Chapter 841: Chapter 519: Investment, Reminder_2
Since the plan was likely to fail, he thought of alternative solutions.
For example, instead of relying on these NPCs and players to defeat the guardian, he could just squeeze every bit of benefit from them and be done with it, treating them as treasure-giving children.
But the problem was that Wang Zhifan had already harvested a lot of equipment in this instance, and he wasn’t interested in ordinary things. After observing for a while, he didn’t find any NPC items or player equipment that caught his eye.
Thus, while he pondered for a long time, action had already started on the NPC side.
After they finished discussing, the NPCs divided into several batches and entered the temple, beginning the formal challenge.
Three Caucasian players were among them, entering with the first batch of NPCs.
Two Black players couldn’t hold back and followed closely behind them, quietly trailing them.
Only the Xia Country female assassin focused on staying hidden outside the haunted building, planning to wait for an opportunity like a hunter waiting by a tree for prey.
Seeing that the plan had officially begun, Wang Zhifan maintained a distance, staying hidden, and waited for developments.
He could sense that the first batch of NPCs and players had already started fighting, contending with the guardian’s minion ghosts.
Currently, they were advancing with unstoppable momentum, and it would take at most fifteen minutes before they confronted the guardian, facing the real test.
However, something that left Wang Zhifan speechless soon happened.
He suddenly sensed that the guardian in the temple had disappeared.
When he sensed the other side again, the guardian appeared directly before him, clearly having discovered him and tracked him down.
The guardian appeared as a stooped elderly male with sparse hair and nearly bald eyebrows, his eyes dark red like blood, and his teeth and nails were sharp. He exuded an evil aura that seemed unremarkable at first glance but was profoundly terrifying upon closer look. He belonged to the top tier of powerful zombies in the Land of the Dead Soul, one covered by the forces of the Netherworld.
Unlike other powerful ghosts, this guardian did not rely on a psychic channel to communicate with Wang Zhifan but spoke directly like a human.
If not for his non-human appearance and aura, he would have seemed unmistakably like an elderly human being.
"Nether emissary, all these days you’ve been plotting to have others deal with us unlucky ghosts. Don’t think we don’t know."
Right from the first sentence, the powerful zombie guardian exposed Wang Zhifan’s plan, proving that the guardian was indeed the local tyrant, aware of all his little moves.
"I didn’t, don’t falsely accuse me from thin air! Don’t involve me in others’ collective actions!"
Wang Zhifan immediately denied with a thick skin, not even blushing or having his heart skip a beat, putting on an expression that suggested it had nothing to do with him, and he was just there to watch the show.
He really couldn’t admit it, as he and this guardian were currently part of the same faction, roughly considered to be on the same side.
It would be humiliating and detrimental to admit that one of their own plotted against another of their own.
"You yourself know whether you’re involved or not. I’m not here to argue with you about this."
The zombie guardian shook his head and changed the topic.
"So, what do you want to do?"
Detecting a hint of something unusual, Wang Zhifan secretly braced himself.
"I’m here under the direction of the great Netherworld Will to give you a warning."
The zombie guardian then provided an answer.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhifan became interested. He didn’t expect the situation to take such an unexpected turn.
The zombie guardian then continued:
"The Netherworld Will wants me to tell you that although that existence is incomparably powerful, without His permission, you wouldn’t have so easily obtained the exclusive title of Nether Emissary of the Netherworld! And it’s the highest-ranking Nether Emissary title!
So, understand that this is an investment from the Netherworld in you!
Remember this point, and when the time comes, do not choose the wrong side, make sure to stand by the Netherworld side!
Even if things truly fall apart, you must not go against the Netherworld!"
After the guardian finished speaking, Wang Zhifan couldn’t help but feel very puzzled, immediately questioning:
"What do you mean about not choosing wrongly at that time? I don’t understand what you’re saying. Can you explain it in more detail?"
However, the zombie guardian shook his head, honestly admitting:
"That’s all, the words the Netherworld Will conveyed to me are just these... I don’t know the rest even if you ask me.
I’m just an unlucky soul, neither dead nor alive, unaware of those lofty, great beings, nor do I understand you mysterious folks with unknown backgrounds."
"Alright... But are you really that unlucky? I can’t tell."
Sensing that the guardian wasn’t hiding anything or lying, Wang Zhifan didn’t bother to inquire further. The level of the guardian indeed made it unlikely for him to know highly advanced information.
"I’m trapped in this joyless little place, like many of my kind. Knowing full well that beyond that mountain pass lies countless delicious blood prey, yet I can’t step out even half a step!
Even if those blood preys willingly come to us, I have to act according to the rules and can’t eliminate them as I wish. There’s absolutely no freedom! Isn’t that unlucky?!"
The guardian old zombie continued to describe his predicament, making Wang Zhifan realize that the Land of the Dead Soul was not naturally occurring but forcefully created by external forces, with various hidden rules unknown to humans applied.
Otherwise, with the advanced power of the Land of the Dead Soul, the creatures of this world would barely stand a chance.
"So even being a ghost has so many troubles...
This suggests that the Netherworld created this place in coordination with the extraordinary game’s instances...
What exactly is the origin of the extraordinary game? It nurtures players to constantly venture into instances, but for what ultimate purpose?"
All at once, Wang Zhifan thought about many aspects of the extraordinary game.
As a player in the extraordinary game and one with special advantages, he had always been curious about the true nature of the extraordinary game.
Why would such a powerful and unfathomable existence create this simple yet intricate system, using instances to either torment or train players?
Not only are there players on Earth, but also in other distant worlds and vastly different civilizations and races, there are players as well. What sustains this trans-world player group?
In past instances, Wang Zhifan had frequently observed a phenomenon where certain entities within instance worlds knew about the player group, with some entities being very familiar with the player group and even willing to promote matters related to the player group as if they were in close cooperation with the extraordinary game.
For instance, in a past Interstellar World Brave instance, the chief on the spaceship clearly stated that he used to be a player, a Lv100 player, but eventually, his player career failed, turning him into an instance NPC, hoping Wang Zhifan wouldn’t make the same mistake.
In the Chaotic Realm domination instance, the local master Shenfengzi declared that from time to time, outsiders would come to cause trouble, then leave, repeatedly, concluding the regular patterns and behavior characteristics of player appearances.
The Calamity Realm instance, which produced mythical-level rewards, was even more outstanding. The teacher inside all but explicitly stated he was a collaborator with the extraordinary game. He not only helped Wang Zhifan multiple times but also informed Wang Zhifan ahead of time about alien players appearing among the enemies, being more knowledgeable about players than the players themselves.
All of this indicates that the extraordinary game is not completely isolated above all else.
It maintains a certain level of integration with various worlds, clearly a product of negotiation and compromise, despite exhibiting extremely high-end features across the board.
Thus, it can be inferred that there are powerful forces maintaining the operation of the extraordinary game, aiming to achieve some definite purpose.
"No matter what finally happens, I still need to continue down this path, hoping to reach the day when the mystery is unveiled."
After his exchange with the guardian, Wang Zhifan reflected on many things but soon shifted his attention back to the current situation.
