"..."

Visibly, the old woman's calm and indifferent gaze froze for a moment.

"You? Going to the center of the restricted zone? To investigate the situation?"

That chilly sentence instantly sent a shiver down Yuan Qiu's spine, vaguely realizing she might have said something stupid again.

She felt a bit awkward, but in that moment, a brilliant idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

She clearly relied heavily on the old woman, so she sincerely apologized first: "Alright, I was being unrealistic..."

Then she tentatively asked: "But isn't the goal of our group exploring the Abyss Restricted Zone precisely the center of the restricted zone?"

"So actually, I don't need to follow you sisters through this difficult and winding process. I can just wait until you reach the center of the restricted zone, then use [Free Movement] to come to your side. Wouldn't that still allow me to gain experience with you?"

As she spoke, Yuan Qiu's cunning eyes rolled around mischievously.

The old woman looked at her again, thought for a moment, and asked:

"If you're not exploring with us, what do you plan to do during this time?"

"..." Yuan Qiu was caught off guard by the question, and her gaze toward the old woman suddenly became somewhat timid.

However, she had always been the "young lady," and her occasional willfulness was usually indulged.

So she quickly mustered her courage and said: "I'll just... wander around on my own~"

"Now that I have this ability, I'm practically invincible! Wherever I go, it's like entering an unguarded territory!"

"I heard back in the Doomsday Apartment that the Light faction from this batch's Novice Apartment has been quite arrogant! Relying on their [Light and Shadow Escape], they cause trouble everywhere!"

"My [Free Movement] is even more powerful than their [Light and Shadow Escape]!"

"I won't hurt anyone, and I won't cause trouble. I'll just go wherever I feel like looking around, how about that?"

That final "how about that" already carried a coquettish tone.

This tactic used to work very well in the past.

However, this time...

The old woman's gaze toward her was somewhat cold.

Just as Yuan Qiu began to feel strange and puzzled in her heart,

the old woman suddenly sighed softly and asked in a low voice: "Wander around as you please? You wouldn't... still be thinking about that Zhang Minghan boy, would you?"

"..." Yuan Qiu was momentarily speechless at the question.

However, she had indeed been planning to use [Free Movement] to check on Zhang Minghan.

Because her sensing of Zhang Minghan was very strange.

That faint, flickering sensation was as if he sometimes existed and sometimes didn't.

Of course, she had just replicated the [Nomadic Merchant]'s ability and wasn't very familiar with this SSS-level Ultimate Ability yet.

So overall, it felt like Zhang Minghan had "poor signal," causing her sensing to "lag."

It was because of this peculiarity that Yuan Qiu had that tiny thought of going to check on him.

With such an incredible movement ability, she would just take a look, just one look and then leave. It shouldn't be a problem... right?

That's what she thought, but when she looked at the old woman, she still felt somewhat apprehensive.

After hesitating for a moment, she proactively compromised: "Forget it, if you don't agree, sister, I'll just follow our main group..."

However, before she could finish speaking, she heard the old woman sigh softly again.

This sigh seemed to carry the indulgence of an elder toward their most spoiled junior.

Sure enough, when the old woman spoke again, her words were full of indulgence:

"If you want to leave the restricted zone and wander around to familiarize yourself with your new permission identity, that's fine..."

"But you must never have that absurd idea that 'I'm already invincible' or 'I can go anywhere like entering unguarded territory'!"

"The entire Doomsday Apartment may seem to be only on its eighth day now, but no one knows exactly how long it has actually been developing!"

"What you don't know will always be more than what you do know!"

"There will always be people beyond people, skies beyond skies, far beyond your imagination!"

"Do you think all the beings you can sense with [Free Movement] represent every living creature in the world?"

"Do you think SSS-level Ultimate Abilities are the strongest existence in the world?"

"No! You must never think this way!"

The old woman spoke with earnest persuasion.

Although Yuan Qiu could be willful at times, she was actually quite sensible.

She listened seriously to these words and was about to say she wouldn't "wander around" anymore.

But then she heard the old woman sigh again, her tone unmistakably filled with pity and doting:

"However, you're right about one thing - we don't know how many risks we'll face on our way to the center of the restricted zone..."

"And you really don't need to experience these risks."

"Sister can let you move freely, but you must obediently agree to some conditions."

