Chapter 293: Land of Birth (Part Thirty-One)

Chapter 293: Land of Birth (Part Thirty-One)

Dao'an suddenly spoke.

The chairman paused, then shook his head: “I never thought of it that way.”

“You didn't? Then why do you look so aggrieved?” Dao'an asked, “Dragon God created the game, and could've killed all six of you to preserve its integrity, yet chose to spare you. But you've ruined the game so utterly, and now—”

Dao'an's voice held a hint of mockery: “Now, one of the culprits stands before the victim, playing the aggrieved?”

The victim.

Upon hearing this label, not just the chairman, but even Fang Cheng was taken aback.

He was truly too powerful, omnipotent, supreme among all.

The term “victim” seems to be exclusively for the weak.

The chairman had never considered the Dragon God a victim.

In his eyes, someone as powerful as Dragon God…

“For someone like Dragon God, if he willingly chose to fall for the sake of the game's players, then he sacrificed for all the players. What does that have to do with you six?”

The chairman was momentarily stunned, then a chill ran down his spine.

Dao'an... It seemed as if he could see right through his thoughts.

The original system, a mere product of pure technology, did not possess this capability.

That was indeed what the chairman had thought.

Dao'an glanced at him, humming in agreement: “So, you think you're not one of the players of ‘Three Thousand Worlds’?”

——Exactly.

In the chairman's mind, he wasn't an ordinary player.

He was a game administrator, the prestigious leader of one of the six major guilds.

Dragon God sacrificed for the players of "Three Thousand Worlds". The chairman was touched by the deity's dedication to the game and acknowledged Dragon God's benevolence and greatness. Yet, he never once believed that Dragon God also sacrificed for their six.

While Dao'an continued to suppress the surrounding black data streams, he casually remarked, “You think you’re an exemplary administrator of this game. But you blame the game's current state on the deceased Dragon God. What are you thinking? Aren't you the game's administrator? Why are its flaws never your fault, yet its successes always your merit? Dragon God single-handedly created the game – he gets no credit; he willingly died to ensure 'Three Thousand Worlds' remained untainted – he gets no credit. Your group, with your selfishness, modified the rules to seek immortality, ruining the game – yet you think you've contributed positively, and all mistakes are Dragon God’s?”

“It’s really…”

The ever-graceful Professor Dao'an revealed a mocking smile, refraining from voicing the harsh words on his lips.

Perched upon the Tree of Life, Nie Shuangshuang, with the whispered explanations of Guan Yingying beside her, had come to understand the full story. She was left wide-eyed and dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Damn... They're beasts!” she exclaimed, “I thought Ji Chaoyang was the worst, but here's someone even more monstrous!”

Guan Yingying hurriedly continued, “Ji Chaoyang is a pawn, a subordinate of the chairman.”

“Damn it! Twice the beast!”

The chairman had been in power for so long that a mere glance from him would convey his intentions to other players.

In this game, even without the Creator God, what really differentiated him from a deity?

It had been ages since he'd heard such crude and blunt insults directed at him. The chairman, who had been maintaining his image, felt a sudden surge of anger.

He directed the black data streams to charge towards Nie Shuangshuang.

But before it could approach the Tree of Life, a massive sword swept away the oncoming black streams.

Xie Fangcheng asked sincerely, “Did you think I was actually dead?”

That one strike sent the chairman crashing to the ground. He lay there, momentarily, closing his eyes in defeat.

He had lost.

With the reincarnation of the Dragon God before him, and with the system aiding from the side, he had no chance of victory.

Dao'an's words had stripped him bare, yet the chairman still tried to maintain the posture of a superior player.

He cast a final glance towards Xie Fangcheng and Dao'an in the distance.

If that's the case…

This time, Dao'an didn’t even spare him a glance. With a wave of his hand, the white data streams, as if under his direct command, swiftly approached the chairman, binding him.

The chairman managed a bitter smile, “You don't need to guard against me anymore, I'm willing to…”

“Sacrifice yourself for this game? Spare me the melodrama. It's nauseating.”

Finally, Dao'an rose to his feet.

