Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 603 Immortal Mouth Substitute
Xiao Jie's gaze constantly shifted between the dozens of screens of various sizes at the Xuan Guang Ying Ying Pool. While meticulously observing the real-time dynamics of the battlefields in various parts of Cang Lin Prefecture and analyzing the players' tactics and strength, he also paid attention to the expressions and verbal reactions of the three immortals beside him, Lin Xuance, Wu Qingyue, and Su Zhiqing, trying to glean more clues about the connection between the "system" and the "immortals".

As the in-game time quietly reached the scheduled 8:00 AM, the main force of the Dragon Soaring Three States Allied Army, led by Dragon Soaring the World, crossed the border of Canglin State like a flood bursting its banks and stepped into this land ravaged by demons.

The vast army did not crowd together in one place, but quickly and efficiently split into more than a dozen columns, each heading towards its designated objective. Their mission was clear: to recapture the towns and villages occupied by the demons along the way, and at the same time to conduct a sweeping cleanup and mopping-up operation against the scattered demon soldiers wandering and wreaking havoc in the wilderness.

However, long before the main force of the allied forces officially entered the field, the players with keen senses had already spontaneously formed large or small teams and squads, like sharks smelling blood, and took the lead in hunting down the monsters.

During the event, the drop rate of all monsters of the "Demon" type was significantly increased, and defeating them would also grant valuable "Salvation Merit." This combination of loot farming and ranking up was something no one wanted to miss out on. High-level players, brimming with confidence, formed elite teams, focusing solely on elite monsters and mini-bosses with astonishing efficiency. Meanwhile, lower-level players or those lacking confidence in their abilities cleverly mingled with the NPC alliance's main force, letting the NPC soldiers tank the damage while they hid in the back, waiting for opportunities to steal kills and loot equipment, managing to amass a fortune and fill their bellies.

At this moment, the entire Canglin Prefecture seemed to have truly transformed into a carnival paradise for demons. As far as the eye could see, there were demonic monsters of various shapes, twisted and bizarre. The once prosperous or peaceful towns and villages had now mostly become dens inhabited by demons.

As the allied forces advanced and player teams became more active, the flames of war were quickly ignited throughout Canglin Prefecture. Battles of all sizes erupted one after another: assaults to reclaim lost territory, skirmishes in the wild, and annihilation campaigns to wipe out elite forces.

Soon, over 80% of the dozens of screens in the Xuan Guang Ying Ying Pool were filled with images of fierce battles. Shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, the explosions of spells, and the roars of demons seemed to travel through the water. The three immortals, sitting calmly by the pool, were able to multitask, their gazes moving effortlessly between the various screens, taking in every aspect of the battle without missing a single detail. The immense power of their immortal senses was evident.

At the same time, a [Salvation Merit Ranking] also appears in the upper right corner of all players' screens. This is a unique display during the event, which updates in real time and shows the IDs of the top ten players with the highest current merit points, along with their respective factions.

Xiao Jie looked up and saw that the person at the top of the list was none other than Hong Fu Qitian from the Longxiang Guild!

"It seems Long Xiang is determined to protect this person to the death," Xiao Jie thought to himself. Several screens displaying images of recaptured towns showed Hong Fuqitian's figure marking the final "flag-planting" ceremony and declaring the recapture of several towns conquered by the Allied forces.

Furthermore, some elite leaders and even mini-bosses entrenched in towns were also tacitly reduced to low health by Longxiang's elite team, with Hongfu Qitian easily delivering the final blow and reaping a large amount of merit points. This guild's strategy of concentrating resources to "farm" these small bosses is frequently seen in large-scale events and is remarkably effective.

Xiao Jie was not surprised by this. Hong Fuqitian had made great contributions to Longxiang, and it would be unreasonable not to give him such benefits.

The second-ranked player on the merit list was a user with the ID "Qingfeng Lanhuai". Xiao Jie vaguely remembered this person; he was the guild leader of the "Hunter Wind Guild," a medium-sized guild known for its mobility and ranged firepower. It seemed that Fondant Cake had been following him back then, only to be killed during a world boss fight. This guild leader had clearly taken advantage of the Hunter Wind Guild's strengths in mobile warfare and ranged attacks, leading an elite squad to infiltrate the event area early. Less than five minutes after the event started, they successfully secured the first kill on the discovered world boss, propelling their merit ranking into the top three with rapid momentum.

However, as Longxiang and several other powerful guilds joined the battle and invested massive amounts of resources, Qingfeng Lanhuai's ranking was quickly pushed down.

Although Dragon Soaring Kingdom is currently at its zenith, boasting the largest guild power in the game, there are also some formidable guilds in the local states of Manyue, Liuhuo, Mengze, and even Canglin. These guilds, due to their frequent activity in high-risk maps with higher monster levels and harsher environments, may have fewer members than Dragon Soaring, but their average level, equipment quality, and combat skills are significantly higher. Currently, four of the top ten spots on the merit list are occupied by core members of these local powerhouse guilds, each demonstrating considerable strength.

