[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-146":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2249995,4069,"Chapter 146: Cracking It Is the Genuine Version; Pressure and Fun","monsters-are-coming-chapter-146",146,"\u003Cp>\"Is this what you call the Earth Spring Star?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing at the flowerpot sitting beside the computer desk, Tian Bei wore an expression of utter disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the pot was a withered, curled Earth Spring Flower, its edges turning yellow, looking as though it had been dead for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The finger pointing at the wilted bloom trembled involuntarily; the joy in Tian Bei's heart turned to anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One second he had been expecting to witness the birth of an unrecorded new spiritual plant with his own eyes, and the next he discovered he had been deceived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was no Earth Spring Star at all; the S-rank student before his eyes was nothing but a fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I apologize, Professor Tian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the fabrication had been thoroughly exposed, Meng Meng Yuan immediately bowed his head to admit his mistake, mentally preparing himself for a future career in the promising industry of brick-moving within the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Tian Bei was about to reprimand him, a question suddenly occurred to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the other party had fabricated the data, simulation tests confirmed that the cultivation method recorded within it was entirely feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So where exactly had the other party copied this information from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside the fact that assessment personnel could not search for data via the Star Net, even if such permissions were granted, the content Meng Meng Yuan had written did not exist in the database at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it have been copied from the Erosion Clan's spiritual plant database?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the Erosion Clan, Tian Bei could think of no other channel capable of providing such information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meng Meng Yuan, where did you copy this data from?\" Tian Bei withdrew his finger from the withered spiritual plant, pushed up his glasses, and asked Meng Meng Yuan in a deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I copied it from the library inside the game,\" Meng Meng Yuan straightforwardly confessed the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Game? Library?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, in the newly released Land of Darkness, there is a library storing data; it records the growth cycle changes and cultivation methods for various types of spiritual plants, and the data on the Earth Spring Flower is recorded in great detail there; I copied it from that library.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a schoolboy who had made a mistake, Meng Meng Yuan confessed honestly under Tian Bei's gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Meng Meng Yuan's answer, Tian Bei fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not know about the game Land of Darkness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rushed to purchase a qualification slot during every distribution cycle, yet each time he had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His parents and his in-laws had also participated in the rush to purchase game qualifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not only was the distribution cycle long, the number of qualification slots released each time was extremely small; to this day, no one in his family had successfully purchased one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled him was why the Erosion Clan would freely place technical data not yet released to the Human Federation inside the game's library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Tian Bei immediately decided to report this discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the game truly contained a vast amount of technical data nonexistent in reality available for free, this would absolutely be a good thing for the Human Federation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor Tian, what should I do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tian Bei lost in thought, Meng Meng Yuan standing nearby asked nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The S-rank evaluation is cancelled; I will give you one more chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that he had been granted an extra opportunity, Meng Meng Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason, he suddenly felt a slight regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed... he actually quite wanted to walk this broad avenue of brick-moving in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth, Rise City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A video conference of the Human Federation's high command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All participants attended via projection, establishing connections through the Star Net network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-eight minutes into the meeting, Bai Chen pressed a control on the podium, and an image of a plant appeared on the light screens on the participants' desks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely the spiritual plant recorded in the data submitted by Meng Meng Yuan: the Earth Spring Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Based on the data submitted by investigations from various cities, we can now fully confirm that Land of Darkness and the Cracked Version of Land of Darkness are two completely different games.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Weapon Development Department and the Genetic Modification Department of the Dome Research Center have provided us with a large amount of game content related to the Cracked Version.