Dàláng chuckled, "What's real or fake? Trust me, you'll win if you listen to me."
"The butterfly's wings have begun to flap. I hope the future won't change too much, and my memories won't be inaccurate."
Myriad questions welled up in Lǐ Wànjī's heart.
However, there wasn't much time left before the server officially launched, so he decided to grab something to eat first, no matter what nonsense Dàláng was spouting.
He began to devour the food like a storm, eating with great haste.
After eating his fill, Lǐ Wànjī even took a special bath to ensure he was in top condition.
He changed into fresh clothes and was just about to put on his helmet.
Dàláng patted Lǐ Wànjī on the shoulder.
"I have a few important things to tell you. Don't ask why, just remember and do as I say.
"The game will start with a half-hour projection. Watch it all, don't skip it. You'll get a random reward.
"Then there will be a talent draw. Three appear at once, and each can be refreshed once.
"Listen carefully! You can only choose your talent once, this is very important. It must complement your future profession. Some people choose randomly, leading to professions completely mismatched with their talents, dooming them to limited achievements. Also, if you get a suitable one, keep it. Don't refresh it, don't gamble. If the other two don't turn out better, then choose it. Don't reveal your talent to others.
"The first few days are precious. Novice villages are assigned randomly. We'll likely be in different places. Focus on leveling up yourself first. I'll handle your equipment later. Every profession has strengths and weaknesses. Play whatever you want. I'll prepare a few hidden profession change paths for you then.
"Once you enter the game, don't wander around. There will be many people in the novice village. Immediately go to the village chief to accept the chicken-slaying quest. You can also go to the tailor shop to pick up the feather quest. The village chief's quest is the main quest, you must do it! As for other quests... they don't matter much. If you find fighting monsters difficult, you can do delivery quests, but it's much slower than grinding monsters for experience.
"There are 3 bosses in the novice village. The low-level one is the Silver Snake King by the Red Stream. You need to synthesize 30 ordinary snake gall bladders into a high-grade snake gall bladder at the alchemist's, then crush it at the local shrine. There's a chance it'll summon the Snake King.
"The other two... forget it. You won't be able to beat them in the first few days anyway. Just focus on leveling up. Whether you fight the bosses or not doesn't really matter. We'll meet up when you reach level 10 and enter the main city. Equipment is hard to get, experience is hard to gain, be patient.
"One last point, crucial: Don't treat NPCs as cold, unfeeling data. Treat them as people, living, breathing individuals.
"..."
"Got it?"
Dàláng had said a lot, clearly having prepared, and it was all very organized and not hard to remember.
Lǐ Wànjī nodded.
"Good luck!"
After exchanging 'good luck' wishes, Dàláng went to the next room.
7:58. Lǐ Wànjī shrugged his shoulders, feeling nervous like he did before the college entrance exam, trying to stay calm.
Just like the college entrance exam, this was an opportunity to change his destiny. Perhaps, this time, it would be even more earth-shattering.
59 minutes. He put on his helmet.
Darkness enveloped his vision, his consciousness as if being sucked into a dark vortex.
A door suddenly appeared in the void.
He reached out and pushed it...
As the door slowly opened, a warm, sacred light rushed towards him, eventually enveloping his entire being.
When he opened his eyes again, he was already in a magnificent, opulent hall.
"Welcome, descender."
The source of the voice was an elderly man in a cloak, frail as a dying candle, leaning on a staff, trembling as if he could collapse at any moment.
"Hello, elder."
His attitude was proper, neither humble nor overbearing, impeccable.
The old man nodded slightly, his face hidden beneath the cloak unreadable. "To help you understand our world, we invite you to watch its history. Of course, you can also choose to skip it, create your character directly, or exit midway."
So there really was a projection?
The old man's voice came again, "Your Excellency, would you like to watch the history of our world?"
Watch!
Of course, watch!
"Yes, elder, I am eager to learn."
The old man in the cloak extended his staff forward. The back of his hand was covered in wrinkles, indicating extreme age.
The staff waved in the air, emitting specks of light.
The scenery underfoot changed. The opulent hall was instantly replaced by an ancient battlefield of iron and fire.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, with faint hints of lightning. Raining fire impacted the ground with long fiery trails, sending sand and rocks flying, and shaking the earth.
Human knights charged unstoppable each time, elven arrows rained down like shooting stars towards the enemy lines.
Dwarven warriors swung their body-length warhammers, each blow carrying the force of a collapsing mountain.\Orc berserkers' fighting spirit was immense, wild as beasts.
The heroic figures of warriors from various races intertwined. And their enemies, surprisingly, were Demon Gods descending from the heavens!
The Demon Gods varied in form, their auras swirling, ancient armor glinting, each strike incredibly sharp.
This battle raged with such intensity that the sun and moon were obscured, and the winds and clouds changed...
Finally, after a heavy price paid by all races, the Demon Gods were sealed, and it ended.
The screen darkened, and the scenery shifted rapidly.
After the great war, a thousand years passed like a gentle stream. All races rose again from the ruins, blooming with their own unique and brilliant civilizations.
The human race, building upon wisdom, erected majestic cities. Within them, prosperity bloomed, and culture shone brightly.
The elven race, relying on the power of nature, built a dreamlike homeland deep within the dense forests.
The dwarven race, with their tenacious spirit, dug magnificent underground kingdoms among the mountains. They excelled in forging and construction, leaving behind countless revered treasures of equipment.
The orcs established tribal alliances on the vast grasslands, revering strength and advancing further upon ancient inherited techniques.
