“Phew…”

That breath seemed to directly transfer to the pitch-black little clay figure.

The little clay figure’s nostrils actually slowly exhaled a breath.

With that single breath, the entire clay figure seemed to be imbued with vitality.

Then, the palm-sized clay figure gradually grew larger…

Eventually transforming into the appearance of a player!

Of course, this clay player had no distinct facial features.

It had a nose, eyes, and mouth, but they all looked artificial, like sculpted features, appearing stiff and lacking the vibrancy of normal flesh and blood.

Naturally, everyone present were experienced strong players.

They wouldn’t immediately assume it wasn’t a player just because of the difference between the clay figure and normal players.

The dark figure glanced at the clay figure and casually said:

“You all are quite knowledgeable.”

“Then, you should know about Salvation’s mecha clone, right?”

“His mecha clone operates on a similar principle—not a clone talent, but rather an artificially created duplicate.”

“Whether it’s Salvation’s mecha man or my clay figure created by Jiang Wenxing…”

“Both can be judged as players, it’s just that their ‘physical bodies’ are somewhat special.”

“So…”

Jiang Wenxing smiled as he looked at Zhou Yuling.

This person’s appearance had a sinister, chilling quality.

So when he smiled, it didn’t look warm or friendly at all.

Instead, it seemed naturally malicious.

Zhou Yuling’s expression stiffened slightly as she heard Jiang Wenxing continue:

“So, I can also create court session slots.”

“Then, Jiang Ye’s ninety thousand clones aren’t as important as you claimed.”

“On the contrary, this ‘Formless Tree’ that can provide us with court session slots is ultimately much more important than Jiang Ye, right?”

After speaking, he didn’t wait for Zhou Yuling’s response before turning to look at the others present, smiling:

“I presume all of you share the same opinion as me :)”

As these words fell, the atmosphere among the gathered powerful figures became quite subtle.

No one was the first to step forward and respond to him.

After all, these strong players who had survived until today undoubtedly understood the principle of “discretion being the better part of valor.”

No one wanted to be the first bird that might get shot.

However, Jiang Wenxing seemed to have anticipated this.

The black whip in his hand was casually weighed up and down.

His gaze casually fell upon a young man.

This young man was one of the seven or eight “cunning dogs” hidden around the “Formless Tree.”

However, he was the last to reveal himself.

Just moments ago, that “lab rat” who had ignored Jiang Wenxing’s words and refused to appear, eventually struck by his whip until bleeding and transforming into light points, had died less than 2 meters from this young man.

Therefore, when Jiang Wenxing’s gaze landed on him…

The young man understood perfectly—

Others could practice “discretion,” but he probably couldn’t.

He had to choose sides…

To be honest, he wasn’t very keen on siding with Jiang Wenxing.

But…

Past experience told him—

The so-called “survival instinct”…

Only staying alive was the ultimate truth.

So, the moment the young man met Jiang Wenxing’s gaze, he quickly made his decision!

He was the first to step forward, loudly advocating:

“I think Brother Jiang makes a very valid point!”

“Since the slot issue isn’t a problem, then the Formless Tree issue becomes particularly important!”

“If Jiang Ye’s blood can truly make the Formless Tree evolve…”

“Then sacrificing his ninety thousand clones is undoubtedly the wise choice!”

Speaking thus, he also worried about provoking Zhou Yuling’s excessive displeasure, so he added to her:

“Just moments ago, I was also hidden around this ‘Formless Tree.'”

“Your whispered conversation with Jiang Ye, I basically heard it too.”

“And in what I heard, there was one very important piece of information—”

“That Jiang Ye himself had considered using his own blood to feed the ‘Formless Tree’!”

“So, the decision we’re making now is merely fulfilling and facilitating Jiang Ye’s previous thoughts!”

With this first bird’s declaration.

Plus Jiang Wenxing’s sweeping gaze.

Nearly two-thirds of the other strong players present quickly voiced their support for bringing all of Jiang Ye’s clones to blood-feed the “Formless Tree.”

Although one-third remained silent without declaring their stance.

Zhou Yuling’s expression still couldn’t conceal her gloom.

She knew perfectly well in her heart—

Jiang Ye had said he would use blood to feed the “Formless Tree.”

But he meant blood he had prepared in advance!

Even if he were to risk bloodletting, it would at most be testing with just one clone.

This young man’s statement was clearly twisting the concept!

It was like someone saying: I want to donate 100 dollars.

But it gets distorted into: I want to donate all my assets!

This damn, moral blackmail doesn’t even dare to be this outrageous, right?

However, Zhou Yuling also knew that in a world where strength was respected, morality and reason were bullshit.

Fists were the only hard truth.

And what could make a group of bystanders who remained aloof unite against fists…

Could only be interests.