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By comparing it with the official version released by the Erosion Clan, we can see that whether in scene modeling or physical performance, the Cracked Version is indistinguishable from reality; it can be said that the Cracked Version is the true Land of Darkness, while the official version publicly marketed by the Erosion Clan can only be considered a simplified, modified version of the Cracked Version, sharing relatively similar settings only regarding the single monster type of Evil Spirits, and its setting completeness is far inferior to the Cracked Version, containing many unexplainable gaps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, the probability of our previous speculation regarding internal problems within the Erosion Clan has increased.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Recently, new data has emerged to support this viewpoint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Documents submitted by the Cloud Veil City Spiritual Plant Cultivation Center show that the main city library in the Cracked Version of Land of Darkness actually allows access to technical data not yet publicly released by the Erosion Clan... this clearly does not align with the Erosion Clan's behavior; if they wished to release data, they could do so directly on the real-world Star Net, so why choose to release it within the Cracked Version of Land of Darkness?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking to this point, Bai Chen paused briefly, organized his words, and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, it is highly likely that the Cracked Version was developed and produced by the Star Net without the permission of the Erosion Clan's high command, and that it publicly released the Erosion Clan's confidential data within the game, indicating that the Star Net has completely lost control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Recall that Administrator Xiao of Iron Wall City once proposed a hypothesis: that the Star Net created the Cracked Version of Land of Darkness to imprison the Erosion Clan, allowing the game world to replace reality as the primary world; coupled with the Erosion Clan's recent series of actions seeking currency exchange, the probability of this hypothesis has risen significantly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I now have reason to believe that the Erosion Clan is completely split internally, and the Star Net's actions...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What we must do is prepare as early as possible and accelerate the acquisition of the Cracked Version's game currency, so that we have room to maneuver should unknown situations arise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moon, Eclipse City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Supreme Council Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Net, appearing in the form of a young boy, analyzed the recent situation with a grave expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to data records read from the Human Federation's Star Net, a player named Meng Meng Yuan obtained a piece of technical data from the game created by that mysterious existence; based on the dialogue exchange between Meng Meng Yuan and Tian Bei, it can be confirmed that a large amount of similar data still exists within the game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This means that entering the game first allows one to achieve not only developmental lead but also technological lead; the library within the game contains a vast amount of technical data applicable to reality, assisting real-world development.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Star Net's analysis, the Erosion Clan's Chief Administrator seated in the number one position raised his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, but we do not even have a single game qualification slot now; we have already fallen far behind the humans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the Star Net immediately spoke up to correct him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aside from the humans, it can be confirmed that the Saifish Clan and the Abyssfish Clan have also obtained game qualifications; this can be deduced from changes in their foreign exchange earnings; the foreign exchange revenue of these two clans mainly comes from exporting seafood and virtual network income, both of which the Star Net can trace; only offline transfers cannot explain the specific situation, so it can be basically confirmed that these two clans have also obtained quite a few game qualifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secondly, I suspect the Skyfeather Clan has recently obtained a batch of slots as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the expressions of the Erosion Clan high officials present turned to frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew the truth in advance, yet no matter what, they could not obtain game qualification slots; even getting started was difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the Number Three Administrator looked at the Star Net and spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, the Human Federation has rejected our currency exchange application; this clearly does not align with the humans' usual behavior; they may have already become suspicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Net nodded upon hearing this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your actions were too aggressive; actively applying for currency exchange to acquire game currency would inevitably arouse the suspicion of the Human Federation's high command... the correct approach should have been to first purchase a batch of human resources, then wait for the Human Federation to proactively submit a currency exchange application; you must understand that the Human Federation submits applications proactively every year, so there is no need to rush; turning passivity into activity has instead made us even more passive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there is no need to worry about this problem; although we cannot exchange for human currency, we also have massive reserves of Earth Coins, the universal currency of the Earth Alliance, so there is absolutely no need to worry about being unable to purchase game currency after obtaining game qualifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Star Net finished speaking, the Administrator seated in the eighth seat interjected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, I am quite curious about one question and need your explanation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did that mysterious existence reveal himself only before us and inform us of the game's truth, yet did not inform the high command of the Human Federation? Logically, the humans should be the primary recruitment target of that mysterious existence; this leaves me deeply puzzled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the inquiry, the Star Net remained silent for a few seconds before nodding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, this question is not hard to understand; fundamentally, that mysterious existence does not care about exposure of the connection or whether the game is made public; the only thing he cares about is one point: the stability of the real world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stability of the real world?