The Art of Self-Detonation, A Cry Against Injustice

The man in White Robe immediately sneered, "What if I don't go?"

The old Zhang Shouyi sighed, looking at him like he was watching a child throwing a tantrum. "Then this old Daoist has no choice but to... ask Heavenly Punishment."

He reached out, raised the Jade Ruyi, and pointed it towards the sky.

The vortex trembled violently.

Seven points of light lit up within it, arranged like the Big Dipper, and then fell one by one!

At this very moment.

Gao Linzhi is controlling his game character.

The man in White Robe was, of course, a new image he had created in disguise.

Fogg, with his cool and aloof demeanor, is the type of person who easily attracts attention.

He observed the other party's methods and realized that the Imperial Observatory indeed had considerable resources.

The opponent is indeed very powerful.

This manipulation of celestial phenomena could easily frighten ordinary people who lack worldly wisdom.

No wonder the people, facing such severe taxation, still dared not rebel.

Because in their minds, the imperial court was a natural disaster.

The ancients would vehemently condemn floods, natural fires, and earthquakes, but they had no way to truly solve them.

Building waterways and riverbanks can only provide temporary relief.

At that moment, seven burning stars, trailing long flames, covered the entire island.

Villages, docks, and places where all people gather.

The air was distorted by the heat, the sea boiled, and fish and shrimp swarmed, all turning belly up.

Everyone was terrified.

Some people ran away in fear, while others knelt down and prayed.

Some people simply close their eyes and await death.

And then the man in White Robe finally moved.

He drew a sword.

This sword came from the headmaster of the Daoist Academy in the Rebel Army Faction.

At the same time, he also purchased temporary enhancement items from the game's in-game store.

It was a long sword that was completely black, without a blade or edge, as if it were just a fire poker.

However, it has undergone at least several enhancements.

These temporary enhancement items were not available before, and they were only available for a limited time during this live stream event.

The key issue is that it cannot be saved.

The validity period is two weeks.

But when he swung his first sword, the world changed color.

"The Sword of Injustice!" the man in White Robe shouted.

The name of a sword reflects its Sword Intent.

A black sword aura shot into the sky, not slashing at the stars, but slashing at the heavens, at the vortex, and at the very rules of this world.

This is a temporary enhancement item: "Sword Intent Enhancement".

Gao Linzhi enhanced it fifty times in one go.

Each item is worth 300,000 gold coins, which is extremely expensive.

The effect is. "It can counter some of the rules of this world and launch special attacks against the Imperial Observatory faction."

It's obvious that the Game System is blatantly biased.

It's similar to how pay-to-win online games release items to help players defeat bosses.

What if you can't beat the boss or other players?

Spend money, upgrade everything, get all sorts of gems, runes, and pets.

Once you've filled up all the slots, you'll naturally be able to win.

If you have fully upgraded equipment and still can't beat the opponent, it means your skills are too poor.

Then just pay someone to practice for you.

The first star was grazed by the sword energy, deviated from its trajectory, and fell into the sea, stirring up a hundred-foot-high wave.

The second one, the third one...

The man in White Robe unleashed seven sword strikes in quick succession, each striking the side of a star precisely and forcing it off its original orbit.

This kind of blow is naturally beyond Gao Linzhi could possibly deliver at this point.

It's fair to say that the Game System gave him a cheat code.

This is practically non-existent; they're not even pretending anymore.

The figure in White Robe moved through the heavenly fire.

His White Robe were charred black, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his swordplay only intensified.

After all, with a physique of 2000 attributes, it's impossible to avoid injury when facing such a natural disaster.

However, Gao Linzhi also consumed a large amount of pills, allowing his body to recover rapidly.

"Excellent swordsmanship." At this moment, the old Zhang Shouyi exclaimed, "In the past hundred years, you are the first person to be able to withstand the 'Big Dipper Exorcism Array.' It's a pity..."

He tapped the Jade Ruyi lightly again.

The seventh star suddenly accelerated.

It was no longer falling towards the island, but towards the man in White Robe himself.

It exploded above his head, not with flames, but with countless tiny needles of light, each containing the power of annihilation.

The man in White Robe once again parried with his sword.

Black sword energy rapidly emerged, forming a barrier. When the light needles struck it, they produced a loud, thud like raindrops hitting banana leaves.

He managed to block it for a moment.

But the barrier is shrinking.

Those needles of light were endless, like the entire starry sky being poured down.

"No matter how strong your martial arts are, you are still made of flesh and blood," Zhang Shouyi's voice pierced the air, "While this Imperial Observatory... carries out punishments on behalf of Heaven."

The barrier is broken.

