Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 601 [Old Land 130: The Mystery of the Demon Star]

Just as the four were discussing the astonishing potential of the "Returnees" and the terrifying secrets of the "Great Thousand Worlds," a system announcement suddenly rang in Xiao Jie's ears.

[World Announcement: The Tower of Demonic Stars has risen once more, monsters roam the land, and Canglin Prefecture is plunged into chaos! Immortals have descended, and the Old Land world is about to usher in a brand new game version—[Old Land 1.3.0: The Mystery of the Demonic Stars]!]

[World Announcement: The world event 'Battle of Canglin, Fall of the Demon Star' will officially begin in 24 hours! All players who have reached level 10 or above, please prepare. The main area of ​​this event is Canglin Prefecture. Players will have the opportunity to join the Nine Provinces Alliance and, under the leadership of Lord Long Xing Tianxia of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom, True Man Xiaoyue, Governor of Canglin Prefecture, and other immortals, fight against the evil demon army of the Demon Star Tower and decide the fate of Canglin Prefecture!]

All players participating in this event will receive [Salvation Merit] by defeating monsters, completing quests, and achieving specific objectives during the event period!

[World Announcement: After the event ends, the top 10 players in the [Salvation Merit] ranking will have the opportunity to gain the favor of the immortals and become their disciples!]

[World Announcement: For more details on the new version, event rules, and new content, please visit the official game website.]

"Huh? Another new version?" Xiao Jie was surprised. The system announcement came at just the right time, as if it was waiting for them to reach a crucial point in their discussion. "It seems that the game's version events and story progression are completely determined by the players' actual game progress, especially my actions. I just formed the alliance and finalized the decisive battle, and this event immediately went live."

However, his attention was quickly drawn to another piece of information: become a disciple of an immortal? Really? The system can directly arrange for immortals to take on disciples? Isn't that a bit too much authority...? What if the people around him don't accept him? Can the system force him to?

As he was secretly wondering, as if to confirm that the announcement was not unfounded, Lin Xuance beside him suddenly stroked his beard and spoke, naturally steer the conversation toward the matter of accepting disciples:

"However, these nine returning disciples are still too few in number to cope with the unpredictable calamities to come." Lin Xuance's gaze swept over Hao Mie and the others who were diligently cultivating not far away, his tone thoughtful. "In my opinion, once the great battle begins tomorrow, all those who have returned to Canglin will gather, and many righteous and courageous individuals will surely join the fight. Why don't we select some outstanding individuals from among them, those with a heart for saving the world and a spirit of heroism, as the second batch of disciples, and train them accordingly? What do you three think?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Qingyue, the Martial Immortal, immediately clapped his hands in agreement, his voice booming like a bell: "This is exactly what I think! Those who can step forward in this time of crisis and participate in this battle to save the world must be people who have the will to help the common people, who are responsible and courageous! It is most appropriate to select the best talents from among them!"

Miaofa Yuanjun Su Zhiqing nodded slightly, "I also think this is a very good idea. However, the number of people... In my opinion, since the first batch of people is ten, then the second batch should also be limited to ten people, so that it will be more orderly."

Lin Xuan's strategy showed surprise: "Huh? Isn't it nine people?" He was obviously referring to the nine players who were currently being taught by the three of them.

Su Zhiqing smiled and turned her gaze to Xiao Jie: "Fellow Daoist Lin, have you forgotten? Isn't Miss Anran also a close friend of Fellow Daoist Suifeng, receiving his guidance in cultivation? So, the first batch is exactly ten people."

Lin Xuance suddenly realized, and slapped his forehead: "Oh, I see. I forgot about that, haha."

The three chatted casually and naturally, as if the matter of taking on disciples was the result of their careful consideration and had nothing to do with the system announcement that had just sounded.

However, Xiao Jie was shocked when he heard this, and a chill crept up his spine.

The reason for this feeling is that the system announcement came out first, followed by the conversation between the three immortals! The timing is so tight, and the content is so consistent. Could it be that... these immortals, who seem no different from living people, with flesh and blood and their own thoughts, are actually puppets of the system? Are their every move, even their seemingly autonomous decisions, being controlled by the system behind the scenes?

