Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

"How do you plan to get on the leaderboard this time?" Can Shang asked again, posing this crucial and sharp question.

Meng Yuan felt a bit indignant. "What, do you see me as someone who can only get into the final Trial Illusion by indiscriminately increasing the ultimate trial participant numbers and adding some behind-the-scenes manipulation?"

"Can't I just enter the top ten of the player rankings squarely and solely on my own strength..."

"on my own merit?"

Can Shang revealed a friendly smile, his face as if bearing three big words: "What do you think?"

Meng Yuan coughed lightly twice. "It shouldn't be a problem this time!"

The reason for his confidence lay in the fact that although there were many segments in this Trial Illusion, there were quite a few places for behind-the-scenes manipulation.

The appetizer of Huang Chao's rebellion only required mastering the great weapon "Going Along the Universe in Peace" for quick instance clearance.

The formal chapter of Emperor Taizong of Liang's instance could be divided into four stages: Dou Jiande's perspective at Hulaoguan Pass, making the Turkic people retreat during the Wude years, the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and defeating Lord Qin and winning the Xuanwu Gate Incident from Prince Qi's perspective.

Among these, the perspective of Dou Jiande, where Li Hongyun arranged formations in his own camp, was a convenient solution, and the Xuanwu Gate Incident was more about deduction; neither was difficult for Meng Yuan.

The perspective of Prince Qi could make many golden talents stack up and take effect, making it even simpler for Meng Yuan.

The only challenge was making the Turkic people retreat during the Wude years, where he had to play Emperor Taizong. Meng Yuan had to rely solely on his acting talent, but wasn't that also difficult for other players?

So, after pondering for a while, Meng Yuan thought that this time reclaiming glory and entering the top ten squarely shouldn't be too hard.

At least there was no longer a need to arrange for a hundred players to group up for a fight.

...

Early in the morning, players woke up one after another, leaving Dark Sand's game world.

The official forums quickly came alive.

Players were eager to discuss their experiences with the "In Peace Universe Today" instance.

Up to now, the top-tier players had basically cleared the instance, taking five days.

This was considered longer compared to the previous instances where clearance typically took just three days.

The difficulty of this instance had indeed increased significantly, and in three dimensions at that: it tested the players' ability to research historical materials and unearth the truth, their acting skills as Lord Qin, and even tested their overall qualities through the role-playing as Prince Qi with highly free-form gameplay.

If there was a significant shortcoming in any one area, it was possible to get stuck at one of the stages.

However, as the top-tier players completed the instance and their gameplay videos were uploaded to the official website, the players' discussion enthusiasm was instantly ignited.

"This instance is thrilling! All the frustrations in the Qi Dynasty instance have been vented out!"

"I can only say it's maddening to compare with others, Qi and Liang Dynasties are worlds apart..."

"Actually, the last instance of the Qi Dynasty is quite satisfying too, after all, you can play General Han Fuyue and change history, but after the changes, it still feels a bit empty, knowing it's all fake, just the game giving us wish fulfillment. But the Er Feng instance, it's real!"

"Yeah, just knowing that operations almost like fantasy actually happened in history makes it... unthinkable!"

"After completing this instance, I can only say, I am utterly convinced by Lord Qin!"

"Indeed, even after playing as Prince Qi and defeating Lord Qin, I deeply feel that at that time, Lord Qin was the sole sovereign, the hope of all people. For an ancient emperor to compel modern people to spontaneously respect and worship him shows how great he was!"

"Emperor Taizong of Liang and Emperor Taizu of Sheng each had their own merits, both could be called once-in-an-eternity emperors, but if I were a young man, I'd probably like Emperor Taizong more, his whole life was as intense as a young man's, almost reaching the pinnacle of inner sageliness and outer kingliness!"

"Actually, if I were the Crown Prince, the best strategy would be to actively hand over power and let Lord Qin ascend the throne. Doing so would be the best option for the world, the common people, the internal affairs of the Liang Dynasty, and even for the Crown Prince himself. Of course, he is the eldest legitimate son with solid inheritance rights; his reluctance to hand over power is also understandable, but that's to say, if you choose to engage in political struggle with your most talented brother, you have to be ready to face political repercussions."

"If it were me, just being born in the same era as a person like Lord Qin would already be the greatest fortune. How could I have any thought of being his enemy?"

"I want to experience the Xuanwu Gate Incident a few more times! Maybe I'll find some details not recorded in the existing historical materials."

"Eh, are you not interested in experiencing the part where Prince Qi was in Jinyang?"

"I wonder what kind of gameplay the final Trial Illusion and Return Order Expedition will have? Will we be able to fight side by side with Emperor Taizong?"

"Ah? Wouldn't that be invincible! If Emperor Taizong charges ahead, drawing his great bow and shooting away, we'd just follow behind cheering, and all the demons would flee at the wind..."

...

While the players were enthusiastically discussing, the selection leaderboard for the final Trial Illusion was also out.

This time, only the top ten were taken!

Compared to the previous instances of the Qi Dynasty, where they took a hundred or forty-five players at a time, taking only the top ten seemed like a return to the original intention.