Chapter 1215: Researcher

It looked very smooth. Hei Yang glanced at the leaders of the several teams in front of him.

An unknown old man, Lao Deng, Tong Yi, along with the newly arrived Yan Zhichun, Jiang Ruoxue, and Lao Sun's teams—six out of the expected seven teams had arrived.

"We can't wait for the last team anymore," Hei Yang said."The Can-yu-zhe should bring their Xin Nian and prepare to depart. The Sheng Xiao can do as they please."

After hearing this, the several Sheng Xiao exchanged glances and then dispersed.

"What's going on...?" Lao Sun turned to Yan Zhichun."How come we're missing a team? Little sister, who didn't show up?"

Yan Zhichun felt the situation didn't match her expectations and quickly said,"There should be two more teams. They're both still alive—Xiao Xiao's team and Zhoumo's team."

"Where are they?! Why aren't they coming?!" Lao Sun asked."It's a straight road—why don't they just come?"

As they were speaking, they saw Zhoumo leading a few people running quickly from a distance.

"Tsk, damn it... Some Ren Ji were blocking the way..." Zhoumo arrived, panting for breath."I've taken care of them now. It's clear."

Everyone felt relieved to see Zhoumo arrive, but upon closer inspection, the group that had run up didn't look like a typical Ji Dao team at all.

Qian Wu, Zhou Liu, Bai Jiu, Luo Shiyi—these notorious Mao—were all there, along with Li Jingguan and Su Shan.

Zhoumo noticed everyone staring at him and could only shake his head."Something unexpected happened. The Ji Dao encountered the Si Men, so I had to let the Mao go through instead."

"As long as you're here, that's what matters," Yan Zhichun said."But now, we're still missing..."

Although no one had seen them, they could imagine that Xiao Xiao, Lin Qing, and Zheng Yingxiong's group had run into trouble.

Even if they hadn't faced danger outside, death was still possible on the Lie Che.

That team had probably been wiped out completely.

Jiang Ruoxue looked at Zhoumo."What are you standing there for? Hurry up and use Chuan Yin to check. What's the point of having you if not for this?"

"Tsk, you cheap woman, don't cause me trouble," Zhoumo frowned and said."If I could use it, I would've done it ages ago. In this godforsaken place, everything Hui Xiang is out of whack."

"Hui Xiang doesn't work here?" The many Ji Dao fell into confusion.

Their only way to challenge the Lie Che was through Hui Xiang. Without it, how could they fight the Sheng Xiao?

"It can be Hui Xiang..." Yan Zhichun said.

Zhoumo looked at her."Tsk, how do we make it work?"

"I..." Yan Zhichun hesitated, the words on the tip of her tongue but unsaid.

According to Chu Tianqiu's earlier explanation, as long as one firmly believed they had gained Hui Xiang, it would work.

But if she said that out loud, for those with weak subconscious minds, it would turn into "never Hui Xiang", because they'd fall into a state of uncertainty.

Her mind raced—how had Qi Xia managed to get everyone Hui Xiang back then?

"That's right... Zheng Yingxiong..." Yan Zhichun suddenly remembered that living Zhong.

As long as he declared someone had gained Hui Xiang, they definitely could.

But Zheng Yingxiong was with Xiao Xiao's team, and that self-proclaimed Ji Fa Lin Qing was there too. They still hadn't joined up.

Was there no way now?

"No one has Hui Xiang?" Jiang Ruoxue slowly stepped forward."I can't even tell if mine is there. Let me try!"

She reached out and grabbed Yan Zhichun's hand.

"Zhichun, what are you thinking about?" Jiang Ruoxue asked.

"I..." Yan Zhichun sighed and said,"I'm thinking about how to help everyone stably gain Hui Xiang."

"Good," Jiang Ruoxue nodded."Zhichun, you need to understand the logic here... Now, just close your eyes and open them again, and you'll see someone who can solve this problem for you."

Yan Zhichun knew Jiang Ruoxue's abilities well, so she closed her eyes right then. A few seconds later, she opened them, but all she saw was still Jiang Ruoxue.

Of course... Jiang Ruoxue was standing right in front of her, so how could she see anyone else?

"This..." Yan Zhichun was a bit stunned."If that's the case... is your Hui Xiang really there?"

"Uh..." Jiang Ruoxue smiled awkwardly."Hehe, I'm not sure... I don't feel anything at all."

"I think you should..."

Yan Zhichun was about to say something when she suddenly paused, because she realized her line of sight now included not just Jiang Ruoxue, but also Su Shan standing not far behind her.

What was this unfamiliar woman doing here?

"Hold on... Could it be that she...?"

Yan Zhichun let go of Jiang Ruoxue's hand and walked over to Su Shan, asking,"Sister, what is your Hui Xiang?"

"I'm... Ling Shi..."

Yan Zhichun's eyes widened slowly. Was this coincidence or Yin Guo?

She wasn't sure if Jiang Ruoxue had accidentally triggered her ability or done it on purpose, but the solution was right in front of them.

"Sister! I have a favor to ask..." Yan Zhichun pulled Su Shan aside and said mysteriously.

Lao Sun turned back and looked at the teammates who had arrived, his gaze lingering on the old man.

He considered himself the social butterfly of the Ji Dao, but he didn't think he'd ever spoken to this old man before.

"Old-timer," Lao Sun called out."You're in pretty good shape."

"Ah, yes, young fella," the old man nodded."I've done manual labor my whole life, so of course I'm sturdy."

"What do you do, old-timer?"

"I farm," the old man said, then shook his head."Wait, no, now I'm a researcher."

"Whoa, that's pretty highbrow," Lao Sun said."Switching fields like that? Quite the leap."

"Yeah..." The old man turned back mysteriously and looked at Lao Sun."I'm just counting on this operation to end quickly so I can get back to my research."

"Research what?"

"Research Jin Hua," the old man pointed a finger at himself and said."Young fella, what do you think humans... evolved from?"

"What the heck...?" Lao Sun was a bit confused."Old-timer, you're researching evolution theory in a place like this?"

"Yeah... It's almost done... I'll have results soon," the old man nodded."I remember I was just about to dig into something important, and then suddenly I was standing on the street. I'm dying of anxiety here."

Although they'd only chatted a little, Lao Sun could tell the old man was a bit eccentric, so he decided not to engage further.

As long as whatever he was researching didn't affect the team's safety, that was fine.

After talking with Yan Zhichun for a while, Su Shan nodded repeatedly, then turned back to everyone and said,"Everyone... I have something to announce."