The light needle pierced through the White Robe man's right shoulder, left leg, and ribs...

Gao Linzhi was speechless.

The items this game provides are still not powerful enough.

Fogg dropped too much at once.

Sure enough, it's a bit too early to directly confront the bosses of the Imperial Observatory at this stage.

It can usually defeat a mid-level boss, but

The man in White Robe began to fall, like a white bird with broken wings.

It crashed onto the island, creating a crater about ten feet deep.

The black sword was stuck in the edge of the pit, its blade covered in cracks.

"Master!" Shen Qing roared, trying to rush out, but Lin Cangming.

"Don't go...child," Lin Cangming's voice trembled, "That's...that's a battle on another level."

Although he was very courageous, he wouldn't let his child die in vain.

And at this time...

The old Zhang Shouyi slowly descended and landed at the edge of the pit. He looked down at the White Robe man lying in a pool of blood.

"Sir, I greatly admire your Sword Intent," he said sincerely.

"But you must understand, how can an individual contend with the power of heaven and earth? The Imperial Observatory the Zhou Tian Star Dou, regulating yin and yang and the five elements... this..."

He opened his arms, and light gathered again within the vortex:

"--that is the true foundation of a dynasty."

"Therefore, how can we allow you to rebel?"

And at this time...

The live stream chat exploded.

"Wow, the Imperial Observatory is amazing!"

"Damn, we saw how powerful the Imperial Observatory was before, but now they're really showing their true strength."

"It's unbelievable. Other live streams are all about killing, killing, killing."

"It was so much fun all the way, why is it not working out in this live stream?"

Suddenly, the number of viewers dropped sharply.

The number of viewers plummeted from millions to hundreds of thousands.

However, some people objected:

"That's more realistic!"

"The other live streams are obviously staged; those competitors are all too weak."

"The people from the Imperial Observatory are the real, powerful ones!"

At the same time.

The Game Character controlled by Gao Linzhi, the man in White Robe, has been taken away.

Not prisoners, but "please".

The old Zhang Shouyi personally treated his injuries, using his stellar energy to reconnect his meridians, and even promised to seek the title of "Dharma Protector" for him after returning to the capital.

"You can also Imperial Observatory."

"Even the emperor wouldn't object." These were the old Daoist's own words.

What if I don't join?

"Heh heh, then you're in for a rough time."

Gao Linzhi did not doubt the other party's purpose.

After all, given the strength he has demonstrated, he is indeed worthy of the Imperial Observatory to win him over.

Moreover, the Imperial Observatory must have long wanted to crack the secrets of the Game System.

Of course, rebellions must be suppressed.

The people on the island must all be "dealt with".

Lin Cangming understood the meaning of "disposal," and Gao Linzhi understood it even better.

On the island, the surviving islanders were once again driven together.

Twelve more "Star Warrior" arrived from the Imperial Observatory.

They were all dressed in black robes with star patterns, holding compasses, and drawing complex arrays on the sand.

The lines shimmered with a faint light, wriggling as if they were alive.

Gao Linzhi recognized it at a glance as Method of Sacrifice.

"Mr. Lin," a Star Warrior approached Lin Cangming, a polite smile on his young face, "The Supervisor instructed that you are not a local villager."

"But those Descenders are spared the death penalty."

"Please come aboard with me to the capital for further processing."

"And then what happens after we enter the capital?"

"Whether it's exile, imprisonment, or amnesty, it all depends on the Emperor's will." The Star Warrior paused, "It's still better than following these traitors."

Lin Cangming looked at his disciples.

Most of them were in their early twenties.

They were all selected from the survivors on the island.

They were all learning a skill, hoping it would change their fate.

Now, however, they are once again being confined in a circle like livestock awaiting slaughter.

Some cried, some cursed, and some stood frozen in shock.

"They are all human beings," Lin Cangming said.

"No, traitors are not human." The Star Warrior said calmly, his smile unchanged. "Mr. Lin, please."

Lin Cangming did not move.

He looked toward the center of the island.

There, Zhang Shouyi set up an altar.

It seems they are preparing for some kind of larger ceremony.

As for Gao Linzhi's character, the man in White Robe is imprisoned in front of the altar.

The chains formed from the seven starlight beams were piercing his collarbone, making it difficult for him to even lift his head.

"What... what exactly do you want to do?"

"Soul Refining," the Star Warrior said casually. "These traitors are all physically strong and full of vitality, making them excellent candidates."

"Lord Zhang intends to use the power of stars to refine it, to forge a furnace of Immortality elixirs for His Majesty."

"What?" Lin Cangming's blood froze instantly.

