Chapter 264 - 174: Catastrophe of the Gods (Part 1)_1
The moment the Gods awoke, They fell into contemplation.
Drifting within the boundless Shadows, They could sense the Shadows embracing Their bodies, allowing Them to draw vast amounts of knowledge from within the Shadows.
They faintly remembered that They were once Gods who, during Their travels and adventures beyond Their own realm, discovered some substances infused with formidable power.
This material was incredibly stable, yet upon opening it slightly, They found it could nearly sever anything.
They handed these substances over to Their Priests, who began to analyze these things… and then…
Then, the Priests dared a certain method, which resulted in an explosion so great it made the whole Heavenly Tao network tremble for a while.
What happened after that?
The Shadows snatched Them along with that part of the substance, and They sank deep into the Shadows. They still remembered Their own name, but They felt completely surrendered to the Shadows.
They were no longer Gods but had become an Evil God, fully transformed and devoted to the Shadows.
The Shadows morphed into their garments, enrobing Their graceful figure with attire as resplendent as the stars, giving Them an allure that was both dangerous and fatal.
Demonic Qi brought Them new abilities, further enhancing Their original powers, making Them feel omnipotent.
They were still Them, yet They were no longer Them.
Behind Them, numerous planets transformed at Their will and disciples consumed by the Shadows stepped out from within.
They resembled ordinary flora and fauna but could be born infinitely from the Shadows; their information already recorded by the Shadows. As long as the Shadows existed, they would not perish.
Vast amounts of Shadows began to attempt to infiltrate the Heavenly Tao network, but as they approached, the network’s power would dissolve their essence, preventing them from even getting close to infiltration.
“Be still, my children,” They softly said, “There’s no need to rush, carry this Demonic Qi with you—it can help you sever part of your information, rendering you undetectable by the Heavenly Tao network.”
A low chant of prayers rose, the hidden prayers of the Cultists.
“The Heavenly Tao network was built by the Gods, so if the Gods are sealed, the network will also vanish. While they are absent from the Land of the Gods, find them, and then seal them.”
The Cultists nodded, received the Blessing of the Gods, and once again moved toward the world of the Heavenly Tao network.
No sooner had the first group of Cultists appeared than they were discovered by the first ring of powerhouses who had replaced the Gods to guard this place.
Upon realizing that the Heavenly Tao network did not react to these Cultists, they promptly arrived and unleashed their own power, shattering the heretics.
However, even as they defended relentlessly, wisps and strands of Shadows mixed with Demonic Qi slipped into the world, beginning to carry out their tasks.
The anomaly began swiftly and silently.
The players had not yet noticed this change in layers and were still actively playing the game.
On her second day in the game, Lin Nan was completely immersed.
She had been online intensively since her vacation started, and every time she thought about logging off for a rest, she’d think, “Just one more jump,” taking advantage of the ship’s recovery time to grab a quick bite before continuing to play.
Although the work was repetitive, with each completion her capital grew. When it reached a certain level, she could exchange her ship, causing a qualitative change. A series of small changes accumulated into a major transformation, making the game as addictive as a perpetuum mobile, impossible to put down.
There were no levels or skills in the game, but money or rather faith was omnipotent in this starry space. In a world where Gods existed, as long as you had money, most temples on the planets were the best enhancement zones.
And if one didn’t follow the path of the Gods, technological enhancements were another option. In addition to power armor, various forms of bio-modification technologies were explosively advanced, allowing players to freely modify themselves.
After catching on to the game’s mechanics, Lin Nan was now exhilarated.
Meanwhile, through this game, she truly understood the strengths of the various members of the Fang Cheng Studio.
Boss Fang Cheng, naturally, needed no introduction. A coding guru, he alone hammered out the gameplay and crafted an entire open world—a figure revered enough that Boss Wolong would gladly carry him to and from work, and even act as his chair if needed.
Statistician Xiao Douzi was definitely talented; receiving the game when most of the stats were already set, he nonetheless managed to incorporate an additional set of values. With a new approach, he balanced the entire system and made it incredibly enjoyable to play. To Lin Nan, his work seemed nothing short of miraculous.
Huang Ping was the type whose significant contributions were not outwardly apparent. Although he seemed to do nothing, in reality, he perfected every detail, making adjustments so comfortably that even Boss Wolong would greatly value him.
Beyond that, the members of her own team were also remarkable.
Xu Qingling needed no mention, always giving off a vibe of a hidden boss to be wary of provoking.
Wang Xiaoying was exceptionally adept at processing information. With just a bit of hearsay, she could guess what events might happen soon, preparing in advance to procure goods before reaping a profit from the event.
Tian Xuan seemed like a mascot-type character, but for some reason, the Mukuai in the game would turn pale at her sight, and other players accompanying Mukuai would treat her with utmost respect.
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