Questions could be posed to the Alien Intelligent Entity, but the price was that humans would be devoured as food.

"Ah, so that's how it is."

After obtaining the on-site intelligence from Zhang Minglu, Guan Tong understood the reason the authorities chose not to disclose the information, and also grasped the true meaning of the Hidden Rule.

One line in it stated, "The interaction mode will change based on its own appetite state."

Corroborating with the on-site situation, this meant that human questions would stimulate its appetite, and once its appetite was stimulated, it had to eat.

However, since the authorities had already summarized this point through practice, the Hidden Rule Guan Tong provided held little additional value.

Still, knowing this, he couldn't help but feel a tumult of complex emotions in his heart.

"This really is..."

Guan Tong didn't know how to put it.

Cruel?

"It seems the Human Consortium will transport the captured parasitized forms over as food," said Uenoshi from beside him.

As a member of the Trace Origin Travel Troupe, Guan Tong hadn't hidden the intelligence he obtained through exchange from her.

"Mhm, precisely because of that, the authorities are concealing the news. It looks like the Human Consortium Joint Force in the Black Flag Country area will launch a rapid offensive in the coming days, trying to capture as many parasitized forms as possible."

"What question do you think the authorities will ask?"

"The highest priority question would definitely be 'how to identify parasitized forms'," Guan Tong said. "If they could get an answer, it would both ensure the accurate provision of subsequent food and solve a major survival threat for humanity."

The longer the problem of parasitized forms dragged on, the more troublesome it would become for humanity.

Currently, most parasitized forms were transformed from ordinary people, their overall combat power relatively weak and still controllable.

But as time passed, perhaps more and more Ascendants would undergo secondary transformation; or perhaps these parasitized forms would gradually infiltrate important positions within various nations' official departments. That would be troublesome.

Uenoshi thought for a moment, then asked curiously, "Will that alien... the black sludge, know the answer to that question?"

"I guess it will. Do you remember what the note on the rule about parasitized forms was?"

Uenoshi thought about it. "...The Fire Thief said it was once a bestseller in the universe?"

"Right. Since it was a bestseller, it means a large number of civilizations in the universe know of its existence. Then that alien black sludge, as one of the universe's civilizations, should know about parasitized forms—no, more accurately, know about that special type of spore."

Uenoshi nodded, finding Guan Tong's reasoning sound.

"However, it seems this rule doesn't have much to do with us, or with the general public," Guan Tong said. "Ordinary people probably won't have a chance to ask questions... Forget asking questions, they probably won't even be allowed to approach that area."

Given the immense price of asking a question, each question would surely be meticulously selected by the Human Consortium.

Uenoshi looked at Guan Tong and asked curiously, "Don't you have any questions you want to ask?"

"I..."

How could he not.

Guan Tong had plenty of questions he wanted to ask.

Setting aside others, just the questions concerning himself included "the mystery of crossing over and regaining youth" and "the mystery of the Wordless Book"—these two he wanted to ask.

Yet, as he said, asking questions required paying a price. How was he supposed to pay?

Run to the Black Flag Country himself and capture a bunch of parasitized forms? But how many would he need to capture to afford the price for his question?

Even if he could capture them, would the Human Consortium even allow him to ask a question?

A thought suddenly popped into Guan Tong's mind—I wonder if the living dead summoned by the [Corpse Whistle] could be used as food?

He remembered last time during the [Silent Hour] rule when attracting the Sound Hunters, the living dead were treated as humans by them.

Perhaps this time...

After a brief consideration, Guan Tong continued, "Even if I have questions I want to ask, I probably won't get the chance."

"..."

Though Uenoshi didn't speak, she thought the same in her heart.

"Then what should we do?"

It had to be said, the sudden appearance of a rule that didn't require action and had no punishment instead left Uenoshi feeling somewhat at a loss.

It wasn't just her; many people worldwide felt the same way.

The previous dozen or so rules, spanning nearly two years of "Rule Time," had almost completely reshaped human consciousness, turning humanity into beings who lived solely around the rules.

"You can rest, train, or do things you're interested in. As for me..."

"You have other plans?"

"I want to make a trip to the Xisiya Empire."

Uenoshi looked surprised. She had thought Guan Tong's earlier words meant he had given up on the idea of asking questions.

"Don't misunderstand," Guan Tong explained. "I'm not going to the Xisiya Empire to ask the Black Sludge Monster questions. I have a debt to collect."

Uenoshi said, "I'll go with you."

