Chapter 218

Inside the Brand's consciousness space, the World Tree's Avatar elder covered his forehead, an unbearable headache:

"I'm telling you, Lani, don't force me to act."

Lani emphasized: "Call me Diabolos."

The Avatar elder persuaded earnestly: "Lani, hurry and leave with me, don't affect the Trial's progress any further."

Lani continued to emphasize: "Call me Diabolos."

The Avatar elder guided patiently: "Every minute you stay here affects the Trial's development; if this goes on, Li Cheng's Trial Difficulty will rise to unpredictable heights, Lani."

Lani repeatedly emphasized: "I've said it, call me Diabolos!"

The Avatar elder roared: "If you TM keep yapping at me, I'll banish you outside the World Tree forever, and never give you a chance to come back and mooch food again! TMD, take the medicine, eat the damn medicine!"

"..." Lani fell silent for a moment, then looked at Li Cheng: "Hey, this is an Illusion anyway, these medicines have no effect on me, I'll just take them so this Old Thing stops pestering me. Fate Emperor, please don't actually think I'm sick."

Li Cheng: "..."

Li Cheng: "I understand, I understand everything, rest assured, your Identity, I completely believe."

Half a minute later, Lani swallowed the Avatar elder's medicine, looked at Li Cheng, full of doubt: "Huh, who are you? Huh, who am I? Where is this? What am I doing here?"

Li Cheng: "..."

"Haha, just kidding, Fate Emperor Nyarathotep, of course I remember your Identity, and my own." Lani smiled cunningly, placed a Mark in Li Cheng's palm, revealed a splendid sunlight smile::

"Since that's the case, I'll leave first; when you return to Full Moon Academy, we two will naturally meet again."

"As for the rest, I need not say more; the Emperor knows fate has its fixed numbers, what's destined will come, what's not destined will never be."

"Lei Ha Na is a pitiful child, but her Outcome is already fixed."

"Emperor must remember, don't provoke karmic cause and effect of ill-fated ties for her one life's destiny."

Speaking, Lani's body was enveloped by black mist.

Her figure turned blurry bit by bit, finally vanishing without a trace in this space.

The Avatar elder's mouth corner twitched: "Done for, done for, feel like this guy's sickness got even worse."

He looked at Li Cheng again, took out a medicine bottle, suspicious: "Kid, you want some too?"

"No no no, I don't need it." Li Cheng hurriedly waved: "Cough cough, that Nyarathotep just now, I made it up blindly, you know, I can't beat that crazy woman, cough cough."

"Hmm..." The Avatar elder nodded, just about to say something, another Crack appeared behind him.

Immediately, the Death Witch poked her head out from inside, staring straight at Li Cheng: "Who did you call a crazy woman?"

Li Cheng: "..."

Avatar elder: "..."

Both instantly sweat profusely.

Li Cheng's toes, even more, curled out a three-bedroom apartment inside his shoes.

In the silence, Lani's expression unchanged, yet she suddenly bypassed the Avatar elder, sent a voice transmission to Li Cheng: "Worthy of Emperor Nyarathotep, you truly are a hero among gods, actually choosing to act like a neurotic, deceiving this incomprehensibly stupid Old Thing."

"Emperor, I really am still too straightforward, far beneath you."

Lani's logic was very simple — she first determined she wasn't sick, was a normal person. Not a neurotic.

So, others who think she's a neurotic, naturally are neurotics themselves.

Li Cheng acting like them, naturally is acting like a neurotic.

Truly meticulous logic.

Li Cheng: "..."

Li Cheng: "..."

Li Cheng stood with hands behind back, looking down on the world: "Heh, didn't expect you to see through my scheme, correct, I just want to act like a neurotic, blend among these fools who can't see through Illusions, utilize them, guide them, break the Illusion."

"Lord Diabolos actually able to see through my plan, your wisdom has gained my recognition."

Lani: "Good good."

Li Cheng: "Base operation."

Lani: "Withdraw first."

Li Cheng: "Good riddance."

Just like that, the Death Witch vanished once more.

