Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Outside the city of Eisenla, on the edge of the ruins, members of the Holy Light Squad sat or stood.

Lina was laid flat on a relatively clean stone slab, her body shimmering with the faint light of healing magic, but her pale face and weak breathing clearly indicated the severity of her injuries.

The terrifying power of that mad wizard's casual strike just now extinguished the last glimmer of hope in their hearts like ice water.

“The gap… is too big.” Ranger Mira hugged her longbow, her voice low and trembling slightly.

Her prized arrows couldn't even effectively penetrate the monsters' skin, and this sense of powerlessness was a huge blow to her.

Shan, the support girl wearing glasses, pushed up her glasses, and her gaze swept over her dejected teammates before finally landing on the captain, Elulu.

"Sister Lulu, what... what do we do next?"

Her voice remained relatively calm, but the knuckles of her fingers gripping the staff were slightly white. "The core mission the Paradise gave us was to retrieve the [Sealed Box], but now..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.

Given their current state and strength, trying to snatch food from the jaws of that wicked star in the Paradise of Reincarnation is nothing short of a pipe dream.

Eruru remained silent, her Iris Shield planted on the ground to support her somewhat weary body.

Rumors about Su Xiao flashed through her mind, along with the pure killing intent he displayed when wielding his sword.

If it were just Su Xiao alone, she could almost immediately declare the mission a failure and head back home.

Negotiating with that kind of person? You'd probably have a knife to your throat before you even finished speaking.

But... Lin Yi.

Eruru recalled the information she had gathered at great expense about the "physician" who had become famous in the Eisenla and Heru City areas.

Unlike Su Xiao's ruthless methods and absolute violence, Lin Yi's style of doing things seems... unpredictable, but he is more inclined to transactions and cooperation.

He seems to have built a certain prestige among the rule-breakers, not through fear, but through some kind of mutually beneficial rule.

He seemed like the kind of person who could communicate and negotiate, a rather outlier "businessman" or "coordinator" in the cruel environment of the Paradise of Reincarnation.

“Perhaps…we still have a chance.” Erulu spoke slowly, drawing the attention of all the team members. “We definitely can’t take it by force, but we can try trading.”

"A deal? With the people from the Paradise of Reincarnation?" Mira exclaimed almost instinctively, her face filled with disbelief and deep distrust.

In her mind, the contractors of the Paradise of Reincarnation were almost synonymous with chaos, killing, and irrationality, and making deals with them was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.

"The target is that doctor, not that White Night in the Cycle of Reincarnation."

Elulu explained, “Bai Ye is a pure hunter, with a clear purpose and unwavering resolve. But the Doctor is different; he’s more like a… businessman, or at least someone who knows how to use rules and resources. We have something he might be interested in.”

Shan immediately understood what the captain meant: "If we succeed in this mission, the rewards from the Paradise will far exceed our current wealth. The [Sealed Box] is sealed by the highest authority in the Paradise. Even if they get their hands on it, they won't be able to open it. Forcibly destroying it will only cause the internal space to collapse and all the supplies to be destroyed."

For them, the most likely outcome is that they'll hand over the Reincarnation Paradise in exchange for some fixed, perhaps not particularly generous, contribution points. "If we're willing to use all the future profits from this mission's success, and even all the resources, equipment, and Paradise coins our team currently possesses as collateral…"

“That’s right. As long as we can retrieve the [Sealed Box] and complete the Paradise’s mission, the rewards will be enough to cover all our losses, and we might even have a surplus. The supplies in the [Sealed Box] are sealed by the Paradise with its own authority; even if they take it, they can’t open it. Ultimately, they’ll most likely hand it over to the Paradise in exchange for some fixed rewards. If we can offer more enticing terms…”

Elulu paused, her tone tinged with helplessness: "What we can offer includes, but is not limited to, equipment, resources, Paradise Coins, intelligence... and even, if they have any special requirements, we personally can provide certain services or assistance as part of the transaction."

