Ah, this...

Li Si's words inevitably aroused suspicion.

After all, he was essentially shirking all responsibility, washing his hands clean of any blame!

Passing his eyeball to Chen Cang was on the advice of a master;

The eyeball's disappearance was due to the Moon Infant actively absorbing it.

He himself was completely absolved!

Therefore, these words naturally couldn't be fully trusted.

Not to mention, Chen Cang already harbored many suspicions about him and was even less likely to accept such an explanation at this moment.

He frowned deeply, about to open his mouth and question further...

Li Si unexpectedly interjected another sentence:

"Actually, back outside the Blood Pool space, when you arranged for He Yuliang to conduct the experiment first, I wanted to advise you..."

"Perhaps you shouldn't have given the second chance for Moon Infant birth to He Yuliang."

This hindsight comment was like twisting a knife in Chen Cang's heart!

Wasn't he already regretting it!

But saying this now was too late!

Eh... wait a moment?

Chen Cang suddenly looked at Li Si, a flicker of shock and doubt in his eyes.

He felt that this guy suddenly saying something like this might not be just simple hindsight, but perhaps carried a deeper meaning?

Chen Cang's mind whirled, and he tentatively asked, "You mean..."

"To start attempting the birth of a third Moon Infant right now?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding players were all shocked.

The birth of a Moon Infant wasn't that easy!

The key point was that the so-called "birth of the second Moon Infant" didn't seem to have been achieved yet, right?

They still had no idea what the situation inside the Blood Pool was, or what fate awaited He Yuliang...

This was equivalent to an experiment just starting, with no results yet.

And the lead researcher was already preparing to risk himself, personally stepping into the fray?

The other players mostly thought Chen Cang was a bit crazy.

However, Chen Cang felt...

If he also tried to trigger the "Rebirth state" now...

Then, between him and He Yuliang, who would be the "second Moon Infant" was still up in the air!

He always believed that his [Protagonist Halo] was stronger than He Yuliang's [Luck]!

So perhaps he could come from behind, steal He Yuliang's nourishment, and be born first?

The problem was, time!

The 100-minute near-death state was too long!

Being so far behind, it would be extremely difficult for him to catch up!

But if he could erase that 100-minute gap...

He would have a very good chance!

In Chen Cang's view, Li Si's hindsight comment seemed like a hint to him.

He stared intently at Li Si.

Li Si's eyes were covered by black cloth, making it impossible to discern any change in expression.

However, after a moment of silence, he actually followed Chen Cang's speculation and proposed a solution:

"I do indeed have an item that can allow a player to directly exit the near-death state."

"But such an item is naturally used for saving lives, so it's extremely precious."

"The near-death state caused by [Salvation Domain] will automatically end once the time passes..."

"To waste such a precious item on a temporary near-death state... honestly, it's not worth it."

"Moreover, I can't be sure that using an item to prematurely exit the near-death state will still allow you to trigger the effects of [Salvation Domain], randomly resulting in either 'Rebirth state' or 'Curse of Despair'..."

Li Si's tone sounded hesitant.

But the information he revealed precisely hit Chen Cang's sore spots.

Chen Cang almost immediately and decisively continued his line of thought: "It definitely will!"

"The skill description of [Salvation Domain] only says the near-death state lasts 100 minutes, and that two random situations occur after exiting the near-death state..."

"But it doesn't say you must endure the 100-minute near-death state before the two random situations appear."

"There's no necessary causal relationship between the 100 minutes and exiting the near-death state!"

"Therefore, using an item to prematurely exit the near-death state will definitely instantly trigger the 'Rebirth state'!"

In Chen Cang's view, he needed to catch up to the time He Yuliang had over him!

So, speaking rapidly, he made the decision:

"You said you wanted to latch onto me, right? Then asking you to contribute an item to exit the near-death state for me isn't too much, is it?"

Li Si frowned, seemingly wanting to persuade him further.

Chen Cang then turned to Li Ku for confirmation: "You and that Sun Person player also underwent the judgment of [Salvation Domain]... If I'm not mistaken, you should have also obtained the [Salvation Domain] skill, right?"

Li Ku didn't answer but frowned and said, "Aren't you afraid... that we might take advantage of you being in a near-death state to finish you off directly?"