Avatar elder: "..."

"Li Cheng, I just felt like someone was cursing me, you have any clue?"

"Cough cough, I think it's an illusion, what do you think?" Li Cheng blinked.

"Fine, alright, this time Lani intruding here is my problem..." Speaking here, the Avatar elder looked suspiciously at Li Cheng again: "I ask you, are you sure you don't need medicine?"

"I really'm not sick, bro." Li Cheng speechless.

"Lani said the same."

"..."

"Forget it, seeing how you were Born, probably not related to neurotics much; anyway, this matter, indeed I didn't consider thoroughly, hmm, she won't come again, okay, you continue the Trial, I'm leaving."

The Avatar elder waved, about to leave.

"Wait!" Li Cheng unhappy: "I say, World Tree Adult, your Apology, just a light floating sentence like that?"

"..." Avatar elder stopped, eyes narrowed to a slit: "Li Cheng, do you know what you're saying? I'm the World Tree's Avatar, this Trial's constructor, me apologizing to you is already giving you enormous face, what more do you want?"

"So... you mean I'm not qualified for your Apology?" Li Cheng used Regeneration Regression to save, confirmed his safety, then looked at him resentfully: "A weakling like me, not qualified for a Strong One like you to Apologize, also not qualified for your compensation?"

"..." Avatar elder's mouth corner twitched.

If not knowing this thing is a newborn Dong Xi, he'd really have been fooled, thinking he's pitiable.

But now, he only feels this brat, truly an old yin-yang master.

Thus, the Avatar elder also replied in bad temper with yin-yang sarcasm:

"Oh my, who could look down on you, Liu Li? A rising Dong Xi like you is a once-in-ten-thousand-years occurrence, tsk tsk tsk, alright, get as far away from me as possible, hurry up, roll roll roll."

"Don't force me to multiply the trial difficulty for you a few more times."

"Fine fine fine, old thing, you're powerful, you're awesome, you're mighty and extraordinary." Li Cheng gave a thumbs up: "I can't compare to you."

"That's right, good that you know." The avatar elder waved his hand: "Just do what you're supposed to do, don't go looking for trouble when there's none."

Li Cheng continued: "But, old sir, you also wouldn't want the World Tree to know about your own mistakes, right?"

Avatar Elder: "???"

Li Cheng's words were incomparably certain, and the avatar elder's narrowed eyes slowly widened, his gaze toward him now containing much more scrutiny.

"How did you speculate that the World Tree can punish me?"

"You guess?" Li Cheng smiled.

Where would he have speculated it from.

Actually, this is fundamentally a game setting from the PC version.

The World Tree's rules give birth to secret realms; the so-called avatars are not the World Tree's rules themselves, merely managers who can borrow power, and naturally must also be bound by the rules.

Although Quantum Technology said before that this version's secret realm is generated by AI technology, so the avatar's appearance differs from the PC version.

But as long as this setting holds, the avatar elder absolutely cannot defy the World Tree's rules.

"Heh, this old man truly misjudged you. I knew you were a clever person, but didn't expect you to be sharp to this degree." The avatar elder sighed.

In the long river of time, though not many, the avatar elder still established connections with a few outstanding trial participants.

Unfortunately, not a single one of these trial participants figured out his relationship with the World Tree.

That's right, although he bears the title of World Tree's avatar, he is not the World Tree itself, merely the avatar of one of its roots.

This root of his is responsible for governing this Tianming World's secret realm.

While the World Tree itself is immersed in the Dream Realm, recuperating, and in its dreams connects with countless different worlds and times, manufacturing different secret realms.

For something like today, if the trial participant doesn't mind then fine.

But if the trial participant accuses during final settlement, then he, as a manager, still has to pay a not-small price.

"Speak, what compensation do you want? Within my scope of duty, I can agree."

The avatar elder sighed, looking at Li Cheng with some disdain.

Honestly, he didn't want to give this rising Dong Xi a single bit of compensation.

You see, what the avatar elder hates most is overtime.

