Chapter 225: The Meat Grinder (Part VI)

Chapter 225: The Meat Grinder (Part VI)

Understanding dawned on Jie Fangcheng upon hearing this.

The Ghost Eye—it must refer to the pair of eyes Dongyue Shenjun acquired later.

"So it was you who killed Dongyue Shenjun," Jie Fangcheng's grip tightened once more.

Sensing his growing intent to kill, Xiaoqi hastily explained, "We were the perpetrators, but merely the instruments. Had we not taken up the mission, someone else would have, resulting in the same outcome."

Jie Fangcheng grasped her meaning.

She was implying that the true villain was someone else—the one who issued the private mission.

"Who posted this task?" Jie Fangcheng inquired.

"Ji Dai," Xiaoqi replied.

Jie Fangcheng, taken aback, questioned, "Who?"

Xiaoqi repeated the name, simultaneously jotting down the two characters for clarity.

A look of perplexity overcame Jie Fangcheng as he eyed Xiaoqi.

Even Xiaoqi felt a sense of bewilderment at that moment.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Faced with her puzzlement, Jie Fangcheng remained silent.

But the name Ji Dai... It was all too familiar.

Because Dongyue Shenjun's real name was Ji Dai.

If Xiaoqi's account was accurate, why would Dongyue Shenjun issue such a mission?

Moreover, as one of the guardians of the miniature world, how could Dongyue Shenjun assign private tasks to the players of "Three Thousand Worlds"?

Yet, if Xiaoqi was lying, Jie Fangcheng would have sensed it.

The person opposite him wasn't lying; at least, she was conveying the truth as she remembered it.

"What exactly is the function of the 'Ghost Eye' artifact?"

Everything remained an enigma, and Xie Fangcheng couldn't help but glance at Yan Xun beside him.

As if sensing his desire for a private conversation, the vehicle automatically split in two. Xie Fangcheng and Yan Xun were on one side, while Xiao Qi was on the other, separated like a detained criminal. An opaque barrier stood between them, blocking both sight and sound.

"What's wrong?" Yan Xun inquired.

With no outsiders around, Xie Fangcheng hurriedly voiced all his concerns and suspicions.

"So you're saying that in your mini-world, the guardian named Ji Dai, the East Mountain God, can assign private quests to the 'Three Thousand Worlds' players—quests that involve taking away your artifacts?"

"How is that any different from hiring someone to kill yourself?"

Xie Fangcheng was puzzled. "Yes. But I don't think he's been possessed. The East Mountain God has ruled the underworld for thousands of years, and ever since I've known him, the stability of his soul is beyond common comprehension."

Naturally. For the East Mountain God, who governs the underworld, it would be a massive joke if his soul weren't stable.

The idea of possession is out of the question. It's simply impossible.

"How long has this game existed?" Yan Xun asked.

"Huh?" Xie Fangcheng was unsure. "I never really asked about that."

Yan Xun deduced, "From the memories I have of Zhang Si Quan and Lu Jia, this game might have been in existence for a very long time... possibly even before the East Mountain God took his position."

Xie Fangcheng was taken aback before realizing Yan Xun's implication, "You're suggesting Ji Dai might have been a player, entering our mini-world and then becoming the East Mountain God I knew?"

Such a perspective had never crossed Xie Fangcheng's mind.

In his heart, even though not every 'Three Thousand Worlds' player was detestable, they were indeed plunderers of the mini-worlds.

These people entered the mini-worlds to wreak havoc, committing murders and arson.

Becoming a guardian of the mini-world? How could that be...

Suddenly, Xie Fangcheng realized that he, too, had become a player in the 'Three Thousand Worlds'.

Now, accompanying Yan Xun in search of a chance to save the world, his actions were indeed what a guardian would undertake.

"Could it be that when Ji Dai first entered the mini-world, he was touched by certain circumstances within, eventually staying behind to become its guardian?"

Simultaneously, Yan Xun suddenly posed another question.

"What happens if a player stays in the mini-world for an extended period?"

Although Xie Fangcheng didn't know the answer to this, there was someone else in the vehicle who might.

In the next second, the previously divided vehicle seamlessly merged back together, allowing Xiao Qi, who had been separated, to rejoin them.

