Chapter 43: A Bountiful Harvest!

"In Alien 1, counting both main and side quests, I earned a total of 38,290 reward points. After deducting the portion for everyone's wound repairs, I have around 35,000 points left, along with 2 grade B, 1 grade C, and 1 grade D side plots."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was astonished. Especially the three veteran teammates—Zheng Zha, Li Xiaoyi, and Mou Gang—who looked at Wu Xian as if gazing at a deity, their faces brimming with envy.

35,000 points! Just imagine how many incredible items that could buy from the God!

And let's not forget, the God also offered a permanent return to the real world option, which only required 50,000 reward points.

Such a hefty price tag had once seemed like an astronomical figure in the eyes of rookies like Zheng Zha. They had assumed that even with maximum gains every time, it would take scrimping and saving through a dozen or more horror movies to barely accumulate enough.

Yet looking at Wu Xian now, 50,000 points didn't seem all that out of reach—it could be achieved with just a little more effort...

Of course, that was an illusion; some things simply couldn't be accomplished by just anyone.

Take the suddenly intruding mutated alien from the previous match—the Abomination. Aside from Wu Xian, anyone else present would likely have been instantly obliterated with a single slap, let alone earning any reward points or side plots.

At this thought, Zheng Zha couldn't help but offer a wry smile before revealing his own gains this time around.

"Although I can't compare to the team leader, I made a decent haul this time too, mostly from killing aliens. Counting the main and side quests, it comes to a total of 21,500 reward points, plus 1 grade B and 1 grade C side plot."

Li Xiaoyi scratched his head and said sheepishly, "I killed far fewer aliens than Brother Zheng, and a few of them were mutants. Combined with the main and side quest rewards, it's only 13,000 points, also with 1 grade B and 1 grade C side plot."

Mou Gang: "10,800 points, and the side plots are the same."

Zheng Zha: "12,500 points, ditto."

Following that, Xuan, who had remained silent ever since Wu Xian appeared, calmly spoke up: "9,000 reward points, 1 grade B and 1 grade C side plot."

Unlike the others, Xuan had taken action very few times in Alien 1. If not for the massive alien encirclement at the end, he likely would have only received the basic 1,000 reward points and the completion rewards for the two tasks.

"9,500 points, 1 grade B and 1 grade C... Tch! It looks like, apart from Xuan, I had the lowest haul of all."

Zhan Lan shrugged, reporting her gains from this horror film. It was a figure that would have driven any ordinary reincarnation team wild with joy, but to the current Zhongzhou Team, it seemed remarkably ordinary.

"Don't worry, I believe everyone witnessed the value of a mental-power controller this time. Besides, without you, we wouldn't have acquired so many reward points. When we make enhancements later, you will definitely be given top priority... Furthermore, don't I have your back?"

Wu Xian tightened his arm around her waist, speaking in a bold and unrestrained tone like a nouveau riche keeping a mistress, causing Zhan Lan to roll her eyes.

However, the others nearby nodded in agreement upon hearing Wu Xian's words.

Mental-power controllers were simply too crucial. Take the function of scanning enemies alone: if a similar enemy were encountered in the next team battle, the opponents could track them at any time while they remained blind, placing them at an inherent disadvantage due to an intelligence gap.

Not to mention that the God's catalog included mind-control abilities akin to Professor X from the X-rays. If someone accidentally fell victim to such a trick, a teammate whose back they trusted could instantly turn into an enemy spy. Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Therefore, even setting aside the affectionate nickname "Captain's Wife" given to Zhan Lan, her status as a mental-power controller alone warranted the Zhongzhou Team channeling resources toward her, as it served as a safeguard for their own safety.

"Alright, the debriefing is over. Next are the specific enhancement plans, but before that, there's something else I need to tell you."

With that, Wu Xian raised a hand to point at the golden monolith hovering five meters in the air not far away.

"This thing appeared last night. Zhan Lan, Xuan, and I have all seen it. I imagine Xuan has already given you a brief introduction. Is there anyone among you who still doesn't understand?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison. Even Zheng Zha didn't ask foolish questions like "Can we coexist peacefully with other reincarnation teams?"

Judging others by oneself, looking at the massive rewards written on the monolith for killing members of the opposing reincarnation team, even someone like him who considered himself a [good person] with a shred of conscience couldn't help drooling, let alone those unfamiliar foreign reincarnators.

To put it simply, unless the power disparity was insurmountable, a normal person's first thought would be to make a killing.

Want peace talks?

Sure, beat them to within an inch of their lives first.

Whether to spare them afterward would depend entirely on the Zhongzhou Team's mood; otherwise, all discussion was off the table!

"Very well, it seems you have all reached a consensus. Next, I'll share some specific intelligence regarding the upcoming team battle."

Saying this, Wu Xian raised a finger toward the massive glowing sphere not far away, which symbolized the Zhongzhou Team's God.

"After returning yesterday, I used my team leader authority to check the information for the next horror movie. It's a Japanese horror film called The Grudge. I believe all of you must have seen or heard of it."

"Holy shit! It's actually The Grudge!"

Zheng Zha cried out in alarm, while Luo Li beside him wore a blank expression.

That made sense; the first installment of The Grudge was released in 2003, and by that time, the real Luo Li had passed away several years prior. Based on the settings Zheng Zha had imagined when creating her, the current Luo Li genuinely had not watched this horror film.

"Ghost... a ghost movie?"

Li Xiaoyi, whose presence had always been somewhat faint, turned nervous upon hearing the words "The Grudge." It was clear he was the type of person deeply terrified of ghosts.

"Haven't seen it, but I've heard of it."

That was Zero. As a cold-blooded assassin who constantly traveled the world taking on missions, watching movies was hardly his hobby.

"I've almost forgotten the plot. I only remember a little boy in it looked pretty creepy."

Mou Gang scratched his head and smiled honestly at Wu Xian.

As for Zhan Lan... this morning when Wu Xian treated her to saliva chicken, he had already mentioned this intel. Therefore, she was the calmest among everyone present, though a blush crept onto her cheeks once again, clearly recalling some unspeakable imagery.

"The Grudge?"

A voice devoid of emotional fluctuation suddenly sounded. Everyone looked toward Xuan, only to see him holding an apple and eating as he spoke:

"Based on the plot depicted in the film, this is an urban supernatural horror movie that completely defies the rules of science... How strange. The God seems to have chosen a venue that is ill-suited for a team battle, somewhat violating the principle of raising Gu. Could it be because there is a massive power disparity between us and the opposing reincarnation team?"