Suddenly, a name that looked quite familiar to Xiao Jie caught his eye—Divine Calculator Demon!
"Heh, this kid's joined the fight too." Xiao Jie's lips curled into a cryptic smile. For a few seconds, he even felt a surge of urge to immediately set off, find this guy, and eliminate him. After all, back in the Ten Deadly Formations, this guy had unfairly pinned a significant blame on him.

However, the thought only flashed through his mind, and Xiao Jie immediately shook his head, abandoning the idea. Strictly speaking, this person wasn't an irreconcilable enemy; at most, they had some disagreements and schemed against each other during their mortal days. Now that he had ascended to immortality, his vision and pursuits were vastly different from before, and those grudges and entanglements from his mortal days no longer seemed so meaningful. Besides, interfering with the 'system's' 'selection' due to personal grudges would likely cause unnecessary trouble.

Just then, the comments from the three immortals rang out, pulling him back to reality.

“Look at this one, Hong Fuqitian,” Lin Xuance said, pointing to the top name on the merit list with admiration in his tone. “He has led the recapture of several towns in succession with skillful command. This person has considerable potential and good fortune and is worth paying attention to.”

Wu Qingyue echoed loudly, "Not bad, not bad! And this Qingfeng Lanhuai is also very sharp and courageous, daring to seize opportunities, and has excellent team leadership skills. He is worth cultivating."

Miaofa Yuanjun Su Zhiqing's gaze fell on several other screens: "I think these people are not bad either, especially this Divine Calculator Demon. As a mortal, he can use magic to calculate to such an extent and find opportunities in the chaos of battle. His use of magic is quite good. He is a promising talent."

Xiao Jie initially didn't pay much attention, simply listening casually. But as he listened, his expression gradually became strange, and his brows furrowed slightly as he compared the constantly changing rankings on the merit list.

He discovered a very obvious pattern: whenever a player's ranking entered the top ten, these three immortals would immediately notice and offer a few comments, mostly expressing affirmation and expectation. And once a player's name broke into the top three, they would immediately shower them with praise, as if they had been watching for a long time and discovered some extraordinary gem.

However, once a player who had previously been reviewed fell out of the top ten due to sluggish subsequent merit growth or other reasons, the three immortals seemed to collectively suffer from amnesia. Their gazes immediately shifted away from the relevant images, and they couldn't be bothered to glance at them again. At most, they would simply say something like, "I thought this kid was quite capable, but now it seems he's just average. He lacks staying power..."

Are these three immortals perhaps megaphones for the system, or mere mouthpieces representing the system's will? Is the system's control and influence over the immortals so direct, blatant, and without leaving a trace? And is Shenjizi, a celestial immortal, the same? Is his seemingly detached, yet actually passive and escapist attitude also a manifestation of some kind of system setting?

Thinking of this, Xiao Jie suddenly felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart and spread along his spine. When he first saw this group of immortals in Guyun Prefecture, he felt that they were the pinnacle of this world, beings of supreme power, great beings who wielded the laws, transcended the mortal world, and lived as long as heaven and earth.

By joining in, one naturally becomes a part of it.

However, at this moment, he clearly felt that the power possessed by the immortals seemed rather insignificant compared to that formless and intangible "system" that seemed to control everything.

As a member of the immortals, Xiao Jie hadn't known the Lone Cloud Immortals for very long, but their shared battles and discussions had already instilled in him a deep sense of belonging to this small group. Most importantly, compared to the human players or NPCs in reality and the game, whose lives were filled with conflicting interests and treacherous schemes, the noble character shown by immortals like Lin Xuance, Wu Qingyue, and Su Zhiqing, and their unreserved kindness and support towards him as a "newly minted immortal," gave him a truly strong sense of belonging.

Seeing the system arbitrarily disposing of these three immortals, Xiao Jie felt somewhat displeased and resentful.

If... if the immortals knew of the existence of the 'system,' and that their every word and action might be guided or even controlled by some invisible force, how would they react? Would they be shocked, angry, rebellious, or... collapse? This thought grew wildly in Xiao Jie's mind like weeds, instantly giving him a sense of alarm.

'Xiao Jie, oh Xiao Jie,' he told himself, 'You'd better just behave yourself! Wouldn't it be better to be a carefree immortal? Why bother investigating the potentially dangerous truth? If the system can shape and control them, can't it control you too? Everything you have now might already be within the system's 'allowed' limits.'

But his inherent desire to explore, a player's instinct, and his unwillingness to be controlled made it impossible for him to easily give up.

