After putting down the Lianxin Crossbow, Chen Bugu turned to look at the other two items.

The other two items did not emit any light, making them appear quite ordinary.

Crossbow: Sharp Crossbow (Quantity 10), enchantable.

Binding Ring: A rule-based item. When used, it can erect a hemispherical energy barrier with a radius of 3 meters, capable of resisting any Black Iron Grade attack. Cost: The user's body becomes paralyzed when activating the barrier, and internal attacks cannot penetrate to the outside. Barrier Duration: 3 minutes. Note: This item is a one-time consumable.

“Hmm? A rule-based item!”

Chen Bugu was surprised that this Binding Ring was actually a rule-based item!

Although it had many restrictions, such as only being usable for three minutes and being a one-time consumable.

But that phrase “resisting any Black Iron Grade attack” was a rule!

This meant that even a high-level Black Iron Grade monster would be helpless against them here.

It was a pity that the user's entire body would become paralyzed after activating the barrier, so it was, at most, a turtle shell.

No wonder this ring was just ordinary equipment.

There were simply too many restrictions.

He had seen this kind of equipment in his previous life, but the usage conditions were usually extremely strict.

Wait a minute!

Chen Bugu looked at the Binding Ring, then at Lin Ye, and suddenly had an idea.

“Driver Shifu, I want to discuss something with you.”

“My name is Liu Neng, you can just call me Old Liu, calling me driver shifu sounds a bit awkward.”

“Then I’ll introduce myself as well. My surname is Chen, and my given name is Bu Gu, like the ‘bùgǔ’ in ‘rénxīn bùgǔ’ (people’s hearts are not as ancient/pure as before).”

“Alright, Chen Bugu, tell me what you’re thinking.”

Seeing this, Chen Bugu quickly stated his request.

“What!?”

“No! Absolutely not! You’re asking me to commit suicide!”

Old Liu was furious.

“No! Liu Shifu, please listen to my explanation.”

“Right now, only your Floating ability can contend with those monsters. Neither I nor Teacher Lin can do it.”

“While you distract those monsters, we will take the opportunity to rescue those who are still alive.”

Chen Bugu had thought it through very clearly; as things stood, he had no choice.

The three of them lacked destructive capabilities, and even with the Lianxin Crossbow, they couldn't defeat multiple Scarlet Hounds.

“Are there still people alive? How can you guarantee there are still people alive?”

Old Liu was still very angry; this young man was practically joking with his life.

Lin Ye wanted to speak up and explain for Chen Bugu, but then he felt that Old Liu's words also made sense, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

“Liu Shifu, I can’t guarantee it, but if there are no other people, with the abilities of us three, it will be very difficult to get out alive.”

“There’s no food here, and no water. If everyone else is dead, we’ll just die if we stay trapped here.”

“Everyone has awakened their abilities; we need the help of others.”

As Chen Bugu spoke, he casually tossed the Binding Ring to Lin Ye.

“We can wait for the police, yes, the police!”

Old Liu quickly pulled out his phone, ready to dial the emergency number.

“There’s no signal on the phone anymore.”

“Besides, given this ghost-wall tunnel, I doubt the police would be of any use even if they came.”

Old Liu looked at the empty signal bars on his phone screen, still unwilling to give up.

“But why? Why does it have to be me?”

Just as Old Liu was about to continue arguing, he saw the green-glowing weapon and a bundle of Crossbows thrown towards him.

He frantically caught the Lianxin Crossbow and the Crossbow with both hands, stunned in place.

“It’s not that we don’t want to do it, but that we can’t.”

“Only your ability has a chance.”

Chen Bugu looked at Old Liu.

In fact, they were all in the same boat at this moment; Old Liu's decision determined whether they had a slim chance of survival.

If he couldn't think of any other way, he wouldn't want to drag Old Liu into this gamble.

But waiting in place was tantamount to slow suicide; Chen Bugu knew very well that this disaster wouldn't end on its own.

As time passed, the people outside would die, and they, due to lack of water and food, would decline in physical strength, leaving no chance of survival then.

“The Crossbow and arrows are for you. Please consider it again.”

