Like a puppet, he got up from the ground and returned to his workstation.

Once again, he immersed himself in work.

Just like the 'senior' colleague beside him.

They had already been assimilated by the Time Ruins, becoming part of it.

The more flesh and soul they lost, the more severe the assimilation, until finally, they completely merged with everything.

But wait, is this really the Time Ruins?

Or rather, is this a normal Time Ruins?

Although Ji Jue hadn't experienced it firsthand, he had at least heard of it, that normal Time Ruins were just the distorted anomalies formed by the conflict and mixture of the Power of Superior, but they shouldn't exude such a strong scent of evil!

Mutant.

The genuine article, Mutants, were right here in the hospital at this very moment; from the second he walked in, he could smell them, so many that it was simply abnormal.

His cousin kept reminding him.

Yet, there was not a single prompt for extraction, no reaction at all.

According to Ji Jue's experience—his cousin's Mutant extraction had two types: one for use on oneself, where he could confirm at any time and it would work anywhere, even converting Dragon Blood back into his body. The second type was for use on others, which required many more specific conditions.

From the first person whose life he seized, Mr. Lao Deng, to Zhu Hong, and many subsequent attempts, the target had to be dead or dying, devoid of willpower and control power over their own spiritual essence.

But he had clearly just tried it.

From when he pinned Zhao Zhou to the ground and beat him, to Zhao Zhou's final resolve shattering and collapsing completely, his cousin had no reaction whatsoever.

Unless, the opponent was not the main body of the Mutant.

But where was the main body of the Mutant?

Or perhaps, at this moment, what was mutating... was the very hospital before him, or even the entire Time Ruins?!

Lost in thought, he fiddled with the room's equipment, turned off the water valve, and dismantled the faucet. He pulled out a section of a steel pipe, relied solely on his Heavenly Skill to dismantle the air conditioner's internal unit, rummaged for a while, and then disassembled the flow regulators from two oxygen tanks.

Non-attack activation, refining with bare hands.

No, there wasn't even a need for the alchemy process, just handling the materials, cutting, assembling, riveting, welding. Finally, when he let go of his hand, he had crafted a makeshift happy little handgun, welded together from faucets and pipes, powered by batteries, wires, and a small motor, the whole mess bound with medical tape—the creation was complete.

Ji Jue grinned, whistling softly.

He loaded the Mutated Bullet into it.

At last, he lifted his hand.

Pointing it toward the empty office before him—or more precisely, towards the swivel chair that seemed to have moved just a moment ago in the reflection from the faucet.

"Now, we can have a proper talk."

He said with a smile, his gaze devoid of warmth,

"—Come out!"

The silence of death, the office remained motionless, only the distant wails echoed.

Ji Jue's expression did not change, his finger on the trigger button of the motor gently descended, unconcerned about the possibility of pitting his wits against thin air.

According to what Director Qian had said, at least one Chosen One hadn't been taken away yet. Ji Jue didn't believe it was simply the other party's oversight, especially not when...

The pronoun he used in his wording just before saying goodbye—'you all'!

Perhaps it was meant to refer to all the Chosen Ones who had entered this time, or maybe, from the beginning to the end, there was an invisible person, following behind him?!

And at that very moment, the air seemed to blur for an instant.

Suppressive breathing sounds finally came from not far away, around the corner a familiar figure emerged, raising her hands awkwardly and anxiously.

Eyes red-rimmed, face pale.

It was unmistakably Tong Hua.

"Don't be rash, Brother Ji Jue," she tried to maintain a steady tone, "It's me, it's..."

Boom!

A thunderous explosion.

Ji Jue, without a moment's hesitation, pulled the trigger.

From the start of your concealment until now, had you used any other unfamiliar face, Ji Jue would have believed your sincerity, and yet you tried to use the face of someone I know as a disguise...

You must be kidding, brat!

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