Nobody told me this wasn't a game.

Page 186

He looked at Lu Zheng and said, "However, I don't recommend going through the tunnel. The shortcut is indeed a more convenient way to reach the second level, but there are many good rewards on the normal path that we shouldn't miss."

Chapter 192 The Manipulator and Lu Zheng's Justice

The Grand Tournament takes place once every century, with numerous changes to its mechanics, and only five players can complete it at a time, so not many people should know the details.

However, the process of the battle for the Grand Slam title can be seen by outsiders in a "live broadcast" format.

Lu Zheng comes from a large family in the 1024 community. Although he doesn't know about the "hidden path" that Zuo Chang mentioned, he still understands the basic mechanisms.

He removed three torches from the wall and said, “Gentlemen, the fog in the corridor is no ordinary fog. Once we enter it, we will be immediately trapped in a ‘dreamland,’ where we don’t know what’s inside, and it’s said to be extremely dangerous.”

Melville, the descendant of the witch, took the torch and said, "But as long as there is a torch and we are always under its light, we are safe."

Zuo Chang looked at them with great satisfaction.

It's good that my teammates aren't clueless idiots.

The three men, carrying torches, walked out of the room and into the corridor.

Lu Zheng and Zuo Chang stood side by side. Lu Zheng turned his head and asked, "How is Zhen Gong doing lately?"

"That's good. He can eat and sleep well, and he's already at the seventh level of cultivation."

Lu Zheng nodded, not at all surprised: "Zhen Gong's talent is outstanding, even in 1024 she would be outstanding. The seventh realm is not difficult for her."

Zuo Chang turned to look at him and asked, "Only the Grand General can participate in the competition for the crown. Your family's status in 1024 seems to be more prestigious than I imagined."

This time, Lu Zheng shook his head.

He laughed and said, "It was just my luck. It wasn't supposed to be my turn, but I was the only one in the seventh realm among those who were qualified. Our Seven Treasures General of 1024 also took good care of me, so he urgently called me back and temporarily gave me an identity."

The Great General of 1024, isn't that Sakura-kun?

This deer is really popular with women.

The two talked as they walked.

As he walked, Melville sensed something strange—

The corridor beneath your feet isn't a single path; it has many forks.

At every fork in the road, the man named Zuo Chang would either point the way with his hand or immediately choose a direction and lead the way the entire way.

Does he know the way?

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt your pleasant conversation."

After Zuo Chang once again made a decisive left turn, Melville finally lost his patience.

She took two steps forward and looked at Zuo Chang: "Commoner, do you know where we are headed right now?"

Zuo Chang nodded: "I know."

"You know? Are you sure you didn't just wander around?"

"The path I've chosen is the most cost-effective one. If you have a better solution, you can bring it up."

"……ha!"

Zuo Chang's confidence was overflowing.

His self-righteousness made Melville seem unreasonable.

Her mind was blank, her understanding of the Grand Prix was superficial, and she certainly didn't know which path was the "most cost-effective" or how to reach the second level.

After a moment's hesitation, she could only say, "You'd better be really sure."

The three continued forward, and the surrounding fog gradually thinned, revealing a dead end before them.

Although it's a dead end, it's not completely empty.

A grayish-white shrine stood in the windowpane of the far wall, with two pale candles burning with green flames on either side of it.

"This is... 'Lord Hookfinger'?"

Lu Zheng looked at the severed finger enshrined in the shrine and revealed its true nature.

Melville had obviously heard of Lord Hookshot, and she widened her eyes in surprise.

Zuo Chang remained calm and nodded, saying, "This is Lord Hook Finger. The Grand Tournament is a highly competitive mode. There are two ways to reach the second level: one is to find the hidden entrance, and the other is to kill—when the number of 'contestants' in the first level drops to a certain level, the survivors will automatically enter the second level."

"The Hook-Finger Shrine is a design born for slaughter."

