In Chen Cang’s understanding, he had been "sent" into this special era by that Mysterious Existence in the Reincarnation Mirror Palace.

Moreover, he bore the mission that the Mysterious Existence had given him.

He had assumed he was the only special being carrying such a mission…

Unexpectedly, in this era he ran into an "old acquaintance" who did not belong to this time!

What troubled him even more was—

He clearly remembered that this "old acquaintance" previously had only the Void Stomach talent.

But now, his skill had become the SSS-grade Luck!

Yes, using his detection-type skills, Chen Cang easily identified He Yuliang’s talent.

Of course, he also saw Cheng Lin’s SSS-grade talent Salvation.

However, with Chen Cang’s current perspective, an ordinary SSS-grade talent no longer shocked him.

But He Yuliang’s SSS-grade talent was different.

An SSS-grade Luck…

This looked to be of the same type as his own SSS-grade Divine Assistance!

So…

Chen Cang naturally couldn’t help comparing—

Was his SSS-grade Divine Assistance more favored by the goddess of fortune?

Or was He Yuliang’s SSS-grade Luck more cherished by Fate?

Because of this similarity and the comparison, the way Chen Cang looked at He Yuliang and the tone he used carried a faint hostility.

He Yuliang of course sensed that hostility.

In fact, in his "previous life" he had already felt this inexplicable animosity.

And whether in his previous life or this one, Chen Cang always gave him an indescribable feeling.

He couldn’t tell if that sensation was a crisis warning or some other implication.

But instinctively, his past self chose to keep away from Chen Cang.

So after being sent to Exile City in his past life, He Yuliang had very little interaction with Chen Cang.

And because Chen Cang in the past, despite his hostility, had not actually done anything to him,

in this life, even when He Yuliang felt that hostility again, he did not panic.

He steadied his mind and answered calmly:

"However you appeared here is how I appeared here."

To be honest, He Yuliang didn’t actually know how Chen Cang had arrived in this era.

But he guessed it was similar to him—both had crossed eras through a special space like that Black Ice Domain.

However, Chen Cang interpreted that sentence as direct confirmation that He Yuliang had also been placed into this era by the Mysterious Existence of the Reincarnation Mirror Palace.

The idea clicked in Chen Cang’s head and it increasingly seemed reasonable.

If the Mysterious Existence chose him because of his Protagonist Halo…

then it was entirely possible it had also chosen He Yuliang because of his SSS-grade Luck…

Smart people knew you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.

So it would be normal for that Mysterious Existence to prepare multiple contingencies, two, three, four backups.

But Chen Cang, the "egg" in question, was not pleased about this.

After all, the feeling was like being treated as a spare.

Besides, anyone who’s read novels knows—

A world can only have one protagonist.

Now he had the SSS-grade Protagonist Halo and He Yuliang had SSS-grade Luck…

What was that supposed to mean?

Two candidate protagonists competing for the final "protagonist" slot?

In short, even though Chen Cang knew He Yuliang had also been arranged by the Mysterious Existence, he still felt very annoyed toward him.

Like a villain looking at the hero, like a destined rival.

However, because of the logic of "dependence on Luck,"

Chen Cang trusted his Protagonist Halo enough that he did not dare to underestimate He Yuliang’s SSS-grade Luck.

So, no matter how displeased he was, he managed—rarely—to restrain that emotion.

After a moment of silence, he deliberately shifted his attention away from He Yuliang, as if unconcerned.

His gaze swept over the Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh, then he asked the Cheng Lin-version of Jiang Ye in a low voice:

"Why are you here in this Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh? What are you planning to do?"

Jiang Ye glanced at Li Si, the two exchanged a look.

Then, rather tacitly, they relayed to Chen Cang the strange occurrences that had happened in this Blood Pool and Forest of Flesh.

It was during the "Birth of the Moon Infant" event that something in this area had also "been born"—or rather "resurrected"—a terrifying existence.

That terrifying being had sunk into this Blood Pool before Chen Cang arrived.

As Chen Cang listened to the description of the Blood Pool, he appeared thoughtful on the surface but quietly probed the Witch Gui Jiang Ye for his take.

