The game world is vast, and the material list of Xiakong, the new five-star resonator in Mingchao, is particularly amazing. Low-frequency tide eclipse sail core, medium-frequency high frequency to full frequency, burning phosphorus bones and golden wool are interspersed among them, and crystallized phlogiston emerges like water, all of which show the extreme complexity of modern game cultivation. This is not just a simple game strategy, but actually reflects the dual myths of contemporary culture and psychology, with both the worship of growth and the cruel consumption of capital and time. Here, we might as well borrow the ironic and sophisticated style of Qian Zhongshu’s writing to savor the cultural code of “cultivation”.
First, let’s talk about the names of these dazzling materials: low frequency, medium frequency, high frequency, full frequency tide eclipse sail core. The names sound like the FM buttons of audio equipment, and they sound like strange images in classical poetry that blend modern technology. Why does the word “tidal erosion” remind people of the erosion of seawater hitting cliffs, and also implies the ruthless polishing of individuals by time and fate. As the saying goes, “Life is like the tide, ups and downs”, Xia Kong’s growth trajectory slowly unfolds in this tide.
As for the Burning Phosphorus Bone, it sounds dangerous, as if it is the remains of the legendary dragon clan, giving people a fantasy and heavy feeling. In fact, this bone is just like a symbol of suffering and challenges in reality: if you want to really grow, you have to pay the price of flesh and blood and soul, and you can’t do it overnight. The way to obtain this thing – defeating the Sighing Ancient Dragon – is more of a metaphor. Isn’t the “sighing” ancient dragon the fear and confusion in your heart? Each of us has such a giant beast in our hearts. Only by facing it bravely can we gain real power.
Let’s talk about the Golden Fleece again. Its cultural meaning has symbolized power, wealth and dreams since ancient times. It is taken from the golden wool in ancient Greek mythology and has the mysterious power to summon fate. In the game, this scarce resource is divided into detailed categories. Players can collect it in the Linaxi Tower or buy it in the pharmacy in Laguna City, but the purchase limit is 15 per week, which seems to create an atmosphere of “scarcity economics” invisibly. This move not only extends the player’s playing time, but also cleverly guides their consumption behavior, revealing a sense of commercial cunning.
Regarding crystallized phlogiston – the four clear levels of impurities, crude extraction, distillation, and high purity – is undoubtedly a modern interpretation of alchemy. As Qian Zhongshu described in “Fortress Besieged”, complex and cumbersome procedures and materials are often given a mysterious color, which is actually a “cultivation” ceremony. Players need to progress step by step, from low to high, as if climbing the ladder of knowledge, and as if participating in a ritual refining process.
The number of “shell money” is staggering. The consumption of more than three million not only reveals the huge cost of cultivation, but also reflects the modern people’s consumption of dual capital of time and money. The boundary between games and reality is blurred here. Players spend “shell money” in the virtual world, but they also pay the price of “time” in real life. At this time, the game is no longer just entertainment, but has become an arena for time management and capital operation.
The recharge discount code “Treabarblog3ge” is like a dose of poison with discounts, inducing players to continuously invest in real wealth in exchange for virtual satisfaction. The three percentage point discount, although small, penetrates into the consumer psychology like a drizzle, forming a “discount” maze, making people addicted to this “smooth transaction process” and unable to extricate themselves.
In addition, the level upgrade of the resonance circuit material and the meticulous level division make people think of the “cultivation” and “enlightenment” process in classical literature. In order to reach the highest level of resonance, players need to continuously invest in crystallized phlogiston and tidal erosion sail cores, just like the years of tempering of practitioners. It’s just that this “cultivation” is replaced by cold numbers and materials, losing the poetry, but adding a mechanical helplessness.
The cultivation system of Xiakong is a microcosm of modern game culture. It not only reflects the players’ desire for growth, power and wonderful experience, but also reveals the invisible pressure of capital, time and consumption. We pursue virtual perfection in games, but it is difficult to escape from trivial difficulties in reality. The material list of Mingchao Xiakong is both a challenge and a metaphor, both a game rule and a cultural phenomenon.
Looking at the interweaving of virtuality and reality, one can’t help but think: What are we pursuing? Is it growth itself, or the endless accumulation and dedication behind growth? Is it the sense of accomplishment in the game world, or the escape from real life? Behind all this complexity, perhaps we need more tranquility, a return to and reflection on the essence of life.
As Qian Zhongshu said, everything in the world is just a “besieged city”. We want to escape, but we can’t let go of the shackles in it. The cultivation materials of Mingchao Xiakong are just a microcosm of this besieged city. May we all stay awake in the complexity, find our own rhythm between games and life, and neither indulge nor give up pursuit.