After passing through the illusion portal, Zhao Haiping found himself in a grim ancient palace.
Looking up, he saw that the palace spanned a hundred meters in height, with three sets of stone steps leading up to the grand hall at the top.
On either side stood tall, imposing guards in red armor, their eyes cold and sharp. Each one looked like a battle-hardened elite who had fought through mountains of corpses.
However, the illusion world seemed to be in a frozen state and had not yet started to operate.
In front of Zhao Haiping appeared three cards, each with a different design and color, with descriptions written on them.
[Gui · Calm and Composed (White): You remain calm, making it easier to face danger.]
[Gui · Swordsmanship Mastery (Blue): Your swordsmanship level is enhanced accordingly.]
[Ren · Intimidating Presence (White): You emit an oppressive aura, making enemies more likely to fear you.]
There were also additional notes below.
[Skill Levels (from highest to lowest): Jia Yi Bing Ding Wu Ji Geng Xin Ren Gui]
[Skill Rarity: White - Common, Blue - Excellent, Gold - Legendary]
Zhao Haiping carefully examined the three cards and reviewed their skills.
"So, the website's description wasn't wrong. This game indeed has roguelike elements.
"It seems I'll acquire different skills in this trial illusion, and my choice of skills will determine the direction of my gameplay.
"Similar to talent selection in roguelike games? I'll have to think carefully."
Roguelike games are characterized by high randomness, with no saving or reloading after death – you can only start over. Many roguelikes let players randomly choose skills, and players have to adjust their strategy, playstyle, and character build accordingly. This is the biggest appeal of roguelikes.
And now, Zhao Haiping faced a similar choice.
There would certainly be good and bad skills, with vastly different outcomes depending on the choices. Otherwise, there would be no point in selecting them.
Zhao Haiping began analyzing carefully.
"Skill strength is clearly determined by level and rarity. Higher levels and rarer skills are definitely more powerful.
"So the first option can be ruled out. I should pick between the remaining two.
"The goal of this trial is to assassinate the king, so I'm essentially playing as an assassin. Swordsmanship mastery should be crucial – a single slip of the hand at a critical moment could lead to a vastly different outcome.
"'Intimidating Presence'… is a higher-level skill, and it looks promising.
"After all, the emperor will likely be surrounded by guards. If they all rush at me, even with swordsmanship, I might not stand a chance against so many.
"But Intimidating Presence will make it easier for enemies to fear me, potentially allowing me to break through the guards and succeed in assassinating the emperor…
"One is rarer, the other higher level. This is tough to choose.
"Oh well, I'll just pick one for now and see how difficult this trial really is."
After some thought, Zhao Haiping gently tapped the [Intimidating Presence] skill card. The card immediately transformed into particles of light that merged into his body, while the other two cards disappeared.
At that moment, Zhao Haiping felt a peculiar sensation, as if he had acquired a unique aura!
With each movement, he seemed to exude a powerful, regal presence.
He even felt that if he were to encounter a few street thugs now, a single angry shout would be enough to scare them off!
"It seems the higher skill level was indeed worth it. Unlike swordsmanship, which anyone can master to some extent with practice, this kind of presence is harder to attain."
Satisfied with his choice, Zhao Haiping waited as the illusion world started to operate.
The young eunuch leading the way had already begun to walk forward, so Zhao Haiping quickly followed.
He noticed that he was holding a wooden box in his hands, beautifully patterned, likely containing something precious.
Curious about what was inside, Zhao Haiping dared not act rashly under the watchful eyes of the red-armored guards. Keeping his head down, he followed the eunuch up the long stone steps toward the main hall.
With each step, the atmosphere grew heavier, and his heartbeat grew louder and more rapid.
By the time he reached the main hall, his heart was pounding as if it would burst from his chest, leaving him feeling tense and barely able to control himself.
"So, this is what a 100% realistic game feels like? Why does it feel a hundred times more nerve-wracking than my first job interview after college…"
At this moment, Zhao Haiping truly understood what it meant to be under extreme pressure.
He had never experienced anything like this in any other VR game.
When he first entered the illusion, it didn't feel like much. It was a static scene, and while the palace looked grand and impressive, that was all.
But now, with countless red-armored soldiers watching him, climbing the towering steps in this deadly serious atmosphere, he felt the pressure building steadily, as if weights were piling onto a camel's back.
