Chapter 35: Steel Cage

【Rest Period Ends】

【World Copy Opens!】

【Detected Identity: Player】

【Not Participate in the Copy？】

【/No】

On the seventh morning, Lu Ming received the notice of the copy's start as scheduled, just like the first time, he chose without hesitation.

"Confirming player identity..."

"ID: 96968"

"Player: Lu Ming"

"Five minutes left until the copy opens!"

"Five minutes later, the player's \"World Channel\", \"Private Chat\", and \"Space\" functions will be closed!"

Another five minutes of free time, Lin Jiu didn't send any more messages, while Yilin Ka's chat box kept buzzing.

【Yilin Ka: Help analyze the copy plot, just give some points when the time comes.】

Again he took up his old trade, this live broadcast let him wildly snag a few points, now he already has the capital to idle, but sitting and eating mountains empty is not possible, so he still needs to analyze to earn points.

Lu Ming ignored it, after getting back ten points from several, Yilin Ka kept discussing something, seeming quite willing to accept ten points.

Soon, the five minutes ended.

【World Copy Opens!】

【Copy: Sea Bulwark】

【Plot Introduction: A destructive natural disaster, the ocean flooded part of the land, species forced to migrate to the ocean.】

The ocean, species gradually evolved power, the ocean built up fortifications, from then on they lived in the ocean, generation after generation, gradually, land only existed in fantasy.

Thus, the new land became the utopia of all species; even though hope is slim, it still attracts countless adventurers who, even if buried in the sea, never cease searching...

【Participants this time: 204921】

【Copy divided into: 29275】

【Each copy has about 7 players!】

【Detected player's copy rating: S】

【Copy difficulty will greatly increase!】

"World officially opens!"

【His name is Chang Zhou, currently the Family Head of the Chang Clan.】

"Chang often talks about land, countless soils, after eating vegetables and fruits, even miraculous animals."

"It seems since the grandfather's generation, land has become a fantasy; it is said that they all lived on vast lands, mountains and rivers, grasslands stretching to the horizon..."

"Chang thought, if only it were true..."

"His parents died in a maritime disaster; the Chang Clan is now as strong as before, discovering that the two families each want to become their own, East Rising City can be divided, the efforts of the older generation of the three families..."

Lu Ming opened his eyes, seeing a white flower board, faintly hearing the sound of waves.

【Not start live broadcast？】

【Starting live broadcast will earn extra points (calculated by heat)!】

In order to earn extra points, a point that is quite attractive to Lu Ming, he chose to open without much thought; even if later it would be convenient to reveal the perspective, he also chose to close.

"Are you awake?" a clear bell-like female voice suddenly came from beside.

Lu Ming tilted his head, seeing a girl standing by the bed, wearing a set of light blue uniform similar to military attire, her youthful face somewhat out of place.

She looked like a delicate doll, a doll that hasn't grown yet.

"After the doctor examined you, your body is fine, just some fatigue." He said: "If you're still uncomfortable, I'll help you skip the meeting."

After this experience, Lu Ming didn't take long to... the memories of the Original Owner quickly surfaced in his mind, and he quickly recognized the Loli, commander of the Chang Clan Fleet.

"All good, feels great." Lu Ming sat up, only feeling dry mouth and tongue.

【Player Basic Task: Stay Alive】

【Side Quest Varies by Player Identity...】

【Main Quest: Utopia of the Heart (Seeking the Legend of New Land)】

The system flashed a few messages, Lu Ming hadn't finished looking when suddenly his vision showed a hand as fine as white jade holding a teacup.

"Would you like some water?" Luo Li said, also seeing Lu Ming was thirsty: "After all, you've slept for three."

Lu Ming didn't think much and took the teacup; also because Luo Li's absolute loyalty to the Chang Clan, since the Original Owner's records, she has always stayed with the Chang Clan, she is two years younger than the Original Owner, thus 19 years old.

The Original Owner's trust was absolute, letting Lu Ming also relax a sigh, he drank the water in the cup in one gulp.

Luo Li then took the teacup and put it back on the table.

