Chapter 1008: Encircling

Hiss...

Chen Jun Nan scratched his head when he heard that. "Well, if that's the case, it's not hard to figure out. People who can't *guo he* end up crossing the river—on a small scale, it's *dropping zi*, and on a larger scale, it's *losing life*... This is getting complicated. Some *zi* will probably have to be snatched from the opponent's area."

"There's no need for that," Qi Xia said. "Chen Jun Nan, your *gong xin* should have had an effect by now."

"That fast?"

"Yes," Qi Xia said. "Their main force has likely entered our area by now. Under your chaotic *gong xin*, they've subconsciously thought we've launched an attack. If they don't counter, they'll look passive, and since their team members aren't familiar with each other, they're likely to spread out and enter. So, stick to the plan—the *early stage* is key to securing the *zi*. In our area, we have more teammates, so it's time to start scoring."

"Got it." Everyone nodded after hearing that.

"Quan Tou." Qi Xia turned and called out, "Your target is still Zhang Shan. He's loyal and feels secure, so I suspect he's taken on the task of protecting Chu Tian Qiu, and since he can't *guo he*, it's a 'need for protection' type of *zi*... Probably *shi*."

"The big guy is *shi*...?"

"Yes, and you're *xiang*," Qi Xia continued. "Both your *qi zi* can't *guo he*, so theoretically, you two won't meet. Did you tell him what I taught you earlier?"

"Of course!" Qiao Jia Jin nodded and said, "I made an agreement with the big guy—if we meet in the *he dao*, we'll go at it directly."

"Good," Qi Xia nodded. "*He dao* is your only point of engagement, unless Zhang Shan switches to a different *zi* later. But I have to warn you... You and Zhang Shan both have prime targets—one with *xiang* and one with *shi*—so watch out for tricks from the other side."

Everyone looked at Qiao Jia Jin after hearing that. If there's anyone hardest to snatch from in this place, it's Zhang Shan and Qiao Jia Jin, and yet they both carry the two most functional *zi*.

"Tricks...?" Qiao Jia Jin shook his head after hearing that. "That probably won't happen... The big guy isn't that type; he should want a straight-up fight with me."

"You're right that Zhang Shan won't, but that doesn't mean others won't," Qi Xia said. "Besides Zhang Shan, any of their people could interfere during your duel. If that happens, just call for help—I'll come if necessary."

"This..." Qiao Jia Jin nodded after hearing that. "Alright... I understand."

Qi Xia patted Qiao Jia Jin on the shoulder and said, "Now, go out with Chen Jun Nan. The other side is probably 'invading', so find Zhang Chen Ze and Zheng Ying Xiong as quickly as possible and try to *wei jiao* them."

"*Wei jiao*...?"

"Yes," Qi Xia said. "Since all the *doors* in the area lead to *ren ji chang di*, and I suspect the ultimate goal of those *ren ji sheng xiao* is to kill, avoid situations where you end up one-on-one with an opponent in a room. Enter rooms in pairs as much as possible, and rob the *zi* from them by force without triggering the *ren ji you xi*."

At that moment, Tian Tian hesitated and said, "Robbing with 'force'... Is that okay for us...?"

"Don't worry..." Qi Xia said. "Their invasion team probably doesn't include Zhang Shan or Jin Yuan Xun. One needs to protect Chu Tian Qiu, and the other is like Zheng Ying Xiong, acting as a scout moving around, so neither will invade actively. As for the rest—whether it's Yan Zhi Chun, Wen Qiao Yun, Xu Liu Nian, or Zhao Yi Sheng—plundering them by *force* won't be a problem."

"You're right..." Chen Jun Nan said. "When it comes to 'using brains', we're probably a step behind, but for straight-up 'grabbing', we should be fine."

"Shu Zi Zai!" Qiao Jia Jin waved at Han Yi Mo in the corner. "You're coming with me later!"

Chen Jun Nan turned to look at Han Yi Mo following Qiao Jia Jin's voice and noticed he seemed off—his whole body was shaking.

"Xiao Han, are you okay?" Chen Jun Nan asked.

"It's, it's nothing..." Han Yi Mo shook his head.

As everyone prepared to set out, they glanced at Tian Tian, who was still bowed, stroking the *shi* in her hand, lost in thought.

That *zi* was about half a palm in size, grayish-black and cold.

"Found the feel for it?" Qi Xia asked. "Do you have a general understanding of this *zi*'s structure?"

Tian Tian held her *shi* and finally shook her head. "Qi Xia... I've never seen this thing before today."

"So...?"

"You're overthinking *qiao wu*," Tian Tian said. "I'm not familiar with it... Even if I could get fully familiar in a short time, it'd only be with this specific *zi* in my hand. Plus, it can attach to screens, so who knows if there are other mechanisms inside... Without dismantling and studying it carefully, there's no way to replicate it with *qiao wu*."

"Hmm..." Qi Xia nodded. "And on top of that, we don't have extra materials for you to craft with right now... So *qiao wu* isn't useful here..."

"It's not just *qiao wu*..." Chen Jun Nan said. "Lao Qi, don't you think this place is weird?"

"Weird?"

"I don't know about your *hui xiang*, but my *ti zui* doesn't feel right..." Chen Jun Nan said. "Should we send someone out to check? I suspect Xiao Ye's *hui xiang* has been removed from the big screen."

Qi Xia frowned slightly after hearing that. Zheng Ying Xiong's *ling wen* was interfered with, and now Chen Jun Nan's *ti zui* was affected too—it seemed everything matched what he had thought.

To release *hui xiang* in this space, you needed extremely strong *xin nian*.

"It's a good thing," Qi Xia said. "If we just look at *hui xiang*, their side is naturally stronger—whether it's *duo xin po*, *tian xing jian*, *li xi*, or *yue qian*, they're all tricky abilities. Since Chen Jun Nan can't activate his easily, the other side is probably in the same boat."

"Oh, right..." Chen Jun Nan nodded after hearing that. "No wonder Yan Zhi Chun didn't use *duo xin po* on me earlier... It's not that she didn't want to, but she couldn't pull it off right away...?"

"Most likely," Qi Xia said. "Otherwise, when she saw your pockets full of *zi*, she would've used *duo xin po* to make you hand them over yourself."

"Well, then..." Chen Jun Nan chuckled. "Let them see how we fight with these 'weak *hui xiang*'."

"But stay careful," Qi Xia said. "No matter how small the chance, someone might still hear *hui xiang* here... It could just take some adapting, or it might be a matter of time."

"Good, I get it."

Qiao Jia Jin took Han Yi Mo with him, while Chen Jun Nan took Tian Tian, and the two groups set out into the rooms to find the scouting Zhang Lu Shi and Zheng Ying Xiong.