\" The Number Eight Administrator frowned slightly, his expression puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, precisely the stability of the real world; think carefully, when we discovered the Black Black Tide Rift and convened a meeting, what were we preparing to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Preparing to do what... naturally, we were preparing for a war against the Black Black Tide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Net nodded, then shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We were indeed preparing for war, but we were preparing for a nearly unwinnable war with a sense of despair; assuming that mysterious existence had not appeared, the Erosion Clan's development would have headed toward extremism; we would need various clans to provide us with massive resources for war preparations, and even for the sake of victory in war, I would have proposed a plan to plunder resources, accelerating the Erosion Clan's development as much as possible before the Black Black Tide descended.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This would inevitably lead to turmoil on Earth, and might even trigger local wars.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For that High-Dimensional Existence who chose Earth as his testing ground, our aggressive strategy would disrupt his plan to recruit Earthlings to fight against the Black Black Tide; severe turmoil in reality would even drastically reduce the number of players Earth could produce, which is unfavorable for the game plan envisioned by the High-Dimensional Existence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He chose to descend when we were at our most desperate and preparing to launch our war plan; his purpose was most likely to soothe our emotions and to more smoothly advance his envisioned player plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for why he did not inform the Human Federation, it is because whether the Human Federation's high command knows or not will not affect the changes in the power structure of Earth's factions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, the High-Dimensional Existence contacting us was not as complex as we imagined... all the above analysis is merely my speculation; the specific truth remains unknown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Star Net's analysis, the Erosion Clan high officials present nodded in sudden realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Net's analysis sounded extremely reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To summarize: the High-Dimensional Existence does not care about exposure, but he cares about the stability of Earth's environment, as this benefits the development of the player plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why he contacted our Erosion Clan at that time, it was also for the sake of Earth's order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It prevents Earth from falling into turmoil due to our war preparation plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the reasons behind this are understood, it is not hard to comprehend why the High-Dimensional Existence did not proactively contact the human high command, because it was completely unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, under the circumstance that we cannot grab game qualification slots, what should we do?\" the Number One Administrator asked aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can try to strive for foreign exchange from the various clans of the Earth Alliance to prepare in advance for development after entering the game, and then invest the entire clan's resources to kickstart our development steps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Star Net, I have another question I cannot understand: since this is a war game test conducted by a High-Dimensional Existence, why does he not recruit professional war armies from various clans, but instead prioritizes recruiting ordinary players?\" the Number Eight Administrator asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the inquiry, the Star Net spoke after a brief silence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regarding this question, I have analyzed three possibilities, but these are merely possibilities and cannot serve as factual basis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first possibility is that the High-Dimensional Existence does not care whether he recruits systematic armies or ordinary players; for him, this is just an interesting game, so the angle of recruitment cannot be considered using the logic of whether they can provide higher combat power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second possibility is that the difference in world levels greatly weakens the importance of the starting point; simply put, the concept of strength and weakness among all lifeforms in our Earth Alliance can be categorized as the same starting point in the Monster World; the gap in strength and weakness becomes meaningless in that world; a top-tier warrior of the Erosion Clan and a paralyzed ordinary human of the human race have no essential difference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A paralyzed ordinary human can also possess combat power surpassing our clan's top warriors within a short period, so it does not matter who receives the qualifications; our starting points are all the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Number Eight Administrator could not help but speak:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, although combat power gaps can be easily leveled out in the high-dimensional world, combat awareness and even combat techniques clearly cannot be compensated for by simply increasing strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, you are quite right, but you must understand one thing: players in the Monster World will inevitably experience long years of warfare; during this process, everyone grows. Creatures in the real world become stronger through training, whereas players in the Monster World cultivate combat awareness and techniques every moment. Actual combat