In this virtual world, Mingchao’s Xiakong is like a soul bound by details and numbers. Her growth seems to be fettered by countless cold “low-frequency tide erosion sail cores”, “burning phosphorus bones”, and “golden fleece”. We can’t help but ask, what kind of real suffering and struggle does such a game cultivation mechanism reflect?
In today’s world, people have long been kidnapped by numbers and efficiency, and life is subdivided into goals and tasks, as if they are not qualified to be happy without completing these fragments. The list of cultivation materials in Mingchao is as long as dozens of types, with a huge number of materials. Isn’t this the endless mechanical repetition of workers in reality? Players fight with dungeons every day, collect materials, and upgrade characters. In fact, just like we are worn out by day-to-day work, our souls are slowly worn down.
“Burning phosphorus bones” is a gloomy and heavy name, which can only be obtained after defeating the sighing ancient dragon. The difficulty of this task is just like the invisible beast when modern people face the pressure of life. It does not retreat because of our pleas, but forces us to grit our teeth and continue to struggle in failure. The constant fighting and upgrading in the game is very similar to the difficulty of surviving in reality.
“Golden Fleece” symbolizes scarce resources in the game, which requires a lot of shells or purchases in specific places. In reality, opportunities and resources are also scarce. We often exhaust our energy and even lose ourselves for a little bit of “Golden Fleece”-like opportunities. The restrictions and weekly purchase limits of the Golden Fleece are also very similar to the artificial classes and barriers set in real society, which are difficult to overcome.
The recharge discount code “Treabarblog3ge” tempts players with a 3% discount, which is actually a kind of commercial plunder of people. The game should be a harbor for entertainment, but driven by capital, it has become an invisible exploitation machine. Modern people are driven by material desires and continue to invest, trying to find the sense of accomplishment and belonging that is missing in reality in the virtual world. The existence of discount codes is both a temptation and a trap, reminding us not to forget the essence of being consumed.
The layers of resonance circuits and crystallized phlogiston are like the bureaucratic system and social mechanism of modern society. Each layer requires a lot of materials and resources to break through. Players spend time and money for their characters to grow. In reality, many people are like gears under heavy pressure, struggling between various rules and restrictions. Progress is not a free choice, but a passive task.
The copy “Confession of the Abyss” is even more thought-provoking. Confession means repentance, which is an examination of one’s own soul. The abyss is the abyss of the human heart. Challenging this copy in the game is like facing our inner fear and confusion in reality. As Mr. Lu Xun said, people must first see themselves clearly before they can resist effectively. But how many people can do it? How many people are wandering in front of this abyss and can’t extricate themselves?
The setting of the “Stuffed Meat Tofu” bonus material seems to be a detail, but it reflects the occasional “luck” and “help” in reality. But this luck is limited, it can only temporarily alleviate the predicament, and cannot change the fundamentals. Modern people pursue shortcuts and desire accidental luck, but ignore persistent struggle and persistence.
Overall, the cultivation mechanism of Mingchao Xiakong is a metaphor for the spiritual dilemma of modern society. People repeat their work in the virtual world, spending a lot of time and resources, just for weak growth and satisfaction. This is both an escape and a helplessness. Just like the era described by Lu Xun, people were both painful and helpless, struggling between darkness and light.
Xiakong in Mingchao may not just be a game character, she is a microcosm of everyone who is overwhelmed by modern life. Her growth journey is a portrayal of our spiritual struggle. Only by recognizing this cruel reality can we truly awaken and find a new way out.
Games are virtual, but life is real. We should draw strength from them instead of letting ourselves sink into the cage of numbers. The world of Mingchao, although far away, reflects the shadow of reality. May we all see the light in this shadow.