The Grand Elder suddenly felt a bit awkward.

He didn't think the situation would end up like this, and neither did Reneedol.

Scarlet was only a disciple, but something that she had decided for herself couldn't possibly be changed by someone else.

Shroud walked forward in front of Scarlet and Rhode, then grinned: "Grand Elder, you probably don't realize it, but us young people have other choices outside of cultivation as well"

The Grand Elder also smiled: "Then let it be, this is only a small matter"

-------nothing can happen to Shroud.

------Rhode is also the best choice for the Law of Death.

These two can't be touched.

Reneedol quickly changed the subject and giggled: "How unexpected, I didn't think you had it in you, Rhode"

"I just think she's really suitable for the scythe"

Gu Qing Shan honestly replied, but he was silently feeling a bit triumphant.

------I gave her a scythe, you people haven't given her anything yet, and you still think you can convince her?

As long as Scarlet isn't baited, you won't be able to touch her.

Gu Qing Shan let his killing intent subside, then respectfully said: "Grand Elder, I've always respected you, and we also understand your hardship, but some things just can't be forced. Anyways, are you hungry? Should I make you a bowl of noodles?"

The Grand Elder was blankly listening when he suddenly heard the word 'noodles'.

His throat moved slightly and said: "Do you know how to make noodles?"

"I do. Since you came from a long journey, I'm sure you have some ingredients with you. Provide the ingredients and I'll make sure to cook up a satisfying meal" Gu Qing Shan replied.

The Grand Elder paused and couldn't help but check his body.

-------as expected, this corpse isn't carrying anything notable.

But it's been such a long time since the last time I even heard the word 'eat', how could I pass on such a chance?

The Grand Elder tossed the previous thoughts away without hesitation and said: "Let me procure some ingredients"

Then disappeared without a trace.

Reneedol shook her head with a rare look of helplessness.

She could understand their feelings, so it wasn't something that she could scold the other party for.

She could only keep one of her eyes closed.

"What did you think about the Apocalypse just now?" Reneedol asked.

"Especially dangerous" Scarlet replied.

"And that was only the beginning, so if that [Siming] wanted us to state even more connections between ourselves, we'd be in a lot of trouble" Shroud added.

As Gu Qing Shan was about to state his opinion, he saw glowing lines of text appearing in front of his eyes.

These glowing text flashed a bit, then turned bloody red.

Gu Qing Shan immediately became serious.

---------the War God UI very rarely changed the color of its text, the only time it would do so was to draw his attention.

The lines of bloody red text appeared:

[Attention!]

[Attention!]

[Your remaining time of survival is rapidly decreasing]

[Apocalypse: Siming had deceived the System, as well as this world itself]

[In 27 minutes, that Apocalypse will descend once again]

[Compared to the previous time, it will ask for one more connection between all living beings----- don't ask me why I know, I'll deduct 200,000 Soul Points from you now]

[Stay cautious!]

Gu Qing Shan was shaken.

It clearly said 12 hours, and yet the time had been reduced to 20-odd minutes.

This fraudulent Apocalypse!

However, if I think about it carefully, the Apocalypse's goal is to end the life of all living beings.

Why did I ever think that it wouldn't deceive people?

The timer on the War God UI had also changed:

[00:26:59]

[00:26:58]

[00:26:57]

…

What now?

Gu Qing Shan's thoughts rapidly moved, but his tone was as calm and collected as ever.

"Shroud, you're right, we should quickly form even more connections to avoid being killed the next time [Siming] descends" Gu Qing Shan said.

Shroud nodded.

Reneedol thought briefly and also thought that this was an urgent matter.

"But then, how should we form more connections?" Scarlet asked in confusion.

Gu Qing Shan replied: "A connection between two people can also be called a relation, it's a basic tool for communication and forming relationships, as well as a representation of status"

"But then, how many connections could there be between people?" Scarlet asked.

Shroud counted: "Fellow disciples, friends, brothers, what else are there?"

