"Hey! I was here first!"
"Bastard! Get to the back of the line!"
"Stop pushing!"
"Hey, watch it! My place is here!"
"Luckily, I came early this time. They said the new gaming module has a ninety-percent synchronization rate with the physical body!"
The street outside the gaming module store was overflowing with people.
A sea of players stretched down the sidewalk, with the line winding around the corner and disappearing into the distance. Excited voices clashed with angry shouts as people argued over their positions. Some tried to squeeze forward, while others stubbornly guarded their spots as though their lives depended on them.
The release of the latest gaming module had practically turned the entire district upside down.
For those desperate to get one, six hours of waiting was nothing.
For others, it was an opportunity.
"Hey, buddy. You want my spot?"
A young man wearing a baseball cap leaned against the wall, casually checking his phone.
The person behind him frowned.
"How much?"
"Three hundred."
"Three hundred?! Are you insane?"
"Then go find another spot."
"You—"
The young man simply shrugged.
"Take it or leave it. I got here at three in the morning. You think I'm standing here for free?"
Nearby, another group had already begun negotiating.
"Five hundred. That's my final offer."
"Five hundred?!"
"The module is worth thousands, and you're crying over five hundred?"
"You're selling a place in line, not the module!"
"Then don't buy it!"
Some people had arrived six hours early just to secure a position near the front. Now, they were selling their places to wealthy players who had arrived late but were willing to pay for convenience.
It was a strange sight. But Lin Mo couldn't help but find it fascinating. Standing across the street, he watched the chaos unfold with wide eyes.
He had been in the hospital for two weeks. And apparently, the world had moved on without him.
After observing the crowd for a while, Lin Mo approached one of the people standing quietly in line.
The person wore a black hat pulled low over their eyes and a face mask that concealed nearly their entire face. From a distance, Lin Mo couldn't even tell whether they were male or female.
"Hi."
The stranger slowly turned toward him. Lin Mo pointed at the store.
"What are you buying here?"
The stranger stared at him. For several seconds.
The look in their eyes was almost as if Lin Mo had just crawled out of a cave after sleeping for a hundred years.
"...Are you serious?"
Lin Mo blinked.
"Yeah."
The stranger sighed.
"You're asking me what I'm buying here?"
"Yes?"
"Then what do you think everyone else is waiting for?"
Lin Mo scratched his cheek.
"A discount?"
The stranger fell silent.
Lin Mo immediately realized that he had probably asked a stupid question.
Then the stranger spoke again.
"Gaming module."
Lin Mo froze. The voice didn't sound like a man's. It was soft and unmistakably feminine.
"Oh."
Lin Mo stared at her for a moment.
"You're a girl?"
The girl's eyes narrowed.
"Congratulations. You figured it out."
Lin Mo immediately raised both hands.
"Sorry. I couldn't tell."
"Obviously."
"I just got out of the hospital."
Lin Mo pointed across the street.
The Linyang Central People's Hospital stood prominently on the other side of the road, its massive white structure visible even from the crowded street.
The girl's eyes widened slightly.
"You just got out of the hospital?"
"Yeah."
"Then you've been living under a rock."
Lin Mo tilted his head.
"What?"
"Ascension Online."
The girl's tone carried a hint of disbelief.
"You seriously don't know about it?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
The girl stared at him as though he had just told her he had never heard of the internet.
"The game was released two weeks ago!"
"Two weeks?"
"Two weeks!"
She pointed toward the gaming store.
"Do you have any idea what you've missed?"
Lin Mo remained silent.
The girl continued, apparently unable to believe that she had to explain this to someone.
"Ever since the release, every major news station has been talking about Ascension Online. It's not just another VR game. The synchronization rate is almost ninety percent. Your senses, movements, pain perception, even environmental feedback—everything is ridiculously realistic!"
"Wait."
Lin Mo's expression changed.
"Pain perception?"
The girl's eyes suddenly gleamed.
"Don't worry. You won't die in real life."
Lin Mo wasn't reassured.
"That's not what I meant."
"Anyway, that's not even the best part."
She leaned closer.
"Players have almost complete freedom inside the game. You can choose different races, explore different regions, form parties, build guilds, become adventurers, merchants, craftsmen—whatever you want."
