Water bear?
Jiang Ye pondered this term in his heart.
Then he rembered...
He actually had heard of this creature before!
It was probably in biology class or so extracurricular reading material where he had seen descriptions of this organism.
But when he first encountered it, it didn't really register in his mind, and he didn't commit it to mory.
It wasn't until he later ca across another statent—
It was said that when Liu Cixin conceived the Trisolarans, he modeled them after the characteristics of water bears!
This particular statent was what made Jiang Ye retain so impression of water bears.
So he rembered quite clearly that water bears possess incredibly formidable environntal adaptability.
They can survive in extrely high or low temperatures, and in various harsh and extre environnts!
And the similarity with the Trisolarans lies in—
Water bears have an ability called "cryptobiosis."
Scientists placed water bears in vacuum environnts, temperatures of -272°C, and even terrifying radiation environnts...
The water bears appeared to have died.
But when scientists gave the water bear "corpses" a little bit of moisture...
These things actually ca back to life!
This ability to return from death is called "cryptobiosis."
It's said that in completely uninhabitable environnts, water bears stop their tabolism and completely expel water from their bodies.
Making the entire creature appear as if it has "died."
But given the right opportunity, when the "actively dead" water bear cos into contact with the source of life (water), it can reawaken its "dead" body!
So this feigned death through active death is called cryptobiosis.
And when Boss Q was explaining about the Luminox Larva, he suddenly ntioned water bears...
Clearly hinting at the similarity between the two.
As Jiang Ye was pondering this, he saw Boss Q observing his expression and drawing a conclusion:
"It seems you've heard of water bears? That saves so explanation then."
"The offspring larvae of this Luminox Larva, like water bears, also possess cryptobiotic abilities."
"When the offspring larvae leave the human body, they can indeed survive and even reproduce in extre environnts."
"But the offspring larvae can only survive for up to one hour in extre environnts before entering cryptobiotic state."
"The so-called cryptobiotic state is practically no different from being dead. Those offspring larvae will turn into shriveled, pure black 'dead larvae'."
"And when more and more 'dead larvae' enter cryptobiotic state..."
"The current host parasitized by the Luminox Larva will develop an inexplicable chill within their body."
"Since it's uncertain whether this chill would harm players, that's why the Luminox Larva has been passed around among us apartnt bosses like a relay baton."
This explanation both clarified Jiang Ye's doubts and revealed more information about the Luminox Larva.
Boss Q thought for a mont, then added a few more discoveries and speculations that apartnt bosses had about the Luminox Larva, finally stating:
"Actually, you would naturally discover all these things yourself while holding the Luminox Larva."
"As for more information, I don't know any more :)"
As he spoke, he smiled slightly and was about to urge Jiang Ye to use the remaining two question opportunities.
But he saw Jiang Ye directly frown and say: "Wait a mont."
"I feel like you've tricked ."
"According to what you said—the information you provided about the Luminox Larva is sothing I could gradually discover on my own through exploration."
"So aren't you essentially deliberately wasting one of my question opportunities?"
Boss Q raised an eyebrow: "I didn't force you to ask this question."
Jiang Ye had anticipated this response, so he seized the opportunity to assert himself:
"Well then you wait too!"
"What you said earlier was that you would tell all the information you know about the Luminox Larva!"
"But right now, there's still one piece of information related to the Luminox Larva that you haven't told !"
Boss Q first looked puzzled, then suddenly seed to think of sothing and raised an eyebrow: "What information?"
Jiang Ye asked directly: "According to your statent—"
"The Luminox Larva has been passed among you apartnt bosses like a relay baton."
"Then you should have already agreed—"
"That the next one waiting to receive it should be Apartnt Boss R who cos after you."
"But now, you've broken the agreent and passed the Luminox Larva to ..."
"Oh." Boss Q raised an eyebrow again, "You're saying that since I gave the Luminox Larva to you, how will I explain this to the other apartnt bosses?"
"To be honest, I don't need to explain anything."
"What can they do if I just say you stole the Luminox Larva?"
His words carried considerable arrogance.
Even his originally gentle deanor now faintly revealed a trace of wild audacity!
Jiang Ye belatedly realized—
It seed that binding with the [Privileged One] identity had given this Apartnt Boss Q considerable confidence!
To the extent that when he ntioned other apartnt bosses now, he faintly displayed a sense of disdain.
Indeed...
After all, the [Nomadic rchant] far surpasses other permission identities.
