Chapter 185: A Single Thought of God or Demon, Desire Resolves Itself

The Primordial Sacrifice Altar.

Qi Sheng stood upon the altar, flipping through a freshly updated discussion thread on the forum with keen interest.

The viewpoints within the post sparked heated debate among players, with various novel ideas constantly emerging in the comment section.

[Concept for a Custom Minor World: Initiating a vote to gauge everyone's thoughts]:

OP: Super God Chick

Content:

Recently, the Apocalyptic Minor World has been extremely popular. I play a support build, and thanks to my brothers' care, I secured the Prayer Soul, bought a ticket, and entered the Apocalyptic Minor World.

My luck was quite good; not long after entering the minor world to explore, I encountered a group of survivors.

However, unlike the survivors mentioned by brothers in the minor world's chat channel, the ones I met were a band of vicious raiders who acquired resources by plundering everywhere and even possessed a protected plot of arable land, making their lives relatively affluent by comparison.

Although they were an evil force, they still had needs and could generate Wish Power for me.

Therefore, I provided them with various services to satisfy their needs, earned considerable Wish Power revenue, and unlocked the first skill of Prayer.

But during the process of contacting and understanding these raiders, a question suddenly occurred to me.

As a lore-focused player, before entering the Apocalyptic Minor World, I asked the Guide about information regarding the Ghost Separation Clan, and one matter was mentioned in the Guide's narration.

It stated that the method for acquiring Wish Power originally set by the Ghost Separation Clan was to establish a faction war Cultivation Mode where one side plays the savior and the other plays the evil faction.

The goal was to use the ever-present crisis of invasion to keep the minor world in a state of internal consumption, thereby increasing Wish Power output; in short, the minor world must not be allowed to enter an era of peace, as this would severely impact Wish Power revenue.

Ultimately, it was because the Ghost Separation Clan discovered special ore within the underground space that they chose the path of creating a virus and manufacturing an apocalypse.

Placing this problem before us players, the issue remains the same.

As the needs of the minor world's living beings are satisfied, their thresholds continuously rise, and their appetites grow larger.

By the time the world achieves peace and establishes a new civilization, we players will have reached the moment to exit the stage.

Therefore, can we learn from the plan set by the Ghost Separation Clan, or even improve upon it, by establishing an opposing faction within the Apocalyptic Minor World?

We don't even need to disguise ourselves; one side simply needs to appear in a Monster Stream form, while the other appears in a normal player form.

Establish two factions: Raiders and Survivors.

The contrast between monster and player forms eliminates any possibility of being seen through.

In this process, we need to promote historical hatred, or even weave historical lies to intensify the hostility between the two factions, causing them to continuously consume each other internally and pass this hatred down through generations.

This will continuously generate needs, satisfying our acquisition of Wish Power.

What we players need to do is not participate in the confrontation between the two factions, but become the balanced regulators of the minor world.

We must prevent either side from growing strong enough to destroy the other, keeping the minor world in a perpetual state of chaos and war, ensuring that neither the raiders nor the survivors can annihilate the other.

Doing so will inevitably allow for the continuous production of Wish Power.

However, using the minor world as a chessboard and the lives of living beings as pieces to manipulate the world's direction is an idea that is too evil.

Therefore, I am initiating a vote here to see what everyone thinks.

(Attached: Voting Options)

Comment Section:

Never Surrender: I choose Option 1. Our players' main battlefield is the Monster World; we shouldn't waste too much time in the minor world. The production of Wish Power is also meant to serve the leveling of the Prayer Soul. Investing a large number of players to manipulate the world's direction does not align with our players' core needs. We should drain the pond to catch all the fish, extracting the limit of Wish Power the minor world can produce, then return to the Monster World to continue expanding our territory.

One Journey: I choose Option 1. Just drain the pond and be done with it. Give the minor world a peaceful and prosperous age; we don't need to care about its future development. Our goal is the stars and the sea. Only when the forces of the minor world descend upon the Monster World can we players avoid regressing to develop within the minor world. Option 1 in the voting choices is the direction most aligned with the development of our player legions.

Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting: I choose Option 1. The OP's idea is actually quite good; opposing faction wars can indeed keep the minor world in a state of internal consumption, generating various needs under wartime conditions. However, the minor world is essentially a resource-scarce world; hunting and gathering produce no spiritual resources. For combat-type players, the Wish Power produced by Prayer is meaningless. It is better to strip it bare and leave, granting the minor world an opportunity for free development.

The Sun Rises as Usual: I choose Option 2. Currently, the Apocalyptic Minor World is the only channel for acquiring Wish Power. Before finding a second acquisition channel, the importance of the Apocalyptic Minor World goes without saying. Why not forge it into a scene capable of continuously producing Wish Power? Keep in mind that the Wish Power consumed for subsequent level increases of Prayer skills is terrifying. If we want to unlock more powerful skills, we must make good use of the Apocalyptic Minor World.

Blood Shadow Soul Devourer: I choose Option 2. I don't have a Prayer Soul myself, but I believe long-term Wish Power production is very necessary. The strength of the Prayer Soul is evident to all. It would be a pity to harvest once and leave such an important source of Wish Power; perhaps the faction confrontation Cultivation Mode is worth trying.

Various viewpoints clashed within the post.

Every player had their own thoughts and offered suggestions.

While browsing the post, Qi Sheng discovered that many players had very interesting ideas.

These clashing thoughts allowed him to see the shift in players' mindsets after their strength increased.

Some players wanted to control the world's direction and create factional opposition, while others wanted to depart carefree after acquiring resources, no longer concerning themselves with the minor world's development.

There was even a player who, with surging emotions, stated that he wanted to become a God of the World and build a great civilization.

When elaborating on his idea, this player expressed that the thought of creating a civilization was an impulse that surged forth when he discovered in the minor world that he could easily change the world; he felt he could become the guide and promoter of a new civilization, achieving a sublimation from displaying power to creating value.

In Qi Sheng's eyes, this player already possessed a trace of "divinity," though only a trace.

In the Guide's past lessons, it was recounted that many powerful gods exhibited similar behaviors: observing the diverse developmental paths of life to satisfy their own desire to explore the unknown and novel, drawing inspiration from the rich process of civilization's development, as well as seeking self-identity and value.

The two groups of players, with their respective viewpoints, represented the Observers and the Controllers.

The Observers chose to push things forward in the early stages and then observe, or simply stop paying attention to the minor world's development afterward.

The Controllers viewed the internal consumption of the minor world's living beings as a grand drama, wishing to become the legislators and arbiters of the world's laws, establishing the order and balance they desired within the minor world.

In Qi Sheng's view, these viewpoints all held significant reference value.

As players' strength increased, their thoughts would also undergo transformation during this process.

Especially in the future, when the Black Black Tide formally invaded Earth and strength was returned to reality.

These viewpoints were content worthy of deep contemplation, representing the purest thoughts and desires in the hearts of the players.

Just then, the number of likes on a new reply skyrocketed like a rocket.

Qi Sheng's gaze shifted to this player's comment.

Night is Approaching:

I arrived late; I revised my reply several times before sending it, only then was I satisfied.

Before stating my viewpoint, I will first give my choice: I choose Option 1.

Next, I must refute Little Chick's viewpoint.

Little Chick said that Option 1 in the voting choices is "draining the pond to catch all the fish." This phrase has guided the discussion content of the topic toward a debate between two opposing viewpoints, with everyone discussing whether to control the world or to drain the Wish Power and leave.

But the viewpoint of "draining the pond to catch all the fish" is actually wrong.

First, everyone must understand one thing: the Apocalyptic Minor World is a world with a very small number of survivors.

Besides being influenced by the intensity of desires, the output of Wish Power, under circumstances where we cannot help the minor world's living beings increase their life strength, also depends critically on population numbers.

Forming two opposing factions and conducting high-intensity confrontations under the manipulation of our players' wills will indeed cause the world to descend into chaos and disorder.

However, doing so will also cause a large number of lives to perish continuously during this process.

For every living being that dies, a flame producing Wish Power is extinguished.

Therefore, endless slaughter will only lead this minor world toward another kind of collapse scenario.

Although we players can intervene to balance the comprehensive strength of the two factions, this kind of balance is more akin to a form of suppression.

For example, if the population of the Raider faction explodes and their war strength grows, what players can do is weaken the raiders' power, secretly interfering to guide the direction of the war, allowing the population to return to balance again.

