Chapter 142: The Passage Connecting Game and Reality

Stifling, oppressive, uneasy.

The omen of an approaching storm silenced everyone inside the stadium.

Even the ordinary people around the venue sensed something amiss; the chatter abruptly stopped, and then, looking at the sky suddenly covered by dark clouds, they began to discuss in a noisy chorus.

"The patrol personnel evacuate the crowd outside the venue; all players inside are to be forcibly conscripted for military control. Xiao Liu, you go contact the troops; we need fire support here!"

Song Bingyuan stared at the twisted space at the center of the symbol, seemed to recall something, and his complexion changed dramatically as he issued a series of orders.

Some leaders of major guilds inside the venue also seemed to have an idea; they offered no resistance to his forced conscription order, immediately marshaled their personnel to surround the bizarre symbol, and required all their actions to obey official command.

The remaining new players, under the organization of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department staff, were moved to the outer area, but none of them were allowed to leave.

Just as everyone was in a flurry, the spatial distortion at the symbol's core seemed to reach a limit; in Song Bingyuan's desperate gaze it transformed into a deep passage, and a dim, obscure aura emanated from within, tightening everyone's expressions.

"What is this?"

Chen Shicheng, using his badge to push through the guarded crowd, came to stand behind Song Bingyuan and asked softly.

The others around immediately perked up, evidently equally curious about the question and wanting an answer.

Song Bingyuan looked at the pair of curious gazes around him, hesitated briefly, then decided to be frank, since after today this would likely no longer be a secret.

"It's a passage, a spatial passage."

"Spatial passage?"

"What is it used for?"

The surrounding players reacted differently—some oddly, some puzzled, and some very calm, like the leaders of certain major guilds.

"This kind of passage is still classified; only a limited number of people know about it."

Song Bingyuan shook his head and continued, "This information was prohibited from public release two years ago, so on the Jiuzhou software you can't find any data about spatial passages. I only learned it after becoming acting director."

"Director, what exactly is the passage for?" a member of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department couldn't help but ask.

"It's a passage connecting the Earth Immortal Realm and the real world. Once opened, no one knows what will emerge on the other side, but it is certain that each appearance brings severe consequences; it's a tactic frequently used by the Silent Council. Several towns in the West were destroyed by monsters that burst out of such passages," Song Bingyuan said gravely.

"Monsters? In the game?" Chen Shicheng was startled and asked instinctively.

Song Bingyuan didn't beat around the bush and said plainly, "Yes, the monsters in the game; the Earth Immortal Realm is that world within the game."

"So that means people can enter the game in their true bodies. Oh, it's the Earth Immortal Realm."

The people around stared dumbfounded, some skeptical yet indifferent; even if one enters the Earth Immortal Realm using a game avatar, the sensation is the same as a real person, and a real person going in would just be like taking off pants and farting.

"Exactly, we can enter the game in our true bodies. Nowadays top-tier organizations, even some first‑rate ones, have the means to open spatial passages; otherwise, how would you think those groups rose to prominence." "As organizations grow larger, their resource needs increase dramatically. Even if you count only daily consumables and not equipment, the amount is astronomical for a group. Do you think their members spend every day not leveling and fighting monsters, but just sitting idle farming or looting?"

Song Bingyuan's explanation left those around him exchanging glances, but upon closer thought, it was indeed the case.

Characters in the game, like real people, require daily consumption, and compared to ordinary players, those who can level up need far greater resources; without organizational support, only a fool would give up some freedom to join.

"Does the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department also have means to open spatial passages?" Chen Shicheng suddenly asked.

"We don't, but Iron Blood Great Wall does, and it has two methods."

"Wait! Director Song, if we can truly enter the Earth Immortal Realm, wouldn't the capital's formation‑breaking task be a piece of cake?"

A member of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department's eyes lit up, "Just have the big boss of Iron Blood Great Wall bring hot weapons, infiltrate the capital's formation site, and blow the formation up directly, right?"

The others thought the plan feasible, and Chen Shicheng nodded silently.

Blue Star's transcendent power is still in its infancy, but its hot weapons have already reached a pinnacle; in terms of sheer destruction, even a single nuclear bomb can rival the might of a peak‑level ascendant.

Even if that formation is guarded by many, increasing a bomb's yield is no big issue; one massive I‑wan dropped, even an immortal couldn't withstand it!

Song Bingyuan gave a wry smile, shook his head and said, "It's not that simple; if it were feasible, we would have acted already."

"Cultivators' power is stronger than a nuclear bomb?"

Song Bingyuan didn't address who was stronger, but cited a concrete example, "Long ago, the West entertained this idea; the Superhuman Alliance gathered several large guilds and used a nuclear bomb to attack a demi‑god‑level BOSS, but the result..."

He shook his head with a grim smile, making it clear that those people met an unfavorable outcome.

"How could that be? Can't a nuclear bomb be used in the Earth Immortal Realm?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

"It's no longer a question of whether it works."

Song Bingyuan pointed upward, "Don't forget the transcendent world up there, where the Heavenly Dao resides. They just took out a nuclear bomb and divine punishment manifested. According to the panel prompt, an extraneous evil threatened the world; seventeen players were struck down by heavenly thunder, with no chance of revival. The loss was catastrophic."

"This"

The crowd was left dumbfounded, unsure whether to rejoice at the West's heavy losses or lament their own inability to use a nuclear bomb to break the formation.

"Enough, now's not the time to overthink."

Song Bingyuan clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, "We don't know where the passage leads, nor the level of the monsters that emerge. Everyone, stay focused and hold out until the military and players from other regions arrive. We must not let the monsters breach the defenses; behind us lies the most bustling district, and if the monsters break through, the consequences would be unimaginable. Understood?"

"Yes, we'll guarantee the mission's completion!"

With that, the discussion essentially concluded; everyone, aware of the mission's importance, began checking their gear, each casting a stern gaze toward the passage.

(End of Chapter)