Yang Qizhou never expected such a coincidence in this world—the player who almost tricked him out of the 'Hidden God's Clothes' last night turned out to also be a member of the Secret Cultivation Society.
Don't be fooled by how logical Yang Qizhou's analysis seems during a crisis; he's someone who gets carried away easily when taking action.
"If people die, they go to heaven; if not, they live for ages."
"We're all living our first lives, so why the hell should I suffer this grievance?"
The problem is, [Deceit World] is a text-based game with heavy limitations. Players can't even engage in proper typing conversations, let alone track each other down in real life for a face-to-face showdown.
No matter how frustrated he felt, there wasn't much he could do.
But now it's different—they're both members of the Secret Cultivation Society, so there will inevitably be chances to interact.
In the future, he just needs to find an excuse to lure him out. Grievances can be aired, and revenge taken if needed… Yang Qizhou's smile turned cruel.
The Fox's plea for help stirred up many members in the group chat.
[Rabbit (member): "'Original Darkness' Item'? Never heard of it. What is it?"]
[Fox (member): "I don't know either. But it's something extraordinary, so powerful that even high-positioned gods can't ignore it. Whoever holds an 'Original Darkness' Item must be a super big shot. I'm doomed this time; I'm so dead."]
[Secret Cultivator (group owner): "Please refer to the group rules. The Secret Cultivation Society is just a discussion platform and has no obligation to ensure members' safety."]
[Secret Cultivator (group owner): "However, if you're willing to do me a favor, I can offer some assistance to make sure the other party doesn't locate you easily."]
The chubby man's face fluctuated between expressions.
In truth, he had already considered seeking help from the Secret Cultivation Society last night. The 'Secret Cultivator' was known to block investigations from certain organizations, possessed great knowledge of hidden matters, and operated in extreme secrecy. Perhaps there was a way to escape pursuit by the super big shot.
But he also understood that there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Seeking help from the Secret Cultivator meant he would need to pay an equal price in exchange.
When he thought of the cost he might have to bear, the chubby man felt a sting in his chest and hesitated, delaying until now.
But the fact remained that the 'Original Darkness' Item was a treasure so awe-inspiring that even high-level gods took notice. The 'Rest Angel' had directly claimed they weren't qualified to meddle in such matters.
As the holder of the 'Original Darkness' Item, it was obvious without guessing that the player in question had to be terrifyingly formidable, possibly even possessing means to locate him in the real world.
The more the chubby man thought about it, the more fear crept into him. In the end, he made up his mind to seek help from the Secret Cultivation Society.
What a pity he didn't realize—
The holder of the 'Original Darkness' Item was watching silently right there in the group.
[Fox (member): "Group owner, can you guarantee that I definitely won't be discovered by that super big shot?"]
[Secret Cultivator (group owner): "I can't. While various abilities can counter each other, levels, ranks, and symbols are just as important."]
[Secret Cultivator (group owner): "Of course, you can also choose to refuse."]
The chubby man gritted his teeth.
Having reached out for help, he'd already mentally prepared to bleed heavily and trusted the Secret Cultivator's skills. Naturally, he wouldn't decline.
[Fox (member): "Alright, I agree."]
The two didn't continue the topic, clearly taking it to private messages instead.
But Yang Qizhou had no plans to let the matter drop so easily. After all, the 'Hidden God's Clothes' was nearly scammed out of his hands. He was still fuming, and now that the culprit had been identified, of course, he'd dig for more information.
[Honeyjar (member): "Newbie here, offering some tea to the big boss."]
[Honeyjar (member): "Boss, boss, could you share how you managed to offend the super big shot with the 'Original Darkness' Item?"]
[Fox (member): "Sigh, it was greed that got the better of me. Ended up wasting a Special Item for nothing. It's a long story."]
[Fox (member): "Speaking from experience, here's some advice for newbies: never carelessly offend unknown players. You never know if they're a sheep or a wolf in sheep's clothing."]
[Honeyjar (member): "Thanks for the wisdom, big boss!"]