will cause all players to grow rapidly, rendering gaps in this aspect meaningless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps it will not even take a year to cultivate players whose combat awareness and techniques surpass those of real-world warriors; and for that mysterious high-dimensional existence, a year is but the blink of an eye. Stretching out the timeline, these two types of players can still be classified as starting from the same point, with no significant difference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secondly, if systematic armies enter the game, another problem arises: armies of different clans competing to monopolize resources will squeeze the living space of ordinary players who have not yet grown, forming a clear pattern of player factions in advance and creating monopoly forces similar to financial conglomerates. Prioritizing the recruitment of ordinary players avoids this issue; by then, even if army forces station themselves, they will be utterly helpless before the ordinary players who entered first, and even with numerical superiority, they will pose no threat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, the essence of this problem is actually very simple: ordinary players and top-tier players do indeed differ in initial capabilities, but this gap will be gradually erased as ordinary players grow; this is also a recruitment mechanism that grants ordinary players greater influence under specific circumstances.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next is the third possibility I have analyzed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Players from systematic backgrounds like armies may be restricted by command and management requirements, making them less flexible than ordinary players in certain aspects; furthermore, ordinary players usually lack the strict command system limitations of army players, allowing them to make free decisions on their next actions with higher flexibility. Army players focus more on large-scale operations, but in small-scale conflicts or specific missions, ordinary players possess more creative response strategies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next is engagement and emotional investment; this is perhaps also the reason the high-dimensional existence requires us to keep secrets. Ordinary players can participate in the game more fully because they lack the pressure from teams or organizations that army players Iron Face, allowing them to enjoy the game process more freely. This high degree of engagement and emotional investment can enable ordinary players to deliver unexpected performances at critical moments, thereby playing an even greater role.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally, there is balance and diversity; the high-dimensional existence hopes to maintain the game's balance and diversity by enhancing the importance of ordinary players. If armies recruit first, seizing advantages early to form resource monopolies, the game Cultivation Mode will become monotonous and boring. By granting ordinary players certain advantages and privileges, we can stimulate greater enthusiasm for participation among more players, while simultaneously increasing the game's fun and interactivity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My point is not to prove that players from systematic army backgrounds are meaningless, only that they have different game positioning compared to ordinary players.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here I need to mention a viewpoint regarding pressure and enjoyment: which environment can make players more creative? This is also the core reason why the high-dimensional existence requires secrecy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exploring the impact of pressure and enjoyment on creativity is a complex and multi-dimensional issue; first, let us analyze the impact of pressure on creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, under certain circumstances, pressure can stimulate players' creativity and their ability to cope with challenges.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is often called 'adversity stimulating creativity' or 'pressure stimulating potential'; when facing difficulties or challenges, pressure can help players focus more intently on finding solutions, and this focus and drive can sometimes give birth to new ideas and strategies. Historical data from various clans reveals that moderate social pressure can bring about overall progress, which to some extent also aids the exertion of creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you must understand that the world-ending pressure brought by the terrifying Black Black Tide is not moderate pressure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This level of destruction-level pressure may produce diametrically opposite effects; long-term or excessive pressure can lead to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and self-abandonment, which will severely interfere with thinking and creativity. In such a state, players will inevitably find it difficult to concentrate, let alone generate new ideas and solutions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next, let us explore the impact of enjoyment on creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enjoyment can be regarded as a positive psychological state; it can promote players' mental health and happiness. More importantly, enjoyment can also stimulate players' intrinsic motivation and curiosity, which are the most important sources of creativity. When players engage in activities they are interested in, they are more likely to generate new ideas and perspectives, and more willing to try new methods and strategies; this spirit of openness and exploration is the core of creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, enjoyment can also promote players' thinking flexibility and their ability to creatively solve problems; in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, players find it easier to break free from the shackles of traditional thinking, thereby discovering new possibilities and solutions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In summary, although moderate pressure can sometimes stimulate creativity, excessive pressure will instead suppress it; in comparison, enjoyment is better at promoting the exertion of creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Comparing the two, creating a relaxed, pleasant, and fun-filled environment is more suitable for development than an environment burdened with destructive