Lin Mo listened quietly.
"And the economy is connected to the real world. You can exchange in-game gold coins for real money through the official exchange stations."
Lin Mo's eyes widened.
"Real money?"
"Yes."
The girl nodded.
"Some players are already making a living from the game."
She paused.
"Actually, some are making more money than people with regular jobs."
Lin Mo's expression became thoughtful.
The girl continued.
"And recently, several major corporations have started investing heavily in Ascension Online. They're creating their own workshops, guilds, and professional teams. Some are even recruiting players directly."
Lin Mo glanced at the long line.
"So that's why everyone is here?"
"Obviously."
The girl looked at him.
"Did you really know nothing about this game?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
The girl sighed.
"Unbelievable."
Lin Mo wanted to ask more. There were too many questions running through his mind.
What exactly was Ascension Online?
How did the game work?
How much did the gaming module cost?
How much money could an ordinary player actually earn?
But before he could open his mouth, the girl suddenly turned her head away. Her patience had clearly reached its limit.
Lin Mo hesitated.
"Uh..."
He decided not to push his luck.
Just then—
"Brother!"
A voice came from behind him. Lin Mo turned around. A boy around his age approached with a grin. He pointed toward the line.
"You're looking for a gaming module, right?"
Lin Mo nodded.
The boy glanced at the endless queue and laughed.
"Then you're out of luck."
"Why?"
"Because you'll probably be standing here until tomorrow."
He casually pointed toward the front.
"Unless..."
The boy lowered his voice.
"You want to buy my spot?"
Lin Mo stared at him.
"Your spot?"
"Yep."
The boy proudly patted his chest.
"Front section. Much closer than those guys."
He pointed toward the crowd.
"Three hundred yuan. Cheap, right?"
Lin Mo's expression stiffened.
Three hundred yuan.
To him, that wasn't cheap. It was money he didn't have. Before he could answer—
A sudden commotion erupted from the other side of the street.
"He's here!"
"Who?"
"Are you blind?! Look!"
"The Gu Family's young master!"
"Young Master Gu Yichen is here!"
The crowd instantly became restless. Lin Mo's body froze
A name.
A name that had been carved into his memory.
A name he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Gu Yichen.
Lin Mo slowly turned his head.
A group of people parted as a young man walked through the crowd.
He was dressed in an expensive-looking black jacket, his posture relaxed and confident. Several people followed behind him, clearly members of the Gu family's staff.
The moment he appeared, the atmosphere changed.
"That's Gu Yichen!"
"The number one player in Linyang City!"
"I heard he's already Level 17!"
"Level 15?! That's insane! How did he level so fast?"
"He's from the Gu Family, idiot! Money, equipment, information—he has access to everything!"
"Still, you can't buy skill."
"Who knows? Maybe he bought that too."
"Hahaha! Shut up!"
The crowd erupted into excited chatter. Lin Mo's fingers slowly curled into fists. His nails dug into his palms. The memories came rushing back.
The humiliation.
The pain.
The helplessness.
The cold laughter.
His chest tightened. For a brief moment, he wanted to step forward. He wanted to confront him. He wanted to make Gu Yichen pay for everything.
But Lin Mo knew better.
Not now.
He wasn't strong enough.
Not yet.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Mo lowered his head and pulled his hood over his face. He turned around. And disappeared into the crowd.
Just like before.
Nobody noticed him.
Nobody called his name.
Nobody cared that he was there.
He was nothing more than another face lost in the crowd.
Invisible.
Forgotten.
Conspicuously absent despite standing right in front of them. Behind him, Gu Yichen stepped forward.
He glanced at the crowd and smiled.
"Everyone."
His voice wasn't loud. Yet the surrounding noise gradually died down.
"I am here today on behalf of the Gu Holdings Group."
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone's attention immediately focused on him.
Gu Yichen smiled.
"I know many of you have been waiting here for hours just to purchase your gaming modules."
A few people shouted from the crowd.
"That's right!"
"Six hours!"
"My legs are killing me!"
"Then let me make your wait worthwhile."
Gu Yichen's smile widened.
The crowd quieted.
"For the first one hundred players who successfully purchase their Ascension Online gaming module today..."
He paused deliberately. Everyone held their breath.
"You will receive a direct invitation to join the Gu Family Workshop."
The crowd exploded.
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
"The Gu Family Workshop?!"
"Isn't that one of the strongest workshops in Linyang City?!"
"There's no way! They usually hold recruitment tests!"
Gu Yichen raised one hand. The noise gradually died down.
"That's right."
His voice carried a hint of confidence.
"But today, there will be no entrance examination."
The crowd went silent. Gu Yichen smiled.
"That's right. No test. No trial. No interview."
The next words struck the crowd like a thunderclap.
"Buy your gaming module today, be among the first hundred players, and you will be granted direct membership."
For a heartbeat, nobody moved.
Then—
"LET'S GO!"
The line instantly erupted into chaos.
"Move!"
"Hey! Stop pushing!"
"I'm getting mine first!"
"Where do we register?!"
"Is this real?!"
"Brother! Don't push me!"
The people who had been calmly waiting suddenly became restless.
Even those at the back of the line began trying to squeeze forward.
Gu Yichen simply stood there, watching the chaos with an amused smile. He didn't care what his words would cause. After all, this was precisely what he wanted.
"Those interested in joining can register with Brother Han Ye."
Gu Yichen gestured toward a man standing behind him.
"Our workshop headquarters is located inside the Gu Family Skyscraper, Yunhai Center."
The crowd gasped again.
"The Yunhai Center?!"
"That's one of the landmarks of Linyang City!"
"As expected of the Gu Family!"
"Starting a workshop in a building like that..."
"That's the difference between ordinary players and the wealthy!"
"Forget the building! Did you hear what they said about the benefits?"
"I heard a normal player can earn twice the monthly income of an ordinary blue-collar worker!"
"Twice?!"
"That's what my cousin told me!"
"Then what are we waiting for?!"
"Let's buy the module!"
"Move! Move!"
As the crowd surged forward, Gu Yichen's smile remained unchanged. But just as he was about to leave—
His eyes suddenly caught something.
A figure.
Amidst the sea of people, a young man had turned away from the crowd. The boy pulled his hood over his head. For some reason, Gu Yichen's gaze lingered on him.
There was something familiar about that back. Something he couldn't quite place. The figure slipped between two people. Then disappeared into a narrow alley.
Gu Yichen narrowed his eyes. But after a moment, he simply turned around. It probably wasn't important.
He continued walking.
Meanwhile, Lin Mo had already left the commotion far behind. He walked through the alley without looking back. The voices of the crowd gradually faded into the distance.
So you can really make money from this game...
Lin Mo stopped.
He looked up.
The sky above Linyang City was clear and blue. A faint breeze brushed against his face. His eyes slowly narrowed.
"Maybe..."
His hand tightened.
"Maybe this is my chance."
For the first time in a long while, a spark of hope appeared in Lin Mo's eyes. But that hope quickly faded when he remembered the price of the gaming module.
He glanced back toward the crowded street. There was no way he could afford one.
Not now.
Not anytime soon.
Lin Mo sighed.
"Forget it."
He turned around.
And walked deeper into the alley.
By the time Lin Mo returned to Qiming Advanced Technology High School, the sun was already beginning to descend.
The prestigious school stood quietly beneath the evening sky.
Unlike ordinary schools, Qiming Advanced Technology High School provided its students with safe residential accommodations. The apartments were located within the school's secured residential district, allowing students to live on campus throughout the academic year.
Lin Mo walked toward his assigned apartment. He placed his finger against the scanner.
Beep.
Identity confirmed!
The door unlocked. Lin Mo stepped inside. Silence greeted him. The room was small and simple.
A bed.
A study table.
A few textbooks.
A lamp.
That was all. There were no family photographs.
No decorations.
No personal belongings scattered around.
Nothing that suggested someone actually lived there.
Lin Mo closed the door behind him. He walked to the bed and collapsed onto it. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.
Three hundred yuan...
The number kept circling in his mind.
Even if he bought a gaming module, he still needed a way to make money inside the game.
But before that—
He needed the module itself.
Lin Mo let out a long sigh.
