Chapter 469: Natural Enemy

Ugly Peak.

"Eek!"

In front of the small stone hut, a small figure lay sprawled on the ground, yawning lazily while playing with pebbles. Guarding Ugly Peak was the Dwarf's duty. He had been scolded by his master several times before for sneaking into the Ancient Opera Repository to watch Chen Ling's lessons, so today he had to diligently stay put. If he kept running off, his master might punish him by withholding food, which was something the Dwarf absolutely could not tolerate.

Then, just as he was bored out of his mind, he suddenly seemed to sense something, and with a "whoosh," he sprang up from the ground!

"Eek?!"

The Dwarf turned his head towards the Ancient Opera Repository. A rare look of grimness and ferocity appeared on his small, ash-smeared face, like a beast that had detected an enemy's scent, every hair on his body standing on end! The Dwarf clenched his jaw, seemingly wanting to rush into the Ancient Opera Repository immediately, but after taking a single step, he hesitated and pulled back.

His task was to guard Ugly Peak. As for the Ancient Opera Repository, he didn't need to intervene. Even so, the Dwarf continued to stare intently in that direction, as if something terrifying was brewing at the invisible end of it.

"What is that...?!"

Ning Ruyu and the other three abruptly stood up from their seats, their expressions extremely grim.

"Is it a Calamity?!"

"What a bizarre face..."

"Is that 'Mockery' that Master mentioned? How did it get out of Junior Brother's body?!"

A strange aura permeated the theater. Everyone stared intently at the black mask on the stage, as if facing a formidable enemy. At the same time, "Chen Ling" gazed back at them.

Audience Expectation: 1Current Expectation: 73

Those crimson eyes seemed to possess a kind of magic; merely being gazed upon by them evoked a sense of powerlessness, as if everything about oneself was being laid bare. "Chen Ling" stepped slowly towards the edge of the stage, his large red opera robe billowing without wind.

However, just as he was about to leave the stage's edge, his footsteps suddenly halted...

Invisible ripples spread through the void, completely separating the stage from the audience, like an insurmountable "wall."

The Fourth Wall!

Seeing this, Ning Ruyu and the others' taut nerves relaxed.

"No wonder Master chose to teach Junior Brother here... It seems he anticipated this kind of incident long ago?"

"If it truly is the 'Mockery' Calamity, sealing it behind the Fourth Wall is indeed the best option. After all, if it gets out of control, the Ancient Opera Repository could be turned upside down..." Mo Jue also breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone marveled at Master's wisdom, but the young boy's face showed no sign of relaxation. He watched "Chen Ling" on stage, deep in thought.

The next moment, "Chen Ling" moved. His hand slowly rose, the vermillion sleeve naturally falling back as his fingertips reached directly for the invisible wall before him...

Audience Expectation: 1Current Expectation: 72

As "Chen Ling"'s fingertips touched the Fourth Wall, the smile on his lips deepened. His crimson, hook-like mouth stretched into a wild grin, and then he suddenly took a forceful step, pushing straight through the edge of the stage!

The "Audience" had crossed the Fourth Wall!

Seeing this, Ning Ruyu and the others were shocked!

"How is this possible?! No one should be able to cross the Fourth Wall... not even a Ninth-Tier!"

In contrast, Master showed no surprise. He met the gaze of the "Audience" mask on stage, their eyes clashing in the void, each wondering what the other was thinking.

Ning Ruyu watched as "Chen Ling" completely bypassed the Fourth Wall, about to step off the stage, and a chilling glint flashed in his eyes! He scoffed, and a long spear materialized out of thin air, gripped tightly in his hand, his aura rapidly surging!

Just then, Master's calm voice rang out:

"Ruyu, do you want to kill your junior brother?"

Ning Ruyu froze, immediately lowering the spear in his hand. He had been so captivated by the "Audience" mask that he had almost forgotten that this body belonged to his junior brother... If he had thrust the spear, his junior brother's soul would likely have been completely annihilated.

Despite knowing that the "Mockery" Calamity had taken control of Chen Ling, and that a world-ending disaster was running rampant, the members of the Ancient Opera Repository were helpless at this moment, because the person wearing that mask was their junior brother.

"Master, what should we do?!" Mo Jue couldn't help but ask.

"Since we cannot harm him, we shall trap him."

Ning Ruyu reacted quickly. He grabbed at the void, and a stack of CD cases appeared in his palm. As he forcefully flung these cases towards Chen Ling, discs reflecting the "Audience" mask rapidly folded and unfolded, with countless worlds forming at a frantic pace!

Dozens of movie worlds, like cages, instantly suppressed "Chen Ling" within them. The environment around him constantly shifted: sometimes it was outer space, sometimes a neighborhood alley, sometimes a terrifying haunted house, sometimes a magical castle... The shackles of "story" were placed upon his shoulders, pulling him further and further from "reality."

Audience Expectation: 1Current Expectation: 71

"Intruder!"

"Is he also a minion of Voldemort?! Kill him!"

Noisy shouts came from the distant ancient castle. Black figures, riding brooms, rapidly swooped down from the night sky. As their slender wands were raised, dense streams of magic surged downwards like a torrential flood! Yet, "Chen Ling," cloaked in his large red opera robe, stood motionless like a statue, seemingly unconcerned by any of it, allowing countless spells to engulf his form!

Boom! Boom! Boom!—

Magical light bloomed everywhere, and the ground shattered amidst the roar. Only a single vermillion figure stood amidst the swirling dust and smoke. Even as everything around him turned to nothing, his body remained spotless, as if the attacks could not harm him at all.

"How can this be?"

In the theater, several senior and junior brothers watched this scene, their confusion deepening. "The Fourth Wall couldn't stop him, and even the movie performances have no effect on him?"

Meanwhile, Master, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke:

"This is normal."

Ning Ruyu and the others turned to look at him.

"'Mockery' from the 'Mockery' Calamity means 'to mock'... Its essence is that of a malicious 'Audience'," Master paused for a moment. "The Fourth Wall, created to protect the audience, is meaningless to it. Moreover, in the presence of the 'Audience,' the story itself is illusory, merely existing to provide emotional value..."

"No story or performance can harm the 'Audience'."

"No story or performance can?" Mo Jue was stunned. "Does that mean..."

"Precisely."

Master took a deep breath and slowly began:

"The Mockery Calamity... is the absolute natural enemy of our Ancient Opera Repository, and indeed, of the entire Way of the Opera God."