When he said this, Chen Cang was left utterly bewildered:

“Leave the space key behind? Are you sure you’re not joking?”

“Of course.” With Li Ku’s facial paralysis, everything he said looked dead serious. “I can tell you without exaggeration—that key is equivalent to a dangerous real-time tracking device.”

“Carrying it, no matter where you go, you’ll be noticed by almost all Sun People players and Moon People players.”

“But you can’t refine it in a short time, so leaving it behind, letting other players fight over it, actually gives us a chance to sit back and reap the rewards.”

Li Ku’s words were spoken with utmost gravity.

Yet Chen Cang still felt he was joking!

“Sit back and reap the rewards… Hah! I really don’t know how you can say that!”

“Don’t you know that if we lose this space key while still trapped inside the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space, it will be extremely difficult for us to get out of the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh!”

“At that time, following what you said, leaving the space key behind, then as long as the person who picks up the key doesn’t let us out, we’ll be trapped in the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space forever!”

“Isn’t that equivalent to handing our fate over to someone else?”

“If you can’t even control your own fate, how can you sit back and reap the rewards?”

These words also expressed the doubts of the other Moon People players present, including Lin Dong and the others.

However, Li Ku had already prepared his argument and spoke eloquently:

“First, one thing is clear—you cannot enter the space while carrying the space key. That is, the space key can only be used outside the space.”

“So, do you think the person who picks up the key would enter the space themselves?”

Of course not.

This answer was obvious.

Just as Chen Cang said earlier, entering the space is equivalent to handing your fate to someone else.

Easy to get in, but hard to get out again.

And because the key cannot be brought into the space before refining it…

Then no matter what, the person who picks it up wouldn’t be so foolish as to enter the space.

After reaching this consensus, Li Ku continued: “Second, merely picking up the key is only equivalent to having the switch for the space passage. It doesn’t grant absolute control over the space like the owner of a personal exclusive instance.”

“That is, the person who picks up the key only possesses the ability to prevent players inside the space from leaving, and cannot have any other authority over us.”

“So, what do you think? Would the person who picks up the key let us out of the space?”

The answer to this question was actually quite obvious.

The instance space of the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh, for the player who picks up the space key, is also equivalent to a private prison.

Players trapped inside the space are like prisoners trapped in a jail.

While in prison, they cannot affect the outside world.

Conversely, if they are released from prison, then unknown situations would arise.

Therefore, any player with normal thinking, upon picking up a prison key, wouldn’t be foolish enough to open the prison and release prisoners with unknown dangers.

Not to mention, for the player who picks up the space key, they have a better option—refining the key!

Transforming the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space into their own exclusive personal space.

That way, their authority over the entire space would no longer be limited to just controlling the entrance and exit.

Instead, they would have supreme absolute authority over all life within the space!

So, rather than risk releasing the “prisoners” from the space, it’s better to completely control these “prisoners” after refining the space.

Therefore, the answer to Li Ku’s question was—

“Before the player who picks up the key completely refines it, they definitely won’t let us out!”

After stating this viewpoint, Chen Cang frowned again: “But once the player who picks up the key refines this space key…”

“Then our fate will be like fish on a chopping block!”

Li Ku: “That’s the last point I want to make—”

“I believe, no player should be able to refine this key.”

He originally said this very firmly.

However, as if remembering something, he added a caveat: “If there must be someone… it can only be you.”

“To summarize, this is the situation other players will face if they pick up the key—”

“First, they themselves won’t dare enter the space.”

“Second, they won’t dare let us out of the space.”

“Third, they cannot refine the space.”

“And, they will be hunted by other players because they obtained the key…”

“So it’s easy to imagine that this key will be passed around repeatedly among different players.”

“The person who gets it will think they’ve found a treasure, but the result is being hunted by everyone.”

“Repeating like this, it’s actually us inside the space who are safest.”

This…

It must be said, Li Ku’s arguments indeed had perspective.

But the problem was…

After pondering carefully, Chen Cang still frowned: “How can you be so sure no one can refine this key?”

