The other end of the plaza.

With Kim Wonhoon and Xiao Xiao leading the way, Lin Qin, Han Yimo, and Doctor Zhao approached the giant bell and display screen from behind in almost a very short time.

Everyone was almost completely unscathed. Han Yimo was almost at death’s door.

“Finally ran over here safe and sound.” Xiao Xiao slowly placed Han Yimo on the ground, discovering that Han Yimo was struggling to roll his eyes back.

“This is bad… this kid…”

Doctor Zhao wanted to say something more, but Lin Qin reached out to interrupt him, saying: “The giant bell and display screen are already before our eyes. Rather than worrying about Han Yimo, we should look at the task at hand.”

The group knew this opportunity was rare—or rather, everyone’s life and death hung on this single move. They could only first look toward the giant bell and display screen, but quickly discovered a bone-chilling problem.

They were far too close to Baihu.

Baihu was currently fully concentrating on triggering “Lush Growth” and “Explosive Combustion” before him, resisting numerous “Extreme Path” members while repeatedly releasing offensive “Echoes.” Wave after wave of heat caused the giant bell behind him to continuously sway.

Doctor Zhao’s group was almost ten meters away from Baihu, completely within his fire coverage range. At this moment, as long as Baihu turned around or heard any sound, even with “Shifting Blame” and “Leap,” they would certainly die.

“Let’s go together when you’re ready.” Lin Qin said softly, “If you need any help, feel free to tell me.”

After hearing this, Doctor Zhao paused, then turned his head and asked with an awkward expression: “Could you shake my hand again?”

Although Lin Qin was somewhat puzzled, she didn’t ask further and directly extended her hand.

But she always felt Doctor Zhao’s next action didn’t seem like a “handshake.” After all, after he grasped her hand, he began using his thumb to gently brush across the back of her hand, as if feeling her skin inch by inch. She and Doctor Zhao weren’t very familiar, and this inappropriate behavior made Lin Qin’s hair stand on end slightly.

“You…”

Before she could finish speaking, Doctor Zhao had already let go of her hand, then stood up and patted the dust off his body.

After finishing, he turned back to the group and said: “It’s too dangerous… since things have reached this point, I’ll go by myself next. There’s no need for you all to throw your lives away.”

Doctor Zhao’s behavior, sometimes righteous and sometimes evil, made Lin Qin unable to get a read on him. She could only turn her head with a puzzled expression to look at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao smiled and nodded, saying: “I really want to go together. I feel omnipotent right now.”

“No…” Doctor Zhao shook his head, “There’s truly no need. Getting me here is enough. If I die, you all should run quickly.”

After hearing this, Xiao Xiao paused, as if recovering some empathy: “Then… alright, you go. If there’s truly fatal danger that can be avoided, I’ll help you ‘Shift Blame’ away.”

At this point, Han Yimo on her shoulder only coughed lightly, not knowing what he was thinking.

Doctor Zhao groped forward, while Kim Wonhoon recovered his “conviction” a bit and began staring intently at Doctor Zhao. If there was truly any danger, perhaps he would be the one who could save him.

Just as Doctor Zhao was about to approach the giant bell, his peripheral vision flashed, and he saw a “Participant” hiding behind a large tree not far to his side.

He immediately felt something was wrong. Anyone who could be standing here now seemed to be neither “Extreme Path” nor “Heaven’s Mouth,” but could only be a “Supporter” who wanted to take his head.

It was a middle-aged man in a suit who looked sinister, with not-very-obvious bloodstains still hanging by both ears.

“Although I don’t know what the situation is… it seems everyone wants to kill her…” His gaze shifted into the distance, looking toward Yan Zhichun’s direction, “Following the crowd this time was the right choice after all.”

Doctor Zhao swallowed slightly, always feeling that the man before him looked somewhat familiar, as if they’d had a brief encounter at “Heaven’s Mouth” or on the street, but he really couldn’t remember who the other party specifically was.

“But that old man…” The man stared at Baihu and muttered to himself again, “Really troublesome…”

Since the other party was standing just behind a nearby tree, Doctor Zhao felt the situation was slightly dangerous. Although he didn’t know the other party’s stance, once they started fighting, even if he didn’t die, the sound transmitted would be enough to attract Baihu.

“Bro… brother… which side are you on?” Doctor Zhao asked.

Seeing Doctor Zhao’s reaction, Xiao Xiao’s group hurriedly walked forward a few steps quietly. During this time, another intense explosion came from Baihu’s location, shaking everyone unsteadily.

The middle-aged man seemed not to have heard Doctor Zhao speak at all, then slowly walked to Doctor Zhao’s side.

At this moment, Xiao Xiao’s group gathered close. Kim Wonhoon saw the man before him and froze, then said: “Oh, you seem to be… Uncle Zhong Zhen…?”

“People like this should die.” Zhong Zhen stared in Yan Zhichun’s direction and continued, “I said I would kill her, so I must kill her.”

Kim Wonhoon followed Zhong Zhen’s gaze and discovered the other party’s eyes were focused on Yan Zhichun in the center of the plaza.

