Chapter 32: Common Sense in the 18th Level

The youth was reduced to ashes in excruciating agony.

The woman turned to say something, only to realize that Chen Ran had already slipped away and was now standing in front of a storefront.

"Boss, how much for a savory pancake?"

The shopkeeper stood frozen like an NPC, not daring to move or speak, wearing the signature fake smile of a death row inmate.

He pulled a Price Tag from his pocket. It read: 1 Point.

"How do I pay?"

Strangely enough, the moment the thought of paying crossed his mind, a small card appeared in his hand.

The card bore the number 1.

Simultaneously, information in his mind indicated that his Liar-Slayer still had nineteen Points remaining.

The shopkeeper took the card and gave it a gentle squeeze, causing it to dissolve into vanishing starlight.

Chen Ran watched this with genuine marvel. He took a bite of the savory pancake, finding the taste rather mediocre, and returned to the woman with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I haven't eaten in over ten hours, so I was a bit hungry."

The woman was somewhat speechless. She had wanted to see how this Newbie would react to witnessing a second Ultimate Death, but he was acting as if nothing had happened at all.

"Aren't you afraid?" She pointed at the ashes on the ground that had yet to blow away, intentionally pointing out, "He was a Newbie who arrived here last month."

"I wasn't the one who died, so why should I be afraid?" Chen Ran asked with a strange expression, chewing his pancake.

"Fair enough." The woman did not dwell on the subject, casually mentioning, "You overpaid for that pancake. The standard price is three for a single Point. Death row inmates have their own schemes, and they know how to rip off an easy mark."

Chen Ran glanced back at the NPC-like pancake vendor and voiced his confusion. "What is the point of them living like this?"

"Before today, perhaps it was meaningless and devoid of hope. But three hours ago, The Tenth Stone Pillar appeared at the Gatehouse, giving them a glimpse of potential liberation. Otherwise, why do you think these death row inmates, who are heavily restricted from even going outside, would gather at the Gatehouse en masse?"

As she spoke, the woman discreetly observed the Newbie's expression, trying to glean some clues.

Chen Ran nodded. "Right. Since rules can be inscribed on the pillars, that means The Tenth Stone Pillar could be inscribed with a rule that negates the previous nine..."

Seeing no change in his demeanor, the woman withdrew her gaze and continued walking. "The appearance of The Tenth Stone Pillar means that among today's batch of Newbies, someone has obtained... a True-Self Level Liar Hunter Skill. Unfortunately, you came out too late. No matter how I look at it, you don't seem like that super Newbie. Otherwise, I would absolutely drag you to the Liar-Slayer Alliance to claim a bounty."

"True Self?" Chen Ran frowned.

"Liar Hunter Skills are categorized by strength into four tiers: Id, Ego, Superego, and the legendary True Self."

"In psychology, the Id controls personal emotions. Most Id Skills primarily affect a Player's mental state, but the impact is not absolute, which is why it ranks the lowest."

"The Ego controls common sense. The majority of these Liar Hunter Skills can manifest physical entities, altering a person's common sense through environmental manipulation to trick the victim into speaking a lie. Ego-tier skills are incredibly potent. Whether you join the Liar-Slayer Alliance or the Deceiver Alliance, you could easily secure a position as a Squad Leader."

"The Superego controls feelings. These Superego Tier Skills are extremely bizarre. Some can temporarily erase a target's memory, while others can strip away their bonds of friendship, family, or romantic love. Imagine how terrifying a person becomes when entirely devoid of emotion. If you encounter a Superego Tier Skill in an Instance, don't even think about fighting back; dropping to your knees and begging for mercy is your only chance of survival."

Chen Ran thought to himself. 'Baili Qiangsheng's Liar-Slayer created Phantom Images in the Novice Instance. That must have been a lowest-tier Id Skill.'

"What about True Self?"

"I don't know," the woman replied bluntly, adding with a self-deprecating chuckle, "How could a bottom-feeder Player like me possibly know anything about a True-Self Level Liar Hunter Skill? However..."

"However what?"

"What is certain is that every True-Self Level skill is capable of completely upending the current landscape of Hell. Anyway, enough about that. Did you happen to acquire a Liar Hunter Skill?"

