Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

Chapter 212: Chapter 205: Don’t Tell Me You’re Someone’s Illegitimate Son?

They even complained about the reused NPC models and rigid behavioral logic. It was seriously affecting the game experience!!!

After all that time updating, all it did was teach them to mutter pleasantries to themselves?

Just as he was secretly pondering this, the "Mr. Qian" on the stage seemed to notice their arrival and stood up.

He raised his hand, his five fingers making the motion of stroking a beard, even though his chin was currently bare.

Then, Qian Buyu’s gaze swept over the people below.

"Mm, it seems all the disciples participating in this year’s sect tournament have arrived."

The few "Mr. Qians" beside him also spoke up.

"Yes, yes, the Sect Leader is wise."

"Every one of them looks vigorous. They must have made thorough preparations."

Su Ling’er looked at Mr. Qian, who stood before her as a flesh-and-blood puppet, used by the true master of this demonic sect for their own twisted play.

She felt a chill climb up her throat.

’To think Mr. Qian was turned into a flesh-and-blood puppet only to be toyed with like this... sigh...’

’And why do I keep getting... a bad feeling about this...?’

But regardless, Su Ling’er followed the crowd and stepped onto the grounds of the martial arts arena.

A fighting stage slowly rose, occupying the center of the square. It was ring-shaped, surrounded by spectator stands that could seat ten thousand people.

The very presence of the fighting stage seemed to suppress the surrounding light and airflow.

This gave the crowd a better viewing experience and a more intense sense of the atmosphere.

Su Ling’er raised her head.

She saw that some Guixi Sect disciples had already taken their seats in the white jade spectator stands.

Some were gathered together, cracking open some kind of nuts and eating the kernels.

Some sat in a circle, fanning out talisman-paper cards and playing a game of Three-X Kill.

Still others had set up braziers next to their seats. Greenish smoke rose from the furnaces, and the aroma of roasting meat and grease began to fill the air.

’This... This is a demonic sect’s tournament?’

’Why does it feel just like a mortal temple fair?’

’And are you people here to watch a tournament or to have a cookout?! Hey!’

These spectating disciples were only a portion of the sect’s members.

Some players weren’t online at the moment. They were waiting for the [Guixi Secret Realm] to officially open, at which point they would all log on together to contribute their strength to the grand cause of the sect’s promotion.

At that moment, a sound suddenly rang out.

It came from a Dharma Bell, the vibrations of its toll spreading to every corner of the martial arts arena.

"DONG—!"

On the high platform, the "Mr. Qian" who had been sitting quietly began to move.

He rose from his seat, stepped forward, and looked down at the undercover disciples below.

"The Great Dao is vast, and time flies like a shuttle."

"Since its founding, my Guixi Sect has always upheld the legacy of the ancient immortal way, taking the tempering of one’s Dao heart and the shattering of illusions as its foundation."

"Today, I have summoned you all not for the sake of competition or for empty fame and fleeting fortune."

"This tournament is for self-reflection, for passing on our legacy, and for mutual encouragement."

"We now have fifteen new disciples, all of whom have malleable Dao hearts.

However, the path to immortality is long, and resources are limited. The sect must choose the best among you to support.

Thus, we hold this competition to select the top four to enter the [Guixi Secret Realm] and seek ancient opportunities."

"You must all understand, this competition is not a battle to the death.

The victors should guard against arrogance and rashness; the defeated need not lose heart.

To observe others is to observe oneself.

Seeing your own shortcomings in the successes and failures of others—that is the true meaning of this tournament.

All matches must end with a light touch. You are forbidden from harming the lives of your fellow disciples. Violators will be punished severely and without mercy!"

The content of this speech concerned the Dao heart, the sect’s legacy, and its true purpose.

As the words fell on Su Ling’er’s ears, her heart clenched violently, and a roar filled her mind.

’A light touch?’

’Forbidden from harming fellow disciples?!’

’No, are you people serious?!’

’You’re a demonic sect where people hack each other to pieces for fun and casually throw their fellow disciples into furnaces as materials! And now, during the sect tournament, you’re going to start preaching about "a light touch"?!’

’This is completely out of character for you!’

The little figure in her mind was already frantically shaking Mr. Qian’s shoulders!

’Look at the things you people do on a daily basis!’

’You kill people as casually as squashing an ant! Haven’t you gotten things completely backward?! Hey!’

’This is too unreasonable! There must be a trap!’

While everyone was still unsettled, a figure moved out from beside "Mr. Qian."

The person was dressed in black robes. With a single step, he crossed the distance and stood on the high platform.

This person was none other than the Eldest Brother, Lin Qingfeng.

As the guild leader, and more importantly, as the future de facto leader of the sect, how could he not appear before the crowd to speak at a time like this, with the Tier 2 Sect Promotion quest about to begin?

But his next action made Su Ling’er’s jaw drop.

Lin Qingfeng walked up and raised a hand to pat "Mr. Qian" on the shoulder.

"Not a bad speech just now! I really liked what you had to say!"

There was no hesitation in his movement.

Su Ling’er: "!!!"

In that instant, everything in her field of vision seemed to lose all connection to reality.

The platform, the figures, the sounds—they all broke down into incomprehensible fragments.

’Hey, hey, hey!’

’Eldest Brother, what are you doing?!’

’That’s the Sect Leader!’

’He may be a puppet, but he’s still the Sect Leader!’

’How dare you, a mere Eldest Brother, pat the Sect Leader on the shoulder?!’

’Aren’t you afraid?!’

’Aren’t you afraid that Mr. Qian, the man who can use the Law of Heaven and Earth, will smack you into a bloody pulp with a single slap?!’

’Aren’t you afraid that the ultimate evil mastermind pulling all the strings will ’cleanse the sect’ by killing you on the spot for your transgression?!’

’Or... or... are you actually that mastermind’s illegitimate son?!’

’Is that why you’re so brazen and fearless?!’

In an instant, Su Ling’er’s mind had already concocted a sprawling, ten-thousand-word soap opera of bitter rivalries and power struggles within a powerful sect.

Lin Qingfeng turned around, his gaze sweeping over all the disciples below the platform.

An invisible spiritual pressure radiated out from him, causing the very air to stagnate.

"Little Qian... Ahem, I mean, what Mr. Qian said is absolutely right."

"The path of cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream: if you do not advance, you will be swept back."

"The sword in your hand is the Dao in your heart. Today’s tournament is the moment for you to reveal your ’Dao’ to the sect, and to the heavens and the earth!"

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"This... uh, Seven-Branch... uh... Four-Branch Tournament..."

"No, that’s not right. There are fifteen people... should we call it the Fifteen-Branch Tournament? Ugh, that sounds awful. Whatever, it’s not important!"

Standing below the stage, Su Ling’er watched the Eldest Brother clearly stumble over his words and then awkwardly force his way through, feeling completely speechless.

’Hey, hey, hey! Eldest Brother!’

’Shouldn’t you write a draft of your speech before you get on stage?!’

’From the way you’re stammering, it’s obvious you’re just making this up as you go, aren’t you?!’

’Try to be a little more professional, would you!’

Before Su Ling’er could even finish her thought, a sudden change occurred in the arena!