Being able to ask this question showed Lin Dong was genuinely hesitant.

He was conflicted over two points—

First...

That mysterious and unfathomable Boss, was he someone they could defy?

Second, and what he was even less certain about...

Was continuing the experiment an act of defying the Boss?

Or was stopping the experiment the act of defying the Boss?

In other words, he couldn't quite grasp the Boss's intentions!

That's why he asked, directing the question to Li Ku.

Li Ku's scarred, expressionless face also rarely showed a trace of hesitation.

But after a brief moment of doubt, he firmly stated:

"The Boss is one of us, our kind."

"Moreover, he also possesses a pure black origin."

"In He Yuliang's previous life, I obtained the Pure Black Body. My development in Exile City likely also received the Boss's assistance."

"So in this life, we can also rely on the Boss."

Lin Dong nodded. Of course, he thought the same. "But the problem is, can you guess the Boss's intentions?"

Li Ku stated firmly again: "Zhou Qiming directly obtained the Blood Merchant's token."

"Therefore, his will is the Boss's will."

"So, continuing the experiment, continuing to 'dot black' those fish eyes, is the Boss's intention!"

He spoke these words with conviction.

However, after speaking, he couldn't help but glance at Du Yuheng.

Seeing Du Yuheng didn't refute it either, he became even more certain.

Yet, while Li Ku and Lin Dong were firm,

Li Si's expression was somewhat grim.

After a moment of silence, he said: "But doing this will consume a large number of Sun and Moon People..."

"Then our own experiment will likely be delayed."

"Moreover, these movements will inevitably attract the attention of Sun People players."

Li Ku, however, stated bluntly: "Our experiment being delayed is just a delay."

"Anyway, we haven't yet finalized the candidate for the player who will accumulate 10,000 betrayals."

"It's better to first follow the Boss's intention and completely finish the experiment of dotting the fish eyes black."

"After completing this process, we might even gain new insights."

Jiang Ye was somewhat surprised—

Li Ku and Lin Dong were both exceptionally loyal to that "Boss."

As for Li Si...

Li Si ultimately agreed as well.

He said no more. The eyes hidden behind the black cloth flickered with dark purple light again.

Lin Dong then analyzed further to Li Ku:

"Speaking of which, do you think..."

"The phenomenon of the auditorium relief fish absorbing mechanical eyeballs might have something in common with the phenomenon of mechanical eyeballs sinking into the ground?"

"Perhaps deep underground, there exist beings similar to the auditorium relief fish?"

"Only during the process of the moon infant's birth are these underground beings similar to relief fish awakened, absorbing the mechanical eyeballs?"

This speculation indeed aligned perfectly with what Li Ku had been thinking.

Li Si hadn't personally witnessed the phenomenon of the auditorium relief fish absorbing mechanical eyeballs before.

But through this experiment, he remotely witnessed those lab rats' mechanical eyeballs being absorbed by the relief fish...

Hearing Lin Dong's analysis now, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

He did think Lin Dong's analysis made sense. However, he quickly pointed out another problem:

"Those auditorium reliefs shouldn't have shown the ability to absorb mechanical eyeballs before, right?"

"So... the reason causing the reliefs to suddenly absorb mechanical eyeballs might share a commonality with the reason an underground entity absorbs mechanical eyeballs during the moon infant's birth process?"

Once this analysis was made, Lin Dong quickly added:

"The change in the auditorium reliefs seems to originate from... Zhou Qiming!"

"So perhaps, to make all mechanical eyeballs sink underground, it doesn't necessarily have to be during the moon infant's birth process!"

"Instead, there might be a trigger on Zhou Qiming himself!"

"It's just unknown whether Zhou Qiming can awaken after this experiment is completed and all the relief fish eyes are dotted black..."

Lin Dong, Li Ku, and Li Si, these three groups of players, engaged in various analyses and discussions.

Meanwhile, the group of five including Lin Jing remained relatively silent.

However, repeatedly hearing the name "Zhou Qiming," they inevitably harbored some thoughts.

Especially Liu Re. Back in the black ice domain, he was the one Zhou Qiming screwed over the worst, even getting infected with Lightburn...

He couldn't hide his hatred for Zhou Qiming!

Now the times had changed, the situation reversed...

He still wanted to find a chance to take revenge on Zhou Qiming!

But given the current circumstances...

Did he still have a chance to get revenge on Zhou Qiming?

Liu Re felt frustrated.

