by <unknown>
The more he analyzed, the more he felt that the truth of the Martial Meritocrats Sector might not be as simple as he imagined.
He had thought that the entire Martial Meritocrats Sector was the most important laboratory and test base for new magical equipment and techniques in the Imperium of True Human Beings.
However, the arrival of the three players who were Immortal Cultivators informed him that the 'test base' had a deeper meaning. It was not just magical equipment and techniques that were tested but also Immortal Cultivators themselves.
By collecting the conversations among the three players every day, and through the prudent investigation of his own soul, Li Yao discovered that the 'war game' seemed to have a third meaning that was even more subtle.
With his keen senses in the Divinity Transformation Stage, Li Yao noticed hundreds of players, but not all the players were the same.
For example, Red Viper, Black Spear, and Flash Point, the three players that he followed, were obviously there with certain quests, including 'secondary quests' and 'main quests'.
The 'secondary quests' were what they had been doing in the last half month to accumulate wealth, fame, and the Fist King's trust. As for exactly what their 'main quests' were, Li Yao had not learned it yet, but he did vaguely feel that it was not as simple as 'conquer Liberty City'.
Of course, all of them also had a 'hidden quest', which was to kill their competitors in their respective families so that they would win more resources and fondness in the future.
Other than the players who were devoted to their quests, there were also what the Immortal Cultivators called 'crazy streamers'. Li Yao did not know what they were exactly yet, because Red Viper, Black Spear, and Flash Point were very wary of the lunatics and unwilling to have a head-on clash with them. They had chosen to retreat whenever they smelled the scent of the lunatics.
Besides 'quest players' and 'crazy streamers', there seemed to be a third type of Immortal Cultivator. But they were even more mysterious and independent from the battlefield, almost completely buried in the darkness. Even Li Yao had only perceived one of them by accident and almost been caught by the guy.
Li Yao speculated that the Immortal Cultivators in darkness were perhaps the manipulators of the entire game and the defenders of the rules. They were responsible for directing the war game to develop in the course that they desired.
The unique rules in the Land of Sins created the most favorable conditions for the Immortal Cultivators to blend into the sinners.
This was a cruel world with abrupt changes every moment.
A previously dominating, unparalleled expert might die due to their cultivation going berserk because of fatal shortcomings in the arts that they practiced.
A nobody half a year ago, with the assistance of an 'old grandpa' and his amazing arts or even the strengthening kits from the sky, would be able to modify themself into a half-human and half-mechanical monster with unimaginable strength in the blink of an eye.
Although such an endeavor would likely rid them of their training potential for the decades to come, who cared about what would happen tomorrow if their strength could be improved by almost twenty times?
Therefore, other than the city leaders that dominated the Elysian Worlds, few experts and forces could thrive for a long time without decaying in the Land of Sins.
On the other hand, it was often the case that many anonymous fellows would rise as fast as lightning with the most uncanny, bizarre abilities. They would want to distinguish themselves on the most fabulous stage.
On the sides of both the Fist King and the leader of Liberty City, there were countless rising experts who were bizarre-shaped, temperamental, disobedient, and of unknown backgrounds.
When the Immortal Cultivators were mixed among them, they were like a few spindrift in an ocean. Nobody would be suspicious of them at all.
Besides, everybody was focused on the war between the Fist King and the leader of Liberty City. Who cared if the war was manipulated by the 'angels' other than Li Yao?
Had life in the Land of Sins not always been repeated like this for the last hundreds of years?
Those who might not survive the next second were incapable of envisaging the future or exploring the truth.
Li Yao, however, intended to completely dig out the truths behind the Land of Sins, or the Martial Meritocrats Sector.
He wanted to capture an Immortal Cultivator player for interrogation.
It was certainly very risky, and it would not be an easy task.
The Immortal Cultivators must be monitoring the battlefield in various ways. Every player should have a clandestine communication system. Countless Immortal Cultivators were hiding in the darkness to maintain the order of the 'war game'.
Therefore, over the past half month, Li Yao had been observing calmly and camouflaging himself instead of taking any action in a hurry.
He was waiting for the best opportunity, which was perhaps when the Fist King's army attacked the city.
At that time, the whole battlefield would be brimming with violent, chaotic spiritual waves. Both parties would launch attacks and interference on the enemy's local area network. Even the wireless network among the Immortal Cultivator players would probably be jammed and cut off—even if only briefly.
Also, the sky would be blocked by smoke and dark clouds. Even the mystic rays from the City in the Sky would not necessarily be able to illuminate every corner of the battlefield.
Did Red Viper not mention that the death rate of the 'trial of extreme survival' was very high? Therefore, as long as Li Yao could seize the opportunity…
Chapter 1999: Meeting the Fist King at Great Iron City! |
Great Iron City, which was practically a skyscraper, pushed forward at a much higher speed than before. Occasionally, a lot of people who were tied to chains would rappel from the top of Great Iron City to knock the gears and rune arrays on the shell and perform lubrication and cleaning.
