“Huff… huff…”

Zhou Yuling arrived slightly out of breath.

Her widened eyes fixed intently on the wisps of “red mist” flying out from Jiang Ye’s body.

Simultaneously, her mind naturally recalled…

Just a short while ago.

When this “Formless Domain” was still the “waiting area.”

She had also seen a blood-red streak rapidly darting through pure darkness!

She believed every player in the “waiting area” had seen it at that time.

They had all marveled together—

Clearly, the rules of the “waiting area” prohibited players from moving freely.

Yet that red mist could disregard the rules!

And now, the red mist flying from Jiang Ye’s body looked remarkably similar to that anomalous red mist!

So the red mist speeding through the darkness back then was actually related to Jiang Ye?!

What exactly is this kid up to?

His audacity is truly beyond belief!

Zhou Yuling fumed internally, practically itching to rush over and deliver a kick to Jiang Ye’s rear, sending him flying.

Obviously, from her perspective…

Though she saw red mist flying from Jiang Ye’s body.

She hadn’t noticed the bleeding wound on Jiang Ye’s right cheek.

Moreover, another dark figure beside Jiang Ye caught her attention.

Indeed, there were still cunning dogs lurking around this “Formless Tree” that she hadn’t managed to lure away!

Zhou Yuling’s expression tightened as her gaze locked onto that dark figure.

She weighed her words, about to speak.

But then she saw the dark figure turn its head toward her direction.

Zhou Yuling saw its full appearance and immediately narrowed her eyes: “You…”

Before she could finish, the dark figure spoke coldly:

“In Jiang Ye’s recent conversation with you, did he mention a little red snake?”

“Was that little red snake nourished with his own blood?”

Zhou Yuling’s face darkened, brows furrowed, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Ye himself was right here…

Why was this guy asking her instead of Jiang Ye?

With this doubt, Zhou Yuling took another look at Jiang Ye.

She subtly shifted her position, changing her angle.

Only then did she see…

That the red mist was actually seeping from Jiang Ye’s right cheek.

And that blood streak on Jiang Ye’s right cheek…

Damn! He’s bleeding!

Then according to the rules in the previous announcement, shouldn’t he be erased?!

This…

This kid is absolutely insane!

Relying on being a clone, he’s not even afraid of the erasure rules??

Wait, no?

Didn’t he say he had blood reserves?

Besides, when ordinary people perform blood-drip acknowledgment, they usually prick their fingertips to draw blood.

They wouldn’t likely choose to cut their cheeks.

So…

Zhou Yuling quickly realized—

Jiang Ye had been ambushed!

And the one who ambushed him was undoubtedly…

Sss—

Zhou Yuling’s throat tightened.

Her already tense expression grew even stiffer.

She cleared her throat lightly and cautiously said awkwardly: “This erasure process in the ‘Formless Domain’… is quite miraculous, isn’t it?”

“Miraculous?” The dark figure gave her a strange look, “You couldn’t possibly think…”

“That this guy’s current blood-sucking process by the ‘Formless Tree’ is actually ‘erasure,’ could you?”

Zhou Yuling frowned: “Isn’t it?”

The dark figure’s eyes turned sinister, its tone cold and eerie: “Haven’t you tested this with anyone?”

“On my way to the ‘Formless Tree,’ I specifically tested it with someone.”

“That guinea pig whose cheek I cut to make him bleed didn’t bleed continuously like Jiang Ye—he directly turned into light points.”

“Which means the erasure in this ‘Formless Domain’ follows the same process as in the apartment.”

“Yet this guy, who should have been erased, wasn’t…”

“Instead, he keeps bleeding, and his blood continuously feeds this ‘Formless Tree’…”

“This itself is highly abnormal!”

This…

Only then did Zhou Yuling vaguely realize.

So…

It wasn’t that the erasure form in the “Formless Domain” was different.

But rather that Jiang Ye, who was already bleeding, simply hadn’t been erased!

However, Zhou Yuling thought again: “Could it just be that the situation around the ‘Formless Tree’ is special?”

“What I mean is—any player bleeding elsewhere gets erased by turning into light points;
while near the ‘Formless Tree,’ they get erased by having their blood drained by this tree?”

The dark figure fell silent for a moment, then suddenly nodded seriously: “What you say makes sense too.”

“Then, wouldn’t giving you the bleeding treatment show whether Jiang Ye’s situation is special or the area around the Formless Tree is special?”

