Time was insufficient to fully bribe all factions and individuals. Now, the situation was spiraling out of control, reaching the capital. The high-level executives of CangQiong Games temporarily lost their composure. Instinctively, they turned to the calm female emperor for advice: “What should we do now?”
“This matter is of utmost importance. The capital will definitely not remain idle. Once official military forces are deployed, we won’t be able to resist. Therefore, don’t harbor any illusions of luck. We must prepare for the worst.”
“I, along with others, will return first to the world within the fragments. You must destroy that special device, transfer the fragments and related data to a safe location, hide yourselves and escape. Once the situation settles, we won’t need large-scale games to collect data anymore. We can secretly recreate that special device and restart the descent, quietly controlling the upper echelons.” The empress spoke calmly.
She had ascended the throne in her childhood, growing up amidst a group of watchful wolves. Step by step, she had become a Grandmaster, her resilient and calm mind forged through countless perilous situations.
The high-level executives of CangQiong Games changed expressions repeatedly before finally gritting their teeth and nodding: “Fine!”
…
At this moment, near the collapsed building, the onlookers gradually regained their composure. They stared at the billowing smoke and dust—some terrified and panicked, others inexplicably exhilarated. Yet, as modern individuals, they all shared a favorite way to vent their emotions: the internet!
Within just a few breaths, the internet exploded. One similar headline after another appeared on major forums and websites:
“Am I dreaming? Game BOSS crosses over into reality! The female emperor video is real!”
“True story! The Patriarch of CangTian Sect descends, tearing down the building with bare hands!”
“Video evidence confirms it: a Grandmaster has truly arrived!”
“Is this world still real?”
“Satellite surveillance can prove it. I really saw the Patriarch of CangTian Sect!”
“So handsome! Beyond human limits, the ultimate beauty!”
“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it! Help me confirm if my eyes are deceiving me.”
Shock, panic, confusion, bewilderment, and hidden excitement spread wildly online. Every post and news article was accompanied by videos recorded from different personal terminals, showing various angles: the Patriarch of CangTian Sect, dressed in a green robe, kneeling on one knee, clenching his right fist and punching out, surrounded by dazzling lightning, spectacular and gorgeous. Immediately afterward, cracks appeared on the building, windows shattered one by one, glass breaking into small round pieces, then the entire structure collapsed with a thunderous roar, raising clouds of dust.
There was no explosion sound, no spreading shockwaves, no dazzling flames. The building’s framework seemed completely rotten, unable to support itself any longer.
Witnesses’ madness stunned others online. Some pretended to be calm: “Simultaneously triggering all water armies at the same node to create a near-real atmosphere—truly skillful means.” “The movie-like production leaves no trace. It seems CangQiong Games has truly overcome current technological barriers.”
Others wavered, wandering between posts, watching different videos of the same event, leaving comments like: “Is it true?” “If it’s a lie, I’m your grandson.” “Dare you swear castration on it?”
Those who had followed NanGong Chong’s series of posts since last night—”Ning Caichen is adorable,” “Love Nie Xiaoqian the most,” and “Sleeping rough in the wind and dew”—stared blankly at their computer screens, unable to calm down, unsure how to respond.
This can’t be real, can it?
The sequence of events was clear. Destroying a building in broad daylight would definitely leave images on surveillance satellites. What’s real can’t be disguised, and what’s fake can’t become real!
Having gone this far, if it’s later exposed as a publicity stunt, CangQiong Games would provoke public outrage, suffering significant losses.
Is it really possible? Can a game BOSS emerge from the game into reality?
This is more sci-fi than science fiction! More dreamlike than dreams!
One can’t casually mock those seeking help online anymore!
Amidst the swirling dust, everyone lost sight of Meng Qi’s trail, as if a dragon had concealed its form.
“Mr. Dong Yuan,” suddenly, a dignified man on the video call regained his senses and spoke.
Dong Yuan startled slightly, instinctively responding with utmost reverence: “What orders do you have, sir?”
“I’ve had my secretary review nearby satellite surveillance. You didn’t lie or go mad. Next, I’ll use this video to request the Senate to deploy military forces. You cooperate with relevant departments to suppress online news, classify this incident as malicious promotion by CangQiong Games, prevent public panic, and keep other countries unaware. For this reason, CangQiong Games will face severe punishment.” The gentleman orderly issued instructions, “Treat the two citizens with the Patriarch of CangTian Sect well, avoid violence. Secret departments will later question them for information.”
“Yes, sir!” Dong Yuan stood straight immediately.
…
Outside CangQiong Games, space rippled. Several hundred-meter-high metal warships slowly emerged through phase shifting, surrounding the building from all directions. Antimatter cannons stood like forests. At the slightest movement inside, it would face total annihilation.
Squadrons of soldiers descended on bio-alloy mantises from the warships, splitting and infiltrating in tactical formations, cautiously rushing into the building, destroying various devices and short-circuiting several main power lines. Remaining employees of CangQiong Company stared blankly, like zombies, offering no resistance, obediently being captured.
As a squad entered the elevator, a transparent figure suddenly flashed out, silently latching onto one soldier—none other than Meng Qi!
