Infinite flow, but I submit myself

It looked like swill, smelled like swill, and judging by the reactions of the others eating it, it was probably as unappetizing as swill—this slime meal.

“Uh, is this all?” Tang Mo Bai stared at the food in the cafeteria, dumbfounded, his expression alternating between green and purple.

“This is it. Take it or leave it.” The black-robed person working in the cafeteria rolled their eyes. Despite being in an infinite loop world, they still gave him an oddly familiar sense of oppression and intimacy.

Tang Mo Bai felt his soul coins decrease by 3, and his heart ached. Fine, he could accept buying normal food, but if this were in the real world, he would never admit this thing was food! Even the people from the “Rotten Nation” wouldn’t acknowledge it! It belonged in the trash!

Carrying his “meal,” he returned to the seating area where Yan Wuzhen and the others were. He looked at them with a bitter face. “Is this really edible?”

“Or you could go to the second floor and buy a loaf of bread for 5 coins.” Yan Wuzhen casually picked one of the meals. “All the cheap food here is disgusting. It only maintains the minimum necessary calories and nutrients for gladiators to fight.”

“No way! I’ve worked so hard to earn 30 coins. Why don’t they go rob someone else?!” After his first battle, Tang Mo Bai realized how absurdly high the prices were here. Even someone like him, who was “cheating,” couldn’t afford a meal. This stuff was absolutely a luxury.

“They are robbing people.” Yan Wuzhen sneered. “If they didn’t do this, how could they guarantee that slaves will actively participate in the gladiatorial games to live a better life?”

Tang Mo Bai went silent, thinking carefully. Indeed, the setup for this so-called resurrection competition seemed designed to whip them into action. The ghostly figures at night forced everyone to earn at least 5 soul coins daily. That only ensured the most basic survival. But to live well, or even save up 100 coins, you practically had to spend every day in the arena.

But why was frequent gladiatorial combat required? Was it just for gambling?

Tang Mo Bai found it strange, especially recalling the question 009 had asked him in the medical room. It seemed to imply something, so he couldn’t help but ask Yan Wuzhen.

“…You don’t know?” Yan Wuzhen’s gaze turned incredulous. “You really don’t know why explorers in the Lost Paradise are called demons?”

“Should I know?” Tang Mo Bai cautiously asked.

“This is common knowledge in the Lost Paradise.”

Tang Mo Bai looked at Xiu Wei Yi, who also had a confused expression. He relaxed and said, “We really don’t know. Is it because we’ve done bad things?”

Yan Wuzhen stared at his micro-expression for a few seconds before frowning and explaining, “We’re called demons not for any specific reason. It’s simply because we are demons.”

Tang Mo Bai: ?

When did my race change?

“What do you think is the difference between humans and demons?” Yan Wuzhen countered. “Do demons have horns? Do they eat magma, or live in hell?”

Tang Mo Bai, embarrassed to ask, answered, “Isn’t that the case?”

Yan Wuzhen sneered. “In the Lost Paradise, the only difference between humans and demons is that humans restrain their desires, while we indulge in them. Through these desires, we come to understand the original sins we bear.”

“Only by recognizing our desires and satisfying them can our id be further refined, unlocking more power.”

Id…

Tang Mo Bai had a sudden realization and opened his personal attributes.

Name: Tang Mo Bai
Id: Commoner (Destiny 7)
Livestream Room Number: 99998
Original Sin: ???

This “Destiny 7” and the “original sin” were things that the expert group in the real world had been trying to investigate. However, information on the id talent was considered personal data for streamers, so livestream rooms often had these details censored. He hadn’t understood what they meant until now.

Tang Mo Bai couldn’t help but ask, “Wait, why didn’t we trigger this in the beginner’s trial? Isn’t survival instinct strong enough?”

“It is strong enough, but survival instinct is the basic instinct of any creature, not a demon’s desire.” Yan Wuzhen explained. “Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust—these are the seven deadly sins of demons. In the Lost Paradise, they’re also called the seven original sin destinies… Demons grow stronger by satisfying these desires and absorbing the corresponding negative emotions. Otherwise, what do you think the arena’s purpose is?”

Tang Mo Bai scratched his head. “Isn’t it the resurrection competition?”

“That’s right. The resurrection competition is defined as giving the eliminated participants a chance to be reborn. In the Lost Paradise, it’s about transforming from human to true demon—understanding desires, fulfilling desires.” Yan Wuzhen glanced around before continuing in a neutral tone, “Despising the weak, eliminating rivals, killing without mercy… Isn’t this the perfect stage for that?”

Tang Mo Bai was stunned, but Yan Wuzhen didn’t give him time to process. “By the way, besides satisfying desires, absorbing the negative emotions associated with original sin also brings us satisfaction. The reason why the livestream audience for the resurrection competition is far larger than for regular exploration worlds is because each resurrection competition livestream room also absorbs part of the audience’s desires.”

As he spoke, Yan Wuzhen’s expression was calm, but there was a trace of sarcasm in his eyes. “The arrogant feel at ease watching us, the angry enjoy the bloodshed, the envious find comfort, the greedy come for gambling…”

“The entire resurrection competition, rather than giving the eliminated a chance, is more about exploiting our last bit of value.”

Tang Mo Bai remained silent. Yan Wuzhen gazed at his face, a faint smile rising. “So, do you regret it?”

“Regret what?”

Yan Wuzhen: “If you end up choosing to follow the audience…”

“Oh…” Tang Mo Bai sighed, “Good thing I didn’t do that.”

“Hmm?”

“If I really awakened those kinds of desires, I might turn into a completely different person from who I was before.” He said, “That would be pretty annoying.”

For a moment, Yan Wuzhen almost lost his smile, staring at him as if looking at an alien.

