Chapter 1011: "Role"

Chaotic memories flooded Chen Ling's mind. These were his sealed memories, his very first ones... In a daze, he heard dull thuds coming from in front of him, as if people were being heavily struck down.

Chen Ling couldn't quite see the scene before him, or perhaps this memory was inherently blurry. He seemed to be on a chaotic stage, where countless "audience members" identical to him scrambled onto it, only to be forcefully beaten and kicked off.

At this moment, the theater stage did not seem to be activated, nor were there any rules or restrictions. A massive number of "audience members" crowded around the stage, fighting and trampling each other, engaging in complete infighting as if for some unknown purpose.

Yet, under Chen Ling's strenuous fighting, an area around him had been cleared. He seemed unique among the many "audience members," exuding a powerful aura of killing intent with every movement. Perhaps this was related to a fragment of the Way of the War God foundation embedded in his chest.

As he kicked the last audience member off the stage, the dark Chen Ling appeared exhausted. He stood disheveled on the stage, arms outstretched, his mocking scarlet eyes filled with excitement.

Just then, a figure draped in a theatrical robe materialized before him.

Because Chen Ling's memories were too blurry at that moment, he couldn't discern the person's appearance, but when their voice rang out, Chen Ling's heart subtly trembled.

"The Fourth Generation was right... Taunting Calamity's only weakness is internal conflict." The figure suddenly coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, their horrific wounds shocking to behold. Yet, at this moment, a glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes. "This time... it just might work."

Master???

The figure pulled a thin scroll from their embrace. Perhaps due to their severe injuries, the cover of the scroll was stained with blood, but a single line of large black characters was clearly visible:

— Biography of Chen Ling.

Before Chen Ling could react, the person directly inserted the scroll into Chen Ling's head!

The next moment, the power of the Way of the Play God erupted. Under the influence of a certain ability, the scroll inexplicably dissolved into a formless concept, wildly surging into Chen Ling's mind!

Chen Ling's memories seemed to be assaulted; his entire consciousness began to blur, and he slowly fell backward...

At the same time, the person's voice echoed in his ear once more: "The role I've prepared for centuries... I'm entrusting it to you."

"From now on, you are no longer 'Mockery', nor are you an 'audience member' below the stage... You are 'Chen Ling'."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Torrential rain poured through the night, turning the soil of the Disordered Burial Mound into deep mud.

Chen Ling's memories surfaced once more. He slowly opened his eyes again, only to find himself suspended in the air... or rather, held in someone's hand.

He had transformed into a luminous orb-like entity, encircled by four ancestral tablets that had become paper shackles, seemingly a seal holding him captive.

Chen Ling had seen these four tablets before. His Master had used them to shackle the "Taunting Calamity" that replaced him, temporarily sealing all its powers.

On the surface of all four tablets, the same name was written:

— Nameless Actor.

He was sealed by his Master?

Just as this thought arose in Chen Ling's mind, a familiar voice resonated again:

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Once you assume his 'role,' everything between the two of you—identity, background, relationships—will be exchanged. You will completely become him, allowing him to achieve a resurrection in another sense... and in return, you yourself will cease to exist."

"You..."

"Do you truly wish to become 'Chen Ling'?"

Chen Ling's heart jolted. As if realizing something, his consciousness looked forward!

Chen Ling was all too familiar with this conversation... The last time, in the Aurora Domain, Chen Ling had used Soul-Shattering Evidence on himself to view this memory... No, strictly speaking, he had only "heard" it that time (Chapter 214). Perhaps this memory was buried too deeply in confusion, so even with Soul-Shattering Evidence, he had only heard a sound then... But this time, Chen Ling not only heard but also saw the scene before him.

Rain poured over the disordered burial mound. A grave had already been dug, and Chen Yan, dressed in a mud-stained theatrical robe, stood with his head bowed in the rain.

Next to him, another grave had also been dug, but between the black bags, a lifeless corpse, cold and pale, lay exposed to the rain.

"A'Yan..." Chen Ling's mind was shaken.

The last time he heard this conversation, Chen Ling instinctively thought he was "Chen Yan" responding. But now, Chen Ling realized that in this scene, he was neither the deceased Chen Ling of the Third District nor Chen Yan, who was saved by the Master... He was "Mockery Calamity," sealed by the Master, an existence separate from both Chen Ling and Chen Yan.

Chen Yan looked at his deceased brother, his expression pained and numb, as if he had lost everything.

After an unknown period, he seemed to make up his mind and nodded slightly: "...Mhm."

"Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to dissuade you further... However, the scope of this domain is limited to the Seven Great Districts. Events that have already occurred outside the Seven Great Districts cannot be altered. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

The Master slowly raised a hand and gently placed another scroll from their left hand onto the sealed Chen Ling.

At that instant, Chen Ling also saw the name on the scroll clearly:

Biography of Chen Ling of the Third District

Once this "role" was also integrated, a domain expanded from the Master's side. The Master flicked a finger, injecting the sealed Chen Ling into Chen Yan's body...

Immediately after, the Master raised a hand and lightly pressed a face-skin, seemingly without thickness, onto Chen Yan's face. The moment the face-skin adhered, his body visibly grew taller, as if he had completely transformed into another person.

After completing all this, the Master removed their own large red theatrical robe and gently draped it over him. "If one day you start to feel lost about yourself, come find me..."

"We will be waiting for you in the Ancient Trove of Theatrical Arts."

"Alright."

The figure turned, about to leave, then suddenly stopped as if remembering something... They slowly turned back, their voice low and cold:

"However, if it is 'Mockery' who ultimately arrives... I will personally kill you."

Boom—

Pale lightning flashed through the ink-dark clouds. Torrents of rain fell, a divine wrath of thunder and rain drenching the muddy ground. In the rippling reflections of layered puddles, a vermilion figure appeared fragmented.

"Stop... Stop!"

"All of you, shut up!"

"I'm about to remember... about to... remember..."

"I have a name... a name of my own!"

The boy's damp black hair fell to his eyebrows, and his unfocused eyes were full of confusion. He struggled to move forward, holding his head with both hands, as if desperately trying to recall something.

His roar echoed on the deserted street, not traveling far before being swallowed by the endless curtain of rain.

In the dim light, he tripped over a protruding stone and fell heavily to the ground!

A trickle of crimson blood rolled from the boy's temple, melting into the flowing rainwater. He lay sprawled on the ground blankly, vaguely sensing something emerging from the depths of his mind.

He remembered...

He had a name of his own... he had a past of his own... he did not belong to this era, he should not exist here... he was a transmigrator.

His name was...

"Chen Ling..."