Absolute Death Game

"Haha, Old Liu, it's been a long time." A hearty burst of laughter came from outside the meeting room, followed by the sight of a robust old man striding in.

The meeting was held in an underground meeting room in Zhongzhou City, where about eight or nine people were already seated, with more arriving intermittently. However, everyone kept a low profile, found an empty seat upon entering, and began to observe those around them—except for this elder, who seemed to fear nobody knew of his arrival.

The newcomer was none other than Lei Zhengang, the renowned president of the Awesome Empire. Despite being in his seventies or eighties, he showed no signs of frailty apart from his slightly graying hair. His body was as strong as a bull, thanks to the power bestowed on him in the gaming world.

Upon entering, he headed straight for the main seat where Xuan Zhenzi was located. Xuan Zhenzi appeared to be in his twenties, with a recreated body, refined features, and the handsome look of a young heartthrob.

Lei Zhengang paused for a moment, "My, you've really become younger. Hahaha!" He laughed out loud. Although he behaved as if they were old friends, Xuan Zhenzi didn't seem overly enthusiastic, smiling as he gestured to a seat nearby the head of the table and softly said, "Old friend, please have a seat."

Lei Zhengang ran into a response that was neither too soft nor too hard, but didn't seem too annoyed. He strode over and plopped down into the chair.

Lei Zhengang followed the warrior path in the game, with his advanced profession being a Warlord, a role not suited for solo combat. However, having played long enough to dabble in a hodgepodge of other professions, his strength was still not to be underestimated. His domineering entrance caught the attention of the leaders of a few smaller countries waiting in the meeting room. Their eyes followed him until he took his seat, scanning the faces in the room. Some who had past dealings with the Awesome Empire offered nods and smiles as greetings.

Over the years, Xuan Zhenzi, though split into several avatars and preoccupied with the issue of reuniting them, had not been idle. Using his knowledge of game secrets and years of experience, he continuously cultivated his connections. The attendees present each had some sort of relationship with him, which is why Xuan Zhenzi was confident in organizing these leaders to come together.

On one hand, they remembered the help and favors Xuan Zhenzi had provided in the past; on the other, with Ancestral Dragon and Qingyang constantly expanding their power, everyone felt uneasy, making this gathering a potential opportunity for forming new alliances.

After Lei Zhengang sat down and swept his gaze over everyone, he saw no one of particular interest and turned his attention back to Xuan Zhenzi to continue their casual chat.

"How long has it been since we've seen each other? Who would've thought you'd grow younger with time?" Lei Zhengang boomed, his commanding presence the result of his long-standing leadership and inherent rogue demeanor. Yet Xuan Zhenzi seemed unphased, responding with a calm smile, "Indeed, it's been a long time. It must be over thirty years now."

"Isn't it? After escaping that damned place, I swore I'd never play this silly game again. Yet here we are, meeting again inside it." Lei Zhengang seemed to have completely forgotten about abandoning everyone's plan and running off on his own years ago. But since the rest of the attendees were unaware of this, they assumed the two shared a deep and longstanding friendship.

"By the way, where are the others? I saw Bi Huaxuan in the game after he became an NPC, but what about Luo Sen? I heard that guy didn't join you in the game. He didn't die, did he? Haha."

"You wouldn't die, and neither would I. Can't you clean up your mouth, you old bandit?" Before Xuan Zhenzi could reply, an old but sonorous voice suddenly came from outside. Xuan Zhenzi instantly smiled broadly when he heard it and looked up towards the door.

Lei Zhengang heard it too and turned around. With everyone's eyes on him, an energetic and white-haired elderly man with a kind smile walked in. He exuded the grace of a classic gentleman from his attire to his demeanor. This was the Luo Sen, the president of Qilin Hall, mentioned by Lei Zhengang, but he hadn't come alone. A group from Qilin Hall followed in two neat rows, reminiscent of Gatsby on an opulent outing.

Seeing Luo Sen enter, Lei Zhengang let out a hearty laugh, "Speak of the devil, Old Luo. Look at you, almost eighty if a day. Although you're not dead, you're not far off."

Luo Sen gave Lei Zhengang a sidelong glance, seeming uninterested in engaging with him, and instead gave a slight bow to Xuan Zhenzi seated prominently: "I never thought we'd have the chance to meet again in our lifetimes."

With his face turning red, Lei Zhengang didn't take it too hard. By then, others had realized that both Xuan Zhenzi and Luo Sen weren't too fond of him, leading them to wonder about the trio's relationship.