Chen Cang looked utterly righteous and resolute, his gaze fixed firmly on Li Ku as he said word by word, "I believe in you!"

"Since you asked us to strive for a common goal, you naturally wouldn't stand by and watch us fight among ourselves."

With that, Chen Cang swept his eyes over Lin Dong's group, his tone confident: "You were able to subdue such a group of people, you were able to make that Lin Dong believe you are Li Ku with just a simple sentence..."

"Then I believe you must understand very well how to build a leader's charisma."

"Just like in ancient times when someone paid a thousand gold for a horse's bones, you can use this matter to establish your authority."

He spoke with such conviction that even Jiang Ye was somewhat swayed.

Thinking to himself that this Chen Cang was actually quite sharp when it came to reading people.

However, just as Jiang Ye was silently praising him in his heart...

He heard Chen Cang secretly transmit a message to the Witch Gui in his mind: "Senior..."

"If something really happens to me while I'm in the near-death state, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for help."

After saying this, he also offered an incentive: "That Prometheus Doll seems to be a rather excellent body."

"If you like it, or if you want to shape a certain kind of physical body, I will do my utmost to assist."

Hah!

Jiang Ye thought to himself, that doll is originally my body, why would I need you to give it to me?

But since he was already misunderstood as a "Portable Old Grandpa," he went along with it, agreeing to protect Chen Cang in his near-death state.

With the dual assurance from Li Ku and the Witch Gui, Chen Cang felt even more confident, his resolute gaze falling back on Li Si.

Li Si nodded back at him, then looked at Li Ku.

This was a signal for Li Ku to use [Salvation Domain] on them.

Jiang Ye thought for a moment but couldn't help reminding Chen Cang in his mind:

"Don't forget, that Sun Person player was suddenly and easily backstabbed and killed by Li Ku during the 'Salvation' judgment process..."

Right!

Chen Cang jolted, immediately shouting, "Wait!"

He looked at Li Ku, hesitantly saying, "I'd like to see the skill description of your [Salvation Domain] first."

He suddenly remembered that Li Si had also questioned Du Yuheng's [Salvation Domain] and asked to see its skill description...

Did this mean that starting from Du Yuheng, the [Salvation Domain] skill had developed a problem?

Li Ku frowned, seemingly somewhat displeased with Chen Cang's meddling.

However, he didn't say much and displayed his [Salvation Domain] skill description.

Jiang Ye also took a look.

It was exactly the same as the original [Salvation Domain], appearing completely normal.

Chen Cang breathed a sigh of relief.

He then heard Li Ku offer an additional explanation:

"My ability to kill the Sun Person player was based on my own capabilities and has little to do with the [Salvation Domain] skill itself."

Chen Cang thought that made sense.

So, feeling slightly embarrassed, he gestured for Li Ku to proceed.

Li Ku gave a slight nod to both of them.

Immediately after, two beams of Holy Light fell upon Chen Cang and Li Si.

Neither of them was experiencing the [Salvation Domain] skill for the first time.

It's just that the last time, they hadn't made physical contact to trigger the 'Salvation' judgment, letting the [Salvation Domain] duration expire.

This time, Chen Cang was racing against time and directly shook hands with Li Si.

Of course, having recently lost his right hand, he only had his left hand available...

While shaking hands, Chen Cang silently prayed—

Hopefully, after evolving into a Moon Infant, he could possess a more advanced body!

And Wang Lingling's [Yin Yang Eyes] that he didn't obtain...

And Li Ku's pair of eyes, the Prometheus Doll's pair of eyeballs...

All these would be his!

Chen Cang himself didn't realize it, but his eyes were slightly reddened, and he seemed almost fanatical.

After shaking hands with Li Si, an announcement for triggering the Salvation Judgment sounded in his mind—

[Ding!]

[The companion walking the path of salvation with you initiates a soul judgment upon you! Please face your relationship squarely and make a choice within 3 seconds—]

[1. Trust]

[2. Betray]

[3. Forgive]

What the heck?!

Weren't there only the two options of "Trust" and "Betray"?!

How could there be an extra "Forgive" option?!

Chen Cang's pupils dilated in shock, momentarily flustered and panicked.

However, Li Si, who was shaking hands with him, appeared much calmer.

Within the 3-second judgment period, he spoke rapidly: "Remember the conversation between Du Yuheng and He Yuliang during their judgment?"