Reneedol pondered: "Parents and child is also one kind of connection"

"There's also lovers, couples, spouses" Scarlet added.

Gu Qing Shan added: "The difference between friends and brothers is too blurry, there's a possibility that it'll be considered the same"

"Generally speaking, lovers, couples, and spouses can all be considered the same relation" Reneedol commented.

"Why do we need to speak generally?" Scarlet asked confusedly.

"Because the goal of [Siming] is to end all things, we can't rely on it giving us loopholes" Shroud explained.

Reneedol and Gu Qing Shan both nodded.

That was indeed the case.

Against this unknown entity, one must discard all wishful thinking to avoid falling into a trap.

"There aren't that many relations between us, this is quite troublesome" Reneedol scowled.

Everyone also fell silent.

They were fellow disciples, which can also be considered friends.

But what else was there?

There weren't any other relations.

Shroud turned to Reneedol and asked: "Then, can you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course!" Reneedol smiled in return.

Scarlet pondered: "In that case, there would be three layers of connections among the two of you, which are fellow disciples of the World Valley, a couple, and friends"

Gu Qing Shan refuted: "No, I think that the couples and friends connections cannot exist at once, because between male and female, you can only either be friends or a couple, [Siming] will definitely draw a clear line"

"Yeah, I also think that Shroud and I only have two layers of connections" Reneedol replied.

Gu Qing Shan thought briefly before saying: "Then, I can teach you how to cook right now, the three of you would become my cooking disciples, while I become your cooking teacher"

"Can this be considered a connection?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes, we will have formed a master-disciple relationship, one side teaches and the other side studies, it would naturally be considered a connection" Gu Qing Shan replied.

Reneedol, Shroud, and Scarlet exchanged glances.

"We're friends, but also master and disciple? That doesn't feel right" Shroud hesitated.

"Perhaps it doesn't matter how you actually study?" Scarlet nervously asked.

"No, I'll teach you very seriously, and you must also seriously study, don't depend on being able to gloss things over in front of [Siming]" Gu Qing Shan replied.

"Isn't that a lot of trouble? Perhaps we should try something else?" Scarlet asked.

Gu Qing Shan glanced at the War God UI.

-------There are only 25 minutes left until [Siming] descends again.

He shrugged: "Then you guys can try and think of something------- as long as you have any practical skills, talents, jobs, or ability, I can learn it from you as well"

All three of them went silent.

Other than growing stronger and fighting, what can I actually do?

This is a very real question that makes a person clearly perceive themselves.

After a bit of silence, Reneedol said: "If that can really form a connection, I don't mind being your disciple, but only limited to cooking"

"I won't teach you my other skills even if you wanted to learn" Gu Qing Shan replied.

"I have no problem with that" Shroud followed up.

"Me too" Scarlet said as well.

"Alright, let me teach you the first lesson in cooking right now" Gu Qing Shan said.

The three of them focused their attention.

Gu Qing Shan took out a basic chef's knife and showed it to everyone.

"Pay attention, this is a knife for cutting meat and vegetables. Everyone, take a careful look at it"

The chef's knife was passed to each of them to examine.

"How do you cut meat?" Scarlet asked.

Gu Qing Shan casually cut off a tree branch, handed it to Reneedol, then said: "You can try it first. Following the vein of the branch, pay attention to keep the cuts at similar thickness each time"

"That's simple" Reneedol said as she took the knife.

She seriously began cutting a tree branch while Gu Qing Shan, Shroud, and Scarlet watched.

When the Grand Elder returned, that was what he saw.

He rubbed his eyes, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.

She------

Is she cutting a tree branch with a knife?

"What are you doing?" the Grand Elder asked.

Gu Qing Shan casually replied: "We're forming connections------ let's see what kind of ingredients the Grand Elder had brought back; it would make it easier for me to display it to you guys as well"

When speaking of cooking ingredients, the Grand Elder didn't bother asking further and took out a bunch of random rationed grains.

