Chapter 142: Going Deeper Outside the Safe Zone

Qin Siyang curled his lips, "This is really complicated. Fortunately, I don't have to mingle with the United Government, or else I'd work myself to death."

"You already have enough on your plate. And you still want to stir up trouble in the United Government? I advise you to take it easy and not work yourself to death."

"I know that."

Qin Siyang was aware that Qian Wenzhao wouldn't be influenced by the outcome of the case, which made him feel a little relieved.

But continuing to investigate this case made him uncomfortable.

As long as the case remained unsolved, that old man Olov could keep stirring up trouble.

Now that the case was in Qian Wenzhao's hands, this was the perfect opportunity to shift the burden.

He planned to devise a feasible way to close the case, allowing Old Qian to complete his task while also eliminating this ticking time bomb.

For now, he had no clue how to do that.

He had a lot of experience committing crimes, but closing cases? He had no idea.

Moreover, this wasn't something he could discuss with Li Tianming or Qian Wenzhao.

Those two didn't have any crucial leverage in his hands, and they might even sell him out.

Human nature couldn't withstand tests.

He'd ask Wen Shu about it another day.

She had an unconventional academic background and a lot of tricky ideas. Maybe she could give him some advice.

Most importantly, she, like him, carried many secrets that couldn't see the light of day, and they shared quite a few of them.

She was extremely reliable.

This matter could be put aside for now. Even if Qian Wenzhao handled the case just for show, it would take several months to wrap up.

Tomorrow's God Hunt was the real priority.

"By the way, Old Li, do you have any plans for tomorrow? Where are we going to hunt gods?"

Li Tianming gave him a puzzled look, "You're the one hunting gods, and you're asking me?"

"I have no knowledge of the area outside the Safe Zone."

"What about that sandworm scale?"

"I lost it after killing the Iron Helmet Flea last time. Mainly because you weren't around. I couldn't handle it alone. If you had been there, we could've used that scale at least one more time."

Li Tianming let out a snort of laughter, "Without bait, why are you even going out? I bet even if you hunt gods for half a year, you won't get as many points as you did in the first two hunts."

"That's why I'm asking for your advice. Got any good ideas?"

"No."

Qin Siyang slung an arm around Li Tianming's shoulders, "Old Li, what if we combined our strengths and went after a mid-tier god?"

Li Tianming narrowed his eyes at Qin Siyang, "After two trips outside, you got some points by sheer luck, and now you're getting ahead of yourself?"

"Old Li, don't look down on me. Last time, I took down the Iron Helmet Flea King."

"The king of Iron Helmet Fleas is nothing. Its round armor plates wouldn't even count as proper defense against a mid-tier god."

"Exactly, and that's why I want to hunt a weaker mid-tier god. It's safe, and we get more points. Win-win!"

"That's too dependent on luck. Mid-tier gods are hard to come by. We'd have to go deeper outside the Safe Zone. If we run into a slightly stronger one, I'd have to collect your corpse."

"The gods at Exit 38324 of the Safe Zone aren't that strong. If we go a little further out, it's still safe. Besides, you have [Earthbound]—"

"No way! Qin Siyang, I'm telling you, going deeper outside the Safe Zone is too dangerous. There's absolutely no chance I'll do it with you. Forget it!"

———

[The Next Day]

[Outside the Safe Zone]

Two figures clad in Cold-Resistant Suits walked side by side in the deeper part of the Safe Zone's outskirts.

Qin Siyang grinned from ear to ear, "Thanks, Old Li! You're the best!"

Li Tianming wore a cold expression, "We agreed, about killing Zhou Xing, only you and I know about it. You cannot use this to threaten me into doing anything else!"

Qin Siyang nodded rapidly, "Yes, yes, I understand. We're friends. I wouldn't use the same thing to threaten you twice."

"Old Li, wait a second. There's a Hawkeye Blackfoot Ant over there. Let me kill it."

"You're really going after that for a single point?"

'A Hawkeye Blackfoot Ant, no matter how small, is still meat. Can't leave it.'

"You're seriously stingy."

Qin Siyang swiftly decapitated the Hawkeye Blackfoot Ant and dug out its round armor plate, stuffing it into his bag.

'What a shame. With Old Li around, I can't eat the meat.'

He regretfully glanced at the god's corpse before hurrying back to continue walking deeper with Li Tianming.

Perhaps the further they strayed from the Safe Zone, the stronger the gods became, and the easier it was for human traces to be wiped out.

After walking about three to four kilometers, the ruins and wreckage gradually faded from sight.

In their place stretched an endless plain. Occasionally, a few mountain ranges appeared, but they were far away.

From time to time, massive pits appeared near them, likely the dwellings of certain gods.

Looking back, they could no longer see the Safe Zone's gates.

Li Tianming frowned, "This place feels desolate. We've been walking for ages, and you've only killed two small gods."

"Well, that explains why this Safe Zone exit has such a high number. There's hardly any action."

Li Tianming sighed, "Looks like we won't be getting much today. Let's head back."

"Don't go yet. Let's walk a little further!"

"We've already gone almost five kilometers. There are no human traces nearby anymore. This is fully god territory. Plus, that pit we passed just now doesn't match the habitat characteristics of any god I know. Are you telling me you want to face an unknown god?"

Qin Siyang thought for a moment and found Li Tianming's reasoning valid.

He brought [Insurer] to ensure safety.

If he took another risk, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

"Alright, I guess we're going home empty-handed today."

Just then, a massive shadow suddenly swooped down from the starry sky and swallowed Qin Siyang whole in one bite. Then, it prepared to fly back up.

It was a giant bird, several stories tall.

With just a glance, Li Tianming recognized its identity from its demonic-looking head.

"Ghost-Faced Heron?"

Li Tianming watched the Ghost-Faced Heron, his heart sinking.

"I told him not to go this deep, but that idiot insisted. And now we've actually run into a mid-tier god. Serves him right for getting eaten."

Though he cursed out loud, Li Tianming didn't abandon Qin Siyang.

A multi-colored mask appeared on his face.

Then, he activated [Lesser Beast Spirit Summon].

Four hunting dog-like beasts materialized in the air and dropped straight onto the Ghost-Faced Heron's massive wings.

The four hounds, as if seeing their prey, frantically bit into the heron's wings.

With the hounds' interference, the Ghost-Faced Heron's flight speed slowed, and its altitude dropped.

"Looks like a Tier 3 sequence ability isn't enough to suppress the Ghost-Faced Heron. I'll have to use a trump card."

"This is all Qin Siyang's fault!"

Li Tianming quickly scanned his surroundings, confirming that no one else was watching. Then, he bit his finger and smeared his blood onto the mask.

The originally multi-colored [Shaman] mask was instantly dyed deep red.

The mask's shape also changed, transforming into an even more terrifying ghostly face, one more horrifying than the Ghost-Faced Heron's own head.

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