Rong Ping’an watched from the sidelines, completely dumbfounded. Was Xing Yun actually chatting away with the NPC like that? They were so familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time.
She finally could not help but ask, “Did you know all along that she would listen to you?”
Xing Yun looked inscrutable. “Is communicating with a child not as easy as flipping a palm?”
Rong Ping’an did not speak. She rolled up her sleeves, looking at Xing Yun with a helpless expression.
“Oh, I heard you! You want to chat with me too?” The little girl, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around and grinned. “That is great! Let us go play together, shall we?”
Xing Yun was stunned. The exit was right there, within arm’s reach, but because of that one sentence, she was directly dragged away by the little girl. The girl’s strength was immense; there was absolutely no room for resistance. Xing Yun was being dragged by her arm, while Rong Ping’an had it worse, as she was being dragged along by a tentacle.
When Xing Yun was pulled down to the lower level, she was thrown so hard she saw stars, and Rong Ping’an, who landed on top of her, dealt her another heavy blow. Fortunately, her body had been strengthened; otherwise, this might have left her paralyzed.
After Xing Yun stood up, she clutched her waist and surveyed the surroundings. She had been curious about what was under the coffins, and now, she did not have to wonder anymore.
Quan Tianjiao, who had been so overbearing before, was now crouched in the corner with his head in his hands, acting incredibly timid.
Xing Yun glanced in his direction, but lost the urge to seek revenge. After all, they were now all in the same boat. They would either die together or live together.
Xing Yun closed her eyes; she had not expected to end up in this situation. Thinking back, she felt a pang of regret. If only she had just run out; why did she have to say those extra two sentences?
Rong Ping’an did not blame her; she just patted her shoulder, telling her to relax.
The space below was indeed vast. Some coffins had rope ladders hanging from beneath them, while others were completely empty underneath. They had fallen from a coffin with a ladder, and looking closely, it was as high as a three-story building.
The tentacles moved across the ground with a pat-pat sound. Honghong dragged the two of them over, seemingly particularly fond of them. The little girl’s face was glowing with excitement. She clasped her hands over her chest, bowed her head slightly, and prayed devoutly: “Someone else has come. New subjects of this land. From this moment on, you shall become one with us.”
“Let us sink into eternal suffering in this place.”
When the little girl finished this sentence, Xing Yun felt the space tremble. Before she could realize what was happening, many living people suddenly emerged from the ground. Some had horns, others were missing arms or legs, and some had lost all four limbs and were crawling by wiggling their torsos, their intestines trailing behind them, yet they seemed to feel no pain. Those with mouths cheered loudly, those with hands clapped, and those who had neither banged their heads against the wall to show their excitement.
Such a chaotic scene made Xing Yun’s temples throb violently. Everyone here must have undergone some form of physical modification to become this non-human, non-ghost appearance.
“Can you be gentler to Honghong’s friends this time?” The little girl twisted her hands together, looking conflicted. “Honghong promises to be obedient.”
Her tone was incredibly sincere, every word a plea. Who was she begging? Xing Yun did not see a single normal person here.
Fearing that something even more inexplicable might pop out, Xing Yun tensed her nerves. Aside from the photograph Rong Ping’an had given her, all she had was the bead she had tricked out of Yu Xi.
Since this was a mistake she had caused, she figured the worst-case scenario would be to store Rong Ping’an in the photograph and try to throw her out through a crack in a coffin.
“You said Honghong was ignorant and never understood what you were thinking, but now Honghong understands. Honghong will follow your wishes in everything. Can you be gentler to Honghong now?”
A cold chill crawled from the soles of Xing Yun’s feet to her crown. She suddenly realized that Honghong’s mind-reading ability was born from her fear; it was just a way to be treated more gently. What on earth had she been through?
Xing Yun thought of the girl’s tentacles and the scars covering her body, and she began to move her feet, preparing to flee.
Rong Ping’an remained silent, but her eyes were constantly calculating the best escape route. As they moved, a pair of severed hands grabbed Rong Ping’an’s ankle. The surprise attack was incredibly fast, and Rong Ping’an frowned with displeasure. In an instant, the hands were burned to ashes.