Alas, as the scenery shifted, the second great war was about to begin.
This time, it was no longer against the Demon Gods, but a war of mutual aggression between the races.
What were once allies, shoulder to shoulder, now turned against each other, drawing swords and slaughtering one another.
The beautiful world instantly turned into a grim purgatory.
This war was undoubtedly even more brutal, sweeping across the entire world like a storm. Palaces collapsed, statues vanished, and marketplaces turned to ruins.
This war only ceased when mountains and rivers shattered and the land was submerged.
There were no winners in this war. With their foundations depleted, did they still have the courage to rebuild?
As the light and shadow gradually faded, Lǐ Wànjī's consciousness returned. He was already back in the grand hall.
Lǐ Wànjī watched, his heart stirred, unable to calm down for a long time.
"Young man, there aren't many people as patient as you."
"To commend your patience, I will give you a small gift after you enter the world."
Lǐ Wànjī's mind was still reeling from the shock of the majestic scenes.
"Now, let us draw your talent."
His eyes brightened, and three cards appeared before him.
The first card: "Devotee". In a party, teammates gain buff states, with both attack and defense increased by 5% ----- Silver quality, can be refreshed once.
The second card: "Lots of Equipment". Equipment drop rate increased by 5%, rare equipment drop rate increased by 1% ------ Bronze quality, can be refreshed once.
The third card: "Leap Forward". Experience gain increased by 8% ------ Gold quality, can be refreshed once.
Lǐ Wànjī stared at the talent selection interface, his heart trembling!
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Everything is correct so far!"
It wasn't that the talents were appropriate, but that everything matched what Dàláng had said!
"Bro, are you serious?"
Lǐ Wànjī was utterly shocked. Sweat instantly beaded on his forehead. He recalled Dàláng's words from the beginning: "Bro, I've been reborn. Our era has arrived!"
His mouth hung open, unable to utter a word for a long time.
"Please choose your talent," the elder's emotionless voice sounded again.
Lǐ Wànjī composed himself, his gaze shifting back and forth between the three options, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.
The first one was alright. If he followed Dàláng in the future, he could provide him with buff bonuses. It was a pity the quality wasn't high; choosing this would be a waste.
The second one, since Dàláng would provide equipment in the future, it wouldn't be very useful.
Then the third one seemed okay. In "New World," leveling up was difficult, and it was Gold quality.
None of them were combat talents. Let's try refreshing the first two first.
After refreshing the first card, it became "Night Assassin". After stealth/invisibility ends, the first attack becomes a critical hit and increases critical damage by 10% ----- Bronze quality.
Clearly, this was an assassin-type talent, but Lǐ Wànjī didn't want to play an assassin. Men should charge forward head-on, openly and honorably!
Refreshing the second card, it became "Lots of Money". Gold coin drop rate increased by 5% ----- Black Iron quality.
"My luck is too bad, it's Black Iron!"
Should he just choose "Leap Forward" then?
Lǐ Wànjī stood there, hesitating.
The refresh button on the last card seemed to possess a magical allure. Lǐ Wànjī felt a strong urge to press it.
"I really want to refresh it!"
But Gold quality was already rare enough. One shouldn't be too greedy! Dàláng had also warned him to keep a suitable one.
The first two had already been refreshed and were rather useless. If the last refresh also resulted in a trash talent, he would truly regret it.
But then again, the essence of human nature is to "gamble."
"Roll the dice and maybe turn a bicycle into a motorcycle!" Steeling his resolve, "Let's do it!"
He lightly tapped the refresh button.
The last card spun wildly, and when it settled, it erupted with brilliant radiance, starlight twinkling, utterly spectacular.
The old man's slightly cloudy eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His cloak trembled slightly, as if his very form was unsteady.
Lǐ Wànjī looked at the newly refreshed talent.
"Ascension Steps"
Description: "1, 10, 20... and so on. Every ten levels, randomly grant a talent of the same quality ----- Iridescent quality."
"Iridescent? Grants a new talent every ten levels? And it's of the same quality, meaning every ten levels, he gets an Iridescent quality talent!"
This was heaven-defying!
He had gambled right, and the bicycle hadn't just turned into a motorcycle; it had turned into an RV!
"Choose 'Ascension Steps'."
'Ascension Steps', current level 1, randomly grants talent 'Plunderer'. Next talent grant level: 10.
'Plunderer'
Description: When killing a target, there is a 10% chance to gain 1 free attribute point.
The old man's eyes widened in surprise but he quickly concealed it, returning to his usual demeanor. No one could detect the turmoil within him.
"Next, we can create your character."
"Please choose your race."
Lǐ Wànjī calmed himself, suppressing his inner elation. Several phantom images appeared before him.
Human, Elf, Orc, Dwarf, Goblin.
"Human!"
"Please choose your profession."
"Warrior"
"Please give yourself a dashing name."
Lǐ Wànjī thought of a novel he had read, about a swordsman who carved the word 'Mighty' on a city wall.
He blurted out, "Mighty!"
"Name is too short, please choose another name."
"Macho Man"
"Sorry, already in use."
"I am an Idiot"
"Sorry, already in use."
"???"
Half an hour had already passed with the historical projection. With so many people globally, interesting IDs were probably all taken.
Lǐ Wànjī scratched his head. After racking his brain for a long time, he couldn't think of an available ID.
"Then call me... Ri Li Wànjī?"
Character: [Ri Li Wànjī] created successfully...
"Huh? No?" Lǐ Wànjī wanted to say something else, but a flash of light transported him to the novice village.\n\n