And today, because of this newborn Dong Xi and that neurotic Lani, he already worked overtime once.

Not only overtime, but also having to compensate this newborn Dong Xi...

This TM isn't paying to work yourself? And Li Cheng, looking at the avatar elder's constipated-like expression, found it amusing.

The more uncomfortable this guy is, the more it proves Li Cheng did the right thing.

He thought for a moment, pointed at Lei Ha Na: "The compensation I want is to wake up this girl, resolve the problems on this girl."

Waking Lei Ha Na should be the final step of Regina's quest line.

Li Cheng wants to test whether evil path speedrun can work.

Hearing this, the avatar elder instead frowned, extremely surprised.

He completely didn't expect that the compensation Li Cheng wanted would actually be this matter.

To save an innocent girl, even risking angering me?

This kid, though a bit born, his nature is indeed a kind and gentle person.

"Ah, what a pity, Li Cheng." The avatar elder shook his head: "This matter, I can't help you."

"Tch, truly useless." Li Cheng curled his lip.

"..." The avatar elder didn't get angry either, continued: "Lei Ha Na is a sealed door, bearing the Eternal Sleep Witch's fate. If she wakes, this world will face a great calamity, so I absolutely cannot help you wake her."

"Abyss invasion, but Tianming World still has a sliver of survival possibility. But if the world connected to Lei Ha Na descends, this world will only have the path of destruction left."

"I won't help you, it's for this world, this is where my duty lies."

"So, don't mind it anymore. Sacrificing one person to save a world is an extremely cost-effective exchange."

"Even, it's a not-very-equivalent exchange."

As expected it's like this, pushing players into a dilemma of choice, making players struggle bitterly in contradiction, the stronger the immersion, the more painful.

This game's old flavor has come up again.

Li Cheng sighed inwardly, but in his heart doubted the possibility of this wave of plot.

You see, in the PC version, Liuli's fate was also unsolvable; players could only choose between killing her and GAME OVER.

But in this version, Liuli can be redeemed.

Then does that mean Lei Ha Na's fate can also be rewritten? Back then, Liuli's fate being rewritten not only let Li Cheng gain a downhead Mother Dragon transformer, but also gain the 【End Dagger】 divine artifact.

This divine artifact later synthesized into 【Sword of Terminus】, becoming his most important weapon, and also transformed Regina into "Unnamed Race", opening her side quest, letting Li Cheng meet Lei Ha Na.

Two plot segments interlocking,

One could say, if not for changing Liuli's fate, Li Cheng wouldn't even have the qualification to open this Lei Ha Na plot.

Does this mean Lei Ha Na's plot is the same, can achieve a perfect ending?

If achieved, what reward would be gained? Liuli's dowry was a unique divine artifact like 【End Dagger】.

Then saving Lei Ha Na, whose difficulty is even higher than Liuli, her dowry, wouldn't it have to be even stronger than 【End Dagger】?

As a collection addict, Li Cheng absolutely cannot let that new equipment slip away before his eyes.

Thus, he let out a long breath, put on a bitter and hateful expression, looked at the avatar elder: "You tell me, for the sake of all beings under heaven, one should abandon the small self, exchange one life for the fortune of all beings."

"Mhm, that's right, it's a worthwhile deal." The avatar elder nodded.

"Whether it's you or Lani, both are saying to save all beings under heaven. For the sake of saving all beings under heaven, this girl must be sacrificed." Li Cheng shook his head: "This makes me feel quite ridiculous. This girl, for the world, would rather sacrifice herself, seal the evil god erosion's entrance within her own body, eternally sleep."

"But you, you're not even willing to put in the effort to save her."

"Then I want to ask: doesn't this girl count as one of all beings under heaven?"

Avatar Old Man: "......"

"Since you want to save all beings, why not save her? Your slogans ring loudest, yet you ignore the person right in front of you who truly needs help."

Big Boss sighed deeply and continued: "If you won't save one person, how can you save all beings under heaven?" The Avatar Old Man looked at Big Boss in silence; after a moment, he slowly exhaled:

"Honestly, I didn't expect you, this thing born at birth, to actually say something like this. Correct, what you say is reasonable. Whether it's me or Lani, we're both too good at saying pretty words."