Her gaze swept over the team members, noticing that some people's expressions changed slightly, but no one voiced any objection.

Having climbed to the sixth level, they had long understood that in the Paradise's system, survival and becoming stronger were paramount. So-called dignity and bottom lines often proved fragile in the face of sufficient benefits and survival pressure.

"The problem is, why should they trust us? The contractors of the Paradise of Reincarnation don't have a very good reputation. And how can we safely contact the doctor? Bai Ye probably won't give us a chance to negotiate slowly." Shan raised the two most crucial questions.

Elulu raised her wrist: "When I was operating outside Heru City, I obtained an encrypted communication code through some channels that can access a temporary channel. Although it's unstable, it can be used to try sending messages one-way."

This was undoubtedly a gamble, betting that Lin Yi was willing to communicate, betting that they could offer something that would tempt the other party, and betting that Su Xiao wouldn't directly reject the proposal.

"Give it a try, Captain." Lina, who had been lying down, opened her eyes at some point, her voice weak but firm. "It's better than... going back empty-handed to be punished."

Erulu took a deep breath and began operating the communicator, sending an encrypted message to that faint channel, stating the identity and intentions of the Holy Light Paradise team, as well as the range of costs they were willing to pay, in a tone as sincere as possible.

Meanwhile, in the city of Eisenla.

The process is ongoing.

Gus was like a tireless war machine; with each swing of his giant axe, the Keepers of Darkness fell like wheat being cut down.

Su Xiao roamed the flanks, precisely eliminating any stragglers and mad wizards attempting ranged attacks. With each flash of his blade, severed limbs were inevitably left behind.

In the midst of the killing, a sudden, extremely piercing knocking sound rang out.

“Dangdangdang——!”

The sound came from a street corner a few dozen meters away. A short creature, barely eighty centimeters tall and dressed in tattered clothes, was frantically pounding on a rusty metal shield with a leg bone from some unknown creature.

Its murky eyes stared intently at Su Xiao and his group, filled with insane malice.

“Uta.” Su Xiao raised an eyebrow, recognizing the unique “alarm” of Eisenra.

This thing has almost zero combat power, but the enormous noise it creates is enough to attract all the Dark Guardians and Mad Wizards within several blocks.

In such situations, the best option is usually to quickly escape or kill the target immediately.

But at this moment, Su Xiao looked at the Uta who was frantically banging the gong, and then at the seemingly endless Guardians of Darkness around him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, the sharp blade pierced through the air!

Nauta didn't even see what happened; he only felt a chill in his lower limbs, and his small body lost its support, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Just as it was about to let out an even more mournful howl, a layer of pale blue crystals quickly spread up, sealing it, along with its broken shield and leg bones, into a transparent cage half a meter high.

Su Xiao lifted the crystal cage with his left hand and stared at Uta, who seemed somewhat bewildered by his broken leg and imprisonment.

Uta seemed to have never seen such an unconventional person before, and for a moment he even forgot to bang the gong.

Su Xiao was clearly dissatisfied with its passive resistance.

He picked up the cage and began to shake it rhythmically.

"Thump! Clang!"

The sounds of the cage banging and the internal Uta instinctively striking the shield due to the jolts mixed together, though not as loud as before, they were still clearly audible in the relatively quiet city.

This seems to be a signal.

"Roar--!"

"Hiss!"

More roars came from the streets and ruins in all directions.

The Guardians of Darkness, who had originally arrived in scattered groups, now seemed to have been summoned by some kind of call, and surged out from all corners like a tidal wave, their numbers increasing several times over in an instant!
Their eyes were fixed on the group of people surrounded in the center, especially the cage in Su Xiao's hand that was making noise.

"Heh." A cold smile curled at the corner of Su Xiao's lips; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

Instead of painstakingly clearing out these small fry bit by bit in the complex city alleys, it's better to use Uta to lure these scattered monsters together all at once and wipe them out in one go.

He placed the crystal cage near Am's feet, indicating that it should keep an eye on it.

