Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 1729: Nine stars

Before the level-nine wheel, several people stared at the panel in prolonged silence. After a long while, one of them finally spoke slowly, ”Letʼs begin.”

Another person nodded, took out some magic crystals, and was about to place them into the slots.

”Wait.”

A voice suddenly interrupted, causing the person to pause.

”Zhang Hetai, do you have an objection?”

Wen Zhong frowned, turning his head to look at Zhang Hetai, the scar between his brows appearing somewhat menacing.

Ji Ruiguang sighed inwardly.

Ever since Wen Zhong narrowly escaped death in that incident, he had become overly aggressive.

Clearly, he hadnʼt negotiated terms properly with Zhang Hetai.

The stocky Zhang Hetai placed his hands on his waist, touching the belt fastened there, and smiled.
”Commander Ji Ruiguang spinning the wheel first—I have no objections. The contributions of Zone C to the Resistance Zone are evident to all. Even though they didnʼt obtain the nine-star evolution potion, they still acquired an outstanding weapon.”

Wen Zhong grew impatient, tugging at his collar. ”What exactly are you trying to say?”

Ignoring him, Zhang Hetai continued, ”The demon crystals in our hands—some were obtained through hunting, but most came from... above.”

”Thatʼs because we completed their missions!” Wen Zhongʼs tone had already turned hostile. No one wanted to hear ”nagging” at the moment when they were seconds away from possibly obtaining a nine-star evolution potion—especially when that nagging was clearly ill-intentioned.

Zhang Hetai shook his head. ”Letʼs not kid ourselves, shall we? My dear Commander Wen, you may have survived last time, but did your brain get damaged in the process?”

”Do you want to duel me?”

”Haha, not interested!” Zhang Hetai was delighted to have provoked Wen Zhong. ”If missions of that difficulty could really reward level nine demon crystals, then nine-star evolved would be crawling all over the Chinese region by now!”

Wen Zhong had no rebuttal because Zhang Hetai was speaking the truth.

He took a deep breath and said solemnly, ”You didnʼt refuse either.”

”Correct.” Zhang Hetai nodded in acknowledgment. ”I didnʼt refuse, and I had no reason to. Iʼm no moral saint—I donʼt have ideological purity.”

”Then why the hell are you spouting nonsense?!” As Wen Zhong spoke, he moved to place the demon crystals into the slots.

But a hand firmly gripped his wrist.

Wen Zhong could have dodged, but he chose not to—he was afraid the other man might snatch the level nine demon crystals already in the slots.

”Donʼt push your luck!”

He issued Zhang Hetai a final warning.

”The rules need to change!” Zhang Hetai stood his ground.

”Bullshit!”

”The demon crystals belong to everyone. We canʼt just take turns spinning the wheel, because who knows when weʼll gather enough level nine crystals again? I propose that if the nine-star potion is obtained this time, Commander Ji should take it!”

Zhang Hetaiʼs words stunned both Ji Ruiguang and Wen Zhong. The former retracted the foot he had stepped forward to intervene with, while the latter flew into a rage.

”We already agreed!”

Indeed, they had previously discussed taking turns spinning the wheel. Ji Ruiguang, as the supreme commander and leader of the strongest zone, had contributed the most level-nine magic crystals—it was only natural for him to go first.

Wen Zhong was next, having obtained the second-most level-nine crystals. In terms of qualifications and connections, he also ranked above Zhang Hetai.

After Ji Ruiguang obtained the weapon from the level-nine wheel, the entire Resistance Zone had secretly mobilized to hunt level-nine lifeforms. After over a month of effort, three level-nines were killed, and combined with the remaining stock, they finally had enough for another spin.

Landing the nine-star potion would be ideal, but even other rewards would be acceptable. Regardless of the outcome, the zones that had already taken their turns would assist the others in hunting for more level-nine crystals.

Despite past failures, Ji Ruiguang had reestablished himself as the Resistance Zoneʼs strongest in recent years. No one opposed—or even had the right to oppose—his turn to spin the wheel.

But the agreed-upon order—Wen Zhong second, Zhang Hetai third—was now being challenged. Moreover, Zhang Hetaiʼs tactic was clever: he didnʼt demand the second spin for himself but instead pushed all benefits toward Ji Ruiguang.

Clearly, he didnʼt trust Wen Zhong—or simply refused to submit to him.

Would Ji Ruiguang object? Faced with the temptation of the nine-star potion, the commanderʼs silence spoke volumes.

Wen Zhong trembled with fury. He wasnʼt afraid of Zhang Hetai, but if Ji Ruiguang sided against him, he would be powerless.

”Fine! If thatʼs how it is, then no matter what we obtain, it goes to Commander Ji! Weʼll pour all our efforts into elevating him to nine-star evolved.”

Zhang Hetaiʼs expression stiffened slightly, but he nodded in agreement.

Ji Ruiguang smiled gratefully at both men and stepped up to the wheel. Gazing at the now-familiar rewards, he gave it a spin.

Everyone watched the pointer nervously, unsure where it would land.

Every reward on the level-nine wheel was unique—once obtained, it would disappear from the panel. Thus, the odds of success this time were slightly higher than before.

However, a one-in-nine chance still seemed too low to Ji Ruiguang. During his last spin, he had used an extremely rare Success Rate Boost Scroll, locking onto the nine-star potion for a near-20% success rate—and even that had failed.

Coupled with the fact that all the remaining rewards were excellent, Ji Ruiguang was actually the calmest among them.

But as the pointer slid across the panel, slowing gradually, even Ji Ruiguang grew tense—because... it looked like... it might just... land on it!

When the pointer finally stopped, everyone froze for two full seconds. Then, whether it was the usually ruthless Zhang Hetai, the temperamental Wen Zhong, or the steady Ji Ruiguang, all of them erupted into roars of exhilaration.

Nine-star potion!

They had spun the nine-star potion!

After the initial euphoria, Ji Ruiguangʼs hands trembled as he retrieved the potion. Wen Zhong and Zhang Hetai watched with burning envy.

But they didnʼt dare act. Against anyone else, they wouldnʼt have hesitated to strike—but not against Ji Ruiguang. They knew he had undoubtedly prepared countermeasures.

Just then, the heavily guarded perimeter outside suddenly grew chaotic. Ji Ruiguang swiftly stashed the potion in his spatial equipment, while Zhang Hetai and Wen Zhong assumed defensive stances.

Had some fool actually come to steal the nine-star potion? The audacity!

When the source of the disturbance drew closer, they realized it was a high-ranking intelligence officer, his expression unreadable.

”Whatʼs wrong?”

Ji Ruiguang knew this subordinate wasnʼt one to act rashly. Such behavior meant something major had happened.

”Commander, all of our carefully cultivated ʼeyesʼ in Cloud Peak Villa over the past few years... have been eliminated.” The officer panted as he delivered the news. ”They exposed themselves to relay one final message.”

”What message?” The commanders tensed, sensing what was coming.

”One day ago... Ye Zhongming reached nine-star evolved.”