In 2155, at noon on September 27th, "Tian Xia" (天下) launched in full.
...
By eleven o'clock, Lin Zhao, Ding Chi, and Zhang Jun had already finished their lunch. It was a simple meal of instant noodles with a grilled sausage. They couldn't afford anything better; this was the current reality for the Scarlet Moon Knights studio. It was their startup phase, and everyone needed to be understanding. As for the hundred thousand general currency left by Lin Zhao's cousin, Murong Feiyue, it was to be treated as the studio's seed fund and used as little as possible. Honestly, in an era of skyrocketing prices, ten thousand general currency would vanish in a blink if they spent carelessly.
The three of them lay diagonally in their game pods, conversing.
"What should we call ourselves?"
Ding Chi said, "Let's go with a standardized ID. The Scarlet Moon Knights family, shouldn't we have a bit of prestige?"
"Absolutely, absolutely..." Zhang Jun chimed in.
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle, remaining silent.
"Ah Zhao, you're the boss."
Ding Chi continued, "You pick the names, we'll follow your ID."
"Alright."
Lin Zhao already had a name in mind. Sister Bai had once said, "The Sword Immortal in white, most vivid." Since he intended to become a Sword Immortal in the future, his ID should be Bai Yi (白衣). However, this ID was very common, and he would have to rush into the game immediately to claim it, or he might not be able to register it.
"I'll be Bai Yi."
Lin Zhao said, "If Bai Yi is already taken, I'll go with Jian Xian Bai Yi (剑仙白衣) or Bai Yi Jian Xian (白衣剑仙), either is fine."
"Damn..."
Ding Chi mumbled, "That name is quite potent, a bit flamboyant... Whether for showing off after killing enemies or charming girls, it's universally useful. Awesome, awesome..."
Lin Zhao rolled his eyes.
Ding Chi then declared, "I'll be Yu Jin (余烬). If your Bai Yi is taken, I'll be Jian Xian Yu Jin (剑仙余烬) or Yu Jin Jian Xian (余烬剑仙)."
Zhang Jun added, "Then I'll be Lin Feng (临风). If you guys can't get yours, I'll be Jian Xian Lin Feng (剑仙临风) or Lin Feng Jian Xian (临风剑仙)."
"Sounds good."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile, feeling a sense of exhilaration. In the background of "Tian Xia," Sword Immortals were indeed Sword Immortals. Those who could be called Bai Yi Jian Xian, Yu Jin Jian Xian, or Lin Feng Jian Xian were considered "Sealed Sword Immortals," a far more imposing existence than ordinary Sword Immortals. In retrospect, the IDs for the three titans of the Scarlet Moon Knights were quite interesting.
...
Time flowed by, approaching midnight. Lin Zhao's heart beat faster and faster, and the feeling of returning to a familiar land surged within him. He was eager to see what kind of world awaited after he and Mr. Qin had fallen a hundred years ago.
Precisely at midnight, he confirmed and entered the game!
"Swish~~~"
Stimulated by his brainwaves, a blaze of crimson light streaked before his eyes. Lin Zhao felt his body plummeting rapidly, and in an instant, he landed in a hall for new account creation. Birds sang and flowers bloomed around the hall, and the game music was incredibly pleasant, an auditory delight. Before him, a system spirit floated out gracefully, saying, "Master, please create your account!"
"Male, profession Sword Warrior, ID Bai Yi, quickly!"
"Yes!"
The system spirit smiled, "Profession and ID are confirmed and locked. Master, would you like to consider modifying your appearance?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao called out to the outside, "Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, my ID Bai Yi is confirmed."
"Great!"
A voice from outside replied, "My Yu Jin is also confirmed!"
"Reporting, Lin Feng confirmed!"
With that, the accounts for the three of them were secured. Lin Zhao then leisurely began fine-tuning the account details, starting with the character's appearance. Under the scan of the game pod, the character standing in the creation hall had a height, appearance, and physique almost identical to Lin Zhao's. Height and physique needed no changes; Lin Zhao was quite satisfied with them. However, for his appearance, he chose to reduce it by 20%, making the man in the game less handsome, even appearing somewhat ordinary. This was better, Lin Zhao had his own plans. This way, if he met any cute girls in the game, he could give them a pleasant surprise when they met offline, instead of a fright.
"Ding!"
The system spirit chirped, "Master, your randomly assigned talent is the Inferior Mortal-grade talent [Drop Rate Boost], which can increase your monster kill drop rate by 0.02%. Do you confirm?"
"Drop Rate Boost?"
Lin Zhao frowned. He had done his research, and every player creating an account for the first time had a chance to obtain a random talent. Talents were graded: Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. Once selected, they could not be changed. This game, in essence, told players from the very first step that life was inherently unfair, and luck was also a part of strength. Obtaining an Immortal-grade talent could lead to a meteoric rise in the game, but if you got a trash talent, well, tough luck!
Confirm?
Lin Zhao hesitated, but then noticed a golden button at the bottom of the talent interface labeled "Refresh Talent." Each refresh cost 100 gold coins.
Where would a player just starting out and creating an account have any gold coins? They were as broke as a beggar!
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. This setting was truly useless.
But in the next second, he saw the remaining gold coin count next to his "Refresh Talent" button. It wasn't zero, but a five-digit number –
10130!
