“I am a member of the Salvation Organization from the Doomsday Apartment, representing Lord Salvation to discuss important matters with you…”

Back during his three consecutive victories, Xing Xiu had been so full of confidence and pride.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t taken Jiang Ye seriously at all, nor had he focused on the actual battles, instead pushing his so-called winning streak packages.

At this moment, it was also about “discussing important matters,” yet his attitude was cautious and humble compared to his previous arrogance.

Jiang Ye was actually somewhat puzzled in his heart—

The body he was currently using was Zhou Qiming’s identity.

So had Salvation already determined that the current “Zhou Qiming” was just a disguise for Jiang Ye?

Or was it simply because Jiang Ye had used Zhou Qiming’s identity to use the Ice Crystal Tear Drop several times just now?

However, this Black Ice Domain was clearly Lin Ling’s territory.

Yet Salvation actually knew about it in perfect detail?

He could even directly insert someone to come negotiate?

Was it because Lin Ling was being held up at the “Safe Exit” and couldn’t attend to the Black Ice Domain, allowing Salvation to use such methods?

Or was Lin Ling’s arrangement of the Black Ice Domain and chess game originally influenced by Salvation?

Jiang Ye pondered these thoughts internally but showed nothing on his face.

He directly said to Xing Xiu in the light screen:

“Your so-called ‘important matters to discuss’… probably refers to this thing, right?”

As he spoke, he casually condensed another small ice crystal at his fingertip, appearing completely at ease.

Xing Xiu in the light screen immediately focused his gaze on the ice crystal, his expression growing even more cautious.

But after staring for only a moment, he shook his head:

“Perhaps yes, perhaps not…”

“What Lord Salvation truly wants is actually that black cloth you gave to Liu Re.”

“Gave?” Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, specifically correcting him, “I never said I was giving that black cloth to that punk.”

“…” Xing Xiu quickly nodded in agreement: “Naturally.”

As he spoke, his eyes shifted, then he added with a somewhat ingratiating tone: “If it truly were a ‘gift,’ Lord Salvation wouldn’t hesitate to take it by force.”

“It’s precisely because we respect your intentions that Lord Salvation decided to proactively negotiate with you.”

“Oh.” Jiang Ye casually nodded, while internally deducing that Salvation probably knew he could recall the black cloth at any time.

That’s why he didn’t resort to force but proactively appeared for negotiations.

As for why he didn’t come to negotiate personally…

Obviously, Salvation himself was probably suffering so terribly from Lightburn that he couldn’t negotiate normally with anyone.

That’s why he arranged this representative.

Jiang Ye thought for a moment, then with a flip of his hand, withdrew the ice crystal from his fingertip.

Instead, a black cloth appeared in his palm.

This version made by Jiang Ye was actually quite different from the “black ribbon” version Lin Ling had produced earlier.

His black cloth looked dirty and was only a small piece.

Jiang Ye felt internally that perhaps just one Cryptobiosis offspring larva could suppress Lightburn.

But the black cloth he manufactured was entirely composed of offspring larvae, which seemed somewhat wasteful.

His clone in the Reincarnation Graveyard was still refining the production of this black cloth.

Both the one given to the punk and the one in his hand could only be considered semi-finished products.

But their effect was the same as the black ribbon.

Holding the dirty black cloth, he said to Xing Xiu, whose gaze was fixed intently on it:

“So Salvation wants me to give this black cloth to him?”

Xing Xiu swallowed hard, but his answer remained ambiguous: “Perhaps yes, perhaps not…”

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, about to ask something.

But then he saw Xing Xiu suddenly become serious and cautiously ask:

“Before formal negotiations, Lord Salvation asked me to convey a message to you…”

Jiang Ye said indifferently: “Go ahead.”

“Dare I ask—your Luminox Larva should have been transferred to you by Apartment Boss Q, correct?”

Oh?

The previous owner of the Luminox Larva was indeed Apartment Boss Q.

It wouldn’t be difficult for Salvation to know this.

But the word “transferred” was somewhat subtle.

Why didn’t Salvation think he had forcibly taken the Luminox Larva from Boss Q?

Just to flatter him with words?

Or…

A thought flashed through Jiang Ye’s mind.

Sure enough, the next moment he saw Xing Xiu slowly say:

“Have you ever considered that Apartment Boss Q transferring the Luminox Larva to you was actually directed by Lord Salvation?”

Jiang Ye hadn’t actually thought about this before.

But just now, when pondering the word “transferred,” this thought had indeed crossed his mind.

Logically speaking, since Salvation was suffering from Lightburn pain, he shouldn’t have allowed the Luminox Larva to change hands at this critical moment.

But actually, if you thought more deeply—

Within the entire apartment power structure, Salvation’s authority and status subtly surpassed that of the apartment bosses.

Even if infected with Lightburn and having his crow taken by the Nomadic Merchant, significantly reducing Salvation’s power…

In the short term, he should still have the ability to control those apartment bosses.

In that case…

Then he should have kept Apartment Boss Q, who was parasitized by the Luminox Larva, firmly under his control.