“…” Zhou Yuling grew even more tense, even physically retreating rapidly, with several protective barriers automatically appearing around her.

However, the dark figure just said this without actually taking action.

Even after giving Zhou Yuling a cool glance, it scanned other more distant directions and said meaningfully:

“Why are you so nervous?”

“You’re not the only guinea pig around here.”

At these words, Zhou Yuling’s gaze also flickered toward other directions.

Yet around the entire Formless Tree, only Jiang Ye’s right cheek continuously seeped blood mist, flowing toward the crescent blood mark on the Formless Tree.

Nothing else showed any change.

After a moment of silence, the dark figure snorted coldly:

“Hmph, as expected of a little rat, truly can’t change those filthy rat habits.”

“If you keep hiding, don’t expect to share the ‘Formless Leaf’ slots anymore.”

Following this domineering snort.

Figures actually began appearing around the “Formless Tree” one after another.

The hidden figures numbered roughly seven or eight!

And those strong players previously lured away by Zhou Yuling now gradually returned to the area around the “Formless Tree.”

Within barely ten-plus seconds, the entire area around the “Formless Tree” returned to its previous state of being gathered with experts.

These people had already met here before.

Now they had just circled back after various movements.

And during their previous gathering, they had collectively established one point—

Since according to announcement rules, players cannot bind 2 “Formless Leaves” simultaneously.

Then with a full 99,999 slots.

The competition among them wasn’t actually fierce.

Moreover, since no one had successfully bound a “Formless Leaf” to obtain a Court Session slot yet.

So, at least at this moment, their need for cooperation outweighed their need for competition.

Thus, the probability of fighting was naturally minimal.

Moreover, these strong players had numerous protective barriers.

Many even directly wrapped themselves in black robes, not exposing an inch of skin.

So fully armed, they naturally found it difficult to be erased through “bleeding” effects.

Speaking of which, someone like Jiang Ye who had no defenses whatsoever, going in completely exposed, easily made to bleed…

Throughout the entire “Formless Domain,” he was probably the only one…

This kid, does he think a clone’s life isn’t a life?

How could he have no precautions against the “erasure” content in the announcement…

Ordinary strong players simply thought Jiang Ye was too young, completely unaware of the weight behind the “Erasure” from the system announcement.

He probably had his perception distorted by items like the [Madman Mask] from the novice apartment that counter artificial erasure effects!

While more far-sighted experts, through Jiang Ye’s different erasure method after bleeding, began harboring various suspicions.

This kid’s such reckless fearlessness might precisely be due to his own special qualities?

Otherwise, why do others turn into light points when bleeding?

While he alone gets his blood drained by the “Formless Tree”?

As these strong players appeared, most looked at Jiang Ye with peculiar gazes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ye’s clone being drained of blood, under intense terror, gradually felt his consciousness blur.

But he vaguely sensed—

As he was being drained by the “Formless Tree”;

As Zhou Yuling retreated here after her outburst…

The area around the “Formless Tree” was once again gathered with experts!

And these experts’ gazes were probably carving into him like blades!

Jiang Ye certainly feared no gazes.

Moreover, he feared no death.

But frankly, what he feared now was—

When this clone was completely drained of blood…

Wouldn’t he turn into a solitary “Formless Leaf” right before everyone’s eyes?!

This way, not only would Zhou Yuling learn the origin of his solitary “Formless Leaf”…

But other strong players present would also be shocked by his desiccated corpse transforming into a “Formless Leaf”!

How would these strong players treat him then?

Jiang Ye hardly dared imagine!

They might abandon the Formless Tree altogether, instead continuously using his clones to forcibly extract blood for directly bindable “Formless Leaves”!

In short, his secret regarding the “Formless Leaves”… must not be exposed!

Moreover, as this “Formless Tree” sucked his blood…

Jiang Ye had a premonition—

The entire “Formless Tree” would truly undergo changes!

And that moment of change should be for him alone to witness, not coveted by these strong players!

In short, he needed to find a way to drive away these strong players again before completely turning into a desiccated corpse!

But what could he do?

That Zhou Yuling guy was completely unreliable!

And given the current situation, anyone could see the “Formless Tree” was about to change!

Anyone with a brain wouldn’t leave at this time!

So, clever tactics definitely wouldn’t work.

Then, only forceful measures remained…

But forceful measures required absolute strength!