As a shut-in and an introvert, he didn't have many people he could ask for help.
Actually...
He didn't have anyone.
He had no close friends.
No relatives nearby.
No one he could simply call and say—
"Can you lend me some money?"
Lin Mo closed his eyes. He began thinking about Ascension Online.
The game.
The races.
The players.
The possibility of earning money.
The possibility of changing his life.
Then—
His chest suddenly tightened. Lin Mo's eyes snapped open.
"Ah—"
A sharp sensation spread through his body. His heart seemed to skip a beat.
Then another.
His breathing became shallow. Cold sweat instantly formed across his forehead.
"What's..."
Lin Mo grabbed his chest. The pain wasn't unbearable. But it was strange.
Familiar.
Almost like—
A signal.
Then a mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
[System: Identifying host...]
Lin Mo froze.
His eyes widened. The pain disappeared.
[System: Identification complete.]
[ID confirmed: Solus.]
[Connection stable.]
[Proceed to your assigned Beginner Outpost.]
Lin Mo stared blankly at the ceiling. He already knew this feeling. The first time had been impossible to understand. The second time had been impossible to believe.
But this was the third.
A mysterious force suddenly seized his consciousness. The world around him vanished. His body became weightless. His thoughts were pulled into an endless void.
Lin Mo closed his eyes.
This time, he didn't resist.
He simply let himself drift.
Whatever happens, happens.
Then—
He opened his eyes.
And froze.
A settlement stood before him.
A real settlement.
A wooden palisade surrounded the entire outpost, its sharpened stakes forming a defensive wall. Several watchtowers stood along the perimeter, their guards keeping watch over the surrounding wilderness.
Beyond the walls stood dozens of timber houses.
Their dark wooden roofs formed a patchwork of rooftops beneath the afternoon sun.
Thin trails of smoke drifted lazily from chimneys.
The smell of burning wood mixed with the scent of freshly baked bread. Dirt roads stretched between the buildings.
NPCs walked along them naturally.
A blacksmith stood beside a blazing forge, repeatedly bringing his hammer down upon a piece of glowing metal.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Nearby, a merchant arranged colorful goods outside a small wooden shop. A group of children ran through the streets, laughing as they chased one another.
Further ahead, adventurers carrying swords, bows, staffs, and shields entered and exited through the massive wooden gate.
Some were covered in mud.
Others had bloodstains on their armor.
One group laughed loudly as they carried a large monster's corpse toward the town.
Everything moved.
Everything breathed.
Everything felt alive.
Lin Mo stood there.
Completely dumbfounded.
"...This is..."
A notification suddenly appeared before him.
[Welcome, Adventurer.]
[Your journey begins here.]
The name of the settlement appeared in large letters.
》MISTVEIL《
Tier 1 — Beginner Outpost
Lin Mo stared at the words.
"Beginner Outpost..."
So this was where beginners started.
He slowly turned his head. His eyes wandered across the settlement.
The buildings.
The people.
The adventurers.
The distant forest beyond the walls.
It was too real.
Far too real.
A flood of questions immediately filled his mind.
How am I here?
I don't even have a gaming module. I don't have a VR headset. Then how am I playing Ascension Online?
Lin Mo frowned.
Could this still be a hallucination?
Or maybe I'm dreaming?
He shook his head.
"Whatever."
Lin Mo looked toward the distant gate. A strange feeling slowly settled in his heart. Perhaps he didn't understand what was happening.
Perhaps there was no logical explanation. But one thing was certain. A chance had been placed in front of him.
And this time—
He wasn't going to let it slip through his fingers. Lin Mo took a step forward. His foot landed firmly on the dirt road.
At that exact moment, the familiar mechanical voice rang out once again.
[Welcome to Ascension Online.]
[The world awaits your arrival.]
Lin Mo looked ahead. The wind swept past him. The flags atop the watchtowers fluttered. The gates of Mistveil stood open. And beyond them lay a world he had never known.
A world filled with possibilities.
A world where he could start again.
The mechanical voice delivered its final words.
[May your journey lead you beyond the limits of what you believe possible.]
Lin Mo's eyes slowly narrowed.
Then, for the first time in his life—
He smiled.
And stepped forward.