Chapter 88 - 82: The 4th Transmigration

Chapter 88: Chapter 82: The 4th Transmigration

[Countdown ended. Time in this world is frozen.]

[The number of Players in this round has increased to 500. Veteran Players, please actively assist new Players. Assistance rewards will be distributed upon return.]

It was the same as always. Inside the dark and gloomy Gothic-style building, a card floated above Yin Zhen’s card table after the system prompt.

This time, it was actually Golden!

The card flipped over. The lights in the hall dimmed, leaving only that card glowing.

[Sacrifice]:

During the last return, the Player ’Blossoming Prosperity’ silently guarded the Ancient Abyss. She killed the Blood Clan invaders who tried to open the gates, and she also killed that human traitor. She was formidable yet low-profile, but this cannot be an excuse for you to let your guard down.

The Blood Race Council already knows of the existence of the Ancient Abyss. Their world is situated at a higher realm, possessing unfathomable methods and indescribable horrors. This invasion will not end with the death of one person.

The Chapter of war has already opened.

Whether you choose to guard the Ancient Abyss or join the Blood Clan, people will fall. For noble ideals, for selfish motives, or for those indescribable obsessions suppressed at the bottom of their hearts.

[Event Requirements]:

This event will last for the duration of three transmigrations. During this period, please orchestrate a sacrifice. Passionate, tragic, and irreversible. For yourself, for others, for a certain person, or for a certain group. The scale and method of the sacrifice are unrestricted. The only criterion is that this sacrifice must impact the war between the two worlds.

[Settlement Method]:

Tragic degree of sacrifice × Strategic value of sacrifice × Influence of sacrifice on the plot = Final reward coefficient. ℯℯ𝘭.

[Event Rewards]:

Base Rewards: 100,000 words, Golden Items ×3, Mysterious Exclusive Privilege ×1.

[Failure Penalty]: In the face of war, no one is spared. No additional punishment is necessary.

The golden light from the card reflected on Yin Zhen’s face. She looked at the card with a complex gaze, then looked at her own Player Identity Card.

[Player]: Yin Zhen

[Identity]: Gray Card (2/10,000)

She had bet absolutely everything on the ’Plot Kill,’ leaving herself with a balance of only two words. Her Talent ’I’m afraid of myself when I go crazy’ had been erased, and her Luck Value had reset to -1.

Summoning a Third-class writer through Plot Kill, combined with the extra words she added to the stakes, gave her about a fifty percent success rate.

Seeing the public Event Card issued by the system to all Players, she became even more certain that she hadn’t made the wrong choice.

Whether it was due to the Plot Kill or some other reason, something major was definitely going to happen next, and many people would have to be "sacrificed"!

Under the influence of the plot, the higher a person’s Identity, the more susceptible they were to restrictions. Reverting to a cannon fodder Identity was the only way to drift outside the plot, gain maximum freedom, and find a chance to survive in the cracks.

On the other hand, Yin Zhen wanted to verify something.

She wanted to know just how much authority and power she had as a ’system investor.’ If winning and losing existed in the world of these ’system investors’ as well, then her system would definitely not want to see her lose, nor would it easily let her die.

With a cannon fodder Identity, there was no need to draw an exclusive Event Card. Two Gothic-style doors opened, and blood-red moonlight spilled in, swallowing Yin Zhen whole.

Her consciousness returned. Yin Zhen opened her eyes; before her were various gaming merchandise and peripherals. Outside the window, the neon lights remained dazzling.

She was still in the gaming room of Lucia’s apartment, but the threat from Lucy was gone.

Yin Zhen had no intention of breaking her promise to set Lucy free, but it couldn’t be now, and it couldn’t be here.

She contacted Ian to arrange a meeting. She needed to tell him about Yi Guanfu and ask for his help to contact Zoe regarding that giant white creature.

The main plot of the Red Corpse World actually didn’t have much to do with her; it only posed some potential threats. However, unearthing the truth behind this main plot might yield decent rewards.

She had just finished messaging Ian when the forum chimed with new private message notifications—a whole string of them.

Yin Zhen opened the forum. The private message inbox was constantly refreshing, mostly with messages from new Players.

Some were greeting her, praising her, or asking to be her lackey.

She casually scrolled through and spotted a private message from Nan Jiamu.

[Winter Night Fire]: Since you killed Quentin and the Black Domain Walker to guard the Ancient Abyss in the last round, we should be comrades on the same front. I want to ask you to help me kill someone. This person poses an extreme threat to the Ancient Abyss. I hope you won’t refuse me. You can name your price, and I’ll do my best to meet it.

Yin Zhen was just about to refuse when the system’s voice chimed in first.