He actually had over ten thousand gold coins!
Where did this come from!?
Lin Zhao was greatly shocked, looking at the ten thousand-plus gold coins and falling into deep thought. Where did it come from?! Ten thousand, plus 130 pieces. This number clearly wasn't a system gift; it must have a significant origin!
A few seconds later, enlightenment struck Lin Zhao!
He knew. It was the remaining Jin Zi Qian (金鲻钱 - a form of currency) from before he died!
On Snow Lake, his Third Senior Brother, Ding Muchen, had left him 10,000 Jin Zi Qian as "righteous wealth." He had then swindled 180 Jin Zi Qian at the Fusu Great Wall. Later, to build a message pigeon for the Peach Blossom Fairy and Zhang Xicheng, he had spent 50 Jin Zi Qian to exchange for 5,000 Flying Fish coins. Thus, Lin Zhao had a total of 10,130 Jin Zi Qian remaining. The numbers matched!
"Third Senior Brother..."
Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh, "You truly are my savior!"
...
At this moment, Ding Chi's hearty laughter echoed from outside the game pod: "There's a random talent during account creation. Damn, I actually got a Mid-grade Heaven-tier talent called Swiftness! It provides a lot of movement speed and attack speed as I level up, which is very useful for a Sword Warrior!"
"Impressive!"
Zhang Jun laughed, "My luck is alright too. I got an Upper-grade Earth-tier talent called Armor Break. As I level up, it will provide a lot of armor-ignoring attributes. What about you, Lin Zhao?"
"Me..."
Lin Zhao grinned, "Inferior Mortal-grade talent, Drop Rate Boost, increasing my monster kill drop rate by 0.02%..."
"Holy hell..."
Ding Chi was stunned, "Mortal, Earth, Heaven, Immortal. You got the lowest grade of the four! Are you planning to build up for a big breakthrough, starting low and going high, hahaha!"
Zhang Jun also laughed heartily at his misfortune.
Lin Zhao was speechless. He ignored the two scoundrels and began his grand plan!
The next second, with a thought, he confirmed, spending 100 gold to refresh his talent!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Upper-grade Mortal-tier talent [Burning Heart]!
Just a mere Mortal-grade, again!
Lin Zhao straightened his back and confirmed the refresh!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Lower-grade Earth-tier talent [Abyssal Spring Fire]!
Lin Zhao raised his sword-like eyebrows. Earth-tier? Is that all? Again!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Upper-grade Earth-tier talent [Ghostly Killing Aura]!
Still Earth-tier, get out of here!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Lower-grade Heaven-tier talent [Dragon Fire Bloodline]!
Heaven-tier now, but still far from enough!
Lin Zhao's eyes gleamed; he was going mad.
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Mid-grade Heaven-tier talent [Dragon Slayer Slash]!
Not enough!
Lin Zhao's blood was boiling, lightning flashing in his eyes, his heart surging with emotion!
A mere Heaven-tier is absolutely unacceptable!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Lower-grade Immortal-tier talent [Divine Fire Armor]!
Finally, Immortal-tier! But it's just a lowly Lower-grade talent? Is this worth my ten thousand Jin Zi Qian?! Lin Zhao felt his immense power surging within him!
Again!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Mid-grade Immortal-tier talent [Ghost Axe Fall]!
Mid-grade now!
Lin Zhao's heart was about to stop. He was only one step away from the top-tier talent. But a hair's breadth difference could lead to a thousand miles of divergence. This slight difference in grade might determine that he would always be a step behind, a level below. How could that be acceptable? Was it worthy of his Third Senior Brother's earnest intentions? He left these ten thousand Jin Zi Qian precisely so Lin Zhao could obtain a top-tier talent!
Come on, if I don't get a top-tier talent, I'll be letting myself down after all this good fortune!
But after refreshing one more time, the grade dropped. He received a Heaven-tier talent again.
He was unwilling and continued, spending money like water!
In a blink, only a little over a thousand gold coins remained from the initial ten thousand. Lin Zhao had no hesitation. Greed was necessary; how could you win without it? Moreover, Lin Zhao had a good mindset. He would spend it all until he got a top-tier talent. Otherwise, whatever he randomly got in the end wouldn't matter, right? Would it be worse than the innate Inferior Mortal-grade Drop Rate Boost?
Since he had decided, he would see it through to the end!
Finally, when Lin Zhao had only 430 gold coins left, a bell sound resonated within his soul—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on obtaining the Upper-grade Immortal-tier talent [Godslayer Blood Drink]!
...
It's finally here, this is it!
Lin Zhao took a deep breath and gently clicked confirm.
Ripples swirled, and a golden talent pattern appeared on Lin Zhao's character interface, flashing brilliantly, radiating wealth and prestige. As his mind moved, the characteristics of this top-tier talent appeared before his eyes. As expected, it was a talent with extremely high growth potential, truly befitting a top-tier—
[Godslayer Blood Drink] (Immortal-grade Upper): Continuously accumulate killing intent by defeating units online, enhancing your attack damage, defense, spirit resistance, and other attributes. The higher the level, the more significant the effect. This effect resets offline.
...
This talent would be useful in the early game, extremely useful in the mid-game, and outright invincible in the late game!