"The meeting starts tomorrow; you should rest well tonight, the official will first prepare some meeting matters." After saying that, Luo Li gently closed the door, footsteps fading away.

, Lu Ming suddenly noticed a few lines of subtitles appearing in the left corner.

, Can S Player see this？】

【Finally, finally S Player's line of sight.】

【Brother Ming, the target, always followed! In the name of Nianyi？】

【Although points are the key to leaving the game, but still dare to... the zombies in the copy are truly terrifying...】

【Specifically not present, just to see how strong S Player is, sweet talk anyone can say.】

【On what basis can one receive the administrator's favor？】

【Awesome, just show up, what's the sour n？】

【......】

It was originally a live broadcast.

The bullet comments were positioned just right to affect the view; Lu Ming glanced at them, then ignored them, after all, he started the live broadcast only to earn some points.

Lu Ming didn't intend to just sit there; in the next instance, until the goal, no danger had appeared yet, he wanted to take this chance to walk around, turning his gaze to the window beside him, looking through it, he saw the outside scenery.

The buildings in Linli resembled a true steel forest; they were not made of stone bricks, Lu Ming could tell those materials were steel, only saying they were very much like it; his gaze drifted far, the distant towering walls like a barrier completely isolating the outside world.

【...】Imprisoned in a steel cage.

【...】High walls erected, the sea established footholds, gradually evolving into one bulwark after another.

【...】Content with the status quo, dwelling in cramped space, ignoring the vast sea.

【The true imprisoning steel bulwark, and oneself.....

【Longing for the sea, longing for freedom, hoping to see the legendary new land

【But since the parents passed away, there was no right to choose; East Rising City needs the Chang Clan, and the Chang Clan needs... from birth onward, even East Rising City never left.

【Perhaps if one performs well, the parents will take them to the city wall to see the sea, the happiest thing.

【Character line: 15%】

Lu Ming picked up a jacket from the nearby rack and put it on; even so, when opening the door, the sea breeze blowing into the corridor still made him shiver; now estimating midday, the sun had gradually sunk behind the wall, and he would soon see it.

Leaving the building was unexpectedly easy, with no obstruction; the security guards were also deferential to him; Lu Ming guessed that inside was the Chang Clan's territory.

The street was very deserted, only a few people walking with tightened sleeves along the roadside; according to the Original Owner's description, Lu Ming inexplicably wanted to go to the city wall once, to catch a glimpse of the so-called scenery.

The sunset gradually faded, casting an orange-yellow hue; neon lights lit up along the street, casting a long shadow.

The so-called East Life City was indeed built by the sea; Lu Ming could smell the sea's fishy odor from the blowing wind; although a bit cold, it was very fresh.

The bullet comments were still intermittent.

【Look up, look up, let me capture a picture, the sunset is beautiful!】

【I regret it, I really regret it; if I could see it once in person, I'd die happy!】

【Just mean that loli? Really looking again, if I slap her she'll definitely cry...】

, which country's pervert is this? Good thing, it's from Country C.

【Country J deducts 100 points!】

【.....】

Lu Ming still hadn't paid attention to the bullet comments, but he also didn't plan to turn off the live broadcast; this kind of intermittent chat environment, maybe also to blame?

According to memory, while walking along the city wall road, I suddenly noticed a person in black clothes, wearing a hat and a mask, only showing a pair of eyes.

Out of instinct, Lu Ming became wary; until the person walked past him, he saw no aggressive action.

Lu Ming glanced sideways, then continued walking.

Wait... right!

Lu Ming saw that the person seemed to be pulling something out of their pocket; that creepy feeling behind him instantly spread through his body; he hurriedly turned around, only to see that the person's hand already held a short tube-like object, pointing at him.

Lu Ming didn't hesitate, dodging to the side, but his shoulder still felt a pang of pain; seeing the tube in the opponent's hand faintly emitting white smoke, Lu Ming understood.

Gun!

It shouldn't have been long since it started, yet they already killed me?!

"Chang Clan young master, you should be the family head now; clearly still a child, yet you're managing this mess." That voice was extremely low, probably male: "To be honest, I also wanted to kill a child, but..."