Witch Gui Jiang Ye pondered for a moment, then revealed to Chen Cang the Blood Pool on the rooftop of the Doomsday Apartment—the very pool that had been used to imprison the Moon Phase Clock during the Doomsday Apartment era.

At the same time he asked Chen Cang:

"Did the Mysterious Existence who sent you to this era ever mention this Blood Pool?"

Chen Cang didn’t answer, instead staring intently at the pool.

He muttered in his mind: "Imprison the Moon Phase Clock…"

"So perhaps I also need to use this Blood Pool to imprison that so-called Moon Phase Clock?"

"But what does the Moon Phase Clock look like in this Doomsday Prison era? Is it the Old Moon that shifted over from Qiankun Land? Or the Moon Infant that was just born not long ago?"

Whatever it was, he suddenly realized very clearly—

This Blood Pool was far from simple!

Originally Chen Cang had thought to refine it and make it work for him.

But now it seemed impossible to simply refine it.

However, Chen Cang soon came up with a plan—

He asked Witch Gui Jiang Ye in his mind: "That absolute safety life-saving shield you gave me earlier in the giant toad’s stomach, it should still work, right?"

It indeed still worked.

Witch Gui Jiang Ye’s Salvation Domain was still on cooldown, but Li Si’s was available.

Chen Cang figured that if he asked, Li Si would not refuse.

So Witch Gui Jiang Ye briefly explained the true nature of that so-called life-saving shield.

Chen Cang fell silent for a moment, then sized up Cheng Lin-version Jiang Ye.

Clearly, only now did he begin to pay attention to the SSS-grade Salvation talent he had previously dismissed because of the SSS-grade Luck.

After another quiet moment, he turned to Li Si and said:

"Based on what happened inside the giant toad’s stomach, you still owe me one use of the Salvation Domain skill."

Li Si replied matter-of-factly: "Yes, I won’t renege."

Chen Cang nodded in satisfaction: "Then, if I need two teammates and we explore deep into this Blood Pool under the life-preserving effect of the Salvation Domain…"

"Who do you think would be the best teammate for me?"

On the surface he asked Li Si for advice.

In reality this was a direct invitation for Li Si to team up with him and explore the depths of the Blood Pool together.

He trusted Li Si would understand his implication and volunteer to be his teammate.

Unexpectedly…

Li Si seemed not to catch his implication and earnestly analyzed:

"I imagine you’ve detected this as well—that this He Yuliang has an SSS-grade Luck highly compatible with you."

"Your single SSS-grade Divine Assistance is already enough to defy the heavens, as if overturning natural law and making gods bow before you…"

"So if an SSS-grade Divine Assistance and an SSS-grade Luck teamed up?"

"I can hardly imagine how invincible such a combination would be!"

His reasoning made a lot of sense.

But in truth, Chen Cang and He Yuliang shared a kind of unspoken rivalry.

They both disliked each other and even harbored some hostility.

Forming a team?

Chen Cang inwardly rejected the idea.

He Yuliang’s refusal was even stronger.

He bluntly said: "That won’t work."

"Not that I won’t agree. But Cheng Lin, Du Yuheng, and I already have an arrangement."

"Du Yuheng wants to obtain the Salvation Domain—I've already agreed to cooperate and to be the one he betrays in the process."

Saying that, he looked at the Cheng Lin-version Jiang Ye: "By the way, it’s been a while, your skill cooldown should be almost over, right?"

Jiang Ye nodded: "Almost done."

Hearing that, Chen Cang quickly realized—

"You don’t suppose you plan to use SSS-grade Luck so that after being betrayed you can randomly get the Rebirth state, do you?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He Yuliang was silent, tacitly admitting as much.

Chen Cang frowned: "Don’t you know? When the Salvation Domain triggers the 'one trusts, one betrays' scenario, the side that chooses 'trust' goes through a 100-minute near-death state, only then having a chance to randomly obtain the Rebirth state!"

"Moreover, even if you randomly get the Rebirth state, that doesn’t mean you immediately become a Moon Infant! During your evolution into a Moon Infant, you’ll be attacked by the Moon-Devouring Giant Toad! It will do everything to prevent the Moon Infant’s birth!"

In short, the risks are huge!

Risks during the skill process…

Risks before the Moon Infant’s birth…

These are not something ordinary people can endure!