"So you're saying?" Big Boss looked at him.

"But I still can't help you with this matter—the risk is too great." The Avatar Old Man shook his head and said from the bottom of his heart: "Sorry."

Big Boss was not disappointed; instead he continued: "Old Thing, since you say the risk is too great, that means you do know how to save her, right?"

"Mm, I know, but I can't tell you." The Avatar Old Man shook his head: "You don't know what kind of place that evil god's world is."

"Put it this way: the confrontation between Tianming Continent and the Abyss is a clash of civilizations. Though I lean toward Tianming Continent, I won't interfere too much. If Tianming ultimately loses, that's just fate."

"The master of this world will simply be replaced by another."

"But the world where those evil gods reside is different."

"They are not a civilization."

"They are the apocalypse."

"If a passage is opened, what awaits Tianming Continent is the apocalypse falling into utter chaos."

"By then, this World Bubble will completely disappear."

"Nothing will be left behind."

"I know, what I've told you, you cannot fully understand." The Avatar Old Man shook his head: "But all I can tell you is this much. Your Dragon's Strength is too weak; more secrets, and the moment you hear them, you'll go mad."

Setting up such a grand background—truly worthy of you, Quantum Technology... Big Boss raised his eyebrows: "Then what Rank/Level do I need to reach to learn those secrets?"

"At minimum, you must become the King of the New God and promulgate your own laws." The Avatar Old Man smiled: "Or... you drive the Abyss out completely and take Its place. Only then do you have the Qualification to hear the truth of this world."

So it's Second Playthrough content... Big Boss roughly understood.

"So, let's change the compensation, Big Boss."

This time, in the Avatar Old Man's gaze toward Big Boss, the original Disdain was gone.

Only regret remained.

Big Boss also raised his head, and they Looked At Each Other. After a few seconds, he said softly: "I think you'd better tell me the method to save her. I mean the kind of method that can both Awaken her and not bring the evil god."

"Don't be so stubborn. I've already told you, the risk is too great..."

"Because even if you don't tell me, I'll still Think Way to save her myself." Big Boss Shrugged: "By then, if I really get the direction of my Effort wrong and let the evil god in, we're all finished."

Avatar Old Man: "......"

"You should be very clear: saying one thing and meaning it has always been my Nin Arrive." Big Boss looked at him firmly.

Avatar Old Man: "I********"

"Hey, you Customer Service, how dare you curse people?" Big Boss flew into a rage: "Do you believe I'll go complain about you at the World Tree?"

"Hehe, so you resort to threats when you can't handle it? Thinking you, this newly risen Dong Xi, are a Good Person is the greatest stain of my life." The Avatar Old Man sneered: "But, guess why Lani and I are both willing to tell you the information about this matter?"

"What do you mean?" Big Boss narrowed his eyes.

"Because she and I both know that with your current self, it's absolutely impossible to save Lei Ha Na. She is the Eternal Sleep Witch, possessing the Witch's Power—a great power transcending worldly common sense, a power that exists to correct this world."

"A power obtained directly from the roots of the World Tree, just like me."

The Avatar Old Man smiled: "You say you want to Wake Up Regina; then you can go ahead and try."

"Once you try, you'll know just how insignificant you are before truly powerful Power."

"So I don't worry about your threats at all. Your threats mean nothing to me."

"You say a catchphrase?" Big Boss looked at him coldly, calculating whether to stick a face on this Lao Deng's Buttocks again.

"Hehe, alright, I'm tired. That's it for today." The Avatar Old Man smiled: "Say what compensation you want. If you don't want any, you can complain about me at Settlement time."

"Though it'll cost me some Contribution, it's better than wasting time here with you, this newly risen Dong Xi, and suffering endless Torture."

"Fine." Big Boss knew this Lao Deng probably wouldn't budge. After thinking, he proposed his backup plan: "Mm, first, I want you to remove the restriction that transmits my name out if I expose my Surname during the Trial."