------there are still 11 hours until [Siming] descends again.

The more important thing right now is… to have a filling meal.

"A group of pixies were moving, so I took a bit of their ration" the Grand Elder explained.

Gu Qing Shan checked the ingredients, rolled up his sleeves, then began to form the grain into long and thin pieces.

"I'll now show you how to make noodles" he told the three of them.

"Wouldn't it be better to fry them?" Scarlet asked.

"They're both about the same, but I'm better at making noodles" Gu Qing Shan replied.

-------don't be ridiculous, I still have a lot of questions to ask this Grand Elder, so a bowl of noodles is definitely on the menu.

Gu Qing Shan's skills were naturally undisputable.

A bottle of noodles was swiftly made for the Grand Elder to eat in record time.

"This is delicious, so very delicious"

The Grand Elder held onto his bowl even after he finished, unwilling to let go.

Gu Qing Shan turned around and told Scarlet: "You can take Shroud as your older brother, that's also one relation"

"That's right, how come I didn't think of that!"

Scarlet turned to Shroud.

"Alright then, from now on, we're brother and sister, I've always wanted a younger sister" Shroud smiled.

Scarlet called out: "Older brother"

"Hm, sister" Shroud replied.

Gu Qing Shan turned to Reneedol and said: "I'm older than you------"

Reneedol turned away and told Scarlet: "How about I take you as my younger sister as well?"

"Sure" Scarlet looked at Gu Qing Shan and giggled.

Gu Qing Shan appeared helpless.

His gaze moved towards the timer on the War God UI.

Shroud, Scarlet, and Reneedol now each have three connections.

Five minutes left.

Gu Qing Shan's heart started beating faster.

With so little time, would my plan be feasible?

He silently simulated it in this mind.

Suddenly, the Grand Elder asked: "What kind of connections did you form with Rhode?"

"Cooking master and disciples" Reneedol replied.

The Grand Elder looked at Gu Qing Shan and praised: "That is a good connection"

Gu Qing Shan continued: "Grand Elder, how about I learn a combat skill from you, this way we'd be able to form a master-disciple relationship as well"

The Grand Elder agreed after a bit of thought.

[Siming] is too terrifying, I really should prepare some connections ahead of time.

He stood up and asked: "What do you want to learn?"

"How to improve the power of my attacks" Gu Qing Shan replied.

The Grand Elder pondered for a bit, then said: "This isn't a good place to learn that, let's find a more open place where we can unleash large-scale attacks"

"Yes" Gu Qing Shan replied.

Four minutes left.

The Grand Elder told the others: "Everyone rest here, we're going to return very soon"

"Hm, we'll try to think of any other connections we might have" Reneedol replied.

The Grand Elder nodded and brought Gu Qing Shan into the wilderness.

About three minutes later.

They stopped in the middle of a desolate empty field.

"Alright, we won't cause any unwanted collateral damage here even if we unleash a large-scale attack" the Grand Elder said.

Gu Qing Shan looked at him and suddenly asked: "Wind Deity took over Atley, but he was killed by the Apocalypse, will he be revived?"

[See you once again] was activated!

The Grand Elder's expression became blank and answered: "Only Reneedol can be resurrected, we're all powerful enough to not be killed, but if something could really kill us, we would cease to exist"

At the very next moment.

The Grand Elder regained his senses without realizing what had happened and said:

"Rhode, let us discuss something"

"What is there to discuss?" Gu Qing Shan asked.

"If you are willing to persuade Scarlet to accept the covenant of Flames, I'll teach you the most advanced destructive spells" the Grand Elder told him with a solemn expression.

"What if I refuse to persuade her?" Gu Qing Shan asked.

The Grand Elder shook his head: "Then I can only teach you something crude------ this is only for the sake of forming a connection"

Five seconds left.

Gu Qing Shan sighed and said: "No need"

Time was up!

The countless stars in the sky abruptly gave off a blinding light once again.