Chapter 294: Elegy of Death, a Rift to the Unknown

‘Huh? Faraway is actually online!’

Li Miao’s eyes lit up when he saw the message. He clicked open the chat window and started talking with him.

It seemed Faraway had been busy with something in real life recently. His online schedule was erratic, but he always managed to set aside time to tackle maps and explore.

He had also started exploring the Mysterious High Platform during his recent online sessions.

After a bit of back-and-forth, Li Miao learned that while Faraway had also discovered Wudu and reached the concert hall through the normal route, his choice had been completely different from Li Miao’s.

He ignored Wudu’s plea for help in the concert hall. Instead, he used the Milestone Spirit Candle to reach a cave beneath the cliff face.

There, he found the Mysterious High Platform’s “hidden map,” which could be tentatively called the “High Platform Below.”

Compared to the silent, lifeless Mysterious High Platform, the High Platform Below was the polar opposite.

It was wreathed in a blood-red haze and filled with an overwhelming cacophony—a constant, grating noise that frayed the nerves and unsettled the Spirit.

Its internal structure was somewhat similar to the Mysterious High Platform. However, the monsters within were utterly manic. They cheered, leaped about, and cackled wildly, their Spirits clearly in a state of Madness. Their Power and danger level were a tier higher than those on the Mysterious High Platform.

Strangely, however…

The areas in the High Platform Below that corresponded to locations on the Mysterious High Platform had no mini-bosses like the Side Stage Soloist. Faraway speculated this might be because he had already killed all the members of the Xiali Mir Orchestra before qualifying to enter the High Platform Below.

This meant that while Faraway’s path wasn’t exactly clear, he was still able to make steady progress.

Along the way, Faraway heard some “echoes” left behind by Wudu.

“This NPC, Wudu, seems to be designed with a split personality.”

“These echoes contain a lot of his self-dialogue. One personality is violent and evil, while the other is cowardly and kind.”

“But the two personalities have one thing in common.”

Faraway didn’t keep him in suspense.

“Both lack basic rationality. They have a hard time staying lucid.”

Li Miao fell into thought after reading Faraway’s messages.

‘It’s true. From the moment that NPC Wudu gained a mouth, he’s been talking about recovering his so-called ‘rationality’.’

Soon, Faraway typed again.

“At the end of the High Platform Below is a village where Xiali Milir is performing.”

“I’m guessing that because I chose not to help Wudu, some strange changes have occurred at the end of the High Platform Below…”

…

RRRIP…

A great net seemingly woven from flesh and blood was torn apart by some unknown Power, but what greeted his eyes was a heartwarming scene, like something from a painted scroll.

After a sweeping glance, Faraway stepped inside, his expression calm.

Long blades of grass, like jet-black crowns, swayed in the wind.

Flowers bloomed profusely on plants that bore white fruit.

Starlight dotted the blue, satin-like grass.

Beside a trickling stream and beneath a grapevine trellis, the Souls of children darted about, playing happily…

On a bare patch of earth in the village, a tall, long-haired man was still singing a soft nursery rhyme.

Beneath him was the blurry, blood-red figure of Wudu. His mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and skin were all dissolving into a bloody stream.

Eventually, they transformed into the members of the Xiali Mir Orchestra.

WHOOO—

The Side Stage Soloist’s fife echoed, joined by violins and heavy drums. Its two eyeballs transformed into shining spotlights.

Xiali Mer’s Song paused for a moment, then the voice behind it became heavy and powerful.

His voice echoed throughout the entire village.

He was no longer singing a nursery rhyme, but a chorus filled with resistance and unyielding spirit.

This song seemed to carry some wondrous Power, forming a high wall…

Faraway turned and saw the blood-red expanse outside the village.

Soldiers and monsters wielding swords and blades formed the iron-shod vanguard of a legion, crashing against the tranquil village Xiali Milir had built, wave after surging wave.

The flames of war and slaughter spread.

Suddenly, a figure in a Magic Robe with a disfigured face floated up from the legion. A blood-red light swirled around their hands, from which strange Array runes flew out, speeding toward the village.

Gradually, a scarlet hue representing Madness began to rise within the village.

The child Souls in the village stopped playing, hiding fearfully in their homes.

Some of the adult Souls were also terrified and uneasy.

The blood-red figure that had appeared in the concert hall now appeared once again.

“To seek reason and tranquility amidst Madness is like pulling chestnuts from the fire…”

“Is it worth it… just to let these Souls rest in peace…?”

It murmured in a low voice.

Xiali Milir, in the village, seemed completely oblivious, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He only sang louder.

But in the end, it was all in vain.

Still, the song was forced to a halt.

The cold glint of blades and cruel roars swept through. The serene, peaceful village was reduced to ruins as the flames of destruction consumed everything…

Wrapped in scarlet runes, skulls were discarded on the ground, one after another. The Souls imprisoned within them let out crazed, agonizing wails…

Everything beautiful and tranquil dissolved in an instant, like a phantom dream.

What was ultimately laid bare was the scarlet reality of the High Platform Below.

ROAR—

The monster, its facial features looking as if they’d been crudely pieced together, let out a terrifying roar. The once-spotless, elegant singer’s costume was now in tatters.

The leftover skulls were embedded in its body. In the center of its chest, a faint light flickered, and a weak, intermittent singing could be heard.