"This is my personal grudge. You don't need to get involved."

"But aren't you the Troupe Leader? I'm a troupe member. Shouldn't I act together with the Troupe Leader?"

Hearing this, Guan Tong was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, then we'll go to the Xisiya Empire together. With your help, collecting this debt should be easier."

...

Late at night.

On the Ice Field, aside from the howling cold wind, there were no other sounds.

The Alien Intelligent Entity remained in place, lying on the ground like a puddle of black sludge. Although it occasionally undulated slightly, it made no sound.

Humanity's research on it wasn't limited to just asking questions.

People also wanted to decipher its language, learn about its physical composition, and even enter the Spacecraft it arrived in to conduct research.

But all these required conditions.

To decipher the language, a large corpus was needed first. But aside from answering questions, this black sludge made no sounds at all, leaving countless linguists in a bind—even the cleverest housewife can't cook without rice.

Secondly, to study its physical composition, various instruments had to be used. Experts unanimously agreed that obtaining a tissue sample would be ideal, but the Human Consortium vetoed the idea. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

On one hand, previous attacks or obstructions using bullets and Mind Power items had been ineffective. On the other hand, unless permission was obtained through the question format, attempting to take a sample without authorization might provoke its hostility.

The principle was the same for entering the Spacecraft it arrived in. Currently, some research labs, observing from a certain distance using ultra-high-magnification instruments, hadn't even found an entrance. Without finding an entrance, how could they talk about entering?

The numerous difficulties didn't make humanity give up. Instead, the Human Consortium continuously held various meetings to discuss and research how to maximally "press" the most effective information for humanity out of this alien entity within the short half-month period.

At this moment, most members of the Contact Delegation were resting in the insulated vehicles. It was just that thinking about an alien man-eating monster lying not far from the vehicles made few people sleep soundly.

Fortunately, Xisiya soldiers were constantly patrolling and standing guard, not allowing anyone to approach, which gave the delegation members some slight peace of mind.

By four or five in the morning, most people had fallen asleep.

So only a few who remained awake all night noticed several more large vehicles arriving.

Watching from the windows, they wondered: were more animals being transported?

The Xisiya soldiers opened the containers, revealing dozens of people locked inside. Their hands and feet were bound with chains, and their faces wore sinister, crazed expressions.

"People, they're people!"

"Look!"

The noise from those who hadn't slept woke those who had. Soon, the Contact Delegation members in the insulated vehicles got out, watching as the soldiers led the people transported by the large vehicles down.

Just as the delegation members stared in stunned silence, Sigaochin's voice came from the side.

"Scared?" she said. "These are all parasitized forms who attacked humans after the [Extraterrestrial Parasitism] rule ended, one hundred percent confirmed, not humans."

Hearing this, the delegation members collectively sighed in relief.

Many of them hadn't processed it immediately earlier, thinking these were actually humans... Ultimately, it was because of their appearance.

If the parasitized forms had distinctive appearances, it would be one thing, but they retained their hosts' appearances, bodies, and even memories, which inevitably caused some people to feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

As these parasitized forms were led from the vehicles, soldiers also released the previously transported cattle, sheep, pigs, and other animals, driving them towards the direction of the alien entity.

"Excuse me, what is this for? Is the test about to begin?" someone from the delegation asked Sigaochin.

"Yes, we have recently obtained authorization from the Human Consortium. The food substitute test will commence in ten minutes. Now, to ensure your personal safety, please follow the soldiers and move away from this area."

Many in the delegation were eager to get away and immediately obediently followed the soldiers to retreat.

A few, led by Louis, were unwilling to leave. He pleaded with Sigaochin, "Let me stay! I want to see it up close with my own eyes!"

"No."

Sigaochin showed no flexibility. Louis had no choice but to reluctantly follow the others in retreat.

He looked back every few steps, seeing the soldiers arranging the "food" in concentric circles around the alien entity based on distance.

Cattle, sheep, pigs, and other animals were placed in the first circle, closest to the alien entity.

The parasitized forms were placed in the second circle.

Strangely, there were also some people in the third circle.

Sigaochin didn't say who these people were, but they definitely weren't parasitized forms—that would be redundant with the second circle and meaningless.

Someone in the delegation secretly speculated: the people in this third circle were likely serious criminals brought from prisons.

Once the three circles were arranged, at the appointed time, a person designated by the Human Consortium walked before the Alien Intelligent Entity.

The food substitute test began.