Chapter 41: Adaptation, Not Random Fabrication.
After unleashing his soul power to burst open the vines, Zhao Wuji roared and activated his Martial Soul Possession, causing his body to swell abruptly. His already terrifying muscles almost doubled in size, and his height instantly increased by a meter. Seven soul rings materialized around him.
"Hahahaha, let me have some fun with you all!"
Zhao Wuji burst out laughing, then charged directly toward Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San... The process will not be described in detail.
The outcome was without a doubt.
In the face of an absolute gap in strength, even though Tang San had awakened the Blue Silver Emperor and reached the Soul Venerate stage ahead of schedule, he couldn't reveal his identity or use his hidden weapons. Facing Zhao Wuji, a guy utterly devoid of martial virtue... the final result was Tang San being beaten black and blue until his face swelled up like a pig's head.
Zhu Zhuqing fared a bit better. Perhaps Zhao Wuji took into account that she was a girl, so he just went through the motions, merely dislocating her hand to get it over with.
As for Ning Rongrong, Old Zhao wouldn't dare lay a hand on this young lady with such a powerful background.
In summary, a world where only Tang San was injured was now complete.
In the shadows.
Ye Cheng concealed his presence, having silently observed this farce for a long time.
When he saw Tang San beaten black and blue, he couldn't help but nod, giving Zhao Wuji a look that said, "This child is teachable." Well done! A hypocritical scoundrel like that, a thousand-year scourge, deserves to be thoroughly tormented and taught a harsh lesson!
Actually, Ye Cheng initially held no ill will toward Tang San, the original protagonist. On the contrary, during his youth, he had quite liked him, finding the character to be very upright and principled. He was loyal and devoted to his brothers and willing to die for his beloved—truly infatuated.
During the Douluo Continent I period, Tang San seemed to have fewer flaws and appeared very righteous.
But all of that changed—completely changed—when the original author successively wrote Douluo 2, 3, 4, and 5...
If the Tang San from the Douluo Continent I period felt like he would be a good friend, a standard upright character, then the various outrageous actions of Tang San in Douluo 2, 3, 4, and 5 were a complete subversion of that person!
It made it utterly impossible to connect this Tang San with the Tang San from the Douluo Continent I period.
The original author had successfully ruined the character!
If the Douluo Continent were just a novel, it wouldn't be a big deal; at most, it would mean the author's writing was poor, causing the character's portrayal to collapse.
But when the Douluo Continent became a real world...
Now that Ye Cheng was in this world, thinking about Tang San's various actions in Douluo 2, 3, 4, and 5 gave him a profound sense of dread. The more he thought about it, the scarier it became.
Why would a person change so drastically?
Excluding the possibility of the author ruining the character, there was only one other possibility.
This guy's true nature had been like this all along.
Initially, he might have just been unfamiliar with this world, thus acting with caution. But once he gained power, possessing the ability to control the destinies of all living beings, he completely let loose, indulging in his desires to the fullest!
A hypocritical, selfish, insidious, two-faced, despicable, and venomous scoundrel!
This was Tang San's true nature.
Therefore, after stripping away the protagonist's halo and looking at Tang San's various actions in the original work from an objective perspective, Ye Cheng knew that this guy absolutely could not be allowed to achieve the same accomplishments as in the original story. Otherwise, it would be a great disaster for all living beings!
It was for this very reason that Ye Cheng repeatedly targeted him and those connected to him when fabricating the future videos.
Of course, in reality, Ye Cheng wasn't just being malicious. Although he could fabricate future videos, he would also utilize the Q&A system's deduction function beforehand. He would use it to deduce the various possibilities for character personalities and plot developments.
This function primarily served to mend plot holes and prevent the audience from noticing any flaws.
Therefore, when he fabricated the future videos, the characters' personalities—aside from his own—were not maliciously altered. Instead, based on his deductions, the characters genuinely would act that way if the plot developed normally.
So, his fabrication was an adaptation, not a random fabrication.
It was a fabrication built upon a foundation of truth.
He did not maliciously slander the characters' personalities.
...
After being defeated by Zhao Wuji, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong each wore different expressions.
Tang San was resentful and dejected. He was clearly very regretful about not being able to enroll in Shrek Academy.
Zhu Zhuqing was bewildered yet relieved.
She was bewildered because being unable to enroll in Shrek Academy meant she couldn't urge Dai Mubai to pull himself together. So, where should she go from here?
She was relieved because ever since seeing the true state of Shrek Academy, she felt the institution was unreliable. She didn't believe she could learn anything there; at most, it would just be the difference between dying early or dying late.
Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, looked indifferent. After all, the young lady was merely out to experience life. If this place didn't want her, another one would. It was no big deal to just find somewhere else.
Watching their expressions, Zhao Wuji's heart sank. Realizing he had gone a bit too far, he quickly put on an act and coughed. Clearing his throat, he then announced loudly, "Cough, cough, I declare... you've all passed! Congratulations on officially joining Shrek Academy!"
As soon as he said this, apart from Tang San's look of pleasant surprise, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both remained expressionless, seemingly not caring much for this "surprise."
It was no wonder. They had no expectations for this academy and were already planning to leave if they failed. They had even sighed in relief. But now, he was suddenly telling them they passed.
In this situation, what kind of emotion did he expect them to show?
P.S. Only one update today. I'll make it up tomorrow. The recent plot seems to have gone off track, so I need to sort it out first. Once I've got it figured out, I'll post more.
(end of chapter)