I Don't Agree to the Terms

With the efficiency of the Heart Demon Dao Soldiers, it would only take three minutes to get things done.

Previously, Heart Demon Dao Soldiers were used to help in combat, but now, they mainly serve as tools. It's just that Gu Shanhai had better tools like the dragon on ordinary days, so the Heart Demon Dao Soldiers were relegated to the second line, taking care of the Spirit Plant inside his body, scratching his itches, blocking knives, and such minor tasks.

Three minutes passed in a flash, and the mission of the Heart Demon Dao Soldiers was completed very smoothly.

"Next, we just have to wait for the good news tonight," Gu Shanhai actually hoped that the bizarre and odd had already died.

Nevertheless, he had calculated that they were still alive, which was a bit disappointing.

As a teammate, it wouldn't be nice for him to stab them directly, so he could only opt to not save them.

He wouldn't go as far as to attack directly since there was no conflict between them, but the indirect act of not saving someone was still something he would do. As long as he closed his eyes, he wouldn't have to watch his teammate die.

Of course, if the bizarre and odd managed to hold onto their breath and seek his help, Gu Shanhai would save them out of respect for them being his teammate.

"The real drama will only start tonight. For now, I'll continue working on my little darling," Gu Shanhai smiled as he looked toward the flesh cocoon.

Now, this flesh cocoon had grown more than ten times its original size.

This definitely wasn't its own natural development but rather the modifications made by Gu Shanhai.

He was not quite satisfied with its original form, felt something was missing after making some adjustments, and finally, it ended up looking like this.

However, it didn't matter, as it was much more powerful than before.

Definitely a good tool.

As for what's inside, it wasn't important anymore. Whether it came from the Eye of Death's Tranquility or was originally from the special lineage of the Chang'an Sect or Eternal Sleep Sect, it had now taken the form that Gu Shanhai desired.

"It's just that with this, the hatching time has to be extended again," Gu Shanhai felt somewhat sentimental.

Fortunately, from its immense vitality, one could tell it was a very healthy fine lad.

"Next, I... huh, you're back?"

Gu Shanhai noticed the return of the bizarre and odd. They seemed to have escaped from Yunxing City before but had now looped back and arrived at the entrance of Gu Shanhai's underground lab, stumbling in somewhat unsteadily.

"This injury of yours looks quite severe," Gu Shanhai immediately supported him, then helped him onto the dissection table used for surgeries.

"Cough, Xiao Yongsheng is no ordinary man. He was actually able to use a part of the Eye of Death's Tranquility, definitely a 700-level boss," said the bizarre and odd weakly.

Gu Shanhai glanced at the dying Xiao Yongsheng with a strange expression.

This must have been a one-time ability. If there was an ambush now, the opponent would have drained himself dry and still wouldn't be able to use this power.

"What happened?" Gu Shanhai administered first aid to the bizarre and odd while asking.

"It was almost successful, but then another eye appeared in Xiao Yongsheng's eyes, yes, the Eye of Death's Tranquility. I was severely injured on the spot and even gained two permanent negative statuses, which are going to be very difficult to remove."

As the bizarre and odd spoke, he revealed the two permanent negative statuses.

[Pain Chased by Death: Permanent reduction of maximum health by 90% and trapped in a state of pain]

[Lost in the Tranquility's Confusion: All consumption increased by 100% and recovery capability reduced by 90%]

"An interesting power, this must be the handiwork of the Eye of Tranquil Death. Fortunately, the enemy didn't truly descend; otherwise, you would have gotten more than just these two permanent negative statuses, not multiplying them by ten would be considered lucky," Gu Shanhai said with a bit of schadenfreude.

This must have been the first time players encountered an existence that posed a significant threat to them.

Li Ye also had an unsightly expression; he had to figure out how to remove these two permanent negative statuses, or else he would be done for. With these two effects combined, only 10% of his attributes were effective, and his recovery ability was extremely poor. Among them, the pain status was the most disgusting, permanently dropping his attributes by 1% every day.

If it weren't for the pain effect, it would simply be an issue of not being able to utilize his full strength. But with pain, over time, he would become a useless person with levels but no corresponding attributes.

"Forget about these, I will stay for another three days. If I can't complete the main quest, I plan to commit suicide to go back. If you can obtain something valuable, I will pay a high price," Li Ye was very decisive. In this world, there was no hope of finding a way to remove these two permanent negative statuses.

It could only be possible to find a cure in other worlds.

"No need for such trouble, I can handle your negative statuses," Gu Shanhai said, quickly finding two eyeballs darting around, growing between Li Ye's ribs.

"This thing has some capabilities, it actually took root directly in your life-force."

"If I forcibly remove them, you probably wouldn't survive, but no worries, we have the protection of 'The First Epoch,' so you won't really die."

"It's just that you might have to die out of this world."

Gu Shanhai was quite curious about these two eyeballs; they must be similar to the incarnation of the Eye of Tranquil Death.

"After removal, will these two permanent negative statuses also disappear?" Now, Li Ye was no longer thinking about completing the task but removing these two permanent negative statuses. As for the task, it could only be left to Gu Shanhai.

Unless Gu Shanhai could keep him alive, otherwise, the best method was, of course, to choose death as the price to clear these two permanent negative statuses.

"A 90% chance," Gu Shanhai said truthfully. He couldn't guarantee a complete removal, given that these were truly bizarre things from beyond this world, being avatars of some existence—they were not easy to deal with.

So he also couldn't be sure if he could completely deal with them, of course, even if not, he could still weaken them significantly, and Li Ye could recover through 'The First Epoch' later on.

"Alright, let's do it then," Li Ye confirmed without hesitation.

As a top player, knowing that this mid-level area was no longer safe, even if he were completely cured and survived, he would leave immediately.

He might have managed to survive the first time, but the second time wouldn't be so lucky, especially since he has been affected once before, leaving a kind of mark.

As for not tripping over the same stone twice? That's nonsense; not tripping twice only happens when one learns from mistakes.

It's precisely because he learned from the experience that he planned to escape. Going back to fight without victory isn't learning; it's insanity.

"Alright, then bear with it, I'm starting now," Gu Shanhai pondered. Li Ye had been through so much; he probably didn't need anesthesia, and that would save some trouble.

"Wait a minute, what about anesthesia?"

Gu Shanhai pretended to be ignorant, but Li Ye wasn't stupid, and quickly stopped him.

"No need, anesthesia won't help with this kind of pain," Gu Shanhai casually reassured him, speaking from experience.

"I... ah!!! At least say something before you start," Li Ye felt he might die from the surgery, not because the eyeballs were connected to his life, but because Gu Shanhai was painfully killing him without anesthesia.

"I was trying to catch you off guard, to make your pain sense defenseless," Gu Shanhai said somewhat sheepishly, his initial attempt to remove the eyeballs unsuccessful, leaving him feeling somewhat guilty.

"Damn, I know a pretty good psychiatrist. Next time I'll take you there, my treat," Li Ye subtly cursed Gu Shanhai for being insane.