From the point beneath him, the white data streams spread out like a highly contagious virus, expanding rapidly.

Although it was a battle between data, the black streams disintegrated like dying insects, emitting faint mechanical screeches.

The black data filling the chairman's body desperately tried to flee. Almost in a blink, the giant-like chairman shrunk back to human size.

He watched all of this, somewhat dazed.

“If you had the power to restrain the current system, why bother arguing with me for so long? Was it to buy time?”

Xie Fangcheng stood with his sword, feeling quite bored.

He asked Dao'an, “Ah, have you finished?”

“There are still some minor tasks left. I need to retrieve some fragments... But there's no rush. I’ve already secured control over the main operating system of ‘Three Thousand Worlds’.”

The chairman, seemingly ignored, furrowed his brow, “I know how the system can be better controlled, and I'm willing to share my expertise...”

Xie Fangcheng cleared his ear, “So, what's next? Head back to the Underworld?”

“Let's return to the Underworld first. This game requires more staff.”

Understanding, Xie Fangcheng, noticing Cui Jue's team of ghostly enforcers still looking perplexed, leaned in and whispered to Dao'an, “Calling for reinforcements? Is it busy here?”

Dao'an replied softly, “It’s expected to be quite busy. All the unsuitable district heads and other managers across the major regions need to be dealt with. Players are accustomed to paying lingering points, and that needs to change promptly. We must facilitate those who don't want to continue struggling in instances to live in other affiliated worlds... Many tasks require personnel from the Underworld.”

“Ah! Then I definitely don’t want to be selected,” Xie Fangcheng immediately responded.

“Don’t worry. You'll have to come back with me. We need to study how to seal the initial rift.”

“Oh!”

The two chatted as if no one else was around. The chairman, initially trying to persuade them, eventually resorted to heart-wrenching screams.

Wasn't he their adversary?!

Wasn't he the one they should be most concerned about now?!

Why were they ignoring him?!

This neglect was the chairman's ultimate indignation.

Back when he had slain the Dragon God, though he shouldn't have, the chairman had, at the moment of Dragon God's demise, felt a surge of triumph.

Such a formidable god, in the end, was vanquished by him and trampled beneath his feet.

It wasn't as simple as crushing an ant; it was akin to an ant taking down a human, a monumental feat.

He believed Xie Fangcheng and Dao'an should fear him, see him as a major threat, and seize any opportunity to secure even the slightest advantage.

Yet, after Xie Fangcheng's awakening, the chairman felt... as if he had returned to the times when the Dragon God was still present.

He was but an ant.

Not an adversary worthy of the Dragon God's attention.

Only after Xie Fangcheng and Dao'an finished their conversation did the chairman finally catch their attention.

Deprived of the support from the black data streams and stripped of his administrative rights, he now looked as he did when he first entered "Three Thousand Worlds."

He was an ordinary human, with dark skin and thick fingers from years of toiling in the soil.

He was specially permitted by Dragon God to come to "Three Thousand Worlds" from the initial land.

In that land, he was a kind-hearted and sincere man, always helping others despite his own hardships.

After a brief rest, Dragon God inadvertently glanced down and noticed this noble-hearted man, offering the ever-praying individual a choice.

Now, having shed the modified appearance of the "chairman", Xie Fangcheng looked at him.

“Liu Er.”

This was the “chairman’s” name. But when the Dragon God, who once brought him to "Three Thousand Worlds", uttered this name again, the chairman didn't immediately recognize it as his own.

When did that change?

Was it when he altered the rules in pursuit of immortality?

Was it when he was chosen as the chairman of one of the six major guilds due to his diligence?

Or was it the moment he first learned some knowledge, disliked his own name, and decided to change it?

It didn't matter anymore.

Ghostly aura emanated from Xie Fangcheng. The “chairman” opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but no one listened.

He reached out, seemingly trying to grasp something, but caught nothing.

After the six chairmen of the major guilds obtained administrative rights to "Three Thousand Worlds", their first action was to change the rules, granting themselves eternal life.

Now, with all six punished, Xie Fangcheng, who executed the deed, merely sheathed his sword, signaling as if nothing had transpired, and casually addressed those still hanging onto the Tree of Life.

