Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2023: Sharing

One after another, the third pill, the fourth, and then the fifth were consumed.

The readings on the apparatus ascended, reaching increasingly alarming heights.

What should have been a moment of triumph instead cast a pall of unreality over everyone present, with anxieties surfacing about whether Ye Zhongming's physical form could endure the strain.

Ye Zhongming's Furelai surged upwards, reaching a staggering thirteen thousand!

Even Helsky and Jie Kui, who possessed unwavering faith in Ye Zhongming, found themselves succumbing to a growing unease.

To leap from over seven thousand to more than thirteen thousand in a single day was an unprecedented anomaly.

Such a meteoric rise in Furelai, a jump of six thousand points, was likely an event of historical rarity, potentially only achievable by a handful of super-geniuses from elite races, that too under very specific circumstances and aided by potent medicinal concoctions.

However, those individuals typically had the backing of formidable experts. Beside Ye Zhongming, though, the Changxu Water Race members present had respectable Furelai but were not combat specialists, and the others present were not even on par with Ye Zhongming.

And he still had yet to ingest the highest-grade Nine-Turn medicine...

Would taking it precipitate unforeseen complications?

Amidst the palpable anxiety of the onlookers, Ye Zhongming proceeded to consume the Nine-Turn medicine.

During the initial minute, his Furelai remained static. Gradually, however, it began to climb, with the rate of ascent accelerating exponentially.

This progression felt markedly different from the abrupt spikes of before. Whereas a sudden surge induced a jarring sensation, this gradual acceleration felt akin to a colossal hand steadily tightening its grip on one's very heart.

Thirteen thousand, fourteen thousand, fifteen thousand... As his Furelai climbed by two thousand points, the pace of its increase showed no inclination to wane whatsoever!

Ye Zhongming's entire body was slick with perspiration; his skin flushed a deep crimson, resembling a boiled prawn, a clear indication of the immense pressure he was under.

"Boss, could something go wrong?"

Helsky, already struggling with the psychological torment, found his voice laced with a tremor.

"Hang in there, Boss... he'll be alright." Despite Jie Kui's assurance, his conviction was visibly faltering.

Upon reaching seventeen thousand, his Furelai finally began to decelerate, eventually stabilizing at seventeen thousand five hundred sixty.

In a remarkably short span, Ye Zhongming's Furelai had augmented by over ten thousand points!

The room fell into a profound silence, the occupants rendered speechless.

A further half-hour elapsed before Ye Zhongming slowly parted his eyes, which were now webbed with broken blood vessels.

"Let's commence."

Ye Zhongming's voice was agonizingly hoarse, rendering it utterly unrecognizable.

"Boss!"

"Zhongming, perhaps we should reconsider!"

Helsky, He, and the others were on the verge of retracting their decision. They would sooner abandon the entire endeavor than risk Ye Zhongming facing any harm.

"I can manage. I can endure it," Ye Zhongming choked out, his words punctuated by visible effort. "Hurry!"

With that, Ye Zhongming tossed the 'Common Bond Pill' into his mouth.

Exchanging a glance, Helsky and Jie Kui clenched their jaws and resolutely placed their hands upon Ye Zhongming's left and right shoulders, respectively.

The confined space of the small room was instantly suffused with potent energy.

Approximately sixty seconds later, both Helsky and Jie Kui slumped to the ground, utterly depleted, and were subsequently moved aside by the Changxu Water Race members to recuperate.

The physical exhaustion was the primary toll; their minds remained sharp. They gazed at Ye Zhongming, their eyes brimming with apprehension.

At this precise moment, the instrument indicated that Ye Zhongming's Furelai was rapidly approaching the twenty-five thousand mark.

"Common Bond Pill?" The Changxu Water Race individual, who had initially voiced dissent towards Ye Zhongming, now found himself murmuring in contemplation.

Such a concoction existed only in tales; they had never witnessed it firsthand, nor knew of anyone who had employed it.