Although the sound was faint, the little girl heard it and became extremely angry. “Where are you going? Do you not know you should get along with your companions?”
Xing Yun looked at Rong Ping’an. “Stay calm, do not make any big moves yet. Observe the environment.”
Upon hearing Xing Yun’s words, Rong Ping’an’s eyes widened uncontrollably. She waved a hand in front of Xing Yun’s face. Weren’t those her own lines? Why was Xing Yun saying them? She began to suspect that the person in front of her had been possessed. The phrase “observe the environment” coming out of Xing Yun’s mouth? It was simply absurd. She would rather believe the sun was rising in the west. It sounded so awkward.
Xing Yun lowered her eyes and pondered. She felt that most of the severed limbs here belonged to players, poor players who had been modified and brainwashed. At a glance, they were weaklings. As a newcomer, she really did not want to bully these miserable seniors. It was better to let them be; there was no challenge in fighting them, and if things went south, she might end up like one of them.
The little girl walked over and circled them twice. “The Lord has not come over yet, I am very sorry.”
Before she could finish, Xing Yun interrupted: “If you are sorry, why did you pull us down? Did you ask if we were willing? And you call this being friends?”
This sentence left the little girl completely stunned; it was clear her system had crashed. The little girl’s body trembled, and her tentacles moved uneasily. She covered her head, her heavy, gasping breaths revealing her pain.
Rong Ping’an held her forehead. So much for observing the environment; this speech was anything but polite.
Xing Yun’s mind was still storming. She had already tested that this little girl’s mind was immature and her intelligence low; she could only understand simple words. She now confirmed that in the space under the coffins, the girl’s mind-reading ability was not functioning smoothly, because what she had thought and what she had said were two different things.
Right now, it was best to find out what was restricting the girl, what they would face next, and most importantly, how to get out.
“Then Honghong is truly sorry.” The little girl looked dejected.
Sometimes, teasing NPCs could be interesting, and Xing Yun had found her fun. She glanced at the girl and asked, “How are you sorry? How will you compensate us?” This lighthearted sentence stunned the little girl again.
Rong Ping’an narrowed her eyes, speechless. It was her first time seeing someone haggle with an NPC. Asking an NPC for compensation? Usually, an NPC would dismantle a player’s limbs on the spot for such a remark. She asked skeptically, “Are you always this brave?”
Xing Yun gave a shy smile and scratched her head, leaning close to Rong Ping’an’s ear: “Standard procedure.”
The little girl’s brain was completely frozen. It was clearly her first time encountering such a situation. Her eyes were dull, and only after a long while did they rotate. “Then, then come with me.”
Xing Yun took a big step back. “How, where, and why? These things need to be made clear.” This was truly difficult for someone with low intelligence, but it was important for Xing Yun; she needed a result.
“Ah.”
Just as the little girl uttered one syllable, Xing Yun saw light pouring out from the darkest corner. A spiral stone staircase had been there all along. A beam of light spilled down, illuminating floating dust. Soon, someone walked down from the top. She had long, wavy white hair and wore a golden crown studded with plump, luxurious gems.
She wore holy robes and carried an aura of untouchable divinity. A pair of pristine white wings extended from her back, layered with countless feathers that seemed to harbor infinite power. The jewelry she wore tinkled melodiously with every step, captivating the soul.
Xing Yun stepped forward and looked toward the exit. She saw a pure white space, the same pure white space she had been to before, where the table and even the burning flames looked very familiar. She had just interacted with God not long ago and even engaged in a battle of patience with Him.
Xing Yun: “I did not summon Him this time. Is God also moonlighting?”
“Moonlighting?” Rong Ping’an was puzzled.
Xing Yun could not explain it in a short time, so she just shook her head.
She watched the beautiful and noble angel in front of her with a complicated expression and asked: “Was your hair this color before? Do you have wings?”
She did not know if God heard her, because the next second, the various severed limbs began to cheer. The screeching was enough to shatter eardrums. Xing Yun did not quite understand it, so she whispered a few words to Rong Ping’an, and both decided to escape while the chaos was ongoing. They climbed two rungs of the ladder, only for it to disappear into thin air.