In this case, the development of the minor world will always remain in a state of alternating suppression.

At this point, surely some players will ask a question: Then why not just support the development of the other side? Why must it be suppression?

This question is easy to answer. Just as Little Chick mentioned in the post, satisfying needs inevitably follows an upward curve.

If one side becomes stronger and we strengthen the other, then during this period, players will need to expend continuously growing resources and energy until it becomes unbearable in the end.

Therefore, suppressing one side is the ultimate choice for the balance model.

Next, let me explain why I chose Option 1 in the voting choices.

Because Option 1 is not "draining the pond to catch all the fish" at all; rather, it is the process of making the cake bigger.

Giving hope to the living beings of the minor world, helping them establish a new civilization, solving the Immortal Virus problem... every single one of these things can bring players massive Wish Power output.

As for how players should acquire Wish Power after establishing a new civilization, the answer to this question is actually very simple.

In an era of peaceful development, why couldn't the living beings of the minor world have needs?

Does no one worship gods in the real world?

During every traditional festival, which religious site is not packed to capacity? Too many people devoutly worship gods, praying (highlight this point): for safety, health, wealth, academic success, etc.

There are also some people who, when facing major life dilemmas such as a seriously ill relative, career setbacks, or a marriage crisis, will also choose to worship gods, hoping to borrow the power of the divine to change their current situation.

Therefore, as long as the population grows and the cake is made bigger, there is no need to worry about the minor world's living beings lacking needs.

Once the population base increases, the Wish Power produced will only be greater.

I was even pondering this question when a concept of "Self-Resolution of Desire" formed in my mind.

The so-called "Self-Resolution of Desire" means allowing the living beings of the minor world, who possess various desires, to reach a state where their desires are self-satisfied through some method, thereby producing Wish Power for players without requiring player interference.

The specific plan is as follows.

Step one: Continue to proceed in the established direction, which you view as "draining the pond to catch all the fish," and establish a new civilization within the minor world.

Step two: Guide the growth of the civilization and leave behind memories of your existence as saviors.

This is the most crucial step.

You can understand it this way: pass down the process of your salvation through books, in the form of history.

Just like mythological stories in the real world, such as Nuwa Mending the Sky, Hou Yi Shooting the Suns, Da Yu Controlling the Floods, Noah's Ark, Prometheus Stealing Fire, and other myths and legends.

Imprint a historical trace that a god once existed.

With the foundation laid by this step, we can use it to establish a system of gods.

And for this system, there is already a reference template in reality.

Consulting real-world data reveals that in reality, many believers often seek spiritual sustenance within their faith. For example, monks cultivate Buddhist Dharma, believing in cause and effect and reincarnation; when facing life's sufferings, they believe that through present cultivation they can eliminate karmic obstacles and attain future liberation and happiness.

This is the solace brought by trust in the divine, granting them strength when facing difficulties, giving them a spiritual reliance, and thereby obtaining spiritual comfort and satisfaction.

This kind of self-consolation is essentially self-satisfaction, merely with the concept of "god" added.

This is a method of transmitting desire to faith and imagining that satisfaction has been obtained.

Even many ascetics possess their own unique values and life pursuits; they stay far from worldly material pleasures, seeking spiritual purity and communion with the divine.

This one-way communication on the spiritual level alone allows them to gain intense spiritual satisfaction.

In this process, players need do nothing yet still receive the power of wishful devotion created for them by the creatures of the minor world.

Whether praying to gods is effective does not require our proof; so long as the creatures of the minor world do so and gain spiritual satisfaction, or even merely experience some relief from anxiety, this too is a form of indirect satisfaction.

Therefore, I call this concept the "Self-Resolving Desire System."

What players must do, in the second step of the plan, is to imprint the mark of the gods' (your) existence.

If one wishes to deepen this step, players who have embedded the Wishful Devotion Soul can even join forces to forge a complete "Divine Court" system.

Assign each player who has embedded the Wishful Devotion Soul a different divine identity.

Similar to the pantheons of Daoist mythology, Buddhist mythology, Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and other such complex divine systems.

Then, through the history of the minor world's creatures, transmit these memories, allowing the divine system to influence generation after generation of minor world creatures alongside the development of civilization.