For example, using various confinement methods?

In any case, he shouldn’t have allowed such an important person to leave his sight without authorization.

Unless he didn’t know the Luminox Larva was on Boss Q.

But obviously, he did know.

The other apartment bosses also knew.

So, since Salvation clearly knew how important the Luminox Larva was to him, yet still allowed Boss Q, parasitized by the Luminox Larva, to run around everywhere…

That’s why Jiang Ye had just speculated—

The “transfer” of the Luminox Larva might very well have been Salvation’s doing.

Although on the surface, Salvation suffering from Lightburn pain shouldn’t have done this.

But Salvation, a powerful being who surpassed the apartment bosses.

His thinking and perspective naturally surpassed that of ordinary powerful players.

Ordinary people infected with Lightburn indeed couldn’t do without the black ribbon made from Cryptobiosis offspring larvae.

But Salvation infected with Lightburn also couldn’t do without the black ribbon.

Yet his ultimate goal must be—to completely rid himself of Lightburn!

And this idea…

Actually, Jiang Ye had also considered this while conducting experiments earlier.

He discovered that the Luminox Larva offspring larvae were extremely special.

Those crystalline living offspring larvae could actually store Lightburn and, while freezing people, “infect” others with Lightburn.

And those black Cryptobiosis offspring larvae, when applied to players infected with Lightburn, also had the effect of suppressing Lightburn pain.

Jiang Ye had also speculated whether, with deeper research into this special insect, a method to completely eradicate Lightburn could be discovered?

If even he had such thoughts…

Then Salvation, already infected with Lightburn and suffering from its pain, would naturally think of this too!

So, did he intentionally give the Luminox Larva to Jiang Ye, hoping Jiang Ye would discover a method to eradicate Lightburn from this insect?

But…

Why did he think that Jiang Ye could achieve what the entire Defenders’ Alliance couldn’t research?

Even if Salvation didn’t trust the Defenders’ Alliance, he could have forced Boss Q to transfer the Luminox Larva to someone else.

But Salvation chose Jiang Ye.

So, he was convinced that Jiang Ye had something special about him.

He was convinced that only Jiang Ye had the means to discover the Lightburn eradication effect from the Luminox Larva?

Hiss…

Wait!

Salvation knew that Boss Q transferred the Luminox Larva to Jiang Ye…

And at this moment, Xing Xiu was approaching Zhou Qiming!

So…

Salvation clearly already knew that the current Zhou Qiming was Jiang Ye!

Damn!

It seems Salvation knows many of his secrets!

Moreover, this so-called “negotiation” was intentionally revealing these things.

It was to let Jiang Ye know that the Luminox Larva ended up in Jiang Ye’s hands because Salvation himself orchestrated it!

After pondering this internally, Jiang Ye suddenly asked Xing Xiu:

“I understand Salvation’s meaning, but I wonder if Salvation knows—”

“That Luminox Larva wasn’t ‘transferred’ to me by Boss Q.”

“Rather, through a transaction, while I obtained the Luminox Larva, Boss Q also received tremendous benefits from me.”

Upon hearing this, Xing Xiu’s expression indeed changed dramatically.

After his face shifted through various expressions, he suddenly lowered his gaze.

It seemed he was privately communicating with Salvation in the shadows.

But not daring to keep Jiang Ye waiting too long, Xing Xiu cautiously asked:

“I wonder what losses you suffered—the Salvation Organization is willing to bear your losses.”

With this response, Jiang Ye basically confirmed—

That Boss Q indeed had many secrets.

Trading the Luminox Larva was arranged by Salvation;

Obtaining the Permission Iron Piece was directed by that Old Woman.

And Boss Q himself probably had his own agenda too.

Jiang Ye thought for a moment, then directly asked: “I wonder if Salvation has had contact with Reincarnators?”

Upon hearing this, Xing Xiu’s expression changed dramatically again.

Whether Salvation had contact with Reincarnators was unknown, but Xing Xiu definitely hadn’t.

After another moment of lowered gaze, he said to Jiang Ye: “Please speak plainly, sir.”

Jiang Ye indeed spoke plainly: “I accidentally obtained a Reincarnator…”

He originally wasn’t going to be too specific, but after thinking, he mixed truth with falsehood:

“I accidentally obtained the inheritance of Reincarnator Jiang Wenxing, including the Permission Iron Piece dropped by that Reincarnator…”

“And Boss Q used the Luminox Larva to trade for that inheritance with me, including that Permission Iron Piece…”

“What’s even stranger is—isn’t Boss Q already an apartment boss? Why could he bind another Permission Iron Piece?”

“Even more, I observed that Boss Q seems to have more than one permission identity?”

After saying these things, Jiang Ye speculated internally that he had probably saved himself another opportunity to directly question Boss Q.

Meanwhile, Xing Xiu in the light screen was completely stunned.

This time he didn’t even bother lowering his gaze, his eyes completely vacant.

Jiang Ye had previously thought he was sending private messages to Salvation when he lowered his gaze.

