Chapter 276: Land of Birth (Part Thirteen)

Chapter 276: Land of Birth (Part Thirteen)

The visual grid suddenly shattered.

Zhen Dao Wu finally glimpsed how this game, which once infuriated countless players, came to be.

Like skyscrapers rising from flatland, using the power of the Ghost Eyes, Ji Dai extracted scenes from his memories, creating numerous instances.

Prior to this, he had outsourced some IT programmers from the underworld—after all, even with the Ghost Eyes, Ji Dai, having no computer foundation, couldn't rapidly create "Do Not Answer."

Eventually, he managed to replicate the original version of "Three Thousand Worlds" with the Ghost Eyes' assistance, giving birth to the new game "Do Not Answer."

"Originally, my intention was to absorb spirits willing to enter the game, allowing them to accumulate Yin energy within. Once they became strong enough, they could proceed to [Reincarnation Trials]... Since you've reached Sector F and heard my last words, you might already know: the so-called ​1​ mean entering the small worlds linked by 'Three Thousand Worlds', completing their instances, and becoming players of 'Three Thousand Worlds'."

The Eastern Mountain Deity didn't explain how he managed to link "Do Not Answer" to the small worlds of "Three Thousand Worlds" or how he made spirits flow upstream.

But seeing him now, not only devoid of Yin energy but also with cracks in his soul, one can imagine the difficulties he faced and the price he paid.

"But up to now, all players who entered the [Reincarnation Trials] have perished. No one has successfully completed the instances. Even if the rules of 'Do Not Answer' rely on the present 'Three Thousand Worlds' and even if players capable of entering ​2​ are powerful, there's still no hope."

"Including your mother... I thought she'd be the exception."

Zhen Dao Wu furrowed his brows, "Voluntarily? But many people in the game were forced to come..."

Upon hearing this, Ji Dai tilted his head slightly, a look of helplessness on his face.

"I can't hear you, for all my senses have vanished. But I surmise you might be asking, 'Why create a game with such negative influences? Isn't this exploiting people's goodwill?'"

Ji Dai "looked" at him, but in reality, the nearly dissipated soul of the Eastern Mountain Deity couldn't truly see.

The once righteous and benevolent Eastern Mountain Deity, who always stood before mortals as their protector, now seemed on the verge of crumbling, his countenance fraught with confusion.

"Truthfully... I've internally resented, wondering why, in the end, the Dragon God didn't slay the six chairmen of the major guilds but instead allowed them to continue ruling 'Three Thousand Worlds'. Couldn't he foresee that under their stewardship, the game would degenerate into its current state?"

"It wasn't until I created 'Do Not Answer'—"

Suddenly, right before him, Zhen Dao Wu relived the early stages of "Do Not Answer" as the memories shifted.

The first batch of spirits invited into the game by the Eastern Mountain Deity were all handpicked for their goodness and righteousness.

Even though it's a horror game and has links to "Three Thousand Worlds," all instance rules in "Do Not Answer" follow those of "Three Thousand Worlds".

It was indeed bleak and terrifying.

But these pioneer players, like fertile soil brimming with passion, laid the foundation for the player's hall and crafted resting zones for players. Despite the harsh game rules, they remained true to their principles.

"Rong Hua" was not the first resilient white lotus to blossom in the muddy quagmire.

The Eastern Mountain Deity was relieved.

He couldn't monitor the game all the time—firstly, he was preoccupied with finding suitable spirits for the game; secondly, his health was deteriorating... or rather, he shared the same affliction as the Elf King.

The reason the Elf King was petrifying, nearing death, was because she had transferred the black data flow entwined around the Tree of Life to herself.

For the Eastern Mountain Deity, both counter-flowing the River of Reincarnation and creating such a game were actions that defied the Heavenly Order.

In other words, he altered his own rules.

But he differed from the six chairmen of the major guilds.

Those chairmen, in order to maintain control over the game post-rule alterations and not be repelled by the rules, changed the rules for the entire "Three Thousand Worlds".

That's why "Three Thousand Worlds" didn't reject them, and they held administrative privileges.

However, this essentially shifted the consequences of rule alterations to all players—making "Three Thousand Worlds" akin to a dam infested with countless wormholes, ready to collapse with a mere push against its rules.

Ji Dai was different.

Before regaining his memories, he was one of the most potent protectors of the Origin Land, with a strength nearly akin to a creator god of a lower-tier realm.

Only due to the Dragon God's decree, he couldn't wield the Heavenly Rules. He couldn't alter or create the rules of an entire world like the Dragon God once did.

Yet, it could alter the rules within its realm.

—Much like a Creator with rules different from the Origin Land arriving here. The cosmic laws would instinctively repel him, aiming to obliterate him.

So once the game was on the right track, the Eastern Mountain Deity rarely paid it any attention.

He was concerned that his unique set of rules might harm the game, but deep within, he believed he had done everything in his power.

To ensure the game's smooth operation, he selected an honest programmer, one who, during his lifetime, had never crossed moral boundaries. The programmer had been passionate about charity, a truly good soul.

The deity, Dongyue Shenjun, didn't completely relinquish control. While unable to monitor the game continuously, Ji Dai would periodically review the programmer's progress reports. Moreover, he incentivized him with a promise: should the spirits in the game grow strong enough to transition through the "Reincarnation Training" portal into the "Three Thousand Worlds" and establish a foothold there, Dongyue would bestow upon him divine merits and blessings.

