In this era where everything can be digitized, the newly launched five-star character “Xiakong” in the game “Mingchao” once again gives us a glimpse of the subtle entanglement between the modern virtual world and real capitalism with its complicated material requirements. Just like a long book full of numbers and symbols, this list called “Xiakong Material List” is not only a boring guide for cultivation in the game, but also a microcosm of the modern people’s spirit and capital game, which is interesting and intriguing.
A closer look at this list can be said to be layered and complex. Materials such as “low-frequency tidal eclipse sail core”, “medium-frequency tidal eclipse sail core” and even “full-frequency tidal eclipse sail core”, with names such as “burning phosphorus bones” and “golden wool”, remind people of the mysterious and complex images in classical poetry. It has both science fiction and classical charm, and is quite interesting in the “game of words” written by Qian Zhongshu. The name of each material seems to remind players: This is not only a game, but also a cultural codeword, inviting you to enter a familiar yet unfamiliar situation.
The requirements for the quantity of these materials in the game have almost become a metaphor for modern “capital accumulation”. Look at the tidal sail cores from “low frequency” to “full frequency”, the number increases step by step, just like the spiral rise of capital, one ring after another, accumulating more and more. How similar is it to the bottomless pursuit of resources by companies in real life? However, the stage of the game is virtual, and the cruelty of reality is even better. Every few hours of work in the game by players is like contemporary young people repeatedly working overtime in the workplace, consuming the already scarce life time.
What is worth pondering is the existence of “recharge discounts” and “discount codes”, just like real-life promotions, cleverly converting “time cost” into “money cost”, on the one hand inducing players to accelerate growth, on the other hand gradually turning players into gears of the “capital machine”. This “buying time” mentality reflects the common anxiety in contemporary society: time is never enough, and the only solution seems to be to buy time with money, or even buy back some of one’s own freedom.
The “burning phosphorus bones” and “golden fleece” interspersed in the materials are like rare treasures in fables. The former comes from the “sighing ancient dragon”, the latter is produced in the “Lina Xi Tower”, and the pharmacy “rosemary” is sold in limited quantities. Such settings are nothing less than a portrayal of monopoly and scarcity in the capital world. As the famous economist once said: scarcity determines value, and value shapes power. In the game, you must do everything possible to defeat powerful enemies and collect materials; in reality, people must also do their best to compete for limited resources and opportunities, and the same goal is achieved by different means.
What is particularly amusing is the “stuffed meat tofu” prop in the game – it can increase the material drop rate by 50% in a short period of time. Isn’t this little virtual delicacy a symbol of all kinds of “quick success secrets” in real life? Whether it is various efficiency tools or the popular “time management method” in life, they are all trying to use extreme efficiency to offset the constraints of the environment on people. However, as the complex semantics described by Qian Zhongshu, there is often anxiety and loss behind efficiency. The so-called “improving efficiency” may be a silent plunder of time and life.
This list of materials is like a magic mirror, reflecting the contradictions and struggles of our time: the virtual world combined with technology and capital constantly traps players with seemingly harmless “growth systems”, while also exposing the desire and helplessness of success in human nature. We want to control the progress of the game, but it is difficult to escape the shackles of the rules of the game. The boundaries between life and games are becoming increasingly blurred, and the standards of success and failure have become both real and illusory.
If Qian Zhongshu were here, he would probably use a subtle and spicy prose to combine the complexity of the “Summer Sky” materials with the oppressiveness of modern life, satirizing the absurdity behind this endless “upgrade” and “recharge” game. Perhaps he will remind us: virtual prosperity cannot cover up real loneliness, and “growth” in the game is ultimately a debt of time and emotion. Only by staying sober and humorous can we maintain our self-preservation in this complex world.
In short, this list of “Summer Sky” materials is a wonderful competition between capital and humanity in the virtual world. It allows us to see the complex social logic behind technological progress, and also inspires us to rethink the meaning of freedom, time and life. As Qian Zhongshu said, “What makes a person a person is his humor.” I hope that we can retain a sense of humor and wisdom beyond the complex materials and numbers, and face the ultimate game of life with ease.