Xing Yun clutched her backside, grimacing, and hid with Rong Ping’an in a corner. “Damn, it did not disappear earlier or later, it is definitely on purpose.”
God looked solemn and beautiful under the robes. His skin had a faint, lustrous glow, making Him look like a fairy descended from heaven, holy and inviolable. His figure was curvaceous, and every move was riveting. His firm, powerful arms were a symbol of health and charm, and His light blue eyes were like the ocean, yet also like the vast sky.
He smiled, revealing a hint of malice. Suddenly, He brought His right hand to His lips, kissed His fingertips, and pointed toward Xing Yun. The movement was charming, like a provocation, but even more like flirting.
Xing Yun was stunned but soon turned serious.
Rong Ping’an whispered from the side: “Do you know her? Is she a player or an NPC? I cannot see through her at all.” She tensed her spine, dripping with sweat.
Xing Yun frowned. She pulled her pajamas tighter and tried to minimize her presence. The damp, cold air made her shiver, and she did not doubt she would catch rheumatism if she stayed long. “If there is a chance to get near the top, I will store you in the photo and throw you out.”
Rong Ping’an: “Forget it. You are not necessarily faster than me; my legs have God’s blessing.”
Xing Yun: “Will your blessing still work in front of God?”
“?”
Xing Yun looked at Rong Ping’an’s puzzled expression and sighed: “You will know in a minute.”
“Huh?”
Quan Tianjiao saw God, filled with joy mixed with fear. He ran for his life, desperate to reach God’s side. He succeeded, biting and clawing like a mad dog at anyone who stood in his way. But once in front of God, he became as obedient as a lamb ready for slaughter, repeatedly begging God to let him leave.
“Is he not just too pathetic? And he calls himself Heavenly Pride? Waste would be more fitting.” Xing Yun sneered. This Quan Tianjiao was nothing like the one who faced her; where had his arrogance gone?
But Xing Yun also knew that this instance was created by God. Who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Creator? To anyone, He was just a tiny ant, and survival depended entirely on God’s whim. In a sense, her situation was no different from Quan Tianjiao’s, but she would rather die standing than grovel before God.
Xing Yun squeezed Rong Ping’an’s fingertip, just as she had once encouraged her, attempting to convey strength: “Stay calm first.”
She had only squeezed Rong Ping’an’s finger, yet the God standing high above saw His face darken instantly. Black mist permeated the beautiful deity, and He swung His arm, directly decapitating the person closest to Him. Blood mist dispersed, confirming the attacker’s fury.
The person whose head was punched off remained in a kneeling posture; it was Quan Tianjiao. He died with eyes wide open, completely unwilling.
Xing Yun swallowed uncontrollably, struggling to breathe due to the bloody stench in the air, feeling quite dizzy.
Rong Ping’an took a deep breath and shielded Xing Yun behind her: “Do not be afraid.”
Xing Yun blurted out: “Who is afraid?”
“That is fine then.”
“Do not treat me like a coward.”
Rong Ping’an said in a low voice: “No, on the contrary, I think you are much bolder than anyone else.”
This time it was Xing Yun’s turn to be embarrassed; she rubbed her nose.
The modified people around them fell into a brief silence, but soon began cheering again, as if nothing had happened.
“Shut up.” God did not care; He just said coldly: “Move aside.”
The crowd immediately cleared a path to welcome His arrival.
“I have burned away all illness for you, modified everyone with immortal genes; this is my power, boundless and all-encompassing.” He smiled, though the smile did not reach His eyes.
He was indeed strong, a presence completely unreachable by humans. His confident appearance shone brilliantly. His arrogance did not make people uncomfortable because what He said was merely the truth. If He said He could move mountains and fill the seas, no one would find it strange.
“Come, you can choose the direction of your evolution. Perhaps I will agree.” God walked toward Xing Yun, looking at her playfully.
But if there was anyone in the world daring enough to provoke God, it had to be Xing Yun. She took a deep breath: “I am not a native here; I was drawn from outside to play a game, so I will not be participating in any evolution.”
God’s face twisted for a moment but soon returned to normal: “What game? What are you talking about? Evolution is a choice that must be made here.”
Xing Yun crossed her arms and sneered: “We are all old foxes, so why act like this? I have already recognized who you are; do we still need to pretend?”
“Interesting.” God laughed heartily. He sized Xing Yun up, His tone careless: “Heh, then I will be blunt. A hidden condition of this instance is that disobeying me is forbidden. Disobeying me has a probability of having your head shattered. The first two times were based on my mood; the third time is a sure death. Want to try?”
God paused and pouted toward Quan Tianjiao: “The example is right there. Want to explode, too?”
Xing Yun did not look: “Thank you, but no.”
God did not force her further, just flexing His fingers in a leisurely manner.
But this time, it was Xing Yun’s turn to panic. She had gotten a sense of God’s preferences; this arrogant guy was deliberately telling her the rules and then using them to kill her. The less she respected the rules, the more God wanted her to be obedient under them.
In a way, she had triggered God’s desire to conquer. This desire was sometimes a protective talisman and sometimes a reaper; Xing Yun had to grasp the difference herself.
Looking at God, Xing Yun felt a sense of powerlessness. With Him watching her closely at such a short distance, how could she escape? She pinched her brow, calmed herself down, and said: “You are so beautiful, but I do not understand what you are saying. You look beautiful even when you are sleep-talking.”
She looked at God with an innocent expression. This was her second strategy, play the fool, act compliant. After all, who would bother a fool?
God had not expected this, but He could not find any loopholes in Xing Yun’s words. He chewed them over a few times with no result, feeling helpless, and muttered bitterly: “New rule: flattery does not work either.”
Xing Yun: “But I am sincere. If you do not believe me, let Honghong verify it.”
Hearing the name Honghong, God’s expression changed slightly: “Her, that little girl with mind-reading, such a terrifying ability.”
God covered His head: “A failed product, truly offensive.”
He did not finish the sentence, but Xing Yun understood what He meant by “offensive.” If the thoughts of a high-and-mighty God were known to others, it would sound ridiculous; not to mention God, even she would not be happy about it.
Xing Yun sat on the ground, completely relaxed. She finally understood why the little girl’s mind-reading could not be used in the world under the coffins, because God was restricting her.
God stood before her, smiled, and turned away. Xing Yun watched Him move further and further away, realizing He had gone to find Honghong, which gave her a moment to breathe.
Rong Ping’an did not speak to her until God had left.
Rong Ping’an said: “I thought I had overestimated you enough, but I did not expect you to not only spare the NPC but even…” Rong Ping’an’s expression was complicated. She pointed to her own legs: “I cannot be disrespectful to God, nor do I wish to hide anything from Him. Because His kindness to me is hard to repay. My legs are His reward; He shared His divine fire with me, giving me a new life.”
Xing Yun looked at her legs, a body that was more flexible than human legs and could even be used as a weapon. Just moments ago, she had witnessed Rong Ping’an using the flames on her legs to instantly burn a pair of hands to ashes.
Rong Ping’an: “The divine fire is just one of His abilities. He has others. It is known that He can separate His shadow from His body. Even if His body is injured, as long as the shadow remains, He can recover. He can even use the shadow to resurrect; He is an immortal existence.”
Rong Ping’an would not be disrespectful to God, but the information she gave Xing Yun was substantial. This sentence could be fully translated as “Never attack God unless you can erase both His shadow and His original body from the world.” But wherever there is light, there is a shadow, and God is protected by divine fire; even in lightless places, there would be flames. It was simply an impossible task.
Thinking of this, Xing Yun could not calm down for a long time. Suddenly, her body stiffened: “I think I have thought of another one of His abilities.”
She pushed herself up with her arms and looked around, anxious: “The first time I saw Him display His power was when I first arrived. He used silk threads to slice off a man’s head.”
Rong Ping’an: “He can summon threads, but those threads are not just for taking lives.”
