Purgatory Artist
Chapter 557: The Real World

Chapter 557: The Real World

Snowy Mountain.

Liu Ping sat cross-legged on a thick tree branch that extended over a cliff.

A blizzard raged around him.

He held a cup of steaming tea, sipping it slowly.

Boom—

An explosion echoed from the mountainside.

Several figures shot into the air, clashing mid-flight.

One of them was unstoppable, defeating opponents with a single strike.

"Hahaha! With skills like yours, you dare come after us?"

He laughed maniacally, unleashing beams of light that forced his foes into retreat.

Unnoticed, he chased them further and further from the main battle.

The moment he left, his remaining comrade faltered, shouting:

"Boss! Come back and help!"

Before the words faded—

Liu Ping set down his teacup and gestured.

Figures darted out from behind him, joining the fray with precision.

They ganged up on the isolated enemy, unleashing a coordinated assault.

Instant kill.

"Bastards! You killed him!"

The powerful youth finally noticed, roaring in fury.

Liu Ping gestured again.

His team split into three groups, launching relentless attacks that gave the youth no respite.

Fifteen volleys in five breaths.

Sixth breath.

Seventh.

The youth collapsed under the barrage, dead.

Only then did Liu Ping retract his hand, picking up his teacup for another sip.

His underlings swiftly collected the heads, retrieving dozens more from the enemies’ hideout.

They piled them before Liu Ping.

"I’ll take half. The rest are yours," he said.

The youths quickly divided the spoils, first separating Liu Ping’s share, then distributing the remainder based on contributions.

No one objected—

Even though Liu Ping had only directed the battle without lifting a finger.

"Boss, combined with ours, we have over 400 heads now," one youth reported.

"So we’ve won?" Liu Ping asked.

"Yes. You’ll definitely be the top head-collector," another said.

"Your strategies never fail—is this another advanced Occultism ability? What’s it called?" a shorter boy blurted.

"That’s a secret," Liu Ping said.

"Understood! A boss’s power shouldn’t be revealed lightly," the boy said hastily.

Liu Ping’s lips twitched.

Advanced ability?

It’s just basic tactics—ganging up, ambushes, fighting dirty.

Things I’ve done for centuries that these kids have never seen before.

He checked the void.

A notification appeared:

’[Time’s up.]’

Instantly—

Everyone vanished from the world.

Lines of fiery text materialized:

[Special Notice:]

[You possess a fragment of the real world—anchored in the Eternal Night by Time and Mystery as your kingdom.]

[You are about to witness another facet of reality.]

[Remain calm—]

[You must remain calm to avoid eternal damnation.]

[3...]

[2...]

[1...]

[Arrival.]

Silence.

Liu Ping opened his eyes to a classroom.

A blackboard ahead.

Another behind.

Students materialized at their desks as the clock ticked.

The scene felt eerily familiar—

Right.

This mirrored where the Time Lord first met me in the real world.

He’d planned this all along.

"Boss!"

A voice called from behind.

Liu Ping turned to see his "subordinates" waving eagerly.

The same youths who’d fought alongside him.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

A bell rang.

Class was in session.

The room fell silent as a bespectacled man entered, carrying lesson plans.

He smiled warmly.

"Class, I have wonderful news."

"Our very own 0880 is the grade’s top scorer!"

Scattered applause followed.

Liu Ping scanned the room—only eleven of the fifty seats were occupied by teens.

The rest stood empty.

The teacher read from a paper:

"0880 secured 371 heads in the fifth examination zone—the highest count in the grade."

"Meanwhile, 0977 ranks last with merely three heads, nearly getting himself killed."

"First, let’s hear 0977’s combat reflections, then 0880 will share his study methods."

A chubby boy trudged to the podium, muttering:

"Classmates, I almost died because I didn’t study hard, ignored the teacher’s advice, and failed to push my limits. Learn from my mistakes."

The teacher nodded, dismissing him.

Liu Ping’s turn.

He stepped up, surveying the empty seats with unreadable emotions.

"My achievements stem from the teacher’s guidance. I adhered strictly to his teachings, worked diligently, and collaborated with classmates. Specifically, I focused on—"

He launched into a flawless recital of generic success tips.

The routine let him covertly study the teacher.

The man listened attentively, adjusting his glasses with visible pride.

Suddenly—

Fiery text blazed before Liu Ping:

[The Occultism power of ’Deception’ kneels before you.]

[You are the King of Fraud.]

[No deceit—Occult or Nightmare—can blind you when you choose to see.]

So that’s it.

No wonder I’m drawn to this teacher—he radiates obfuscation-type Strange power.

"—By heeding our teacher’s wisdom, we grow properly. He only wants what’s best for us..."

As he spoke, Liu Ping sharpened his focus, unleashing his power.

[You have pierced all veils of deception in this environment.]

The illusion shattered.

The classroom’s true form emerged—

Walls of pulsating crimson flesh.

Desks as bulbous tumors.

The empty seats?

Each imprisoned a wailing teenage specter.

Something slithered past the doorway.

The trapped souls were sucked out, vanishing into the void.

As for the "teacher"—

"—Teamwork was key. That concludes my sharing."

Liu Ping turned, bowing to the three-meter-tall monstrosity shrouded in gray mist.

Its jagged maw split into a grin. "Excellent presentation, 0880. Return to your seat."

"Yes."

Liu Ping glanced at his classmates—

Real human teens.

Fifteen or sixteen years old.

He sat down silently.

The creature addressed the class:

"As the grade’s top performer, 0880 has earned this year’s final Manifestation opportunity."

Polite applause followed.

Liu Ping clapped mechanically, his gaze drifting to the window.

Beyond the school grounds, past the jagged skyline, loomed the Corpse of God.

But from this angle—

Unlike the designer’s frontal view, here he saw its back.

The colossal corpse was hollowed out.

Only golden bones remained, stretching the desiccated skin over an empty cavity.

Something had devoured it from within.