[Triggered Special Event: Overture of War - Comrades-in-arms]

[Event Explanation]: You have chosen the human faction. This is a path of no return. The leader of the Ancient Abyss has extended an invitation to you. She needs you, and the Ancient Abyss needs you as well.

[Event Requirements]: Assist the leader of the Ancient Abyss in completing her plan to defeat Chi Hai and guard the Ancient Abyss.

[Task Rewards]: 50,000 words, Duplication Card x1

[Failure Penalty]: Character Card Extraordinary Ability randomly -1

[Friendly Reminder]: When you first chose to guard the Ancient Abyss, you should have known that you had no way back.

This outcome was within Yin Zhen’s expectations. She glanced at the rewards and penalties and chuckled.

"Then let’s play dirty!"

[Blossoming Prosperity]: I want your ’Clapperboard.’ Trade first, kill later.

[Winter Night Fire]: The ’Abyss Bar’ in the Ninth District of Night City. Find the bartender and order a glass of ’Hometown.’ I’ll trade with you face-to-face.

[Blossoming Prosperity]: Not today. Tomorrow night at 8 PM.

[Winter Night Fire]: Alright, I’ll wait for you!

Closing the chat interface with Nan Jiamu, Yin Zhen saw the next name was ’Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence’ and casually clicked on it.

[Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence]: (Cursing) And you said it wasn’t you who killed him! Just you wait, I already know who you are!

Yin Zhen let out a chuckle and didn’t reply.

So what if he knew? She didn’t care anymore. After all, ’Lucia’ only had a few days left to live anyway.

She closed the forum just as her communication bracelet vibrated.

[Ian]: It’s not convenient for me to go out. Come to the lab.

Yin Zhen picked out a few handy weapons and tactical devices from Lucia’s collection, stowed them into her game inventory, and headed to Lucia’s underground parking garage.

Sweeping her gaze around, she walked straight toward a matte black motorcycle in the corner. She straddled it, zipped her biker jacket all the way to the top, and put on her helmet, pressing down her short hair and revealing only her brow bone and a pair of calm eyes.

The engine gave a low, muffled roar. She released the clutch, and the bike shot forward. The tires let out a short screech against the concrete as she sped all the way toward the Saint Group.

...

The Level 6 underground laboratory of the Saint Group.

As soon as Yin Zhen turned the corner, she saw Ian. Wearing a white lab coat, he walked out of the laboratory, checking a data pad in his hand with tightly furrowed brows.

Just as Yin Zhen was about to walk over, Victor suddenly emerged from the other end of the corridor, followed by two fully armed security guards. His pace was brisk, his expression as gloomy as the sea before a storm.

Victor raised his eyes slightly, shot Yin Zhen a brief glance, then withdrew his gaze and walked straight up to Ian.

Yin Zhen stopped in her tracks.

Victor’s gaze toward Ian was complex. He said something in a very soft voice.

Ian looked up at Victor in shock. After they locked eyes for a few seconds, Ian smiled. He nodded and handed the data pad to Victor.

The exchange happened so quickly that Yin Zhen didn’t even have time to activate her Super Sensing Eavesdropping.

From a distance, Ian glanced in Yin Zhen’s direction and smiled, as if something was brewing in the depths of his eyes.

Before Yin Zhen could figure it out, Ian left with the two security guards.

Only Victor and Yin Zhen were left in the corridor. Yin Zhen quickly walked over. "Victor, what happened? Why did they take Ian away?"

Victor looked at Yin Zhen, his gaze deep and complicated. He stared in silence for a long time—so long that Yin Zhen’s heart pounded like a drum, her instincts screaming at her to flee. Finally, Victor raised his hand and patted her on the shoulder.

"That is not something you should be asking. Night City is going to be very chaotic lately. Be careful."

Victor withdrew his hand, turned around, and walked away.

Yin Zhen stood rooted to the spot, her whole body gradually tensing up.

Was this the plot effect of the Plot Kill, or was it... Nan Jiamu?

It was Nan Jiamu!

This had to be Nan Jiamu’s scheme.

Kidnapping and rescue—a classic trope that appeared in every story involving romance. Simple, yet highly effective.

With Ian in trouble, Zoe would definitely show up. All Nan Jiamu needed to do was lay a trap, assemble the main cast, and wait for Zoe to jump right in.

And then, she would kill Zoe!

That was why Nan Jiamu was willing to pay a hefty price to ask ’Blossoming Prosperity’ for help. After all, kings do not meet; she couldn’t get close to Zoe and could only rely on the protagonist group to do the work.

Yin Zhen clenched her fists, hurriedly left the laboratory, and made a beeline for the Ninth District.

She had to deal with the tracking chip on the back of her neck right now!