Chapter 529: Public Opinion and the Ancient Mythological Era?

"I refuse to believe it!" Li Sansheng gritted his teeth, unwilling to admit defeat. He switched the difficulty to tier two and started playing again. Initially, the match was back and forth, but he still lost and began inserting more coins. Clearly, another person had fallen under the game's spell after Zhang Xiao. This new player seemed to have forgotten all about his unwavering love interest whom he was supposed to wait for in the Underworld, happily integrating into the "brick-moving" family.

After several attempts, the onlookers burst into laughter.

"Hurry up and get down!"

"Your fighting skills are terrible!"

"Lover boy, you're not cut out to be a King of Fighters!"

"Li Sansheng, you truly lack talent. You get flustered and your mind goes blank the moment you're under pressure." A Celestial being nearby couldn't stand it any longer. His hands started itching, and he laughed, "Let me have a try! I was once a very strong Celestial warrior in the Celestial Path! I've slain countless enemies and earned numerous merits. Let me show you my combat techniques!"

With that, he borrowed a coin, sat down at the arcade machine, and began to play.

"As expected of a combat genius Celestial, truly formidable!"

"If he had trained in King of Fighters '98 during his lifetime, he might have had a chance to reach the Seventh-Tier Heavenly Emperor!"

A crowd quickly gathered around, chattering excitedly, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an arcade hall from the 1990s. Sometimes, happiness was just that simple, unadorned, and monotonous.

Initially, when they first arrived on the Yellow Springs Road, waiting for reincarnation, there was significant prejudice among them, given the deep-seated racial enmities within the three paths. However, after some time "moving bricks" in the cycle of reincarnation and understanding that each person's next life would be different, the distinctions between factions faded. The idea that everyone was born equal in reincarnation gradually took root in their hearts, lessening the animosity.

In the live stream, viewers watched them play the game, a bustling scene.

"They're such a cute bunch of people."

"Wow, the Underworld! I love it!"

"The underworld's customs are so simple and pure."

"It makes me want to come in and farm, live in harmony, and help build this wonderful new home."

In just a few days, King of Fighters '98 in the Underworld quickly caught up in popularity with the well-known Samsara Daily, showing signs of parity. Players were happy to move bricks to earn coins, then use them to hone their combat skills, never tiring of the process.

Meanwhile, the reforms in the Underworld and the construction of Fengdu were fully underway.

What began as rudimentary core facilities—a road, a bridge—gradually transformed, becoming prosperous and truly beginning to resemble the vast Underworld described in myths!

"You've done very well," Shangguan Man praised Mao Tiao. She was also surprised; she never imagined that by simply stepping back, she could miraculously employ a group of deceased souls eager for reincarnation to help build the Underworld.

It was noteworthy that previously, everyone was jostling and queuing up to reincarnate, leading to extreme congestion. Now, the situation had almost completely reversed; they were reluctant to reincarnate.

Over the next half-month, Mao Tiao worked relentlessly, producing several arcade machines and deploying them in the combat booths.

Furthermore, the next phase of the plan, requiring significant manpower, involved a complete, large-scale recruitment drive. At the source of the Yellow Springs Road, a new advertisement was broadcast to incoming souls:

"Are you still saddened by your weak combat talent?"

"Are you still lamenting that after several cycles of reincarnation, you remain at the bottom, unable to become a powerful figure and dominate the world?"

"Come to King of Fighters '98! Train in reincarnation, forge your future with your sweat! Let the hardships of this life write the glory of your next! Engrave combat instincts deep into your bones and soul, and carry them into your next life! I await you here!"

This advertisement quickly captivated the hearts of all newcomers to reincarnation.

In this ancient world with its simple customs, they had never seen such exciting slogans, which completely entranced them and made them unable to tear themselves away from the game.

Outside, the live stream's influence expanded dramatically, and the internet was abuzz with discussions.

The true limitless possibilities: the first virtual reality open-world sandbox MMORPG? In the Underworld of this online game, writing novels, manufacturing arcade machines! And even starting advertisements!

At this time, a Weibo article about this topic firmly held the top spot on the trending list.

After all, this was the public's first encounter with a truly mass-market online game, and it had only been open for a few days. Everyone was eagerly discussing Mao Tiao's actions as a player, with many cursing and condemning them.

"Regarding that advertisement, it's actually based on a very simple advertising psychology: giving buyers a reason to convince themselves to purchase. For instance, if it's cheap due to a discount, beneficial for health, or lays a foundation for the future, they often convince themselves and become engrossed."

"Those who devised the plan were most likely the same master marketers who tricked online shoppers into excessive spending, having crafted a detailed proposal."

"You're messing up this ancient world with its simple customs and the ambiance of the Underworld by injecting the garbage of Earth culture and poisoning them!"

Many condemned it, exclaiming "shameless."

After all, people's initial fantasies had been beautiful.