Seeing Xing Xiu’s current appearance, he couldn’t help but speculate…

Could this guy be intermittently possessed by Salvation?

Or was Salvation using some other method to control him?

As he wondered, sure enough he saw…

Xing Xiu, who had just had vacant eyes, now had clear vision again.

Beyond that, his entire demeanor and gaze were different from before.

Only his voice when he spoke again sounded somewhat weak:

“Was what you just said true?”

Jiang Ye nodded: “Of course. Do you need me to wear the [Mask of Deceit] and say it again?”

His tone was completely frank, naturally not needing to use the [Mask of Deceit] to prove himself.

And to be honest, the [Mask of Deceit] was with his courtroom clone—he couldn’t produce it right now.

Sure enough, “Xing Xiu” didn’t make him prove it.

He took a deep breath, then said straightforwardly: “Then your losses truly cannot be borne by me. However…”

“If our negotiations go smoothly, how about I help you obtain the Defenders’ Alliance?”

“…”

The change in how “Xing Xiu” referred to himself now confirmed Jiang Ye’s speculation—

The current “Xing Xiu” was no longer the real Xing Xiu.

Who knew what kind of body possession method Salvation was using.

At this point, Jiang Ye naturally wouldn’t pretend ignorance while knowing the truth, saying directly:

“Then why doesn’t Salvation elaborate on what you mean by negotiations.”

Salvation in Xing Xiu’s form narrowed his eyes, coughed weakly as if somewhat feeble, then continued:

“I guess with your intelligence and disposition, you should have already guessed what I want, so I’ll be direct—”

“What I want is to completely eradicate Lightburn.”

“But before that, I also need to suppress the Lightburn pain.”

“So, the first thing you need to do is provide me with…”

He looked at the black cloth in Jiang Ye’s hand, continuing: “Provide large quantities of the black cloth in your hand.”

“Next, the second thing you need to do is probably something you want to do yourself…”

“That is to diligently research the Luminox Larva and its offspring larvae, discovering from them a method to completely eradicate Lightburn.”

“Of course, throughout the research process, whatever you need, I will naturally provide full assistance.”

After saying this, Salvation made a “please” gesture, hinting that Jiang Ye could state his conditions.

Although Salvation’s demeanor wasn’t as humble as Xing Xiu’s earlier.

Overall, he was quite polite, giving Jiang Ye plenty of face.

He even displayed an attitude suggesting that no matter how excessive Jiang Ye’s demands might be, he could accept them…

Yet this time, Jiang Ye didn’t immediately demand outrageous prices.

He narrowed his eyes and smiled at Salvation:

“If I truly agree to your demands, can you really feel at ease?”

“As long as the method to eradicate Lightburn remains undiscovered, you’re permanently under my control;
“

“Conversely, once a method to eradicate Lightburn appears, how could I continue to control you?”

“May I ask, if you were in my position…”

“Would you agree to these negotiations?”

“More accurately, if you agreed to these negotiations, would you sincerely research the method to eradicate Lightburn?”

With these simple questions, sure enough, Salvation’s expression didn’t change, only slightly narrowing his eyes.

After a moment, he closed his eyes, then coughed several times seemingly uncontrollably, appearing quite weak.

After recovering somewhat, he took a deep breath, stared sharply at Jiang Ye, and said directly:

“So you mean…”

Jiang Ye smiled, stating the conclusion Salvation had already guessed:

“Only if you are completely, eternally under my control…”

“Can I sincerely research the method to eradicate Lightburn.”

Upon hearing this, the air fell silent.

Behind Jiang Ye, Wu Wang had been like background scenery, trying hard to lower his presence.

However…

The storm of shock in his heart was known only to himself!

This “Second Brother” before him truly far exceeded his imagination!

Initially, in Wu Wang’s view, this “Second Brother” was merely relying on his relationship with Guiwen to casually command him, Guiwen’s servant.

Until not long ago, witnessing “Second Brother” infect the punk with Lightburn, he was shocked by “Second Brother’s” power, feeling deeply alarmed.

After all, he was also a dark-type creature—he also feared Lightburn.

So after that, he genuinely called him Second Brother, his attitude toward “Zhou Qiming” growing increasingly respectful.

But now…

What the hell was he hearing?!

Apartment Boss Q…

Salvation…

And Reincarnators!

Was that the “Reincarnation” he understood?

It couldn’t just be the simple reincarnation in the Novice Apartment, right?

So his Second Brother had actually obtained a Reincarnator’s inheritance!

Even more shocking, this Second Brother had actually traded that Reincarnator’s inheritance for something called “Luminox Larva”?

Was the Luminox Larva the thing that infected the punk with Lightburn just now?

Then this thing was indeed extraordinary!

But now, judging from Salvation’s meaning…

That Luminox Larva was actually connected to a method to eradicate Lightburn?!

And this Second Brother was truly bold…

Daring to use this as leverage to make Salvation permanently submit to him…

Wu Wang swallowed hard.

Previously he thought Guiwen was “Second Brother’s” backing.

Now he suddenly realized…

Perhaps this Second Brother was actually Guiwen’s backing?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep