"Chapter One: The Beginning of Destiny"
「1999, Solar System, Pluto」
The Supre Supre floated outside a rusty red planet. A thin atmosphere, like an eggshell, protected this dwarf planet, which was only a third the size of the moon. Beneath the atmosphere, faint clouds flickered with a rainbow glow that one couldn't take their eyes off.
"In 1999, the Immortal Origin in Pluto of the Solar System had ford. The Ark Troops, transferred by the Spatial-Temporal Chaos Array, would move to the space closest to the external Immortal Origin Point and automatically head towards the Immortal Origin Point, urgently needing to replenish energy from it."
"Notice: Triggering the Immortal Origin Point and borrowing the power of the Immortal Origin will automatically activate it and cause an eruption, increasing the concentration of universal Spiritual Energy."
"Before the official outbreak of the Spiritual Energy Tide, the higher the concentration of universal Spiritual Energy, the more advantageous it is for the civilization of the Immortals from the old era."
"After the cosmic battle begins, the Supre Supre will continue to rge with the activated Immortal Origin. During the uncontrollable burst of the Immortal Origin, the Supre Supre could use the power of this instant to annihilate all enemy forces on the battlefield."
"Of the erupted Immortal Origin, 5% would inevitably dissipate, increasing the concentration of universal Spiritual Energy and strengthening the Ark Troops. This portion of Spiritual Energy would rapidly grow under the influence of the Tide before the outbreak of the Spiritual Energy Tide, slightly advancing its timing."
"The remaining 95% of Immortal Origin Spiritual Energy would be suppressed and solidified by the Supre Supre using the laws of the Grand Dao, becoming the energy source for the Supre Supre's Divine Artifact. It would be gradually returned to the universe after the official start of the Spiritual Energy Tide, when the Supre Supre was in a good mood."
"Pluto Immortal Origin: Level 1 Immortal Origin, generates 5 Spiritual Energy Points, activation ti required: 01:00"
Ren Suo tugged at the corner of his mouth. With the help of the "Listening Headphones," he understood the gist of this setting.
Simply put, an Immortal Origin Point was useless after one use.
Just like the Supre Supre using the Immortal Origin of the Centauri Star System directly as an energy source for the Spatial-Temporal Chaos Array, the 1999 Immortal Origin Point also needed to be processed imdiately after being utilized once to prevent the dissipation of the Immortal Origin Spiritual Energy.
Although it wasn't ntioned in the ga, Ren Suo guessed that the Immortal Origin Points in the entire Solar System were limited; using one ant one less.
To crush the successively arriving Ark Troops, players needed to utilize all the Immortal Origin Points well, not triggering them prematurely, but only activating them when the enemy arrived.
The victory conditions were the sa as the tutorial level: either the Cultivators Legion directly crushed the Ark Troops, or they held out until the countdown ended. If the latter, the Supre Supre, having successfully activated the Spiritual Energy Point, would strike down all the Ark Troops in one move.
Moreover, this Immortal Origin Point, just like the Spirit Treasury in "Devouring the Spirit of the World," would enhance the concentration of universal Spiritual Energy once activated.
But in this universe, apart from Future Cultivators, only the Ark Troops could utilize Spiritual Energy. The higher the Spiritual Energy, the more advantageous it was for the Ark Troops. However, Future Cultivators themselves could harness the power of Spiritual Energy Points, making the concentration of universal Spiritual Energy have no impact on them.
So the battle strategy in the ga was to activate the Immortal Origin Points one by one, creating as much growth ti as possible for the Cultivators Legion and allowing the Supre Supre to destroy the Ark Troops as much as possible with the power of the Immortal Origin.
Ren Suo understood all these reasons, but why was the Supre Supre so aweso?
5% of the Spiritual Energy inevitably dissipated, while the remaining 95% of Spiritual Energy was taken by the Supre Supre as the energy source for the Divine Artifact?
Although it wasn't just a straightforward theft, and the Supre Supre would return this Spiritual Energy to the universe when he felt like it, sohow it always felt a bit infuriating?
However, with the style of the Supre Supre, Ren Suo was put at ease—this character truly lived up to the na Supre Supre.
Carefree and in control of everything. Although it was unclear whether he was stronger or weaker than the Heavenly Maiden Sovereign, he certainly did not fall short in terms of imposingness.
Back in the ga, Ren Suo looked at the distribution of the Spiritual Energy Points and thought he was in trouble.
The Immortal Origin Spirit Points on Pluto were all located on its five moons. And, of course, the moons were not located on the sa line but almost divided Pluto in half, aning Ren Suo had very few Spiritual Energy Points to use.
When the Ark Troops officially appeared, Ren Suo blinked, suddenly zooming out the battlefield image and dragging the sun into the picture as well.
With the sun as a reference, Pluto looked as small as a grain of rice; as for the Ark Troops, they had shrunk to pixel size.
However, Ren Suo saw clearly that the vanguard that appeared was the Worm Battleship from the tutorial level!
The size of a star!
It even almost defeated the Great Power of the Eighth Revolution, Crimson Fla War Wolf!
Now, how could it be so small that it didn't even compare to Pluto?
Had it shrunk that drastically!?
Although Ren Suo didn't care much, he had previously vaguely felt that the people from 2049 might have been making a fuss over nothing.
Yes, the Immortal civilization's Ark was formidable, requiring an Eight-Turn Cultivator to be dispatched just to destroy the weakest Scout Soldiers, but was it really necessary to move them back to 1999 to deal with them?
Was there a sense of laziness in thinking, 'I'm not doing well now, so let my past self do the hard work'?
Even though the Supre Supre seed to offer plenty of benefits to all participating Future Cultivators, it still couldn't erase the suspicion that 2049 was shirking its responsibilities.
Only when Ren Suo saw the 1999 Ark Troops, which were as weak as insects, did he finally feel relieved.
This nearly thousandfold or millionfold power disparity made anyone want to travel back to 1999 to fight!
If fighting the Ark in 2049 was a battle for human survival, then fighting the Ark Troops in 1999... was really like taking a group of kids to an amusent park.
Although the Worm Battleship of the Ark Troops was almost as large as an aircraft carrier, facing a Cultivators Legion that had reached the fourth transformation after Joining the Way, the aircraft carrier was just a bigger pigeon.
"Enemy number: 10/10", "Activation ti: 00:59"
「One minute later.」
"Campaign successful"
In cosmic space, a huge black humanoid weapon collapsed with a BANG, disintegrated into Spiritual Energy, and fell just a block away from Pluto.
Ren Suo had been startled a mont ago. He followed the usual strategy, arranging Xiao ng's Team in the only long-range position and then positioning Dragon King Zhao Huo's Team at the Spiritual Energy Point closer to Pluto to give Xiao ng's Team more ti to attack.
The previous Worm Battleships were easily annihilated. However, the last wave consisted of three Worm Battleships and a black humanoid weapon appearing simultaneously. Xiao ng's Team only had ti to destroy two Worm Battleships before Dragon King Zhao Huo's Team engaged the enemy.
Dragon King Zhao Huo's Team could only intercept one enemy; the black humanoid weapon directly bypassed him and charged toward the Immortal Origin Point!
Fortunately, Dragon King Zhao Huo's Team quickly dealt with the Worm Battleship, turned around, and tangled with the black humanoid weapon. However, although clearly smaller than the Worm Battleship, the black humanoid weapon was tougher and stronger. It wasn't until the countdown was almost over that this group of little rascals managed to dismantle it.
No, they couldn't be called little rascals anymore.
Because after Joining the Way with the real Immortal Origin Spirit Point, these kids actually gained perfect future bodies through "Future Echo"!
They all transford into the appearance of adults!
So Ren Suo could see such a scene—Dragon King Zhao Huo, in his adult form, stepping on the head of the black humanoid weapon, draped in a cloak and armor, backed by the starry sea, spun a tal lance and struck a very girlish pose:
"The beautiful champion of love and justice, Dragon King Zhao Huo! I will eradicate you on behalf of Earth!"
Ren Suo almost laughed so hard he threw his controller. Thankfully, Zhao Huo wasn't alone; because of the Ring of Five Battles Comrades, all five hundred mbers of his team struck the sa pose!
With an explosion, the black humanoid weapon beneath their feet dispersed into Spiritual Energy, further highlighting how their victory was filled with love and justice!
Wait, if this ga reflects reality and turns into a video broadcast… Ren Suo dared not ponder further, only praying that among these five hundred, no one recognized the current Zhao Huo; otherwise, a real-life Mortal Kombat would be getting off lightly.
"Perfect clearance, received additional reward, Xiao ng's Token*1"
"Received Immortal Origin Stone*2"
"Received Tactical Matrix*1"
"Tactical Matrix: Collected by the Supre Supre from 'Black Iron,' a tactical weapon of the Ark Civilization. Can be used to strengthen the Unity Magic effects for Cultivators Legion in Close-Combat Positions."
'Black Iron' was the black humanoid weapon that almost broke through Dragon King Zhao Huo's Team's blockade. Although this level also had a "0/5" error tolerance, aning the Supre Supre could rip apart at least four Ark Troops, Ren Suo, who always pursued perfect clearance within his capabilities, was still a bit anxious.
According to intelligence, 'Black Iron' turned out to be an Ark Troop whose size hadn't changed.
Unlike the Worm Battleship, constructed entirely from Spiritual Energy and responsible for Scouting, the tiny 'Black Iron' was a genuine combat unit. A single 'Black Iron' was capable of destroying a Star-level Civilization. The Tactical Matrix stored inside was the Ark Civilization's crystallization of wisdom, akin to the source of power maintaining 'Black Iron's' operation.
However, the Ark Civilization hadn't anticipated that Black Iron would end up fighting in a Spiritual Energy desert. Even if its size wasn't reduced, its combat power plumted. It was already difficult for the Tactical Matrix to maintain Black Iron's form, let alone unleash earth-shattering attacks.
But, once the Tactical Matrix fell into the hands of the Cultivators Legion, it could enhance the utilization efficiency of the Spiritual Energy Points and slightly strengthen the effects of Unity Magic.
As spoils of an interstellar war, the Tactical Matrix and two Immortal Origin Stones were fairly average, but the additional reward caught Ren Suo's interest.
"Xiao ng's Token: A photo of a small boy shivering as he stands protectively in front of a large dog, shielding a terrified little girl behind him. In the universal wars, it can be used to summon the future Xiao ng back to 1999 to assist in battle."
Ren Suo dismissed this use imdiately. Based on the nature of this ga, this 'future Xiao ng' was most likely the current Xiao ng—she hadn't even begun Cultivation yet.
Even if the real future Xiao ng was summoned, Ren Suo wasn't optimistic: if it really reached an extrely dangerous mont, even a Seven-Turn Cultivator like Xiao ng might not be the deciding factor.
Fortunately, the Token had other uses: "Direct use on Xiao ng, randomly triggering any First Order strengthening effect (Trustworthiness 50%, Traits strengthened, Attack range 1)"
Ren Suo decisively used the Token on Xiao ng, triggering the Trustworthiness 50% effect, granting a 15% attack bonus… This seems like the worst option, but I had already anticipated my own bad luck. I probably used up all my luck by drawing Nine-Turn Cultivator Dragon King Zhao Huo from the start.
After ending the ga, he returned to the Earth base, and a prompt popped up: "Do you want to upload the record? After uploading, you will enter the Second Chapter ga stage. Alternatively, you can pay 50 rit Points to restart the First Chapter ga (restarting the ga will permanently lower the ga rating)."
This ga is really strict. Not only does loading a save require money, but it also lowers the ga rating. However, Ren Suo understood that for a ga like this, once players repeatedly attempt dungeons and find the correct strategy, it isn't difficult to achieve a perfect rating. Therefore, the Mini-World Ga Console naturally restricts farming high scores.
Ren Suo naturally chose to upload, and the ga displayed the mission evaluation:
"1999 Pluto Great Victory—Annihilated all Ark Troops, 100 points"
"Killed by Panda at First Sight—defeated once by a panda, -1 point"
"Total score is 99 points, received additional reward: Immortal Origin Stone*1, 9 rit Points."
"The next extra reward pool is expected to be 100 rit Points. Please keep up the good work."
Ren Suo raised an eyebrow. Extra reward?
So, this wasn't deducted from the rit Points awarded after completing the mission? Getting this is pure profit, and missing it ans no loss—it's purely the ga's own giveaway?
No wonder it's completely different from the normal task ratings. Other gas start adding from 60 points, but 'Cataclysm of Tomorrow' starts subtracting from 100 points.
The scene suddenly changed. The Supre Supre sat in a conference room eting with representatives from various countries. The ga displayed a notice: "Public recruitnt function unlocked."
"The heroic stance of the Cultivators Legion battling in space was broadcast worldwide. The powerful Ark Legion prompted countries to finally drop their last reservations, agreeing to accept the warti leadership of the Supre Supre and allowing the recruitnt of Future Cultivators in their countries."
"Unlike Seek Visits, publicly recruited Future Cultivators do not automatically receive the blessing of 'Future Echo.' The Supre Supre must personally perform the Casting Spells on them, and the screening process is very cumberso."
"The Supre Supre can publicly recruit ten thousand Future Cultivators within the Second Chapter. During screening, by emitting a specific 'Future Echo,' the Supre Supre can ensure the recruitnt of at least one Fifth Tier or higher Future Cultivator."
"Available Future Echo types: Energy Gathering, Divine Skills, Vanguard, Heavenly Calamity, Imperial Guard, Bastion, Shelter, Support."
Governnts truly act like governnts—one maneuver, ten thousand people. That being said, are there really that many Fourth-Stage Cultivators in the future?
Is it true that in 2049, Fourth-Stage Cultivators are as common as dogs, and Seven-Turn Cultivators are everywhere?
There are eight types of Future Echo, naturally corresponding to the Eight-Turn Cultivator Legion. Dragon King Zhao Huo is Vanguard, Xiao ng is Energy Gathering, Heavenly Perceptive Listener is Divine Skills, and Crystal Maiden is Heavenly Calamity.
Ren Suo looked over the introduction. It seed Imperial Guard was a high-output close-combat legion without blocking ability, Bastion was a highly defensive unit with strong taunting ability, Shelter likely provided buff effects and battlefield Healing, and Support primarily applied curses with negative effects on the enemy.
Ren Suo didn't choose a recruitnt type first. Instead, he switched to the Seek Visit interface—first spending Immortal Origin Stones for a few thousand consecutive draws, and then he would see what kind of Future Cultivators he was missing.
However, Ren Suo then saw this introduction:
"Lianjiang Three Fools: Initial Seek Visit concluded."
"You can carry out Seek Visit activities in other places, where an initial Seek Visit will likely result in drawing High-Rank Future Cultivators."
Huh? There's such a setting?
Ren Suo could, of course, continue drawing, but he would only get guaranteed Seven-Turn Cultivators in the thousand consecutive draws. According to the ga introduction, if he went to other places for an initial Seek Visit, not only would Seven-Turn Cultivators be guaranteed, but he might even draw Eight-Turn or Nine-Turn Cultivators!
But what does 'Lianjiang Three Fools' an? Does it refer to Yu Kuangtu, Zhao Huo, and Bai Ji? Or Yu Kuangtu, Zhao Huo, and Li Dan?
According to this setting, Ren Suo's best ga strategy would obviously be to draw cards elsewhere; staying ho might result in drawing Seven-Turn Cultivators until the end of the ga.
Yet, the na 'Lianjiang Three Fools' implied Ren Suo had to go to other places, at least leaving Lianjiang City—no small matter for him.
If it's just to play the ga, causing myself the trouble of traveling...
It's not that I'm lazy about going out. Mainly, my outings are under the control of my girlfriends. Significant activities like traveling to other cities would inevitably require my girlfriends' review. Furthermore, it's uncertain whether each city would trigger the initial Seek Visit effect. I could make up excuses, but... but I don't want to lie to my girlfriends!
Alas, honest people always encounter problems one way or another.
Moreover, I don't have a car, and taking public transportation is sowhat inconvenient; overall, it's just a lot of inconvenience.
Forget it, forget it. Surely the ga can be completed without Eight-Turn or Nine-Turn Cultivators, right? Seven-Turn Cultivators should be enough, right?
But, if I could draw Eight-Turn and Nine-Turn Cultivators, the ga would definitely be more thrilling...
Ren Suo battled internally, as if a demon was murmuring, "Why bother going out? It's so troubleso. Drawing Seven-Turn Cultivators is usable, too! Look how strong Xiao ng is! Why waste your precious personal ti for the Earth of 1999?"
Then an angel popped up, anxiously saying, "Ren Suo, you can't do this! It's the Earth of 1999 we're talking about. The more Eight-Turn Cultivators you have, the more power you have! And you can ask Cheng Ling to take you on a tour of various countries; then you can just lay back at ho and hit up the card pools everywhere!"
The demon yelled, "You're just freeloading!"
The angel punched the demon to death. "I freeload, and I'm proud of it!"
Right!
Ren Suo made up his mind, when suddenly his phone rang. "Xiao Suo, are you awake? Rember, we agreed to get up at 7:30."
"I'm awake. Are you off to work?"
"Not yet, I'm at Cheng Ling's house. Co over quick."
Ren Suo scratched his head, quickly washed up, and rushed to Cheng Ling's house. To his surprise, the door was opened by Lin Xianyu.
Ren Suo checked the ti, then looked at Lin Xianyu.
"Did you stay up all night last night?" Ren Suo ventured, making a reasonable guess.
"I only slept for four hours," Lin Xianyu yawned.
Well, that made sense.
When Ren Suo entered, he found everyone was there. Even Little Jiu was already sleepily sitting at the dining table, eating milk cereal with the Black Cat.
Little Jiu used to wake up at 8 AM for school. This was because everyone in the school loved her: the horoom teacher didn't scold her, her classmates adored her, and her grades were so good she could move up to middle school anyti she wanted.
"Everyone's here so early?" Ren Suo asked curiously. He noticed Qiao Muyi wasn't wearing her tactical vest and then asked, "Young Master Mu, you don't have work today?"
"No, not today," Qiao Muyi said with a smile, tilting her head to look at Ren Suo. "Xiao Suo, you rember our agreent, right?"
"Rember, rember!" Ren Suo nodded imdiately.
"Then tell what the agreent was."
Embarrassed, Ren Suo hesitated slightly, glanced at the others, and said, "To say it here... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Qiao Muyi humd. "You didn't forget, did you?"
"No, just... then shall I say it?"
"Say it."
Ren Suo looked reluctantly at Dong Chengling and the others, made up his mind, and said, blushing deeply, "I promised to lick—"
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!—" Qiao Muyi hastily shouted, stopping him. "Not that night! The one about Lianjiang Tower?"
"Suo, continue. What did you and Xiao Qiao agree on?" Dong Chengling asked calmly, holding a teacup, though the milk in it spilled out.
"Right, Mr. Suo, what did you agree with Sister Qiao?" Gu Yueyan crossed her arms and stared straight at Ren Suo. "Which night was that?"
"It wouldn't be the night you suddenly burst into the girls' dorm looking for , would it?" Ren Xingi raised her eyebrows. "Bro, the last person you found seems to have been Sister Qiao..."
Qiao Muyi suddenly stood up and shifted the subject. "Back then at Lianjiang Tower, you told not to cancel the flight but to fly directly to Flourishing Sakura for tourism. Now it's ti for you to keep your promise!"
"Okay!" Ren Suo breathed a sigh of relief and nodded vigorously. "When?"
"Now!"
Qiao Muyi pointed to the seven or eight large suitcases in the living room. "All that is my luggage. You carry it."
Ren Suo's eyes widened. "Travel now!? Are you serious!?"
Everyone narrowed their eyes slightly, watched Ren Suo for three to four seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing.
Lin Xianyu reminded him, "Big Brother Ren, do you see what day it is today?"
"Today... April first? April Fool's Day?" Ren Suo realized. He couldn't help but snicker, then sat down laughing. "Did you guys call over just to trick ?"
"Yeah," Qiao Muyi's smile slowly faded. "I was just kidding you."
"Because it's not just Sister Qiao," Ren Xingi wrapped her arms around Ren Suo's neck from behind, giggling. "We're going on a trip too."
"Huh?"
"I have already asked for leave for you," Dong Chengling said while wiping the table. "I've taken leave too, and so have Yueyan and the others."
"Eh?"
"And we're not just going to Flourishing Sakura, but many other places! We can actually go see that Crystal Cathedral!" Gu Yueyan said, slightly excited.
"What?"
"Xiao Suo...," Qiao Muyi suddenly reached out, pinched Ren Suo's face, and asked with a smile, "Are you happy the trip for two turned into a group outing?"
「Negative emotions from Qiao Muyi, 999」
Dong Chengling turned her head to look at Ren Suo and asked calmly, "Yeah, Suo, are you happy?"
「Negative emotions from Dong Chengling, 10」
No matter how I answer here, whether I say I'm happy or not, it seems like I'll be in trouble. What should I say? Urgently waiting online!
The Demon that seed to be on its last breath whispered in Ren Suo's ear like a dying man uttering wise words, "Eating handouts too much can choke you to death..."
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