The Rule-Breaker of the Doomsday Game

The strange worm struggled frantically in the Tai Sui God’s grasp, while the remaining insects swarmed toward it as if they’d gone mad, trying to get it back.

However, with their numbers drastically reduced, so was their strength. The insects couldn’t catch up to the Tai Sui God at all and could only watch helplessly as it vanished into the distance.

"So, what is this thing? And what use is it to me?" Qi Suian asked, sizing up the strange insect in his hand after landing safely.

It couldn’t fly, and it couldn’t run.

Its slender body didn’t look like it was capable of bearing young.

’As for strength, it doesn’t seem that strong. Just very average.’

Qi Suian looked it up and down, but he really couldn’t think of any use for it.

He just operated on the principle of "take what you can get, or you’ll suffer for it later," which was why he had chosen to make a move.

The swarm itself was what was powerful. A small number of insects, naturally, wouldn’t pose much of a threat.

Therefore, this was fundamentally a symbiotic, collective Desolate Beast. A single insect was completely worthless.

As for taming this insect and rebuilding the swarm? Life wasn’t that kind. Qi Suian had no confidence he could control this insect.

The moment it regained its power, it would probably try to devour him.

’Maybe I should just crush it to death.’

’Even if it can’t be my windfall, it can’t become my downfall either.’

The main issue was that this thing was alive. If it were dead, Qi Suian wouldn’t be in such a dilemma.

He could have just tossed it into his Subspace Pocket.

More importantly, it had once been a powerful swarm, not some Desolate Beast he could easily control. A single slip-up could be his undoing.

He did indeed have a protagonist’s halo, but that halo wasn’t all-powerful.

So, if he couldn’t find a way to utilize this thing in the short term, he would choose to destroy it.

It might be useful in the future, but you had to live to see that future first.

[Use as a high-temperature resistant, heat-insulating, and fire-resistant material module?]

The AI offered a timely suggestion.

"A living thing... can be used as a module?" Qi Suian asked curiously.

It was just that most of the modules on his body were inanimate. The Virus Bloodline Augment was the only special case, as it was made from the Abyssal Virus.

However, this Abyssal Virus was essentially a piece of Qi Suian’s own flesh, so it wasn’t realistic to say it was completely alive.

[Living things cannot be used as modules, but it is possible under special circumstances. For example, your Virus Bloodline Augment.]

[Strictly speaking, the Abyssal Virus is also a living organism.]

[Therefore, it can be installed as long as sufficient conditions are met.]

[The criteria are: erase its consciousness, eliminate its ability to resist, and ensure it is within your tolerance.]

[However, once this type of module is installed, it cannot be uninstalled. The module’s prototype will die upon removal.]

When Qi Suian heard this, he looked at the constantly writhing insect in his hand and found himself in a difficult position.

"Eliminating its ability to resist is no problem, but erasing its consciousness... that’s a bit tricky."

This insect might not have a brain, true, but that didn’t mean it lacked consciousness.

’I can’t have my second consciousness step in again, can I? That thing is already falling apart; it probably can’t beat this insect.’

[You can just dig out its brain.]

The corner of Qi Suian’s eye twitched at the Tai Sui God’s suggestion.

"You do it..."

The thing was only the size of a thumb and was quite hot. Actually trying to dig into it was no easy task.

If he provoked it, it could probably bite right through the Tai Sui God’s armor.

Don’t let its small size fool you; it was still a Desolate Beast, after all.

[Do not be hasty. A new module slot has not been opened yet. If you act now, its death will cause the module’s effect to be altered.]

"Then what should I do? I can’t just hold onto it forever."

Putting it in the Subspace Stable Pocket was definitely not an option. Flying with it was even worse; it would freeze to death.

Desolate Beasts were high-temperature creatures, so their definition of "low temperature" was not the same as a human’s.

[I recommend resting for three hours before we set off again.]

[In three hours, the Tai Sui God will complete its seventeenth evolution. This will also allow us to avoid that falcon-type Desolate Beast.]

"So fast... Then again, with the daily hunts and those survivors from the settlement, it is about time."

As for the Tai Sui God’s growth module, Qi Suian had simply ignored it.

That thing was more of a slow trickle. It was fine for a little boost, but in this apocalypse, you couldn’t afford to rely on such a tiny amount of daily evolution energy.

"I was originally planning to try using Jin Power for the next module, but this thing will work too."

As for the original communication, translation, and text-related modules, they weren’t that urgent.

Since this was a windfall, it definitely had some use.

Three hours passed in a flash. The Tai Sui God’s armor reached 18 points, completing its seventeenth evolution.

The next evolution would require 19 armor points.

Immediately, the AI scooped out the strange insect’s brain tissue.

You had to give it to the creature—its life force was incredibly tenacious.

It didn’t die immediately after being lobotomized and was promptly installed as a module by Qi Suian.

[SSS-Rank: Nirvana Insect Cocoon]

"What... what’s the use of this?" Qi Suian didn’t understand what on earth it was.

It was clearly an insect, so how did it become a cocoon?

[When facing extreme environments, it will temporarily increase the corresponding resistance. After the environment subsides, it will permanently enhance that same resistance for the Tai Sui God.]

"Like my super-adaptability?" Qi Suian asked.