Hearing such concerned and gentle words, Yuan Qiu nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of emotion.

Even the strange and eerie feeling that had arisen not long ago was completely forgotten, wiped clean from her mind.

The old woman flipped her hand and first took out a strange blood-colored gauze garment.

It was very thin, with fine, dense weaving that looked almost like...

the blood-colored patterns on those Heavenly Net Mutants had been extracted?!

Jiang Ye was startled by his own thought.

Yuan Qiu also looked at the terrifying blood-colored gauze garment with hidden surprise in her eyes.

But she still obediently listened to the old woman and cooperatively put on the gauze garment.

The old woman said softly: "You know your own situation well..."

"This gauze garment will protect your physical body, and also ensure that if you really encounter any troublesome opponents where even [Free Movement] and [Forbidden Body] can't protect you... this gauze garment can save your life."

"I know you've always had sharp senses, so remember, remember - once you sense danger, don't hesitate for even a moment, immediately return to sister's side."

Then, with another flip of her hand, the old woman took out an extremely thin red thread, similar to the threads on the gauze garment.

She tied one end of the red thread around Yuan Qiu's neck.

The other end, she tied around her own finger.

Then she hooked her finger, and the red thread connecting the two of them disappeared without a trace.

Yuan Qiu touched her neck but didn't feel anything unusual.

The old woman continued: "As we continue exploring deeper into the Abyss Restricted Zone, we will gradually lose contact with the outside world."

"By then, I won't be able to contact you, and any messages won't be able to be transmitted to the outside."

"But this red thread can still maintain our connection."

"When we need you in the restricted zone, I will pull the red thread in my hand. And you, if you feel a pulling, choking sensation at your neck, you must immediately come to my side."

Yuan Qiu nodded, touching her neck and then the blood-colored gauze garment she was wearing.

But at that moment, a flash of blood light suddenly appeared, and the blood-colored gauze garment disappeared.

Instead, blood-colored patterns similar to those on mutants like Xu Gou and Tao Sheng suddenly appeared on her body!

Yuan Qiu was startled inwardly, but since she didn't feel anything particularly unusual, she didn't ask further and just nodded obediently.

She knew her sister was only worried about her, so she made a solemn and sincere promise:

"I know that both Dad and you are risking exploration of the restricted zone for my sake. I will definitely obey obediently. I won't go to any dangerous places or places without familiar people!"

"Once I've figured out this privileged identity enough, I'll come back on my own without you needing to pull the red thread!"

The old woman nodded contentedly and patted her head.

It was fortunate that Yuan Qiu was short, otherwise with the little old woman's hunched figure, this head-patting gesture would have been quite difficult.

She also gave Yuan Qiu a spatial ring containing some life-saving items.

Then, she truly permitted Yuan Qiu to leave.

The other mutated Defenders didn't have any particular thoughts about this.

They had heard some rumors before and had vague speculations—

The reason why Young Lady Yuan Qiu was also coming to explore the Abyss Restricted Zone seemed to be because there was some problem with her body.

And exploring the Abyss Restricted Zone was to find a solution.

Many people were envious—having a good father who dotes on his daughter is truly fortunate.

As for Jiang Ye, witnessing that scene made him even more certain—

There must be some secret related to the restricted zone hidden within Yuan Qiu.

And this secret was the real reason for her being "doted on."

Additionally, what concerned him more was the old woman saying that continuing deeper into the restricted zone would cut off contact with the outside world...

Damn it, losing contact again!

The Court of Disorder lost contact, the Reincarnation Mirror Palace lost contact, and now the Abyss Restricted Zone also loses contact...

As a cheat player, he felt somewhat numb.

But this also provided a good opportunity to urge Xiao Bai to gather information again.

Xiao Bai also observed the old woman's expression at this moment.

After a moment of silence, she flashed over and occupied the position that originally belonged to Yuan Qiu, cautiously asking:

"Granny just said that continuing deeper into the restricted zone will cut off contact with the outside world? Does the Left Alliance know about this? Do I need to notify them in advance?"

Xiao Bai herself didn't really dare to inquire information from such a powerful figure.

So she could only use Lin Ling as her banner.

Seeing the old woman's cold gaze, Xiao Bai quickly added with some anxiety:

"I haven't been able to contact the Left Alliance for quite a while now..."

"Could she have entered the restricted zone before us?"