Now, Zuo Chang and others can make a wish at the shrine and obtain a new identity, "Hook-Finger Apostle".

The Hooked Finger Apostle can freely traverse the mist and sense the location of all other contestants within a certain radius. With these two great privileges protecting them, hunting becomes effortless.

Melville was clearly agitated.

She looked at Zuo Chang and asked, "Zuo—cough cough. Commoner, I've heard that if our actions are approved by Lord Gouzhi, we can obtain a 'crown title,' is that right?"

Zuo Chang shook his head: "Strictly speaking, no."

"no?"

"As long as you become a Hook Apostle, you will definitely get a Grand title, but the quality will vary. If you can gain the approval of Lord Hook, the title will be better."

Ah this.

Unheard-of details.

Melville looked at Zuo Chang and said, "You seem... to be very good at this?"

Zuo Chang remained silent, pretending to be an expert.

He cut his finger and smeared his blood on the shrine. The next instant, the grayish-white shrine emitted a faint glow before disappearing.

A bright red mark appeared inexplicably on Zuo Chang's forehead—

At this moment, he was already the messenger of the hook.

Melville followed suit and also smeared his own blood.

Slightly different from Zuo Chang, her mark was not on her forehead, but rather on her collarbone.

Her snow-white skin and bright red marks were quite a contrast.

It's Lu Zheng's turn...

Lu Zheng did not make a move.

He frowned and asked, "Zuo Chang, is the mission of the Hooked Finger Apostle to eliminate the other participants?"

Zuo Chang looked at him: "It's not elimination, it's killing. Those who die in the battle for the crown will lose their lives."

How can this be allowed!

Lu Zheng slowly shook his head and said, "This is too cruel! We are all here for the Grand rank, and we are competitors. We should be distinguished by our intellect, skills, and courage, not by killing! Grand rank 'Hero'—what kind of hero is one who kills without hesitation?"

Zuo Chang felt there was no problem: "Since you're here for the crown, you should be prepared to die trying. Killing is part of the battle for the crown; if you're unhappy, don't play the game."

Lu Zheng frowned, still feeling uneasy.

As an adventurer, he wouldn't stoop to the level of not fighting back. He just felt...

Taking someone's life rashly when they have no intention of harming you or have committed any significant wrongdoing is not the act of a benevolent or righteous person.

Zuo Chang began, “The advantage of the Hook-Finger Apostle lies in its immunity to the fog and its ability to sense the location of others; its disadvantage lies in the fact that its life is highly tied to the Hook-Finger Shrine. If the shrine in front of us is destroyed, we, as apostles, will also perish. Of the three of us, one or two should have stayed behind specifically to protect the shrine…”

He looked at Lu Zheng.

“Lu Zheng, if you’re unwilling to fight, then stay and guard the shrine. Smear your blood on the shrine, and when I go hunting with this Melville, you’ll get a share of the reward.”

Lu Zheng shook his head again: "I didn't do anything, so I'm not qualified for a reward. You go ahead, I'll help you guard the shrine."

Is Lu Zheng truly ignorant or is he pretending to be stupid?

resignedly.

Zuo Chang could only try to make his point clearer. He spread his hands and said, "Only by becoming the Hook Apostle will you share weal and woe with us, do you understand? I'm not asking you to smear your blood with blood because I want to give you a reward for nothing. I'm mainly afraid that you'll smash the shrine after I leave, and then I'll be gone."

"..."

Lu Zheng and Melville both looked at Zuo Chang with the same gaze they would use to look at a cockroach.

Lu Zheng shook his head and said, "Alright!"

He cut his finger and smeared the blood on the shrine.

Chapter 193 I kind of want to die

The mark appeared on Lu Zheng's hand, and with everything ready, Zuo Chang planned to begin the hunt.

Without saying hello, he immediately headed back the way he came.

Melville paused for a moment, then followed.

in this way--

One minute!

three minutes!

Melville looked at the steady-walking Zuo Chang and was momentarily unsure whether he should say something.