Chapter 534: Antagonist

It was an epiphany for many in the live stream. Upon closer consideration, they found the reasoning sound: no matter how much history was fabricated, loopholes would always appear because what was false would always remain false. Allowing them to fill in the blanks within an aura of vague mystery was the best approach. The biggest advantage of this method was not merely its convenience; even if inconsistencies arose, they would simply believe they had misunderstood.

"He's not to be underestimated! The Emperor of the Hall of Reincarnation clearly appears to be an extremely intelligent individual."

"This tactic is remarkably simple, yet we never would have thought of it."

"Hahaha! We've learned another trick!"

"Still, no matter how clever he is, he can't possibly imagine that millions of us are watching him live."

"Exactly! What does his intelligence matter? We're observing him from another dimension; that thought fills me with pride!"

The entire live stream audience was engrossed, as the first supreme NPC of this online game appeared and its complete world-building was unveiled.

A user named "I'm keeping a blacklist for those who scold me" sent a Super Rocket.

"Thank you so much for the gift, benefactor!" Cat Jump was startled and quickly expressed his gratitude for the gift. Given that it was a Super Rocket right off the bat, it was clear this was a major donor, so he quickly tried to curry favor.

After all, with the advent of this online game, the market price of Meditation Coins had instantly skyrocketed, reaching five yuan per Meditation Coin. This was equivalent to a real-money donation of ten thousand yuan.

"Thanks, big spender!"

"Big spender, you're amazing, sending a Super Rocket right off the bat!"

"Big spender, need a sidekick?"

A barrage of comments flooded the live stream, with many users thanking the streamer on his behalf.

Sitting high above, Xu Zhi calmly observed the live stream, unfazed by the recent donations. This was merely the reward for establishing Fengdu. He told Cat Jump, "Asura Path, you may proceed with your preparations. I shall handle the task of imbuing souls within them."

Cat Jump was startled again. He quickly bowed and exclaimed, "I don't need to make any machine modifications or adjustments to turn these arcade machines into actual gates to hell, capable of imprisoning individuals?"

"No, you may continue as you usually do," Xu Zhi replied.

Cat Jump fell silent, his face a picture of disbelief.

What kind of mysterious power was this?

He could effortlessly transform an entire arcade machine into a true gate to hell, turning its fictional characters into real, living beings, all without his assistance?

"That's completely defying the rules of nature."

"Does he even understand electronics or computer circuitry? How can he just declare such a thing?"

"What kind of system is this? Creation from void?"

The entire live stream erupted once more. This was utterly inconceivable, like someone suddenly telling you: "I can turn you into a brick..." It defied all logic. Given the differences in biological cells and physical forms, comprehending the underlying principle was impossible.

"You may withdraw for now," Xu Zhi said, dismissing Cat Jump. He also ignored the stunned silence that had fallen over the entire live stream.

"Understood!"

Cat Jump had countless questions swirling in his mind, but he dared not voice them, choosing instead to retreat quietly.

After Cat Jump departed, Meng Po stood by, filled with apprehension and doubt.

As for the creation of living beings from nothing, Shangguan Man wasn't as surprised as the players were. His Majesty was mysterious and unfathomable, already possessing earth-shattering power, having previously even manipulated time. So, witnessing him conjure gods and living creatures from thin air, no matter how potent, was no longer bizarre. However, the act of using false history to obscure true history carried a terrifying implication. She couldn't help but take a step forward and ask, "Your Majesty... will this truly become our history?"

"'This will serve as the history of Fengdu, adding depth to the underworld,' Xu Zhi told Shangguan Man with a smile. 'As the flow of souls into the underworld becomes increasingly congested, and the Yellow Springs Road jams, it's only logical to establish Fengdu, the Ghost City, for them to reside in and await their turn.'"

In simple terms, it's like waiting in line at a bank to conduct business.

"I understand," Meng Po nodded, refraining from further questions.

She was an intelligent woman. If His Majesty trusted her, he would naturally disclose information; otherwise, asking would be futile.

Yet, this lingering doubt settled in her heart like a persistent thorn!

Was His Majesty suppressing past history? Was he a clandestine manipulator, reigning supreme through the ages, responsible for countless massacres, or perhaps, for the destruction of previous worlds...?