[Yes. However, compared to your super-adaptability, the Nirvana Insect Cocoon’s effect is stronger, and it also provides a temporary resistance boost.]

[Combined with the Sand Jiao Scale Pattern Shell, the Black Dark Energy Crystal, and the Tai Sui God’s seventeen evolutions, you and the Tai Sui God will not have to worry about future high temperatures, as long as they are not too outrageous.]

[It is a comprehensive module providing both temporary enhancements and long-term benefits.]

’No wonder it’s a windfall. Then again, it was the core insect of a high-energy swarm. It would have been disappointing if its effect wasn’t powerful enough.’

"Then what does the permanently enhanced resistance depend on?" Qi Suian asked again.

[It depends on the Tai Sui God itself, as well as the conditions of the extreme environment faced.]

"Which factor is more significant?" Qi Suian wasn’t very surprised that the Tai Sui God itself was the baseline.

[The Tai Sui God itself is more significant, as its armor value must be taken into account.]

[However, the enhancement will not be an increase the Tai Sui God cannot withstand. In an extreme environment of that magnitude, the temporary boost from the Nirvana Insect Cocoon would be insufficient to counter it anyway.]

"Understood." Qi Suian wasn’t surprised. After all, if the environment was truly that extreme, the Tai Sui God would already be dead without the module’s protection.

"Then let’s continue to the Northernmost State Mantle Sanctuary."

Now that he had reaped the benefits, it was time to set off.

-----------------

"If the new generation of the Zuoqiu Family are all like you, I’m afraid you’re finished." Qin Sheng sheathed his Longquan Sword, shaking his head as he looked at the young man before him, whose eyes were filled with resentment.

His swordsmanship was atrocious; he only knew how to flaunt his status as a young master from a prominent family.

"Chairman Qin, don’t push it!" one of the Zuoqiu Family members couldn’t help but shout. "What’s so great about the strong bullying the weak?"

Hearing this, Qin Sheng just clicked his tongue. "In terms of age, I’m actually two years younger than your Zuoqiu Family’s Young Master."

At his young age, he was already at the Huajin realm, yet this so-called Young Master of the Zuoqiu Family had only just entered the Anjin realm. He could easily win even while suppressing his own strength.

Yet, the other party was clearly unconvinced.

The reason they had come looking for trouble was simple: this Young Master of the Zuoqiu Family had a mind full of filth and had taken a fancy to his partner, Xue Pingjun.

He thought he could rely on the power of the Cold Pond Zuoqiu Family to forcibly take her as his lover in these apocalyptic times.

As a result, he had met his Waterloo.

"Chairman Qin, your sophistry is quite impressive. Using the strength of the Peak of Huajin to bully someone in the Anjin realm—how is that not the strong bullying the weak?" a hoarse, old voice called out.

This was the Guardian assigned to the young master by the Zuoqiu Family.

Qin Sheng’s expression turned cold. "Since you know I’m at the Peak of Huajin, he, a mere Anjin practitioner, dares to provoke me?"

"Even if I killed him, no one would dare say a word."

"Your Zuoqiu Family’s patriarch is only at the Peak of Huajin himself. Don’t tell me this Young Master of yours is usually this disrespectful to his betters?"

The moment he said this, the atmosphere froze.

The old man who had just walked through the door wore an awkward expression.

"And you’re just a piece of trash. At your age, you’re only at the Early Stage of Transformation, yet you dare accuse me of sophistry? If the Zuoqiu Family doesn’t give me an explanation today, I’ll take both of your heads to your patriarch and demand one from him."

If you want to bully others by relying on your power, you first need to be powerful enough.

"Chairman Qin, you may be at the Peak of Huajin, but most of your subordinates are ordinary people."

"Do you not fear the Zuoqiu Family’s retaliation for offending us?" the old man rebuked sharply.

’He’s just a rogue cultivator with no family backing him. He gathered a few ordinary people and now he dares to challenge our Zuoqiu Family? He truly doesn’t know his own limits.’

Qin Sheng hadn’t expected the Zuoqiu Family to be this arrogant.

A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew his sword and crippled the Guardian.

"For every person in my association that dies, I will kill two from your Zuoqiu Family."

"Other than your patriarch, who in the Zuoqiu Family is at the Peak of Huajin? How many Zuoqiu Clan Members do you think he can protect?"

"If even one person from my association goes missing, I’ll start by killing your relatives, right in front of you." Qin Sheng knew that to gain a firm foothold in the apocalypse, one had to be ruthless.

They had brought the fight to his doorstep; he had no reason to be pleasant.

"You... you..." The Zuoqiu Family’s Young Master was both terrified and enraged.

"Now take this old trash and get out!" Qin Sheng said coldly.

At this, the Zuoqiu Family’s Young Master could only help up the crippled Guardian and flee in haste.

"Have everyone get ready. Bring firearms. We’re going to wipe out the Zuoqiu Family first," Qin Sheng said the moment he saw Xue Pingjun emerge.

"They came to probe our strength because they obviously intend to devour us whole. In that case, we’ll strike first and gain the advantage."

Qin Sheng understood the situation perfectly. The Zuoqiu Family would surely hear about this, and it was clear they were just looking for an excuse to attack.

So how could they just sit back and wait for death? They had to strike first.