What seemed like a casual change of subject was actually a premeditated trap.

For some reason, Chen Ran suddenly felt as if the woman before him was a monstrous beast about to snap its bloody jaws shut.

His instincts screamed that if he said he didn't have one, she would shoot him on the spot.

His mind raced, and as realization dawned on him moments later, the color drained entirely from his face.

He carefully reviewed everything he had just said. Once he confirmed that most of his sentences had been questions without any exploitable flaws, the heavy anxiety in his chest finally dissipated.

Seeing his reaction, the woman offered a knowing smile and extended her hand. "Congratulations on figuring out the survival rules of the 18th Level, Newbie. My name is Mei Zhixu."

Chen Ran quickly collected himself. Hearing her name, he paused briefly. 'Where is one to be, and how much of spring's intent is known?' It was a deeply sorrowful verse from the twilight years of the poet Li Qingzhao.

"I am Chen Ran."

Withdrawing his hand, Chen Ran probed, "What would have happened if I had fallen for your trick just now?"

"That Newbie who suffered self-immolation earlier? He was tricked into telling a lie and thoroughly manipulated. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was worked like a dog. His situation was far worse than a death row inmate's; suicide was his only escape."

Chen Ran felt a jolt of shock. Just as he suspected, Hell operated on an entirely different set of Common Sense!

"Tell me about Common Sense in Hell."

Mei Zhixu smiled. "A Liar Hunter Skill is a Player's foundation for survival, so it is forbidden to reveal your own skill. Also, if you trick someone into speaking a Common-Sense Lie about the 18th Level, only the person who induced the lie is authorized to execute Judgment. No one else has the right to interfere."

When she offered nothing more.

Chen Ran's expression darkened. "The fact that I asked the question means I had already deduced those two points. I want to know the rest."

Mei Zhixu gave him an odd look. "Since the Common Sense of the 18th Level is heavily skewed to benefit Veteran Players, wouldn't you assume there's a rule that says: 'Do not casually reveal the Common Sense of the 18th Level to a Newbie'?"

Even a composed person like Chen Ran felt a twinge of frustration dealing with this woman.

"Under what circumstances can one casually reveal the Common Sense of the 18th Level to a Newbie?"

"Ten Points."

Chen Ran did not respond, sinking into deep thought instead.

'I feel like there is a trap here.'

'Let me sort this out.'

'First, the Pillar Rules. Violating them leads to immediate death by self-immolation.'

'But there is a problem. The first rule on the first pillar is: Lying is prohibited.'

'According to what the Masked Man said, you can lie in the 18th Level. However, if you are caught, you will face Judgment—unless you can turn the lie into reality, which essentially turns you into a Ghost Whisperer.'

'Just now, Mei Zhixu mentioned the Deceiver Alliance, proving that Ghost Whisperers absolutely exist.'

'So here is the question.'

'If a Player wants to become a Ghost Whisperer, they must first speak a lie. But the pillar forbids lying, and anyone who violates this rule suffers self-immolation.'

'Isn't that a paradox?'

'The most logical explanation is Priority: The Liar-Slayer operates at a higher Priority than the Pillar Rules, effectively nullifying the first rule on the pillar.'

'Lying in the 18th Level does not trigger self-immolation, but it does leave you open to Judgment.'

'Priority: Liar-Slayer supersedes the Stone Pillar.'

'Therefore, Judgment is primarily executed by a Liar-Slayer. Only when there are no Liar-Slayers present in the 18th Level does the pillar step in to enforce the penalty. Wait...'

At this realization.

Chen Ran immediately cleared his mind, halting his deeper deductions. Instead, he returned to his original train of thought and extrapolated from there.

'Since Priority exists, shouldn't the Priority of Common Sense in the 18th Level sit below that of the Stone Pillar?'

'Mei Zhixu wants ten Points. Combined with the five Points I promised earlier, that makes fifteen. I would have exactly five Points left.'

'Is it possible that you have to pay Rent to live in the 18th Level? And that the Rent is more than five Points?'

'And is it also possible that there is a Common Sense rule in the 18th Level dictating that once it gets dark, a Player must stay inside their own house or rented room?'