This mysterious strong player, when previously appearing as "Apartnt Boss Q," might have cautiously played dumb to hide his strength.
But now...
With the incredibly powerful [Privileged One] permission identity, he already has the confidence to flip the table on other apartnt bosses!
So, naturally, it makes sense that he no longer follows the agreent to pass on the Luminox Larva.
And Jiang Ye actually didn't mind him shifting the bla.
After all, he was already in an adversarial relationship with the apartnt bosses.
One more accusation of "stealing the Luminox Larva" didn't make much difference.
Just as Jiang Ye was thinking this.
He saw this Apartnt Boss Q mysteriously smile at him again.
Then, he said aningfully:
"Since you say I tricked you..."
"Then I'll give you one more important piece of information about cryptobiotic offspring larvae :)"
As he spoke, he thought for a mont and suggested: "Why don't you let Zhou Yuling out?"
"If I'm not mistaken... Zhou Yuling is now also a Privileged One."
"When you traded the Permission Iron Piece with , you were worried I might discover sothing, so you kept her in the prison."
"But now, I already know the special nature of that Permission Iron Piece, and I've guessed that she's also a [Privileged One], so there's no need for her to hide anymore."
Indeed.
So Jiang Ye released Zhou Yuling again.
Zhou Yuling appeared under the Formless Tree, sowhat surprised, but didn't say anything.
Boss Q glanced at her, then turned back to Jiang Ye and continued the previous topic:
"I don't know if you've seen it, but the Defenders' Alliance has a very unique black ribbon."
"Wrapping that black ribbon around a person can suppress the pain of Lightburn."
Jiang Ye nodded;
of course he knew.
In fact, he had used that thing himself.
At the ti, he was repeatedly astonished that the Defenders' Alliance could even produce an item that suppressed Lightburn pain!
Even now, thinking about the effect of that black ribbon, he was still amazed.
However...
Combined with what Boss Q had said earlier.
Jiang Ye quickly realized:
"You're saying..."
"That kind of black ribbon that can suppress Lightburn is actually made from the Luminox Larva's offspring larvae, specifically, offspring larvae in cryptobiotic state?"
Boss Q smiled and nodded: "So..."
"According to the characteristics of the Luminox Larva—when it changes hosts... the offspring larvae reproduced while with the previous host will all instantly disappear!"
"So, right when I passed the Luminox Larva to you..."
"I'm afraid all the black ribbons of the Defenders' Alliance have instantly beco ineffective!"
"Those players who were using cryptobiotic offspring larvae to suppress Lightburn pain are probably suffering unbearable agony again right now."
"For example... Salvation :)"
When Boss Q said this, his schadenfreude was almost completely undisguised.
Jiang Ye couldn't help but shudder.
Thank goodness he had transferred Lightburn to the Nomadic rchant...
Otherwise, he would probably be suffering unbearable pain right now too...
Thinking about it this way, no wonder Boss Q so easily passed the Luminox Larva to him.
He probably had wanted to pass on the Luminox Larva for a long ti.
But because Salvation was infected with Lightburn...
Jiang Ye realized: "So, the Luminox Larva on you should have been passed to Apartnt Boss R long ago, but because Salvation was infected with Lightburn and needed ribbons made from cryptobiotic offspring larvae to suppress Lightburn pain, he didn't allow you to pass on the Luminox Larva?"
Boss Q coldly snorted, equally undisguised in his hatred toward Salvation.
Perhaps...
This guy had long wanted to pass on the Luminox Larva because the number of cryptobiotic offspring larvae had exceeded the limit, causing his body to develop chills.
He had wanted to pass on the Luminox Larva for a long ti, but Salvation wouldn't allow it!
Thinking this, Jiang Ye asked another question:
"So your entry into the Court of Disorder probably wasn't a collective arrangent by the apartnt bosses, but your own personal decision, right?"
Boss Q didn't answer, only gave another ambiguous cold laugh.
This ti, Jiang Ye understood his cold laugh.
He probably ant to say—
Apartnt bosses fundantally cannot leave the Doomsday Apartnt, so naturally they cannot personally co to the [Court of Disorder].
And Boss Q could co here probably relied on his multiple identity thods.
At this point, Jiang Ye had gained a considerable understanding of this Apartnt Boss Q's situation.
The questions he originally planned to ask to learn more about Boss Q seed worth reconsidering.
Just as he was contemplating the remaining two questions.
Boss Q urged him again.
