CHAPTER 336: CHAPTER 336: WE’RE ALLIES NOW, SO WHY ARE YOU STILL HOLDING BACK?_1

"No wonder Ye Tian was so sure of himself—the Titan King’s Health bar had been revealed.

Fallen Players possess more orthodox player attributes compared to players under the command of the Game System. The most classic is the mandatory deduction of 1 Health point per hit, regardless of the opponent’s Defense. If a player’s attack lands, it will deduct 1 Health point.

If the Game System is considered semi-datafied, with some elements unable to be fully represented by data, then Fallen Players are completely datafied. Everything, from chairs and tables to various technological products they create, is datafied into items, equipment, and so on.

Wang Linchi watched as Ye Tian set up a respawn point nearby, then led a large group of Fallen Players to charge and attack the Titan King as if battling a boss.

Though the Titan King had undergone total Corrosive Conversion, he had expended considerable effort resisting Erroneous Conversion. By the time he realized someone was hacking at his feet, his Health had already dropped to one-third. He only noticed because of the significant depletion of his life force; otherwise, most of his attention would have remained focused on the error within him.

Next, a scenario of mass player deaths unfolded. The Titan King merely shifted his foot and crushed a multitude of players.

Upon dying, players revived in the city built by the NPCs Linghu Sen had brought. They restocked their supplies and used the city’s Teleportation Array to return directly to the Titan King’s feet.

Indeed, within a few short hours, these NPCs could construct a small city, complete with various buildings like apothecaries and blacksmith shops, where players could purchase potions, repair equipment, and so on.

Players and NPCs were, by nature, two complementary entities. Especially after their battle against the Game System, the Erroneous Sins—the Fallen Players and the NPC Rebel Army—gradually fused. Their relationship grew increasingly intimate, to the point where they were almost becoming a single entity.

"This time, the Titan King is undoubtedly doomed," Linghu Sen said, gazing at the distant, somewhat blurry figure of the Titan King.

As they were providing logistical support, they obviously couldn’t build at the Titan King’s feet. What if he destroyed it?

"So, why did you summon me here then?" Wang Linchi asked casually. Ye Tian and Linghu Sen could handle the Titan King themselves, yet they acted as if my presence was indispensable. There must be something more to this.

"Ye Tian was worried you might cause trouble if left alone," Linghu Sen confessed candidly.

"Trouble? What trouble could I cause, enjoying good food and drink?" Wang Linchi was unconcerned. The reason he hadn’t slept well wasn’t due to needing sleep; his Dragon Soul Saint Main had evolved an immunity to it.

"Not you causing trouble—the Elemental Giants causing trouble," Linghu Sen corrected. He had discerned early on that Wang Linchi was no pushover. Ye Tian trusted Wang Linchi due to their past dealings, but Linghu Sen, lacking such a history, saw things more clearly. In his eyes, Wang Linchi’s sudden appearance definitely meant he was scheming. Otherwise, why bother joining forces with them?

Wang Linchi gave a wry smile. It really seemed possible. If Ye Tian weren’t here, I’d act without any hesitation. I might not be able to wipe out the Elemental Giants entirely, but capturing a few for experiments wouldn’t be a major issue.

"I’d like to think my reputation isn’t *that* bad," Wang Linchi said, still trying to defend himself.

Linghu Sen didn’t pursue this topic, instead changing it, perhaps fearing a conflict might arise. "Don’t you find it strange that the Titan King is here?"

Hearing this, Wang Linchi first glanced at the Titan King, then at Linghu Sen. "Where else should he be?" Wang Linchi asked. He can be wherever he wants. Why are they meddling? We weren’t here first. The Titan King has lived here for who knows how many years. If not here, where would he be?

"That’s not what I meant." Linghu Sen, realizing Wang Linchi had misunderstood, elaborated, "Does this place hold some secret? For example... that giant beast skull, as large as a hill—you’ve seen it, haven’t you?"

"I’ve seen it. But what’s the connection? Even if the Titan King killed that giant beast, what’s the problem with that?" Wang Linchi failed to see any issue. I don’t know everything, after all.