This thought sent a chill down his spine. He carefully recalled his interactions with Lin Xuance, Wu Qingyue, Su Zhiqing, and even immortals like Shenjizi, Beihai Jukun, and Ma Yuan. They all clearly possessed distinct personalities, independent thoughts, and rich emotions, making them no different from real people.

"That's not right... If they really are NPCs, just data, how could they be so realistic? But if they are 'living people,' how could they be so coincidentally influenced by the 'system' without even realizing it?"

A bold idea sprouted in Xiao Jie's mind: "What if... I tried to change their minds and interfere with the seemingly 'system's' arrangement of 'recruiting ten disciples'? Would that prove they possess true free will? Or would it cross some kind of 'system's' bottom line?"

Thinking of this, he coughed lightly without making a sound, a hint of difficulty on his face, and interjected, "Fellow Daoists, I have a different idea regarding the number of disciples in this second batch. I think... how about setting it at nine?"

He paused, then explained, “After all, I have only recently ascended to the celestial realm, and my knowledge is still limited. I am not very skilled at teaching disciples, and I lack experience. I only gave An Ran some pointers because she is an old friend, and because her ancient Qi cultivation technique is somewhat compatible with my path. I can hardly call it systematic teaching, and I have little confidence in being a good master. If I were to force her to become a disciple, I fear I would be misleading her.”

His gaze was fixed on the three people's reactions. If the number of people could really become nine out of ten, it would mean that the decisions of these immortals were not immutable, and that the system's settings had a certain degree of flexibility, perhaps giving them a greater degree of autonomy.

Upon hearing this, all three showed a thoughtful expression, their brows furrowing slightly, as if they were genuinely considering Xiao Jie's suggestion.

Lin Xuance stopped stroking his beard, Wu Qingyue relaxed his arms slightly, and Su Zhiqing paused slightly while pouring tea.

However, this hesitation lasted only a moment.

“This… is not impossible,” Lin Xuance said slowly, his tone carrying a hint of unwavering determination. “However… as the saying goes, perfection is the ultimate goal. Ten is the number of completeness, symbolizing the cycle of heaven and earth and the completeness of the Great Dao. If we set it to nine people, it will feel like it lacks a bit of perfection. In terms of momentum, it might be somewhat of a hindrance to the future formation, combined attack, and connection of fortune.”

Wu Qingyue chimed in with a deep voice, "That's right! If Fellow Daoist Suifeng feels it's inconvenient to teach disciples for the time being, no problem! One of us three can take on one more disciple. Ten is good, perfect! It sounds nice and looks neat!"

Although Su Zhiqing did not directly refute, she nodded slightly, clearly also inclined to maintain the number "ten".

The three people's remarks sound reasonable and are full of the immortals' emphasis on the numbers of "perfection" and "circulation," seemingly based entirely on their own understanding and preferences.

But Xiao Jie sensed something unusual. It was an inexplicable intuition, as if some invisible force was subtly yet firmly pulling the deviating topic back onto the intended track.

The power of this system is indeed strong and subtle. These immortals are probably completely unaware that their thinking may be guided and constrained by some kind of underlying rules.

Xiao Jie dared not probe further. He thought to himself, 'That brief silence and the subsequent unanimous rebuttal have already revealed a lot. Continuing to argue will likely not only fail to change the outcome but may also arouse unnecessary suspicion, or even touch upon some unknown taboos. It seems that in this world, the system's will is like the Dao, invisible yet omnipresent; even immortals cannot escape its influence. At least without knowing the bottom line, it's not advisable to cross it.'

He quickly abandoned his probing thoughts and put on a agreeable smile.

"Hehe, I didn't know there were such considerations. I was too careless. Since perfection is more auspicious, let's follow the advice of the three fellow Daoists and decide on ten people."

"Very well, then it's settled." Lin Xuance smiled with satisfaction. "Tomorrow is the decisive battle. We will act together and take the opportunity to observe the returning veterans who are participating in the battle, and select the best among them."

After discussing the details of tomorrow's operation with the three, Xiao Jie found an excuse to take his leave. With a thought, he chose to exit the game, his consciousness quickly withdrawing and returning to the game pod in reality.