'If... if we could find a way to make these immortals "awaken" and realize the existence of the system, perhaps we could use their power to break some of the system's limitations?'
Xiao Jie himself naturally dared not, nor did he have the ability, to directly confront the system. However, if he could make these powerful immortals discover clues and thus develop the consciousness or behavior to resist the system, then he might be able to determine just how strong the system truly was and what its control mechanism was like.

'If this system's control over immortals is merely a matter of subtle manipulation, like psychological suggestion or destiny guidance, rather than absolute control—like the methods of that nameless Taoist—then perhaps I wouldn't need to be so wary, and my future operational options would be much greater.'

'But if...the system's control over immortals is comprehensive, rooted in their very existence and inescapable, then I'll really have to obediently keep a low profile and be a proper immortal from now on, and never have any more improper thoughts.'

With this in mind, a tentative idea took shape in his mind.

He deliberately focused his mind on the Xuan Guang Ying Ying Pool, magnifying a few smaller scenes and focusing on several low-level players who were only around level ten. These low-level players were clearly highly skilled; five players with an average level of less than twenty dared to form a small team, break away from the main group, and hunt down lone monsters in the dangerous wilderness!
Even more surprisingly, with their skillful movement, precise skill execution, and perfect teamwork, they utilized a narrow valley terrain to block, control, and focus fire. Their fluid maneuvers resulted in the successful elimination of an elite prodigy over level 30! Although the process was perilous, and almost all team members were left with low health, their courage, strategy, and skill were truly impressive. "Fellow Daoists, what do you think of these people?" Xiao Jie pointed to the five-person team's screen, deliberately speaking with admiration. "Although their levels are low and their strength is average, they possess considerable courage and adventurous spirit, daring to fight against a much stronger opponent! Moreover, you see, they are quite strategic, knowing how to utilize the terrain, and their teamwork is excellent, successfully defeating a powerful enemy through intelligence. Aren't such courageous, resourceful, and cooperative individuals far more valuable to cultivate than those who only rely on guild resources and brute force based on level and equipment?"

Upon hearing this, the three immortals all turned their gazes to the scene Xiao Jie had pointed to and glanced at it for a few moments. However, instead of the appreciation Xiao Jie had expected, they immediately shook their heads.

Lin Xuance spoke first, his tone carrying an undeniable rejection: "Inappropriate, utterly inappropriate. While these individuals may possess some cleverness and know how to utilize the terrain, their extremely low strength is a fatal flaw. To overestimate their abilities and force their way into battle is unwise! To venture into dangerous territory alone instead of following the main army is reckless! To rely solely on the terrain to outmaneuver the enemy, yet dare not confront a powerful foe head-on, is cowardly!"

How could such an opportunistic and shallow-rooted individual be worthy of the title of disciple of an immortal? We select disciples based on concrete battle records and consistently strong abilities! Fellow Daoist Sui Feng, you'd better not spout nonsense here.”

After saying that, he didn't even glance at that small team again, and turned his attention directly to other scenes showing high-level players or large-scale legion battles.

Although Wu Qingyue and Su Zhiqing did not speak, their eyes conveyed similar views, clearly indicating that they completely agreed with Lin Xuance's assessment.

Xiao Jie sighed inwardly: 'It seems these three have completely become executors and mouthpieces of the system's rules. Their evaluation criteria are strictly limited to the single, quantitative indicator provided by the system: "merit points." Any behavior that doesn't conform to this standard, no matter how outstanding it may be, will be subconsciously ignored or belittled.'

Just then, Wu Qingyue suddenly exclaimed in admiration, pointing to another scene and saying, "Fellow Daoists! Look at this Supreme Emperor! I think this person is an excellent choice! He possesses such formidable strength, transforming into a divine dragon with a mortal body, slaughtering thousands of demons as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, invincible in all directions! Such achievements are enough to demonstrate his extraordinary potential and powerful combat strength!"

"Supreme Emperor? This guy actually joined the battle too?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Jie hurriedly went over.

In the scene, a majestic golden dragon hovered above a medium-sized town. With each opening and closing of its mouth, thick bolts of lightning, like divine punishment, relentlessly pounded down on the densely packed demons within the town! The lightning snaked wildly, and the deafening roars echoed. Wherever it passed, demons were left dead and wounded, turning into ashes in droves, and merit points soared at an astonishing rate.

In the blink of an eye, it surged into the top five, and it continues to rise.

Xiao Jie was speechless. He thought to himself, "You've already transformed into a dragon, yet you still have the nerve to compete with ordinary players for the 'Immortal Disciple' spot?"

But then I thought about it again, and realized the rules didn't seem to prohibit it. "These immortal disciples are only judged by merit, with no requirements on level, class, or even current strength. In other words, any player can participate. Even the strongest Supreme Emperor is still essentially a player... Wait a minute!"