He recalled the rumors he had heard on Wolf Snake Island — that the Imperial Observatory could not only Wind and Rain Summoning, but also use the souls of the living as a catalyst to refine elixirs that could prolong life and increase vitality.

It is said that a single furnace requires the souls of a thousand people...

This is why high-ranking officials in the imperial court often live long lives, and why the powerful figures in the court are unwilling to come out easily.

Because their lives are precious.

"You..." His voice was hoarse, "You actually used people as firewood?"

"Mr. Lin, you are mistaken." The Star Warrior frowned and said, "These traitors deserve to die. It is their good fortune to extend His Majesty's life."

"As for you—after all, you're not a local, but an outsider."

"The imperial court will grant you additional favors."

He reached out to steady the wheelchair, but Lin Cangming suddenly sprang to his feet.

In fact, Lin Cangming's health has basically recovered.

After all, it's a player's constitution.

As blood volume recovers slowly, the disability will gradually lessen.

Moreover, his strong physique made him far stronger than the average person.

He pulled a short knife from the armrest of his wheelchair.

That was a gift from the blacksmith on the island.

The blade had only penetrated three-tenths of an inch into the flesh before it could go no further.

A layer of starlight appeared on the Star Warrior's body, like gauze or mist, and as tough as iron.

He looked down at the blood streaks on his neck, and his smile finally vanished.

"They really don't know what's good for them."

He raised his hand, starlight gathering in his palm, and patted Lin Cangming's chest.

There was no loud noise.

Lin Cangming felt a surge of heat rush into him, and then his internal organs began to burn.

He flew out and crashed into a rock, immediately hearing the sound of his ribs breaking.

"I originally had a use for you," the Star Warrior approached, "But now... you can be used as firewood too."

"Perfect, we haven't used Descenders as materials before."

He raised his hand, and starlight swirled in his palm, forming a small vortex—

"Stop."

The sound came from the center of the island.

That wasn't said by Zhang Shouyi, but by the man in White Robe.

He had somehow broken free of his chains and was standing by the altar, covered in blood.

The seven starlight chains were still piercing his body, like seven glowing snakes.

But he still stood ramrod straight.

Sometime later, the cracked black sword reappeared in his hand.

"Mr. Canxue," Zhang Shouyi turned around on the altar, neither surprised nor angry, "Your technique is a secret method of the Surveillance Department. Unless I die, it is impossible to undo it..."

"I know," the man in White Robe said coldly.

"So I don't intend to break free."

He raised his black sword, not to strike Zhang Shouyi, but to strike himself.

The black sword pierced his dantian.

"No!" The old Zhang Shouyi's expression suddenly changed. "You're insane! If you detonate your dantian, your soul will be scattered!"

"I know," the man in White Robe said calmly, his sword penetrating another three inches, "But my Sword Intent will also be annihilated."

This was, of course, a hint from the Game System: "Defeat your opponent by self-destructing."

To unleash the maximum power of heavily enhanced game items, this method is necessary.

Anyone who's played Diablo knows how overpowered Corpse Explosion is; when one monster falls, all the monsters around it will fall as well.

The man in White Robe looked up at the swirling vortex of stars.

"Old Daoist priest, you once said that an individual's strength cannot contend with the power of heaven and earth."

A wisp of black energy shone from his dantian, rapidly expanding and engulfing his body, as well as the seven starlight chains.

"But you've forgotten," the White Robe man's voice began to drift, as if coming from a great distance, "This is a transcendent world, where humanity will triumph over nature!"

"Injustice will be spoken out!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the black mist exploded.

It wasn't an explosion, but rather an "expansion".

A pure black sword aura spread outwards from the White Robe man in all directions.

It has no temperature, no sound, it just cuts.

Cut through starlight, cut through formations, cut through everything the Imperial Observatory was so proud of.

Zhang Shouyi roared, raising his Jade Ruyi high, and countless beams of light descended from the vortex in an attempt to block it.

However, this time, the power of the sword energy was unprecedented.

Wherever the black sword energy passed, the pillars of light were extinguished, the stars dimmed, and even the swirling vortex was cleaved in two.

"Heavenly Dao is in my hands!"

Zhang Shouyi's voice was swallowed up.

He was struck by the sword energy, his Purple Gold Crown shattered, his black robe torn, and he flew out like a kite with a broken string, disappearing into the clouds in the sky.

The twelve Star Warrior, the island array, and the main peak altar were all swallowed up by the blackness.

When the light faded, only a deep pit, thousands of feet in diameter, remained on the island, its walls smooth as a mirror, as if that part of the world had never existed.

It's like the "Starfall Technique" of the Imperial Observatory, only more thorough.

The man in White Robe also disappeared.

Not even a scrap of clothing or a drop of blood remained.