Perhaps this terrible truth was crucial to outsiders, but to her, it held no significance.

She was no hero; she cared neither for etiquette nor for the fate of the world. Having grown up among the lowest echelons of society, she had witnessed countless villains who had shed much blood and knew that even the most powerful individuals were often ruthless.

She only knew that His Majesty had taken her from the mortal realm, rescuing her from a life of suffering and granting her a new beginning. She would always choose to stand by His Majesty, becoming the sharpest blade in his hand. What did it matter if the entire world had to be slain?

Yet, a touch of regret lingered in her heart: a vague sense of loss due to His Majesty's incomplete trust and his concealment of past history.

"'Your Majesty, Meng Po bids farewell.' Shangguan Man rose, taking a deep breath to compose herself. After all, she had only just pledged her allegiance, and a lack of complete trust was natural. She resolved to earn it in the days to come."

Shangguan Man continued, "With the complete establishment of the Combat Pavilion, the overall construction of Fengdu is now unhindered, fueled by the frenzied desire for coins. I plan to use this period of calm to recruit more personnel from the mortal realm."

"Go," he replied.

Xu Zhi smiled. Meng Po withdrew, and in the blink of an eye, the Hall of Reincarnation was empty. His gaze remained serene.

As for defying rules and directly creating living characters within arcade machines?

This was actually quite simple, as the very nature of "the grotesque" inherently defies rules, or, in a sense, creates its own rules. It was a phenomenon governed by the laws of a Ninth-Order world!

Taking the Forsaken Heavenly Emperor as an example, his approximate characteristics are:

The Forsaken Heavenly Emperor lives within the arcade machine, a trapped character...

The grotesque entity would directly accept its pre-defined settings and, by drawing upon the wisdom of all sentient beings, would awaken its own consciousness. In the eyes of these beings, they would simply be ancient deities, suppressed and confined within hell.

"'Perhaps now, I truly must become a villain,' Xu Zhi mused with a smile, seated on his divine throne. His gaze became inscrutable. 'I shall suppress ancient gods, monopolize the entire Six Paths of Reincarnation, and reign supreme over heaven and earth.'"

The Food Realm was his most unique sandbox. Existing within his inner world, as part of the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, the beings within it were naturally not permitted to surpass his own cultivation level. As Xu Zhi was a Heavenly Emperor, he could not tolerate the existence of a deity within his own being.

The emergence of a single god would tear him apart.

He certainly had no desire to be the first cultivator of the Nine Revolutions Profound Art to be spontaneously combusted by his own power; that would be utterly ridiculous.

Therefore, this world currently did not permit the birth of divine beings.

And due to the nature of reincarnation, there was no need to be sentimental about talent. Their existence was merely a grand dream. The supreme Heavenly Emperors of any era would be harvested in waves, like stalks of straw, then simply reincarnated. This also served to enhance their accumulated potential.

After all, rather than letting them remain stagnant at the Heavenly Emperor realm, it was better for them to die and cultivate anew. A few repeated cycles of reincarnation would enhance their talent, grant them more experience, and provide additional energy feedback from multiple Heavenly Emperors. This was the true path!

"'Destroying all beings, reigning supreme through all ages—in this world, there may be Heavenly Emperors, but no gods are permitted.'"

"'Any deity shall be forever suppressed in hell.'"

Meng Po had just exited the Hall of Reincarnation when she heard the Emperor's words, hollow and distant, yet resonating with divine power. Her body swayed, and the world seemed to spin around her.

Her mind reeled.

Her mind was thunderstruck, her soul felt as if it were shattering, her body convulsed, and her five senses overloaded. An unprecedented icy dread swiftly coursed through her entire being, every cell screaming in terror.

Her eyes widened. So, it was true! Our world must have been... During the previous era of the underworld, a terrifying cataclysm must have occurred, wiping out all its subordinates! No wonder even they were newly recruited...

But in the next second, a silent realization dawned in her eyes. His Majesty was deliberately revealing this to her—this was the greatest sign of trust. Her previous confusion vanished, as if layers of mist had been peeled away.

"It feels so good to be trusted."

She touched her tear-streaked cheek, clenched her fists, and then turned to face the Hall of Reincarnation. She declared, word by word, "I will become the sharpest blade in Your Majesty's hand."