The obstreperous black markets and arenas were shut. To appease the many tough bandits, the Fist King provided a lot more basic resources, including ammunition and standard boxes of spiritual energy, for the gangs and forces without bothering about the cost.
The claws that were extended in all directions were retracted one after another, and the siege on Liberty City became tighter and tighter every day. The Fist King's battle formation grew ever stronger. Flags where the emblems of different gangs were depicted flew in the camp and looked truly overwhelming and intimidating.
Liberty City, in comparison, was silent and lifeless, like a fortress of the dead.
All the signs indicated that the Fist King's army was about to attack the city!
The 'Red Viper Squad' was also given the privilege of meeting the Fist King in person because of their distinguished performance.
In the past month, although they were at the camp of the great dominator in the Land of Sins, neither the Red Viper Squad nor Li Yao had ever seen the Fist King himself, not even catching a glimpse of him from afar. They only heard a lot of rumors about the Fist King from other people.
Some said that the Fist King once practiced punching against a mountain thousands of meters tall. His fists blew bottomless holes in the rocks after each punch, and he kept punching, blowing, digging, and pressing forward, making his way 'through' the mountain with the brutal force. Eventually, a human-shaped tunnel was left behind him!
Some said that there was once a time when the Fist King could not find a suitable human-shaped shell for his use at all because the power of his soul was so strong that any human-shaped shell covering his soul would be blown up after a single punch. He had to conceal himself in a shell in the form of a tank and use two turrets with unbelievable firepower as his arms!
Some said that the Fist King destroyed four cities and more than twenty gangs in a row in only five years just to find enough powerful components for himself so that he could build an unparalleled artificial body that could support the punc
hing of his fists, which was equivalent to the bombardment of heavy cannons!
Some said that the noises they heard from 'Great Iron City' every day were not caused by the engine system of the giant machine but by the Fist King training himself inside!
The ridiculous rumors that bordered on legends made the Fist King's image even more mysterious and dominating.
Even Li Yao could not hold back his curiosity and attempted to sneak into Great Iron City with Neltharion. It was exactly during the adventure that he had come across a 'game master' who was lurking in the darkness. He was so scared that he had sweat engine oil. Finally, he dropped the idea.
Today, he finally had the chance to meet the dominator in the Land of Sins in person.
On the pedestal of Great Iron City, dozens of enormous gears more than three meters in diameter were revolving slowly, revealing a dark gap.
Li Yao—together with shuddering Han Te, Liu Li, and Xin Xiaoqi—lowered his head and followed the Red Viper Squad while they walked into the smoking Great Iron City under the guidance of a team of warriors from the 'Godly Fist Union'.
The gears slowly closed behind them. The air in the room was hot and suffocating, mixed with the smell of sulfur and metal, as if they had just walked into a furnace. Gears that bit each other, bearings that were revolving quickly, levers with many branches, and chains that dangled down from the ceiling were everywhere inside Great Iron City. Countless tall shadows were dancing merrily on the gears, bearings, levers, and chains.
Occasionally, when their iron shells were illuminated by the light, it would be easy to notice that they were all spectral Cultivators and spiritual puppets. Thousands of spiritual puppets supported the complicated internal framework of 'Great Iron City' and maintained the high-intensity functioning of the war fortress.
The Fist King was a ghost. Ever since his rise, he had always been searching for greater artificial bodies. Therefore, he had unusual interests in other ghosts and even spiritual puppets. He was an out-and-out collector of spiritual puppets, which was a fact that everybody in the Land of Sins knew.
What Li Yao saw today proved the theory. The place was essentially an ocean of spiritual puppets.
The floors that they saw on their way while they were slowly pulled to the top of Great Iron City on a crude metal platform by chains were mostly occupied by spiritual puppets of various forms.
Those in the shape of humans, those like lions and tigers, those in the form of spiders or scorpions, and those built into tractors and turrets. Some were large, and some were small, but they were equally amazing.
Among them, there were the battle puppets of the latest model, which were glamorous and athletic, with a crystal processor that was even more powerful than the 'Grand Illusionary Soldier' in Li Yao's memory. There were also antiques that were rusted, riveted, and riddled with holes. It was like a museum of spiritual puppets.
BAM!
The metal platform was raised to the top of Great Iron City. Through the observation window there, it was possible to see everything that was happening in the hundred square kilometers around.
Almost a hundred spiritual puppets of the latest models were placed in the room. Like a group of silent warriors, they protected a throne at the center that was piled up with gears.
An artificial body that was more than three meters tall sat on the throne of gears majestically and stared at the Red Viper Squad in deep thought.
Looking at the guy's metal body that was almost perfect, Li Yao's soul constricted violently.
What a beautiful artificial body!
The artificial body was in the most standard appearance of a human being. Every limb and every joint were in the golden cut. It was almost as if the most immaculate expert in the universe was doubled in size and made into an iron statue!
On every piece of shell on his body, dense rune arrays had been carved, which enshrouded him in vague redness all the time. He was wearing a simple, brown windbreaker, but it was spluttering although there was no wind as if it were the armor of an emperor!
