Chen Tian looked at the surrounding players, who merely wanted to see him make a fool of himself. Guiming Mountain had a rule: the monsters within were akin to ghosts, immune to ordinary physical attacks. Being intangible, they couldn't be touched or felt. Most players entering this area needed to purchase an item called a Light Stone, which emitted light to materialize the ghosts. Light and darkness were naturally opposed, just as Yin and Yang. Chen Tian and Chen Ling walked into Guiming Mountain without any visible Light Stones, indicating they were newcomers. Entering Guiming Mountain like this was akin to seeking death; Chen Tian and Chen Ling would soon be killed by the ghosts.
Chen Tian and Chen Ling, however, were unafraid. How could the ghosts there possibly kill them? Moreover, Chen Ling and Chen Tian were of the Elf race. While physical attacks were ineffective, it didn't mean magical attacks were useless. Most players saved their skills for the last moment, but Chen Tian was different. With his Energy Control ability, he could harness all energy in the world. Energy attacks were not physical attacks. Chen Tian walked along the path in Guiming Mountain with a calm demeanor. Soon, ghosts flew towards Chen Tian, attacking Chen Ling and him.
Chen Tian sneered, "Just ghosts. What capabilities did they possess in life to have any stature in death? Rest in peace."
Chen Tian flicked his hand, unleashing a stream of crimson flames. Instantly, a fiery crimson sky descended before Chen Tian. Countless ghosts before him wailed in agony. Ghosts were Yin creatures, and elements as pure Yang as lightning and fire were far more damaging to them. The principle of Yin and Yang opposing each other was the same as light and darkness, though their essence differed. Yin and Yang were Yin and Yang, black and white were black and white, and light and darkness were light and darkness; there were distinctions. The principle of Yin and Yang opposition was universal. Under Chen Tian's fiery canopy, countless ghosts before him exploded and vanished.
Chen Tian, being at the highest level, did not receive any rewards or experience. His current state prevented further improvement. Chen Tian continued forward. According to the information he had previously purchased, the Nine-Headed Demon Dragon was active in the center of Guiming Mountain. He wondered how Wanxi Pavilion obtained such detailed information. The center of Guiming Mountain was not accessible to ordinary players, and the bosses there were far stronger than the Nine-Headed Demon Dragon. The Nine-Headed Demon Dragon did not dominate the mountain alone; it had rivals vying for territory.
These were not Chen Tian's concerns. As Chen Tian and Chen Ling entered Guiming Mountain, their previous actions surprised onlookers outside. What kind of skill was that? A self-created skill? How could it be so powerful? Wasting a skill at the beginning, what would they do afterward?
In the Epoch of Time, self-created skills were crucial for players. They would not use them in combat unless absolutely necessary, as the cooldown was very long, and the skill's power could be a decisive factor in victory. Chen Tian had used such a powerful self-created skill at the start; what would happen next? Investment and response.
"Quick, let's enter, or the treasures inside will be theirs."
A group was the first to enter Guiming Mountain. Players outside Guiming Mountain poured in. Treasures were abundant in Guiming Mountain, and no one wanted to miss out. Every player had a Light Stone. No one noticed the Light Stones turning black as they entered Guiming Mountain, a dark hue slowly enveloping them.
The players were unaware and continued to explore Guiming Mountain. Some killed monsters and gained experience, others found treasures, and some found items. The resources in Guiming Mountain were incredibly rich, as it was an entrance connecting two worlds. These resources came from both worlds, so how could they not be plentiful?
Chen Tian stopped. He sensed a familiar aura. The entire Guiming Mountain began to shake, and then countless beams of black light shot into the sky, converging to form a black protective shield that enveloped the entire Guiming Mountain. The sudden anomaly caused all the players to look up at the sky. What was happening?
"Damn it, what's going on? Why can't I leave? I'm trapped in Guiming Mountain."
"Me too!"
"Ah!"
Screams echoed. With a *swish* and a *swish*, countless players drew their weapons and attacked those around them. They were like puppets, their eyes black, their figures shrouded in darkness. Chen Tian and Chen Ling's side was no different. Chen Ling said gravely, "Brother, this is the Black Shadow Array, a sealing formation of the Evil Spirit race. It seems there are Evil Spirits in Guiming Mountain."
"Not necessarily. Although I sense their aura, it's too faint. Something must have intervened. As for this formation, we can't break it from the inside. It will only last for three days before dissipating automatically."
Chen Tian saw the flaw in the formation immediately. This Black Shadow Array was not at its full power. Chen Tian was even less concerned. If an Evil Spirit itself had cast it, Chen Tian might have faced some difficulty. The Black Shadow Array was developed by the Evil Spirit race thousands of years ago, based on human formations. It could seal an entire world, preventing those inside from leaving and those outside from entering. The formation could not be broken from within; only a powerful blow from the outside could shatter it.
Chen Tian's eyes saw through the Black Shadow Array. It was composed of aura, unlike the complete version. Once the time was up, the Black Shadow Array would vanish on its own. Chen Tian's ears twitched as he heard several screams. Chen Tian said, "Ling'er, let's go check over there."
"Okay!"
Chen Tian's expression suddenly changed. Chen Ling knew something must have happened, or Chen Tian wouldn't have looked like that. Indeed, Chen Tian headed in the direction of the screams. Over there, a young man was desperately defending himself.
"What's wrong with you, wake up! It's me!"
A clanging sound ensued. No matter how the young man called out, the girl attacking him seemed like a machine, intent on killing him. Her attacks were fierce.