“Also, even if no one can refine it, following your logic, how do we, who finally ‘sit back and reap the rewards,’ get out of the space?”

This question…

Li Ku didn’t answer, seemingly unsure how to make Chen Cang believe him.

He frowned and simply said: “If you really don’t believe me… I can’t force you.”

“It’s just that I’ll hide in the space myself, and you’ll carry the key and be hunted.”

As he spoke, Li Ku’s gaze swept over the others present:

“Of course, you can also make your own judgments and choices—follow me into the Blood Pool space to take refuge, or stay outside with this ‘protagonist’ and face the risk of being hunted by everyone.”

With that, Li Ku didn’t wait for others to react. He directly transformed into a mechanical eyeball state, “whoosh,” his pair of eyeballs shot toward Chen Cang like a Light and Shadow Escape.

Chen Cang was startled, instinctively raising his hand to block, and the Fire Chain appeared in his palm.

The eyeballs Li Ku transformed into actually followed the spatial passage within the Fire Chain and burrowed into the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space.

The remaining players looked at each other, hesitant and uncertain.

Logically, Lin Dong’s group of eleven remaining players, originally allied with Li Ku, should trust him most.

But what happened to Li Ku was somewhat too strange.

On the surface, it seemed Li Ku had killed Sun People players and even plundered their abilities…

But thinking deeper, they couldn’t help but worry—

What if… Li Ku killing Sun People players was just an appearance?

What if the truth was that Sun People player replaced Li Ku, or seized his body?

Maybe that guy looks like Li Ku on the surface, but inside he’s become a Sun People player?

Furthermore, even if he’s still Li Ku…

Lin Dong and the others didn’t have one hundred percent trust in Li Ku either.

In fact, speaking of “trust,” it might be less than fifty percent.

They only came together reluctantly because of interests.

Now, naturally they couldn’t directly believe Li Ku about entering the space.

Not to mention…

Among the other group of five Moon People players, the familiar Glasses-wearing Youth now spoke up to analyze:

“What the scar-faced man said has some merit—after entering that so-called space, we can indeed minimize risks from the outside world to the greatest extent.”

“But his argument also hides a hidden danger—after entering that enclosed space, we can’t get out.”

“Then at that time, inside that enclosed space, who will be the strongest? What will be the fate of other weaker players facing the strongest one?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the other players who were already hesitant became even more hesitant!

That’s true!

After entering the space, they can avoid external risks…

But the risks inside the space will make them like turtles in a jar, facing a situation with nowhere to escape!

So…

While others were still hesitating, the five-person group, led by the Glasses-wearing Youth, said:

“We won’t enter the space, nor participate in the struggle over the space key. We’ll take our leave first.”

With that, the Glasses-wearing Youth cautiously retreated backward, apparently wanting to leave.

After all, if not forced by Qi Lin, they wouldn’t have appeared and gotten involved at all.

However, since they were already involved, leaving naturally wouldn’t be so easy.

Previously, the strongest here were Qi Lin and Li Ku.

But now, Qi Lin was gone, Li Ku entered the Blood Pool space…

Chen Cang felt capable again.

He directly warned in a deep voice: “Did I say you could leave?”

The five youths silently stopped.

Clearly, they also didn’t want to confront Chen Cang head-on.

As for Chen Cang, he actually didn’t know how to deal with these five either.

So, after some thought, he directly waved the Fire Chain and said: “You, go in too.”

These words, just a few simple ones, carried an obvious commanding tone.

The Rebellious Youth in the five-person group instantly looked grim, immediately generating an aura wanting to fight.

But this aura was suppressed by the Glasses-wearing Youth reaching out to stop him.

He pressed the Rebellious Youth’s shoulder, the force in his hand clearly carrying a hinting meaning.

After calming the rebellious youth’s emotions, the Glasses-wearing Youth led the other four youths, obediently cooperating with Chen Cang, and also entered the Blood Pool space through the passage in the Fire Chain.

Eleven Moon People players remained, along with Du Yuheng, Li Si, and the dying He Yuliang.

Chen Cang scanned these people, considering in his heart.

