Chapter 59: Taboo Blockade

Through Duan Xing's account, Zhou Xiao roughly understood his origins.

The guidance depicted a world background where Beneath Di Zhao fell and sank into slumber beneath the earth of Di Zhao Village; the players were the inheritors of Beneath Di Zhao's power, and the world-level main quest was to help Beneath Di Zhao recover the lost Meng Yuan Chu and gain the strength to fight the terrifying Black Tide.

As for what exactly happened during the ten thousand years after Beneath Di Zhao's fall, the guidance did not answer in detail; players needed to explore and understand it themselves.

But here with Duan Xing, he found part of the expanded plot regarding the world background.

The Backward Tide Legion was a faction established on the Pale Continent after Beneath Di Zhao's fall; it developed and grew rapidly during that period, becoming one of the most powerful factions in the Monster World at the current stage.

During its development, it gathered numerous racial factions that had once been loyal to Beneath Di Zhao; the Tianfu Clan behind Duan Xing was one such racial faction serving the Backward Tide Legion.

Naturally, Qi Sheng, who stood behind the scenes, could also hear their conversation.

Regarding the Backward Tide Legion organization, he was also very curious.

What could be confirmed was that this self-proclaimed god, Backward Tide, must have been one of the many gods who once served Beneath Di Zhao.

Through the teachings of the Four Attendants, he learned that before Beneath Di Zhao self-dissolved, it had established a world regulatory agency in the Monster World, and this agency was divided into five ranks.

Every single one within it wielded power that transcended the mortal realm.

Among them, the strongest beneath Beneath Di Zhao were collectively known as the Four Gods, possessing the immense power to comprehend the world's origin and even alter the laws governing the world's operation.

They were the ones who created the Challenger System and now served him: the Guidance, Nine Yin, Yan Ming, and Super Dimension.

Beneath the Four Gods were known as the Eight Extremity Gods; Qi Sheng believed the "Backward Tide God" described by Duan Xing would be one of the Eight Extremity Gods, but he could not yet analyze exactly which one.

As for the Ice Blade that left the gift spanning centuries, it was not among the world regulators and could only be considered a demigod-level regional overlord possessing a fiefdom.

It belonged to the strongest among mortals, possessing the initial strength to challenge a fifth-rank world regulator.

Thinking of this, Qi Sheng looked at the Guidance floating beside him and asked with a smile:

"Last time I heard the conversation between Di Nian Evil Spirit and Evil Eye, the Backward Tide Legion's strength seemed very formidable; they had killed high-level combat units bred by the terrifying Black Tide many times, obviously faring much better than you lot. As one of the former Four Gods, what do you think?"

Hearing this, the Guidance sighed dejectedly:

【Boss, the most insane phase of the Black Tide was when the four of us were fighting on the front lines; it was precisely because of our contribution that other factions had the space to develop and catch their breath. I guess the Backward Tide Legion was established during that period. Looking at it now, they seem to have developed quite well, gathering numerous racial factions to serve them, but behind this success lies our contribution.】

"What is your relationship with the Eight Extremity Gods?"

【Not good. Although our world regulatory authority is higher than that of the Eight Extremity Gods, the Eight Extremity Gods only obey Beneath Di Zhao's orders... let's say we can't stand each other. However, the racial factions under our management often cooperate, and many races are polytheistic, worshipping both us Four Gods and the Eight Extremity Gods, so we occasionally exchange the energy materials we collect.】

"Exchange energy materials? I don't understand."

