Chapter 271: Chapter 271
Jiang Ye acted as if he didn't notice Zhou Qiming's stunned expression.
With an overly enthusiastic and familiar attitude, he cheerfully addressed Lin Ling:
"Hey, Left Alliance Lin, as you can see—"
"This Glyph Pattern Ability from the Jade Flask wasn't something I demanded—Zhou Qiming forced it on me! I'm completely innocent here!"
"But don't worry, Left Alliance, we're practically family. When you're finally ready to revive the Jade Flask, I'll cooperate fully!"
Lin Ling's emotions remained unstable.
The moment she saw the phantom image of the jade flask, she was absolutely certain—it was hers!
Outsiders like Zhou Qiming and Jiang Ye wouldn't know—
Her daughter's cremains urn contained an identical jade flask.
That jade flask had been Lin Ling's carefully crafted first birthday gift for her daughter, incorporating a homophone of her name.
Later, she'd placed a protective charm inside it.
One she'd obtained through sincere prayer after climbing temple steps on her knees.
When doctors had pronounced her daughter's condition terminal, Lin Ling refused to accept it.
She prayed to deities, willing to exchange her own life for her daughter's survival.
But miracles didn't exist—her daughter still passed away.
Lin Ling had never believed in deities since childhood.
Yet when her daughter lay dying, she believed fervently;
After her daughter's death, she stopped believing again...
Until entering the Doomsday Apartment, she realized—self-reliance surpassed divine faith!
She grew stronger at any cost, driven by this conviction.
Even during her growth, she couldn't be certain her daughter would wait until she became powerful enough...
Many monsters perished as wild spirits before reuniting with loved ones.
But Lin Ling clung to even the faintest hope.
Just as she'd told Administrator 4444 in the Reincarnation Graveyard—
Absence of precedent didn't mean impossibility!
She would resurrect her daughter!
Let her see her mother again and experience this world anew!
Taking a deep breath, Lin Ling suppressed the emotional turmoil from seeing the jade flask phantom.
Her gaze toward Jiang Ye now carried complex emotions.
Jiang Ye shamelessly declared: "Hey, no need for such gratitude. If you really want to thank me..."
"How about giving me that glass bottle?"
He meant the one containing Yang-Wan-Wen-Xin-Chao.
Lin Ling's eyelid twitched slightly, while Zhou Qiming's reaction was more pronounced.
He stepped forward and loudly addressed the Nomadic Merchant:
"Wait—I was about to propose changing the trade terms! How could you just transfer the Glyph Pattern Ability without confirmation??"
Realizing his tone was inappropriate, he softened his approach:
"Could we possibly cancel the previous condition..."
Before he finished, the Nomadic Merchant curtly interrupted: "No."
"Don't push your luck or assume transferring abilities costs me nothing despite its brief duration."
"My part is done. Now fulfill your promise."
"I..." Zhou Qiming clearly wanted to protest further.
But uttering that single word made him sense a threatening shift in the atmosphere—
Any further objection would provoke the Nomadic Merchant's wrath...
Damn it! Zhou Qiming was utterly frustrated.
He wanted to explain to Lin Ling that he'd been framed too...
But under the Merchant's oppressive aura, he dared not speak unnecessarily.
With a resigned sigh, he revealed the method to transfer the [Reincarnation Key].
"It's actually simple—"
"Normally, the Reincarnation Key binds to Administrator 4444's authority and can't be transferred."
"But based on the previous Administrator 4444's situation..."
"There seems to be a special connection between me and Administrator 4444."
"Through this bond, Administrator 4444 can transfer bound items to me."
"Once the [Reincarnation Key] transfers to me, it loses its 'non-transferable' status and could then go to you, Merchant..."
The method sounded straightforward.
To prove his connection with 4444, Zhou Qiming added:
"When Administrator previously questioned me wearing the [Mask of Deceit], my statement about our special connection didn't break the mask's effect—proving I spoke truthfully!"
The Nomadic Merchant already knew Zhou Qiming wasn't lying.
But meaningfully, he inquired further:
"You also mentioned possibly helping me control the Reincarnation Graveyard?"
Jiang Ye's heart skipped a beat at this.
Mindful of the Merchant's mind-reading, he avoided dwelling on the thought.
Zhou Qiming replied directly: "Just speculation—"
"If the [Reincarnation Graveyard] is also an item bound to Administrator 4444, perhaps it could transfer to me first..."
"Then, like the Reincarnation Key, transfer again to you?"
The Merchant neither confirmed nor denied, simply stating:
As the oppressive atmosphere lifted, Zhou Qiming relaxed slightly.
Turning to Administrator 4444, he suddenly proposed:
"Should we attempt transferring the [Reincarnation Graveyard] first?"
"If unsuccessful, we'll proceed with the [Reincarnation Key] before trying again?"
The Merchant nodded: "Acceptable."
Jiang Ye internally protested: Acceptable my ass! I only agreed to trade the [Reincarnation Key]! The graveyard should cost extra!
Predictably, the Merchant stated: "Additional payment can be discussed if the graveyard transfers."
Jiang Ye remained powerless in negotiations.
His only hope now was the graveyard being non-transferable.
Upon reflection, the [Reincarnation Graveyard] likely couldn't be transferred—
If it were directly bound to the administrator...
Why create a separate [Reincarnation Key]?
This reasoning calmed him considerably.
Zhou Qiming extended his hand to Administrator 4444: "Grasp my hand—you should sense something unusual."
Unconcerned about tricks, Jiang Ye's clone shook hands.
Zhou Qiming relaxed his focus.
Soon, the 4444 administrator clone indeed perceived something extraordinary—
Similar yet distinct from the connection between clones.
As if... he and Zhou Qiming shared the "Administrator 4444" authority identity! Updates are released by novèlfire.net
Zhou Qiming self-hypnotically murmured:
"Yes, now we're indistinguishable—I too am Administrator 4444..."
"Let me test whether I can enter the Reincarnation Graveyard..."
"Failed—probably lacking the Reincarnation Key..."
After this soliloquy, he concluded:
"Confirmed—without the Key, the graveyard can't transfer."
"Proceeding with the Key transfer then."
The Merchant seemed unsurprised, nodding casually.
Still handshaking, Zhou Qiming continued chanting:
"Now, maintain mental relaxation..."
"We're indistinguishable—I too am Administrator 4444."
"Good, I sense the Reincarnation Key... Transfer it to me now."
Jiang Ye also sensed the Key.
Though not actively focusing, he perceived it through Zhou Qiming's connection.
His free hand flicked—a black cross-shaped phantom appearing on his palm.
Zhou Qiming nodded: "Simply hand it over."
Frowning, he suddenly questioned:
"What if you refuse to transfer it to the Merchant after receiving it?"
He hadn't forgotten—Zhou Qiming originally served the Apartment Owner!
More accurately, was the Owner's pawn!
His memory gaps might exist precisely to prevent lie detection about the Owner's schemes!
He might genuinely oppose the Owner now, yet remain an unwitting chess piece!