"Second, mm, give me a pill that brings the dead back to life."

"Third, I want a divine artifact not inferior to the Sword of Terminus."

"Fourth, I also want an opportunity to make Infinite Wishes to you."

"Fifth, I also want..."

"Stop stop stop, making so many demands right off the bat? Are you asking me for compensation or making a wish? Want me to give you a hundred?" The Avatar Old Man said sarcastically.

"Mm? Only a hundred? You didn't even say how many demands would satisfy me before!" Big Boss was shocked: "Then I'll have to cut down several hundred..."

"You TM..." The Avatar Old Man couldn't hold back: "Just two. I'll give you at most two options!"

Hearing this, Big Boss slightly curled his Mouth Corner.

People are all about compromise. If he'd only asked for one or two demands at the start, this Lao Deng would definitely find a way to resist.

But since he brought up so many at the start, Lao Deng would give him two.

"Then I want the Identity Restriction removed, and the pill that brings the dead back to life." Big Boss thought and said.

The first was for the upcoming Operation; the second was an Item to save lives.

But not to save his own life—rather, to save NPCs' lives.

"Your appetite is truly big. Here you go. We're even now, you dog thing." The Avatar Old Man said this with his mouth, but his gaze wasn't angry; instead, it carried a sense of owing something.

Perhaps if he weren't acting as an Avatar of the World Tree, but just as a person...

He would also Choose to save that pitiful girl Lei Ha Na.

After giving Big Boss the Blessing and Item, the Avatar Old Man, like Lani, Disappeared from this space.

After he had been gone for a long time, Lilith poked her cat head out from between his legs: "Hey, Big Boss, you... you're not still planning to save that Lei Ha Na, are you?"

"You know me well." Big Boss rubbed her head.

"Hehe, I not only know you, I also know that stopping you is useless." Lilith yawned: "So what do you plan to do? According to that old thing, he isn't worried at all about you waking up Lei Ha Na."

"Not to mention, there's an entrance for the Evil God inside Regina's body; if the method is wrong, the trouble will be huge."

"Since he's unwilling to tell me, I'll force him to tell me." Big Boss showed a warm, sunny smile: "Right now, this old thing is unwilling to speak because he thinks I have no way to forcibly wake up Lei Ha Na."

"In other words, as long as I can prove myself capable of forcibly waking up Lei Ha Na."

"Then my threat will work; to keep me from luring the Evil God, this old thing will tell me the correct method to wake her up."

"..." Lilith thought for half a day, finally sorting out the logic inside: "Hehe, that really is your style, but how do you plan to do it? According to what he said, your strength isn't enough... Oh, I understand!"

Lilith slapped her cat paw: "You plan to save Lei Ha Na after clearing the game, right!"

"Mm, by then, you'll either be the promulgator of the New Law or have already replaced the will of the Abyss; whatever you want to do, you'll naturally be able to do it! Big Boss, you're being very cautious this time, meow!"

After the Ragdoll Cat finished speaking to herself, she suddenly discovered that Big Boss was looking at her like she was an idiot.

Lilith: "..."

"Did I say something wrong, meow?"

"Too slow, and too much of a waste of time; plus, if you do that, Lei Ha Na's dowry can only be used in New Game Plus." Big Boss shook his head: "Mm, the method you mentioned is the choice of normal players."

"But I... I am an Evil Path Player."

Saying this, he looked at Lei Ha Na: "It's just Witch's Power, who doesn't have it?"

During the conversation, countless Bu Qi Zhi Ren surged out from his body and wrapped around Lei Ha Na's body.

He had previously discovered that Bu Qi Zhi Ren could resist the erosion of this world.

Since it could defend, it could naturally attack.

Sure enough, after Bu Qi Zhi Ren drilled into Lei Ha Na's body, the system's voice sounded.