He moved the gun muzzle, aiming at Lu Ming on the ground, not noticing the teenager's shadow already beginning to change.

With one shot, using shadow to block, then summoning a handgun to finish the opponent.

Just as Lu Ming summoned the handgun, that person suddenly cried out in pain, then collapsed straight, and behind him stood a taller figure.

Seeing this, Lu Ming retracted his shadow.

In the distance, Luoli held a gun in her hand, the muzzle emitting electric current; she ran over to Lu Ming and helped him up.

"Are you alright?" Luoli's tone revealed a hint of tension.

"I'm fine."

Luoli's gaze fell on Lu Ming's arm, her beautiful brows furrowed; she saw that from turning the gun, a certain button directly pointed at the ground, and she fired without hesitation.

After a gunshot, that person completely lost movement, blood spreading from the head; the street had few people, those who noticed also fled in panic.

"I originally wanted to ask about the mastermind..." Luoli's voice turned cold: "Looks like you just killed them outright."

The bullet comments' scrolling speed increased.

【Rampaging Luoli!】

【What the heck, Country C? Who just said a slap would make her cry?!】

【Hahaha, S Player's spell was interrupted.】

【Fact proves, the wicked die from too much talk.】

【Indeed, the organizer's products are bound to be high-quality; the instance is also creepy!】

【.....】

"Sorry..." Although he understood the situation, Lu Ming knew he had obviously added trouble.

"Your wound... hurry back." Luoli said.

Lu Ming had just seen it; it was only a simple abrasion, though blood flow was also considerable, so he shook his head and refused.

"Do you want the city wall?" Luoli asked.

The other party seemed to know the Original Owner well; Lu Ming nodded.

Luoli continued: "I can understand your feelings, but... you also saw that outside is now very dangerous; at least, let an official accompany you by your side?"

Luoli's eyes conveyed a plea; afraid Lu Ming would be unsafe on his own, the Original Owner liked his own city wall, but Lu Ming wasn't used to it, so he agreed.

"Then, what about that?" Lu Ming looked at the corpse on the ground.

"Will handle it." Loli said indifferently.

The color gradually darkened, the silhouette after one one walked the city wall's stairs.

The closer one got to the city wall, the more one could hear the sound of waves crashing; walking along the city wall, a sea breeze blew straight into one's face.

Lu Ming narrowed their eyes, facing the sea wind, saw an endless ocean; although it was late, the starlight was very bright, the sky like a purple sea of stars, countless points of light forming a distant, breathtakingly beautiful starry sky, the ocean shimmering in a dreamy bluish-purple starry sky, like a river of stars.

Looking closely, one could also see the schools of fish emitting faint light in the sea; they swam in groups in the sea.

It was absolutely a sight that could not be seen on Earth; even Lu Ming was stunned, slowly raising their head.

Pale green, like a ribbon, like a veil, shimmering in the starry sky, flowing far away toward the distant horizon.

"Aurora..." Lu Ming blurted out.

And the barrage had already exploded.

【Their heart, heart burst!】

【Cried! The scene really, personally take a look, let even death...】

【Inside】 indicates that countless screenshots have already been taken!

【Feeling ashamed】 S Player, at the start you get to see such beautiful scenery.

【Suddenly thought of the instance, also wanted to stay in the instance forever...】

The heat rose quickly, already approaching 50,000.

【That road, has drawn countless adventurers to sacrifice for it...】

【Like the sea...】

【Surging from reasons...】

【Those adventurers once said:

"When lost at sea, looking up one can always see the aurora."

【Character line: 25%】

"Chang... Qinglan." Lu Ming said.

Loli stared for a moment, then quickly replied: "Do you have any orders?"

"'s fleet, the next sea's fleet, altogether how many ships returned?"

Original Owner's memory, Ming's meeting was about long, three families jointly the sea's fleet encountered pirate attack incident.

"Altogether ten ships, only two returned." Loli said.

"Hmm..."

Lu Ming stared at the distant aurora, the starlight flickering in their eyes.