You made all the streamers on the internet kneel before you when you were asked to make a game.

"The star hasn't arrived yet."

Lu Zhixing looked at the faces below the stage, some ferocious, some numb, some greedy, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He raised the token high in his hand, and then shouted with all his might!

"Without my order, who dares to step onto the stage!"

"Without my order, who dares to presume to call themselves a star!"

"I'm in charge of this play today!"

"Give it to me, all of you, and wait!"

The sound was like thunder, exploding in the deathly silent theater.

His words were completely out of the script.

The martial arts performer on stage froze.

The thousands of ghosts and monsters below the stage were all stunned.

Their chaotic thinking seemed unable to comprehend this sudden change.

The greedy smile on the paper shop owner's face froze.

The entire theater was eerily silent.

This living person, about to become a paper doll, actually wants to make his own rules!

At the same time, the token suddenly burst into a dazzling red light.

A massive surge of resentment erupted from the token like a volcanic eruption.

Amidst the red light, a slender figure dressed in a blue theatrical costume slowly emerged.

The two eerie black buttons were still sewn onto her eye sockets.

Her face was adorned with exquisite makeup, yet it couldn't conceal the deep-seated sorrow within her.

It was Qingyi Xiaodie from the Hundred Ghosts Opera Troupe who was made into a tool for a ghost marriage in the Chen family mansion, and was finally able to "break free" with the help of Lu Zhixing!

At this moment, she is no longer the pitiful earthbound spirit trapped in a corner, but the master of the Hundred Ghosts Opera Troupe!

She is the only star on this underworld stage!

Xiaodie's figure slowly descended from the void and landed gracefully on the stage.

The moment she appeared, the once arrogant and ruthless martial arts performer trembled like a mouse before a cat, nearly dropping his spear and retreating repeatedly.

Finally, with a "thump," he knelt down on the ground, trembling.

The thousands of ghostly audience members below the stage were even more stunned.

Just a moment ago they were greedily preparing to rush up and devour the souls, but now they were all frozen in place.

Although the play did not follow the script, the young actress Xiaodie on stage was the script itself, and who would dare to say otherwise?

The paper shop owner was so terrified that he jumped off the chair without thinking and crawled under it in the darkest corner, not daring to show his head.

He never expected this.

This seemingly frail scholar actually has such a terrifying existence behind him, one that even he dares not provoke!

Xiaodie ignored the reactions from the audience.

Her button-stitched eye sockets turned to Lu Zhixing.

Then she bowed gracefully to him.

No words were spoken.

But this bow contained all the gratitude.

She then turned around, facing the silent "audience" below the stage, and parted her lips slightly.

"The vibrant colors of spring have faded, leaving only broken wells and crumbling walls..."

The poignant yet melodious singing voice instantly resounded throughout the entire theater.

Her voice seemed to possess a magical power, instantly suppressing all the gloom and distracting thoughts in the theater.

The ghostly audience members below the stage fell silent the moment they heard the song.

They are no longer restless, no longer greedy.

Instead, like the most loyal theatergoers, they quietly immersed themselves in this belated performance of "The Peony Pavilion".

After the song ended, Xiaodie bowed deeply to Lu Zhixing once again.

"Thank you, young master, for setting up the stage for Xiaodie."

Her voice was no longer that hollow operatic style, but had returned to the clear, natural tone of a young girl.

"This matter is settled, young master, please."

Xiaodie waved her water sleeves.

Lu Zhixing's body was then lifted up by a gentle force and slowly lowered back down from the stage.

He landed steadily on the ground, glanced at his hand that had stopped turning into a paper doll, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Lu Zhixing turned to look at the paper shop owner who was hiding under the chair, still trembling.

"Boss."

"Now can we talk about my 'debt'?"

The paper shop owner crawled out from under the chair, trembling, his face plastered with a fawning smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Sir! You are the sir!"

"What debt? What are you talking about!"

"I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness. I offended you and...and that sir. I deserve to die!"

As he spoke, he slapped himself twice hard across the face.

"To make amends, I...I..."

As he spoke, the paper shop owner seemed to remember something and quickly took out a neatly folded black funeral garment embroidered with auspicious and longevity patterns in gold thread from his pocket, and respectfully handed it to Lu Zhixing.

"This...this is the best 'goods' in our shop, high-grade paper armor, impervious to water and fire, and invulnerable to swords and spears!"

"You...you must accept it!"

Lu Zhixing's lips twitched as he looked at the set of funeral clothes.

Even though I know it's a good thing.

But wearing this thing always feels a bit strange.

But since they were already playing underworld games, why would Lu Zhixing be pretentious?

After thanking him, Lu Zhixing accepted the funeral clothes and put them on in front of the boss.

[Ding! You have equipped special armor: Dark Ink Silk Robe]

[Quality: High-grade paper armor]

[Effect 1: Immune to water and fire, greatly increasing defense against physical and yin-type attacks.]

[Effect 2: Lifeless and Deadly. After equipping this, you will be mistaken for one of their own by most low-level ghosts, who will then ignore your presence.]

[Negative Effect: Deathly Aura Corrosion. Wearing this shroud will continuously expose you to deathly aura; every 10 minutes, your sanity will decrease by 1 point. When your sanity becomes too low, you will gradually develop the psychological suggestion that "I am already a dead person."]

[WARNING: Use with caution and do not wear for extended periods.]

The system notification popped up in his field of vision, and Lu Zhixing understood immediately.

Sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

This powerful armor comes at the cost of corrupting the wearer's mind.

"I'm already a dead man..."

Lu Zhixing silently recited this mental suggestion, and the peaceful and tranquil feeling of lying in a coffin even uncontrollably appeared in his mind.

He immediately shook his head, banishing the strange thought from his mind.

Just then, Xiao Die, the actress in green on the stage, had finished "reorganizing" the entire theater.

Those previously restless audience members now sat quietly in their seats, as if they had become part of the theater.

The once arrogant and domineering martial arts performer had become Xiaodie's follower, standing by with his hands at his sides, not daring to breathe loudly.

This place has become the new territory of the Hundred Ghosts Opera Troupe.

Xiao Die's figure flashed, appearing silently in front of Lu Zhixing.

"Young Master." Xiao Die bowed to Lu Zhixing again, her voice clear and melodious.

"Xiaodie has something to tell you."