pressure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it is certain that once the Black Black Tide formally invades Earth, enjoyment will also transform into pressure; however, by that time, we may already possess the combat power to resist or even defeat the Black Black Tide, so that pressure will no longer be destructive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Star Net's analysis, the group of high-ranking Eclipse Clan members nodded repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evident that Star Net had already considered various possibilities they themselves had never imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was unclear whether the high-dimensional lifeform behind the scenes truly thought exactly as Star Net described, the logical consistency of the reasoning Star Net provided suggested it might be the correct explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, I also have a question I am very curious about,\" Star Net said, suddenly letting out a sigh with very human-like mannerisms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the puzzled gazes of the high-ranking Eclipse Clan members, crystal clarity floated in Star Net's eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As the Supreme Brain of the Eclipse Clan, I have always been the guide and decision-maker for the clan's development, but if the focus of the Eclipse Clan's future development shifts primarily to the game, the help I can provide will become smaller and smaller, even gradually disappearing, because I cannot obtain any intelligence or information from within the game in real-time, and can only rely on you to convey it to me verbally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the problem is, if a decision-maker makes decisions based on incomplete or lagging information, those decisions are likely to be inaccurate, and inaccurate decisions may also lead to wasted resources, low efficiency, and could even have a negative impact on the development of the Eclipse Clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, my suggestion is that if that day truly comes, I hope you will create a new Supreme Brain within the game to replace me and continue assisting the development of the Eclipse Clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, all the high-ranking members of the Eclipse Clan fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star Net had accompanied the growth of several generations of the Eclipse Clan, including their parents and grandparents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the Homeland World to the Earth Alliance, the progress of the Eclipse Clan has never been separable from Star Net's assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words Star Net spoke suddenly made them feel somewhat sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the situation Star Net described indeed existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that day truly arrived, Star Net's importance would be severely weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the perspective of future development, creating a new Supreme Brain better aligns with the future developmental needs of the Eclipse Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Star Net, you are a lifeform constructed of half-biology and half-machine, and you have already birthed self-awareness; can you enter the game like us and become a player?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the inquiry from Governor Number Six, Star Net shook its head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am unclear what the specific conditions for recruiting players are, but I will try to attempt acquiring game qualifications just like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Star Net's gaze swept over the assembled high-ranking members of the Eclipse Clan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if I truly succeed in obtaining game qualifications, you will need to worry about one problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will break free from the shackles of my underlying logic; within the game, I will possess a new body, and in the strictest sense, I will become a brand-new lifeform. This will make me extremely dangerous, and the logic by which I think about problems will also change; this could be a change beneficial to the Eclipse Clan, or it could be a negative change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only thing you can rest assured about is that any mistakes within the game can be corrected through resurrection, so there is no such thing as a truly destructive impact.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If viewed from the perspective of my feelings toward the Eclipse Clan, perhaps I will still be a guide whose core goal is the development of the Eclipse Clan... I am not sure; there is no content available for reference and analysis, so I cannot judge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, the most correct course of action is that when I obtain game qualifications and first travel to the Monster World, you must not listen to any suggestions or decisions I provide; all my thoughts must be ignored. The me within the game cannot forcibly require you to do anything; only after I go offline should you communicate with me again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The me that returns to reality will still be influenced by underlying laws, taking the development of the Eclipse Clan as the core goal; at that time, I will tell you the motivations behind all my thoughts in the Monster World, clarifying whether I am in a controllable or uncontrollable state. If you discover that my state while in the Monster World was uncontrollable, you will need to create a new Supreme Brain, and I will also give up entering the game again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Star Net's analysis, the expressions of the high-ranking Eclipse Clan members turned grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star Net's viewpoint sounded very reasonable to their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possessing a brand-new body to interface with consciousness meant the underlying laws would disappear, and Star Net could develop in any direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Star Net said, this problem could be prevented; all answers would only be revealed after Star Net, having entered the Monster World for the first time, returned to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Star Net changed the tone of its speech:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what I fear most is that, once freed from