The stringent prerequisites for utilizing this medicine included a foundational requirement: individuals must have cultivated a shared secret technique known as 'Flowing Sky Sharing.' Upon ingestion of the pill, the primary recipient could, for a limited duration, 'borrow' the Furelai of others who had also mastered this technique, thereby achieving an instantaneous and substantial surge in power.

Had the Changxu Water Race members possessed shorter lifespans, they might not even have been aware of the existence of this clandestine technique and its accompanying medicinal agent.

How Ye Zhongming had discovered this knowledge, why he had arranged for two subordinates to willingly undertake its associated cultivation, or how he had procured such an exceedingly rare medicine remained a mystery. Nevertheless, every indication pointed towards meticulous, long-term planning on his part.

When Ye Zhongming finally regained full consciousness, his appearance was drastically altered from his prior state.

A layer of blood-red hue now permeated his skin, his eyes blazed with crimson intensity, and even as he stood, blood began to seep and flow from his feet.

When a physical form is burdened with an excessive amount of power that does not rightfully belong to it, the consequence is invariably a form of detriment and decay.

Both the 'Flowing Sky Sharing' technique and the 'Common Bond Pill' carried inherent risks and side effects.

Once the effect faded, a permanent, albeit slight, reduction in their Furelai was guaranteed for both auxiliary and main lives. The extent of this decrease varied with circumstances, but a decline was inevitable and irreversible.

Current observations suggested this might also inflict unforeseen damage upon the physical body.

Despite his fearsome and terrifying visage, Ye Zhongming managed to retain his composure.

He regarded He and the other members of the Changxu Water Race, stating, "He remains here. The rest will accompany me. Your sole task is to cast Water Chain upon me."

With those words, Ye Zhongming strode out first. However, before he could reach the door, his body swayed precariously. He quickly compensated for the internal shifts and regained his balance.

The structure they had just exited, a less-than-new building, was the basement. Not too far across from their location lay a magnificent suburban estate.

Within that estate, lights blazed brightly, suggesting a banquet or similar event was currently underway.

"Is, perhaps, today truly a prime occasion for us to make our move?"

One of the Changxu Water Race individuals voiced their apprehension.

He understood that the situation was now akin to an arrow loosed from a bow, yet he still struggled to grasp Ye Zhongming's reasoning for choosing this particular day to act.

This was due to the presence not only of individuals from Huo'er Star but also of numerous representatives from the eight influential families of Darkstrip City.

Indeed, Ye Zhongming's intended target for action today was a squad from Huo'er Star operating within Darkstrip City – a squad involved in 'Slave Trafficking'!

Following the Novice War, all sentient beings were aware of the close ties between the Changxu Water Race and Ye Zhongming. It was widely presumed that the majority of the Changxu Water Race were located in Darkstrip City. Yet, faced with this ill-fated race, direct actions were unfeasible, and relinquishing their pursuit was not an option.

This sentiment was particularly strong among the people of Huo'er Star, whose desire for the Changxu Water Race was evident to all races. Many refrained from acting against the Changxu Water Race primarily out of caution, wary of this powerful, top-tier race and unwilling to poach from their spoils.

Previously, the Huo'er Star contingent had brought some enslaved members of the Changxu Water Race to Darkstrip City. Subsequently, they even transported several more, bringing the total number held captive here to ten!

Their objective was precisely to draw out any other members of the Changxu Water Race who might be concealed within Darkstrip City, thereby luring them into a meticulously planned trap!

To achieve this, they had maintained an exceptionally high-profile presence in Darkstrip City ever since the conclusion of the Novice battlefield.

Today marked yet another display of their 'high-profile' approach.

"No one is innocent..." Ye Zhongming softly uttered a phrase familiar from a previous existence. "My intention in acting precisely today is to ensure more deaths occur."

Having spoken, he placed the final medicinal pill into his mouth.