“Uncle Zhong…” Kim Wonhoon called out softly, “Could I discuss something with you?”

Zhong Zhen still showed no reaction, then took out a folding knife from his pocket: “What a good opportunity this is, right?”

The group felt that something seemed wrong with this person before them. He could no longer communicate normally at all.

“U-uncle…” Kim Wonhoon stepped forward and reached out to grab the other party’s arm, but the other party reacted as if triggered, immediately slashing back with the knife.

Fortunately, Kim Wonhoon reacted quickly and immediately dodged the fatal strike, though his arm was also cut with a long gash.

“Ah, damn it…” Kim Wonhoon jumped back a step and was preparing to fight the other party when Lin Qin once again reached out to stop him.

“Let him pass.” Lin Qin said, “If you want to kill Yan Zhichun, go now. We won’t stop you.”

Having said this much, Zhong Zhen only turned his head back to look viciously at the group: “So many helpers, huh? Which side are you all on? Even Kim Wonhoon is here?”

“Uncle, you…”

“We’re not on any side.” Lin Qin said again, “You go do what you should do. We have nothing to do with each other.”

She furrowed her brow tightly, not knowing where this “cause and effect” came from.

“Killing one is killing, killing a group is also killing. Anyway, everyone I knew has been killed by me—a few more won’t make a difference.” Zhong Zhen muttered to himself, “Let this place become my battlefield.”

After saying this, he closed his eyes, then the giant bell swayed lightly, and a massive cloud of smoke began drifting everywhere with Zhong Zhen as the center.

The smoke was truly too thick, choking the people before him so they couldn’t open their eyes.

Baihu also suddenly discovered the abnormality behind him at this moment. He immediately turned his head back to check the situation, but everywhere his gaze reached was white smoke.

He stared with blood-red eyes and suddenly released a great wind, but the smoke seemed to drift out endlessly, quickly covering half the plaza again.

“Now!” Lin Qin shouted.

Doctor Zhao didn’t hesitate and immediately rushed toward the giant bell.

The white smoke obscured everyone’s vision, which was both good and bad for them. The good part was that Baihu couldn’t see them; the bad part was that they couldn’t see Baihu either.

Doctor Zhao could only rely on his memory to grope forward in the direction of the giant bell, his heart filled with tension.

He knew that once he touched the bell, Baihu would definitely discover him immediately.

But he had no choice.

This was their only chance.

Doctor Zhao’s fingers finally touched the cold metal surface. He took a deep breath, then activated his “Separation.”

In an instant, a strange sensation spread throughout his body.

He could feel his body beginning to separate—not physical separation, but a separation at a deeper level.

His consciousness, his memory, his emotions… everything was being pulled apart bit by bit.

This feeling was extremely painful, as if his entire being was being torn to pieces.

But Doctor Zhao gritted his teeth and persisted.

He knew this was necessary pain.

Only by completing “Separation” could he destroy this giant bell.

Time seemed to become extremely long. Every second felt like an eternity.

Doctor Zhao could feel his consciousness gradually blurring, as if about to disappear at any moment.

But just at this time, he suddenly heard a voice.

“Hold on.”

That was Lin Qin’s voice.

Doctor Zhao opened his eyes with difficulty and saw Lin Qin standing beside him, reaching out to support him.

“I’m here.” Lin Qin said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Doctor Zhao looked at her, suddenly feeling warmth in his heart.

He had never known that in this “Land of Finality,” there would be someone willing to stand by his side like this.

“Thank you…” Doctor Zhao said softly.

“Don’t talk, focus on your ability.” Lin Qin said.

Doctor Zhao nodded, then continued activating “Separation.”

Finally, after what seemed like a century, he felt his ability reaching its limit.

“Now!” Doctor Zhao shouted.

The giant bell suddenly let out a piercing sound, then began cracking from the middle.

The crack spread rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, the entire bell was covered with cracks like a spider web.

“Success!” Kim Wonhoon shouted excitedly.

But at this moment, the white smoke suddenly dissipated.

Baihu’s figure appeared before everyone, his eyes filled with rage.

“You all… dare…” Baihu’s voice was low and terrifying.

“Run!” Lin Qin shouted immediately.

The group turned and ran without hesitation.

But Baihu was faster. He raised his hand, and a massive flame shot toward them.

At this critical moment, Xiao Xiao suddenly rushed forward, standing in front of everyone.

“Shifting Blame!” She shouted.

The flame struck her body but then instantly transferred elsewhere.

Unfortunately, that “elsewhere” was Han Yimo.

“Ah!!!” Han Yimo let out a miserable scream, his entire body enveloped in flames.

“Han Yimo!” Doctor Zhao cried out in alarm.

But at this moment, they could no longer turn back.

Behind them, the giant bell finally couldn’t support itself any longer and collapsed with a loud crash.

At the same time, the display screen also began flickering violently, then went completely dark.

“We succeeded…” Lin Qin murmured.

But looking at Han Yimo burning in the flames, no one could feel any joy.

This victory… came at too heavy a price.