The sound of cicadas chirped outside the window.
The glaring sunlight and the steamy heat made the entire campus of Jiang University seem empty and deserted.
However, in the dormitory where only one person remained, Chen Xuan, enjoying the air conditioning, paid no attention to the weather outside.
His gaze was entirely focused on the tablet in front of him.
"Damn, these stupid teammates, this ridiculous ELO system, it's so damn disgusting, how the fuck can someone playing Yao die 16 times?"
Unlike his roommates who went home for the summer, he, a local orphan born and raised in Jianghai, undoubtedly chose to stay on campus to experience this long, yet final, school vacation of his life.
Fortunately, compared to some classmates who had already faced the harsh realities of society, he didn't have to worry too much.
Before his parents died, they left him a rather nice house and a decent amount of savings in Jianghai, a place where every inch of land is precious.
He would occasionally do some game boosting or accompany others in games, especially now that he rented out the house and lived on campus, managing to live quite well in this city.
Rubbing his temples, Chen Xuan glanced at the large gray words "Failure" on the tablet, shook his head helplessly, and checked his phone's background.
Seeing that there were still no game boosting or companion orders, he exited the game.
However, before he could browse some pretty young ladies, the tablet suddenly went black.
"Damn, is it broken?"
Chen Xuan tapped the black screen, and whether it was due to his tapping or something else, a light and image appeared on the dark screen.
It was a bamboo forest and a small river, with a thatched cottage beside the river.
Then, blood-red text appeared before his eyes:
[This is the most realistic text adventure game!]
[This is the most thrilling martial arts fantasy journey!]
[No need for pay-to-win, no need for teammates here!]
[What is tested is your wisdom and courage, perhaps with a bit of luck.]
[Every choice you make will affect your game life.]
[This is "Martial Dao."]
[Are you ready to enter this special world?]
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, looking at the blood-red text below, with two options:
[Ready/Let's go!]
Chen Xuan smiled, not taking it seriously, and directly clicked the "Let's go" button.
As a game addict, he had insights into countless games on the market.
These small pop-up games could occasionally be entertaining, as long as no money was involved.
It must be said, when a hobby becomes a job, compared to those high-competition games, Chen Xuan indeed preferred some casual idle games.
This one seemed nice? At least it was his favorite martial arts theme.
The previous image disappeared, replaced by darkness, and in that darkness, blood-red text emerged:
[You chose to enter directly without hesitation, you have one chance to choose a Fate, generating a unique Fate based on yourself.]
[Begin choosing 'Martial Dao' identity...]
[1. Before asking where to go, remember where you came from. What past flows in your bloodline?]
[Aristocratic Youth: Born into a wealthy family, your parents are either city dignitaries or disciples of a major sect. You grew up in luxury, with masters teaching you poetry, books, swords, and fists. Yet high walls cannot confine a youthful heart.
Start with 1 random Yellow-rank Martial Art and a certain level of Basic Martial Art, gain +5 righteous reputation, and initial funds of 20 taels of silver. But receive a special binding task 'Family Expectations': You must follow family orders to complete tasks without extra rewards periodically, failure or refusal will greatly reduce reputation.]
[Poor Family Scion: From the streets or a rural village, you have no illustrious family background but possess survival wisdom. Perhaps you worked in a tavern, or farmed for a living. The martial world is both an opportunity and a challenge for you.
Initially, choose one street skill: 'Trade', 'Negotiation', 'Stealing', initial funds 1 tael of silver. You have no binding tasks.]
[Mysterious Origins: You don't remember anything before the age of ten. You only have half a jade pendant and a swaddling cloth with unfamiliar patterns. Your past is shrouded in mist, every step is a search for your roots.
Start with 1 random Yellow-rank Accessory Equipment, initial invitation from a local power with reputation below 'Locally Renowned', receive a special binding task 'Mystery of One's Origins': You will encounter black-clothed assassins periodically, only by killing them can you obtain corresponding task clues.]
[Cast Adrift on the Streets: Childhood disaster left your family destroyed, you roamed the streets early, fighting with stray dogs for food. Familiar with all walks of life, you developed your own survival methods in the martial world.
Start with the street skill 'Way of Survival': You have a certain sense of danger, and your hunger stamina decreases 50% slower. Some prestigious families have an initial relationship of -10 with you. You have no binding tasks.]
Hmm?
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, examining them carefully.
Taking every game seriously is his principle and creed.
After glancing at the four background options, he began analyzing.
The first, the aristocratic background, he immediately passed on. Clearly, in such a small game, even without pay-to-win, acquiring martial arts shouldn't be too hard.
This so-called 'Yellow' rank likely follows the common 'Heaven, Earth, Mystic, Yellow' hierarchy in the game.
As the lowest martial art, having to complete a rewardless, punishing 'binding task' in this small game isn't worth it!
The second is a standard start, with no highlights or advantages, but a mediocre start is more suitable for exploring an open world.
It's a start Chen Xuan quite favors.
The fourth is similar, but with a slight deviation, seemingly leaning more towards the antagonist faction in the game, but reducing the hunger decrease rate is likely a very useful trait.
Also added to the shortlist.
As for the third, almost identical to the first, he immediately passed on. This binding task is clearly a trap!
Chen Xuan, having grown up, doesn't see himself as a protagonist with a tragic fate and can't handle such things.
Moreover, this start probably pits you against the aristocratic start, with a direct pursuit task clearly affecting the exploration experience.
With this in mind, Chen Xuan extended his finger and, without thinking, clicked on... the third option.
Damn it,
Did you think you were a 3A open-world game on a steam engine?
A small pay-to-win mobile game, and you want to explore freely without linear tasks?
What is there to explore? How to pay-to-win more efficiently?
At worst, just quit if you die...
With this thought, Chen Xuan looked at the next starting option:
[2. Who is in the mirror? A young hero with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, or an unremarkable street dweller?]