If this were a real scenario, many people with weaker mental fortitude wouldn't make it halfway up the steps before their legs gave out.
Luckily, various game indicators in his field of view reminded him that this was just a game and that he was simply role-playing, which helped ease his tension a bit.
Finally, he reached the main hall.
A red-armored guard approached to conduct a final search.
After being roughly patted down, Zhao Haiping was allowed to proceed.
Before he went in, the guard cast him a suspicious glance. Although Zhao Haiping's legs had gone a bit weak, the guard remained on high alert.
This was probably due to the [Intimidating Presence] skill.
But it also allowed him to notice the name above the guard's head.
Although there had been red-armored guards on either side of the hall, Zhao Haiping hadn't dared to look around. Besides, they had been too far away for him to make out their names.
Now he could see: **Yan Dynasty Crimson Armor Army**.
His mind quickly processed this information.
"Right, seeing these soldiers in red should have reminded me of the Yan Dynasty. As the first unified dynasty in the Nine Provinces, it honored the Fire Virtue, favoring the color red. The Crimson Armor Army was the most elite unit of the Yan Dynasty.
"Wait a minute, if this is the Yan Dynasty's emperor, isn't he supposed to be a righteous character? Why am I, as the Order Restorer, here to assassinate him?
"Could it be…
"I'm playing the role of the assassin attempting to kill Emperor Ling of Yan?"
Zhao Haiping looked again at the wooden box in his hands. Although it had no description, its size and shape matched his hypothesis perfectly.
Zhao Haiping wasn't particularly knowledgeable about history, but this story was so well-known that he couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
Emperor Ling of Yan was infamous as a tyrant, arrogant and oppressive, plunging the people into misery. The heroic Nie Rang attempted to assassinate him under the guise of presenting an auspicious gift. Though Nie died, the new emperor who ascended after him abolished oppressive policies and prolonged the Yan Dynasty for over a century.
Of course, Nie Rang was an unknown figure when he presented the gift. Only after assassinating Emperor Ling did he become celebrated as the greatest swordsman of his time and later hailed as the top assassin in history.
In short, Emperor Ling of Yan was a true villain, and playing Nie Rang to assassinate him was considered an act of justice.
"So, the way to pass the trial is clear.
"I'm supposed to play the role of the hero Nie Rang, recreating the historical assassination of Emperor Ling of Yan.
"This box likely contains the so-called auspicious gift, the Black Jade Qilin."
Zhao Haiping now understood why the closed beta recruitment announcement required players to have a certain level of historical knowledge.
If someone knew nothing of history, they might have no idea what the main objective of this trial was, wandering around aimlessly and unable to complete it.
The eunuch walked swiftly to the hall and announced loudly to the towering Emperor Ling, "Your Majesty, Nie Rang, who has come to present the Black Jade Qilin, awaits outside."
Emperor Ling, tall and imposing, laughed heartily. "Oh? Then let him enter! Ministers, join me in welcoming the auspicious gift!"
The eunuch called out, "Summon Nie Rang!"
Zhao Haiping knew it was his turn. Keeping his head down, he quickly approached the hall.
The civil and military officials of the Yan Dynasty lined both sides of the hall, intensifying the pressure on Zhao Haiping, who began to sweat but forced himself to stay calm. Imitating scenes he'd seen in movies, he knelt, raised the wooden box high with both hands, and declared, "This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"
He waited a moment, but received no response.
Feeling suspicious, Zhao Haiping wondered if the game had bugged out.
He instinctively glanced up and saw that Emperor Ling was squinting at him, his expression wary.
"Daring to look directly at the emperor? You intend to assassinate me, don't you!
"From the moment you entered, you exuded murderous intent. I could tell at once that you must be a ruthless wretch without loyalty or family!
"Guards, take him out and execute him!"
Zhao Haiping was stunned. "Wait, what?!"
Before he could react, two red-armored guards stepped forward and seized him.
He wanted to resist, but the guards held him tightly, leaving him no chance to escape.
Before he could protest, the guards
dragged him out of the hall, raised their blades, and ended his life.
If it had been any other emperor, there might have been a process before ordering an execution. But Emperor Ling was a notorious tyrant who never delayed killing.
Zhao Haiping felt a chill at his neck, his vision went dark, and only half a muttered curse escaped his lips from his unwillingly severed head.
"Damn it…"