Jiang Ye thought for a mont, then suddenly praised:
"To be honest, the integrity you've shown really surprises ."
Boss Q didn't say much, only gestured for him to continue asking questions.
But Jiang Ye took advantage of the situation: "Relying on your honesty, I'd like to modify our arrangent—"
"You first take one of my clones out, then the clone that leaves will ask you the remaining two questions."
This way, the clone leaving the Court of Disorder could synchronize information between what's inside the court and the clones outside.
With more information, perhaps he could ask more useful questions.
After hearing this, Boss Q paused, his gaze sweeping toward Zhou Yuling's direction.
"Actually..."
"With Zhou Yuling as your [Privileged One], you can also freely bring clones in and out of the Court of Disorder."
So the third condition he had proposed earlier was sothing Jiang Ye could accomplish himself even without Boss Q.
To so extent, Jiang Ye seed to have suffered a hidden loss.
But actually...
Jiang Ye shrugged: "If we followed our originally agreed transaction..."
"Only you would get the Permission Iron Piece."
But the current situation is that Boss Q got the Permission Iron Piece, and Jiang Ye himself also has Permission Iron Pieces.
In fact, as long as he actively dies again, he could get even more Permission Iron Pieces.
So, comparatively speaking, Boss Q was actually the one at a greater disadvantage.
He traded the Luminox Larva for a Permission Iron Piece that could be so easily mass-produced.
Of course, he originally wanted to pass on the Luminox Larva anyway, so it wasn't really a loss for him.
In any case, although the beginning was quite unpleasant, the final outco of the transaction...
Unexpectedly, both parties were quite satisfied.
And since Jiang Ye didn't make an issue of it, Boss Q naturally wouldn't look for trouble either.
While nodding in agreent to answer questions after taking the clone out, he suddenly spoke seriously to Jiang Ye:
"Although our interaction hasn't been very pleasant, I believe you've probably heard this saying—"
"There are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends, only permanent interests."
"So I hope..."
"If we accidentally face Jiang Wenxing together in the future..."
"We can cooperate as pleasantly as we are now."
These words seed frank and quite friendly.
But Jiang Ye instantly understood the deeper aning.
This cunning old fox was simply hinting—
If later, he accidentally gets pursued by Jiang Wenxing...
Then he would probably directly use [Free Movent] to co to Jiang Ye's side!
On the surface, it would be him and Jiang Ye jointly resisting Jiang Wenxing.
But actually, it should be that this Boss Q still fears the terrifying effects of the prison.
Thinking that using that thing could help him escape from Jiang Wenxing.
And Jiang Wenxing might also, due to his wariness of Jiang Ye, give up pursuing Boss Q who appears near Jiang Ye.
Of course, future events are unpredictable.
Jiang Ye neither agreed nor refused, directly generating another clone and then looking at Boss Q.
Boss Q raised an eyebrow: "Should I just use Forced Fusion to take your clone out?"
What? This guy's Forced Fusion can be used on players too?
Jiang Ye was inwardly astonished, but remained calm on the surface: "As you wish."
Boss Q nodded, then spread his arms and directly rged Jiang Ye's newly generated clone into his own body!
It really was...
SSS-level [Forced Fusion] can even rge people!
Boss Q didn't say much more, leaving behind a "see you later" before directly disappearing.
And at that mont, Zhou Yuling imdiately checked her ten-thousand followers group chat.
In that mber list...
She quickly found Wang Cheng's na.
And at this mont, she could even see in the group chat Wang Cheng's reassuring remarks to other anxious followers...
So...
That mysterious strong player really isn't Wang Cheng?
Jiang Ye also noticed this detail.
But instead, he beca even more suspicious...
This Wang Cheng and the mysterious strong player Apartnt Boss Q might very well be the sa person!
Aren't they just clones?
Jiang Ye has them, Salvation has them, others might have them too!
In any case, this Wang Cheng is currently his key person of interest!
And the thod to test this person is quite simple...
Jiang Ye looked at Zhou Yuling and said: "The transaction is complete, we can now focus on preparing for the Extre Court's Court Session."
"Send a ssage to your followers, have them gather here."
"Including other strong players who ran away when the situation turned bad, notify those you can to co here, and for those you can't notify..."
"Just 'capture' them and bring them here!"
Zhou Yuling already knew to do these things without Jiang Ye telling her.
Only...
Zhou Yuling's gaze subtly glanced downward.
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