Chapter 676: I Didn’t Mean to Imply Anything About Young Master Sang
A few months passed, and the world seemed to regain its tranquility.
The progress of “Rebel Immortal Sect” accelerated rapidly, having held three or four rounds of closed beta testing.
However, Huo Ningxue’s due date was approaching, and the Sang family had no choice but to pause the game’s development to prioritize her care.
Meanwhile, there was still no response from Huo Longyuan on the outside.
During this time, aside from staying home with family, Sang Zhe was also tirelessly searching for the whereabouts of the missing gods and demons in the outside world.
At the same time, the Void Eye nurtured within his gaze was approaching awakening day by day.
Days passed like this.
——
——
“Whoa…”
In the game department of Floating Splendor Commerce, when Young Master Cao and Xiang Zimo took off their eye gear, they both saw deep shock reflected in each other’s eyes.
“This is too outrageous… Is this really a game?”
“I, I really thought for a moment I had crossed over to another world.”
“Perfect,” a nearby staff member said with a smile, “While you two are still immersed in that world, please quickly fill out this survey while it’s still fresh in your minds.”
“And don’t hog the spot for too long; there are other players waiting to try the machines.”
The two could only grumble as they took the report to the neighboring room.
On the other side, as they looked at the real-time feedback reports collected online, Nian Nian frowned slightly.
“The main boss design of the game is too mediocre; players are quite consistent in their feedback on this.”
And indeed, everyone was dissatisfied. From the start, the portrayal of this boss had left much to be desired.
After all, a villain training evil arts to destroy the world was a clichéd trope with almost no dramatic conflict.
“There’s nothing we can do,” Young Master Sang said helplessly, raising his hands. “There aren’t any good villain templates left to use.”
“The game’s world is built on the Abyss Realm as a template, and now all major factions have nearly finalized their roles in the game script—there’s no one suitable to be the villain.”
“Then let’s just add some conflict,” Tang Yubbing, who was gnawing on a pencil, suddenly said. “For example, use the most worn-out tropes, like the conflicts between humans and demons, the depletion of resources in the Demon Realm, and invasions for resource domination. That way, there’s no clear right or wrong, and players won’t complain, right?”
“Sounds easy enough,” Sang Zhe said gloomily. “But if you make the Demon Clan the villains in the game, they certainly won’t be happy in reality.”
“Especially since a couple of days ago, my father-in-law Long Xiao called to ask if their Demon Clan could invest in this game. If the game launches and players accuse us of ‘discrimination against demons,’ won’t that be the end?”
“Then let’s put some effort into the villain characterization,” Si Jingzhu said, holding a sketchpad. “Let’s create a lovesick villain that people love and hate—a tragic figure who develops a hatred for the world after his beloved dies, starts training evil arts, and keeps shouting, ‘Lin, I will create a world with you in it once more.’”
… What a tear-jerking setup.
Sang Zhe sighed, “That idea has already been snatched by the 1.1 version event planning team. Using it for the main storyline would be a bit repetitive.”
“Or how about setting up a revenge-seeking villain?”
Si Jingzhu said enthusiastically, “We’ll craft a sad character who’s been ostracized by his sect since childhood and bullied by disciples, who accidentally gains forbidden powers that can change his fate.”
“Power gives him endless desire; he craves revenge, strength, wealth, and women.”
“He begins to fall into the Demon Cultivators, bullies the weak, avenges his sect, and gradually becomes powerful enough to dominate the entire continent!”
“This kind of character fits perfectly as the main boss, and we could write a long story around it.”
After she finished boasting, she noticed everyone in the room was staring at her.
Si Jingzhu: “…Uh. Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything about Young Master Sang…”
“You really shouldn’t say that,” Bai Ming suddenly chuckled. “When you think about it, the most suitable candidate for the final boss in this entire continent is actually you.”
After a sigh, Sang Zhe looked a bit gloomy. “If it comes to it, I could reluctantly take on the role of the final boss in the game.”
“But, given my popularity in reality, won’t some players who see me as an idol hesitate to unleash their fury on me as the boss?”
After saying this, Sang Zhe casually tossed his hair and lamented, “Ah, sometimes being too popular is a hassle, you know?”
“Why not just ask?”
With that, Yan Rouwan typed a few words on the communication device.
Soon, the offline players filling out the survey saw a new question pop up:
If the final boss of the game is set to be Sang Zhe, the master of the Taixu Alliance, would you be satisfied with this setting?
Quickly, responses began flooding in.
What?! This is an amazing opportunity!
Full marks! I’ve been wanting to smack that jerk for ages!
Support the design team! In reality, I can’t measure up to this life winner, but can I take him down in the game?
That damn Sang, hoarding so many wives—it’s infuriating! He deserves a good beating!
Guns at the ready, follow me! Rob the fairies, take down Sang!
After a brief silence, everyone in the room turned their gaze to Sang Zhe once more.
Sang Zhe: “…”
“…Wait, do I really have such a bad reputation now? Why does mentioning hitting me get everyone so excited?”
“You could say it’s like this,” Bai Ming covered his mouth, chuckling. “If there was a game in your past life where you could punch Wang X Cong, would you play it?”
… True.
Sometimes, seeing others’ success, especially when they flaunt it, makes you really want to smack them.
But being the final boss yourself… Sang Zhe felt conflicted.
“No way, I still want to portray a cool and suave hidden master in the game. Why suddenly turn into a big villain?”
“Oh come on, everything’s for game sales~”
Bai Ming smiled sweetly, pinching Sang Zhe’s cheek. “Just think of it as a sacrifice for your beloved game.”
Sang Zhe looked pensive, eventually sulking and hanging his head.
“…Fine. If players really like it, then I guess I’ll reluctantly sacrifice myself.”
After all, in his previous life, the company once held an event where planners played the boss for players to vent their dissatisfaction with the game’s operation.
One could only say, he was born to play the villain.
“Let’s do it this way; the specific script will be…”
Sang Zhe’s words were suddenly cut off.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Rouwan asked curiously.
Sang Zhe fell silent.
His eyes, through the projection from his avatar in the outside world, were locked onto something.
… It was the domain of Huo Longyuan.
