275: Players' insights

The Ranks in real society are invisible.

Sometimes you even feel there are no Ranks, and everyone is equal.

But in the game world, the situation is different.

Rank is an important part of a game.

Different Ranks have different skills, can accept different quests, and clear different dungeons.

However, even so, in front of many fixed NPCs, the player's Rank is meaningless.

The dialogue you trigger as a Rank one newbie is like that.

It's still the same when you're Rank one hundred and maxed out.

You might even be given small quests to kill chickens, ducks, and geese after you've reached max Rank.

Such games prevent players from having a clear understanding of the differences between Ranks.

Some even feel that Rank advancement is merely upgrading from hitting small lobsters with a wooden club to hitting large lobsters with an iron club.

But in the Xuanhuan World, everything changed.

The gap in Cultivation Realm is too vast; each major Realm advancement is like changing species, a qualitative leap in the food chain.

High-Rank Cultivators therefore have absolute control over low-Rank Cultivators.

After Midnight Gao Sou broke through to Golden Core, he could sweep through a bunch of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, making professional clubs not dare to resist.

After the state-stabilizing seal achieved Nascent Soul, he immediately established an Immortal Dynasty, and the existing Golden Core Sects also bowed down in submission.

Players of the Xuanhuan World are very familiar with this binding of Cultivation to power and status.

They can also accept this unique social setting.

But for a long time, they only accepted the social framework of the Xuanhuan World without truly grasping it.

If Cultivation Realm represents power, status, and even everything.

Then what would such a society be like?

The answer is:

The society of the Xuanhuan World would be completely shaped to the liking of the superior.

After Midnight Gao Sou broke through to Golden Core, evil Cultivators ran rampant throughout the Great Jiang Imperial Dynasty, and the evil Cultivator society became the mainstream.

After a Vajra took over from Midnight Gao Sou, the Great Jiang Imperial Dynasty was immediately filled with Buddhist nations, and the Buddhist Cultivator society became the mainstream.

Now, the state-stabilizing seal has broken through to Nascent Soul, and thus the Immortal Dynasty order has emerged, a new society has appeared.

This is speaking broadly: society is shaped by the strongest Cultivator.

And speaking narrowly:

Who defines friends and foes?

And who shapes the praise and condemnation of the seven emotions and six desires?

Everything, ultimately, points to a terrifying answer:

The laws of the Xuanhuan World, the morals of the Xuanhuan World, the interpersonal relationships of the Xuanhuan World, all concepts related to humans in the Xuanhuan World, are all determined by the strongest Cultivator.

In evil Cultivator society, humans are blood food.

In Buddhist Cultivator society, humans are Destiny.

In Immortal Dynasty society, humans are servants.

There are many profound philosophical questions here that can be explored.

But for players, once they thought of this, they didn't need to delve deeper; they only thought of one thing:

Damn it, working for the Immortal Dynasty's state-stabilizing seal isn't that just like being converted by Buddhist Cultivator or refined by evil Cultivators in the past?

Isn't this essentially the same damn thing?

This Time Bu Ge's video, Old Potato's thoughts, and the thoughts of other players all pointed to this conclusion:

There's no need to work for others, no need to develop absolute faith in any race or faction.

Even friendships and family ties don't need to be cared about; who knows if these were meticulously designed for you by those in power?

Everything is merely a chess game orchestrated by the highest-ranking Cultivator.

And as chess pieces, everyone only needs to do one thing:

Cultivate, grow stronger, and transform from a chess piece into a chess player.

From this day on.

Many players experienced an Epiphany.

Where is the Human-Demon War?

It's nothing more than a great calamity, adding countless Opportunities.

Where is the southward migration of the gentry?

It's nothing more than a great calamity, adding countless Opportunities.

The Xuanhuan World has no main storyline, no main quests, not even a main city, no home to protect, no scenery that must be stopped for.

Anything unfavorable to Cultivation, do not do.

Anything favorable to Cultivation, strive to do.

For a time, countless players left the defense lines and cities.

They either snuck into the Northern Mountains or the Southern Mountains, and some even went to the Great Desert or even the East Sea.

They all sought their own Opportunities.

Many players even found their Dao Heart in this change, which was the most common heart of seeking the Dao.

Amidst these changes.

There was a group of players who fell into confusion.

"No, you all went to seek the Dao, so what about me?"

"I finally saved enough money to buy a house!"

"This is the manor we spent half a month building, and it's all ruined in an instant!"

"No, did you really all leave?"

The ordinary players at the bottom were instantly dumbfounded.

Without the protection of Cultivators, these players' properties were easily destroyed.

Many even repeatedly died and restarted, falling into a vicious cycle.

"I'm starting to miss the era when the state-stabilizing seal and a group of Golden Core Cultivators forced them to the front lines."

"Damn, a few days ago I was cursing the Golden Core Cultivators with them, but now that I think about it, the situation seems a bit off!"

"If it weren't for these Golden Core Cultivators leading the charge and conscripting people, these guys wouldn't have gone to the front lines!"

"What exactly is the state-stabilizing seal thinking? Why isn't he taking action yet?"

"Are we not human? Are we not human after all? Are we just abandoned like this?"

These casual players kept complaining on the forum.

In return, they were met with ridicule:

"Haven't you recognized reality yet?"

"The Xuanhuan World is a world where Cultivation Realm is supreme."

"If you don't Cultivate yourselves, if you don't become your own protectors, and beg others for protection, then you deserve bad luck."

"It's still because you didn't work hard!"

"If you had worked hard to Cultivate, you would have already reached Golden Core; why would you be complaining on the forum?"

"Look at those Golden Core Cultivators, which one of them didn't start from scratch?"

"If others can do it, why can't you?"

"Enough talk, I've already found a Secret Realm in the Northern Mountains and am currently treasure hunting."

The players discussed animatedly, almost starting another flame war.

Season Two opened up a vast new map, with countless new Secret Realms and new Opportunities appearing.

Originally, everyone was forced to join the Human-Demon War because of the state-stabilizing seal. It seemed there were fixed faction rewards, but in reality, they couldn't obtain truly transformative Opportunities.

Now, although the state-stabilizing seal reappeared and killed many Golden Core Cultivators, he has not returned to the Immortal Dynasty to preside over the overall situation.

Theoretically, this is indeed a major Opportunity favorable to Cultivation.

Countless players began to seize the Opportunity, wanting to be pigs that get blown up... Li Changfeng looked at the forum, at each post and video.

He suddenly laughed:

"Interesting.

"Some question the social framework of the Xuanhuan World.

"Some question where the moral standards of Cultivators truly come from.

"Some also want to seize the Opportunity and soar to success.

"Some have even comprehended the essence of the Cultivation World and want to wholeheartedly pursue Cultivation.

"But until now, not a single person has come to attack me, this Golden Core Cultivator who is extravagant and wasteful, buying Yao Race pets."