After presenting the evidence, he dissipated his electrical energy and concealed himself in his primordial spirit form near Cangqiong Games, poised to possess someone at any moment. By following the government troops to investigate, he could avoid danger, uncover more information, and locate that mysterious fragment.
The higher they went, the quieter it became—either deserted or littered with corpses. Many devices were deliberately destroyed, irreparable.
Soldiers quickened their pace, rapidly bypassing the first thirty-two floors, reaching the final level.
Here, everything was unrecognizable, as if a high-yield bomb had exploded. According to Wu Youming’s description, the place originally housing the special device and mysterious fragment was now empty, leaving only broken walls and ruins.
“They transferred everything in advance…” Meng Qi couldn’t help but secretly sigh at their decisiveness, acting without hesitation.
As soldiers reported their findings, they continued searching. Suddenly, someone discovered a hidden door.
After careful attempts, they opened the secret door, revealing a room filled entirely with ashes. Bloodstains stained the walls, fresh and gruesome, forming a line of text:
“Your head remains temporarily. Wait for a dark and stormy night—I shall come to claim it!”
A sinister, bloody, filthy feeling surged forth. Meng Qi’s mind flashed:
“It’s indeed the Old Demon of Black Mountain!”
Ever since learning the game’s name was “Old Demon of Black Mountain,” he had suspected!
Moreover, this sentence was directed at him, almost like a challenge letter!
…
Two days later, NanGong Chong finally exited MiTian News Company, his expression dazed, bearing lingering sadness and relief.
He mourned his uncle reaching his limit and declaring death. Yet he felt relieved to finally escape this ordeal, no longer fearing enslavement by the game BOSS or national pursuit.
After a series of rigorous interrogations, intelligence officers confirmed NanGong Chong as a victim. The Ten-Year Collector’s Edition game came from his uncle. The BOSS’s crossover into reality was beyond his comprehension, nor did he assist it. Later, he was coerced, possessing few secrets. Thus, after signing a confidentiality agreement, he was released.
Stepping onto the street, NanGong Chong felt as if floating, these days’ experiences thrilling and bizarre, unprecedented dangers and tensions, yet equally unprecedented excitement and intensity—an unforgettable memory etched for life.
“He should have returned to the Old Demon of Black Mountain’s world…” NanGong Chong mused naturally.
The past few days of interrogation left him exhausted, so he chose an outdoor café, ordering a cup of coffee.
“May I sit here?” someone asked.
Weakly, NanGong Chong replied, “Aren’t there many seats over there?”
Before his words faded, he suddenly realized how familiar this voice was!
Suddenly lifting his head, NanGong Chong saw a familiar face—youthful, handsome, slightly aged, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, smiling at the corner of his mouth.
“Se… Senior, you’re still here…” A sense of recurring nightmare surged within NanGong Chong.
Meng Qi smiled: “I was supposed to return, but remembering a promise to you, I waited two days.”
“What… what promise?” NanGong Chong himself had forgotten.
Meng Qi’s expression turned serious: “Watch carefully.”
He sat upright, his body suddenly stretching in different directions, creating various residual shadows displaying different movements—either like a giant roc spreading its wings or lotus blossoms from his hands. Finally, the shadows converged into one, forming a Buddha-like figure. With a single palm strike to NanGong Chong’s forehead, numerous texts surged into his mind.
NanGong Chong blinked: “Martial arts?”
Meng Qi nodded gently: “Techniques to help you open the Nine Orifices. Even if the laws of heaven and earth differ, the principle remains unchanged: the human body is a Taiji, and the universe is also a Taiji. Adjust your inner world to align with local rules. In the future, you may still have chances to step into the Outer Realm.”
Having reached his limit in the “No Regrets at the Doorway,” Meng Qi could no longer make significant adjustments to his inner landscape. He could only hope to return to simplicity in the future, touching the Great Dao, and no longer be bound by rules.
Recalling the movements he’d seen and the texts received, NanGong Chong quickly became excited. Yet he had a question: “Senior, why does this martial art seem somewhat Buddhist?”
“You have a restless nature; precisely why you need Buddhist techniques to calm your mind. I specially created it for you.” Meng Qi nodded.
“If I don’t castrate myself, I become a monk…” NanGong Chong’s lips twitched.
“Alright, I must return now.” Meng Qi sat on the chair, electric lights slowly dispersing, merging into the void.
Seeing this, NanGong Chong exhaled deeply, thinking secretly: “They say CangQiong Games’ device was destroyed. Senior seems unable to descend again. I won’t have to live in fear anymore.”
At this moment, Meng Qi’s voice echoed in his ear again: “Help this old man gather clues about the mysterious fragments.”
“Eh?” NanGong Chong was stunned.
“This old man will come again.” Meng Qi’s voice lingered.
Unlike the Empress and others, since a connection had been established—through the Dao’s Seal and the entanglement of karma—it became possible to project his primordial spirit here.
NanGong Chong’s mouth hung slightly open, his eyes vacant and bewildered: “Senior, you’re at it again…”
“Indeed. To avoid drawing attention, I’ll reluctantly become your accompanying old grandpa!” Meng Qi’s voice gradually faded.
“Accompanying old grandpa…” A sudden urge to cry surged within NanGong Chong.
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