Now, the one addressing her wasn't Xie Fangcheng but the courteous-looking gentleman.

"Hello."

The other party seemed very polite, so Xiao Qi responded with equal formality, "Hello."

"I'd like to ask, what would happen if you continued to stay in our hunting ground indefinitely?"

Xiao Qi hesitated, first turning her gaze towards Xie Fangcheng.

Xie Fangcheng responded brusquely, "Answer when you're asked! Why are you looking at me? Are you courting death?"

Xiao Qi quickly averted her eyes.

"If one remains in the hunting ground for too long, initially, it might be alright. But over time, one would be assimilated by the mini-world."

"Assimilated?"

"Yes, they might forget their identity as a player and truly believe they are merely an NPC within the hunting ground."

It might sound thrilling at first, given a player's formidable abilities. If undiscovered by the mini-world's guardians, they could wield power and influence.

But remember, hunting grounds are essentially collapsing mini-worlds!

Every player hopes to quickly complete their tasks and leave the hunting ground. No one can be certain that their hunting ground won't disintegrate due to the mini-world's collapse the very next moment.

Xie Fangcheng and Yan Xun exchanged glances.

Once again, the vehicle split in two, with the soundproof barrier reestablished between the three.

Without hesitation, Xie Fangcheng began, "So, it's possible that Ji Dai initially intended to enter my mini-world to complete a mission. But for some unknown reason, he ended up staying, got assimilated by the mini-world, and eventually became the East Mountain God I know today?"

This explanation seemed plausible, but it left Xie Fangcheng with a feeling of unease.

Excluding a few players like Zhan Xiaoming whom he met after joining the game, the character of the rest wasn’t much better than those in the "Do Not Respond" game.

Referring to the mini-world as a "hunting ground" implies that when the East Mountain God initially entered the world as a player, he might have had some kind of predatory objective.

Considering this, combined with his impressions of the East Mountain God's usual demeanor, everything felt off to Xie Fangcheng.

Yan Xun seemingly knew what he was thinking, "Perhaps he was like you, not here to exploit resources."

Xie Fangcheng looked at him.

Yan Xun analyzed, "'Satan' is one of the game's administrators. As one, what artifact can he not obtain? Why would he need to steal a used artifact from a player? So, this artifact holds a different significance to him... or perhaps, what truly matters is the mini-world you protect."

Xie Fangcheng was taken aback.

For easier understanding, Yan Xun projected a virtual screen right in front of him.

On the screen were several distinctly colored circles, which morphed continuously as Yan Xun explained.

"This fallen spirit named Xiao Qi, how strong is she?" Yan Xun inquired.

"Her strength? Maybe decent?" Xie Fangcheng responded, "Among the five, they are the rare ones who survived my sword strike."

The claim seemed arrogant, but paired with Xie Fangcheng's earnest expression, it carried weight.

Yan Xun then asked, "May I venture to ask, if you were to compare your strength with Satan's, who would be superior?"

"I don't know," Xie Fangcheng replied honestly, shaking his head.

His bravado was grounded in his own capabilities.

Although Xie Fangcheng could confidently state that in his world, his strength was indeed unparalleled.

Especially after the death of the East Mountain God and the collapse of the divine realm, Xie Fangcheng undoubtedly became the foremost entity in the mini-world, without even a rival demanding mutual destruction.

But this was within the "Three Thousand Worlds" game.

Facing unknown adversaries, Xie Fangcheng wouldn't foolishly proclaim, "I'm the best under the heavens."

However, one thing was certain: no matter who the opponent or how formidable their strength, Xie Fangcheng was fearless.

Fundamentally speaking, he and Zhang Daoan tread the same path.

Faced with the impending collapse of the mini-world, Yan Xun never once spoke of giving up.

Even when the landscape beyond Cangcui Island turned into a barren, lifeless desert, this rational robot never calculated the odds to reach a self-beneficial outcome.

Because they were guardians.

The mini-world placed all its hopes on its guardians, providing them with unparalleled support. This enabled Xie Fangcheng, even as a human, to possess god-slaying capabilities and allowed Yan Xun to perfectly divide himself, using his mechanical body to rejuvenate the mini-world.