Pushing open the hatch, the cool air invigorated him. He immediately went to his computer and opened the official website of "Old Land." He needed to understand the details of this update and see what kind of "script" the system had arranged.

The official website's homepage was dominated by a massive promotional image—the eerie and sinister Demon Star Tower soared into the clouds, its backdrop the burning Canglin Prefecture. Countless grotesque demons surged forth like a tide, confronting them against the well-prepared Nine Provinces Allied Army, and several immortal figures hovering in mid-air, surrounded by celestial light. Although the light flickered, obscuring their exact features, they vaguely resembled Lin Xuance, Wu Qingyue, and Su Zhiqing. Xiao Jie pondered this, noting that there were only three immortal figures, none resembling himself.

From this perspective, since I am a player, I am not considered among the event NPCs.

In other words, I am not restricted by the system, and even if I don't go online tomorrow, it won't have any impact.

This gave him a sense of relief.

When I was just an ordinary player, I didn't really care about the system. However, the stronger I became, the more I cared about these metaphysical things.

He clicked on the detailed version update announcement:

【Old Land 1.3.0: The Mystery of the Demon Star】

New monster faction: Demon Star Clan.

The Demon Star Tower, lurking in the mysterious lands south of the Azure Forest, has accumulated power for a thousand years and now reveals its ferocious face once more! A tidal wave of demonic armies surges forth from the tower, led by seven powerful demonic masters, determined to sweep across the Nine Provinces and transform this vibrant land into a chaotic paradise ravaged by evil. The ultimate purpose of the Demon Star Tower's master remains shrouded in mystery.

The Demon Star Clan is composed of the following seven forces—

The Dragonblood Clan: Led by the demonic lord, [King of the Abyss]. The demons of this clan all possess a diluted and impure dragon bloodline. Although relatively few in number, their individual combat strength is extremely formidable. They vary in form, some retaining some dragon-like features such as scales, claws, or horns. A few elites can even unleash weakened versions of dragon might and dragon breath, making them the undisputed ace elite among the demonic star's clans.

The Abyss Clan: Led by the demonic master [Aoguzi]. This clan of demons are all hybrids and twisted forms of aquatic spirits from the deep sea or swamps, their forms often resembling shrimp, crabs, fish, and turtles, and they are naturally drawn to water. They are extremely skilled in aquatic warfare, capable of stirring up waves and manipulating currents in rivers, lakes, and seas, or engaging in brutal close combat using their hard shells and enormous pincers. They are the henchmen of the Demon Star Tower, controlling the waters and invading the coastlines.

The Corpse Worm Clan: Led by the demonic master, the King of the Netherworld. This clan of demons are mostly hybrids of vultures, hyenas, earthworms, and carrion worms—creatures that feed on carrion or burrowing—possessing a natural affinity for death and decay. They can rapidly absorb the remaining demonic energy from the corpses of monsters and even living beings on the battlefield to replenish themselves, and can release a putrid miasma containing potent poison and decaying power. Wherever it passes, life withers and plagues spread; they are a repulsive and extremely troublesome enemy.

The Fang Clan: Led by the demonic master [Fierce Fang Slayer]. This clan of demons combines the characteristics of various ferocious beasts and demons, generally possessing sharp claws and fangs, prominent bone spikes, and bulging muscles; they are born for pure slaughter. They are not skilled in magic, but have honed their physical strength and speed to the extreme, making their close combat ability extremely terrifying. Their charges into battle are swift and devastating, making them the most fearsome frontal assault force in the demon star army.

The Riftwing Clan: Led by the demonic lord, [Howling Wing King]. This clan of demons is a hybrid of various birds, bats, and even flying insects, and the vast majority possess wings of diverse shapes. They possess exceptional mobility and excel at launching attacks from the air, hurling bone spikes, releasing wind blades, or performing dive-and-grab maneuvers. Air superiority is their greatest advantage, enabling them to inflict significant harassment and casualties on ground forces.

The Heart-Stealing Clan: Led by the demonic master [Delusional Venerable]. This clan of demons possesses bizarre and elusive forms, often appearing as ghostly shadows, making them the most mysterious and unpredictable branch among the demonic star's offspring. They are masters of mental manipulation, capable of bewitching minds, weaving illusions, stealing hearts and souls, and even engaging in mental parasitism and possession. They can often invisibly undermine their opponents' fighting spirit, causing them to turn on each other, making them extremely difficult to defend against.