Yet He Yuliang raised an eyebrow: "I believe my Luck."

To be frank, he didn’t dare believe that a hundred percent.

But he trusted human nature’s cruelty more.

Specifically, he trusted Chen Cang’s hostility toward him even more!

Since Chen Cang was hostile to him…

then this guy would not be advising him out of genuine concern.

More likely, he feared He Yuliang truly becoming a Moon Infant, so he used the risks to dissuade him!

It must be admitted, two people who both relied on "dependence on Luck" even thought similarly!

Chen Cang wasn’t giving good-faith advice either; he was genuinely worried He Yuliang might become a Moon Infant by abusing SSS-grade Luck…

In that instant, Chen Cang himself couldn’t help thinking of using his Protagonist Halo to randomly trigger the Rebirth state and become a Moon Infant.

However, having personally experienced the horror of the Moon-Devouring Giant Toad, he hesitated.

Li Si immediately saw what he was thinking.

Feigning that he had weighed pros and cons for everyone’s sake, he thoughtfully suggested:

"In that case…"

"It seems you only have the option to team with either me or Cheng Lin."

"As for He Yuliang and Du Yuheng, after you enter the Salvation Domain you don’t have to immediately trigger the Salvation judgement."

"You can first use the absolute safety of the Salvation Domain to explore the Blood Pool."

"When the skill duration is almost over, come out of the pool and then trigger the Salvation judgement and pursue your individual skill acquisitions."

These words were spoken to both He Yuliang and Du Yuheng, and to Chen Cang.

Obviously Chen Cang could first explore the Blood Pool during the Salvation Domain’s active time.

When the skill effect was about to end, he could emerge to consider whether to perform the Salvation judgement.

Thinking this through, Chen Cang made a decision: "Fine—"

"Then now, use the Salvation Domain on the two of us, and we’ll explore the Blood Pool."

"During this exploration, do not have bodily contact, do not trigger the Salvation judgement."

"When the Salvation Domain’s 100 minutes are nearly up, we’ll return here to regroup and consider whether to conduct the Salvation judgement."

"As for the Salvation judgement then, you can choose 'betray.'"

"As for whether I choose 'betray' or 'trust,' that’s my business."

Yes, if the Salvation judgement is triggered when the skill is nearly over, the person choosing "betray" generally won’t suffer losses.

So this arrangement placed no pressure on Li Si.

Having already declared a cling-to-power stance earlier, he agreed immediately.

Chen Cang then asked the Cheng Lin-version Jiang Ye: "How much longer until your skill cooldown is over?"

Jiang Ye: "About ten minutes."

Chen Cang thought for a moment and continued organizing things: "In that case, we won’t wait for you. You go ahead and explore the Blood Pool first."

He said it matter-of-factly. Jiang Ye was a bit stunned: "Wait—"

"You and Li Si pair up, sharing one Salvation Domain to explore the Blood Pool."

"He Yuliang and Du Yuheng pair up, sharing one Salvation Domain to explore the Blood Pool."

"And me? I don’t have a Salvation Domain, I don’t have a teammate… what am I supposed to do?"

"Uh…" Chen Cang was momentarily taken aback, then resumed his matter-of-fact tone, "You do whatever you’re supposed to do."

"…" Jiang Ye: I should smack you!

Are you treating me like a pure tool?

However, Jiang Ye had not planned to team up with anyone to explore the Blood Pool anyway.

So after a silent moment he made a request to Li Si:

"Since I’m supposed to do whatever I’m supposed to do…"

"I want to quickly contact a player who can project scenes into a peeled-off eyeball."

"You should be able to arrange that for me, right?"

Li Si was somewhat silent.

Chen Cang interjected curiously: "What’s a player who can project scenes into a peeled-off eyeball?"

Li Si briefly explained: "It’s a type of player I discovered—someone rather special."

He seemed unwilling to explain more to Chen Cang, and instead told Jiang Ye directly:

"Those types of players are not something I can casually arrange access to."

"However, if you truly want to contact such a player, I can point you in a few directions."

Jiang Ye was surprised: "A few?"

Li Si nodded: "First, go to Exile City."

"There should be many of those special players there."

Jiang Ye had guessed as much; what he was curious about was, "What other directions?"