Then, the Dragon Slayer was drawn again, blue-green arcs of electricity leaping across its blade. "Gus, the left side is yours," Su Xiao gave a brief order, his figure already blurring into a blur as he charged into the surging tide of monsters.

The blade flashed like a wheel, and wherever it passed, severed limbs and black blood splattered everywhere.

Su Xiao was like a grim reaper dancing in a sea of ​​blood, shattering the Dark Guardians who rushed at him with every swing of his blade.

On Gus's side, it was like a human storm, with giant axes making a dull thud as they cleaved through the air, often clearing out a small area with a single swing.

Lin Yi, who was firmly protected behind Amu, seemed rather "leisurely" at this moment.

He cast a Holy Light Shield on himself, keeping out the splattering blood and sporadic attacks.

The fighting outside seemed irrelevant to him; he was looking down at a temporary communicator on his wrist that was vibrating slightly.

Lin Yi quickly browsed through the messages sent by Ai Lulu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before turning into thoughtful contemplation.

The Holy Light Paradise team's objective was clear: to obtain the [Sealed Box].

The conditions they offered were quite "generous," practically putting everything they had on the negotiating table.

Lin Yi replied with a hint of amusement, "Aren't you afraid that after we get the item, we'll turn our backs on you and keep the [Sealed Box] for ourselves?"

Soon, Elulu's reply arrived: "The [Sealed Box] is sealed by the highest authority of Holy Light Paradise and cannot be opened without a designated method. Forcibly destroying it will only cause the internal space to collapse and all resources to be destroyed. Even if you two bring it back to Reincarnation Paradise, you will only receive a fixed contribution point reward. The price we are willing to pay, according to preliminary estimates, far exceeds that fixed reward and includes some rare resources and personal commitments, making it more flexible. This is a win-win deal, and I believe the doctor is a smart man."

Lin Yi smiled as he read the reply.

The other party had clearly done their homework, highlighting the key points of the deal and demonstrating their sincerity.

He looked up at Su Xiao, who was hacking and slashing through the monsters, and called out, "Bai Ye, stop for a moment, come over here and we have something to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiao flicked his wrist, cleaving a Dark Guardian who was lunging from the side in two, weapon and all, while simultaneously dodging a corrosive breath.

He gestured for Gus to hold the front, and with a few quick movements, he retreated back to Lin Yi's side, his body reeking of blood.

"What's wrong?" Su Xiao asked, glancing at Lin Yi, indicating that something had happened that made her so anxious to call him back.

Lin Yi briefly recounted the Holy Light Squad's intentions and the conditions they offered, emphasizing that the other party was willing to disclose their personal space and panel permissions as a sign of sincerity, and that the transaction value far exceeded the fixed rewards offered by the Paradise.

Su Xiao listened in silence, her fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the Dragon Slayer Blade.

He was indeed weighing his options. Hunting the Sphinx and destroying the Bronze Gate were the top priorities, but acquiring resources to enhance his strength was also a core need.

For them, the 【Sealed Box】 is essentially a quest item, and handing it over to the Paradise in exchange for rewards is the standard procedure.

However, if more value can be extracted from the Holy Light Paradise, it would undoubtedly be more in line with the principle of maximizing profits.

The other party showed great sincerity, almost revealing their hand.

This type of transaction carries manageable risk, and the potential returns may far exceed expectations.

“We can talk,” Su Xiao finally decided. “Tell them that once we’ve dealt with the Sphinx and the Bronze Gate, if they’re still nearby, we can make a deal. We can discuss the specific terms then.”

Lin Yi nodded and replied to the message.

Outside the city of Aisenla, the anxiously waiting Holy Light Squad received Lin Yi's reply.

"They agreed! Once they've resolved the troubles in the city, the deal can proceed!" Elulu's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Instantly, the team's gloomy atmosphere vanished.

Mira almost jumped up, a smile appeared on San's lips, and even Lina, who was lying down, had a sparkle in her eyes.

