Chapter 632: Promotion Performance

Chapter 633: Promotion Performance

This performance manifested faster than Chen Ling had anticipated.

He looked down to see himself standing on the third step of this distorted divine path. He had ascended significantly from the first step at the bottom of the abyss, getting closer to the twinkling star in the sky. However, this ascent was still minuscule compared to the remaining height he needed to climb.

Behind Chen Ling, a completed performance requirement was crossed out, becoming a past segment of the script:

Complete a thrilling murder performance witnessed by at least 2,000 people.

Chen Ling distinctly remembered that it took him almost half a year from stepping onto the third stage to seeing that performance requirement. From completing that performance until now, less than two months had passed.

Now, he stood at the threshold of the fourth stage; he could be promoted by completing just one more performance.

At a normal pace, Chen Ling would have needed at least another half a year to complete the latter half of the third stage, similar to the first half. However, after he slaughtered the Crimson Sky cultists and absorbed a small portion of the Red Star's aura, his spiritual energy surged, shortening this process to two months.

Moreover, this didn't mean the Red Star's aura could only help him traverse this small section. Normally, after fully digesting the Red Star's aura, Chen Ling would not only be able to step onto the fourth stage but also take a significant stride on its steps. However, the existence of the performance conditions had him stuck here. Without completing the performance, no matter how high his total spiritual energy, he couldn't be promoted; this was a flaw of the distorted divine path.

But Chen Ling could feel a large amount of residual spiritual energy in the divine path beneath his feet. As long as he completed the performance and advanced to the fourth stage, this spiritual energy would still help him progress rapidly.

Chen Ling took a deep breath and cast his gaze downwards. A new set of performance conditions appeared before his eyes:

Complete a satisfying interactive performance with the participation of an 'audience.'

Chen Ling froze.

He read the sentence repeatedly, his expression growing peculiar.

Chen Ling understood every word here, but combined, they left him bewildered... especially the phrase "audience participation," which stumped him.

Which "audience"? How would they participate??

As for the "satisfying interactive performance," 'satisfying' aside, it was an incredibly difficult adjective to grasp. And the "interactive performance"... was it interaction with the "audience"?

If the "interactive audience" here referred to passersby watching his performance or audience members applauding, that would be straightforward enough. Inviting them on stage for some dialogue or role-playing could count as interaction. But Chen Ling didn't believe this performance would be that simple.

He feared that the "audience" here referred to...

Chen Ling didn't dare to think further. He could feel pairs of crimson eyes on both sides of the distorted divine path, curved like crescent moons in amusement, sizing him up mockingly.

Chen Ling sighed. He could tell that his promotion to the fourth stage wouldn't be easy.

The distorted divine path gradually dissipated, and the surrounding scenery returned. Chen Ling felt his vision blur, and he was back inside *Guernica*.

Trapped within, Chen Ling had no other option but to ponder the promotion performance conditions as he walked aimlessly forward.

After an unknown period, a vast silhouette emerged from the boundless void directly in front of Chen Ling.

It was a colossal, pale face outlined with simple lines, its features abstract and childish, possessing an unsettling eeriness. It floated in the air, its mouth opening and closing as if calling out, drifting slowly toward Chen Ling like a weightless balloon.

Chen Ling: "???"

Seeing such an abstract and incongruous giant face, Chen Ling's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the boning knife hidden in his sleeve. He knew the cage the Second Hall had prepared for him wouldn't be simple.

Against the backdrop of this massive face, Chen Ling's figure seemed as tiny as an ant. As it approached, an ineffable emotion welled up from the depths of Chen Ling's heart.

Fear, sorrow, hatred, pleading... It was as if an invisible demon was chasing him from behind. At that moment, Chen Ling could even discern faint pleas, primal urges for survival.

Simultaneously, Chen Ling's features involuntarily twisted, revealing fear and sorrow. Though not as exaggerated as the giant face, the emotions conveyed were almost identical.

Chen Ling had never encountered such a situation. He endured the uncontrollable emotions within him while gripping his knife, warily watching the large face float overhead, ready to strike at any moment. Fortunately, the face seemed to have no intention of attacking him; it simply glided silently over Chen Ling, gradually receding into the distance.

Meanwhile, Chen Ling's emotions slowly calmed, but his eyes remained fixed on the face.

"What the hell is that...?" Chen Ling frowned. "It affects emotions just by being close? Is it some creature bred within this prison?"

Chen Ling didn't understand the purpose of such a creature. Just as he was about to look away, a detail suddenly caught his eye.

At the edge of the moving giant face, there was an 'arrow' about the size of a fingernail, as if drawn with a pen. As the face moved, this 'arrow''s direction slowly rotated, looking just like a compass at first glance!

If Chen Ling's eyes hadn't possessed such keen perception for details, he likely wouldn't have noticed it at all. And beneath this 'arrow' was a familiar symbol...

It was the black club suit from a deck of cards.

***

The Main City of the Mortal Realm.

A girl in a long black dress walked slowly through the ruins.

Corpses and rubble piled high on the roads. A dusty breeze rustled the girl's elegant skirt. Liu Qingyan listened to the sounds of disaster and combat echoing from a distance, as quiet as an outcast detached from the world.

In Liu Qingyan's mind, Chen Ling's backward glance occasionally resurfaced. Although she didn't understand his intentions, Liu Qingyan still chose to trust him. She didn't leave the dangerous area; instead, after a brief hesitation, she headed directly toward the Crimson Tower.

She chose to go to the Crimson Tower mainly because she didn't know where to go or what to do. The Crimson Tower was connected to Chen Ling; perhaps there would be some clues there?

Lost in thought, Liu Qingyan entered the district that converged with the "Ghastly Mocking Abyss." However, all gray world convergence points were now sealed by the Second Hall, preventing new disasters from emerging. The district where the Crimson Tower was located was currently the best-preserved area within dozens of kilometers.

Liu Qingyan continued along the street. Just then, she seemed to sense something and suddenly stopped.

Amidst the swirling dust, several figures approached her from different directions. Some were exceptionally tall, some had sinister appearances, and others sported long wolf tails – none of them looked friendly.

"Hello," the tallest person said, lightly rubbing his fingertips in the air, conjuring a club card out of thin air.

"Excuse me, are you Liu Qingyan?"