Su Ming'an approached the World Master for the third time, offering a scarlet shawl.

This time, the World Master raised a more in-depth topic.

"...I want to discuss with you the reward mechanism of the World Game."

Every word from the World Master exceeded Su Ming'an's expectations.

The World Master said, "You must already understand the principle: 'The greater the difficulty, the greater the reward.' The harder the task, the higher the rewards the player receives. But have you ever considered what standard the World Game uses to assess difficulty?"

Su Ming'an pondered, "The difficulty of collecting clues? The combat power of enemies? The time-consuming nature of tasks?"

"The answer is." The World Master smiled, "The gap in strength."

He got up, finally moving his noble back away from the statue of the goddess, with his long purple hair streaming smoothly, sliding off the pale statue, cascading down his back:

"The equation I've researched is: [Average comprehensive ability required by the task - Player's current strength = Task difficulty]"

"To increase task rewards, we need to increase task difficulty. Which means—"

"Increase the minuend in the formula, decrease the subtrahend, and expand the difference."

"The minuend is difficult to change in most cases, unless the task requires the target to be one of our own, then we can have our people create trouble. For example, if your task is to see the Goddess of Life, I can set multiple challenges for you—[Only by passing the World Master's high difficulty test can you see the Goddess of Life], your task reward will then increase."

"The subtrahend is what we focus on. Because the increase in the minuend is limited, but the subtrahend can be reduced infinitely—simply by sealing your own strength. When the World Game system detects that your current strength does not match the task difficulty, once you complete the task, the rewards will be transformational and elevating."

"Have I made these points clear?"

The World Master's tone was exceptionally gentle. He said "Have I made these points clear" instead of "Have you understood," making it pleasant to hear.

"Yes." Su Ming'an felt as if he had attended a beneficial lecture. Zhai Xing's experts have also researched this topic, but not as thoroughly as the World Master, which requires a vast amount of data analysis, and any carelessness could bring harm to Adventurer Players.

"Through extensive research, I have gained certain data awareness on this equation, enabling me to help you precisely optimize between task difficulty and task reward efficiency." The World Master circled half a step around Su Ming'an, his voice gentle and slow: "Let me think... based on your current progress, you should be at the third or fourth ring of the Perfect Pass?"

...Correct.

Su Ming'an's pupils trembled slightly; the World Master was truly the most transcendent being he had encountered, more astute than even the players.

The World Master's footsteps "tap, tap, tap" surrounded Su Ming'an; he seemed to enjoy pondering this way, golden eyes in the mask's crevice flashed thoughtfully:

"Your initial birth point was in the Red Tower Kingdom, so your first ring Perfect Pass task should be related either to the Red Tower Kingdom or to the Game Day, either escaping from the Red Tower Kingdom or waiting for the Game Day to start."

"The subsequent ring tasks generally connect with each other, so your second ring Perfect Pass task should also be related to the Game Day... is it to clear the first level of the Disciple Game?"

"The World Game needs you to enter Luowasha's main storyline; the best method is to contact higher entities, including but not limited to me, Fun Demon, Nalan Court, Wheel of Destiny, Death Cantor... Considering your previous question, your third ring Perfect Pass task... should be to meet the Goddess of Life?"

...All correct.

A cold feeling climbed Su Ming'an's spine; if not for the certainty that he hadn't shared his task content with the World Master, he would suspect that the World Master had seen them.

This was the first time he felt thoroughly perceived, perhaps Noel could do this, but Noel never expressed it so plainly. The World Master expressed his wisdom bluntly, as if with confidence.

If such a person were an enemy, he could manipulate Su Ming'an's task chain through various means, indirectly controlling the task content and cornering the player, killing without blood.

"...How is it?"

Seeing Su Ming'an silent, the "tap, tap, tap" sound indoors abruptly stopped, leaving only the never-ending aroma of wisteria flowers. The World Master's golden eyes narrowed slightly, his voice becoming unthreatening again:

"...Do I possess the value to cooperate with you, Number One Player?"

Su Ming'an slowly said, "I give you High Dimensional Blessing, you help me gain substantial task chain rewards."

"Indeed, what you need to offer is just a slight lookout after achieving victorious results." The World Master smiled: "Enjoy the service first, then pay the price. I think it's quite challenging to find such good cooperation nowadays. My sincerity has been shown; can you grant me yours?"

Su Ming'an was continually thinking.

Rationally and emotionally, cooperating with the World Master is entirely beneficial. If the World Master wanted to harm him, he wouldn't reveal these details, merely indirectly influence the task chain, which would be troublesome for him.

Yet he wouldn't easily trust anyone, after all, the World Master is profoundly mystifying, what has been displayed so far is just the tip of the iceberg above the sea.

"If you're an enemy, the pressure is immense." Su Ming'an said.

"Thus, please become an ally with me." The World Master laughed: "After all, with your 'acuity,' if I even slightly have thoughts of betrayal, you would perceive it, right?"

He enunciated the word "acuity" very heavily, and Su Ming'an caught what he implied—Su Ming'an, if I betray you, you can retaliate in the next cycle, so how could I dare to harm you?

But simultaneously, a faint alarm rose in Su Ming'an's mind. For ordinary people, they surely wouldn't dare become enemies with a reloader. But if it's a sage like the World Master, when the World Master truly intends to betray, he would even calculate the dead end without giving Su Ming'an the chance to turn the tables.

Just like a triple deadlock...

A deadlock that's hard to resolve.

However, Su Ming'an is not an island; if he alone cannot resolve it, isn't there another companion with the same perspective as the World Master?

"I agree." Su Ming'an said.

"A wise choice." The World Master clapped, seemingly very pleased.

"How should I address you?"

"If you don't mind, the World Master is fine." The World Master said: "Of course, you can also call me Wen... Wen Jun. That's my name."

He opened his hand, revealing a purple rose cufflink in his palm:

"This is proof of our cooperation, I hope you'll wear it always, it's also a symbol of our friendship."

Su Ming'an attached it to his left sleeve, casually asking, "What happens if it's taken off?"

The World Master's tone deepened, "That would mean the rupture of our cooperation."

Su Ming'an said, "What if I hadn't agreed to cooperate with you just now?"

"You've already learned so much information. Trying to walk away from it puts people at ease." The World Master laughed gently, his tone still soft: "...I might keep you, share tea with you until we start cooperating. If you consistently disagree, I might take extreme measures."

...I knew it.

Su Ming'an's sense of crisis was indeed correct; although the World Master appeared amiable, seemingly giving all initiative to Su Ming'an, in fact, the World Master was locked into this outcome from the start.

Long before Su Ming'an met the World Master for the first time—the World Master had already made all the necessary preparations.

First, set a psychological suggestion that "giving a flower is the first cycle, the red shawl is the second cycle, and the crown is the third cycle."

Second, strictly consider the depth of information revealed in each cycle, only revealing fixed information in each cycle. If Su Ming'an directly gave the World Master the crown in the first cycle, the World Master would certainly test in the exchange that Su Ming'an doesn't know the information of the second cycle, thus determining that Su Ming'an is playing tricks.

Third, if Su Ming'an doesn't come in any of the cycles and directly chooses to run away, the World Master can still kill Pudding, forcing Su Ming'an to revert to the checkpoint. As long as Su Ming'an is firmly controlled within Samantri University's reset range, the World Master can certainly control Su Ming'an's range of movement.

After all, after the Disciple Game ends, Su Ming'an will most likely return to Samantri University. Even if the time to reset is long, he can only return to the Disciple Game, and in the end, he's still within Samantri University, which is the World Master's encirclement.

Without even confirming if Su Ming'an can reset, the World Master has already made such thorough preparations, causing one to shudder upon thinking carefully. If Su Ming'an doesn't have a reset ability, the World Master might have other preparations... like Luowasha's Resurrection Technique.

"Later, I'll have the Godfather come to find you. He's proficient in sealing skills." The World Master sat down again, leaned against the statue of the goddess, his eyes turned lazy again, as if the sharpness from a moment ago had never appeared.

"How much of my strength will be retained?" Su Ming'an asked.

"The lower the strength, the higher the difficulty of the mission, and thus the higher the mission reward." The World Master smiled: "But don't worry, the sealing skill only takes effect during the Disciple Game. I've calculated the most cost-effective value... approximately 1500 combat power, can you accept it?"

...1500 combat power.

Su Ming'an touched his chin. If it only takes effect during the Disciple Game, it is acceptable. After all, there are so many strange deities and demons in the Disciple Game, what's unbeatable can't be beaten, what's beatable can all be beaten. This way, he can exchange for better mission rewards, which are extremely valuable when outfitted in reality.

However, this way he cannot well protect the 2021 version of Su Ming'an.

"If you need higher rewards later, you can also use the sealing skill in reality. If needed, just let me know." The World Master said.

"Did you have Hui Bai kill Pudding just to force me to reset?" Su Ming'an asked.

The World Master's fingers paused, a purple grape stopped at his fingertip.

A moment later, he chuckled:

"It's not just for this reason, but when our cooperation deepens to a certain extent, I'll tell you then."

Suddenly, the World Master looked up, glanced out the window, his golden eyes slightly squinted:

"Did you have tea?"

"I did." Su Ming'an said.

"Hmm." The World Master said: "You need not give me the crown anymore, that was a bewildering answer I said deliberately to prevent you from playing tricks... bring a cufflink to meet me, any cufflink will do, I'll understand with a glance."

This statement by the World Master meant... this cycle had ended.

Su Ming'an felt a tightness in his heart... the World Master truly calculated everything, if Su Ming'an had just sought information greedily and directly brought the crown to see the World Master, skipping the red shawl, it might have resulted in "extreme measures" being taken now.

The next meeting, they wouldn't even need to reveal any intentions "aimed at the World Game", the World Master would just need to see the cufflink Su Ming'an brought to know they had already talked through three complete cycles and reached cooperation.

Purple flames rose, the World Master intended to burn Su Ming'an with the flames, not expecting a blade like a crystal sword to suddenly break through the stained glass, piercing through the World Master's abdomen, with a "ding" sound, nailing him firmly to the mural.

...

—The unknown pursuer had arrived.

...

The mural in the hall depicted the scene where the Goddess of Life killed the demon, and the World Master was just affixed to the cross in the mural, which was the position where the demon was executed.

The demon wings in the painting spread behind him, showing the mottling and rust of the millennium mural, the fresh blood dyed the gray-yellow background red.

He struggled once, more and more fresh blood oozing from his abdomen, hands pressing on the sword, trying to pull the blade out, his feet unable to touch the ground, the whole body's weight hanging from the sword, breathing became rapid.

"Tick, tick, tick."

The blade firmly jammed the bones, blood dripping down to the ground. He struggled a few more times, gasping violently, pressing on his abdomen, laughed: "… Came a little quick, but it's no big deal…"

Su Ming'an reacted immediately, touched the purple flames, and actively committed suicide.

At the moment the flames burned on, he saw what broke in—an unfamiliar girl with long pink hair floating, her entire body wrapped in light.

She was almost like a deity.

Unable to see the light in her eyes, not even her outfit clearly, the light was too dazzling. When she looked indifferently at the World Master on the wall, it was like a deity judging a demon trying to overthrow order.

In the eyes of Luowasha's beings, the World Master was brutal and unpredictable, stained with blood.

In the eyes of the gods, the World Master desecrated the goddess, allowed the demonization crisis, audaciously defied the heaven array.

In the perspective of the World Game, the World Master interfered in high dimensions, attempting to overturn order.

—From any angle, he seems to be the unequivocal "demon", not conforming to secular definitions of truth, goodness, and beauty.

And under the gaze of the Pursuer, the World Master slowly lifted his head, chin full of splattered blood, golden eyes narrowing with a smile:

"Oh, Luowasha's funeral deliverer, you arrived a step late."

"This time, I intentionally let you pierce me with the sword, just to experience your intensity… Indeed, enough to kill me in one sword, I've already felt the pain of suffocation…"

He coughed a few times, gasping violently, his hands gradually falling:

"However, this is very interesting."

"When I meet you in the definitive time, I will remember well the taste of this sword, and will specifically address it."

He watched the soon-to-be ashes Su Ming'an, laughed and slowly closed his eyes, blood flowing down his neck.

…

"Today's afternoon sunlight is very nice… fitting for a nap…"

"I'll sleep a while first, waiting to wake…"

…

Purple flames burning.

Daylight reversed, colors thoroughly brightened.

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