Chapter 43: Mid-Performance Chaos

On the stage.  

Gu Nian, with her long legs, leaped aside to evade Mr. He’s attack, landing lightly on a gong stand. Her brows furrowed in deep thought.  

As a spellcasting-type player, those who inherit this type of class are often highly intelligent and meticulous. Within the Vigil Keeper group in the Qingfu District, Gu Nian had always been the team’s strategist.  

The battle so far, though brief—barely lasting two minutes—had already made her realize that their strategy was flawed.  

The initial plan was to focus all firepower on Mr. He to take him down quickly, but it was clear now that this approach wasn’t working.  

The power gap between second-tier and first-tier players is insurmountable through technique alone. Their divine abilities are on entirely different levels, like night and day. This was evident in the terrifyingly aggressive Red Dog and the stage-conjuring Mr. He.  

Even with their numbers advantage, her side—composed almost entirely of first-tier players—couldn’t inflict meaningful damage on Mr. He. Gu Nian herself included. Their only second-tier player, Huang Wei (Red Dog), had immense combat prowess but lost all rationality once his battle instincts took over.  

The fiercer his aura burned, the stronger his brute force tendencies grew. However, against agile opponents, he quickly became ineffective.  

Mr. He’s two exhibited abilities thus far:  

Fearless – This ability enhances his focus and courage, rendering him immune to fear and illusions.  

Seven Entries, Seven Exits – This trait provides immunity to most first-tier control effects. Twice already, Gu Nian’s attempts to trap him with binding cages had been easily shattered by a single thrust of his spear.  

“Swish, swish!”  

Gu Nian’s eyes darted across the stage, observing the chaotic fight. She saw Mr. He evade yet another heavy strike from Red Dog’s broadsword, then counter with a spear jab to his lower back.  

“Pfft!”  

Blood gushed from Huang Wei’s lower back. He leaped backward two meters, roaring furiously, “Bloodbath!”  

“Boom!”  

The blood from his wound surged into the air, drawn toward his massive crimson broadsword, which absorbed it all.  

“Blood Sacrifice – Obliteration!”  

“Buzz!”  

The crimson blade trembled violently, so much so that even his muscular arms struggled to maintain their grip.  

Huang Wei’s eyes now lacked any trace of humanity, instead radiating pure savagery as they locked onto his target.  

A phantom image rose from his body, towering four or five meters high. It was the avatar of a crimson-blooded demon god, resembling an ancestral figure of some ancient clan.  

The figure, clad in a leather skirt and wielding a giant axe, instantly synchronized its movements with Huang Wei’s will.  

Together, the phantom and Huang Wei swung their sword and axe in unison.  

Mr. He’s pupils contracted as he leaped onto a roof beam, holding his theatrical spear in a defensive stance.  

“Boom!”  

The sword strike swept across the stage like an unstoppable force, reducing everything in its path—walls, red vines, and stage props alike—to rubble and debris.  

“Thunk!”  

Ren Ye lay on the ground, shielding his father. Gritting his teeth, he cursed, “This reckless brute… He’s exactly why you can’t bring him into the Star Gate—he’d just be cannon fodder.”  

The devastating attack sent everyone, both friend and foe, sprawling in disarray.  

Xu Peng, lying on the floor and wiping blood from his face, grumbled, “I told you… This isn’t gonna work. We’re done for. Done for!”  

The stage was in shambles, severely damaged.  

Perched on the roof beam, Mr. He suddenly felt his concentration falter, a wave of fatigue washing over him.  

The damage to his core-tier class item had clearly taken a toll on him.  

“The villain Cao Cao’s forces are growing stronger, I shall now save the young master!” 

With this dramatic declaration, Mr. He lunged at Ren Ye with his spear.  

Though Red Dog had lost his rationality, his class ability’s duel mechanic activated, locking him into a life-or-death engagement with his target.  

“Clang!”  

His broadsword blocked the spear, and the two clashed once more.  

On the side, Ren Ye got up, tossing his father behind the stage curtain. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “Long Legs, take care of that dwarf and that big brute first. Clear out the small fry. My dad’s back—we’ve got plenty of time to deal with that singing lunatic later.”

This plan aligned perfectly with Gu Nian’s own thoughts.

Standing atop the gong frame, Long Legs’ flowing hair danced in the air, her magical staff shimmering with dazzling light.  [It’s Long Legs in the raw and not Gu Nian lol.]

Her eyes closed slightly, her delicate face radiating serenity, resembling a celestial maiden.  

“Psychic Magic—Levitation!”  

Her crisp voice rang out as Long Legs raised her arms dramatically.  

“Whoosh!”  

Onstage, the centipedes, venomous insects, the plunderer-class player, and the dwarf were all inexplicably lifted off the ground, their legs dangling in the air.  

Among spellcaster-type inheritance classes, many ultimate abilities involved massive consumption of resources, leaving little strength afterward. But to quickly seize control of the situation, Gu Nian had no choice but to go all out early.  

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as her delicate body trembled slightly.  

Once everyone was levitated, they experienced a brief moment of stagnation in mid-air.  

This was the opportunity!  

Ren Ye dodged sideways, immediately channeling his intent to activate the Nine-Layered Buddha Pagoda. “You foolish demonic spirit, get to work!”  

“Howl!”  

A venomous hiss echoed as a massive phantom of a green serpent burst forth from the pagoda, lunging straight at the floating plunderer-class player.  

“Crunch!”  

The serpent’s gaping maw swallowed the plunderer whole in one bite.  

“Thud, thud…!”  

Sounds of punches and kicks echoed from within the serpent’s belly as the trapped player struggled fiercely inside.  

“Hiss~!”  

The serpent’s phantom reared its head, flicking its crimson tongue. A greenish glow rapidly traveled down its neck before pooling in its stomach.  

The sound of acid corroding flesh and bone erupted. About a second later, the serpent spat out a skeleton, which shot off the stage with a whoosh.  

“You little brat… calling me foolish? I’ll remember that!” The serpent phantom cursed with surprising humanity before disappearing into thin air.  

“Snap!”  

The supernatural ability concluded, and the Nine-Layered Buddha Pagoda shattered, disintegrating into dust.  

Ren Ye had already known that the pagoda, having been used twice before he snatched it, was nearing its limit. With this final use, its divine nature was extinguished, and the demonic spirit fled.  

Ignoring the serpent’s parting threat, Ren Ye glanced down at the plunderer-class player. The body, now reduced to nothing but a skeleton, could not have died a more gruesome death.  

“Boom! Boom!”  

Explosions sounded nearby. Ren Ye turned to see three Vigil Keepers taking advantage of the dwarf’s floating state to launch offensive supernatural attacks.  

However… the dwarf’s combat strength was formidable, second only to Mr. He on their side. Using venomous insects and centipedes as shields, he survived the assault despite sustaining severe injuries.  

The three Vigil Keepers, however, didn’t fare much better, all suffering varying degrees of harm.  

After this coordinated round, Gu Nian had exhausted herself. She descended gracefully from the gong frame, attempting to cast another spell. Yet all she managed to conjure was a crude copper ring, without even a spark.  

She was completely drained.  

On the other side, Ren Ye had also run out of tricks. His charm ability had already been used and wouldn’t recharge for another twelve hours. Meanwhile, Spring Breeze Delight had no effect on Mr. He, whose focus was unshakable.  

The only lethal tool, the Nine-Layered Buddha Pagoda, was now shattered.  

What to do?  

As Ren Ye racked his brain for a way to assist Red Dog, a sudden glint of cold light flashed toward his throat.  

“Clang, clang, clang…”  

The drumbeats and gongs intensified. Mr. He’s steely gaze locked onto Ren Ye as he shouted, “Young warrior, leave the Qinggang Sword with me, and I’ll slay 300,000 Cao soldiers!”  

With that furious roar, Ren Ye’s mind went blank. His entire body felt enveloped by an oppressive aura, his legs frozen, and even his breathing halted.

I’m trapped.

“Save Ren Ye…!” Gu Nian shouted in panic.

“Swish!”  

A cold gleam streaked toward Ren Ye’s neck, drawing closer in the blink of an eye. The surrounding Vigil Keepers tried to intervene but were already too late.  

In that fleeting moment, Ren Ye could feel the presence of death…  

His pupils contracted sharply as the spear tip grew larger in his vision. The entire stage fell silent. Even the frenzied Red Dog froze, turning dumbly to stare at Ren Ye.  

“Thump…!”  

At that critical moment, Mr. He suddenly stopped and even stepped back.  

He sensed a sharp aura beneath his feet.  

Wait—what’s wrong with my shadow…?  

“Whoosh!”  

Under the stage lights, a shadow shot out from beneath Mr. He, wielding a long spear and thrusting upward.  

“Clang!”  

Mr. He parried with his spear, crossing weapons with the shadow. The two clashed briefly before retreating simultaneously.  

The shadow rose, becoming increasingly solid. Its figure, attire, and the opera spear in its hand were identical to Mr. He’s, down to the tattered opera robes they both wore.  

The two faced each other, each holding a spear—a mirror image of one another.  

Mr. He was stunned, a hint of confusion breaking through his stubborn gaze. “Who are you?”  

“I am the Zhao Zilong of Shanghai!”  

The shadow appeared to speak, but the voice came not from it but from a lively, youthful woman seemingly providing the “voice-over.”  

Her voice had a playful, slightly silly tone, with a hint of mischief. She turned to Ren Ye and the others, saying, “You all, stay out of this.”  

“Come, fight!”  

Gritting his teeth, Mr. He raised his spear and instantly engaged his shadow in combat.  

The surrounding Vigil Keepers, Ren Ye, and even Red Dog were all bewildered but also subtly relieved—this shadow was clearly on their side.  

“Clang, clang, clang…!”  

Mr. He and the shadow fought with incredible speed, moving from the ground to the beams and then to the right side of the stage. They moved so fast that even Gu Nian could barely follow their movements. Yet, everyone had the same thought: the shadow was a monster.  

It flawlessly mimicked Mr. He’s every attack. Whatever Mr. He did, the shadow mirrored perfectly.  

After just over 20 seconds, Mr. He retreated, drenched in sweat. “This was supposed to be the Battle of Changban! How did it turn into The True and False Monkey King?!”  

“Really?”  

The woman’s ethereal voice echoed playfully. “Then why not turn it into a mythological drama instead?”  

As she spoke, the shadow with the spear began to shift. Its back hunched, its arms and torso grew covered in thick black fur, and its eyes and expression became animated and mischievous. Finally, the spear in its hand transformed into a long, jet-black staff.  

The shadow’s appearance had truly turned into Sun Wukong—a lively, leaping monkey.  

“Watch me blow on my hair!” The shadow plucked a strand of black hair from its head and gently blew it into the air.  

“Poof!”  

The black hair scattered under the stage lights and exploded.  

“Swish, swish, swish…!”  

In an instant, the stage was filled with shadows—dozens of identical Sun Wukongs!  

Illusion and reality blurred together. It was impossible to tell which was which.  

Seeing this, Mr. He’s scalp tingled, and his mind cleared in an instant. Rarely losing his composure, he cursed, “You’re cheating! You’re that hunter from the Fraudulent Merchants Association—did you advance to third-tier?!”  

“Not yet—I’m just naturally strong.”  

“Alright then, take this, old Sun’s staff…!”  

Countless voices erupted from every direction as the shadow monkeys leaped into the air, all aiming to strike Mr. He.  

“I’m done with this opera!”  

In a fluster, Mr. He stumbled backward, grabbing the severely injured dwarf. With a loud shout, he bellowed, “The performance is over—retreat!”  

“Whoosh!”  

As he spoke, a wooden door with the words Actor Passage inscribed on it suddenly appeared at the side of the stage.