Thinking this, Zhou Yuling, with a slightly darkened face, mustered her courage and said quietly:

“Yes, you can solve the court session slots…”

“90,000 slots can be solved…”

“Then 99,999 slots seem to be completely solvable too.”

This wasn’t stated very explicitly.

But those present weren’t fools either.

Actually, this was the fundamental reason why that one-third of strong players hadn’t declared their stance—

Jiang Wenxing could erase Jiang Ye’s ninety thousand slots because he could create his own…

Then by the same logic, he could create slots and erase all the strong players present!

Although discretion was the better part of valor.

They also clearly understood that sometimes if you retreat one step, it only makes the other party advance further!

After these pros and cons were pointed out.

The two-thirds who had just declared their stance gradually came to their senses, their expressions showing hidden hesitation.

Seeing this, Jiang Wenxing wasn’t flustered at all, and even chuckled lightly again.

He glanced at Zhou Yuling once more, with meaningful implication.

Then ignored her again, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.

“You don’t actually think I’m discussing this with you, do you?”

“Mere Jiang Ye, mere ninety thousand clones…”

“What then?”

…

Just as Jiang Wenxing was chuckling with extreme disdain, as if about to utter “Jiang Ye’s clones, I, Jiang Wenxing, can capture with bare hands”…

Two words came from the air: What then?

And soon, it became four words:

“What will you do?”

This abrupt voice, carrying an aura of indifferent domineering authority, naturally interrupted Jiang Wenxing’s light laugh and disdain.

However, the interrupted Jiang Wenxing wasn’t flustered at all.

In fact, his smile widened, as if he already knew what had happened.

While turning his head, he laughed wildly and unrestrainedly:

“Heh, delivering yourself from a thousand miles away, your courage is truly… great…”

The sound of the final “great” character noticeably stiffened!

Including that trace of scornful sinister sneer on his face, it also abruptly stiffened when he turned and saw that figure clearly!

At this moment, all the strong players around the “Formless Tree” naturally looked toward the domineering voice that had dared to interrupt Jiang Wenxing.

And their expressions were even more stiff and trembling than Jiang Wenxing’s!

What did they see?

What was that?

It was… the Nomadic Merchant!

No… was that the Nomadic Merchant?

This “Nomadic Merchant” who made a powerful entrance with countless light and shadows…

He was indeed completely pitch-black, like a black shadow whose features couldn’t be seen.

But his eerie pitch-black body was densely restrained by chains that seemed to flow with bloody magma!

And such chains…

The somewhat knowledgeable strong players present could naturally recognize at first glance—

Those were the chains used to restrain the Moon Phase Clock on the Apartment Rooftop!

Only, the chains restraining the Moon Phase Clock were noticeably thicker and stronger.

And because the Moon Phase Clock was overly huge, those chains’ length far exceeded the chains on the current “Nomadic Merchant.”

They looked like miniature versions of the Moon Phase Clock restraint chains…

However, these miniature chains restraining the “Nomadic Merchant” seemed to have special qualities.

They looked…

As if they were alive? As if they could move??

More crucially…

The constantly flashing, floating light and shadows surrounding the “Nomadic Merchant”…

Were those damn Light and Shadow Escapes of light players?!

Tens of thousands of Light and Shadow Escapes??

Didn’t that mean tens of thousands of light players?!

What the hell? What kind of concept was this?!

If this person weren’t the Nomadic Merchant…

He could probably directly cause a super earthquake in the Doomsday Apartment!

All dark factions would likely be shocked to their core, doubting their very existence!

But just by coincidence, this person was the Nomadic Merchant…

Then, no matter how outrageous, it seemed acceptable.

However, this image of the Nomadic Merchant restrained by blood-red chains, followed by numerous light and shadows…

Looked truly eerie.

Those present had never seen such a Nomadic Merchant before.

They would naturally feel a trace of doubt…

Was this eerie existence truly the real Nomadic Merchant?

But this doubt, merely surfacing, was forcibly erased by them.

First, ignoring the chains, that completely pitch-black appearance was indeed unmistakably the Nomadic Merchant’s image.

Second, and most crucially—

In the Novice Apartment, there had been instances where clueless newcomers wore black robes to impersonate the Nomadic Merchant for fraud.

But those counterfeit, clever newcomers were almost instantly crushed to death by the Nomadic Merchant’s void palm strike…

So, just like how newcomers didn’t dare use the permission to summon the Nomadic Merchant.

Throughout the entire Doomsday Apartment, it was fundamentally impossible for anyone to dare impersonate the Nomadic Merchant.

Plus…

Zhou Yuling and Jiang Ye’s conversation earlier had revealed that the Nomadic Merchant who obtained the [Reincarnation Key] had likely also entered the [Court of Disorder]!

Therefore, the Nomadic Merchant’s current strange and eerie appearance…

Might be related to the [Reincarnation Key]?

In short, for various reasons combined, they naturally didn’t dare entertain any skeptical thoughts about this “Nomadic Merchant.”