Then he suddenly heard Li Ku propose an even more terrifying idea:

"Actually, when I doubted that announcement about the moon infant's birth, I had an even more absurd thought..."

"It seems both Chen Cang and Li Si firmly believe they witnessed the moon infant's birth."

"But honestly, have you, through investigative means, confirmed that the thing you identified as the 'moon infant' really is the moon infant?"

"I strongly suspect, could the 'moon infant born' in the announcement refer to someone else?"

This thought aligned perfectly with Jiang Ye's.

However, Li Ku then guessed: "I suspect..."

"Could that Zhou Qiming sleeping in the auditorium be the real moon infant?"

??

Huh?

Jiang Ye had just thought their ideas aligned.

Now he couldn't help but marvel: Dude, your imagination is too rich!

Zhou Qiming's clone is just lying in the auditorium, doing nothing. How could he possibly be the moon infant?

But...

It also can't be said that being unconscious equals doing nothing.

Zhou Qiming's clone's coma might be experiencing situations unimaginable to other players?

Then...

Could he become that moon infant while in a comatose state?

Hmm...

Jiang Ye still felt this idea wasn't very reasonable.

Yet, Li Ku immediately added:

"I think the name 'Zhou Qiming' itself is a bit interesting."

"Qiming, Qiming, the Morning Star is the brightest star before dawn."

"There's also a saying: it's the brightest natural celestial body in the sky besides the sun and moon!"

"So, in the night sky, it's the brightest existence besides the moon!"

"So, could this existence be the moon infant?"

"Even if not, it must be related to the moon infant somehow!"

Li Ku spoke these words with absolute certainty.

Jiang Ye even felt vaguely persuaded...

However, as they were discussing remotely,

Li Si, who was remotely monitoring the school's situation using the Target Anchor, suddenly interjected:

"The situation isn't good..."

"Pure Sun People players have gone to your school."

Hearing this, Lin Dong, Li Ku, and the others were startled.

They were about to ask about the situation of Zhou Qiming sleeping in the auditorium...

When they heard Li Si say with a grave tone:

"After the Sun People players entered the auditorium, their eyeballs were also absorbed..."

Just that one sentence.

A look of shock surfaced again in Lin Dong's eyes.

He even couldn't help but boldly speculate:

"If those fish school reliefs could move according to our will..."

"Maybe we could directly take the fish school and confiscate all mechanical eyeballs!"

Unfortunately, this bold speculation was directly refuted by Li Si: "I'm afraid that's not possible."

"Based on my remote observation—"

"Each relief fish in the auditorium can only absorb one pair of mechanical eyeballs."

"So, when all the relief fish eyes turn black..." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"The auditorium will likely no longer possess the function of absorbing mechanical eyeballs."

His tone grew grave: "Not only do I think so, but the Sun People players who noticed the auditorium's anomaly seem to think so too."

"Right now, not only are the mechanical people you prepared at the school actively entering the auditorium to die..."

"The Sun People players who discovered the anomaly are also deploying Sun and Moon People into the auditorium, using their mechanical eyeballs to deplete the number of relief fish..."

"It seems it won't be long before all the relief fish in the entire auditorium are completely consumed!"

Hearing this, Lin Dong and Li Ku realized the severity of the problem—

"Once all the relief fish are consumed, won't the Sun People players be able to enter the auditorium without restraint?"

"At that time, won't Zhou Qiming be in danger?"

Li Si didn't answer this question.

He just continued reporting the school's situation remotely like a commentator:

"I'm afraid... there's no time!"

"Estimated a few hundred left... no! A few dozen... no!"

His tone was rapid. As he spoke, his voice deepened:

"Just now—all the relief fish have been dotted black!"

"That Sun People player who looks less than 3 years old has arranged for another Sun and Moon Person to enter the auditorium!"

It sounded like Li Si's tone was quite urgent.

However, Jiang Ye, residing within Du Yuheng's body, strongly suspected...

The Sun People player Li Si mentioned...

Was likely in cahoots with him!

Otherwise, based on the setting that younger-looking Sun People players are stronger...

Would a Sun People player who looks less than 3 years old fail to notice that a player with Li Si's Target Anchor was observing everything from the shadows?

It's quite possible that the perspective Li Si was sharing right now belonged to that Sun People player!

It's even likely that the Sun People player who discovered the auditorium anomaly was led there by Li Si!

Naturally, Jiang Ye was also somewhat worried about the situation of his Zhou Qiming clone...