The futuristic online games depicted in novels, science fiction, and movies—donning virtual helmets, entering game pods, and experiencing wonderful alternate worlds!

But now, everyone realized that while dreams were rich, reality was stark. With players flooding into a world of extreme freedom, how could chaos not ensue? Writing novels, marketing, farming, and various absurd behaviors followed one after another, an overwhelming array!

At this point, many female players who had hoped to enjoy a pleasant, "exotic travel" like experience in the game burst into tears.

"Waaah, my mom told me fairy tales are lies! You damned idiots, still live-streaming?! The whole aesthetic has changed! Please, stop this!"

"The beautiful alternate world, ancient taverns full of delicacies, various delicious fruits on the streets, martial artists leaping across rooftops with grand aspirations—it was all a deception... As soon as players entered, the aesthetic instantly became plastered with advertisements, bicycles started appearing on the streets, and even newspapers..."

Many began to loudly advocate for environmental protection, urging everyone to start with themselves and maintain ecological peace in the alternate world. With the emergence of the first holographic virtual reality MMORPG, they argued it was both the best of times and the era that demanded the most self-discipline. Players should not destroy the customs and traditions of the alternate world, or they would be the ones to suffer.

"Self-discipline? How is that possible? It's difficult to stop them from acting this way!"

Some experts were very clear on this point, even appearing on CCTV news discussion programs.

Click!

The TV turned off.

Xu Zhi simply shook his head and smiled.

He knew perfectly well that this was bound to happen. After all, launching a virtual reality era interface to the public meant inevitably facing the associated storms.

This was precisely why he had been reluctant to venture into online games previously; he just wanted to quietly farm. Though now, he couldn't be bothered by how much fuss they made or what they discussed about online games. What did it have to do with him?

Public opinion was irrelevant to him.

He only needed to peacefully continue his farming.

On the other hand, due to all the public discussion, the live stream gained even more viewers.

They then began discussing new topics. After all, the current arcade machines could only challenge third-tier powerhouses. The biggest technical problem was how to increase the difficulty. The most straightforward method was to boost the combat speed, essentially increasing the frame rate to allow for dozens of attacks within a single second. While modern Earth science and technology could barely achieve this, ordinary human eyes couldn't perceive such rapid motion.

However, with the current conditions and equipment in the Underworld, this was difficult, and continuously increasing the screen speed seemed like a desperate measure.

A renowned young professor from the real world, in his thirties—an age typically open to new ideas and part of the generation that grew up with King of Fighters—joined the discussion.

"Perhaps we shouldn't increase the speed of screen changes, but rather the difficulty of button presses. For example, for Tier 3, a combo requires 8 button presses; for Tier 4, 16; for Tier 5, 68..."

"That would make hand speed insane! But it's certainly a viable solution!"

"Also, since it's the eighteen layers of hell, there should naturally be eighteen levels. Characters from King of Fighters alone aren't enough! There need to be other characters, and their prestige must be high enough. What characters do you all suggest?"

"They should have a Chinese style!"

Amidst their continuous discussions, they gradually ironed out the details.

Days later, new, improved arcade booths appeared, pushing the difficulty all the way to the Heavenly Emperor realm.

Zhang Xiao received the news and was incredibly excited. This time, he didn't want to be watched, so he didn't even tell Li Sansheng. He hastily abandoned the construction project and secretly made his way to the combat booth alone.

"Huh? So many more levels?"

His eyes widened, and he frowned slightly, then rubbed his palms together, a smile spreading across his face. He had the joyful, expectant look of a devoted gamer encountering a new game version. "The later difficulties are open now. I wonder what terrifying entities are imprisoned beyond ancient powerhouses like Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami?"

Confidently, he skipped the lower tiers and directly selected the Heavenly Emperor level, seventh difficulty combat.

In the mission selection, he saw a collection of distinguished, elegant, and ethereal figures, exuding an extraordinary and mysterious aura. He randomly chose one: a person with long white hair draped over their shoulders, an imposing presence like an unparalleled jade prince, wearing a lotus crown, carrying a sword sheath on their back, holding a whisk in one hand, a golden leaf in the other, and with a cinnabar mole between their brows.

"Su Huan-Jen"

These three characters appeared before his eyes. Simultaneously, a voice emerged, softly and melodiously reciting an elegant poetic title with a Minnan accent:

Half-god, half-sage, half-immortal; fully Confucian, fully Daoist, completely virtuous.In his mind, true texts are hidden in countless scrolls; he commands half the heavens in both wisdom and martial arts.

"This...?!"

Zhang Xiao had been excited, but suddenly his hands began to tremble.

Such an astonishing poetic title made him feel an incredible, terrifying pressure wash over him, as if it was narrating the life of an unparalleled, magnificent powerhouse!

He quickly pondered,

"Su Huan-Jen... This person has certainly never appeared in history; I've never heard of them in the Celestial Path or the Mortal Path... Why are they detained here now? Suffering the torment of reincarnation?! Could they be from not this era, but... ancient myths?"