“Let’s go!”

The game currently faces many issues. Reforming its atmosphere is urgent. Furthermore, District D remains under "The Emperor's" control... Not just him, as the game evolved, those without conscience often fared better, becoming a cancer within the game. Rooting them out is paramount. Countless other pressing matters await attention...

However daunting the tasks may seem, there will come a day they are completed.

Of course, Xie Fangcheng plans to delegate these responsibilities.

He's self-aware.

He excels in combat, not management.

Look at the six administrators he chose; it might’ve been better not to choose at all!

Such tasks should be left to those adept at them, like Professor Dao'an...

“Brother Xie!” A slap landed abruptly on Xie Fangcheng's shoulder.

Completely unexpected!

Though Jie Fangcheng just had an atmosphere of chilling winds and an aura as if ghosts dominated the skies, his true form only awakened less than half an hour ago. He's still in the recovery phase.

If Nie Shuangshuang truly intended to kill him, Jie Fangcheng might've been able to dodge.

But Nie Shuangshuang's strike was merely playful.

Jie Fangcheng staggered forward from her slap, almost toppling to the ground. Fortunately, Zhang Dao'an was beside him, catching him just in time.

Jie Fangcheng is furious!

Damn! He has fought the president and never sustained such severe injuries!

Zhang Dao'an also turned to look behind.

Guan Yingying, with her quick reflexes, pushed Nie Shuangshuang to the back.

Cui Jue was right beside Jie Fangcheng. He had something to discuss. Seeing Jie Fangcheng turn his head, Cui Jue seemed oblivious to what had just happened and started chanting with a frown.

"Manager Jie, this game's atmosphere is terribly corrupt. The administrator, driven by selfish motives, harms countless beings. I believe we need to establish an underworld branch here! To punish the wicked and promote the good! How can people become so corrupted?!"

"Mhm, yes, yes, alright."

The crowd behind was still chattering away.

"Wow, did we just save the world?"

"You sure have a big ego. Did we really save it?"

"Brother Jie is the DPS, surely we count as the Tank, right?"

"Who's the Tank?"

The group continuously muttered, yet at a glance, they looked like displaced refugees fleeing disaster.

They kept reviving and retrying, buying time for Zhang Dao'an.

Although Zhang Dao'an was in a simulation, death wasn't real, but the pain still felt real.

Dying and reviving over and over again was torturous for ordinary people. Among those present were not only players but also a third who were ghostly envoys.

Even the envoys, who were accustomed to the cycle of life and death, looked a bit pale after several revivals.

Yet, the players seemed relatively unfazed.

After all, for players who had once struggled in "Do Not Respond", being able to revive after death in a dungeon? My God, what a heavenly dungeon this is.

After Zhang Dao'an activated the teleportation point, everyone lined up to teleport back.

When it was Nie Shuangshuang's turn, she coughed lightly, appearing a bit coy.

"Brother Jie, are you okay from earlier?"

A hint of amusement touched Jie Fangcheng's lips as he listened, but wanting to tease her, he was about to speak with a stern face when his expression suddenly shifted.

He and Zhang Dao'an exchanged glances.

Confused, Nie Shuangshuang queried, "Brother Jie?"

In the next moment, even she sensed it—

"Damn! Is it an earthquake?!"

A thunderous rumble echoed.

The ground trembled as if even the heavens were quaking.

Players yet to be teleported were left perplexed as cracks started to form around the teleportation point.

Jie Fangcheng drew his massive sword once again. Zhang Dao'an, at his side, gripped his hand tightly, a frown marring his brow, a rare sign of distress.

However, after locking eyes with Jie Fangcheng, Zhang Dao'an slowly released his grip.

"Once they're safely teleported, I'll come to find you."

This time, Jie Fangcheng shook his head.

"This is a battle only I can partake in."

A dense ghostly aura enveloped Jie Fangcheng once more.

His heterochromatic eyes— one black, one white—gazed downwards.

The surrounding area seemed to hint at an ascending maelstrom of chaotic energies.

It was nature.

For the fallen dragon... had "resurrected" once again.