Chapter 7

I’m going to give them a child

As he saw the duration of the Holy Light Wall growing shorter, Chen Chong’s sweat-drenched face twisted into a grimace; he shouted with bitter resentment:

“Only two minutes left, Priest—prepare to restore my mana! If we can’t think of another way, once the Holy Light Wall breaks, we’ll have to break out!”

Assassin, fall back into position—I’ll smash a path straight ahead, lead the charge, and you clear the trash behind me!

Mage, prepare acceleration!!”

Cao San Sui clenched his fists, about to speak, when Cheng Shi suddenly stood up and calmly asked Nangong:

“Have you learned Overload Healing? I need the Time Traveler to cast another area acceleration—maximum range.”

Everyone turned to look at Cheng Shi, assuming he’d found a way out; they all spoke up:

“You have a plan?”

“You...”

Cao San Sui’s spirits lifted sharply:

“No need for Overload Healing—just fully restore my mana, I’ve got Overload Casting!”

Overload means burning future potential—it allows a caster to sacrifice all future capacity to upgrade the current spell and amplify its effect.

Cheng Shi gave Cao San Sui an approving glance, thinking how cooperative 1900 still was, but he shook his head:

“It might not be enough—I need a massive area. Nangong, can you do it?”

Nangong bit her lip, glanced at the horde of Dread Demons beyond the screen, and nodded.

If we don’t go all out now, we’ll die immediately—no reserves left.

“Now?”

“Now!” Cheng Shi said firmly.

Overload Healing lets you pre-spend future healing potential, effectively raising the target’s mana cap to a degree—immensely useful in desperation.

Nangong nodded resolutely, stood up, and in front of everyone, slowly peeled off her tightly buttoned black shirt, revealing the body it had concealed.

The moment the shirt fell away, countless grotesque, writhing wounds—like centipedes—came into view.

Dense and countless, from neck to chest to arms, her visibly pale flesh was covered in uncountable scars!

Xia Wan frowned tightly; Cao San Sui’s pupils shrank sharply.

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow in surprise, recognizing her identity.

She was a follower of [Decay].

“Blood-Exchange Priest??” Chen Chong blurted out in shock.

[Decay] is the second god of the [Decline] Path, the climax of decline, the final tomb of the universe.

Its [Edict] is to accelerate decay, so its followers often mutilate themselves to fulfill the [Edict].

And [Decay]’s divine power lies precisely here—the faster a follower decays, the more divine power they receive in return.

This is why [Decay] priests are called Blood-Exchange Priests—they trade their own life for their allies’ life.

The more they mutilate themselves, the faster their allies recover.

Of course, excessive injury leads to death—[Decay]’s will is precisely this—so balancing suicide and salvation is the endless debate among Blood-Exchange Priests.

Nangong wasted no time; she furrowed her brow, gritted her teeth, pulled a dagger with barbed edges from her waist, and without hesitation slashed open her abdomen.

Then, between her ribs.

Then, along the jagged line of her collarbone—a third horrific wound.

After offering these three wounds, she whispered a prayer:

“All beings shall rot; all things shall decay.”

A thick, decay-scented light rose from her wounds, spewing outward, instantly forming a stream that poured into Cao San Sui’s body.

Cao San Sui felt his body suddenly brim with power, his mana fully restored, his state so perfect he wanted to roar aloud.

Feeling the torrent of energy within him, his confidence returned slightly—but only slightly.

He looked solemnly at Cheng Shi and asked, word by word:

“I can use Overload to accelerate the surrounding area, but afterward I’ll most likely become useless—until twelve hours later. Cheng Shi, can we hold out until then?”

Cheng Shi smiled faintly: “I don’t intend to die. And I won’t die.”

Chen Chong, irritated by their chatter, turned and shouted:

“Save the showboating for later—do the damn job! Priest, just spit out your plan!”

Cheng Shi nodded, dropped the theatrics, and instructed the group:

“The timing is critical—listen carefully.

After the Holy Light Wall falls, I need one second to cast. Xia Wan, can you buy me that?”

Xia Wan tightened the hand holding her arrows behind her back, looked up at the sea of Dread Demons blocked beyond the Holy Light Wall, and nodded gravely.

“I can swallow [Creation Seed] to gain Its gaze—then, when reproductive power surges, I can fire five arrows at once, but only delay them for one second.”

This was the most Xia Wan had ever spoken—and the most serious.

Cheng Shi had expected nothing less; he nodded in approval.

Chen Chong, anxious again, shouted:

“You’re a priest—what spell are you casting?”

“Don’t rush,” Cheng Shi smiled, calling out loudly, “Song Yawen—I know you can hear me. Listen: the instant the shield breaks, return to my side and prepare Death Dirge!”

“Death Dirge??”

Everyone froze; even the weak Nangong widened her eyes.

“Not opposing... good...”

“Is he a Death Weaver?”

“You knew he was a [Death] follower?”

Cheng Shi ignored their shock and continued:

“I know you have questions—but don’t care. You don’t need to understand Death’s domain—just harvest freely when the chance comes.

Song Yawen, this move decides our lives or deaths. I’m not joking.”

Chen Chong panicked again: “What if he...”

“No—he won’t. [Death] followers rarely die, because their patron needs someone to carry out His grace.”

Cheng Shi laughed, lightening the mood—but it had no effect.

Seeing no one had a sense of humor, he shrugged and continued:

“Cao San Sui, the crucial step—right after I cast, unleash the area acceleration immediately, target: as much of the ruins as possible, outside the shield zone.”

Cao San Sui’s face changed; he gasped:

“What? The entire ruins?”

Cheng Shi nodded firmly: “The entire ruins!”

“You... 1500 points?”

Cheng Shi blinked, then smiled, and nodded: “1501.”

Cao San Sui clearly didn’t believe it—could someone with 1500 points have this kind of presence and composure at the brink of death?

Even 2000-point masters panic and wet themselves when facing death—he’d seen it.

“I must warn you—time’s potential balances speed. If the area’s this vast, our location will become utterly stagnant—even movement will be impossible!

Are you certain?

This is suicide, Cheng Shi!”

Though Cao San Sui suspected Cheng Shi was hiding his score, he himself was terrified—if he had to choose, he’d never dare this.

Time Travelers normally rank T0 because they slow enemies while accelerating themselves, creating temporal dominance and enabling flawless reactions.

But if it’s reversed...

Wouldn’t they be helpless prey?

“I’m certain—you don’t want to accelerate yourself!”

“Fine. But how exactly do you plan to do it?”

Cao San Sui asked, grim and deeply skeptical.

“As part of this plan, we need to know how you intend to lead us to survival.”

Cheng Shi laughed:

“Me?

I’m going to give them a child.”