Whether it was the lure of immortality or the promise of a prosperous destiny through generations, such temptations were irresistible for an ordinary spirit.

The programmer had consistently performed well. A reticent man of commendable skills, his reports were impeccable.

Until the day he discovered the programmer controlling the game had vanished.

Though the game remained, Dongyue Shenjun's concerns about his rules possibly affecting the game were overshadowed. He sat at the computer, trying to access the game's backend.

Yet, he no longer possessed the administrative rights.

Dongyue Shenjun's trust in an ordinary programmer wasn't without foundation.

The Book of Life and Death, which had developed a semblance of self-awareness, was the manifestation of the Dragon God's power and the essential energy source to activate the game.

Ordinary spirits couldn't access the book; only beings of Judge status or higher could.

The programmer lacked the qualifications to touch the Book of Life and Death, and he had always seemed so unassuming.

"I've often wondered why the Dragon God, a grand and formidable Creator God, didn't give more thought to the selection of administrators. How did he end up choosing those six chairmen?"

"I forgot... people change."

For the Dragon God, a brief nap beneath the Tree of Life equated to millennia in the outside world.

He embodies eternity.

Similarly, Dongyue Shenjun knew people changed. Yet, from his elevated position as the "Dongyue Shenjun", even after regaining his memories, a human's lifespan of sixty years seemed but a fleeting moment.

The original six chairmen were handpicked by the Dragon God. The predecessor of the six guilds functioned like neighborhood committees, serving the player community.

These chairmen earned the Dragon God's favor, and in the beginning, they were indeed competent administrators.

A distant, grating sound resonated.

It was a tone that sent chills down one's spine.

Zhen Dao Wu was still immersed in memories, pondering the information revealed by the Eastern Mountain Deity before him.

According to the memories, the original creator of "Three Thousand Worlds" was a benevolent dragon. However, he realized that his growing power would reach a threshold where it would pose unimaginable threats to the game — similar to how a massive celestial body attracts smaller ones, his presence would draw the power of the rules towards him.

Knowing this, he was aware that the six administrators he appointed intended to slay him, yet he was prepared to face his demise.

What he hadn't anticipated was that these six successors were no longer mere managers of the "Resident Committee." They aspired to become new gods.

Before his death, the Dragon God enacted one final rule, ensuring that this world would no longer have a Creator God.

After his death, Jidai returned to the origin realm and created "Do Not Respond", hoping that through this game, he could select some formidable players to enter "The Three Thousand Worlds". This wasn't just for the Dragon God, but also for the now crumbling origin realm.

Yet, Zhang Dao wasn't one to bolster his enemies' morale at his own expense.

Indeed, he and his three companions had arrived in "The Three Thousand Worlds", but their combined strength was insufficient to even challenge Ji Chaoyang.

Being a savior... this wasn’t a place where mere passion could genuinely save the world.

Even though he had glimpsed some past events through Dongyue God's memories, Zhang Dao couldn’t help but ask himself — what could he possibly do?

It seemed there was a collision in the external world. Zhang Dao's mental space was no longer stable enough for him to view memories that weren't his own. Even the lingering spirit of Dongyue God appeared distorted, as if displayed on a malfunctioning screen.

Dongyue God sensed it too.

He turned his gaze to Zhang Dao.

Zhang Dao looked back, first in surprise, and then a chill gripped his heart.

"I apologize... once again, I'll have to attempt to take your life."

A pair of ghostly eyes swirled in Dongyue God's eyes, accompanied by what seemed to be an electronic beep.

[Beep — Login... Failed.]

[Beep — Permission not granted... Please... try again later.]

[Beep — Re-login.]

[Beep — Copying the first version of "The Three Thousand Worlds"...]

Suddenly, an overwhelming amount of data—far beyond what Zhang Dao could handle—began to replicate within his mental space. The sheer volume of this data instantly pushed his own memories to the periphery.

As Zhang Dao's mental space forcibly expanded, his own memories started fading at an alarming rate.

Innumerable foreign memories and data flooded his brain.

— The world's collapse rate is already at 70%. It's dangerous! But don't worry, I'll protect all of you!

— Brother Liu! Please, don't die!

— Let's add each other as friends when we get back. Let's hang out in D-Zone! I heard the Elves are having a festival. It's going to be a blast!

— No need to thank me. I survived this long because older players helped me in the past... Let's team up in the future and help even more players!

— Don't be scared. Once we exit this dungeon, I'll take you to see Lord Poseidon. He's the king of our Merfolk, a truly benevolent ruler. He'll surely cure you.

— We aim to create a perfect game.

— Right! Leave the world-saving to this Rock Ghost! Hahahaha!

"Stop playing around and come here! This pocket dimension is about to collapse!"

"Is it so..."

Zhang Dao felt as if he were sinking into a fathomless ocean abyss.

His consciousness blurred, only seeing countless overlapping silhouettes on the shoreline.

That was the original "Three Thousand Worlds", the world Jidai hoped to restore.

So, is the idea now to sacrifice him for the sake of many?

Zhang Dao tried to speak, but when he opened his mouth, he was overwhelmed by a suffocating sensation of drowning.

Just then, an electronic voice sounded.

[Beep — Unauthorized replication detected for player: Zhang Dao. Game copy operation halted.]

[Attempting to establish connection with [System]. Please wait.]