"What's wrong with you? Meng Yao!"
The young man suddenly felt his strength draining away, and he was sent flying by a slash from the girl, crashing to the ground. He looked at the girl shrouded in darkness and then at his own hand. "What's happening to my strength? Why is it draining away?"
The girl had no consciousness, her eyes pitch-black. Her short sword rose and fell; her only objective was to kill the young man before her. As the short sword was about to strike, the young man closed his eyes. "It is what it is. I'll be revived anyway. I just don't understand why you're attacking me. What did I do wrong?"
"Giving up so easily? Death here is final. Are you sure you want to die?"
Chen Tian's voice rang out. A sudden collision occurred. The young man slowly raised his head and saw Chen Tian. Chen Tian's sword, forged from fire element, clashed with the short sword. With a powerful swipe, Chen Tian sent the girl flying, her body smashing into a tree and becoming embedded within it. Chen Tian turned to look at the young man.
This young man's ID was Yun Shui, and his level was around ninety-eight in the Blue Ling realm. The girl's ID and level were indiscernible. Chen Tian sensed an Evil Spirit aura from her, indicating she had become an Evil Spirit. However, unlike a true Evil Spirit, her body seemed to lack consciousness, existing as a puppet, a robot, programmed to follow fixed commands.
"You, you, what do you want? I won't let you touch my sister."
Yun Shui stepped in front of Chen Tian, blocking his path as Chen Tian approached Meng Yao. Chen Tian paused. That girl was his sister. Chen Tian said coldly, "Step aside. She's no longer human. Don't block the way. Do you want to cause greater harm?"
"No, I won't let you hurt my sister. No matter what she becomes, she's still my sister. As her brother, I must protect her."
Yun Shui stood his ground, unyielding. Chen Tian's eyes flickered, and Yun Shui's body went limp, unconscious. Chen Ling stood behind Yun Shui. Chen Tian approached the tree and looked at the girl with incredibly dark pupils. Her entire core aura had transformed into that of an Evil Spirit. Damn the Evil Spirits for using such methods to control players. With a swing of his sword, the tree burned, and the girl's body was engulfed in flames. A black rhombus-shaped stone fell from the flames onto the ground. Chen Tian squatted down and glanced at the stone.
"Damn it, this is definitely not something the Evil Spirit race could achieve. Someone must be working with them."
Chen Tian's hatred for those people intensified. If every player entering Guiming Mountain wore a Light Stone, it would mean everyone inside would become an Evil Spirit puppet, and potentially even in the real world.
A device was installed inside the Light Stone, trapping the Evil Spirit aura. As soon as the Light Stone activated, the Evil Spirit energy would erode the wearer's consciousness. The longer one wore it, the faster the assimilation. This idea was beyond the Evil Spirit race; they disdained such methods. It seemed someone else was involved. Who could it be?
Chen Tian turned to look at Yun Shui and approached him. A semi-transparent, semi-black crystal hung from Yun Shui's waist. Chen Tian took down the crystal stone and looked at Yun Shui. This fellow's erosion speed was slow; otherwise, he would have become an Evil Spirit like the girl just now.
"Brother, did you find anything?"
"I found that humans have betrayed us and collaborated with the Evil Spirits, with the goal of turning all players wearing these stones into Evil Spirit puppets."
"How detestable! To think we have protected humanity for thousands of years."
Chen Ling said indignantly. After protecting humanity for millennia, it was humans who had harmed them the most.
"It's normal. You can't judge everything by its appearance; the human heart is unpredictable. You never know what thoughts they might have in the next moment."
"We can only try to understand the situation. We'll ask him when he wakes up where he bought the Light Stone."
Chen Tian felt this was the only way to proceed. Light Stones were sold in most shops, and Chen Tian couldn't investigate them one by one. Moreover, the players here came from all walks of life, and Chen Tian couldn't waste time investigating each one. The young man before him should know where he bought the Light Stone. The Light Stones on the players gathered in Guiming Mountain likely came from the same place and shop.
At night, Chen Tian and Chen Ling found a cave. Chen Tian set up a formation in the cave. He could imagine the situation outside: humans killing humans, Evil Spirit puppets carrying out a single command: kill everyone here.
Based on the girl's actions, Chen Tian easily deduced this.
"Cough, cough! Cough, cough!"
Yun Shui slowly opened his eyes and saw Chen Tian and Chen Ling. He shouted, "Where's my sister? Where's my sister? What did you do to my sister?"
"Calm down first. Your sister is no longer human. Only death is her true resting place!"
Chen Ling sat beside Yun Shui. Yun Shui calmed down and then asked, "You, you know what's going on, don't you? Why did my sister suddenly attack me? Why did she try to kill me? And what did you mean earlier by 'death here is final'?"
"I don't want to answer you. Look for yourself, but you must promise not to speak of what you see after you've seen it."
Chen Tian's expression became serious. Regarding the truth of the Epoch of Time, Chen Tian hoped fewer people would know. The time was not yet right; revealing it now would lead to Chen Tian and his group being ostracized by the world.
"I promise."
Yun Shui gritted his teeth and spoke. Chen Tian placed a finger on Yun Shui's forehead. Memories flooded into his mind: the scene of the Divine Realm opening, the invasion of the Evil Spirits, the decomposition and composition of the world, and finally, the process and experience of it becoming a game world. These revelations were eye-opening to Yun Shui, leaving him unable to move, stunned.
It turned out the Epoch of Time was not just a game, but a world, a game to save the world.