Hearing this, the Guidance Water Sphere continued to explain:

【Beneath Di Zhao possesses the refined energy capable of transforming all things called Shou Shou Jili; the gods beneath Him possess inferior energy. The various races they manage often offer sacrifices of energy to the gods. To reduce the consumption of energy conversion, we often exchange the energy sacrificed to us by races outside our managed zones.】

Speaking to this point, the Guidance paused; a thoughtful expression floated on the surface of the water sphere. After organizing his words, he continued:

【To explain simply: the Buddha on Earth enjoys incense offerings abroad; this portion belongs to foreign exchange energy revenue. The Buddha can directly consume this revenue, but converting this foreign exchange revenue incurs energy loss. Therefore, the Buddha can choose to directly exchange foreign exchange with Jesus to reduce energy conversion losses.】

The Guidance's explanation made Qi Sheng laugh in speechless amusement, yet it also plainly clarified the relationship between the Monster World regulators.

Beneath Beneath Di Zhao, different gods regulated different regions of the Monster World; although there were distinctions in strength and obvious gaps in control over the world's rules, there was no direct subordinate relationship between them.

Only under specific circumstances did higher-level regulators possess greater say.

Having not obtained detailed information about Backward Tide from the Guidance's mouth, Qi Sheng switched his gaze back to Zhou Xiao.

"So your shuttle has most likely already been sacrificed to Beneath Di Zhao and is impossible to recover; give up on that idea."

Patting Duan Xing's shoulder, Zhou Xiao said with regret.

At this moment, Duan Xing looked completely bewildered:

"What did you say in the previous sentence?"

"I said that once something enters a player's pocket, don't even think about taking it back, let alone an item already sacrificed to Beneath Di Zhao. Unless you have the ability to enter Di Zhao Village to demand it from Beneath Di Zhao, or the Eclipse Clan's back-end operations send the decomposed item back to you, but that is simply impossible to achieve."

When Zhou Xiao spoke the three words "Di Zhao Village," the Zhou Xiao in Duan Xing's eyes suddenly fell silent, followed immediately by the phrase "this is simply impossible."

This was one of a series of taboo information set by Qi Sheng to protect the secrets of Di Zhao Village; Zhou Xiao inadvertently triggered the taboo, and the content spoken was automatically blocked and retracted by the Challenger System.

But to Duan Xing, it sounded like the preceding words did not match the following ones; a string of important description was clearly missing from this speech.

After repeatedly asking several times and receiving only answers with the middle part missing, Duan Xing was completely baffled.

"God of Wealth, is your brain not working properly? What I said is very easy to understand; do I need to repeat it three times?"

Duan Xing looked expressionlessly at the gloomy Zhou Xiao, did not continue to press further, but asked curiously:

"Beneath Di Zhao self-dissolved; the Four Gods who once wanted to inherit Beneath Di Zhao's power have also all disappeared. Your persistence is meaningless, but your Player Clan still has a better choice... join the Backward Tide Legion."

"Are there any benefits?"

"Joining the Backward Tide Legion, your Player Clan will gain Backward Tide's protection, fear no invasion by the Black Tide, and countless Backward Tide warriors will guard your clan members. Among you, the outstanding ones will also have the chance to become Backward Tide Legion warriors and learn supreme power."

"Are there any substantial benefits, like the Purple Soul Ore in your hand?"

Duan Xing:...

Zhou Xiao's answer left Duan Xing completely speechless.

He discovered that this group of self-proclaimed players, who constantly spoke of faith in Beneath Di Zhao, actually only had profit and gain-loss in their eyes; their conversation was completely on different frequencies.

Duan Xing couldn't help but sigh, then took a green Information Stone from his arm guard and handed it to Zhou Xiao:

"Since fate brought us together, this Information Stone records a set of basic combat techniques from my Tianfu Clan. The crystalline energy inside can alter your body structure and help you cultivate our clan's combat techniques. I give it to you."

After Zhou Xiao took the Information Stone, Duan Xing transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the sky, leaving only Zhou Xiao looking at the Information Stone in his hand with a puzzled expression.

【Information Stone】

Item Quality: Special.

Item Description: A storage item that records fragments of memory information; after use, one can read the internal memory information.

【Challenger Prompt: Do you wish to use the Information Stone? This item is a one-time consumable; it will disappear after use.】

(End of Chapter)