Of course, the more important reason was—

This “Nomadic Merchant” was clearly targeting Jiang Wenxing.

Based on the Nomadic Merchant’s usual behavior, the others would most likely not be implicated.

Thinking this, these strong players relaxed at ease, content to watch this good show of Jiang Wenxing VS Nomadic Merchant.

Even the previously tense Zhou Yuling now heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Simultaneously, she felt increasingly shocked—

This suddenly appearing Nomadic Merchant seemed to be standing up for Jiang Ye…

Then, the relationship between the Nomadic Merchant and Jiang Ye was indeed far from ordinary!

So, could Jiang Ye’s special qualities have been bestowed by the Nomadic Merchant?

However, no matter how special Jiang Ye was, no matter how extraordinary his relationship with the Nomadic Merchant…

This Court of Disorder…

Sigh.

Thinking that the Nomadic Merchant had indeed come to the Court of Disorder, Zhou Yuling’s just-relaxed mood suddenly became heavy again.

Her gaze turned toward Jiang Ye, whose body continuously seeped red mist.

Visibly, this Jiang Ye being blood-drained by the “Formless Tree” was clearly drying up.

The skin all over his body had already turned bluish-black from excessive blood loss.

The whole person looked like he could become a Desiccated Corpse any minute!

Jiang Ye’s clone impersonating the Nomadic Merchant naturally noticed this too.

In his heart, he was actually panicking like crazy, anxious beyond measure!

That Jiang Wenxing clearly had extraordinary origins.

Not to mention the skill of creating people with bare hands.

Just his tone when mentioning Salvation was like a superior mentioning a subordinate!

So, Jiang Wenxing’s strength was clearly stronger than Salvation’s!

Moreover, before Jiang Ye’s appearance, this guy’s arrogant tone clearly suggested he intended to capture Jiang Ye’s ninety thousand clones with bare hands!

The method of capturing people with bare hands…

Wasn’t that similar to the chubby guy?!

Then…

Jiang Ye truly couldn’t gauge whether Jiang Wenxing actually feared the Nomadic Merchant.

And even if he didn’t dare confront the Nomadic Merchant head-on…

The question was, with his methods, could he actually tell that this “Nomadic Merchant” impersonated by a variant clone was counterfeit?

Actually…

If Jiang Ye in the Court of Disorder knew that the chubby guy and Guiwen Grandmaster outside hadn’t detected the issue with the variant clone’s left hand.

Then, he might have more confidence.

Of course, no matter how weak he felt inside, his acting had to keep up!

The eyeless variant clone, with the Little Red Snake’s help, seemed to stand mid-air.

The direction of its head seemed to have a gaze looking down upon Jiang Wenxing from above.

Even without eyes, it seemed to naturally carry an air of contempt.

Jiang Wenxing, standing on scorched earth, still holding the black whip, his just-stiffened expression clearly flashed with a trace of hesitation.

Clearly, his suspicion of this “Nomadic Merchant” was slightly greater than other strong players’.

But it was only a trace, not enough for certainty.

Jiang Wenxing hesitated for a long time, his tone when speaking noticeably not as arrogant as before.

Instead, it carried unconcealable hesitation:

“Nomadic Merchant…”

“Nomadic Merchant clone?”

“You mean to say, you want to protect Jiang Ye’s ninety thousand clones?”

Seeing that Jiang Wenxing didn’t dare question his identity, Jiang Ye heaved a huge sigh of relief inside.

However, not directly fighting was only the first step.

He tried hard to imitate the Nomadic Merchant’s tone, as if transcending everything yet detached from the human world, his indifferent voice falling from above unhurriedly:

“What I want to protect isn’t Jiang Ye, but the ‘Formless Tree.'”

A simple sentence.

The strong players present instantly understood—

Jiang Wenxing wanting to sacrifice ninety thousand Jiang Yes was merely an experimental mindset.

And the outcome of ninety thousand Jiang Ye clones feeding the “Formless Tree” was uncertain to anyone.

But clearly, the Nomadic Merchant could determine it!

So, the Nomadic Merchant came to stop it, not to protect Jiang Ye.

But to prevent Jiang Wenxing’s reckless experiment from destroying the “Formless Tree”!

Hence he said he wasn’t protecting Jiang Ye, but protecting the Formless Tree!

Of course, realizing this, these strong players became uneasy again.

If the Nomadic Merchant also wanted to participate in clearing the Court of Disorder…

Then the others would have no chance at all!

Jiang Wenxing clearly also thought of this, his expression suddenly darkening.

After a moment of silence, he still spoke quite politely:

“As far as I know…”

“In past reincarnations, the Nomadic Merchant has never competed with reincarnation players for reincarnation slots…”

“The Nomadic Merchant seems to have other reincarnation methods, transcending reincarnation players…”

“So…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep