"After the Immortal Mansion opened, the developments have become even more exciting. Apart from that, in the simulation, it seems that Gu Xuan is indeed starting to target Lin Qinghe. The possibility that he's the mastermind behind this is becoming higher."
Wang Ping looked at the simulated text content and silently pondered, anticipating the upcoming developments.
"Next, within the Immortal Mansion, the voice of the immortals announced the start of the second assessment. This time, it's an assessment of combat power. Those with insufficient combat power at the same realm will be eliminated."
"These words caused many cultivators to change their expressions, some becoming nervous. Soon, the assessment began, and another radiant light enveloped everyone, covering them entirely."
"Then, you all suddenly found yourselves in a special space, where enemies corresponding to your cultivation levels materialized. You didn't have much to say about it and effortlessly defeated your opponents, passing the assessment with ease."
"As you eliminated your opponents and your vision returned to the real world, you saw that all the top-ranked talents on the Three Saints List and Quasi-Three Saints List had opened their eyes, evidently having easily dealt with their opponents."
"However, this ability to easily defeat opponents was only possible for cultivators at your level. For the other talents, it wasn't as straightforward. Their faces turned serious, and some even appeared pale, sweating profusely, clearly facing difficulties."
"You looked at Cai Yonglong and noticed his grim expression. In this situation, you could only hope that he could make good use of his golden finger's abilities to pass the assessment. Otherwise, there was nothing you could do to help him."
"Quickly, a large number of people were eliminated. This time, more than ninety percent were eliminated. Only those who had the potential to become quasi-emperor-level forces' true disciples or some scattered prodigies with great secrets managed to pass the assessment."
"Cai Yonglong barely passed the assessment with the help of his golden finger, leaving him with a bitter smile. He felt that the Immortal Mansion's assessments were too difficult."
"After expelling the eliminated talents, the Immortal Mansion began the third assessment. This time, it involved entering the Immortal Mansion's secret realm. Only by passing through the secret realm could one truly become a part of the Immortal Mansion."
"At the same time, the Immortal Mansion informed all the talents present that they could earn Immortal Points by hunting Dream Fiends within the secret realm. The number of Immortal Points would determine where they would be assigned to cultivate in the mountain ranges, which would also affect their future competition for Immortal Luck."
"These words made all the talents tense, knowing that they couldn't hide their strength and had to give it their all. Missing out on the competition for Immortal Luck due to this matter would be a great pity."
"Only you remained indifferent, not caring at all, and continued to see yourself as a bystander."
"Next, the secret realm of the Immortal Mansion opened, and a spatial vortex appeared. You entered it, but as soon as you entered, you noticed something was amiss, and your expression changed."
"This secret realm wasn't the Dream Fiend secret realm the Immortal Mansion used for assessment but the secret realm from the first two simulations, the one used by the masterminds to trap many talents."
"Moreover, this time, the teleportation points were different from the previous ones. You realized that half of the talents had been transported together. They were mainly talents from the Saint King List, Great Saint List, and some Quasi-Three Saints List talents, with only a few Saint-level talents."
"At the same time, the rules for this secret realm had clearly changed. It didn't directly suppress Great Saints and Half-Step Sovereigns but actively sealed their cultivations. It was evident that the masterminds had made some adjustments."
"As many talents frowned and surveyed the situation, which had clearly gone beyond the scope of an assessment, it became apparent that they were being pushed into a life-threatening situation. While the Immortal Mansion aimed to select Immortal Sprouts and allowed talents to perish in the assessment, it wouldn't go this far. Offending the entire Upper Realm would be too much."
"At this moment, Ji Ziqing, who was proficient in formations, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He recognized the horror of this formation; it was an ancient killing formation. If the main formation controller was strong enough, with a large number of cultivators as support, it could unleash the power to slay emperors. Although the current danger emitted from the formation couldn't compare to the description of ancient formations in the classics, it was more than sufficient to easily deal with them."
"Ji Ziqing immediately shouted, revealing the origin of the killing formation, causing everyone to unite and try to break the formation. Otherwise, they would all perish here."
"This declaration caused everyone's pupils to constrict. They were not fools, and the current situation had clearly exceeded the scope of an assessment. This was putting them in a deadly situation. While the Immortal Mansion aimed to select Immortal Sprouts and allowed talents to perish in the assessment, it wouldn't go this far. Offending the entire Upper Realm would be too much."
"At this moment, Ji Ziqing, who was proficient in formations, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He recognized the horror of this formation; it was an ancient killing formation. If the main formation controller was strong enough, with a large number of cultivators as support, it could unleash the power to slay emperors. Although the current danger emitted from the formation couldn't compare to the description of ancient formations in the classics, it was more than sufficient to easily deal with them."
"Ji Ziqing immediately shouted, revealing the origin of the killing formation, causing everyone to unite and try to break the formation. Otherwise, they would all perish here."
"You, however, didn't immediately act but stared at a figure among the crowd. That figure turned out to be Gu Xuan."
"Gu Xuan had somehow appeared here, seemingly attempting to absolve himself of suspicion using this method. This made you smirk, curious to see what tricks he was planning."
"Next, you also started taking action, intentionally or not, fighting side by side with Gu Xuan against the terrifying formation."
"As you all unleashed your power, a vast expanse of native experts appeared to support the ancient formation, imbuing it with strength. At the same time, over a hundred black mist figures appeared, positioned at the center of the formation."
"At the heart of the formation, there was also a shadow, exuding a terrifying aura. He held a blood-red bead and gazed in your direction, his voice hoarse as he uttered words forbidding anyone from
escaping."
"This scene made you furrow your brow, wondering if this person was the Time-Space Dao Body you had faced in your previous battle."
"At the same time, the changes in this secret realm were too significant, and there were more native powerhouses now. You suspected that when you entered the secret realm in the previous two simulations, it was still evolving, and the masterminds weren't fully prepared. However, because of your unexpected appearance, they had acted prematurely, trapping many talents. Their true plan should be as it is now, to wait until the Immortal Mansion opened, and then eliminate the majority of the prodigies in one fell swoop."
"These masterminds are ruthless. How did they manage to deceive the Immortal Mansion and replace the Dream Fiend secret realm used for trials with this one? Could there be a traitor within the Immortal Mansion? If so, their methods are too terrifying."
Wang Ping looked at the simulated text content with a solemn expression.
Wang Ping now felt that the issue at hand was no longer just about Gu Xuan. No matter how strong he was, he was still a member of the younger generation. Although he was being groomed as a key figure, he was ultimately weaker when considering the entire Upper Realm.
Perhaps, as the plot developed, Gu Xuan might grow into the ultimate final boss, but what truly concerned Wang Ping at the moment were the masterminds behind the scenes, the emperors.
Chapter 233: Life-and-Death Struggle with Gu Xuan!
"These people are the real danger to the entire Upper Realm. They are the ones who could easily crush him and hinder his growth in the simulation," Wang Ping muttered to himself.
"It's troublesome. It looks like we're in for another tough situation. Since they've already taken action, they won't let their targets escape," Wang Ping sighed, composed himself, and continued to gaze at the screen.
As Wang Ping continued to watch, the text continued to appear:
"In the midst of your turbulent thoughts, the killing formation unleashed immense power, causing many geniuses to be killed instantly. Their bodies shattered, and their flesh, mana, and essence were absorbed by the layers of the formation. Many of the geniuses wore grim expressions, knowing that they had to fight desperately to have any chance of surviving."
"As a result, these geniuses began to use their ultimate cards, employing tactics that sacrificed themselves to kill the enemy in an attempt to break the formation quickly and escape."
"You secretly observed Gu Xuan and contemplated whether to take action against him. However, you chose to wait, to hide your true strength, and joined the others in attacking the formation before making your move."
"The battle was brutal, and most of the geniuses perished in the process, creating a sea of blood. However, due to the sheer number of geniuses, their fierce resistance seemed to have an effect, and eventually, they managed to break through the layers of the formation."
"As the formation shattered, the surviving geniuses all transformed into divine rainbows and escaped at an astonishing speed. You were among them."
"But you noticed that you and Gu Xuan were headed in the same direction. Gu Xuan had survived within the formation, and although he appeared to be heavily injured, you couldn't shake the feeling that he was feigning weakness."
"When you reached a secluded area, Gu Xuan stopped and set up a formation using an array plate, sealing off the space. Then, he looked in your direction calmly, signaling for you to come out."
"You squinted your eyes, knowing that Gu Xuan had long since discovered you and chose to reveal yourself. You immediately accused him of being the mastermind behind the plan to devour the geniuses' essence, attempting to test his reaction."
"Gu Xuan listened to your words, sneered, and pretended not to know what you were talking about. However, your continuous secretive surveillance made it clear that you were up to something sinister. Therefore, today, he would have to eliminate you."
"You narrowed your eyes, realizing that Gu Xuan was indeed incredibly cunning, showing no signs of instinctual reaction. Since that was the case, you had nothing more to say and unleashed your true power without hesitation, intending to suppress Gu Xuan."
"In response, Gu Xuan let out a cold snort, and a mysterious radiance emanated from him. His injuries were instantly healed, and then he directly engaged you in battle. Gu Xuan's hidden strength was terrifying; he had also comprehended Dao patterns."
"However, this was within your expectations. You strongly suspected that in the previous simulations, Gu Xuan had concealed his true abilities to avoid exposing his secrets. Otherwise, the outcome of the battles, where you overpowered him with your cultivation level, would have been uncertain. He was hiding his true power too well."
"In the battle against an opponent of the same realm, you felt immense pressure from Gu Xuan. You couldn't defeat him, even when you unleashed all your techniques. Gu Xuan's current strength surpassed the Time-Space Dao Body from the previous simulations, which had also comprehended the dual Dao patterns."
"It was clear that your judgment was correct. The master couldn't be weaker than his subordinate. Gu Xuan had concealed his abilities too deeply. Furthermore, Gu Xuan's combat experience was terrifying. He didn't give you any opportunity to harm him, engaging in a fierce struggle that made it difficult for you to trigger the Rainbow-Colored Talent, Instant Death Attack."
"This situation frustrated you. You knew that continuing to fight like this, once Gu Xuan discovered your combat limit, you would have a slim chance of victory unless you got extremely lucky and triggered an instant death effect with a critical hit."
"Therefore, you made up your mind and employed the strategy of sacrificing yourself to kill the enemy, a tactic that cost you dearly. Seeing this, Gu Xuan sneered and produced an item that formed a formidable defense, effortlessly blocking your attacks."
"This left you feeling uncomfortable. The item had no visible Dao patterns or array aura, indicating that it didn't belong to this realm but came from the Paradise of Myriad Realms."
"You found this item to be quite troublesome. It seemed that the Gu Family, with its long history, had a better understanding of the Paradise of Myriad Realms than other factions. They probably had accumulated numerous unique items through various means."
"As the battle continued, your condition deteriorated further due to your tactic of sacrificing yourself to kill the enemy. Realizing that you couldn't continue this way, you activated your Golden Talent, 'Life for Life,' without hesitation."
"With the activation of 'Life for Life,' Gu Xuan's pupils contracted, and his body stiffened, immediately losing his life force. You, too, lost your life force, but because you had activated the Purple Talent, 'Substitute Puppet,' your death was transferred to an unfortunate God-King realm individual you had set up in the outside world."
"You watched as Gu Xuan died, feeling relieved. 'Life for Life' Talent proved to be quite effective. At least, it was more reliable than the Rainbow-Colored Talent, Instant Death Attack. The latter had too many limitations."
"While you had many thoughts on the matter, you weren't careless. You continued to attack Gu Xuan's lifeless body to prevent any possible feigned death and ambush."
"As you mercilessly struck Gu Xuan's body, it completely exploded, confirming his death. However, you remained cautious, knowing that this might be Gu Xuan's territory. You couldn't stay here for long, so you decided to leave."
"Just as you were planning to leave, Gu Xuan unexpectedly came back to life, leaving you in shock. Although you had suspected that Gu Xuan might have a means of resurrection, you were caught off guard. Your current state was weak, and you were still in a vulnerable condition."
"Gu Xuan, with an indifferent expression, acknowledged your formidable strength that had killed him on the spot. However, he mentioned that items like resurrection artifacts should be familiar to you, especially when dealing with people from the Paradise of Myriad Realms. To kill individuals from various realms, you needed an ability that could ensure their complete annihilation."
Wang Ping's expression stiffened as he continued to read the simulated text.
[After saying this, without waiting for your response, Gu Xuan directly killed you. Due to having the resurrection talisman, you entered a state of resurrection countdown, while Gu Xuan remained cold and unmoving.]
[During this time, a shadowy figure arrived and began attacking Gu Xuan's formation. However, Gu Xuan remained unfazed. When you resurrected, Gu Xuan, who had already set up a deadly killing move during your resurrection, made a powerful move and killed you once again.]
[Due to your demise, this simulation ends here.]
As the simulated text came to an end, Wang Ping's consciousness blinked, and his mind was filled with various images and insights.
Finally, he found himself back in the secret realm, staring at Gu Xuan with a furrowed brow.
"What's the deal with Gu Xuan? Why is the shadow attacking him too? Could he not be the mastermind, and I made a wrong guess? Or is all of this just an act? But why would he continue the act when I'm already dead?"
Various thoughts flashed through Wang Ping's mind as he tried to piece things together.
When dealing with someone like Gu Xuan, conventional wisdom couldn't be relied upon. Since he had taken action, he wouldn't leave any room for exposure. Maybe he was afraid that after my death, there might be a way for me to leak information, so he would never show any vulnerabilities. Alternatively, he might still be acting for the benefit of other geniuses watching.
Wang Ping didn't trust Gu Xuan. His intuition had always been accurate, and even if Gu Xuan appeared innocent, Wang Ping didn't believe him.
Dealing with such a person, it was better to be safe than sorry. His background needed to be thoroughly investigated. If it turned out to be a mistake, he could always adjust his approach in future simulations.
Of course, in reality, Wang Ping didn't need to be so concerned. The battle for enlightenment was brutal, with no room for grudges or right or wrong. They were each other's enemies, and finding a way to eliminate the other was all that mattered, as long as it was done cleanly.
While Wang Ping was in deep thought, his consciousness blinked again, and he found himself back in the real world.
Then, the system's voice rang out.
"Ding, reward generation successful. The host can choose two rewards from the following options:
1. Golden Talent - Life for Life.
2. Random Supreme-Grade Artifact.
3. Golden Radiance Jade Talisman.
4. Random Grand Saint-Grade Artifact."
"System, I choose 1. Golden Talent - Life for Life and 3. Golden Radiance Jade Talisman."
Wang Ping glanced at the reward list and, surprisingly, made his choice without refreshing the Supreme-Grade Body. Wang Ping wasn't concerned about obtaining a Supreme-Grade Body at this point.
In simulations, he could refine one whenever he wanted, so it wasn't crucial. In fact, achieving a genuine half-step Supreme level wouldn't bring significant changes to his combat power. It would only increase his simulation costs significantly, which he wanted to avoid.
This situation was truly frustrating.
With his selections made, Wang Ping received information about how to use the Golden Talent - Life for Life. Additionally, something new appeared in his storage world: the enigmatic Golden Radiance Jade Talisman.
"I wonder what secrets this item hides and whether it can lead to a qualitative change in my power."
Wang Ping examined the Golden Radiance Jade Talisman briefly before returning it to his storage world.
Next, he planned to engage in a new simulation. This time, he had gathered a considerable amount of information, but the path to unraveling Gu Xuan's secrets was still long. He needed external assistance.
"Relying solely on the power and forces of the Upper Realm won't be enough to uncover Gu Xuan's secrets. If they've taken these actions and the Divine Calculator in the Immortal Mansion couldn't discern anything, it means they have countermeasures against divination. So, reporting to higher-ups won't help. I'll have to rely on myself."
"And by my own means... unless I draw a Rainbow-Colored Talent that can help me, it's almost impossible to break through. If I give up entering the Immortal Mansion and stay within the Taiyi Emperor's Palace, I might live longer and use it as an opportunity to improve my cultivation."
Wang Ping's mind raced with various thoughts, ending with a bitter smile.
Could it be that he was once again forced onto the path of slow growth and cultivation? If so, it would be truly frustrating.
"Oh well, let's just accept it. I'm used to it anyway."
Wang Ping sighed and decided to proceed with a new paid simulation.
"System, I want to start a paid simulation," Wang Ping said in his mind.
"Ding, expenditure of four million Premium Divine Sources confirmed. Life Simulator initiated. Talent refresh in progress."
The system's voice echoed once more.
"Ding, talent refresh successful. Congratulations, host, you have successfully refreshed the Rainbow-Colored Talent - Source-Breaking Heaven Eye and the Red Talent - Moonlit Roar."
Rainbow-Colored Talent - Source-Breaking Heaven Eye: An advanced version of the Source Heaven Eye talent, capable of seeing through illusions, breaking through the source, and brewing an astonishing divine technique - Source-Breaking Heaven's Light.
Red Talent - Moonlit Roar: The host can roar under the moonlight, increasing a slight amount of combat power.
"Wow!"
Wang Ping stared at the talents he had just refreshed, completely stunned. His luck was incredible; it seemed like he was getting exactly what he needed.
Once again, he had refreshed a Rainbow-Colored Talent, and it was an advanced version of the Source Heaven Eye talent, which could see through illusions and break through the source. This talent would be extremely useful in deciphering Gu Xuan's secrets.
"Could it be that my luck improved after joining the Taiyi Emperor's Palace? But it's all used up on refreshing talents, right? Is that why I've been so unlucky in life simulations?"
Wang Ping suddenly thought of this possibility.
As he became stronger, especially after joining the Taiyi Emperor's Palace and becoming the designated Emperor's Child, his fate was intertwined with the Taiyi Emperor's Palace's fortune. This made his chances of refreshing high-quality talents much higher than before.
In theory, as the first Emperor's Child of the Taiyi Emperor's Palace, his fortune would be more prosperous in life simulations. Despite his mediocre foundation, after defeating various geniuses and achieving a high ranking on the Saint King List, his overall luck should not have been this poor.
So, Wang Ping entertained this idea.
Just as he was about to choose this talent for simulation, the chat group system suddenly sounded a notification, leaving Wang Ping slightly puzzled.
"Ding, detected an anomaly in the world of group member Ding Xuan (88). Group mission issued - Eliminate the anomaly. This group mission has a high difficulty and will be selected by substitute group leader Wang Ping (66) to include four group members. Please make your choices quickly."
"Oh, another anomaly that requires my intervention to resolve?"
Wang Ping raised an eyebrow as he listened to the chat group system's notification.
The chat group had produced numerous strong members like Lin Yuanyuan, Zhang Jun, Chen Yao, and others who could handle most minor anomalies. Unless it was one of those gradually growing anomalies from the cultivation world, they could handle smaller anomalies with ease.
"Ding Xuan, if I remember correctly, you crossed over to a game world, right? Can anomalies even occur in a game world? Or is it one of those all-encompassing types of worlds?"
Wang Ping pondered, contemplating various possibilities.
While thinking about these questions, Wang Ping opened the chat group interface.
Wang Ping (66) to Ding Xuan (86): "Ding Xuan, have you noticed anything unusual? Also, I don't recall you sharing specific information about your world."
Ding Xuan (86): "Uh, I'm totally baffled. I don't know what's going on. Suddenly, a group mission appeared, and I'm a bit confused. As for my world, well... I've been crushing newbies in the beginner's village. I've crushed them so badly that they don't want to log in anymore."
Wang Ping (66): "."
Everyone: "."
Ding Xuan seemed quite impressive, relying on the chat group to become stronger and tormenting players in-game. Occasionally participating in easy missions, he didn't even know what his world was like. It was a bit ridiculous.
Wang Ping (66): "Regarding this mission, those who wish to participate can sign up."
Wang Ping had no words left and decided to get down to business.
Since there was no information available, he would have to rely on his life simulator to gather more data.
Lin Yuanyuan (80): "I'd like to go, but I'm currently on a mission."
Chen Yao (71): "I'm in too."
Cai Yonglong (1): "Hehe, no need to say it. I'm definitely joining Wang Ge on this mission."
Chen Si (83): "Count me in, QAQ."
Chen Kang (67): "Same old rules, if my sister is going, I'm going too."
Wu Jun (20): "Me, me, me. I want to go too."
Zhang Yueying (86): "Well, I was a bit late to speak up, so it seems I'm not included."
Fang Yun (3): "This is too classic. Another bunch of support members joining Wang Ge for a group mission."
Qin Tian (77): "Sigh, I can't keep up after all. I've lost my position as your mission partner, o(╥﹏╥)o."
Wang Ping (66) to Qin Tian (77): "You're missing a powerful cultivation world, my friend."
Wang Ping (66): "Alright, enough talk. Prepare for the crossover."
Wang Ping shook his head and stopped chatting. Instead, he quickly compiled a list of participants for the mission.
Soon, Wang Ping, Cai Yonglong, Chen Si, Chen Kang, and Wu Jun all transformed into white light and disappeared, heading to Ding Xuan's world.
When Wang Ping and the others arrived in Ding Xuan's world, their expressions became rather peculiar.
Ding Xuan, who was known for his fierce and aggressive personality, now appeared in a humanoid form that resembled an orc.
"Hehe, Wang Ge, didn't expect this, did you? I've recently achieved the ability to transform into a human. Ah, the body of a woman that I've always dreamed of."
Ding Xuan said, displaying his peculiar nature.
"When it comes to being eccentric, it's definitely you."
Wang Ping was at a loss for words, though he had known for a long time that Ding Xuan was eccentric. When he first crossed over, Ding Xuan had expressed a desire to become a woman, but seeing the strange expression on Ding Xuan's face now made Wang Ping unable to resist a bit of mockery.
Cai Yonglong, Wu Jun, and Chen Kang were left with awkward expressions as they looked at Ding Xuan.
Chen Si, on the other hand, took several steps back in fear.
Ding Xuan soon realized his abnormal behavior and cleared his throat, attempting to regain some composure.
Then, his expression turned serious as he spoke, "Wang Ge, although I don't know the specifics of our world, you should have noticed the changes in your body. Additionally, you can silently recite the attribute panel in your mind."
Wang Ping squinted his eyes, having already sensed the changes in his body since arriving in this world. More precisely, he felt as though he had lost some of his strength and had an unreal sensation.
Without hesitation, Wang Ping silently recited the attribute panel in his mind.
A panel appeared before Wang Ping, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
Name: Wang Ping
Level: 999
Race: Human
Super God-level BOSS
Strength: ????
Speed: ????
Durability: ????
Agility: ????
Spirit: ????
Mana: ????
Skills: ????
PS: A special BOSS from another realm, of mysterious origin. Killing it can yield astonishing rewards.
"Interesting, I've actually turned into a BOSS."
Wang Ping looked at Ding Xuan and slowly spoke.
"Wang Ge, it seems like we've also become BOSSes. Furthermore, our talents have turned into exclusive skills."
Wu Jun couldn't help but speak up.
Cai Yonglong, Chen Kang, and Chen Si also nodded in surprise.
"That's the situation. Anyone who arrives in our world will likely become an NPC or BOSS. Only players in this world are special."
Ding Xuan sighed and explained.
"So, to prevent these players from killing me, I've been slaughtering them and not letting them leave the newbie village. Otherwise, once they grow stronger, it could be a real disaster. They might even grind me to death."
(End of this chapter)