Chapter 1092: Ineffective

Zheng Yingxiong spoke again.

"It seems like 'Qingxiang'... I originally thought it was the scent of 'Zhongyan Zhidi', but I never noticed it was the scent of 'Qingxiang'... because it wasn't that strong to begin with!"

Chen Junnan said, "I'm a bit confused. 'Qingxiang' is the same as 'Huixiang', right? Are you saying that thing has always been a 'Huixiang', but it's been floating in the sky, so you got used to it... and didn't think of it as 'Huixiang'?"

Qiao Jijin nodded after hearing this, finally understanding a bit. "I get it, it's like hiding in plain sight."

Zheng Yingxiong said urgently, "Exactly! Hiding in plain sight! It's very faint! Even though it's dissipating now, it was always faint."

Chen Junnan said, "This is troublesome. Only you can smell that scent, kid. We can't help with that."

Zheng Yingxiong replied, "If I could just get out, I'd know its name! This dissipating scent is just too faint from here..."

Chen Junnan gazed toward the "Men" from the preparation area and said, "Qi Xia probably knows what's going on. 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. "It's possible."

Zhang Chenze paused after listening and asked, "I have a question I'm not clear on..."

"What is it?"

Zhang Chenze probed, "From what you've described... that disappearing thing is a kind of 'Huixiang', right?"

Chen Junnan thought for a moment and replied, "That sounds like it. It's like a 'sustained Huixiang'."

Zhang Chenze continued, "Then... under what circumstances would a 'sustained Huixiang' disappear?"

She couldn't help but think of her own black coat that had "escaped," probably still active in some corner of 'Zhongyan Zhidi'. Would it keep going forever?

Chen Junnan found Zhang Chenze's question intriguing.

Qiao Jijin said, "Making an ability disappear? That's easy. I just have to say..."

Chen Junnan quickly interrupted, "Oh, come on. Your 'disappearance' is way too straightforward and forceful. I think Lawyer Zhang means in a normal situation."

Zhang Chenze nodded. "Yes, I'm talking about general cases. Is there a way to make a 'sustained Huixiang' ineffective?"

Everyone turned their gaze to Chen Junnan, as he was the one with the longest memory among them. But Chen Junnan cleverly looked toward Zheng Yingxiong.

Zheng Yingxiong shook his head after receiving the look. "I don't know. You say it."

Chen Junnan said, "Alright, I'll go ahead and speculate. I think it varies from person to person; different 'Huixiang' have different conditions for becoming ineffective. Most people in 'Zhongyan Zhidi' have instant 'Huixiang'—use it and it's done, like me and Lao Qiao, but there are exceptions."

Zhang Chenze nodded with interest. "What exceptions?"

Chen Junnan said, "For example, Zhang Lijuan. Her 'Huixiang' is more like permanent; anything she creates will keep going as long as it's not destroyed."

Tiantian was startled. "Huh? Is that how it is?"

"That's right. And there's another exception." Chen Junnan turned to look at Han Yimo.

Han Yimo blinked. "...? Why are you looking at me?"

Chen Junnan stared at Han Yimo as he explained, "Some people's 'Huixiang' keeps subtly taking effect over time. In that case, there's a very straightforward way to make the 'Huixiang' disappear: the owner of the 'Huixiang' kicks the bucket."

Han Yimo asked, "Hey, just say what you need to say... why keep looking at me?"

Chen Junnan laughed. "Nothing, I just find you interesting."

Han Yimo muttered quietly, "I feel like I've heard that line from you several times today..."

Zhang Chenze interrupted their conversation. "That should make it easy to figure out the answer. Later, we can ask Qi Xia if anyone just died—that person would be the owner of this 'Huixiang'."

Zheng Yingxiong and Chen Junnan both felt something was off about the situation.

If this 'Huixiang' had always been there, how come no one here noticed it?

Didn't the "display screen" notice? Didn't Qinglong notice?

This thing was just hanging boldly in the sky, and yet everyone here overlooked it... that seems way too far-fetched.

Could it really be like Qiao Jijin said—hiding in plain sight?

Qinglong also sensed something strange. He looked up and scanned around, then turned to survey his surroundings. It felt like some odd sensation had flashed by, and while this land was full of strange feelings every day, this one was especially eerie.

Qinglong furrowed his brow... Could this be some important clue?

He glanced at the completely lifeless Dilong and let out a light chuckle.

Qi Xia trusted these so-called "teammates" so much that they probably all carried 'Huixiang'.

Whatever strangeness happened earlier, even if it was their dying counterattack, what could it do?

On this land, no one's 'Huixiang' gets stronger after death—it only weakens or disappears.

So, something 'Huixiang' probably vanished just now.

Qi Xia called out, "Qinglong, a bet's a bet. Let them go, and then it's just you and me facing off."

After saying this, Qi Xia turned to Yan Zhichun, his eyes conveying a complex message that seemed endless.

It wasn't just a cold stare; it was like a signal for something "beginning."

Yan Zhichun knew she had gotten what she wanted.

Qi Xia hadn't just defeated her in a one-on-one game; according to Chu Fa, he had used meticulous team coordination to trap Chu Tianqiu's entire team in a desperate situation.

If that were all, it wouldn't make him a great leader, but now the defeated team could retreat safely without dying in this dark, weird corner. And Qi Xia was taking on Qinglong alone, turning the tables on this life-or-death gamble.

What was once a bet between Wen Qiaoyun and Dilong had now become one between Qi Xia and Qinglong.

Though Yan Zhichun didn't understand how the situation had unfolded, she knew it had to be tied to Qi Xia's schemes.

Instead of wasting time figuring out exactly what Qi Xia had done, it was better to decisively join this flow.

If everything was part of a plan, then all of this was already in the plan.

With that thought, Yan Zhichun nodded at Qi Xia.

Qi Xia gave a slight nod in return, then turned back to Qinglong. "Got your new rules figured out?"

Qinglong chuckled. "Of course, I've always had backups."

"Good."

With that, Qi Xia walked to the far side of the preparation area and opened the door marked "escape."

Chu Tianqiu was standing outside, looking gravely into the room.