Behind them were the other inhabitants of the world. If the guardians, the strongest of all, showed fear or hesitation, the mini-world's collapse would be inevitable and swift.

So, although his answer was "I don't know," Xie Fangcheng quickly added, "If I can't win now, I'll train more. I should be able to."

By "train," he genuinely meant rigorous practice, though it wasn’t the fondest of memories.

Yan Xun, however, had a more straightforward way to ascertain the answer.

The vehicle merged once more, and the partition that blocked their view and sound disappeared.

Yan Xun, ever the gentleman, nodded politely to Xiao Qi again.

Xiao Qi, still immersed in the grief of her comrade's death, found her sorrow interrupted for the second time.

The gesture was incredibly polite... and remarkably formal.

"Hello."

"…" Hadn't this just happened? Xiao Qi thought, hesitating before nodding back, "Hello."

"I'd like to ask, how strong is Satan?"

— Satan.

Hearing this name again, Xiao Qi involuntarily shuddered, her eyes filling with both sorrow and resentment.

"Satan is very powerful."

The leader of the Six Guilds was renowned among players.

As one of the leaders of the six major guilds, Satan is naturally quite renowned.

The demonic lineage within him is profoundly powerful. Given that inherently combative demons will not bow to a weaker king, one can only imagine Satan's strength.

Over the years, the six major guilds have always held an esteemed place in the hearts of players.

Although the six guild leaders rarely show themselves in public, there are numerous online posts about them.

The leader of the first guild is a pure human. Yet, rumors suggest that this pure human's strength is only second to the Stone Demon among the six leaders, ranking him third in the entire game.

As for Satan, the most common description of him online is "ruthless."

The fame of the Demon Domain arises from an event over 100 years ago when Satan trapped hundreds of players who voiced their dissatisfaction with his Demon Domain.

It was a demonstration.

In the end, only one out of the 100 plus players managed to escape, uploading the video onto the forum.

The grotesque scenes of dismembered limbs and players killing one another made many feel that the Demon Domain was even more terrifying than the dungeons.

Yet, as the current administrators of the game, the six guild leaders have long avoided the public eye.

Now, Satan has acted over a Class-A artifact.

Xiao Qi isn't naive; she's calculating the current situation in her mind.

The player seated ahead is genuinely terrifying; his strength is unparalleled.

Unconsciously, when Yan Yun asked about Satan's strength, Xiao Qi automatically compared Satan to Jie Fangcheng.

Perhaps due to the vast gap in strength between herself and the two, at that moment, Xiao Qi had the vague feeling that Jie Fangcheng might be even stronger than Satan.

But is that even possible?

After all, Satan is a leader of one of the six guilds and one of the game's administrators!

Her gaze was enough for Yan Yun to know the answer.

So, he continued, nodding politely, "Thank you."

With that said, the vehicle split in two.

Jie Fangcheng curiously asked, "She didn't say anything, yet you knew?"

"I could tell," Yan Yun smiled, "But if she were to articulate it herself, her 'rational mind' might convince her that Satan should be stronger than you."

It's a human trait. Humans find it challenging to gauge someone's genuine strength. Their judgment on power often gets influenced by social status, past experiences, and other perceptions, making it impossible to judge purely based on actual strength.

Just like Xiao Qi earlier, her hesitation indicated that her gut feeling was that Jie Fangcheng might be stronger, but reason made her think Satan was more potent.

After all, one is a guardian of an S-tier hunting ground, while the other is a game administrator; their titles alone signify a disparity.

"From what we know now, as one of the leaders of the six guilds, Satan killed three S-tier hunters for the 'Ghost Eye'. Then, he deliberately placed this fallen elf in front of our car—meaning he's keenly interested in this hunting ground. It's just a D-tier ground, why would a game administrator focus on such a low-tier field? Hence, he's truly interested in you."

"As for why he's interested in you... we have too few clues. I can only speculate." Despite saying this, countless streams of data flashed in the robot's pupils, showing that in just a short time, the robot had deduced a plausible explanation.

"The 'Ghost Eye', this artifact might not originally belong to Ji Dai; he might have stolen it. The small world you guard might be exceptionally unique."