"It’s not that kind of connection," Linghu Sen said. "I’m wondering if it’s possible that other such giant beasts survived, or if their source still exists."

"You mean, suppressed beneath the Titan King?" Wang Linchi observed the area carefully but detected nothing unusual. That doesn’t seem right.

Linghu Sen felt a bit frustrated; Wang Linchi still wasn’t grasping the main point. "Not just beneath, but *deeper* underground," Linghu Sen said, then proceeded to explain his hypothesis in detail to Wang Linchi.

"Then you should have just said there’s another subterranean world further down! Why lead me on with all this convoluted talk..." Wang Linchi grumbled.

"Not just one more level; there could be many. And the entrance is very likely where the Titan King is currently located."

"The Titan King isn’t just blocking the passage from the first subterranean level downwards; he’s also preventing certain inhabitants of the second level from ascending."

"This implies that the second subterranean level is far more dangerous than the first," Linghu Sen stated, his tone grave.

Wang Linchi stroked his chin. Is this fellow inventing things?

"Assuming I believe your intel for now, where did you get it? And is it accurate?" Wang Linchi wasn’t concerned about the second level; he was interested in the source of the information. It’s one thing for you to know about the Titan King; I know about him too, I’ve seen him. But now you’re talking about a second subterranean level as if its existence is a freshly minted fact. It’s like a new map was revealed, and you instantly knew all its details. You didn’t just stumble upon a new game guide, did you?

"The information is reliable. Ye Tian provided it," Linghu Sen replied.

"What? Why are you two keeping everything from me?" Wang Linchi’s face darkened.

Linghu Sen looked at Wang Linchi strangely. Isn’t it perfectly normal to keep things from him? He and Ye Tian are allies; Wang Linchi is just a troublemaker. How could they possibly tell him everything? And yet, this guy is so clueless he actually dares to ask.

Of course, Wang Linchi dared to ask. He might be cautious when weak, but when he was stronger than others, why would he need to be tactful?

"Because it’s sensitive information. We wouldn’t want to cause any instability if it leaked," Linghu Sen said, naturally not revealing his true thoughts. He had witnessed Wang Linchi’s disruptive capabilities before. Ye Tian might not have realized it, but Linghu Sen could deduce from various clues that Wang Linchi had conducted numerous experiments. These included biochemical trials, genetic modification, and elemental corrosion, among others—a prospect that made Linghu Sen apprehensive.

"Oh, so that’s how it is. Then what’s on the second subterranean level?" Wang Linchi was unaware of Linghu Sen’s wariness towards him, not that he would care even if he knew. I already have my escape route; I wouldn’t care even if the whole world became my enemy. I haven’t left yet only because this world still has value I haven’t fully exploited. I don’t know what the new world will be like, but if I’m going, I’d rather go at my peak, not rush off unprepared. Besides, this world isn’t about to end; there’s still plenty of time before the global shutdown.

"We don’t know. We have to kill the Titan King first to find out, don’t we?" Linghu Sen said, a hint of exasperation in his voice. With the Titan King blocking the way, we haven’t been down there. It would be a problem if we *did* know.

"Oh, I see. In that case, won’t this delay integrating the Giant Tribes?" Wang Linchi asked. After all, their next step would surely be to explore the second subterranean level.

"No, it won’t. The tribes already under our command will help us recruit," Linghu Sen replied confidently. Elemental Giants are simple-minded and easy to provide for. Recruiting them isn’t actually that difficult.

"Well, well, no wonder Ye Tian isn’t worried at all," Wang Linchi said. He then suddenly leaned closer to Linghu Sen and whispered, "Let’s make a deal. Once all the Elemental Giants from every tribe are gathered, you give me a few of each different species."

"..." Linghu Sen felt that Wang Linchi was being far too audacious, daring to make such a request openly. He could only try to deflect it politely. "You’ll have to talk to Ye Tian about that. I’m just his errand runner." How could I dare agree to something like this? If Ye Tian found out, I’d be in trouble too. If Wang Linchi did it covertly on his own, I’d pretend not to see. If anything went wrong, it wouldn’t be my responsibility.