Longhorn Beetle,’ the manager of all the ‘Ants,'” Baiyang said without waiting for my reaction. “Black Sheep will be the main combat force against ‘Longhorn Beetle,’ and you’ll be responsible for assisting. Remember—if ‘Longhorn Beetle’ dies, then the ‘Ants’ live. If ‘Longhorn Beetle’ lives, then all of you die.”

“Good heavens…” My whole body trembled. “Brother Yang… if you had us fight an ‘Earth-level,’ I wouldn’t be so astonished… but you’re having us ordinary people with ‘Echoes’ directly challenge a ‘Heavenly-level’?”

“There’s no difference between ‘Heavenly-level’ and ‘Earth-level,'” Baiyang said. “The physical qualities of ‘Heavenly-level’ are the same as ‘Earth-level.’ The only advantage is that ‘Heavenly-level’ have ‘Echoes.'”

“Then can we defeat him?”

“That’s right.” Baiyang nodded. “Both sides’ combat strength is evenly matched. Black Sheep represents ‘brute force,’ while you represent ‘Echoes.’ In a situation where both sides possess ‘brute force’ and ‘Echoes,’ you also have many more brains, so you have the advantage. This battle can be won.”

“This is too absurd…” I shook my head. “Brother Yang… what if the ‘Black Sheep’ you speak of doesn’t help us? What if he takes the opportunity to betray us and wants to kill us?”

“He will definitely want to kill you,” Baiyang answered expressionlessly.

“What…?”

When would Baiyang finally say something that didn’t exceed my expectations?

“I understand him too well,” Baiyang said. “To achieve his goals, he can use any means necessary. Although he’s ‘one of our own,’ he’ll still use your bodies as shields. He might step over all your corpses to defeat ‘Longhorn Beetle’—this is also within reason. Remember? I said he’s ‘the Zodiac no one wants.’ Can you guess why?”

“The reason is that he’s too ruthless and cold-blooded…” I paused. “In that case, how can we cooperate with him?”

“You can only find a way to kill him too,” Baiyang said. “This way, both sides’ motivations will be balanced. He can’t take advantage, and neither can you. For you, killing ‘Longhorn Beetle’ is the path of greatest benefit.”

“Brother Yang…” I slowly lowered my head and said, “What if I die there…? You also said this level of ‘violation’ will definitely result in being turned into a ‘Native’… How will you fulfill your promise then? How will you make me an ‘Elder’ after you seize power?”

Baiyang’s eerie eyes stared into mine for quite a while, finally slowly uttering four words:

“You won’t die.”

“You…!” I became somewhat anxious, took a step forward, and said to Baiyang with furrowed brows, “I’m not asking you ‘whether I can die’! Answer me directly!! I want you to tell me—if I die, how will you take this responsibility?! How will you be able to fulfill your promise?!”

Baiyang remained expressionless. After a few seconds, he said again:

“You won’t die.”

“You… you…” I suddenly felt somewhat dizzy. I always felt Baiyang was lying to me…

Even he wasn’t certain what would happen when we entered the “Train”… yet he dared guarantee I wouldn’t die…

“Brother Yang… are you lying to me…?” I said with a trembling voice. “Did your plan exclude me from the beginning…? I was never one of your own… I’m leading everyone to do the most dangerous work. I’m just your ‘gun’…!”

“Most dangerous…?” Baiyang shook his head. “Yan Zhichun, you think too highly of yourself.”

“What…?”

“There are many people acting simultaneously in this plan,” Baiyang said. “You just happen to be the safest one.”

“I’m… the safest?”

“You’re bringing an ‘Earth-level’ and a team of ‘Echoes’ to face only one ‘Heavenly-level,'” Baiyang said. “Rest assured—no one else in this plan will have it this easy.”

My eyes flickered. I truly couldn’t understand Baiyang anymore…

Even if we had numerical superiority… the opponent was still a “Heavenly-level”!

We were going to save the “Ants,” but in the eyes of a “Heavenly-level”—these semi-divine, semi-human monsters—we ordinary people were ourselves “Ants”!

“Don’t forget,” Baiyang continued, “besides ‘Longhorn Beetle,’ there are nine other ‘Heavenly-levels,’ nearly thirty ‘Earth-levels,’ countless ‘Human-levels,’ four ‘Divine Beasts,’ and ‘Heavenly Dragon’ standing above everyone. If you had to choose, which battlefield would you select?”

Yes… if put that way… our “Extreme Path’s” opponent was actually the easiest one.

I slowly retreated half a step. “Brother Yang… in this one event, you want to… take down everyone? Including ‘Heavenly Dragon’ and ‘Qinglong’?”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “But you don’t need to know other people’s plans. You only need to do your own thing.”

Kill “Longhorn Beetle,” save the “Ants”… what an absurd plan!

“Brother Yang…” I paused, then asked, “Do the ‘Ants’ still have rationality?”