Li Hanting and Zhou Hanye did not respond.
Because their self-esteem had been shattered.
However, at that very moment, *crack*!
The ice on the two Dusk members began to fissure, and with a thunderous explosion, it shattered apart.
Gu Jianlin narrowed his eyes, becoming instantly alert.
He didn't know what rank these two were, but their Life Rhythm was overwhelmingly powerful!
Han Jing sidestepped in a flash to shield him. The freezing cold that filled the air seemed to bow before her, gathering at her command. Her codename was Frost, and this was her domain.
Chen Bojun expressionlessly hefted his sniper rifle, moving to his side and activating the Rectangular Domain.
"Everyone, on full alert!"
The Profound Yin Saint roared, "Protect Mr. Gu!"
It wasn't that he was switching sides quickly—it was simply because this young man, adept at profiling, held critical intelligence. If anything happened to him, it would benefit no one. It would be a loss for the Order World.
What's more, if the President and the King of Qing blamed him, he'd be finished.
When facing the Dark World, unity was still paramount.
As icy debris fell, Xing Yun shook her head like a little dog shaking off dust.
"Xing Yun, you idiot! Look at you! What did I say earlier? Didn't I tell you we took the wrong route? We're definitely in the Kui Dragon Ancestor's lair now, right? Otherwise, why else would we have been attacked by it? We're finished; we're dead this time. I just hope my son burns me some extra offerings!"
Ghost Eye cursed loudly, "Without an organized Heavenly Person System, what do we even use to fight a Primordial? You clueless woman, if I ever team up with you again in the future, I'll take your surname!"
Xing Yun, looking aggrieved, bowed in apology. "I'm sorry, senior. I don't know why we were attacked by the Kui Dragon Ancestor, but I'm pretty sure this isn't its lair."
"But… the mission does seem to have failed."
She turned and seriously scrutinized the Ether Association members. "Zhang Xuzhi is dead, though."
Ghost Eye froze. "Dead? Damn it!"
"Yep, he's really dead."
Xing Yun, her face filled with innocent confusion, said, "Looks like we'll have to proceed with the second task from the Think Tank."
Everyone silently watched the pair, thinking to themselves that these two seemed more like comic relief than threats.
"Are we making a move?"
Chen Bojun asked coldly, "Dare you try."
Han Jing stood unperturbed, arms folded, staring them down.
Yes, Dusk was dangerous.
But the three giants of the Ether Association were nearby.
Making a rash move would be tantamount to suicide.
"I'm no fool. Your Heavenly Person Realm must be around here somewhere, right?"
Xing Yun said seriously, "Don't treat me like an idiot."
Ghost Eye spat, "The Ether Association folks are the most shameless."
Gu Jianlin stood behind his senior comrades, his face full of doubt.
He'd only ever heard that the Dusk Organization was mysterious.
But now that he saw them… they didn't seem entirely sane.
"Which one of you is Mr. San?"
Ghost Eye cleared his throat and folded his arms, attempting a solemn demeanor. "I'm the blind one, and my companion is the fool. Please respect us—don't deceive individuals with disabilities. It's not easy for us to carry out missions, either."
Surprisingly, Xing Yun didn't get mad at being called a fool. Instead, she earnestly added, "Our Think Tank told us if Zhang Xuzhi dies, then it must be by the hands of Mr. San. He left us a message for you."
A chilling silence enveloped the group.
The name "Think Tank" was like thunder in their ears.
It was said that Dusk's rise in recent years was closely tied to this figure.
This individual had appeared out of nowhere and seemed to carry on the legacy of the Red King.
Though they hadn't exhibited much combat strength, their meticulous thinking and flawless strategies were terrifying.
Han Jing glanced at the young man, her entire body tense.
Chen Bojun muttered softly, "Xiao Gu?"
Gu Jianlin knew they were addressing him, but the title "Mr. San" felt downright strange.
He directly stepped past the two seniors, positioning himself in front of the Dusk members. "What do you want?"
Ghost Eye snorted coldly and pulled a phone out of his pocket.
Xing Yun helped him press the call button.
"Hello, Mr. Gu. This must be our first conversation, though admittedly one-sided. First off, I'd like to express my respect. To have eliminated five Twilight Candidates with Third-Rank strength… truly remarkable combat prowess, not to mention your impressive fighting spirit. I am quite curious how you managed it—I'll be sure to find out."
The Think Tank's voice was calm and smiling. "You were the one who spied on me from the Sea of Eternal Life back then, weren't you? As expected of Gu Ci'an's son—you're quite capable. My meticulously crafted plan was nearly ruined by you alone. Generally speaking, those who sabotage my plans… must die."
Gu Jianlin's eyes narrowed.
Han Jing placed her hand on his shoulder, signaling subtlely with her eyes.
Chen Bojun gave a nod, ready to act at a moment's notice.
But the Think Tank's tone shifted. "That said, if you were to die, Moon Princess would probably be heartbroken, wouldn't she? She's someone I value, as well as the descendants of the King. I wouldn't want her to resent me. I won't kill you, but I'll make you lose someone important. Care to guess who it might be?"
Gu Jianlin raised an eyebrow, the skeleton giant behind him roaring ferociously. A flash of dark energy blazed forth!
*Boom!*
The massive black flash dissipated entirely.
Xing Yun, with just a raised hand, crushed the ferocious black surge with ease.
Dark energy dissolved in her palm, making her frown. "That hurt. Are you sure you're only Third Rank?"
Ghost Eye jumped in fright and quickly hid behind her.
"Whoa, someone's aggressive."
The Think Tank chuckled. "You're nothing like your father. He used to at least give me a heads-up before making a move."
The phone signal crackled with static.
Gu Jianlin looked up expressionlessly and said, "I don't care to guess, because you won't succeed. But based on that last remark, I'd wager that aside from Moon Princess, Dusk won't have much need for Candidates going forward."
"And why is that?"
The Think Tank's voice carried mild amusement through the static.
"Because dead men can't become candidates,"
Gu Jianlin replied coldly. "Now, scram."
After a moment of silence, the Think Tank chuckled. "Interesting."
The phone call ended.
In that instant, an overwhelming surge of energy burst forth, scattering the endless wind and snow.
Xing Yun's long black hair was disheveled by the force. In an instant, her usual foolish and dazed demeanor was replaced by an explosive killing intent!
*Boom!*
Snow cascaded down the mountain peaks with deafening force!
Without hesitation, she hoisted her companion and turned to flee!
*Boom!*
A burst of unimaginable power rocketed through the sound barrier like a cannonball, sprinting into the distance.
Almost simultaneously, a cold snort echoed from the void.
Brilliant golden light streaked across the sky like a falling star, crashing toward the pair!
"The President has made his move!"
*Boom!*
Towering snow exploded into the sky, and the dazzling golden light erupted like the sunrise. It was as if a nuclear bomb had detonated, illuminating the icy realm in blinding brilliance, forcing everyone to shut their eyes.
Even Gu Jianlin had to shield his face, taking half a step back under the onslaught of fierce winds.
The Black Qilin in his consciousness stirred uneasily, filled with dread.
Such terrifying power!
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