93: Depressing, dark, and full of negative reviews

As a well-known rich second generation in the Huaxia Federation, Li Changfeng's reputation was actually quite good.

This person didn't play with cars, didn't play with watches, only played games.

In the Huaxia Federation, where society was becoming increasingly rigid and class barriers harder to cross, "employment" in virtual games actually served a mitigating role. The Federation's upper echelons hoped to stabilize the populace as much as possible before the next technological boom created new channels for advancement, preventing any unrest.

Li Changfeng and the gaming pod company behind him naturally held a high status, and he often promoted his gaming activities.

After the Xuanhuan World became a massive hit, the Federation's upper echelons keenly perceived its potential and its ability to temporarily alleviate social conflicts. Thus, someone made a request to rich second-generation individuals like Li Changfeng...

"What the hell? They want us to play villains, provoke the masses, and let the masses criticize us in the game? Are you kidding me?"

Honestly, Li Changfeng initially refused.

But after delving deeper into the Xuanhuan World game, he suddenly had new ideas.

"What kind of scene would it be if players collectively united to try and overthrow me, but I advanced my Realm first and then suppressed them? To bluntly tell them the cruelty of society?"

Li Changfeng chuckled, typing on his keyboard, continuously replying in the comments section under [The All-Controlling High Cultivator]:

"Who do you think will be the first to achieve Golden Core when there are none yet?"

"Option One: A kind and benevolent saint who particularly enjoys sharing his Cultivation resources equally with others."

"Option Two: A moderate person who goes with the flow; what's his is his, and what's not is someone else's."

"Option Three: A ruthless person who seizes resources by any means, claims everything for himself, and strives with all his might to Establish an Immortal Foundation and form a Golden Core."

Upon seeing Li Changfeng's comments, all the players fell silent.

No matter how unwilling they were to admit it, they had to accept the truth:

The third type of person was most likely to achieve Golden Core.

So, Li Changfeng naturally posted a second multiple-choice question:

"Now, when the third type of person becomes a Golden Core, controlling hundreds or even thousands of miles of land, and governing hundreds of millions or even billions of people:"

"Option One: Distribute resources equally to create a utopian society."

"Option Two: Govern by non-interference, hiding in a mountain valley for secluded Cultivation."

"Option Three: Continue to plunder resources, hoping to Breakthrough to Nascent Soul."

The players remained silent.

Undoubtedly, a ruthless and unscrupulous person who achieved Golden Core for the sake of Cultivation would inevitably choose the third option.

After all, who would dislike having a higher Realm?

Once an Immortal Foundation is achieved, one desires to achieve Golden Core; once Golden Core is achieved, one desires to achieve Nascent Soul.

Even if there's no hope of Breakthrough to Nascent Soul after Golden Core, with a Lifespan of over a thousand years, wouldn't you want to live a carefree and joyful life?

Wouldn't you have a few favored juniors you'd want to promote?

However, some players angrily retorted:

"Fine, I admit these Golden Cores might not be benevolent, but how could they possibly manage the junior Cultivators below them?"

"Exactly, with so many junior Cultivators below, each practicing different Cultivation Techniques and having different Dao Lineages, how could he possibly manage them all?"

"If he spent all day managing these things, wouldn't he be worked to death?"

Li Changfeng chuckled:

"A Golden Core will definitely manage, because if he doesn't, he doesn't deserve to be a Golden Core."

"He climbed up with great difficulty, knowing best what this path requires, and knowing best how glorious it is to become a Golden Core."

"Similarly, he knows the importance of Opportunity best, understands the power of Legacy most clearly, and is most aware of the means for ordinary people to rise up."

"If the first batch of Golden Cores in the Xuanhuan World still had room for maneuver, then what about those who struggled to climb up from under the old Golden Cores' control?"

"How could they tolerate someone challenging their status? How could they not target you, the people at the bottom?"

"So, they will form Imperial Dynasties, form Sects, or at the very least form Families. They will promote confidantes, arrange personnel, and bring all potential challengers under their command, giving them Immortal Qi to Establish Foundation, but severing their Dao path, preventing them from ever becoming Golden Core."

"And those Loose Cultivators who are unwilling to join, once they try to achieve Immortal Foundation and challenge the Golden Core position, will inevitably face thunderous measures, perhaps even the Golden Core personally appearing to eradicate them."

"Do you think I'm joking?"

"Hahaha, I'm not afraid to tell you, I've already found a path in the game, and I'm about to Establish an Immortal Foundation. I'm also going to achieve the Golden Core position. Once I achieve Golden Core, even if the natives don't care about you, I will firmly suppress you players!"

"You are only fit to work for me at the lowest level, to mine, farm, practice Alchemy, and Artifact Refining for me!"

As soon as these words came out, all the players were enraged and furiously cursed Li Changfeng.

But some players were startled:

"He found a path? Did he pledge allegiance to a Golden Core?"

"Do the native Golden Cores allow him to Establish an Immortal Foundation? Allow him to challenge for Golden Core?"

"What if he really succeeds? What do we do?"

"Damn it, we work for these rich dogs in reality, and we have to work for them in the game too?"

"No! We absolutely cannot let him achieve Golden Core!"

"But what can we do?"

The players were in disarray.

The professional players of the three major clubs being suppressed by Golden Core Experts, or even directly captured and raised like livestock, had already dealt them a critical blow, making them realize how powerful Golden Core Experts truly were.

This Time Bu Ge's video further clarified the status of Golden Core Experts in Xuanhuan society; no Golden Core would tolerate a newcomer becoming a second Golden Core right under his nose.

If anyone still held onto a sliver of hope at this point, Li Changfeng's reply shattered all such illusions—

After achieving Golden Core, one truly would prevent newcomers from advancing!

Not only would they be unable to advance further, but they would also have to mine, farm, practice Alchemy, and Artifact Refining for the Golden Core lords—essentially, they would be laborers, no, even slaves, in the Xuanhuan World.

And the most terrifying thing was that Li Changfeng actually said he had found a way and had a chance to challenge for Golden Core?

At this, players across the entire Xuanhuan World panicked.

After the panic, the first reaction was anger and complaints:

"Damn it, what kind of trash game is this? Is it an emperor's server for rich people?"

"Did Jiang Feng identify with these NPCs, specifically bullying us players, and feel great about it?"

"If the game makes players unhappy, do you believe we'll quit?"

"I admit Xuanhuan World has its merits, but as a game, it's really not enjoyable!"

"Trash, bad review!"

The dark, oppressive, and suffocating worldview was indeed shocking, making people feel as if the Xuanhuan World was an alternate world with a real social System.

But similarly, it also made many players very uncomfortable, even feeling that it was a trash game with no experience whatsoever.

A torrent of bad reviews instantly swept through.

In response, Huan Meng's official channels made no reply, merely once again promoting the current server-wide event: the Golden Core Tomb.

Amidst a sea of bad reviews, a player finally noticed a clue:

"Wait, I have a theory, but it might not be right..."

"Perhaps, Xuanhuan World is actually a 'feel-good' game."