An extremely bold, even somewhat absurd, idea flashed through Xiao Jie's mind like lightning!

Wait a minute! I...aren't I a player too?!
This identity, which he had almost forgotten, suddenly became clear. What if I also participated, competed for merit points, and even won first place?

His gaze was fixed intently on the three immortals who were still appraising the "talents," and a plan quickly took shape: 'Could they... want to take me as their disciple? That's obviously impossible, but if that were to happen, would it cause their logic to become confused? And thus prompt them to discover something amiss? Even just a moment's doubt might be the beginning of their "awakening"?'

'Worth a try!' Xiao Jie quickly made up his mind. 'What I'm doing is completely in accordance with the event rules, and the system won't punish me for it. As for how to quickly farm a massive amount of merit points—the target is naturally those few monstrous benefactors! These guys are theoretically world bosses that will only appear in the later stages of the event, during the final battle. The merit points I can obtain by killing them will definitely be astronomical!'

In addition, he also wanted to see if the subsequent "events" would still proceed smoothly as described on the official website if he didn't follow the "plot" and took down these world bosses, which were key nodes in the event, in advance. This would undoubtedly be a major disruption to the "system's" arrangements, and it would be a good opportunity to observe the system's adaptability and bottom line.

In addition, these world bosses have a chance to drop ascension items. If you're lucky enough to get one, that's pretty good.

Such treasures, which offer the opportunity to touch the path of immortality, are naturally always welcome.

With this in mind, Xiao Jie made up his mind and stopped hesitating.

He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to the three immortals who were still watching the battle, and said in a relaxed tone, "Fellow Daoists, please stay here and watch for a while. I'll be right back."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuance turned his head and asked in confusion, "Oh? Where are you going, Fellow Daoist Suifeng? The great battle is in full swing now, which is a good time to observe talented people."

Xiao Jie had already prepared his explanation, a hint of murderous intent flashing across his face: "That's precisely why I can't stay here any longer. Now that the great war has fully commenced, those seven demonic masters are no fools. They will soon sense the threat posed by the allied forces and react accordingly. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I plan to take the initiative, emulating the heroes of old, and capture the king first! If we can eliminate a few of their demonic masters in advance, it will not only weaken the demonic army but also boost the morale of the allied forces. In this way, when the mortal army engages in the decisive battle with the main demonic force, the pressure will be significantly reduced, and many unnecessary casualties will be minimized."

"No! Absolutely not!" Su Zhiqing, the Myriad Law Primordial Sovereign, immediately dissuaded him, her willow brows furrowing slightly. "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, our greatest enemy is the master of the Demon Star Tower, who is the most deeply hidden! You are the key combat force in dealing with it. You must not lose sight of the bigger picture and waste your immortal power on these lackeys, or even expose yourself prematurely and alert the enemy!"

Wu Qingyue nodded repeatedly: "What Yuanjun said is absolutely right! Brother Suifeng, please don't act rashly!"

Xiao Jie, however, had already anticipated their objections and calmly explained, "Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry. I previously helped that Howling Moon True Person break through the siege of Giant Wood City, and my immortal demeanor has already been revealed. Presumably, the master of the Demon Star Tower already knows of my existence. If I continue to hide in the shadows and not show myself, it will only make the Demon Star more wary and cautious, which will not be conducive to luring it out."

"It would be better if I took the initiative and swiftly eliminated one of its generals. This would weaken its strength and enrage it, perhaps forcing it to reveal itself sooner! Once the master of the Demon Star Tower is lured out, the three of you can then seize the opportunity and act as the orioles in the rear, unaware of the danger. Wouldn't that be perfect? ​​This is a strategy of offense over defense, a way to lure the snake out of its hole."

His words were reasonable and logically clear. He pointed out the facts that had been exposed and put forward a positive tactical plan. His words were watertight.

Lin Xuance, Wu Qingyue, and Su Zhiqing exchanged glances. Although there was still a hint of doubt between them, Xiao Jie's reasons were sound, and they could not find a more compelling reason to refute him.

The key point is that Xiao Jie, as a player, is not among the NPCs for this event.

Although the three of them vaguely sensed that something was wrong, they did not feel that they absolutely had to stop it.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Xuance finally nodded slowly and instructed, "In that case... it's fine. But Fellow Daoist Suifeng, you must be extremely careful on this trip! Although those seven demonic masters are just henchmen, they can command an army and their strength should not be underestimated. Especially if you are surrounded by them, or if there are hidden tricks by the demonic stars... you must fight quickly and decisively, and not linger in battle!"

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, I know what I'm doing." Xiao Jie smiled slightly, cupped his hands again, and said, "I'm off!"

After saying that, Xiao Jie's feet rose on auspicious clouds and flew towards Canglin Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)