But every decision Terrestrial Horse made seemed calculated with terrifying precision.

He hadn’t left a {car door} for Xu Liunian, so when the two cars scraped against each other, Terrestrial Horse smashed his own window, reaching out to seize her.

Realizing the danger, Xu Liunian quickly swerved aside, fully aware that her opponent had gone mad—he intended to kill her right here, right now.

When his hand failed to catch her, Terrestrial Horse instantly changed tactics. Instead of trying again to grab Xu Liunian, he hooked himself onto the door frame of her car. In that moment, he abandoned the driver’s seat of his own vehicle and shifted into the passenger’s side, clinging tightly to Xu Liunian’s car.

His powerful physique erupted with boundless strength, effectively {locking} his own vehicle onto hers.

When his opponent turned, he turned; when she accelerated, he matched her speed.

This was what it meant to stake one’s life against a {Terrestrial}. Not only did one need exceptional intellect, they also had to face the overwhelming strength of the {Earthly Branches} and their maddened, unpredictable nature.

Xu Liunian was, after all, only an ordinary person. She tried everything she could think of, but nothing could break Terrestrial Horse’s grip. All she could do was keep driving, terror flooding her eyes as she sped forward.

In that instant, Xu Liunian knew she could not afford to brake. If the car stopped, Terrestrial Horse would leap onto it and rip her apart piece by piece.

There was no mention of {murder} in the {rules}.

With that thought, she had no choice but to accelerate even more. Since a head-on confrontation was futile, her only hope was to rely on {speed}, staying true to the original rules of the game.

Fortunately, Xu Liunian’s driving skills were solid. As she hurtled forward, she repeatedly rammed her car against his. Terrestrial Horse’s arm, trapped between the vehicles, was soon crushed into a bloody mess.

She thought this would force him to let go, but she underestimated his resolve.

Terrestrial Horse had never intended to keep that arm from the very start. Even as his limb was mangled beyond recognition, yellow bone jutting through torn flesh, a strange smile crept across his face. He clung to Xu Liunian’s car with an iron grip, his body dangling from his own.

Xu Liunian trembled uncontrollably before the monstrous figure, utterly powerless to stop him.

"So you actually dared to stake your life against us? Do you even realize how desperately we want to survive here?" Those were the last words Xiao Nian heard.

On the speeding cars, Terrestrial Horse killed Xu Liunian.

The absurd race ended in less than thirty seconds after it began. They didn’t even make it to the first turn before one driver was dead, and the competition was forced to halt prematurely.

...

As Chu Tianqiu finished the story, Yun Yao wore a look of profound sorrow. She slowly rose, gazing out the window, and said, "Qi Xia, do you know what our first reaction was when we saw Xiao Nian die?"

"What was it?" Qi Xia asked.

"It was {we need to change our tactics next time}," Yun Yao said with a bitter smile. "This place is truly terrifying. After so many cycles, we’ve completely lost our fear of {death}."

Chu Tianqiu spoke up then. "And our teammate Xiao Nian... hasn’t appeared since that day."

After hearing this, Qi Xia’s mind was left in turmoil.

"This is what you mean by {not currently considering staking against Terrestrial-grades}?" Qi Xia asked. "You haven’t killed a single Terrestrial-grade opponent so far?"

"Correct," they both nodded.

"Then what about {Celestial}-grade?" Qi Xia pressed. "Your tactics sound far from complete. {Celestial}-grades are far more difficult than {Terrestrial}-grades. If you can’t even kill a {Terrestrial}, why set this plan in motion at all?"

"That’s..." Chu Tianqiu hesitated before replying. "Qi Xia, we’ve been in {End Point} for over two years now. In that time, we’ve searched through nearly every corner of the city, yet we’ve never once encountered a {Celestial}-grade {Earthly Branch}."

Qi Xia furrowed his brows slightly. "So, you’re implying... there are no {Celestial}-grades here?"

"I wouldn’t go that far," Chu Tianqiu said. "This is simply all we know."

Qi Xia nodded quietly, his understanding beginning to take shape.

Now it was obvious why Zhang Shan avoided staking his life in {Terrestrial Ox}’s game. The current {Passage to Heaven} organization had grown cautious and hesitant, contending only with {Mortal}-grade {Earthly Branches}. They believed that failing to stake one’s life against a {Terrestrial}-grade opponent meant being completely erased from {End Point}.

But Qi Xia knew reality was far different.

"Since you’re both willing to share {confidential information} with me, I’ll return the favor," Qi Xia said, his expression growing grave. "This piece of information has the power to completely overturn your plan."

"What?" The two exchanged uneasy glances, confusion flickering in their eyes.

"I’ve seen Xu Liunian," Qi Xia said. "She wasn’t {eliminated}; she became an {indigenous inhabitant}."

Chu Tianqiu was utterly stunned. "An {indigenous inhabitant}? You mean... one of the {deranged}?"

"Oh? So this is how you classify them here... {common people} and {deranged people}?" Qi Xia nodded thoughtfully. "From your description, she certainly counts as {deranged}. But she lingers between {common} and {deranged}; it seems there’s still hope for her."

Yun Yao immediately stepped forward, urgency in her voice. "Where is she? I need to find her!"

Chu Tianqiu nodded as well. "Qi Xia, Yun Yao and Xiao Nian were very close. If Xiao Nian is still in {End Point}, please tell her... {Passage to Heaven} will not forget this {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} favor."

Qi Xia nodded and asked, "Do you have paper and pen? I’ll draw you a map."

Yun Yao reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook that carried a subtle fragrance.

"It’s quite far from here," Qi Xia said as he quickly sketched. "There’s a main road stretching almost across the entire city. Follow it north for about twenty-five to thirty kilometers and you’ll find a decrepit black building with a worn-out taxi next to it. Xu Liunian should be there. But that was the last instance, so I can’t be certain she’s still there now."

The two of them took the map from Qi Xia in disbelief, their expressions uneasy. The distance was great, almost unreachable without special means.

"Tianqiu, what do you think?" Yun Yao asked.

"No matter if she’s there or not, even if there’s only a glimmer of hope, we must send someone to search for her," Chu Tianqiu said sternly. "Yun Yao, the car in the back yard is nearly ready. Take Specs and Kim Wonhun with you. Even if Xiao Nian has become a {deranged person}, we will find a way to bring her back."

"Understood!" Yun Yao’s demeanor sharpened. She quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.