Thus, the Self-Resolving Desire System is formed.

From now on, one can lie back and earn power of wishful devotion; the better the minor world develops and the larger its population base, the more power of wishful devotion it will produce.

Compared to divine systems in reality, players possess an additional advantage.

During idle moments, they can descend as gods into the minor world to satisfy the desires of individual creatures, reinforcing the concept of the gods' existence.

Therefore, I choose option 1 in the voting proposal, because this is a development model that expands the pie.

Choosing voting option 2, in essence, suppresses and stifles the development of the minor world, thereby affecting the production of power of wishful devotion.

Having written the guide up to this point, an idea surfaced in my mind.

Perhaps our own real world once had players who embedded the Wishful Devotion Soul come to save the world, leaving behind stories of a "Self-Resolving Desire" divine system.

Haha, the sentence above was a joke; everyone, please do not take it seriously.

Now, returning to the original voting options, I must say that the concept of draining the pond to catch all the fish is wrong, as it affects everyone's judgment regarding the future development direction of the minor world.

Finally, let us speak from a moral perspective.

I will not preach on this matter; every player has their own preferred game Cultivation Mode.

I only wish to tell everyone that when facing weak sentient beings, we, as players, must maintain at least a basic moral baseline.

Compared to bullying the weak, I look forward more to the player legions overcoming one powerful enemy after another through growth, stepping onto the world stage bit by bit, contending with heroes, and composing our own glorious epic.

Even if you are merely an ordinary player, you should try to leave a bold and colorful stroke in the legendary chapters of the book of glory for future generations.

Surely none of you want your descendants, upon reviewing your gaming journey, to discover that you were a great demon king who committed every evil, hahaha.

The above are all personal opinions; ideas for discussion are welcome, but please do not flame.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

After finishing reading the reply post by Night Approaches, Qi Sheng could not help but applaud.

"Guidance, what is your view?"

Facing the inquiry, the Guidance Water Sphere hovering before him displayed a contemplative expression, then nodded:

[Boss, after my simulated observation, this Self-Resolving Desire proposal is indeed feasible and can achieve the points described by Night Approaches in the forum; it can continuously produce power of wishful devotion for players during subsequent development, with output increasing as the population base grows.]

[Although creatures in a minor world during peacetime do not harbor instincts as intense as those in desperate situations regarding food, survival, and other basic desires, the population base can compensate for the insufficiency of desire.]

[However, what must be noted with this proposal is that players still need to occasionally intervene in the minor world; if civilization within the minor world is allowed to develop without any interference, the consequence will be that divisions long standing must unite, and unions long standing must divide.]

[Struggles over resources, conflicts of ideology, gaps between rich and poor... these are all factors influencing the fragmentation of civilization, even leading to war; if the Self-Resolving Desire System wishes to expand the pie, it must guide the world's development process, and even invest resources when necessary to aid development.]

[But compared to the high-intensity intervention under the opposing faction model, a healthily developing civilization does not require excessive intervention; occasional guidance suffices.]

As he spoke, Guidance presented the post-simulation information within Qi Sheng's mind.

Facts proved that Night Approaches' concept was entirely feasible.

From the server launch until now, Night Approaches' growth has been visible to the naked eye.

Although his performance in the Monster World is merely at the level of an ordinary player.

Including his daily output of sacrificial power, which is also very limited, he simply cannot be compared to top-tier players.

Yet his contributions to the construction of the player legions have been substantial.

This is also the reason he has always firmly held the number one spot among forum guide writers, including having his follower count consistently rank first on the forum.

Thus, many players call him: the Forum's Big Brother.

From initially providing guides on Star Vein combinations to now proposing constructive concepts for the future development of the minor world, Qi Sheng discovered that Night Approaches' ideas had gradually matured.

"It was not in vain that I spent 3 points of sacrificial power to personally intervene and heal him."

[Boss, it was 3.4.]

Qi Sheng: ...

"Was it deducted or not?"

[After that, every time Night Approaches hunted, 0.1 sacrificial power was deducted; it has long been recovered, after all, this is the principle you set, Boss, which cannot be broken.]

"You are so stingy; I was just making a joke."

[Shall I return it then?]

"That is unnecessary."

(End of Chapter)