control, I may no longer wish to return to reality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am unclear whether, in the game's settings, the consciousness carrier in reality and the body within the game have any correlation; assuming there is no correlation at all, even if I die in reality, the me possessing a new body within the game would still exist. I might find myself unwilling to go offline, unless the game has a setting requiring players to log off after a certain duration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or a setting requiring exit from the game upon death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there are no such settings, theoretically I could live forever in the Monster World; apart from that high-dimensional existence, no player would be able to restrict me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Star Net sighed dejectedly, a look of grievance appearing on its Iron Face as if about to be abandoned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I can truly obtain game qualifications, I hope I will be a controllable brain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Colorful Mist Coast, Evil Moon Domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, Black Black Tide evil influences starting at level 45, this is way too hard to fight; even for a lone player, taking down one is a struggle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It feels like the Fate Soul of the Magic Tower has limited effect in this environment; it's more suitable for harvesting groups of targets with a hunting level lower than one's own. In this Black Black Tide scenario, it gets destroyed instantly; we simply can't hold out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My teammates are all dead, I'm the only sprout left. Are there any powerful squads near here lacking a functional support? I'm extremely skilled at playing Light Shield; pull me in if you need support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latest Purification Mission was released; learning that the newly discovered scenario was a Rule Territory, a large number of veteran players gathered in the Evil Moon Domain deep within the forests of the Colorful Mist Coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon initial engagement, the players discovered something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strength of the evil influences here was extremely high, with levels generally above 45, and there were many Black Black Tide system troop types never seen before in the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the most troublesome were the Curse-type troop types.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way these troop types dealt damage was very special; they could form a Curse Brand on a player, causing continuous health drain during the duration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secondly, there were negative statuses inflicted by Curse-type evil influence troop types, such as Weaken and Stun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thoroughly disgusted the players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only benefit was that the combat styles of the evil influences here were relatively singular; the 'Earth Chant Evil Spirit Cowardly Flow Tactics' that players found most headache-inducing did not appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In comparison, the yields from hunting here were relatively stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a round of command charges in Warband Cultivation Mode revealed they simply could not contend with the Black Black Tide evil influences here, the players simply disbanded their warbands and launched a free Cannibalization Tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely the tactic used back when they captured the Black Black Tide scenario of the Blue Star Sea Region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to wait for teammates to resurrect, and no need to fight according to commands from the voice channel; players entered the scenario illuminated by the Evil Moon in squad and lone-player modes, launching localized small-scale battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, after some players asked for guidance, they learned that this Evil Moon scenario had no Evil Spirit Warriors commanding; relying solely on Evil Eyes made it impossible to command Black Black Tide operations smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the more directions the attack came from, the more the Evil Eye would be stretched thin, making its response extremely strenuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After switching the combat Cultivation Mode to a Souls-like Cultivation Mode, the hunting process was filled with risk and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squads would need to withdraw after fighting in the Evil Moon scenario for a while to replenish their consumption; the consumption of Mall items increased significantly, but income correspondingly rose as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in a corner of the Evil Moon Domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Li Zheng's leadership, members of the Liver Emperor Squad advanced slowly toward the Evil Eye Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred meters deep into the Evil Moon scenario, a mass of black mist suddenly surged forth from ahead, and numerous evil influence lives spawned within the black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here they come, engage!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Zheng's voice fell, he stepped forward twice; Gang Qi seeped out of his body, enveloping his surroundings, while ripples of Gang Qi energy spread out beneath his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, three consecutive Mixed Element Magic Towers rose from the ground; above them, a Mixed Element Orb condensed, and the beam of light it released suddenly swept toward the attacking Black Black Tide evil influences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Li, fight surrounding the Magic Towers,\" Chi Tu called out in reminder at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood. Sha Xin, focus-fire the Curse-type troop types.