CHAPTER 240: CHAPTER 240: THEY CAN’T BE FOOLING US TOGETHER, RIGHT?

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

For the vast majority of ordinary people, the concept of a Secret Realm was simply out of their sight.

Even the Secret Realm that appeared at the University of Cambridge in Britain was swiftly locked down in terms of news. Though foreign intelligence agencies were not easily fooled, to the general public, it was merely a source of speculation due to its unique landscape. As for media groups getting close to it... heh, who would dare? There was not even a need for the government to step in, as the upper echelons of the media directly pressured to prevent any news from leaking out.

Moreover, Secret Realms were not exclusive to any one region but were opportunities and crises encountered by Mysterious Country, the Federation, and other nations. Therefore, in unclear situations, all countries tacitly agreed to block the news, with at most various "photos" and "rumors" circulating online. Meanwhile, national internet departments took the opportunity to release even more ’supernatural photos’.

All kinds of amusing information quickly flooded the internet, muddling the public’s view. This included images captioned "this cloud looks remarkably like the Handsome Monkey King," "a giant Kun appeared in that sea," and "that haunted house looks like it really has ghosts."

This led most people to believe it was PS Week, and the production of fantastical silly images significantly increased.

Although many were aware of Spiritual Energy Awakening and the great changes to the world, they were faced with an avalanche of manipulated media images. Consequently, everyone naturally took it as a joke, without delving deeper.

The best way to hide a piece of news is not to suppress it but to drown the real news in an even greater flood of rumors.

However, should the news leak, all countries were already mentally prepared, because—

"Ren Naiser has updated!"

In the girls’ dormitory at Sky Capital Cultivation School, Ren Qingqing dragged Tang Yihan to sit in front of the computer, excitedly opening a bullet-screen website—she was also the type who had a severe addiction to bullet comments, enjoying the sensation of watching videos with a large crowd.

"If it’s about a drama again, I’m not interested," Tang Yihan said.

"Oh come on, we’re free while eating anyway, so let’s just watch it." Ren Qingqing, upon opening the webpage, immediately saw a promotional page hanging at the top of the site— "Mage Under the World Tree."

Whenever Ren Naiser posted a video, it would go viral and dominate major video sites; everyone was accustomed to it.

"I could play on my phone..." Tang Yihan mumbled, glancing over at the screen and sighing, "He looks quite handsome."

The promotional page for "Mage Under the World Tree" featured a silver-haired magician with a left hand radiating white light and a right hand condensing blood light. His hairstyle was slightly radical. However, it couldn’t be denied that for a magician’s appearance, such a radical style truly highlighted an awe-inspiring, cool aura.

Upon starting the video, they found it wasn’t long—only two hours, the length of a movie. Though a bit long for a meal, Tang Yihan barely agreed to watch it with Ren Qingqing, considering the presence of a handsome man.

The video started abruptly. The Silver-White Mage and a red-hooded Female Mage burst into an abandoned monastery, displaying various spells to kill the strange monsters inside. After the monsters died, they transformed into small animals like mice, birds, and snakes. These lay weakly on the ground and disappeared into smoke at the magician’s touch.

Soon, they encountered monsters that looked like Stitched Corpse Monsters. After being defeated, these monsters turned into humans lying on the ground.

"So small monsters are transformed from animals, and big monsters from humans? This setting is quite typical."

"Huh? These people didn’t disappear but were taken outside?"

"So do these people actually exist? Can we interview them about what it feels like to turn into monsters?"

"Holy shit, holy shit, what is this magician doing?"

"It’s the Golden Crispy Chicken! He’s pulled out a Golden Crispy Chicken! What kind of spell is this?"

"Why isn’t it the Finger-Licking Good Chicken?"

"These people were originally villagers who died of hunger, turning into monsters because of starvation. Now they’ve received Redemption by filling their bellies with fried chicken."

"So, is this a PSA urging us not to waste food?"

The monastery was undoubtedly crawling with monsters. However, the video only briefly showed some clips of the two magicians’ attacks and rescue operations. The scene then switched to a bloodbath emerging from the monastery’s central pool.

"It’s the boss fight! This boss, I give 80 out of 100. Can’t compare to the Cannibal Tribe from Deadly Turn!"

"So, this video is just fight and no talk?"

"Huh? Someone’s coming through the door?"

"It’s our people! These look like the Transcendent Cultivators from ’Demon-Slaying Blade’!"

"Holy shit, the magician is speaking Mandarin now."

"This Secret Realm is in Ailan Lake? That’s not far from me at all. Oh my god, this is in Fragrance City?"