Li Si then spoke to him again: “Actually, what Li Ku said makes sense—this place really isn’t suitable to stay long.”

“And if we can enter Deduction Mode as soon as possible, we can grasp more information sooner. Including the Cursed Doll, including those words said… perhaps we’ll have answers.”

He said it lightly, but Chen Cang couldn’t help frowning.

In his plan, he was waiting for He Yuliang to finish the experiment before attempting the “Salvation” judgment.

But now…

Waiting for He Yuliang to end his dying state would take 100 minutes.

Moreover, the unexpected “Salvation” judgment between Qi Lin and Li Ku that surprised everyone also made his heart pound.

Why did Qi Lin and Li Ku in the judgment show that… strange state where Li Ku seemed to absorb all of Qi Lin’s abilities?

Was it… because Li Ku possessed some special ability?

Or… did Du Yuheng’s [Salvation Domain] really have some hidden effect he didn’t know about?

For a moment, Chen Cang felt indecisive.

He simply looked at the eleven Moon People again and said in a deep voice:

“Have you decided? Leave directly, or enter the Blood Pool space?”

Lin Dong was silent for a moment, then stepped forward: “We’ll enter the space.”

Chen Cang was somewhat surprised, but since these eleven were originally allied with Li Ku, this choice was understandable.

Thus, Chen Cang also brought these eleven into the Blood Pool space.

Finally, he also brought the dying He Yuliang into the space.

Afterward, he said to Li Si: “Let’s try escaping on our own first!”

But as soon as he said this, Li Si, with his eyes covered by black cloth, looked in a direction and said gravely: “I’m afraid—it’s too late to escape.”

As he spoke, from the direction he looked, an identical sentence came:

“I’m afraid—it’s too late to escape!”

The difference was, Li Si’s tone was grave.

While the sentence from afar carried full momentum, exactly like the arrogant tone of the lofty Qi Lin!

Li Si seemed to recognize the voice, his expression instantly changing drastically!

Then, without even warning Chen Cang, he suddenly shot toward the Fire Chain in Chen Cang’s hand.

In an instant, he also grabbed the Fire Chain and fled into the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space.

Leaving Chen Cang alone, completely bewildered, forced to make a judgment under the spontaneously arising sense of fear—

Either, escape with the Fire Chain;

Or… also flee into the Blood Pool space?

But the problem was, the time left for him was too tight!

Should he believe in the [Protagonist Halo] and confront the approaching strong player head-on?

Or follow Li Ku’s suggestion and hide in the seemingly most dangerous but actually safest Blood Pool space?

But once he enters, whether the Blood Pool space is safe or not probably won’t be up to him!

Chen Cang didn’t know how to choose, so he asked his “Portable Old Grandpa” in his heart:

“Senior, save me! What should I do now?”

Deep down, Chen Cang actually had another idea—using that [Prometheus Doll]…

But he couldn’t help worrying about the so-called “curse” mentioned by Li Si.

Jiang Ye actually didn’t care. His [Falling Leaf Returns to Roots] could directly ignore spatial restrictions.

So, the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh space could trap others, but not him.

In this state without worries, he became more curious about what exactly Li Ku and Li Si were planning.

Thus, he suggested to Chen Cang: “In my opinion, escaping elsewhere probably isn’t realistic. Better to hide in that Blood Pool space and try.”

After saying this, he added: “At least Li Ku dared to enter the Blood Pool space for refuge, which shows the space really shouldn’t be refined by anyone.”

“Otherwise, once someone refines it, wouldn’t he, trapped inside, also be weaving his own cocoon?”

This made sense, and to some extent gave Chen Cang confidence in his decision.

So, he stopped overthinking, threw down the Fire Chain, and also slipped into the Blood Pool space through its spatial passage.

Not long after his figure disappeared, an invisible giant hand firmly grasped the Fire Chain lying quietly on the ground.

And in an instant, flames reignited on the Fire Chain, rapidly spreading along the invisible giant hand!

Immediately after, a giant fiery human figure appeared in this area…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep