Chapter 1783 Chapter 1776: A Game of Mystics (7)
Chapter 1783 Chapter 1776: A Game of Mystics (7)
ONE HUNDRED BILLION!
At the highlight of the selection, as the two synergistic casters announced the variant of choice excitedly, Hao Chengxue explained the intricate details behind each vote, such as how every Alchemist chose Mystics: Cultivation, those dedicated to the path of cultivation or its various auxiliary specializations chose extreme variants where Alchemists had an advantage, and Grand Seer Rippledark's choices, all spawning from how utterly decisive divination and seeking opportunities were for these game variants, was when the viewership of almost exclusively Ascended beings across the Utmost Purity Galaxy reached ten billion!
Meanwhile, the participants, excluding Yue Baoyue, didn't seem shocked by the selection. Since they all voted for this, they were clearly prepared. As for Yue Baoyue, she was voting in accordance with Su Yi, assisting him. Given how she joined this game, this only verified to everyone else that these two had an alliance.
Yet, within the eyes of Tianshi Ya, who was normally flat and cold, there was a wisp of pity whenever her gaze met Yue Baoyue. Unfortunately, that pity was fleeting as raw determination replaced it with crushing force.
"Mystics: Royale! That is the variant game of choice!" Imentet repeated. "But now that the selection has been made, what's the next step?"
"Glad you asked Lady Imentet! Within our society, the next phase is naturally the special conditions & rules establishments. It's not always used by all, but this is the appropriate time for it to be decided!"
"Oh? Not the wager-deciding bidding phase?" Imentet asked. There were countless who wanted to see that process, especially to learn what these illustrious figures, many of whom were known as absurdly wealthy alchemists, would begin to wage in a public fashion.
"Not yet. The wager-decision bid will occur after all special conditions and rules have been set," Hao Chengxue confidently replied as he folded his arms and had a steely, intense tone, slowly bringing the crowd to a solemnity, allowing this moment to carry weight. Those who understood this section understood the severity of its importance.
This was where life and death were determined.
There was a reason why those responsible for the Knightly Dao Calamity hadn't participated personally! Instead, they sent agents of their grand will. Excluding Yue Baoyue, of course.
"How will these rules and conditions be determined?" Even Imentet took a serious tone, asking with a weight behind every syllable. She already knew of the rules, only serving to perform an outstanding job in enlightening the ignorant.
"Since the game has been decided, these rules will be simple. They can vote to include it or not. A sequence of silent votes was conducted. They'll vote for the number of rules and conditions contingent on certain circumstances, such as victory or a loss. They'll also vote for the number of Chosen."
"Chosen? What does that mean?" In the Everlore Starfield, the King of Everlore had coined the term 'Chosen' as a talented member of society that stood above their respective forces' younger generation and had the potential to reach greater levels, but outside the field, the term did not carry the same weight, used to determine the living pieces to determine the players' victory or defeat.
A Chosen would be someone like Qin Wang, who was tasked with completing two objectives—kill Sage Painted Star and protect Shang Wanqing's life. She had failed the first, but it wasn't certain if her other task was completed or not, and by the seething rage of those who manifested as agents of will, it was unlikely.
Hao Chengxue finished explaining that the Chosen were the living pieces these seven would choose and then leverage for their victory or cause them devastating losses. He even commented that these Chosen had the chance of being favored by these figures, causing their entire lives to change. It wasn't an exaggeration either.
Numerous prominent figures throughout the Utmost Purity Galaxy's history began their lives in games such as these, especially Mystics: Cultivation. Su Nianzu and Jia Yang had played a game of this, and despite one of Jia Yang's Chosen dying by an insidious plot by Su Nianzu, she was taken out of the isolated world and given the status of a maidservant of a World Emperor! Her life was changed entirely at that moment.
As for the voting process, it was decided in much the same way as before. It would be a series of votes! The first vote was the number of Chosen. It would either be decided by a unanimous tally or narrowed.
"The voting is beginning!" Imentet lightly placed her finger on her lips and gave a universally understandable gesture to be quiet, directing the main projection from them onto the players. Shockingly, numerous held their breaths and countless stopped speaking!
Wei Wuyin voted—One Chosen.
Tianshi Ya voted—Seven Chosen.
Guo Heng voted—Seven Chosen.
Su Yi voted—Four Chosen.
Qi Yingyin voted—Two Chosen.
Grand Seer Rippledark voted—Ten Chosen.
Yue Baoyue voted—Four Chosen.
"Oh! What a diverse set of votes!" Imentet commented that only two numbers were repeated and only twice. It was customary for Alchemists to vote seven, while the rest likely decided based on their confidence or plan. "What happens next?"
"The narrowing process; the lowest and highest numbers will be the range, and only in that range of numbers can a vote be cast." This was a rather lengthy process to explain, but the process was abnormally swift in reality. With one and ten serving as the range and eliminated, they could only continue.
Wei Wuyin voted—Two Chosen.
Tianshi Ya voted—Seven Chosen.
Guo Heng voted—Seven Chosen.
Su Yi voted—Four Chosen.
Qi Yingyin voted—Two Chosen.
Grand Seer Rippledark voted—Two Chosen.
Yue Baoyue voted—Four Chosen.
"Oh? Rippledark changed his vote from the highest number to the lowest! Two is now eliminated." Imentet exclaimed.
"Two and seven," Hao Chengxue pointed out. The next round began instantly.
Wei Wuyin voted—Three Chosen.
Tianshi Ya voted—Three Chosen.
Guo Heng voted—Three Chosen.
Su Yi voted—Four Chosen.
Qi Yingyin voted—Three Chosen.
Grand Seer Rippledark voted—Six Chosen.
Yue Baoyue voted—Four Chosen.
"And that's it!" Hao Chengxue shouted. "The number of Chosen has been selected: THREE!"
"Wait? What do you mean? Don't three and six get eliminated and they continue down the line?" Imentet asked, confused. Hao Chengxue shook his head and explained that the vote was decided by the majority vote. As long as the majority voted on the same number, that was the decider. If an awkward situation occurred between three and four being selected, there would be no decision.
"I see. Makes sense," Imentet nodded.
Yue Baoyue was a little shaken. Tianshi Ya and Guo Heng had changed their vote abruptly from high to the lowest. Moreover, they looked utterly indifferent as if they were unconcerned by the result.
With three Chosen selected, they had a rough idea of certain strategies they could deploy. Rarely was one ever chosen given these rules unless it was specifically determined before the game, much like how Yue Baoyue and Su Yi's voting was consistent.
"Now," Hao Chengxue said tensely, "the rules and conditions will be determined."
"What type of rules and conditions? And what do you mean by rules and conditions? Will these things be determined by a majority vote?" Imentet curiously asked, once again carrying the audience's questions with her voice.
Hao Chengxue stared at the table intensely, shaking his head. "For rules or conditions, each participant will determine a single rule or condition, and the host has the advantage here, possessing the power to veto a rule, condition, or even another veto, while the others have to jointly agree on which rule to veto, if any."
"Seven?"
"Seven."
Each participant will list out their rule or condition, and even if repeats are determined, that will be perfectly fine. This excludes the standard rules of Mystics: Royale which will largely remain unchanged unless the players introduce their own special rules and conditions.
For example, the cut-off age or cultivation for Chosen, including the minimum or maximum cultivation to participate in the Mystics: Royale. This might even include the type of stage, such as a desert world or a sea world. If not determined here, a random selection would be held by the Mystic Judges.
This also gave the host of the game incredible deciding strength. They could veto a single rule or condition, giving them a great advantage here.
"But what if they don't abide by the rules or play schemes to avoid certain conditions?" Imentet asked.
Hao Chengxue gestured solemnly, "Prior to this game, the seven participants all signed a Mythical Oath to abide by the conditions and rules established, such as the number of Chosen and special rules. Moreover, this was a Contract-Bound Mythical Oath, likely already gone, and can't be handled so easily.
"As for loopholes, they exist and can be freely exploited if found. As long as you're willing to take the risk that you haven't violated the Contract-Bound Mythical Oath."
Imentet seemed enlightened as she smiled, seizing more hearts than before, especially newcomers.
Tianshi Ya established —If all players Chosen suffer death, the respective player will cripple their cultivation base immediately, abolish their Spirits of Cultivation, and dissipate all quintessential sources of energy, essence, and cultivation, which must be sworn using the Seven Utmost Tower's Supreme Heavenly Treasure, the Divine Scepter of Seven Fortunes.
Guo Heng established—If a Chosen dies, the player who chose them receives Mythical Punishment equal to their cultivation base.
Su Yi established—Players receive only three Mystic Cards initially, all of varying types, and receive an additional card, at random, after their Chosen reaches the various defining points of cultivation: "First Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, Sixth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, First Stage of the Astral Core Realm, and Seventh Stage of the Astral Core Realm."
Qi Yingyin established—The death of a Chosen results in a Mythical Punishment of the highest strength relative to the cultivation of its respective player that the player suffers.
Grand Seer Rippledark established—The untimely demise of a Chosen results in Mythical Punishment matching the player's cultivation base, unleashed upon that player.
Yue Baoyue established—All Chosen can only be selected if they possess no cultivation base.
"...!"
"...!!"
"...!!!!!"
"WHAT?!" Hao Chengxue rose from his seated position, his eyes bulging intensely, while Imentet's heart raced as she disbelievingly watched the voted rules and conditions. Normally, cultivators would prevent Mystic Ascendant Realm cultivation base or limit the age, but this?!
Su Yi and Yue Baoyue's votes were disgustingly normal while the others were fatally vicious! Mythical Punishment!
MYTHICAL PUNISHMENT!!
That was the same punishment given to those who break their Mythical Oaths, utterly devastating and lethal, scaling alongside a cultivator's cultivation base. While these could be trivialized by various treasures, survived by a powerful external force, this punishment was extremely terrifying and enough to avoid making oaths!
