51: Chapter 51 Hey, you can't let Lu Bu ride Dian Wei!

For the three from the Dragon Kingdom, the plot strategy had clearly ended, and they should have been existences 'outside the Three Realms and beyond the Five Elements,' no longer subject to the influence of any plot.

Yet, they were still pulled by a strange force of rules.

Zhao Hongxiu reacted extremely quickly, abruptly looking up at the sky, as if anticipating that something was about to descend.

Sure enough, a moment later, a massive [The Scales] descended from the sky, appearing before the three of them.

This gigantic [The Scales] stood between heaven and earth, unimaginably large, yet the group, who should have only been able to catch a glimpse of it, strangely 'saw' the full picture of the entire [The Scales].

"Is this the [The Scales] of Judgment? Someone has initiated [Divine Judgment] against the Dragon Kingdom!!!"

Chen Aoyun frowned slightly; he understood what [Divine Judgment] was.

[Divine Judgment] was a challenge by Strategists from other countries regarding the rationality of the construction of Heroic Spirits, wonders, and skills.

Chen Aoyun's typical understanding of [Divine Judgment] was based on examples:

For instance: I say Li Bai is Huaxia, and I construct a skill based on Li Bai's lore; but Goguryeo insists that Li Bai is theirs, and they even have so-called lore left over from the Old Era.

In such a situation, one can use [Divine Judgment] to challenge the other party's lore.

Once [Divine Judgment] is initiated, a giant [The Scales] appears between the challenger and the challenged, much like a lawsuit; each side presents facts and arguments, and whichever side the [The Scales] tips toward, that side wins.

"Do other countries also claim 'ownership' of [Emperor Zhu Di]?"

According to Chen Aoyun's understanding, [Divine Judgment] could only be used to claim 'sovereignty.'

I say [Li Bai] belongs to Huaxia, you say [Li Bai] is yours, then you place a weight on [The Scales], and if [The Scales] tilts toward you, acknowledging your claim, you win the [Divine Judgment].

The starlight representing the will of the Game of National Destiny acknowledges that [Li Bai] belongs to Goguryeo; Huaxia has no right to place pieces or summon him, the previous abilities are voided, and the plot strategy fails.

This was Chen Aoyun's understanding of [Divine Judgment].

The understanding was correct, but not comprehensive, Zhao Hongxiu added,

" [Divine Judgment] can not only raise challenges regarding 'sovereignty,' but it can also intervene in cases of unreasonable construction or interference with some [Strategist] abilities!"

Zhao Hongxiu also gave Chen Aoyun a very typical example:

"For instance, a [Strategist] has a Strategist skill called [Beautifying Citation].

You know that the exclusive skills of [Heroic Spirits] come from their lore, but lore is categorized:

Exclusive skills constructed from real history are [True Martial Skill]s;

Exclusive skills constructed from romance novels or fiction are [Legendary Technique]s;

Exclusive skills constructed based on myths are [Fantasy Skill]s;

There is no difference in strength between the three types of skills, but they differ greatly in applicable scenarios.

[Fantasy Skill]s are unrestrained and imaginative, often able to handle various troubles and plot points, but they consume a massive amount of [Construction Power].

And the [Strategist] skill [Beautifying Citation] can disguise these three types of skills. The target of this 'deception' is the starlight representing the will of the Game of National Destiny, disguising a [Fantasy Skill] as a [True Martial Skill]. The skill's ability remains unchanged, but the required [Construction Power] is greatly reduced.

Moreover, this disguise and deception come from the [Strategist] skill and belong to the category of deception recognized by the will of the Game of National Destiny; even if exposed, the [Strategist] themselves will not be targeted by the will of the Game of National Destiny."

Pausing, she turned the topic back to [Divine Judgment] and continued.

"Regarding this [Beautifying Citation], a suspicious opposing [Strategist] can initiate [Divine Judgment]. If the 'Judgment' is successful, not only will the [Beautifying Citation] skill be rendered invalid, but even the 'beautified' skill and Heroic Spirit will be completely prohibited within the current Game of National Destiny according to the rules!"

"This is the most typical example of the use of [Divine Judgment]. When [Beautifying Citation] is activated, it leaves no traces. Sometimes, some [Strategist]s will deliberately use strange skills to deceive their opponents. The number of times [Divine Judgment] is allowed in each Game of National Destiny varies; deception is the norm in this game of strategy!"

Chen Aoyun understood immediately; it turned out that the use of [Divine Judgment] was not as singular as he had thought.

Furthermore, there were strategies and schemes that could be employed within it.

Just like the example Zhao Hongxiu gave, if Chen Aoyun were to manipulate it.

A move like Lu Bu's [Shooting the Halberd at the Gate], any [Strategist] from an opposing country would think it is a [Legendary Technique], a plot point from a romance novel.

Yet, [Shooting the Halberd at the Gate] is historical fact!

Let alone in the New Era where history is fragmented, even before he transmigrated, many people in Huaxia thought Lu Bu's 'Shooting the Halberd at the Gate' was a scene from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'

In the Old Era, some people who didn't study history deeply thought that [Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats] might be real, that Kongming [Borrowing the East Wind] might be real, or that the fire at Bowang might be real. But the reality is that these legends mostly come from romance novels; either the content is wrong, or the protagonist is misidentified.

You think it's a real legend, but it's from a romance novel.

Yet, the one that most looks like a plot point from a romance novel, 'Shooting the Halberd at the Gate,' is actually true; it comes from 'Records of the Three Kingdoms: Biography of Lu Bu.'

If one were to use [Shooting the Halberd at the Gate] to deceive an opposing [Strategist], it would be a guaranteed success.

And if one encounters a Game of National Destiny where [Divine Judgment] can only be used once, using [Shooting the Halberd at the Gate] to waste the opponent's [Divine Judgment] means one can confidently use the [Beautifying Citation] skill afterward without worrying about being 'judged'!

"Indeed, it's no wonder they say the Game of National Destiny is played on a chessboard; the name of the game contains the character for 'strategy,' and it is entirely about mental games, a test of a [Strategist]'s ability and cunning!" Chen Aoyun exclaimed.

Seeing that Chen Aoyun had basically understood that [Divine Judgment] was also a form of strategic gameplay, Zhao Hongxiu continued to explain,

"Besides the 'sovereignty dispute' you understood yourself, and the Strategist skill gameplay I just mentioned, [Divine Judgment] has many other uses.

I won't go into too much detail, but just looking at the present, someone has brought down [Divine Judgment], possibly thinking you have used some 'jokes' from the Old Era as 'lore'!"

Chen Aoyun was quite confused by Zhao Hongxiu's last sentence.

"What do you mean by 'using Old Era jokes as lore'?"

After some explanation, Chen Aoyun finally understood.

Simply put, 'Old Era memes' cannot be used as 'lore'!

Chen Aoyun gave another example in his mind, for instance:

"Dian Wei is invincible off his horse, Lu Bu is invincible on his horse.

You cannot have 'Lu Bu riding Dian Wei,' making both of them invincible!

This is an Old Era joke!

Not lore!

You can construct skills from jokes or bad memes, but if the flaws in such jokes are too obvious and easily seen through, they will be easily broken by an opposing [Strategist] using [Divine Judgment].

This has nothing to do with whether it is logical or not.

You can sneakily use a joke as lore to construct a skill.

But you cannot get caught!

Even if you make this joke more reasonable, it still won't work.

Evolving the previous joke:

Have Dian Wei carry the [Red Hare], and have Lu Bu ride on the [Red Hare].

In this scene, Dian Wei is truly 'off the horse' (under the horse), and Lu Bu is truly 'on the horse.'

It perfectly fits the conditions of 'Dian Wei is invincible off his horse, Lu Bu is invincible on his horse.'

But a joke is a joke, a bad meme is a bad meme; it is not lore. No matter how reasonable or logical it is, it will still be invalidated by [Divine Judgment]!"

Understanding this point, Chen Aoyun laughed,

"So, I swept through the plot using [Emperor Zhu Di] and solved two tasks with one Heroic Spirit, and someone thinks I didn't construct [Emperor Zhu Di]'s abilities based on 'lore,' but thinks I used a joke?

They think '[Campaign of Defending the Mandate]' is an Old Era meme?

And so they want to 'Judge' me?

'Judge' [Emperor Zhu Di]?

Oh, damn, I'm going to laugh my head off~

Bring it on!

Let them come and Judge, let them Judge to their heart's content!

If I recall correctly, the cost of initiating [Divine Judgment] is extremely high?

If the Judgment fails, can the party being judged receive the opponent's 'legal fees' after 'winning the lawsuit'?

However much National Destiny the opponent uses to initiate [Divine Judgment], if I win the 'Judgment,' do I win that much National Destiny for the Dragon Kingdom?

Knowing that the Dragon Kingdom's National Destiny is bottoming out, isn't this just sending warmth to the Dragon Kingdom?

Ha♦ha♦ha♦ha♦ha♦ha♦"

The more he thought about it, the happier Chen Aoyun became, his laugh so hearty it was almost lewd...