The Ape Extinction Clan: Led by the demon lord, the Ape Demon King. This clan of demons often presents a near-human, upright form, but is taller, more ferocious, and more savage. They possess not only formidable melee combat abilities but also a powerful intelligence unmatched by ordinary demons, enabling them to use tools, craft weapons and armor, learn demonic magic and sorcery, and train military formations.

New World Boss:

King of the Abyss (Lord of the Demonic Clan): Level 58 Boss. Ruler of the Dragonblood Clan, with mixed yet powerful dragon blood flowing through his veins. He is both proud and insecure about this, harboring extreme jealousy and resentment towards pure-blooded dragons. He desires to purify and perfect his demonic body by devouring other dragons. He possesses powerful physical attacks, an oppressive dragon aura, and can unleash various water-based and dark dragon language magic.

Clawed Turtle (Demon Lord): Level 54 Boss. The overlord of the Abyss Clan, a terrifying combination of a giant, hill-like claw and a multi-segmented carapace creature. Its carapace is harder than steel, and its giant claws possess the power to split mountains and sever rivers. It excels at manipulating water to create whirlpools and rapids, unleashing its full combat potential in aquatic and coastal areas, making it an absolute nightmare for coastal and riverine regions.

King of the Netherworld (Lord of the Demons): Level 53 Boss. The origin of the Rot Insect race, its true form is a constantly churning and expanding core of putrid miasma, within which countless illusory insect phantoms writhe. It can release deadly miasma over a wide area, corroding life and equipment, and can summon a continuous stream of putrid insect minions. Its power will continuously increase on battlefields littered with corpses.

Ferocious Fang Slayer (Demon Lord): Level 55 Boss. The leader of the Fang Clan, its form resembles a hybrid of a skinned giant ape and a saber-toothed tiger, its mouth full of sharp teeth and its body covered in gleaming bone spikes. It is the embodiment of pure violent aesthetics, possessing terrifying close-range biting and clawing abilities. Its charge is unstoppable, its fighting style wild and direct, crushing all enemies with absolute power.

Howling Wing King (Demon Lord): Level 56 Boss. The king of the Riftfeather Clan, possessing a pair of enormous, damaged, fleshy wings that blot out the sky. Its shape resembles both an eagle and a bat, incorporating features of various raptors. It possesses extreme aerial maneuverability and speed, can summon whirlwinds to trap enemies, and launch deadly attacks with supersonic dives. Its piercing cries are enough to shatter eardrums and disturb the mind.

Venerable of Delusions (Master of Demonic Abilities): Level 52 Boss. The controller of the Heart-Stealing Clan, it has no fixed form, often appearing as a constantly shifting mass of spiritual energy or possessing other demonic forms. It excels at directly attacking the opponent's mind, employing bizarre abilities such as mind control, memory manipulation, and fear implantation. It can also create incredibly realistic illusionary domains, making it the absolute nemesis of those with weak wills.

Ape Demon King (Demon Lord): Level 57 Boss. The leader of the Ape Extinction Clan, his physique is as massive as a mountain, covered in thick bone armor, resembling a ferocious giant ape from the primordial era. He possesses not only terrifying brute strength capable of destroying cities and fortresses, but also considerable intelligence, knowing how to use massive bone clubs or rocks as weapons, and even commanding his subordinates in simple tactical maneuvers. He is a formidable enemy combining strength and cunning.

Event Introduction: The master of the Demon Star Tower has unleashed his terrifying army, intending to completely annihilate the land of Kyushu. The first obstacle in their path to conquest is the Howling Moon Immortal and his Canglin Heavenly Feather Army, who have steadfastly guarded the last sanctuary of Canglin Prefecture in Giant Wood City for thousands of years. Only by crushing Giant Wood City can the Demon Star Tower truly begin its war to conquer the world. Now, the Howling Moon Immortal has appealed to Kyushu for aid, and King Long Xing Tianxia of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom will personally lead his army to the battlefield. As those returning home, you have also gained the opportunity to participate in this world-saving war that will determine the fate of the world!
Activities:

Survivor's Dawn (Individual Activity): Although most of Canglin Prefecture has fallen and is ravaged by the demon army, many survivors still hide deep in the mountains and forests, or have unfortunately become prisoners of the demons. Finding and rescuing these survivors will reward players with generous Canglin Prefecture reputation and money, and may also trigger hidden quests.