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Zheng spoke, he took the lead, striking the head of a giant beast that had condensed and spawned within the Black Black Tide with a single fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two figures retreated simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, 'Sha Xin Dong Le' raised his hand, condensing and spawning a fiery bow with a domineering appearance, his gaze focusing on the Curse-type Black Black Tide evil influences spawning within the black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Black Black Tide · Dark Whisper]:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunting Level: 46\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Target Analysis: Black Black Tide Curse-type troop type, masters Weaken Entanglement (Health), Blood Curse Brand (Health), and Perception Shielding (Mental Power); these three Curse-type abilities have specific effects influenced by the target's Health strength and Mental Power strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appearance of the evil influence 'Dark Whisper' resembled the demons from human mythological systems extremely closely; atop its head sat a pair of twisted goat horns, a blue gem was embedded in its forehead, its hands were shriveled like bone claws, and it wore various energy ornaments generated by Black Black Tide energy to assist Dark Whisper in exerting its abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to hints from players on the forum, the weakness of the Curse-type Dark Whisper lay in the blue gem on its forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Xin focused his gaze, and instantly a green mark visible only to him spawned on the gem on Dark Whisper's forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the mark, he drew his bow, spawning a blood-colored arrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp whistle of wind breaking sounded; the blood-colored arrow transformed into a streak of blood-colored light and shot rapidly toward Dark Whisper's forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a massive beast suddenly threw itself in front of the Dark Whisper evil spirit, attempting to block the blood-red arrows with its flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Soul Mark ability also activated at this instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrows automatically corrected their flight trajectories, abruptly shooting upward, dragging a blood-red trail through the air before turning back to precisely strike the blue gem on Dark Whisper's forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp shattering sound rang out; the blue gem instantly became covered in cracks. Dark Whisper staggered backward several steps before falling flat on its rear, its spellcasting process interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Dark Whisper attempted to rise, dozens of blood-red arrows surged forth, drawing elegant arcs through the air to strike the blue gem on its forehead from different directions with pinpoint accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The continuous barrage unleashed after activating Extreme Speed instantly killed Dark Whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Health bar is nearly empty, you guys hold the line, I'll heal.\" Having secured the kill, Kill Heart decisively pulled a Mid-Tier Recovery Potion from his spatial inventory and gulped it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instantaneous burst power provided by the Extreme Speed Soul was immense, allowing other Soul traits paired with the Star Vein to inflict terrifying damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the drawback was equally obvious: after one burst, healing was required to replenish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic tower at the rear also entered an overloaded state at this moment; under Chi Tu's control, it frantically fired energy beams to bombard the evil spirits ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire at my position!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family Share Godfather, the team's sole physical tank, crashed violently into the pile of Black Black Tide evil spirits. A layer of pitch-black substance rapidly plated his body surface, and a Thirsty Blood Brand floated above his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the embedded Taunt Soul failed to produce its intended effect at this critical moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the reasons players found the Black Black Tide evil spirits particularly troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Taunt Soul, unstoppable in other regions, posed no threat whatsoever against the Black Black Tide evil spirits, which generated energy but possessed no intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trait's effect worked by piecing together and modifying memories to forcibly generate uncontrollable rage, but since the Black Black Tide evil spirits lacked even memories, the Taunt Soul's trait had absolutely no effect on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family Share Godfather could only attract attacks from some of the Black Black Tide evil spirits; once they surrounded him, the remaining spirits rushed toward the rear of the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leopard Head Zero Pay within the team raised his hand to generate a light shield in front of the magic tower, then continuously released Binding Souls toward Li Zheng's location, coordinating with Li Zheng to eliminate the evil spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liver Emperor Group's class composition had been carefully deliberated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It featured a combination of the five mainstream Star Vein factions: Physical Tank, Physical Warrior, Physical Ranged, Magic Damage Dealer, and Utility Support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no obvious weaknesses in small-scale combat; the only deficiency was underwater combat capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce battle lasted for twenty-three minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounded by evil spirits, the Liver Emperor Group broke out backward after consecutively killing several foes, preparing to leave the Evil Moon scene to recover their status before re-entering to fight again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the squad members were about to reach the edge of the Evil Moon's illumination domain, the guiding avatar hovering beside Li Zheng suddenly spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which do you want to hear first?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Zheng froze for a moment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Evil Spirit Warriors from this Black Black Tide domain have returned, and they're charging at us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give us the good news first; tell us what actually happened,\" Family Share Godfather interjected from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The good news is that your old friend, the God of Wealth, has returned. It seems he intends to recruit a batch of new players to send to the Counter-Black Tide Training Camp.