Normally, especially in a society of Alchemists, Mythical Punishments have largely faded away from upper levels of the societal cultivation hierarchy due to various products that could dispel Oath Seeds, causing most cultivators at the World Emperor or higher to seek out Heavenly Treasures to swear Heaven-Bound Mythical Oaths that draws additional power of the Three Thousand Realms of Heaven's Laws!
However, normal Mythical Punishment was just as harsh, especially for higher cultivation bases. Resonant Soul Realm experts had a greater understanding of the origins of these Mythical Punishments, and not even they dared to underestimate it!
That said, dispelling the Oath Seed with their cultivation was a matter of a few minutes of effort. That was its only flaw. An exceedingly glaring one at that! The punishment itself was horrifying, but without a Supreme Heavenly Treasure as the medium, they could dismiss them all with a single thought.
Yet this was a punishment that would be inflicted without any seed!
As for how this was enacted without a seed, this was by relying on a Mythical Contract, an exceedingly archaic device that was only used on games of Mystics. It was no different than an oath seed, and if destroyed would result in the Oath being dispelled.
However, it was commonplace to make this contract and then send it into the endless Void. It would be lost to time and space and endless information. Gone.
Yet the effects of the oath would persist. This was why contracts were used. Moreover, not even Supreme Sages would carelessly try to navigate the vastness of the endless void, trying to find a single unassuming contract. It would be no different than trying to find a specific drop of water in a vast galaxy of rampaging chaos.
Su Yi's eyes widened, his calm visage fading. He couldn't help but sweep his gaze across this insane bunch of fools! Because of how the conditions were individually established, this meant that each death would result in THREE punishments!
Moreover, Tianshi Ya's condition was bat shit insane! This would certainly force one of the two vetoes available. After all, the punishment was survivable, but forcefully dispelling their cultivation base was not. Moreover, it wouldn't be tethered to an ordinary Mythical Oath, but a Supreme Heaven-Bound Mythical Oath!
It was said that the Divine Scepter of Seven Fortunes was refined by seven different Laws, all reaching an unsettling level of connection to the realms, exceeding Minor Laws! It was difficult to break this oath, even if you owned the scepter!
Even he didn't have enough confidence in his former greatest height of cultivation to do so!
His gaze shifted to Wei Wuyin. They were targeting this foreigner! They were going for the kill! But…would he just accept it?!
"ARE YOU ALL INSANE?!" Yue Baoyue exclaimed in disbelief.
However, the other four were entirely indifferent.
Wei Wuyin blinked innocently.
"Wait! World-Saint Neo-Dawn's CONDITION!!!" Hao Chengxue jumped upwards, floating seven feet above the ground, his trembling right hand pointing at the spiritual projection that was glowing with radiant light. His heart was pounding so fiercely that it could be audibly heard.
Wei Wuyin established—All Mythical Punishments Conditions will be increased in severity by four stages of cultivation. If it exceeds the current realm of their cultivation base, then it'll settle for the next realm of cultivation, halting at the first stage of the subsequent realm, and will extend to the respective forces aligned and supporting the player in this game, including all prior to the moment of this condition announced.
It was a condition.
BUT WHAT A CONDITION!!!
"..." Tianshi Ya.
"..." Grand Seer Rippledark.
"..." Qin Yingyin.
"..." Guo Heng.
Instantly, they all went ashen-faced, with widened eyes, and trembling pupils as if they saw Hell's doors.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Guo Heng broke his indifferent visage as he questioned Wei Wuyin directly, standing up from his seat. It wasn't as if this hadn't happened before, but this was…this was ridiculous!
The real issue was that Mythical Oaths would indiscriminately follow these requirements, mostly because force-wide Mythical Oaths existed! Even in the Ancient Sealed Region, entire organizations would swear oaths that all members would be subjected to.
Increasing the severity of a Mythical Oath by swearing the Oath itself wasn't unknown either. But the critical issue remained: the Oath Seed was simply too easy to dispel with external treasures, alchemical products, or one's cultivation base. This was why it didn't matter.
Once again, Wei Wuyin blinked innocently.
If they hadn't issued Mythical Punishments, his entire condition would have been wasted!
"I vote to veto that condition!" Guo Heng hastily shouted. Immediately, he issued his veto, which would be determined by a majority of the six. If a tie was reached, then they would debate like jurors until a majority was decided. If none was decided within a specific time frame, then the Mystical Judges would decide.
"I second that," Grand Seer Rippledark's voice was gloomy as he spoke. Gloomy and disconcerting. Tianshi Ya and Qin Yingyin voiced their agreement.
It didn't matter what Su Yi and Yue Baoyue voted for, it was four against two. They lost the majority. However, they would have voted for it as well.
Wei Wuyin blinked innocently a third time.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!!!" Guo Heng threatened, exposing his fear.
"I veto your veto. All conditions stand," then Wei Wuyin brightly smiled with his sparkling white teeth on full display. But to the others, it was a devil's smile belonging to a conqueror of Hell in human form!
"All conditions stand!" The three Mystical Judges harmonized their decision vocally.