Chapter 2414: Our Paths Are Different
“Young man, don’t let momentary anger drive you to choose the more radical path.”
Xu Huo didn’t heed this advice but instead brought up another matter. “A-level wormhole points, even the Stellar Corporation that developed the game, can restrict player abilities to the maximum extent.”
“Items, traits, even Super Evolution, instruments, along with naturally born intelligent Instance holders, none can escape the game.”
“So the war between players and the game is a war of technology.” The white-haired elder looked ahead at the setting sun. “Most players will eventually hit a dead end in their evolution. Only when they reach the end do they realize that what players consider personal strength is insignificant in the face of the game.”
“However,” he shifted his tone, pointing to the fading light ahead, “the game is like this star. The longer time goes on, the more obvious its weaknesses become. The more people know about it, the more they understand it. What use is it to build a protective wall in front of the star? More and more people will rush toward it.”
“Besides, the game isn’t as omnipotent as you imagine.”
“The existence of wanted criminals proves this. If it were possible, there shouldn’t be anyone in the game who violates the rules.”
“Naturally born intelligent items and mutated species have actually broken free from the game’s forced control. Without absolute control, what remains is equal armed confrontation.”
“The same goes for humans.”
During the Fish Feast, Xu Huo had wavered because of a single sentence from Commander Shi. After all, in the face of the earliest humans who developed the game, the later wormhole points and players were nothing. If the game could forcibly interfere with and control all player evolution abilities, that would truly be a dead end for players.
But thinking back, the existence of intelligent items like the Painting Woman was itself an accident. Like humans, once she developed her own consciousness, she was no longer something that could act according to a program.
This was also something the game couldn’t predict or control.
So just how much could an A-level wormhole point restrict players? Only by seeing it firsthand would he know.
“A-level wormhole points have sealed off technology. What circulates in the game now is probably already a replaced product.” Xu Huo didn’t evaluate the Holy Sword Society’s plans and intentions, but from the white-haired elder’s tone, it seemed they might have already caught some loopholes in the A-level wormhole points, even the game itself.
“The game is actually a product of human intelligence,” the white-haired elder said meaningfully. “We are equal to the people at the A-level wormhole points.”
Xu Huo was silent for a moment before speaking. “I understand.”
He turned to leave, but the white-haired elder called out to him. “Young man, would you like to stay and walk the same path for a while?”
Xu Huo paused mid-step, turning back to look at this wise elder. “No need. Our paths are different.”
He was not the like-minded companion the Holy Sword Society was seeking.
The ideals of the Old Holy Sword Society weren’t wrong, and the fat player’s ideals weren’t wrong either. Everyone had different thoughts. Even if they reached the end and decided the victor, it would be hard to weigh gains and losses.
What they said was correct—the game was indeed a tool. Tools had no inherent good or evil; it depended on how people used them. But for Xu Huo, the game itself was a flawed tool. Even if human civilization entered a multidimensional chapter, it was something that shouldn’t exist. It was merely an arena built by those who walked ahead to cage and toy with those who walked behind. It was no different from the Fish Feast.
No matter how large the arena was, it was still an arena.
As the white-haired elder said, it was hard for people to turn back. Even if they did, they would eventually return to the original path. But people could choose how to walk that path and what tools to use. Even if the advance of human civilization was accompanied by blood and tears, it shouldn’t be this kind of blood and tears.
Even if human civilization was destroyed, it could return to its peak. Then walk it again, and again. Eventually, there would be a path without the game!
So the Holy Sword Society would not be his companion either.
When he left that small patch of muddy ground, the anger and hostility within Xu Huo had subsided. He had become as calm as before.
When he returned to the auditorium, the Painting Woman was already impatient. Seeing him, she immediately tapped her communicator. “Why did you take so long? I wanted to go find you, but these people kept stopping me and wouldn’t let me leave. They even tried to trick me with food. I don’t think they’re good people. Don’t let them fool you either!”
Xu Huo glanced at the snacks scattered messily on the table: You really have the nerve to say that?
The Painting Woman said matter-of-factly, “I’m not afraid of being tricked.”
Xu Huo smiled and praised her. “Indeed, you’re more capable.”
She studied him. “You’re in a good mood again? You’re really changeable.”
“That’s how people are. Get used to it.” Xu Huo patted her shoulder. “Pack up your things. We’re leaving.”
The Painting Woman happily raised her hand, turned to grab her backpack, and stuffed the leftover snacks inside.
Gao Feng and the others waiting in the auditorium had already received a message from the white-haired elder. They didn’t try to approach for a conversation, only silently watched them.
The fat player beside them grew anxious. “Brother, take me with you!”
“Let him go. If we’re truly on the same path, we’ll come together sooner or later,” Xu Huo said to Gao Feng and the others.
Gao Feng snorted. “We come and go freely here. We never force anyone.”
“Thank you, thank you!” The fat player quickly smiled. “If you ever need a hand in the future, just look for me. If I can help, I definitely will!”
The three of them left. Not far from the auditorium, they ran into Wu Xing, who had been hesitating and hadn’t left. She had left decisively a couple of days ago, only to turn back and find that Xu Huo and the others hadn’t left. Not only had they not left, but they also looked like they were about to start a fight. Worried, she had waited nearby.
“You’ve been stalking me for days. It’s fine now. I’m leaving this district too,” Xu Huo said to her.
Wu Xing felt genuinely remorseful this time. “There are so few good people in the world, and I actually met one. Thank you for saving me.”
“You’d better move somewhere else to live,” Xu Huo said. “Zhao Cai Jin Bao was killed, the factory was blown up, and the people behind it haven’t made a move. They’re probably waiting for me to leave. Afterward, they’ll definitely come after you or the Holy Sword Society.”
There was no need to waste effort on an outer zone player who wouldn’t stay long, and even less reason to invest more resources. But local people were a different story.
Wu Xing smiled. “I’m not someone who’s easily softhearted, nor am I someone with a hard heart. I can’t be completely bad, nor can I be completely good. But now, someone has forced me to make a choice.”
“Thank you. Take care. I hope we meet again someday.”
With that, she ran toward the auditorium.
Xu Huo turned to look at the fat player, who was stubbornly refusing to leave. “The Holy Sword Society and the Lan family can protect themselves. Don’t you need to find a place to hide?”