“It seems to be ‘Clear Fragrance’…” Zheng Yingxiong said again. “I originally thought that was the scent of the ‘Land of the End,’ but I never noticed it was the scent of ‘Clear Fragrance’… because it itself wasn’t that strong!”
“I’m getting a bit confused,” Chen Junnan said. “‘Clear Fragrance’ is an ‘Echo,’ right? You’re saying that thing has actually always been an ‘Echo,’ but because it’s been floating in the sky all along, you got used to it… and didn’t think it was an ‘Echo’?”
Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiajin finally understood somewhat and nodded. “Right, I get it. Hidden in plain sight.”
“Yes! Hidden in plain sight!” Zheng Yingxiong said somewhat anxiously. “It’s very faint! Although it’s dissipating now, it was originally very faint too.”
“This is troublesome,” Chen Junnan said. “Only you can smell that scent, kid. We can’t help.”
“If only I could go outside now! As long as I can get out, I’ll know its name! This scent that’s currently dissipating… it’s really too faint when smelled from here…”
“Old Qi probably knows what’s going on,” Chen Junnan also gazed toward the “door” from the preparation area. “Maybe he’s carrying out some plan over there?”
Zheng Yingxiong was stunned. “This huge, disappearing thing… is related to Qi Xia?”
Chen Junnan nodded. “Can’t rule it out.”
After hearing this, Zhang Chenze paused and asked, “I have a question I’m not quite clear about…”
“What is it?”
“From your descriptions…” Zhang Chenze asked tentatively, “That thing that’s disappearing is a kind of… ‘Echo,’ right?”
Chen Junnan thought for a moment before answering, “It sounds like it. Like some kind of ‘Continuous Echo.'”
“Then…” Zhang Chenze continued, “Under what circumstances… would a ‘Continuous Echo’ disappear?”
In her mind, she couldn’t help but think of her own black coat that had “escaped.” It was probably still continuously active in some corner of the “Land of the End” right now. Would it continue to be active forever?
“Making an ability disappear? Isn’t that simple?” Qiao Jiajin said. “As long as I say one sentence…”
“Give it a rest,” Chen Junnan quickly interrupted. “Your ‘disappearance’ is way too simple and brutal. Lawyer Zhang is asking about normal circumstances.”
“Right, I mean under general circumstances,” Zhang Chenze nodded. “Is there any way to make this kind of ‘Continuous Echo’ ineffective?”
After hearing this, everyone turned their gazes to Chen Junnan. After all, in everyone’s minds, he had preserved his memories long enough. Chen Junnan tactfully looked toward Zheng Yingxiong.
After receiving their gazes, Zheng Yingxiong shook his head. “I don’t know. You should say it.”
“Alright then, this young master will spout off a bit,” Chen Junnan said. “I feel it varies from person to person. Different ‘Echoes’ have different conditions for becoming ineffective. Most people in the ‘Land of the End’ have instant ‘Echoes’—use them once and that’s it, like me and Old Qiao. But there are also some exceptions.”
After hearing this, Zhang Chenze nodded with interest. “What exceptions?”
“Like Zhang Lijuan, for example,” Chen Junnan said. “Her ‘Echo’ is more like a permanent one. As long as the things she creates aren’t destroyed, they’ll always exist.”
“Huh?” Tiantian was stunned after hearing this. “Is that so?”
“That’s right. There’s also another kind of exception,” Chen Junnan said, then turned to look at Han Yimo.
“…?” Han Yimo blinked. “Why are you looking at me?”
“Some people’s ‘Echoes’ really do continuously take effect subtly and persistently,” Chen Junnan continued explaining while staring at Han Yimo. “In this situation, there’s also a very simple and brutal way to make the ‘Echo’ disappear—that is, the owner of the ‘Echo’ kicks the bucket.”
“No, you can talk all you want… why are you looking at me while you talk?” Han Yimo asked again.
“It’s nothing. I just find you interesting,” Chen Junnan smiled.
“Why do I feel like I’ve heard that line several times today…” Han Yimo muttered quietly.
“Then it should be quite easy to figure out the answer,” Zhang Chenze interrupted their conversation. “We can ask Qi Xia later who just died. That person is the owner of this ‘Echo.'”
After hearing this, both Zheng Yingxiong and Chen Junnan felt something was slightly off.
If this “Echo” had always been there, had none of the people here discovered it?
The “Display Screen” didn’t notice it, and Qinglong didn’t notice it either?
This thing had been hanging openly high in the sky, yet everyone here failed to notice it… wasn’t that a bit too absurd?
Could it really be as Qiao Jiajin said… hidden in plain sight?
Qinglong also felt something strange at this moment. He raised his head and looked around, then turned to survey his surroundings. It seemed like some very odd feeling had flashed by. Although strange feelings occurred on this land every day, this feeling right now was particularly eerie.
Qinglong couldn’t help but furrow his brow… Could this be some important information?
He turned to look at Earth-Dragon, who was now completely devoid of life, then let out a soft laugh.
Since Qi Xia trusted these so-called “teammates” so much, most of them probably carried “Echoes” on them.
The anomaly just now—even if it was their dying counterattack, so what?
On this land, no one’s “Echo” became stronger after death. It would only become weaker or disappear.
So just now, some “Echo” had most likely disappeared.
“Qinglong,” Qi Xia called out. “Accept defeat graciously. Let them go, and then I’ll face you next.”
After Qi Xia finished speaking, he turned to look at Yan Zhichun. The complex information contained in his gaze was endless.
This was not just a pair of stern eyes, but more like a signal that something was “beginning.”
Yan Zhichun knew she had already obtained what she wanted.
Not only had Qi Xia soundly defeated her in a one-on-one small game, but according to Chu Tianqiu’s account, he had also used tight team coordination to push Chu Tianqiu’s entire team into a desperate situation.
If it were only this, it naturally wouldn’t qualify him as a powerful leader. But now the defeated team could retreat unscathed, not having to die in this dark and eerie corner, while Qi Xia faced Qinglong with his own strength alone, reversing the parties in the “Life Gamble.”
Originally it had been a gamble between Wen Qiaoyun and Earth-Dragon, but now it had transformed into a gamble between Qi Xia and Qinglong.
Although Yan Zhichun didn’t understand how the current situation had come about, she knew it definitely couldn’t be separated from Qi Xia’s machinations.
Rather than spending time now trying to figure out exactly what Qi Xia had done, it would be better to decisively join this torrent.
If everything was according to plan, then everything now was within the plan.
Thinking this, Yan Zhichun nodded toward Qi Xia.
Qi Xia also nodded slightly, then turned to face Qinglong. “Have you thought about the new rules?”
After hearing this, Qinglong chuckled softly. “Of course. I’ve always kept contingencies.”
“Good.”
With that, Qi Xia walked to the far side of the “preparation area” and opened the door representing “Rout.”
Chu Tianqiu was standing outside, looking into the room with a grave expression.