With Cultivation Simulator in a Chaotic World-Chapter 68: Deadlock

"I was exceptionally gifted and stepped into the realm of Martial Arts Hall Master by the age of thirty."

"At forty-two, I took over the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall from my master."

"In forty years, under my leadership, the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall evolved from an unknown third-rate martial arts hall to one well-known on the list."

"In the past, the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall was filled with strong men, and disciples came in droves every year."

"I even had confidence that I could make the hall one of the top three in Evergreen City."

"Ten years ago, I had a strange encounter, igniting the Heart Lamp, gaining Mana, and accidentally became a so-called Immortal Master..."

"On the third day, I discovered the Shadow Lock Chain on my body."

Qian Feng’s mouth showed a hint of mockery.

It was unclear whether he was mocking his own futile efforts or Jiang Ming’s whimsical ideas.

"At that time, I was desperately searching for ways, until I discovered that everyone in the city ignored my warnings."

"I couldn’t even send messages to the outside world..."

"Later, I found out that they... were no longer human, that everyone in this city was no longer human... they were puppets wearing human skin."

"Even I slowly started being assimilated, becoming a puppet without self-awareness."

"Until I encountered malevolent spirits wandering in Evergreen City, they, instead, were unaffected."

"I was left with only one last thought."

"Survive!"

"You will feel the sensation of helplessly watching everything you own being taken by another ’you’."

"For that, I extinguished the Heart Lamp and embraced darkness."

"I devoured the apprentice I personally trained, devoured the junior who rose with me..."

"I even devoured my son, mouthful by mouthful..."

"As long as I became strong enough, I could break free from the Shadow Lock Chain, leave this place, escape this torment!"

"For this, I devoured everyone in the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall that I developed!"

"Because they were all already dead."

"However, they will leave here with me!"

"Until I realized that those gradually assimilated were becoming less useful, and I began searching for new blood food."

"Those outsiders not yet assimilated are the best resources!"

Jiang Ming understood why Qian Feng so easily took him in back then.

He also understood where the experts of the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall went and why the hall declined.

Qian Feng looked at Jiang Ming’s expression with a kind smile.

"That’s right, I had the same thought when I took you in, but I didn’t expect... Well, it’s good to have someone accompany me."

"Come on, play a game of chess with me."

Qian Feng stood up the chessboard again, patiently arranging the pieces.

Jiang Ming gradually exhaled a breath of stale air.

If at the beginning, Qian Feng could justify devouring the people in the hall because they were no longer human.

But later, when he consumed outsiders, it had become indefensible.

"Senior, are the people in the city all affected, assimilated as you said?"

Jiang Ming did not attack Qian Feng for becoming a malevolent spirit that devours humans.

If standing in his shoes, Jiang Ming was unsure what choices he would make.

Now, Qian Feng was the only ’person’ he encountered who knew the truth about Evergreen City.

Zhu Li might count as half, but Jiang Ming wouldn’t go back to talk to it either.

Jiang Ming now understood very little.

"As long as, in concept, you are considered a person of Evergreen City, you will be assimilated."

Qian Feng smiled at Jiang Ming, as if just offering guidance to a junior.

"As long as you think, and others also think you are a person of Evergreen City, you will be assimilated."

"Of course, if you ignite the Heart Lamp in Evergreen City, it will surely not let you go."

"Even I don’t know what this power is."

"Once assimilated, it means death."

"In this city, there’s no more living, no, I mean, there will soon be no more living."

Jiang Ming looked at Qian Feng and continued to ask, "What about the City Lord’s Mansion? What about Chaofeng Pavilion? The Immortal Masters guarding Evergreen City?"

Qian Feng let out a soft scoff, saying, "In Evergreen City, there are three Immortal Masters guarding."

"One is the Supreme of the Gong Family, Evergreen City’s premier family."

"Two are from the City Lord’s Mansion, one from Chaofeng Pavilion, another from the City Lord’s Mansion itself."

"The legacy of the Great Lii is profound; now they have withdrawn into the City Lord’s Mansion for self-rejuvenation, but they can only live in dreams for a lifetime."

"The old man of the Gong Family is dead, perishing alongside a malevolent spirit."

"You are probably the only Immortal Master left in Evergreen City."

"Why can’t information be transmitted to the outside world?"

"How do I know? If I could transmit information, would things be like this now?"

"Ten years ago... What exactly happened ten years ago?"

Bai Liu was ten years ago, the Hong Mansion incident was ten years ago, and even Qian Feng discovered the anomaly ten years ago.

"How would I know what happened ten years ago?"

"You know nothing?"

"If you truly wish to know something, you might as well go to Chaofeng Pavilion, which has a substantial amount of documentation, possibly recording traces of what happened ten years ago."

"With your strength, surely you have already entered Chaofeng Pavilion."

"The Forbidden Techniques inside Chaofeng Pavilion are formidable; even I dare not go."

Qian Feng revealed his true purpose.

This also explains why, despite his extremely unstable mental state, he could speak so much with Jiang Ming.

Qian Feng craved to know the truth of this disaster, which was his last obsession before fully turning malevolent.

"Is the bizarre rule of assimilation the only anomaly in Evergreen City? Are there other monsters? Who is this ’it’ you mentioned?"

"No, the city is already dead, so how would there be danger? The only danger is from outsiders and malevolent spirits."

"And..." Jiang Ming fixed his gaze on Qian Feng.

"If I don’t clarify the situation, I won’t go to Chaofeng Pavilion."

Qian Feng stroked his long beard as if suddenly remembering something, and said, "Ah, you must have encountered the bizarre rules of role-playing just recently."

"In Evergreen City, remember to continue playing your role. The ’It’ I mentioned is an awareness I vaguely sensed."

"It is observing us; even if you understand the truth, you must continue to play your original role."

"It seems to have noticed my anomaly and started interfering with disrupting the role I was playing."

Jiang Ming recalled how various martial arts halls and families targeted the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall.

"As long as you follow the rules of role-playing, there won’t be any threats. With me around, it won’t easily fix its gaze on you."

Qian Feng caressed his long brows, speaking with a calm expression.

"Anything? As long as it conforms to the logic of role-playing rules?"

"Yes."

"Good!"

Jiang Ming suddenly stood up.

He pointed at the chessboard, saying, "What does a deadlock matter? As long as there’s enough strength to overturn the table, the deadlock naturally disappears!"

Qian Feng shook his head.

Strength? Can you just dream it into existence?

"Fine, Hall Master Qian, you took me in, taught me Lion Roar Martial Arts, and showed me kindness."

"I will tell you what I see in Chaofeng Pavilion."

"When I have the capability to break the stalemate, I promise you..."

"I will personally kill you, letting you achieve complete release."

Jiang Ming said this, flicked his robe, and strode out of the small courtyard.

Qian Feng stared blankly at Jiang Ming, then showed a disdainful smile.

"Young... and naive."