He took a deep breath, realizing that this might be a shocking secret.

"Was there a great secret in ancient times? Are terrifying, world-shaking ancient beings suppressed in the Underworld?"

As he thought, his mouth suddenly went dry. He began to suppress the complex emotions of tension, panic, and fear intertwined within him. This person, suppressed deep within hell, was likely at least a Heavenly Emperor. Perhaps, they were a legendary "god" who had been imprisoned?

Yet, currently, only a few Heavenly Emperors had emerged in the Celestial Path, and he himself was the first Heavenly Emperor in the Mortal Path.

In the current era, Heavenly Emperors were already rare. And beyond the Seventh-Tier Heavenly Emperor, were there Eighth-Tier True Gods?

Too many mysteries began to plague him, making him grip the joystick, almost afraid to imagine.

He had endured all sorts of bizarre phenomena in the Underworld, developing extremely high resistance, and even felt a strange gratitude towards Emperor Yun for killing him, which allowed him to come to the Underworld of reincarnation after death and witness such incredible, mysterious sights.

He looked at the next character, whose aura was even more indescribable. Dressed in imperial robes, exuding a subtle pressure, the character's name completely stunned him.

"Heavenly Emperor of Abandonment."

Another verse was recited:

The bitter dual realms encounter demonic calamity, gods descend as the apocalypse approaches the mortal world.The Cloud Crossing Immortal Realm also falls, the remaining lives of the Nine Provinces seek truth.Chord Master Zhu Wu defies the heavens, the innate masters of the three teachings turn the tide.The path of the sword reappears as the Mark of Wind, and Brahma will ultimately meet the Heavenly Emperor of Abandonment.

"This, this, this! Who exactly is this Heavenly Emperor of Abandonment? How dare they take a name like 'Abandoned Heaven'?!... With such a life story, calling them a Heavenly Emperor seems insufficient. Could these indeed be true gods? Or gods with incredibly heaven-defying combat power?" His pupils widened completely as he gazed at each figure behind the glass of the Hell Gate. He felt as if he was witnessing a magnificent ancient mythical era from countless eons ago, where ancient powerhouses roared, bringing disaster and destruction, perhaps even linked to a legendary supreme being!

He suddenly remembered the mysterious Sovereign who governed reincarnation. Why was the vast Underworld empty, with only that one person remaining? Where had everyone else gone?

The Celestial Path and Mortal Path had only developed for a mere three hundred years so far. Where had the preceding ages gone?

What was the mysterious origin of the Six Paths of Reincarnation?

"The Underworld is now governed by only one mysterious Sovereign. Could it be a transformation of the Six Paths of Reincarnation? Was the Underworld seized? Was there a brutal struggle? Did they succeed, leaving only the leader to govern the Underworld? Or did the coup fail, resulting in everyone being suppressed, and the original ruler of the Underworld being the only one left, now beginning to recruit again?"

The more Zhang Xiao thought, the more he trembled.

Even with his great ambition and strategic mind, he secretly swallowed hard. He thought to himself, if this information got out, it would surely cause a huge uproar. But sadly, how could it spread? Even they themselves would forget! Even the Mortal Path and Celestial Path had no idea about the structure or name of the Underworld, this incredibly mysterious afterlife.

"Even if I know too many horrors, I will eventually forget them." He looked at the next figure, who exuded a carefree and jovial aura.

"Nan Feng Bu Jing"

Another poetic title:

Northern horses gallop with arrogance, Southern winds sing until death.

*Hiss...*

Simply unbelievable!

Another powerful figure.

Perhaps much weaker than the Heavenly Emperor of Abandonment, but certainly far stronger than himself.

Zhang Xiao had always advanced fearlessly throughout his life, never knowing cowardice or dread. But now, it felt as if someone had doused him entirely with ice water, soaking him through. A strong sense of dizziness and a chill swept over him.

He observed each character, all possessing an ethereal presence and unparalleled grace. Each poetic title was short yet refined, offering a unique charm upon careful consideration, as if revealing the magnificent and brilliant lives of ancient, mythical heroes.

"Fuying Zhaizhu"

Poetic title:

Delicate orchids and proud plums are admired by the world, yet few discern the subtle fragrance hidden within.Not vying with a hundred flowers for splendor, I alone cherish the single branch of sparse cherry blossoms for its fragrance.

He looked closely and found there were actually hundreds of characters in total.

Zhang Xiao sat in front of the arcade machine, turning the joystick, completely dumbfounded.

It truly lived up to its name, the Gate of Hell, suppressing so many terrifying beings and subjecting them to such cruel torture. They were forced to fight relentlessly day and night, endlessly in place, and even worse, allowed weaker individuals to manipulate their bodies and control them at will with just a coin. This was truly the greatest humiliation for the powerful!