"Probably their situation was like this too!"

"So what they could do, we definitely can too!"

These words indeed reassured Chen Cang.

He scanned the three options and realized he could only choose "Trust" as planned...

Because only the cost of "Trust" was something he knew in advance and could bear.

Thus, within three seconds, Chen Cang chose "Trust."

Like He Yuliang, almost immediately after making this choice, he vaguely realized—

Between betrayal and forgiveness, there was probably another layer of strategy.

When one party chooses [Forgive], it's equivalent to predicting the other's betrayal...

And if at that time, the other party really chooses [Betray]...

Then the one who chose [Forgive] naturally has the upper hand.

If the other party actually chose [Trust], but you chose [Forgive]...

You'd probably suffer negative effects for being presumptuous.

So in this game with 3 options, no matter which one you choose, there's risk!

Choosing [Trust] might lead to being [Betrayed];

Choosing [Betray] might be countered by a predicted [Forgive];

Choosing [Forgive] might also encounter [Trust], resulting in a failed prediction.

All three choices could lead to different outcomes depending on the other party's choice.

Therefore, the only optimal solution is to know the other party's choice with 100% certainty.

And for Chen Cang, he could bear the consequences of [Trust]...

So, [Trust] was his optimal solution.

And given his 100% choice of [Trust], Li Si's optimal solution would naturally be [Betray].

And this coincidentally aligned perfectly with the plan they had agreed upon.

So, this might also be the reason why the 'Salvation' judgment between Du Yuheng and He Yuliang could produce a result satisfactory to both parties...

Having figured this out, Chen Cang readily accepted this minor surprise and fell into the same near-death state as He Yuliang before.

And Li Si then proceeded to fulfill his promise—

He took a piece of paper imprinted with strange talismanic patterns and pressed it against Chen Cang's forehead.

Immediately, the talisman paper shot into Chen Cang's brain.

Chen Cang directly exited the near-death state...

This time, perhaps because there were no eyeballs left in the Blood Pool space to sacrifice?

When Chen Cang exited the near-death state, no eyeballs sank into the Blood Pool.

Instead, Chen Cang's body, just like He Yuliang's earlier, began to undergo some changes.

These changes had similarities, but also differences.

The similarity was—

Chen Cang's body also gradually turned into a formless black mist.

The difference was—

This black mist did not directly enter his prison watch.

It only appeared as a black mist for a moment before solidifying back into a physical body.

And as Chen Cang solidified from mist back into flesh...

The Witch Gui Jiang Ye, residing within the Heart Demon Nest inside Chen Cang, suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation!

As if at the moment Chen Cang's physical body re-solidified...

Something extremely terrifying was born?!

This inexplicable intuition made Jiang Ye pay extra attention!

So, he naturally thought of—

Lin Jing, Yang Wenchao, and others could steal others' prison watches to replace the identities of other newbie players...

Then what about Chen Cang?

Or rather...

Could there be someone who could directly replace Chen Cang's identity?!

Chen Cang's prison watch was a temporary watch provided to him by the Mysterious Existence controlling the Reincarnation Mirror Palace!

Now, his mistified body didn't enter the prison watch like He Yuliang's did...

Was it because it was a temporary prison watch?

If the "moon" of the Moon Infant is centered around the prison watch...

Then was Chen Cang, from the very beginning, fundamentally incapable of evolving into a Moon Infant?

Then what exactly was Chen Cang's current situation?!

For a moment, thoughts raced through Jiang Ye's mind.

As for Chen Cang, whose black mist had re-solidified into a flesh-and-blood body...

His condition clearly resembled that of players who randomly got the "Curse of Despair" in previous experiments!

The flesh-and-blood body formed from the black mist had no hair!

And... no facial features!

Of course, Chen Cang's missing right hand was also absent.

He had become a strange person with no face, no hair, and no right hand!

A player standing among Lin Dong's group couldn't help but exclaim softly:

"This... this guy randomly got the 'Curse of Despair'?"

Jiang Ye noticed that Li Si's face, covered by black cloth, showed no emotional fluctuation, and his voice was quite calm:

"It seems so."

"In my previous experiments, the Sun and Moon People players who randomly got the 'Curse of Despair' ended up looking like this, featureless and bald."