280: Chapter 280 NPC

The state-stabilizing seal's answer was simple and direct, without the slightest prevarication or ambiguity, which surprised Li Changfeng.

The next moment, the state-stabilizing seal grabbed him and suddenly stepped into the Great Void.

When they reappeared, they were surrounded by clouds and mist, and palaces and pavilions suspended in the air.

The state-stabilizing seal led him to a pavilion, where he sat on a meditation cushion, and with a wave of his hand, spiritual tea appeared.

Li Changfeng asked:

"Strange, I haven't even finished explaining what I need your help with, what the specific negotiation and transaction terms are—none of that has been discussed.

"How did you agree so easily?"

The state-stabilizing seal sat leisurely, allowing the tea's aroma to waft, the mist rising from the tea seeming like Immortal Qi, making the pavilion feel quite Xuanhuan.

He took a sip of the spiritual tea, then slowly began to speak:

"I've encountered many Extraterrestrial Demons and heard many strange things from you all.

"You call yourselves players, right?

"In your eyes, we are all natives of the Xuanhuan World, or non-player characters, abbreviated as NPCs.

"From your players' perspective, the purpose of our existence as NPCs is to enrich the entire game world, to provide you with new quests, new storylines, new equipment, new skills... In short, we are linked to rewards, right?"

Li Changfeng raised an eyebrow.

Discussing this topic with an NPC was indeed a bit odd.

Even stranger things were yet to come.

The state-stabilizing seal continued:

"NPCs are linked to rewards, but there are many ways they can be linked.

"The first type: issuing quests and giving rewards.

"Just like the Immortal Dynasty order I issued before, requiring players to go to the front lines to attack the northern Yao Race.

"As long as there are rewards, players are willing to risk their lives.

"But similarly, when the rewards fail to keep up with game progression, making players feel that doing quests is less efficient than farming instances themselves, the quests I issue become ineffective.

"Only those players who seek immersion, or simply feel uncomfortable if they don't clear quests, will continue to do them."

Li Changfeng was a bit confused.

He murmured, "How do you know so much about this?"

The state-stabilizing seal chuckled softly: "You underestimate the Nascent Soul stage too much; you players also look down on us 'old monsters' too much.

"We are far smarter than you imagine..." "Back to the main topic, I'll continue."

Li Changfeng was dumbfounded; he had never imagined he would be mocked by an NPC.

The state-stabilizing seal took a sip of spiritual tea, moistening his throat.

He continued speaking as if making small talk:

"The second type is the transactional NPC, or functional NPC.

"These NPCs don't need complex storylines, nor do they even need to offer any rewards.

"Their appearance locations don't even need to be carefully designed; players can summon them at any time.

"These NPCs are responsible for providing players with functions like item trading, equipment enhancement, skill learning, and map switching.

"In other words, they are tools.

"The only reason they are NPCs and not a UI button is purely for immersion and a sense of presence."

Li Changfeng couldn't help but ask, "Senior state-stabilizing seal, I'm a bit curious which players you've communicated with?"

The state-stabilizing seal chuckled: "You players come in all types—there are ordinary players, professional players, and of course, players whose main job is game design. I know far more than you think.

"Li Changfeng, your long-standing underestimation of powerful Cultivators will make you players pay a heavy price."

Li Changfeng's expression flickered.

But deep down, he was dismissive.

It was just an NPC, just a string of code; what did it matter?

Players like them, especially a wealthy player like him, were the Dominators of the Xuanhuan World, and they were the ones being underestimated.

The state-stabilizing seal continued:

"The third type of NPC is much more interesting.

"These NPCs are enemies that must be defeated, and by killing them, you can obtain rewards.

"Even unique special rewards.

"Some of these NPCs roam the Great World, while others appear in special locations.

"And the most special part is that they exist in instances, which you call... 'entering an instance.'

"You seem to especially hope for ordinary NPCs to enter instances and drop equipment?"

Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng couldn't help but say, "Now I'm really curious what you know; you understand far too much."

The state-stabilizing seal continued:

"In the Xuanhuan World, NPCs are very flexible; there are no specific boundaries or distinctions.

"Every NPC has their own life.

"This also seems to be one of the reasons you players are so engrossed in the Xuanhuan World?

"But even so, in your minds, you still retain the concepts of traditional online games; you still unconsciously categorize us NPCs into different types, and of course, these categories are not limited to the three I mentioned.

"Furthermore, NPCs can be categorized in another way."

The state-stabilizing seal paused for a moment, then took another sip of tea; his teacup was empty.

He waved his hand, and the tea was refilled.

"Friendly NPCs, hostile NPCs, and neutral NPCs.

"Isn't that interesting?

"The relationships between people are so numerous and complex.

"But in your players' eyes, they can be simply divided into these three categories.

"Friendly NPCs: cannot be attacked, and they will help you.

"Neutral NPCs: cannot be attacked, but will not help you.

"Hostile NPCs: can be attacked, and they will hinder you.

"Such a simple and crude classification..."

Li Changfeng was a smart man.

He had previously underestimated the state-stabilizing seal, thinking it was a very rigid NPC, so he hadn't thought deeply about it.

Now, hearing the state-stabilizing seal say so much,

He immediately understood the other party's intentions.

He couldn't help but ask:

"So you mean... you don't want to enter an instance, you don't want to become a hostile NPC in our players' eyes.

"Because no matter how strong you are now, we players are endless, with infinite Reincarnation.

"As long as you are judged to be a hostile NPC, as long as this Immortal Palace becomes an instance for farming you,

"You will eventually fall.

"So, you want to be a friendly NPC?"

The state-stabilizing seal put down his teacup; his face was unperturbed.

Li Changfeng looked at him, but his gaze and spiritual sense could not penetrate the crown; he simply couldn't know what the state-stabilizing seal was thinking.

The state-stabilizing seal said:

"I hear you are currently in Season Two, and the theme is the Human-Demon War?

"Very well, not only will I allow you to explore resources, not only will I help you suppress and kill the Yao Race,

"I will also show you a faction CG; I want to make you feel a sense of belonging to the Immortal Dynasty.

"I want to make you crazy for titles, for prestige, for appearances, for everything about the Immortal Dynasty.

"To expand territory for me, to hunt down hidden individuals for me, to solve all miscellaneous matters for me..."

Li Changfeng was truly shocked this time: "Holy crap, what are you going to do?"

The state-stabilizing seal stood up and spoke leisurely:

"Whatever friendly NPCs in other online games do, that's what I will do.

"Listen carefully, Li Changfeng, if the new season you speak of is long overdue, and the tableau I see does not change,

"Then I will make you understand what 'being stuck' means.

"I will turn the entire Immortal Dynasty into the nightmare difficulty instance you least want to see, making you, one by one, Golden Core, Foundation Establishment, and even Qi Refining Cultivators, come and farm me, a Nascent Soul boss.

"The equipment I, this boss, can drop is beyond your imagination, enough to drive you completely insane.

"Provided that... you have the ability to farm the instance."