But upon careful thought, it seemed it wasn't his turn to worry.

The situation of Zhou Qiming was certainly known to the Boss Clone of Exile City.

Not to mention, there was also a Blood Merchant belonging to Exile City in that school.

So, as long as the Exile City clone didn't want Zhou Qiming's clone to come to harm,

Zhou Qiming's clone couldn't possibly come to harm.

If harm truly came, it could only be because the Exile City clone allowed it.

Thinking this, the Witch Gui Jiang Ye naturally felt calm and less worried.

Meanwhile, Li Si, still acting as the remote commentator, said with a horrified tone:

"The reliefs... the eyes..."

"Before, when those relief fish eyes absorbed mechanical eyeballs, they were just black dots..."

"Now, those fish eyes, like black circular dots, are distinctly like opened eyes!"

"Eyes more imposing than mechanical eyeballs... hiss—"

As Li Si spoke, he suddenly sucked in a cold breath.

After a moment of silence, he said gravely: "That Sun and Moon Person that barged into the auditorium..."

"Its mechanical eyeballs were not absorbed again..."

"But, it was Erased!"

"Erased by those fish eyes!"

After saying this, Li Si was enveloped in an uncontrollable fear. A moment later, he showed a hint of realization.

This reaction was as if he had personally experienced that "Erasure"...

Li Ku naturally guessed: "You shared the perspective of that Erased Sun and Moon Person?"

Lin Dong, however, immediately spotted the Key Point: "According to you, wasn't that a Sun and Moon Person arranged by a Sun People player? Why would you have its perspective?"

Asking this, Lin Dong immediately had the answer: "You and that Sun People player are probably in cahoots, right?"

"Or perhaps, you were the one who led that Sun People player to the auditorium!"

After this accusation, Li Si remained silent for a long time.

Originally diligently playing the commentator role,

Now, he seemed deeply shaken, remaining silent for a long while.

Li Ku frowned, suddenly reached out and removed the black cloth covering Li Si's eyes.

Then, he wrapped the black cloth around his own eyes.

As if through that black cloth, he could also remotely see something.

Li Si, now without the black cloth, sharply furrowed his brows.

However, he didn't fight Li Ku for it.

For a moment, the two who had passed the black cloth remained silent.

The remaining Lin Dong, Lin Jing, and others could only stare blankly, curious in their hearts.

Until...

The black cloth covering Li Ku's eyes suddenly ignited, burning to ashes against his facial skin!

Only then did the other players present look shocked and comprehending.

Lin Dong swallowed, confirmed Li Ku was okay, then asked, coming back to his senses:

"What happened? What exactly happened at the auditorium?!"

"A forbidden zone..." Li Ku's throat moved slightly, his whole body appearing stiff and tense. "The entire auditorium seems to have become a forbidden zone."

He said to Li Si: "I'm not sure if you know that Sun People player..."

"But, he's dead."

In that instant, the entire Blood Pool space fell into profound silence.

A good while later, Lin Dong finally swallowed and said:

"I just said we shouldn't try to defy the Boss..."

"I thought this would be a consensus. I didn't expect you..."

At this point, he looked at Li Si with a complicated expression.

They were here conspiring for the great cause of "Grand Unification," so Sun People players were ideological enemies.

Yet this Li Si actually dared to involve Sun People players in an experiment related to the Boss...

One could only say that Sun People player didn't die unjustly!

Including Li Si's seemingly not-so-simple black cloth, its destruction wasn't unjust either.

In fact, because of Li Si's actions, Lin Dong inevitably felt some hostility towards him.

Meanwhile, Liu Re couldn't help but ask: "A forbidden zone means..."

"That auditorium, whoever enters dies, no living being can survive inside?"

"What about Zhou Qiming? You said earlier Zhou Qiming was sleeping in that auditorium, right?"

"Was he directly Erased too?"

Asking this unauthorized question, Lin Jing couldn't help but frown and give him a cold look.

Lin Dong, however, vaguely sensed something: "It sounds like... you really hope Zhou Qiming gets Erased? Do you have a grudge against him?"

This somewhat cold questioning...

Liu Re's expression stiffened: "No, I'm just curious..."

He thought he wouldn't get an answer.

But Li Ku, who had been stiff and dazed, gradually regained his composure and clearly stated:

"Zhou Qiming is still sleeping."

"The entire auditorium forbidden zone seems to exist only for him..."