Chen Bugu distributed all three pieces of equipment from the Black Iron treasure chest to Lin Ye and Old Liu.

He already had a plan.

A rescue plan.

Although more than ten minutes had passed since the Great Disaster, it was almost certain that there were still people alive.

He couldn't be sure about others.

That fatty was definitely alive!

And he wouldn't be the only one alive!

After all, in his previous life, Chen Bugu had survived thanks to that fatty's ability.

If the fatty's awakened ability was still the same, then he should be able to hold on for at least another ten minutes.

Rescue was necessary.

Chen Bugu was not lying; no matter what method they used, their current combat power was far from enough.

The safest method was to increase the team's combat power first.

“You guys will return after rescuing people, but what about me? Those monsters will be chasing me; how will I return?”

Without complete assurance, Old Liu would not easily agree.

“That will require Teacher Lin’s summoned beast.”

Lin Ye was startled, not knowing why he was suddenly mentioned again.

“Teacher Lin, you should have noticed that ever since you summoned the Unicorn Rock Sheep, the Scarlet Hounds have been targeting you.”

“In fact, they weren’t targeting you, but the Unicorn Rock Sheep. Its energy is more appealing to those Scarlet Hounds than ours.”

Lin Ye suddenly understood; his feeling was indeed correct—the monsters had been coming for him at that time.

“Scarlet Hound? That name really suits the monster.”

“Wait, then why don’t we just let Teacher Lin’s summoned beast serve as the bait?”

Old Liu seemed to have grasped a lifeline!

“If three Scarlet Hounds chase simultaneously, a monster like the Unicorn Rock Sheep probably wouldn’t last thirty seconds.”

Chen Bugu immediately shattered Old Liu's illusion.

Thirty seconds? Let alone rescuing, they probably wouldn't even see where the people were before being crushed back.

“Are you sure there are still people alive?” Old Liu was very conflicted.

“Probably…”

“How about this, Liu Shifu, you secretly float out and take a look. If there’s a pile of strange stone walls in the tunnel, that means there are still people alive.”

“And, I suggest you go now, because I’m not sure how much longer they can last.”

Chen Bugu proposed a solution.

Although Old Liu was half-skeptical, he didn't have many options at the moment.

So, under the gaze of Chen Bugu and Lin Ye, Old Liu cautiously pressed against the door and observed for a while.

After confirming there was no danger outside the door, he quickly opened it and floated out.

Chen Bugu also took the opportunity to run to the door and observe.

The Horizontal Cave and the main tunnel were at the same height. The storage room was about 30 meters from the Horizontal Cave exit, and Old Liu floated out in a few seconds.

It's worth mentioning that Old Liu was indeed very protective of his life; his Floating height was very high, almost touching the upper wall of the tunnel. At this height, the Scarlet Hounds couldn't attack him at all.

After about ten seconds, Chen Bugu saw Old Liu float back.

In fact, to the naked eye, Old Liu was almost flying.

It was just that this guy obviously couldn't control his ability very well yet; he flew crookedly, more like he was drifting.

“There is! There really is!”

“Three strange stone walls, piled up like a tent, and those monsters are surrounding them, unable to do anything!”

As expected!

That fatty was still alive!

“Rescuing people is paramount. Tell me your plan in detail.”

The fact that people were still alive seemed to greatly encourage Old Liu; he had already accepted Chen Bugu's plan.

“Alright, then I’ll tell you two my plan…”

Three minutes later.

The storage room door opened again, and Old Liu activated Floating, flying outwards.

Chen Bugu and Lin Ye cautiously walked towards the Horizontal Cave exit.

They needed to wait for Old Liu to give a signal.

“Oh, by the way, Chen Bugu, there’s something I’ve been curious about but didn’t ask.”

Lin Ye walked beside Chen Bugu, suddenly puzzled.

“Teacher Lin, tell me.”

“What about the flames sprayed by the Scarlet Hound? Did you give Liu Shifu anything for defense?”

Chen Bugu suddenly froze in place.

Seeing Chen Bugu's bewildered expression, Lin Ye suddenly had a bad premonition.

“Flames?”

“What flames?”