【Your Bu Qi Zhi Ren eroded the body of Eternal Sleep Witch·Lei Ha Na; you seized the Witch's Power polluted by the Terrifying Outer God ***** from her; your Bu Qi Zhi Ren consumed 100 people's worth; you obtained 1 person's worth of Bu Qi Zhi Ren...】

"Damn it, the electricity meter can't be reversed..." Big Boss furrowed his brow.

This was the first time he had encountered a situation where resource acquisition couldn't keep up with consumption.

Moreover, the conversion ratio between the two actually reached an astonishing 100:1.

"If I forcibly eat all the Witch's Power on her, how much Bu Qi Zhi Ren would I need?" Big Boss silently recited in his heart.

【Estimation is inaccurate, but at least more than 50 million is needed.】

"50 million... what a terrifying number." Yet the corner of Big Boss's mouth curled up.

Although this number was terrifying, for him, it wasn't impossible.

If all the Demon Race within the entire Wrathful Father God Territory were sacrificed.

And during the sacrifice process, they were made to carefully carry for ten months of pregnancy and nurture Bu Qi Zhi Ren for him, then maybe it would be enough.

If it still wasn't enough...

Heh heh, isn't there still a Demigod?

"I think my plan this time needs to be more radical."

Big Boss showed a warm, sunny smile.

Lilith saw this smile and immediately shivered.

She knew very well that whenever Big Boss showed this expression, something especially heaven-defying would happen.

On the other side, the Avatar Old Man inside the World Tree Root felt Bu Qi Zhi Ren that Big Boss had drilled into Lei Ha Na's body and was shocked.

"Damn it, I forgot this brat can also use Witch's Power!"

"Clearly a man, yet using a witch's power, you really aren't a thing, Big Boss."

"TMD, and this Bu Qi Zhi Ren, it's like my Soul Seeking Power..."

"But thinking about it carefully, it does make sense; the Regenerating Witch is the first born among the Seven Witches, representing the Authority of 'Life' among witches."

"Damn it, this Regenerating Witch is too stupid; if it weren't for her falling for the Li Cheng Beast's trick... I wouldn't be so passive!"

The Avatar Old Man hesitated, for a moment not knowing what to do.

Just then, he felt that Bu Qi Zhi Ren had stopped, and the Witch's Power inside Lei Ha Na's body had almost not decreased.

"Pfft, hahahaha, I was overthinking because I care!" The Avatar Old Man suddenly laughed out loud: "I actually worried that this guy would use Bu Qi Zhi Ren to wake up Lei Ha Na..."

"How much would that take?"

"Ten million, twenty million, fifty million?"

"He's a trash below Fourth Rank; where would he get so much Bu Qi Zhi Ren?"

"Could it be by wishing?"

"Hahahahaha! If he can scrape together so much Bu Qi Zhi Ren, I'll eat this table right here on the spot!"

The Avatar Old Man proudly pointed at the table he ate at.

But saw Lani sitting by the table, tapping her chopsticks at Iron Wrist: "Bang Bang Bang..."

The Avatar Old Man: "..."

Lani: "Is the food not ready yet? I want to eat, I'm so hungry."

The Avatar Old Man: "..."

Lani: "You say something, didn't you say as long as I take my medicine well, I can come here to mooch meals?"

The Avatar Old Man: "..."

Lani: "If you don't cook, then prepare yourself, eat this table, perform for me, that's fine too."

The Avatar Old Man sneered: "Heh, Lani, you overestimate that boy too much; I'll put my words here, this guy absolutely cannot collect enough Bu Qi Zhi Ren!"

"This bet, I can punch you."

"Interesting, old thing, this really is rare—you actually want to bet with me." The Death Witch looked at him with interest: "Fine then, I'll bet that you'll definitely eat this table, how about it?"

"Hehe, if I win, you have to take your medicine properly, and absolutely not come bother me again!" The avatar old man also smiled.

Fifty million Bu Qi Zhi Ren—that's fifty million lives! Even if what's sacrificed are Transcendents, the quantity needed is enormous.

Could it be that this rising Dong Xi could refine the entire Wrath Father God Domain?

Impossible, absolutely impossible! Chapter End