[Honeyjar (member): "Boss, if you're ever in Shanghai, come hang out. Sauna, massage, and a full VIP service, all on me!"]
[Fox (member): "Shanghai, huh? Not too far—I'm in Hang City. But forget meeting up in person; it's inconvenient, especially with the group owner's task sending me off to Capital City soon."]
The chubby man was so flattered by the repeated calls of "big boss" that he momentarily forgot his bearings. But his basic sense of caution prevailed, and he didn't agree to an in-person meeting in Shanghai. What he failed to notice, however, was that he had accidentally revealed his city of residence.
Yang Qizhou, ever keen on observation, began analyzing carefully.
Hang City, huh? That's far… Lacking funds as it is, it's unrealistic to travel hundreds of miles to settle a score. But judging from his words, it seems he might be coming to Capital City soon.
Yang Qizhou smiled even wider. He was already in the Capital City, so all he had to do was wait for this bastard to walk right into his trap.
[Honeyjar (member): "Alright then, boss, next time!"]
[Fox (member): "1"]
What a show-off. He really makes you want to punch him.
Still, this probing effort paid off. Not only did he extract the man's location—though that was secondary—he also gleaned some insights about the Secret Cultivation Society's baseline rules. Clearly, the 'Secret Cultivator' didn't mind members meeting privately. As for why… only she would know.
While Yang Qizhou pondered, a private message pinged—it was from the Secret Cultivator.
[Secret Cultivator: As a welcome benefit for new members, I can answer one question about [Deceit World] for free.]
Free benefits bring joy, and Yang Qizhou wasn't about to let the chance slip. However, what to ask became a tricky decision.
He had too many questions on his mind right now.
What exactly is the 'Original Darkness' Item?
The newcomer's guidelines mentioned the 'Old Sacrifice.' What does that mean?
What happens if you recite a Hidden Entity's full name from the Old Earth in reality?
What does it mean when it warns that frequently using items in the real world could have unfortunate repercussions?
After a moment's thought, Yang Qizhou made his decision and began typing rapidly on his phone.
[Honeyjar: Group owner, I'd like to know—when it says using items in reality frequently will unleash something bad, what does that mean specifically?]
This question had been carefully deliberated over. Yang Qizhou hadn't interacted with other players much during his short stint in [Deceit World]. While he wanted to avoid conflict, it was almost inevitable to use items if a dispute arose, much like when the Deceit Bureau cornered Wang Chuan.
He didn't mind facing the consequences, but he needed to know what to expect.
The reply came quickly.
[Secret Cultivator: Items can come to life. They might turn into ancient objects, or worse, transform into something even more horrifying—essentially akin to opening Pandora's box and unleashing a devastating calamity. As for the exact reasons, even I'm not sure.]
"Items can come to life?"
Yang Qizhou suddenly felt a chill. He possessed no small number of items—[Ancient God Fire Lamp], [Stone of Truth], [Shepherd Dog Field Key], [Hidden God's Clothes], and more...
…
…
Elsewhere, in the top floor of a luxurious skyscraper.
The 'Secret Cultivator' lay lazily on a rocking chair. Her long legs were fair and smooth, her slender waist as delicate as a willow. The gemstones on her earrings and necklace sparkled like stars, her features exquisite, her eyes pure—a fusion of angelic beauty and devilish allure.
At this moment, she was fiddling with a tablet, a faint, enigmatic smile curling at the edge of her lips.
"Hah, this new member is interesting. While others are preoccupied with maximizing gains in the game, he, of all things, asks about the real-world consequences of overusing items."
"Let's check his identity."
The 'Secret Cultivator' retrieved a mirror from somewhere. Its frame was azure, carved with angels. As time passed, ripples spread across its reflective surface like water.
Moments later,
The mirror reflected the 'Secret Cultivator's' breathtaking face. Nothing else.
The 'Secret Cultivator' abruptly sat upright.
"What? The 'Attiles' Mirror' actually failed? How is this possible?"