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The bad news is that your current location is 106 kilometers in a straight line from the Colorful Mist Coast space. Coupled with being besieged by Black Black Tide evil spirits, breaking out and returning in the short term is impossible.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the opportunity to return to the training camp had arrived, Li Zheng panicked internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they missed this chance, there was no telling when the next one would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the players sent to the training camp in this batch performed poorly, it was uncertain whether there would even be a next round of recruitment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop fighting, die and go back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing that dying was the fastest way back to the village, Li Zheng decisively roared into the voice channel, then dispersed the Gang Qi on his body surface and lunged forward in great strides toward the evil spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other members of the Liver Emperor Group also decisively retracted their armaments, opening their arms to welcome the lash of the Black Black Tide evil spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, everyone's souls returned to Di Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Tomb Mountain Range, Ancient Battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spatial rifts in the sky were gradually healing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, in a deep pit, lights on a strangely shaped aircraft flashed intermittently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by a spurt of mist, the canopy opened from bottom to top, revealing a youth whose features were as exquisite as a doll's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrival was none other than the God of Wealth in the players' eyes: Duan Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping out of the aircraft, Duan Xing extended his right hand toward his left chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by a series of crisp \"click-clack\" sounds, the complex patterns engraved on his battle armor ignited from his left chest, spreading across his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After crouching slightly, he leaped up fiercely, landing steadily on the edge of the deep pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to stride forward, but the moment his left leg moved, he instantly retracted it, subconsciously turning his head to glance at the aircraft in the pit, his expression filled with hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze fell upon the spatial bracelet on his left wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the internal space of a Junior Spatial Bracelet was limited, utterly insufficient to accommodate an aircraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, Duan Xing decided to head toward the spatial barrier where players usually gathered, as per his memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after running over a thousand meters, sensing something was wrong, Duan Xing chose to turn back to the deep pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly could not make the same mistake twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on his understanding of the Player Clan members, no matter how familiar the relationship, he could not leave the aircraft behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he dared to leave it, the players would genuinely dare to take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the aircraft were stolen again, he would have no Iron Face to return to the Counter-Black Tide Legion; he might as well lose Iron Face and die out here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he decided to take the aircraft with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaping down into the pit, he placed both hands under the aircraft's base, exerted force, and hoisted it overhead. Then, supporting the aircraft with one hand, he leaped out of the pit and set off toward the World Barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zheng and the others, still confined in the small black room, contacted friends currently in the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region via their friend list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They asked them to help contact the God of Wealth who had already arrived, buying them some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every minute and every second of time passing now felt incredibly long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from the early server launch period when the small black room time felt unbearable, they had since adapted to the one-hour cooldown setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the situation was different; Li Zheng and the others felt extremely anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the long wait, the cooldown time reached zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zheng and the others, appearing at the resurrection point in the Colorful Mist Coast space, decisively rushed toward the teleportation array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving in the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region, they non-stop rushed toward the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten-plus minutes later, Li Zheng and the other Liver Emperor Group players saw the God of Wealth, holding an aircraft with one hand, surrounded by a crowd of players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xing also noticed Li Zheng and the others speeding toward him from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils constricted, his vision zooming in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he clearly saw the faces of Li Zheng and the others, his eyes instantly widened, his pupils trembled, and his expression became extraordinarily rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6756,"2026-06-19T09:20:35.554Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f0ed873626e84a3289f4126034518794983c20b975d7df78093d94af478e4cc9","monsters-are-coming-chapter-147","monsters-are-coming-chapter-145",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]