Lost Territory Reconquest (Team Activity): Many towns and villages in Canglin Prefecture have been occupied by demons, turning them into their lair and strongholds. Form a team, clear out the demons entrenched there, and reclaim these lost territories! The player team that successfully reclaims the territory will receive a massive Canglin Prefecture reputation reward, and the reputation for that lost territory will be directly raised to the [Exalted] level. They will also be able to temporarily open the warehouse in that territory and obtain some of the stored resources.

Final Battle of Fate (Faction Event): Once the activity level of the Demon Army across the entire state is suppressed to below 50%, the seven Demon Lords will gather their main forces and launch a final battle against the Allied Forces! Participate in this epic battle, fight alongside the Kyushu Allied Forces, and face the combined offensive of seven World Bosses! Teams that successfully defeat the World Bosses will receive extremely rare equipment, materials, and unparalleled glory!

Immortal Trial (Individual/Ranked Event): In this battle to save the world, the immortals from Lonely Cloud Continent will closely monitor the battlefield. All player actions during the event, including but not limited to slaying demons, completing quests, participating in large-scale battles, and making special contributions, will accumulate [Salvation Merit]. After the event ends, the top 10 players with the highest [Salvation Merit] ranking will gain the immortals' recognition and have the opportunity to be accepted as their personal disciples, receiving individual guidance from the immortals.

The Mystery of the Demon Star (Final Event): Unlocked after completing all prerequisite events. Event details: ? ? ? ? ?

In fact, at this very moment, it wasn't just Xiao Jie who was carefully reviewing the update announcement; tens of thousands of players throughout the entire "Old Land" game world were completely abuzz with excitement because of this sudden version update and the astonishing rewards of "Immortal Recruiting Apprentices"!

A disciple of an immortal! This kind of reward is far more powerful than any legendary equipment or divine artifact. It's a true opportunity that can change your gaming career and even touch the core power of the world!
In the past, immortals were merely a vague concept in NPC legends and background stories for most players, with many even doubting their authenticity. However, the scene of Xiao Jie transforming into an immortal and suppressing a divine dragon and quelling a national war during the earth-shattering battle outside Longhua City not long ago has been deeply etched into the hearts of every player through countless screen recordings and word-of-mouth. That is no longer a legend, but a living, breathing, and awe-inspiring being with the power to change the world!

Immortal! This is incredible! Flying through the sky and disappearing into the earth, summoning wind and rain, living forever!
I used to think mages were like fathers, but now I realize they're just little brothers compared to immortals! If in the past, players' biggest expectation of the game's power system was to switch to a magic-based class, become a high-ranking "mage," and wield cool spells, then now, "immortals" have replaced everything, becoming the ultimate and only truly desired goal for all players!
But despite their yearning, how can one become an immortal? For the vast majority of players, this remains an unsolved mystery. They have thoroughly investigated the game experience of the only known immortal, "Hidden Moon Follows the Wind," from beginner village quests to dungeon records, from skill selection to equipment combinations, trying to find the pattern to immortality, but to no avail, without any clear clues whatsoever.

However, now the system has suddenly offered ten "Immortal Disciple" slots! Becoming an Immortal Disciple means you're not far from true immortality! Even if you can't become an immortal immediately, at least you've embarked on the most reliable and direct shortcut! This is undoubtedly a shining beacon of guidance for all the lost players!

In an instant, all the game guilds, elite teams, fixed squads, and even lone wolf players were frantically organizing equipment, stockpiling potions and talismans, and buying supplies. Then, without hesitation, they gathered from all corners of Kyushu towards the war-torn Canglin State.

Everyone was eager and excited, ready to give it their all in this epic event that would begin in 24 hours, hoping to win a chance at a heavenly destiny! The entire game world was plunged into an unprecedented frenzy and anticipation because of the word "destiny for immortality".

(End of this chapter)