"Who’s up for a group trip to sightsee?"

"Sightseeing +1"

"Waiting for the bullet comments in front to turn into a Patchwork Monster."

The battle scene was intensely fierce. Yet, the main camera perspective was not on the Mages but on the Transcendent Cultivators of Mysterious Country who had joined the battle.

When gigantic monsters struck the Transcendent Cultivators, bending their arms backward, it was the magician’s Holy Light Bullet that timely rescued them.

When the Transcendent Cultivators were about to be smashed into pulp, it was the magician who appeared before them, sacrificing his fingers to bind the monsters.

When the Transcendent Cultivators were beaten until their organs ruptured, it was the magician who went to sustain their lives.

In the end, Tang Yihan watched intently, no longer speaking. She held tightly onto Ren Qingqing’s arm as she witnessed the handsome, silver-haired magician scream in excruciating pain. He burned his own skin to summon a terrifying Demon King and delivered a deadly blow to the nearly mad monster.

In its final moments, the monster still counterattacked ferociously. It shattered the Charred Magician’s organs before being toppled by the Female Mage, transforming into an ordinary woman.

The Charred Magician, dragging his mangled body, touched the kneeling woman’s head with a holy light emanating from his left hand. Then, the screen filled with light, delving into the woman’s flashbacks...

A tragic love story, a common woman’s Despair for unattainable happiness.

"That unbelievable cup, is it a wish-granting machine?"

"Is there really such a thing?"

"Can wishes only come true in bad ways? Tsk, otherwise, I might want to lose a love just to see if I could..."

"With this style of art, they aren’t living in modern times, are they? Monsters that appeared in the Middle Ages? How many years have they been alive?"

"Yandere is also quite cute, I think..."

The bullet comments gradually skewed off to Skyrim. After the flashback ended, the kneeling woman revealed a reassured smile and dispersed into specks of light. The Female Mage turned and walked away. Meanwhile, the Charred Magician weakly swayed and was promptly caught by a nearby Transcendent Cultivator.

With such severe injuries, there was clearly no salvation. The Charred Magician faintly responded to the Transcendent Cultivator’s Thanks and dissolved into specks of light.

「Next came the second Secret Realm, the third Secret Realm, the fourth Secret Realm...」

"Why are the magicians casting Forbidden Techniques always alone? And why are they all male magicians? Wouldn’t it be better if they all did it together so no one would die?" — An audience member not paying serious attention.

"Male magicians can be resurrected, you know. And casting Forbidden Techniques is best done solo. Look at these Forbidden Techniques. Don’t they all significantly reduce combat power? If everyone cast them together, that would quickly deplete the combat power." — A logical viewer.

"Angel Zack, who was trounced by the Handsome Monkey King, is actually this strong!" — An audience member with keen observation.

"The Goddess has appeared again! And she even joined the Fairy Palace? Does Fairy Palace still need a pet, the kind that eats, drinks, defecates, urinates, and sleeps?" — Fairy Palace enthusiast.

"When will the black-haired magician be resurrected? It would be great if Caroline could be with him." — Likely a female viewer.

"What? It’s very likely that female magicians are transformed male magicians!? My beloved Red Hood..." — Heartbroken viewer.

"Isn’t it better if a female magician is a transformed male magician?" — Possibly a victim of gender-bender/cross-dressing manga.

When the video ended, Ren Qingqing smiled and said to Tang Yihan, "How about it? Did you like it?"

Tang Yihan nodded gently. "It was very good."

"But I didn’t expect that, aside from Fairy Palace, there would be another organization in this world called World Tree. The two organizations also seem to be closely linked."

Tang Yihan said, "Compared to Fairy Palace, World Tree seems to have much more Affinity—Fairy Palace is too distant. But, becoming a magician comes with so many risks..."

"It’s worth the risks. Look, these magicians seem to have lived for thousands of years!" Ren Qingqing’s eyes sparkled as she dragged the progress bar to the middle. "This black-haired magician even mentioned ’Demon Hunting of the Ren of the East.’ Could it be the Ren Family from ’Over My Dead Body’?"

"It can’t be that coincidental..."

"But back in ancient times, the Transcendent circle must have also been small, right? It might just be that coincidental. People with Supernatural Abilities should know each other, and the responsibilities of magicians and the Ren Family are very similar, too."

Ren Qingqing said, "And there’s no reason for World Tree to deceive people, right? And to match with Fairy Palace and the Ren Family from ’Over My Dead Body’? It’s not possible for them to collude in deception; it’s not like it’s all scripted by one person!"