The old woman's gaze toward her remained cold.

After a long while, she finally withdrew her gaze and said in the direction of the chubby guy:

"Do you have any idea? How much longer until we officially set foot in the restricted zone?"

Despite the seemingly casual tone, Jiang Ye vaguely sensed a trace of tension.

It seemed that when it came to officially setting foot in the restricted zone, the old woman was finally not completely confident but instead had concerns.

What surprised him even more was—

The chubby guy, who usually maintained his honest and simple persona, was now uncharacteristically serious.

He flipped his hand and lifted the buzzing Array Disk again, his gaze looking forward into the darkness.

After pondering for a moment, he finally said: "Soon."

The old woman's eyes grew even colder and more serious.

She stopped walking and slowly turned around.

Their exploration formation had the old woman leading Yuan Qiu, Xu Gou, Tao Sheng, Yu Mo, Peng Gu and other juniors as the vanguard at the very front.

The mutated Defenders followed closely behind.

While the chubby guy and the Giant Shadow Phantom carrying Jiang Ye's mutated clone brought up the rear.

Now, the old woman at the very front turned to face the group of mutated Defenders.

She glanced at Xiao Bai, then looked toward the chubby guy at the back, finally shaking her head and taking it upon herself to address the mutated Defenders:

"You all heard what that Chubby Senior just said—"

"Soon, we will truly set foot in the Abyss Restricted Zone!"

This serious and solemn voice made all the Defenders present shudder mentally, putting them on high alert.

The old woman continued:

"I know that because of the mutation from the peripheral radiation soil earlier, you've developed resentment toward the entire Defenders' Alliance."

"But I want to tell you—"

"Half-finished mutants like you will receive a tremendous opportunity the moment you set foot in the restricted zone!"

"Of course, along with this tremendous opportunity, a deadly risk will also simultaneously descend!"

"If you seize this opportunity, you will become like them..." When the old woman said "them," she pointed to Xu Gou and the other mutants covered in blood patterns.

"Becoming official mutants!"

"Of course, these few good-for-nothings are just the weakest among mutants."

"Their strength hasn't undergone a qualitative leap."

"But you are different! You first injected [Blood Poison Corpse Water], then bathed in [radiation soil]..."

"Your mutation is gradual!"

"And your opportunity comes from the restricted zone!"

"So I dare to guarantee with my life—"

"As long as you seize the opportunity and mutate successfully, your strength will undergo a qualitative leap!"

"What about S-level talents? What about SSS-level talents? They can't compare to mutated talents!"

"As Defenders, you must be quite clear about the drawbacks of the Glyph Pattern Ability."

"But the terrifying aspects of talents, you haven't even begun to touch the surface!"

"And this trip to the restricted zone is precisely your opportunity to leap over the dragon gate!"

"Seize this opportunity, and you will soar to great heights!"

"The entire Defenders' Alliance will have a place for you!"

"Of course, as I mentioned earlier about 'risk'..."

"If you don't seize the opportunity... you will die directly!"

At this point, the old woman's sharp gaze swept over the group of Defenders.

Sure enough, they were first stirred with passion and fervor, wishing they could charge into the restricted zone right now to seize the opportunity.

But when they learned that the risk was death, most quickly calmed down.

However, emotional calm didn't extinguish their longing for changing their destiny and leaping over the dragon gate.

As Zhang Minghan had pointed out earlier—

This batch of Defenders were indeed all peripheral members of the Defenders' Alliance.

And they were all similar to Zhang Minghan, having rather unsavory pasts.

Their growth to this point had been extremely difficult.

They valued their lives more than anyone.

But at the same time, they understood better than anyone what powerful strength meant.

Strength, strength is everything!

Without strength, you'll die sooner or later!

So, for the sake of strength, taking some risks is necessary.

Exploring secret realms also requires them to bear risks.

Of course, they naturally knew—

The risk required for this tremendous opportunity must be very, very great.

The Probability of survival might be less than one in ten!

But...

What could they do even if they were afraid of death?

They had come this far and had no way back.

From the very beginning, they had no choice!

These mutated Defenders quickly came to terms with this.

However, Tao Sheng, who was close to the old woman, felt an itch in his heart upon hearing this.

He couldn't help but cautiously ask:

"I wonder if mutants like us... can still seize opportunities?"