Let them offer their loyalty!

Seeing this scene, the corners of Qiu Tu's mouth couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.

He had schemed for so long and deployed so many methods—wasn't it all for this very day?

With this "Earth Vein Flower" in hand, he could finally bypass the requirement of the Nine Stars in a Row to advance to the sixth rank.

Moreover, the "Earth Vein Flower" could raise the energy level of the region, laying a stronger foundation for himself.

When the time came for the official promotion of his "World Official Position," he could vie for a higher ranking, making it easier to uncover this world's secrets.

In short, the "Earth Vein Flower" was the key to breaking through his predicament!

Thinking this, Qiu Tu suppressed the excitement surging within and then ascended into the air, flying toward the "Earth Vein Flower."

As he drew closer, what appeared before his eyes was the vast and magnificent heavenly treasure.

The exquisite orchid glistened like crystal, its petals shimmering with seven colors: red like blazing flames, blue as the deep sea, gold dazzlingly brilliant, purple enshrouded in mystery...

Perhaps because it had fully matured, its radiance spread outward, waves of Cataclysmic Power accompanying the rainbow-colored light as it propagated, affecting the living beings of the real world...

It was said that every precious Cataclysmic Material brought forth a surge of Cataclysmic Power when it emerged.

This Cataclysmic Power influenced plants, animals, and humans in the real world.

Many Cataclysmic beings—and even Cataclysmics—were born this way.

Additionally, many rare heavenly treasures only came to light when the fluctuation of Cataclysmic Power during their emergence was detected, leading to their discovery by Cataclysmics or Evil Gods.

'I must harvest it quickly. Delay invites trouble.'

Thinking this, Qiu Tu flew right next to the "Earth Vein Flower."

The method of harvesting the "Earth Vein Flower" was simple: use spiritual power to envelop it, sever its connection to the life beneath, and then store it in a jade container.

With this thought, Qiu Tu prepared to begin harvesting the "Earth Vein Flower"!

But just as Qiu Tu was about to act—!

Suddenly, he felt his heart pounding violently, "thump-thump-thump," as if something ominous were about to happen!

At the same time, his long-silent "Crisis Intuition" erupted in a frenzy before him!

"Crisis Intuition triggered! Generating crisis report!"

"The lie you told Zhao Ji has not deceived her."

"From the very beginning, Zhao Ji suspected that Muye hadn't discovered the 'Mountain Root' but rather stumbled upon another treasure."

"However, since she's neither adept at interrogation nor skilled at extracting information, she chose to turn Muye over to you."

"Your lie about the 'Mountain Root having been taken by the Fog Hidden Association's Yakshas' did not win her trust."

"But she didn't expose you outright. Instead, she opted to play the long game, secretly watching you in order to find that treasure."

"A few days ago, following your trail, she arrived in Qiming City and discovered the yet-to-mature Earth Vein Flower, recognizing it as the prized treasure."

"She refrained from alerting you, choosing instead to remain hidden, waiting for the Earth Vein Flower to ripen."

"To make Larilo see through your facade, she even brought Larilo to the scene."

"Now, the two sisters are lurking invisibly nearby, waiting for you to harvest the Earth Vein Flower. Then Zhao Ji intends to behead you."

"With Zhao Ji's patience, you'll only have one chance. If you fail to convince her this time, you won't live to see the dawn tomorrow..."

"Do not delude yourself into thinking you can challenge her in this state. While your abilities may work against her... your strength is too feeble to pose even a minor threat."

"You now have two minutes."

"If you fail to make a choice within those two minutes, Zhao Ji may act regardless."

"So, make the most of this final two-minute self-rescue opportunity."

"Now, the two-minute countdown begins."

Seeing the deluge of "scathing critiques of a terrible boyfriend" flooding his vision, Qiu Tu: ...

'Hold on, the amount of information here is overwhelming—let me gather my thoughts first...'

With this in mind, Qiu Tu pretended to admire the Earth Vein Flower before him, while his brain raced at full capacity.

Zhao Ji was clever; Qiu Tu knew this well.

And she had never trusted him; that much Qiu Tu also knew.

But... perhaps because things had been going so smoothly lately, or because Zhao Ji always wore an icy expression, offering little in the way of microexpressions...

Or maybe it was her recent remarks, which verged on overly dramatic (though they were, admittedly, truthful), that had led Qiu Tu to actually believe he'd fooled her with his "incitement" tactics.

After all, Zhao Ji had walked away without a word, retreating into seclusion to prepare for the upcoming sixth-rank confrontation.

Looking back now... that had, in fact, been the biggest flaw.

He hadn't noticed it at all...

Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.

More importantly, though... Zhao Ji truly was a patient hunter. Despite long realizing there was something amiss with Qiu Tu, she had remained unconcerned, going along with the flow and watching his performance.

Only now, with the evidence in her grasp, had she finally revealed her intent to kill.

However, it was precisely this faint killing intent that had saved Qiu Tu, granting him a slim chance to turn the tables.

With this in mind, Qiu Tu silently pondered how to break out of this trap.

Force his way out?

While he considered himself reasonably strong, he knew there remained a vast gulf between Zhao Ji and himself.

Especially when even his "Crisis Intuition" explicitly stated that his strength was inconsequential in the face of Zhao Ji.

He had no desire to throw his life away unnecessarily.

Try to persuade Zhao Ji with words?

Qiu Tu figured... with Zhao Ji's cunning, she simply wouldn't believe him.

So...