"Great! As long as I can get the box back..."

"Don't get too excited," Elulu calmly reminded us. "The deal isn't finished yet, and we can foresee that we'll be 'bleed' dry. Now, let's focus on recovering and treating Lina. Once the commotion in the city subsides, we'll move closer to prepare for the rendezvous and the transaction."

She knew very well that Lin Yi and Su Xiao's willingness to make the deal did not mean they were safe; anything could happen before the deal was actually completed.

Deep within Eisenla, in a secret room flickering with candlelight.

Dressed in a suit, Sphinx, who seemed out of place in his dilapidated surroundings, slowly opened his eyes.

His face, which always carried a gentle smile, was now filled with doubt and a hint of barely perceptible bewilderment.

Through certain arrangements scattered throughout the city, he could vaguely sense the movements of Su Xiao and his group.

However, the other party's behavior pattern was completely beyond his understanding.

"What...what are they doing?" Sphinx muttered to himself, gently rubbing his temples with his fingers.

Actively attracting a large number of Dark Guardians to attack? And even deliberately capturing a Uta to intensify this siege? This isn't just walking into a trap; it's practically digging deeper into the trap itself because it's not deep enough.

He recalled that when Su Xiao first came to the wizarding world, he also had this almost tyrannical and unreasonable style. Without any ingenious calculations, he relied on absolute strength and ruthlessness to crush his way through and disrupt all his plans.

This time, it seems history is repeating itself.

“We’ll split into two groups, one overt and one covert, both targeting the Bronze Gate… Mr. J, that madman, is also there; he certainly has the ability to pose a threat to the Bronze Gate…” Sphinx’s mind raced as he tried to make sense of things.

"Is Bai Ye being so flamboyant to create an opportunity for Mr. J? Or does he have absolute confidence that he can overcome everything head-on?"

His original contingency plans and ambushes had been exhausted during the previous clearing of the forces in Heru City and the summoning of Azathoth's body.

Lady Moon, Sugar Pill, and Iron Curtain died in battle, and her true confidants had already sacrificed themselves for his plan.

Now, all he has at his disposal are the Dark Guardians and Mad Wizards who have been driven mad by the power of the Bronze Gate.

Although the quantity is large, it does not seem to play a decisive role in the face of absolute quality differences.

Su Xiao's current behavior is practically a shout to him: "I'm right here, surrounded by your henchmen. What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Show them to me now."

The problem is, Sphinx is now... almost out of moves.

“Time… I need more time…” Sphinx’s gaze turned to the depths of the secret chamber. His final plan still needed some key steps to be completed, but now, the enemy was at the gates, and their behavior was completely unpredictable.

A feeling of "out of control" quietly crept into Sphinx's mind.

"Doctor...is it you again? What role are you playing this time?" Sphinx thought of the "Doctor" who always brought unexpected changes, and a shadow crossed his eyes.

He vaguely sensed that Su Xiao's unusual behavior might be related to the "little rats" of the Holy Light Paradise outside the city and Lin Yi, but he couldn't see through the specific connection.

This lack of information and the opponent's unconventional approach made him feel extremely troubled.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, the battle had reached a fever pitch.

With Uta, a monster-gathering artifact, Su Xiao and Gus greatly improved their efficiency in clearing out the Dark Guardians.

Large swarms of monsters were attracted and then crushed like meat grinders.

Uta inside the crystal cage seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, or rather, under the constant turbulence and external stimulation, he struck even harder, as if he wanted to pour all his fear and madness into that broken shield.

The clanging of weapons, the roars of monsters, the whistling of blades, the tearing of flesh... all intertwined to create a cruel symphony of death that echoed through the cursed city.

At the heart of this chaos, Lin Yi maintained his shield, contemplating the details of the upcoming transaction.

Su Xiao, like a highly sophisticated killing machine, steadily advanced through the bloodbath, getting closer and closer to the bronze door and the Sphinx. (End of Chapter)