【Advanced Practical Item Combo Pack】
【Price: ¥68】
【Ultra Luxury Exploration Type Item Combo Pack】
【Price: ¥328】
【Supreme VIP All Purpose Item Set】
【Price: ¥1288】
Early that morning, the completely uninformed players had barely logged in when they were struck dumb by the promotional advertisements plastered across the front page of the system shop.
An infinite game! Since when did you fall this low?!
Even the price points looked painfully familiar, instantly stirring up countless players’ traumatic memories of being milked dry by games that lived and breathed microtransactions.
Grief stricken and furious, players clutched their rage and charged straight into the forums, fully prepared to unleash a ruthless denunciation of the system shop’s newest update.
And then they saw the post.
Right there on the forum’s front page, automatically pinned due to its overwhelming popularity, was a thread posted by Bai Yanzhou.
【Title: Experienced the combo pack system during the early access test. The contents and pricing are well designed, the user experience is good. I recommend everyone choose according to their needs.】
The post’s opening image showed the purchase records of five high priced gift packs, clearly marked as having been bought inside the instance <Riding With the Wind>.
【Bai Yanzhou (Original Poster): If you don’t like spending, then don’t spend. No one is forcing you to.】
【2nd Floor: Front row spectator here. By the way, our tiny, shabby game actually has a test server?】
【3rd Floor: Can you bootlicking company shills tone it down a bit? How can you still act like this in an infinite game? Helping tyrants do evil, do you really think the Main God will cherish you? Absolutely filial to death.】
The forum, which had been primed for an explosion of outrage, fell into an even stranger kind of silence.
【4th Floor: Bro, how do you dare say that right in front of Daylight God? Respect, you’re a real man.】
【5th Floor: I’ll say something fair on behalf of the system. The gift packs are actually pretty good. One click purchase takes less time and is more convenient than buying items one by one. In an emergency, that difference can literally save your life.】
【6th Floor: The 6 yuan pack honestly looks super cost effective. I’m a newbie, any veterans here willing to say whether those items are really must haves for everyone?】
【7th Floor: Let me repeat it again: newbies should buy the 6 yuan pack without thinking. In the current version, not buying it means you’re bottom of the food chain. Back when I first joined, if a pack like this had existed, things would’ve been so much easier. I’m really jealous of you guys.】
【8th Floor: This game is truly beyond saving…】
Bai Yanzhou had an extremely high level of popularity among the player community. His account had tens of millions of followers, so the moment he posted, it drew everyone’s attention.
Coupled with the system shop’s homepage advertisements that occupied more than half the screen, the promotional effort was unprecedented in scale.
Even though the cost performance ratio of these paid gift packs had yet to be thoroughly calculated, many players still made purchases out of sheer curiosity. Especially those who happened to be inside instances when the update went live, when people get nervous, they tend to spend impulsively. A few wealthy big spenders and rich ladies directly bought every limited quantity gift pack in one go.
Fortunately, Ye Jinran was born in an era where cashless payments were the norm. Otherwise, he would surely have counted money until his hands went numb.
Such a drastic change in the system shop inevitably attracted haters. The forums quickly filled with posts full of insults and abuse but there were also plenty of spontaneous supporters clashing with them in the comment sections. Some people had already tasted the benefits of paid gift packs and even knowing full well that they were laced with the insidious intentions of capitalists, they still accepted it gladly.
Ye Jinran’s private message window suddenly trembled, it was a message from Bai Yanzhou.
【Bai Yanzhou: Where are you right now?】
Ye Jinran’s small hand twitched and he almost blurted out that he was currently inside a certain instance but then he suddenly remembered that on the forums, a player’s status was publicly displayed on their account, just like how he could see whether Bai Yanzhou was inside an instance or not. There was no point in trying to hide it.
Even though he really didn’t want to expose it, he had no choice.
【A Salted Fish Without Dreams: I’m in what you players consider the real world. Refuse to be doxxed, ask again and service will be suspended.】
【Bai Yanzhou: Don’t be nervous. I’m not the type who likes meeting people offline anyway.】
You might not like it but you’ve never built good relationships with any players either. People can’t avoid you fast enough, Ye Jinran complained inwardly.
【Bai Yanzhou: I don’t want to disturb you during your rest time but could you please be so kind as to lift my shopping restriction?】
Only then did Ye Jinran remember that the system had automatically closed Bai Yanzhou’s purchase access and that he needed to manually reopen it.
Earlier, his attention had been completely absorbed by what was happening inside the instance and he had completely forgotten about this matter.
He was already used to getting dragged back to work by system pop up notifications the moment he sat down to rest, so he didn’t really mind being disturbed. He casually helped Bai Yanzhou remove the restriction.
Speaking of which, the system had been unusually quiet this time. In the past, it was hard for him to even squeeze out enough uninterrupted time at home to finish a full meal. Often, the moment he exited one instance, the Main God would urge him to head straight into the next. Most of his sleep time was spent inside instances. This wasn’t just 996, it was clearly 007.
The disparity in power was simply too great. Even if Ye Jinran got angry, all he could do was be angry for a moment. He didn’t have the ability to flip the table and quit.
Don’t blame him for always teasing players inside instances. A repressed life needed a little seasoning, what was wrong with finding joy amid suffering?
【Bai Yanzhou: Thanks.】
After sending his words of thanks, Bai Yanzhou went silent.
Ye Jinran didn’t pay him any further attention, nor did he care about the rumors and gossip on the forums. Because the system was inexplicably quiet, he was idle for several days in a row. He didn’t even need to bother applying for leave and spent his time catching up on sleep until he lost all sense of day and night.
That is, until the day of the routine instance update arrived.
Early that morning, Ye Jinran was jolted awake by his phone vibrating.
He had set Bai Yanzhou’s chat window as a special contact, so any message from him would trigger a notification sound on his phone. With eyes so drowsy he could barely keep them open, Ye Jinran struggled to grope his phone off the bedside table and glanced at the messages on the screen.
【Bai Yanzhou: This update added a Desperate Realm instance. Take a look at the description.】
【Bai Yanzhou: #Shared Link】
Desperate Realm instances were extremely rare. Not every update introduced one. Some interested players had specifically studied the update patterns: roughly twenty new instances would go live each week, mostly of normal difficulty, with a small number of medium and high difficulty ones mixed in.
Desperate Realm and Beginner difficulty instances, two extremes, had the lowest update frequency. Basically, only one new instance of each would appear in an entire year.
Bai Yanzhou had precisely timed the release of a Desperate Realm instance and invited Ye Jinran to participate in an impossible challenge without a god’s eye view. Seen this way, it felt far more deliberate.
Could it be that he had already planned all this back during <Blood Moon Town>? What exactly was his purpose… Ye Jinran was reluctant to believe that someone could plan things to such an extent but the other party was Bai Yanzhou. He had to admit that this man was terrifying to the point of not seeming human at all.
Compared to most of the anomalies Ye Jinran had encountered inside instances, Bai Yanzhou was even more worthy of being called a monster.
Ye Jinran clicked on the shared link and immediately saw that there was already a queue in the instance’s team room list. The recruitment information had been synced to the recruitment area and the initiator was none other than Bai Yanzhou.
【Room Number: 0571】
【Instance: <Golden Sands Fade away>】
【Description: This is a land bestowed by the gods. Amid endless yellow sands flow gold and honey, a capital of wisdom and miracles. In the quiet evening breeze, the tales of One Thousand and One Nights are carried far away. Under the blazing sun, camels bear travelers in exotic attire to this place. The Tower of Babel pierces the clouds, can it guide people to hear divine revelation and touch that illusory tomorrow?】
【Please note: The room owner has set a high entry threshold. Players are advised to consider their own skill level and participate at their discretion.】
【Lost Rate: 100%】
【Difficulty Rating: Desperate Realm】
【Team Size: 1/4】
There was no indication of spatial channel damage, meaning the system shop could be used normally. For Ye Jinran, buying items from the shop was essentially zero cost shopping, items and services were free to use. That was truly good news.Before submitting the application, he technically should have gone to his superior to request leave.
However, the system had been completely silent for several consecutive days. The all seeing, all knowing Main God had likely been aware of his travel plans long ago and had tacitly approved of this behavior.
With that in mind, Ye Jinran no longer hesitated. He clicked to apply to join the team and the room owner, Bai Yanzhou, approved him instantly.
Recruitment information for Desperate Realm instances would be pinned to the top of the recruitment area. With Bai Yanzhou posting it like this, every player passing through the recruitment section would probably see it. Ye Jinran was genuinely curious about who would be bold enough to voluntarily join this team.
If a team failed to fill its slots within twenty four hours, the system would automatically select “lucky” players who met the requirements and force them into the team. No matter what, once a day passed, the instance would still open as scheduled.
Sure enough, wails began appearing on the forums.
【Who opened a Desperate Realm instance?! This is going to kill people!】
【Relax. You can’t even meet the entry requirements. Even if it draws randomly, it won’t draw you.】
【Being bad is so reassuring.】
【Place your bets, place your bets, this time is Bai Yanzhou getting another glorious win or the fall of a war god?】
【I’m more curious about this ‘A Salted Fish Without Dreams’ next to him. Can’t find them on the rankings. A new player?】
【Maybe the newbie doesn’t know what Desperate Realm means and wandered in by mistake. A moment of silence for the newbie…】
【Wait, are you sure a newcomer could even pass the threshold Daylight God set? One dared to apply and one dared to approve.】
【Having a newbie drag the team down can make the instance difficulty increase exponentially. Maybe Daylight God thinks Desperate Realm still isn’t exciting enough and decided to add some extra challenge for himself.】
【What kind of goddamn Desperate Realm instance brings along a newbie】
Ye Jinran was scrolling through the forums when the system suddenly popped up a notification indicating that someone had joined the team.
The new teammate’s ID was “Scallions Who Never Set the Pace.”
That ID felt a bit familiar to Ye Jinran. This player was a frequent presence on the forums, regularly participating in discussions about various ranking lists.
They could fluently analyze the strengths, weaknesses and battle records of most popular players, calmly debating fans from all factions. They were a textbook example of a pure stats and strength enthusiast.
This person had offended quite a few people online, so it didn’t take long for forum spectators to recognize them.
【Damn, even Scallions got into a Desperate Realm team? Does she really think she’s that capable?】
【From what I can tell, she’s only good at armchair tactics on the forums. There’s a world of difference between her and top ranked players. What a pity, having the wrong self assessment might get her killed.】
【Is there a possibility that Scallions is just chasing her idol?】
【Strength is a drug… and for strength addicts, Daylight God is the hottest hit.】
The system sent another message: the final team member had been found, recruitment complete. It was so fast that it completely exceeded Ye Jinran’s expectations.These players were really lining up to die.
Ye Jinran opened the member list, only to find that the last person to join was someone he knew.
【I’m He Ran’s Dog: Hey, bro.】
【I’m He Ran’s Dog: The ID is from a truth or dare punishment. I still have to keep it for another month before I can change it, so don’t mind it. Just call me by my real name, I’m Wang Aimin.】
In non PVP instances, the system provided players with a temporary group chat. Wang Aimin was the first to send a greeting message in the chat.Ye Jinran found this a bit novel, it was his first time using this function.
【A Salted Fish Without Dreams: We can start whenever everyone’s ready. I’m good anytime.】
【Scallions Who Never Set the Pace: Just call me Scallions. I’m fine too.】
Bai Yanzhou didn’t say anything but he was definitely online. Ye Jinran could already see the system’s countdown confirming the instance launch.
【Loading instance <Golden Sands Fade away>】
【3, 2, 1, 】
✦ ✧ ✦
Nycreth
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A mysterious coffee offering may increase translator happiness by 37%. Probably.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Blood Moon Town: ShhhChapter 2 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (1)Chapter 3 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (2)Chapter 4 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (3)Chapter 5 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (4)Chapter 6 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (7)Chapter 7 · The Mist of Nanjin Village (6)Chapter 8 · The mist over Nanjin Village (7)Chapter 9 · The Mystery of Nanjin Village (The End)Chapter 10 · Real WorldChapter 11 · Riding The Wind (1)Chapter 12 · Riding The Wind (2)Chapter 13 · Riding The Wind (3)Chapter 14 · Riding The Wind (4)Chapter 15 · Riding The Wind (5)Chapter 16 · Riding The Wind (6)Chapter 17 · Riding The Wind (7)Chapter 18 · Riding The Wind (8)Chapter 19 · Riding The Wind (9)Chapter 20 · Riding The Wind (10)Chapter 21 Part 1 · Riding The Wind (11)Chapter 21 Part 2 · Riding The Wind (11)Chapter 22 · Real World (1)Chapter 23 · Real World (2)Chapter 24 · Golden Sands Fade Away (1)Chapter 25 · Golden Sands Fade Away (2)Chapter 26 · Golden Sands Fade Away (3)Chapter 27 · Golden Sands Fade Away (4)Chapter 28 · Golden Sands Fade Away (5)Chapter 29 · Golden Sands Fade Away (6)Chapter 30 · Golden Sands Fade Away (7)Chapter 31 · Golden Sands Fade Away (8)Chapter 32 · Golden Sands Fade Away (9)Chapter 33 · Golden Sands Fade Away (10)Chapter 34 · Golden Sands Fade Away (11)Chapter 35 · Golden Sands Fade Away (12)Chapter 36 · Golden Sands Fade Away (13)Chapter 37 · Golden Sands Fade Away (14)Chapter 38 · Golden Sands Fade Away (15)Chapter 39 · Golden Sands Fade Away (16)Chapter 40 · Golden Sands Fade Away (17)Chapter 41 · Golden Sands Fade Away (18)Chapter 42 · Golden Sands Fade Away (19)Chapter 43 · Golden Sands Fade Away (20)Chapter 44 · Golden Sands Fade Away (21)Chapter 45 · Golden Sands Fade Away (22)Chapter 46 · Golden Sands Fade Away (23)Chapter 47 · Golden Sands Fade Away (24)Chapter 48 · Golden Sands Fade Away (25) The EndChapter 49 · Main God’s DomainChapter 50 · Anomaly Investigation Bureau (1)Chapter 51 · Anomaly Investigation Bureau (2)Chapter 52 · Item FactoryChapter 53 · Defrosted Friendship (1)Chapter 54 · Defrosted Friendship (2)Chapter 55 · Defrosted Friendship (3)Chapter 56 · Defrosted Friendship (4)Chapter 57 · Defrosted Friendship (5)Chapter 58 · Defrosted Friendship (6)Chapter 59 · Defrosted Friendship (7)Chapter 60 · Defrosted Friendship (8)Chapter 61 · Defrosted Friendship (9)Chapter 62 · Defrosted Friendship (10)Chapter 63 · Defrosted Friendship (11)Chapter 64 · Defrosted Friendship (12)Chapter 65 · Defrosted Friendship (13)Chapter 66 · Defrosted Friendship (14)Chapter 67 · Defrosted Friendship (15)Chapter 68 · Defrosted Friendship (16)Chapter 69 · Defrosted Friendship (End)Chapter 70 · The Real WorldChapter 71 · Matching TimeChapter 72 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (1)Chapter 73 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (2)Chapter 74 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (3)Chapter 75 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (4)Chapter 76 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (5)Chapter 77 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (6)Chapter 78 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (7)Chapter 79 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (8)Chapter 80 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (9)Chapter 81 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (10)Chapter 82 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (11)Chapter 83 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (12)Chapter 84 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (13)Chapter 85 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (14)Chapter 86 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (15)Chapter 87 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (16)Chapter 88 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (17)Chapter 89 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (18)Chapter 90 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (19)Chapter 91 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (20)Chapter 92 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (21)Chapter 93 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (22)Chapter 94 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (23)Chapter 95 · The Meaning of Endless Abundance (Complete)Chapter 96 · The Main God Invites You for TeaChapter 97 · The Player ForumChapter 98 · Training GroundChapter 99 · Eternal Night – The Stone-Striker (1)Chapter 100 · Eternal Night – The Stone-Striker (2)Chapter 101 · Eternal Night – The Stone-Striker (3)Chapter 102 · Eternal Night · The One Who Strikes the Stone (Finale)