Chapter 391: Chapter 48: Ascender, Sinful God?

His tone then shifted as he continued:

"You won’t even lack for material comforts like housing. And if you want a spouse, plenty of people will throw themselves at you."

"But all this enjoyment comes at a price."

"And that is, you must accept the corporation’s ’Brain-Computer Interface’ installation agreement."

To make it clear to Cheng Hua what a Brain-Computer Interface was, Zane even turned around, revealing a device on the back of his neck that resembled a USB port.

"A Brain-Computer Interface? A game port?"

Cheng Hua didn’t understand what this Brain-Computer Interface was.

But seeing the port on the back of the Guard’s neck, he recognized what it was.

It was clearly a game port for this world’s virtual reality games!

Speaking of games.

In any world, such things were clearly indispensable. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

From board games to video games.

In any world with people, games were essential, whether for recreation or for relieving stress.

And in this world, called Cangxing.

Because of the immense pressure of reality, relationships between people were extremely cold and lacked communication.

So, to relieve this pressure.

The various Eco-Cities were all actively developing virtual reality games.

Ostensibly, this was to let people experience a beautiful life in the virtual world, one different from their cruel reality.

But in essence, it was just another tool for these corporations to further squeeze the living space of the commoners at the bottom.

After all, playing games also cost money.

Moreover, to satisfy the commoners’ desire to vent, these games would even create separate virtual environments for different people.

In short, as long as you paid enough, anyone you couldn’t defeat or obtain in reality, you could defeat and obtain in the game.

Storylines about a Dragon King’s return were child’s play.

If you had the money, forget a Dragon King’s return—even if you wanted to blow up the Cosmos, the corporate game AI could simulate it for you.

In such an oppressive world, the advent of virtual games was no less than an electronic drug for those living in hardship.

Someone like Cheng Hua, who had at least received a primary school education, naturally knew the true nature of the games created by the corporations.

So, unlike many ordinary commoners who accepted the game port installation agreement, Cheng Hua had never installed one.

"A game port?"

"You could say that!"

"But the Brain-Computer Interface I’m talking about isn’t that cheap thing used to exploit commoners."

Zane smiled faintly, and to help Cheng Hua understand, he added:

"Let me put it this way: if the games the commoners play are single-player games simulated by an AI, then the game we internal Eco-City employees play is a multiplayer online game!"

"And this game connects all the Players from every Eco-City across Cangxing."

With Zane’s explanation, Cheng Hua understood.

But a new question arose, and Cheng Hua had a faint feeling that things were heading in a strange direction.

So, he immediately asked:

"So, the reason Ascenders get a Brain-Computer Interface is to play this so-called online game?"

Hearing this, Zane nodded unconsciously, his expression slowly growing grave.

"Yes. The reason all Ascenders get a Brain-Computer Interface is precisely to play the online game."

"Cosmic World! That’s the game currently being played in all the Eco-Cities on Cangxing."

"But in this game, you’d best take everything inside it as real, because..."

Zane was about to continue, but suddenly, a red alarm blared inside the private vehicle.

The alarm sounded only three times, but Zane had already fallen silent.

"My apologies, Mr. Cheng Hua. It seems this is all I can tell you for now."

"Also, Ascenders have a significant exemption mechanism when playing this game. In any case, Mr. Cheng Hua, just remember this point."

’Play a game?’

’Cosmic World? Best to take the game as real?’

’Damn it!!!’

’Why does this feel so familiar?’

’A copy of the True Game?’

Cheng Hua’s mind was in turmoil.

But he couldn’t be certain until the very end.

And so, soon, amid a period of silence.

They arrived at the Giant Ecological City!

After passing through a shield that shimmered like a pattern of light, they followed a tunnel beneath the giant city wall.

Soon, after passing through a dark stretch of road, the Guard’s private vehicle entered another world!

It was true!

The moment they passed through the tunnel.

An incredibly pure world appeared before Cheng Hua’s eyes!

Above, the sky was filled with blue skies and white clouds.

The road was flanked by clusters of tall, tidy buildings.

Here, the streets were lined with crowds of people, their laughter and chatter clearly audible.

He could also see children playing and chasing each other, as well as green plants lining the roadside.

"Surprising, isn’t it?"

"However, everything in the sky is simulated by the Eco-City’s Energy modules."

"The blue sky, the white clouds, the flying birds, all of it."

"The only real things are probably the city’s buildings and the families of the corporate employees."

Zane looked at the stunned Cheng Hua, pleased with his reaction, and said as much.

To be honest.

After understanding the cruel, almost apocalyptic scene outside the Eco-Urban Circle and then seeing the environment inside, Cheng Hua was still somewhat shocked by the contrast.

But the shock was fleeting.

Not to mention the many base cities on the Death Stars of the Star Empire...

...even the base cities that Blue Star had built on the Moon and several nearby dead planets could achieve this standard, and even far exceed it.

"Even if the sky is virtual, everything here is beautiful enough to be paradise compared to the outside."