At this moment, God had His back to them. Perhaps hearing Xing Yun’s words, He tilted His head slightly and smiled. At that moment, all divinity disappeared, leaving behind a smile as ghostly as a demon.
In the dim environment, this brought an intense sense of unease, especially since they did not know if they could ever leave.
The pat-pat sound of suction cups sounded again. Xing Yun looked; it was Honghong walking toward them. “You can rest easy now.”
While they were chatting, God must have finished talking with her.
Xing Yun: “Rest easy, or rest in peace?” She looked at God’s fanatical follower and could not trust her at all. The “rest easy” in her mouth might just mean “rest in peace.”
Honghong suddenly extended a tentacle, wrapping it around Xing Yun’s arm. Xing Yun was startled and reacted quickly, throwing out the photograph, directly slicing the tentacle off. Honghong wailed in pain but did not stop.
The sneak attack caught Xing Yun off guard. Aside from the photograph and the bead she had tricked from Yu Xi, she had nothing. The next moment, the bead flew out and struck Honghong’s body.
She had not expected the power of this bead to be so great. The previously aggressive Honghong instantly lost her momentum, cowering on the ground in fear, her whole body trembling, her tentacles curled beneath her: “No. Do not. Do not do this. No.”
She screamed, which only piqued Xing Yun’s curiosity: “Scared?”
Honghong raised her head, her eyes red, sobbing and weeping: “Hmm.”
If she were just an ordinary little girl, Xing Yun would certainly pity her, but the problem was she was not.
“Does this thing make you this panicked? Can you tell me why?” Xing Yun said, moving the bead away from Honghong, but only by a little bit. “If you do not explain, I will feed it to you.”
Honghong froze, covering her ears and screaming: “No.”
After screaming, she became very quiet, with tears streaming down. She almost managed to bewilder Xing Yun, as she looked like a pitiful little girl after all.
Xing Yun had never bullied a little girl in her life; even when her niece came to visit, she could let her braid her hair. Threatening a little girl with low intelligence like this was truly a first.
Honghong did not speak, just kept sobbing, her gasping breaths accompanied by coughing and a terrified gaze. She shook just seeing the bead, unable to speak, unable to even run.
Xing Yun coaxed her: “What were you going to do just now? Were you going to kill me?”
Honghong said nothing.
“If you are not going to kill me, what are you going to do?”
“Can you, can you take the bead away first? Honghong does not want to see it.” Honghong took a deep breath. “Honghong did not want to do anything to you, just wanted to catch you for the Lord, but I do not know what the Lord wants to do. However, those who went in never came back.”
Upon hearing this, Xing Yun’s face darkened, and her tone became unfriendly. She did not move the bead away but instead brought it closer: “You mean, you knew that I would be in grave danger if I went over, and you still did it? Is that not just killing me?”
Xing Yun’s face was cold: “I advise you to stand up. Squatting and covering your head makes it hard to attack and hard to run. The Lord you speak of does not like you, and neither do I.”
Xing Yun toyed with the small bead and asked: “What exactly is this?”
But she had not expected to hear an incredible answer next.
“It is, bone. Honghong’s bone.”
“It is getting more and more incomprehensible.” Xing Yun lowered her eyes, and Rong Ping’an came over, curious. Knowing it was human bone, she suddenly felt awkward holding it.
Rong Ping’an held out her hand: “If you do not like it, you can leave it with me.”
Xing Yun did not do so; she held the bead tightly: “It is nothing big.”
Rong Ping’an nodded: “That is good.”
Xing Yun frowned; bone? Why would she be afraid of her own bone? And why would she turn a bone into a bead and build it into a wall?
Xing Yun looked intently at Honghong: “Tell me more.”
Honghong trembled: “God does not like humans, so I volunteered to be modified. Humans are too fragile, but fusing with other species makes you strong. I did not like my original body; it was cursed. To break the curse, God turned my bones into beads and built them into the wall to protect everyone.”
Xing Yun felt everything was getting absurd. There could not possibly be any curse; she had been carrying it with her, and if there were a curse, something would have happened long ago. Besides, when she had not taken it out, she had not noticed Honghong having any discomfort.