Li Yao could tell at first glance that the artificial body could not have been manufactured in any factory. It was designed and assembled with the components of countless artificial bodies, spiritual puppets, and crystal suits.
The components and rune arrays of almost a hundred different origins had been combined flawlessly. It appeared as natural and immaculate as anything could!
The one who designed and produced the artificial body was certainly an expert among experts.
According to the rumors, the Fist King always attended to his body himself.
Li Yao immediately changed his attitude toward the dominator in the Land of Sins.
The impeccable artificial body alone suggested that the Fist King was much more than a simple expert in the Nascent Soul Stage. He could not be more careful when he was dealing with the sky!
"It's an honor to meet you, Fist King!"
The three Immortal Cultivator players bowed deeply to the iron statue on the throne of gears pretentiously. They were apparently more curious than respectful about the dominator in the Land of Sins.
Han Te, Liu Li, and Xin Xiaoqi were deeply awed by the Fist King, their legs shaking hard.
Li Yao, naturally, did not say anything. Standing behind them in silence, he considered the possibility that the Fist King might have a piece of 'high-molecular layer-by-layer scanning magical equipment' if the guy was a brilliant refiner.
"There are no unnecessary formalities in the Land of Sins. This is not an honor at all."
The iron statue rose and stepped forward unhurriedly. He was not stomping, but the floor seemed to be shaking under his feet.
The Fist King stood before everywhere and said in a low voice, "Red Viper Squad? I've never heard the name before. Then again, no heroes are ever heard until they distinguish themselves. After the war, your name will certainly resound all over the Land of Sins!"
"Of course!" Red Viper raised her head high. "Chances are that we will be faster than the Fist King to chop off the leader of Liberty City's head!"
'Fist King' Lei Zonglie was slightly dazed. Red Viper's words apparently fitted his temper. He burst into laughter and said, "Good, good! You have performed remarkably in the battles over the last few months. I cannot help but wonder what kind of miracles you will create in the battle to take the city!
"In case you blame me for not giving you an opportunity, I am preparing to deploy you in the east flank when our army officially attacks Liberty City tomorrow. You will attack the west defense line of Liberty City together with my most skilled team from the Godly Fist Union. As long as you can break the west defense line of Liberty City and destroy the pivot of the defense arrays there, you can ask for whatever you want from me!"
"We are not interested in the west defense line."
Looking at the crystal cameras on the Fist King's metal skull that was as dark as ink, Red Viper said, one word after another, "We have come here after a long journey only because we want to fight side by side with the Fist King and see how incredible the strongest fists on the entire Land of Sins are! The operations over the past month should be enough to prove our capability and loyalty. Please give us a chance to follow you and take part in the most dangerous and arduous missions!"
"You want to fight by my side?" 'Fist King' Lei Zonglie laughed aloud. "Then, let's see if you are capable enough!"
Hu!
The cape on him immediately expanded into a ball before it was split apart in hissing sounds. Spiritual energy surged out like tides and rushed at the Red Viper Squad!
The three Immortal Cultivator players were long prepared. They simply kept their hands behind their back and focused their spiritual energy in their legs, standing still on the iron floor without moving at all.
Greatly alarmed, Han Te and Liu Li hurried to summon their spiritual energy to defend themselves.
Li Yao was rather shocked. 'Fist King' Lei Zonglie was almost a lunatic. He had unleashed
such an overwhelming force when it was only supposed to be a test, not caring if he would heavily wound his own people!
Without alarming anyone, Li Yao transmitted two streams of energy through the floor into Han Te's and Liu Li's feet, helping them through the difficulties.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Fist King's spiritual energy bombarded everybody's heart like a tsunami.
The three Immortal Cultivator players all grunted and shook hard.
Han Te and Liu Li were even forced almost ten steps back. They collapsed onto the floor and vomited blood.
Li Yao also pretended that his internal circuits were damaged. Cracking noises echoed from inside his iron shell.
"Huh?"
Out of his expectations, after a moment of surprise, the Fist King moved his eyes that were as keen as a hawk at Li Yao.
Chapter 2000: The Fist King's Ambition! |
Li Yao immediately felt his heart beating fast. Thinking quickly, he wondered what he had done wrong to make the Fist King grow suspicious about him.
There was no reason for that at all. In the battles over the last month, he had been always keeping a low profile and playing the role of a spiritual puppet dutifully without doing anything outrageous.
Li Yao was not scared of 'Fist King' Lei Zonglie, but the Immortal Cultivators would be monitoring the place closely. He did not want to expose his identity so soon, which would make it impossible for him to find out what the Immortal Cultivators were up to exactly in the 'war game'!
As it turned out, while the Fist King stared at him, the man's spiritual energy turned into threads wandering into Li Yao's iron shell.
Li Yao's soul released ripples and activated the defense rune arrays around the crystal processor, keeping the Fist King's reach outside of his core components. But he frowned hard in his heart.
'Fist King' Lei Zonglie was both a top-tier expert who dominated the Land of Sins and an excellent refiner. Would the guy see through his cover?
Li Yao was quite uncertain.
Chi! Chi!