“Although… I do feel a bit guilty,” Tang Mo Bai scratched his head, his eyes flicking to Yan Wuzhen and quickly looking away, “It shouldn’t have affected… right?”

He meant to ask if it would affect Yan Wuzhen’s subsequent plans, although he knew that if it did, Yan Wuzhen would still go ahead with it. But there’s a difference between doing something and feeling guilty about it.

He paused, then said with a wry smile, “Don’t mention your performance in the arena, just based on that sentence you just said, they’re probably already wondering whether they should bet on you.”

“Ugh, no…”

Tang Mo Bai instinctively wanted to apologize, but a familiar ID suddenly popped up in the chat.

[Beware of PUA techniques]

Tang Mo Bai blinked, looking up at Yan Wuzhen, but found that even though Yan Wuzhen had said that, his expression didn’t seem troubled. In fact, he kept glancing around with a subtle smile at the corner of his mouth.

Tang Mo Bai immediately broke free from his previous sense of guilt and retorted, “Is that my fault? It’s clearly because you didn’t explain things clearly to me… If I had been prepared, I definitely would’ve done better.”

Yan Wuzhen narrowed his eyes. He hadn’t been serious either—just a quick glance at Tang Mo Bai’s actions was enough for him to know he was feeling guilty, so he casually criticized him to undermine his confidence. This had become a kind of professional instinct for him. Even when Tang Mo Bai followed his plan to the letter, he would still find a small mistake to critique, then casually suggest a better way to do it next time, subtly hinting that they were on the same side. At this point, clients would start relying even more on his information.

But he didn’t expect Tang Mo Bai to be so alert… Was it his people who gave him this advice?

He turned his thoughts over and said, “So, it’s still my fault?”

Tang Mo Bai: “Of course, next time be more careful. I paid for this information!”

Xiu Wei Yi: “Uh, is this something you can say in public?”

Xiu Wei Yi, although eating with them, had kept his head lowered to remain inconspicuous. The reason was simple: the stares around them were too intense.

Tang Mo Bai had now become well-known in the cafeteria. Though the newcomers were still confused, they saw him defeating someone with more experience, which led to an unspoken acknowledgment that he was the strongest among the newcomers. Naturally, they no longer dared to challenge him. The older crowd, especially those who knew about the betting, had more complicated feelings.

The table where Tang Mo Bai and the others sat had become the center of attention in the cafeteria, surrounded by looks of suspicion and greed from all directions.

Xiu Wei Yi couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably in his seat, feeling uneasy under such intense gazes. However, the other two remained calm and stayed put, so he couldn’t just leave.

“Don’t worry, they can’t do anything yet.” Yan Wuzhen slowly wiped his mouth, tapping the collars on their necks. “No methods can be used to harm other slaves outside the arena. That’s a rule set by the ‘masters.’ Plus, there’s a three-day newbie protection period. They can’t do anything to you. Let them look if they want. You’re the new rising star of the arena now.”

But as the center of the storm, Tang Mo Bai didn’t look pleased. Instead, he stared at Yan Wuzhen, his expression unusually calm.

“But at the same time, after three days, when the newbie protection period is over, I’ll definitely become everyone’s target.”

In fact, the gazes around them were already intense enough. If it weren’t for the newbie protection period and Yan Wuzhen being there, they would have probably rushed at him by now, trying everything to challenge him in the arena, or even in betting matches.

It’s simple: having something precious is a crime.

Newcomers were always the most sought-after in the arena, and Tang Mo Bai was even more so. He had already reached a level comparable to a ginseng fruit—just a normal match against him would draw far more attention than usual, much like a game involving a famous star.

Yan Wuzhen sneered. “To achieve the greatest success in a short period of time, you don’t avoid becoming the target of everyone. There’s no such thing as obtaining tremendous wealth without taking risks in this world.”

Tang Mo Bai naturally understood this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have signed that contract, and even the most cautious experts wouldn’t, and couldn’t, expect Yan Wuzhen to add clauses guaranteeing his safety.

Everyone knew that was impossible.

So Yan Wuzhen didn’t break the contract. He fulfilled all the conditions perfectly—the next time Tang Mo Bai enters the arena, his popularity would undoubtedly skyrocket.

He had already become the star of the arena, even though the ground beneath him felt like a bottomless pit.

“If you’re afraid of becoming everyone’s target, maybe you should consider losing to me?” Yan Wuzhen ‘casually’ suggested, “After all, it’s something you’ve worked hard for. We can sign a contract, and I’ll definitely avoid beating you after I win, plus I can help protect you from others.”

Tang Mo Bai lowered his eyelids. “Your map of Yan Kingdom is way too short.”

Although he had already been prepared for this spider’s malicious intentions, it was still the first day and not even over yet. He thought Yan Wuzhen would at least wait until the third day to reveal his true intentions.

“In front of you, there’s no need for any pretense,” Yan Wuzhen shrugged. “After all, you have someone behind you, right? They must have already given you advice on how to avoid this risk.”

Tang Mo Bai didn’t respond, but Xiu Wei Yi shifted uneasily. “Well, that’s true. Isn’t there still the qualification test? As long as you accumulate 100 coins in these three days, you might be able to directly break through the resurrection competition?”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. This might be a bit difficult for others, but for you, Tang Mo Bai, it should be…”

Xiu Wei Yi could no longer even force a smile. He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Tang Mo Bai, however, kept staring at Yan Wuzhen, feeling that there was something hidden in his words. Due to the angle, he didn’t notice Xiu Wei Yi’s expression.

But the expert team on the other side of the livestream noticed. Outside the screen, Wang Yuan Zhi and the others furrowed their brows. After a while, they sent Tang Mo Bai an encrypted message.