And against these strong players, he possessed no absolute strength!

Should he expose his ninety thousand light clones?

But frankly, ninety thousand light clones might not necessarily work!

The Lightburn effect wasn’t instantly lethal to strong players upon infection.

Like Salvation, who survived for so long after being infected with Lightburn.

Including when Jiang Ye and Wang Lingling were infected with Lightburn, they only suffered pain without immediate death.

These strong players infected with Lightburn most likely wouldn’t die instantly either.

Furthermore, even Zhou Yuling could produce so many anti-Light faction items.

These apartment experts probably had plenty of various anti-Light faction items too!

They feared Lightburn.

But they weren’t truly incapable of fighting the Light faction!

So, what should be done…

This No. 1 clone being drained of blood, due to its chaotic consciousness, couldn’t think further.

However, before completely losing consciousness, it synchronized the predicament it faced with other clones in the “Formless Domain.”

Like the Zhang Minghan clone, the Wu Ying clone, and other light clones.

And also…

That mutated clone with only its left hand movable.

Thus, solving the problem was left to other clones.

Around the “Formless Tree,” these strong players, after glancing at Jiang Ye, focused more attention on the blood-sucking “Formless Tree.”

Meanwhile, that dark figure who had summoned these strong players suddenly raised a cold smile.

With a casual wave of its hand, a black whip covered in thorns viciously lashed toward one direction.

As the whip fell, a concealed figure appeared, hastily dodging.

However, the black whip seemed sentient, automatically extending to chase after the flustered figure!

The dark figure holding the whip snorted coldly:

“Since you didn’t cherish the opportunity to appear voluntarily…”

“Perfect timing, you’ll be the guinea pig for this experiment!”

“I believe the other esteemed guests won’t have any objections :)”

The other strong players naturally adopted a “not my problem” attitude.

After all, they weren’t the ones being experimented on.

They certainly wanted to know too—

Whether Jiang Ye was special or the area around the Formless Tree was special.

Thus, amidst silence, the figure struck by the black whip had its equipment directly shattered!

With skin exposed, the guy hastily summoned protective barriers.

But nothing worked!

The black whip clearly possessed conceptual-level lethality comparable to the Entropy Reaper!

It effortlessly broke through barriers wherever it struck!

However, if it were truly conceptual-level damage, it wouldn’t cause bleeding.

But then, the thorns on the black whip scraped the person’s skin.

Blood instantly emerged!

And in that very moment…

That player called “guinea pig,” along with his slightly seeping blood, turned into light points and rapidly vanished!

This scene wasn’t missed by any of the watching eyes.

And those eyes quickly flashed with various complex emotions.

The dark figure narrowed its eyes, then smiled sinisterly, looking at Jiang Ye:

“So…”

“The experiment proves what’s special isn’t the area around the ‘Formless Tree,’ but Jiang Ye!”

Speaking, the dark figure turned to Zhou Yuling, smiling slightly:

“I overheard your conversation with Jiang Ye…”

“This kid seemed very eager to feed the Formless Tree with his own blood, even forcing you to make a choice.”

“Now, I’ve made the choice for him.”

“However, just one clone alone probably isn’t nearly enough.”

“I heard you had him prepare ninety thousand clones for the Court of Disorder?”

“Why not have all ninety thousand clones come here together to blood-feed this ‘Formless Tree’?”

This guy spoke these words lightly.

While Zhou Yuling, under his gaze, stiffened completely.

She stiffened her neck, forcing out an explanation:

“This… probably isn’t feasible, right?”

“After all, you all heard the previous announcement.”

“All 99,999 ‘Formless Leaves’ must be bound to players to trigger the Extreme Court’s Court Session…”

“If we really let Jiang Ye’s ninety thousand clones feed the ‘Formless Tree’…”

“Then our Court Session slots couldn’t be filled!”

This explanation grew more confident as Zhou Yuling spoke.

After all, she believed the experts gathered here now should all want to clear the Extreme Court.

However, she didn’t expect—

The dark figure actually chuckled again, its tone arrogant:

“Tch, just Court of Disorder slots.”

“I, Jiang Wenxing, can create them with bare hands!”

Speaking, the dark figure whipped the ground again.

The thorns on the black whip scooped up scorched earth.

Jiang Wenxing withdrew the whip, smeared the soil, and casually molded a mud figure.

Then, he blew a breath toward the mud figure…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep