Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 493: Need Some Tool People to Work_1
The game character within the Nine Extremes Divine Palace was lurking, gradually seeking the roots of the Divine Palace in order to further control it.
Massive amounts of memory bodies were scattered throughout the world, helping Wang Linchi to solidify his faith and construct a new persona. Meanwhile, his main body was undergoing a transformation, aiming to balance the trinity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit as quickly as possible, using copious amounts of faith and incense offerings as fuel.
Of course, these things were not worthy of being absorbed by Wang Linchi. The toxicity of incense was not a false claim.
Therefore, Wang Linchi had always been using it as fuel and a source of mana, rather than feasting directly on it.
Everything was proceeding peacefully until the day Yuan Lin headed out to campaign.
At regular intervals, Wang Linchi was simultaneously researching the Absolute Heaven-Linking Array while undergoing his transformation, in hopes of turning it to his own advantage.
There was no need to worry about the Divine Palace finding out; with the game characters’ surveillance, combined with the fact that they hadn’t done any repairs or maintenance, they had no awareness of the external issues.
As for the Capital, it was already full of starving people, and things were on the verge of erupting.
When cut off from supplies, many things could become exceedingly strange.
People desperate from hunger were capable of anything.
He wanted to help, but upon closer look, most of them were the elite class. Saving them today might lead to them forgetting the good deed by tomorrow, perhaps even using him as a token of allegiance. Ordinary civilians? To put it bluntly, those who could, had already fled. How could they all be confined within the besieged city? The Rebel Army... oh, no, they should be called the Rebel Army now. They’re on the winning side, so derogatory expressions can’t be used; complimentary terms must be used.
Many ordinary people had thrown their lot in with various Rebel Armies besieging the city, and these Rebel Armies naturally accepted them all.
Quite a few aristocrats were trying to exploit the chaotic situation, but this was too obvious. The difference between ordinary people and the self-proclaimed superior people was enormous.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see it, so those trying to muddy the waters were rarely successful.
Zhang Lin and Li Zheng are preparing to flee, that’s interesting, Wang Linchi quickly discovered. A memory body had relayed this back, stating that those two had invited him to break through the siege together.
Those two are quite useful. They’ve been old friends for many years. Should I lend a hand? Wang Linchi pondered. However, these two don’t seem very devout. They’ve always seen me as a tool, merely trying to snatch extra lifespan from me.
Wang Linchi’s divinity governed life and death, so naturally, he could extend people’s lifespans. But since the two aspects of his divinity had not fully matured yet, he had not delved deeply into them, for fear of shattering the unstable divinity.
I remember my birth anniversary is approaching... no, it should be that of the Heaven Equivalent Benevolent Holy Emperor. I need to find a reliable person to plan it, Wang Linchi suddenly thought. A big celebration during the birth anniversary could be used to reap some faith. As for the relationship between me and the Heaven Equivalent Benevolent Holy Emperor, the Emperor’s divine cornerstone could be me, but I could not possibly be the Emperor. That is the difference between a game player and a game character, which must not be blurred at all. If it were blurred, then the roles might be reversed. These two should be able to handle it without any major issues, and I need to further bluff and bluster. Wang Linchi also wanted to expand his influence.
For instance, on the day of the birth anniversary and the three days before and after it, I want the world to cease hostilities and worship me in a ritual manner. This, of course, is unrealistic. Although 80% of the world believes in me, this belief is mostly superficial. This is why I need to bluff. It’s because things like this can’t be done, so I need to fake it. I understand the value of the Heaven Equivalent Benevolent Holy Emperor in the eyes of those Rebel Armies. Most of the rebel leaders use me as a pretext, with only a few truly believing. It’s just that the Emperor’s banner is useful. While many people did appreciate the life I had provided in the past, with the passage of time, many things will only be buried deep in their hearts, unexpressed, until eventually forgotten. However, I cannot accept this. I’ve painstakingly nurtured my crop of chives, wanting to harvest them for a festival, yet they’re reluctant to let me reap. Absolutely ridiculous! As long as I can get it done the first time, even if it turns chaotic for three to five years after, during these seven days every year, they’ll dutifully halt hostilities. I’m not just thinking short term, but also for years to come. Only I can bluff my way through this. And on second thought, I really do need the help of Zhang Lin and Li Zheng for this. Looking at the people atop Mount Tai Temple, hardly any of them are useful. It’s not that they lack ability, but simply that they can’t handle such a large scene. So, I can only try to save them. I’ve seen it all too clearly—given their circumstances, there’s no hope of a successful breakout. Altogether, there are seventeen people linked up—nineteen including them. With so few in number, breaking out of a siege formed by thousands is simply unrealistic. Yes, they want to make their way to the East Gate. The Rebel Army defending that position is merely 9,000—well short of 10,000. But the truth is that whether it’s 9,000 or even just 900, breaking out is never going to be easy. So, without a plug-in, success is basically impossible.
「...」
"Have you made up your mind?" Zhang Lin looked somewhat doubtful at Jinhu. Jinhu hadn’t given an immediate response when previously invited to join the breakout attempt, so now that Jinhu was seeking him out, Zhang Lin figured an answer must have been reached.
"The breakout is not the problem; the problem is that we can’t break out," Jinhu stated. "Not to mention the heavily guarded western, southern, and northern gates, even the eastern gate alone is not something we can break through. And have you considered, Grand Secretary, why the difference between the number of troops at the eastern gate and the other three gates is so great? Could it be a trap?" Jinhu asked a series of critical questions.
Zhang Lin sighed, "Of course I’ve considered it. But there’s no other choice." How could I not suspect that something is amiss? But at this point, we have to forge ahead regardless.
"So you’re asking me if I can solve this, aren’t you? I’ll be blunt—I can’t," said Zhang Lin, not holding anything back.
"No, what I mean is, I have a way to solve it, but it would require a certain sacrifice," Jinhu said calmly.
This is something I hadn’t expected, Zhang Lin thought. After all, how could I ever have guessed that Jinhu had a way out? He isn’t of high rank, merely an Imperial Guard. I chose him because of his prowess in battle. While he wasn’t quite strong enough to hold off an army single-handedly, he was a match for ten men and fought as if his life depended on it.
"What sacrifice?" asked Zhang Lin.
"The Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary is imminent," Jinhu didn’t answer directly, but instead uttered this statement.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Zhang Lin hadn’t quite caught on. What does the Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary have to do with our breakout and the sacrifice required? The Holy Emperor isn’t in need of human sacrifices—surely they aren’t planning to offer me up as a sacrificial offering?
"I am a Class B devotee, the Leader of the Qingxi Army at the North Gate, and was once the Temple Master of Qingxi Mount Temple," Jinhu announced, causing Zhang Lin’s eyes to widen in surprise.
So among all these people, it’s this youngster who has kept his cards closest to his chest! Zhang Lin realized. Once this Class B devotee status comes to light, all Rebel Army members will treat him as an esteemed guest. After all, they all fight under the banner of the Heaven Equivalent Benevolent Holy Emperor. Having a Class B devotee join their ranks would be like a gold-plated signboard! This means that as long as we move towards the North Gate, the Qingxi Army will grant us safe passage. Furthermore, if we announce that we’re there to help celebrate the Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary, the Qingxi Army might even provide escorts!
"I understand. What sacrifice do I need to make?" Zhang Lin agreed without hesitation.
In my heart, a bittersweet feeling lingered, he thought. When King Heaven Equivalent was alive, I relied on him. Yet now, even after his death, he’s still helping me—a massive life-saving favor indeed.
"The Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary—I’ve made it clear," said Jinhu.
"You want me to be in charge of the Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary!" At this point, Zhang Lin finally caught on, then asked, "Sure, but what about the people on Mount Tai Temple, will they agree?" Where there are people, there is conflict. An outsider like me parachuting in definitely won’t be readily welcomed.
"I have faith in Grand Secretary Zhang’s capability. The other Class B devotees will also believe in you. No one will object," Jinhu, as a memory body representing Wang Linchi’s will, stated. Such backing from the highest level would surely ensure no objections.
"Then let’s do as you’ve suggested. What should I bring?" Zhang Lin asked.
"Manpower. You have a quota of 100 people who can help you carry out the Holy Emperor’s birth anniversary celebration. But of course, there’s no strict restriction. If there are good talents, you can bring more," Jinhu offered his conditions.
