Gamers Are Fierce

By this point, Viper's mouth revealed a somewhat mocking smile. "Due to the intrinsic frailty of capital, the fear of change among the wealthy elitists is even greater than among the lower classes. But this fear, to some extent, is justified. The existence of the Superhuman Class itself will indeed cause irreversible changes to the current social structure. In this process, it will inevitably disrupt social order. People will die; blood will flow."

Seemingly reminded of something, Viper's eyes dimmed. "The existence of scripted tasks makes the Transcendents born from the slaughter games too impatient, lacking the possibility for proper negotiation or consultation. The only way to minimize the damage caused by the rise of transcendent elements is to use even more powerful transcendent elements—that is, the Mirage Dragon."

Upon reaching this point, Viper switched gears. "What do you think of the Datura Type I and Type II potions?"

"Mediocre," Li Ang said indifferently. "They enhance spatial working memory, planning ability, and mental focus, increase fluency of speech, boost confidence, alleviate insomnia, and reduce appetite loss... These benefits can also be achieved by methylphenidate, amphetamine, modafinil, and others."

"Indeed." Viper nodded. "Datura Type I and Type II potions are not fundamentally different from other potions; they just integrate and amplify the effects. The Datura Type III potion is similar, capable of enhancing physical strength and giving ordinary people special powers, but ultimately, they cannot last."

"Actually, all Datura potions originate from the analysis of Kuiyang Sect's heritage books—they, like the Heterodox Academy, conducted a series of complete and scientific experiments on the essence of supernatural powers centuries ago. The Datura Potion is a replication of a sliver of demon blood. Of course, the technology behind these potions is not flawless and has significant defects. However, the research progress on the potions within the organization has reached the ninth and tenth iterations. Different types of Datura potions have different effects. The Type V potion can lightly block some functions of the left brain, slightly weakening logical thinking and analytical judgment abilities, putting one in a peaceful, stable, happy, and joyful state, and enhancing empathy and compassion. The Type VII potion can greatly enhance physical strength, compensate for genetic defects, and remedy genetic diseases at the congenital level. The Type X potion can make drastic changes to plant growth structure... Some special potions still in the research phase can even create microorganisms that understand human commands, helping humanity solve ocean pollution problems."

"The Misty Territory of the Mirage Dragon can envelop global civilization, reducing violent conflicts, averting the ravages of war, and uniting humanity to address the crisis of the slaughter games. Meanwhile, the various types of potions can change people's ways of thinking and eliminate barriers. With the aid of technologies from the slaughter games, these advancements could enhance productivity, eradicating hunger, ignorance, disease, and wars arising from resource conflicts."

"The privileged upper-middle class within Datura, who hold the majority, tend to shape a social structure where everyone uses Datura potions and never resists them in the Misty Territory. But there is also a part of Datura that inherits the original purposes of the Kuiyang Sect."

Viper pointed to himself. "The difference in our approaches comes from our greater willingness to eliminate classes by developing productivity, raising social welfare, and narrowing the class divide, so that there is absolutely no exploitation and oppression between people. People living within the Misty Territory should become selfless, astute and honest, caring and supportive, free from deceit, mutual harm, exploitation, and oppression. Even Datura, as the leading organization, wouldn't need to resort to such methods. Controlled nuclear fusion, Strong Artificial Intelligence, and automated machinery could fully satisfy everyone's needs, making exploitation and oppression unnecessary. Society would become open and inclusive, proactive, and full of confidence. People would explore for the sake of exploration, advancing triumphantly toward the Starry Ocean and spreading humanity's glory throughout the stars. In other words, in our vision, there is no need for a vast and useless hedonistic class. Of course, as things stand now, our path is still aligned with theirs, but the real divergence will occur only after the Mirage Dragon is completely controlled."

"Wait a minute," Li Ang couldn't help interrupting, "Are you planning to rely on the use of potions to make everyone as powerful as dragons?"

Viper cautiously said, "I prefer the term 'chemical paradise.'"

Li Ang shook his head. "Alright."

"In any case, everything hinges on the lantern in your hands." Viper's tone grew serious and solemn. "I know that many people in Datura, including yourself, do not agree with, or shall I say, do not fully trust this plan. They have doubts about various aspects of its implementation. You don't believe in the future of Great Unity; rather, you prefer direct solutions that can greatly change the current realities of the world. Such as Dragon Blood."

Viper's voice deepened as he glanced at the shifting fog gate and spoke slowly, "The dragon is the leader of the scaly beasts, mystical and luminous, ascending to the heavens at the vernal equinox and diving into the abyss at the autumnal equinox. According to the records of the Kuiyang Sect, even a drop of Dragon Blood diluted countless times is enough to eradicate all illnesses and relieve all suffering."

He turned his head to look at Li Ang. "In your psychological assessment, a story was mentioned.

"You were at the hospital looking after your mother when you met a nine-year-old boy severely poisoned by toxic mushrooms. His mother, also mentally ill, had been poisoned too and was receiving treatment at a lower-tier hospital. The boy's father was working out of town.

"When the child's father and relatives arrived at the hospital, you noticed he had strabismus and a slow response. He spoke sluggishly and could barely comprehend what others said. He was intellectually disabled, and ironically, the most functional adult in his family at that moment.

"This father, despite his disabilities, wanted to save his wife and child, but being extremely poor, they couldn't afford blood dialysis.

"A few days later, he disappeared. Everyone thought he had abandoned the child in the hospital to fend for himself.

"Two days later, he returned. His relatives said the child's mother had died in the lower-tier hospital. The child's father had sold everything he could and borrowed ten thousand yuan for blood dialysis. That amount was only enough for two treatments, which wouldn't achieve much, but the father insisted on trying.

"After the dialysis, the child's condition stabilized. The father vanished again. When he returned, his relatives said he had gone back to arrange his wife's cremation and was now completely broke, left with only conservative treatment for the child—which meant waiting for death.

"The child's father, being disabled, had a somewhat blunted emotional expression. Several days later, when the child developed severe jaundice, the father, after much hesitation, decided to donate his child's corneas. For people in some less developed regions, removing corneas meant the body wouldn't be whole for burial.

"The father said he hoped his child's eyes could live on in this way.

"A few days later, the child passed away. His father took the body home.

"Weeks later, when everyone assumed the thousands of yuan in treatment expenses would go unpaid, burdening the already struggling hospital department, the father returned. He settled the bill with more borrowed money.

"His relatives thanked the hospital for contacting the cornea bank. They said the father had cremated his child and was planning to leave to find work to pay off his debts—they still had another child at home to raise.

"In your résumé, you stated that this incident, along with your mother's death from illness, profoundly affected you. It taught you that all people suffer."

Viper nodded, somewhat moved. "You don't hope to achieve Great Unity by relying on the Mirage Dragon. Instead, you'd prefer to keep the Mirage Dragon in the Demon Prison, negotiate with it, and have it offer a certain amount of Dragon Blood. This blood would then be diluted to mass-produce an inexpensive potion capable of curing all the world's diseases: cancer, severe pneumonia, severe pancreatitis, chronic granulocytic leukemia... All is suffering; only self-deliverance is the solution. All the human suffering caused by disease could be completely erased by a single, seemingly insignificant drop of Dragon Blood."

Viper extended his palm, pointing to the Palace Lantern in Li Ang's hand, and said solemnly, "The only prerequisite for obtaining Dragon Blood is to hand over that lantern to me. Cooperate with me, and I can guarantee with my life that the higher-ups will try your proposal first."

"..."

Li Ang fell silent. Undeniably, both the vision of Great Unity represented by Viper and Ji Jiu's own Dragon Blood plan had their merits. Even the strategies pushed by the elites in Datura could objectively prevent the Demon Tide that would result from the Mirage Dragon escaping the Demon Prison.

"You make a compelling argument." Li Ang nodded. He glanced at the frenzied crowd around him—the men, women, elderly, and children, all with fierce expressions—then turned to Viper with a smile and said, "But I refuse."

"...Do you understand what you're saying?" Viper asked.

"Of course," Li Ang nodded with a smile. "According to my understanding of the Ritual track, killing the three of you would also satisfy the most basic requirements for controlling the Mirage Dragon, wouldn't it? Rather than sacrifice these people, I would much prefer to sacrifice you."