Chapter 1613 - 410: Cyber Temple, Devout Posture_3

Chapter 1613: Chapter 410: Cyber Temple, Devout Posture_3

Including the distribution of factions in each region explored by players, the traits and synergies of mainstream Life Souls, the pros and cons of different playstyles, resource layouts, and even the behavioral rules between players... all this knowledge would become his most precious intelligence reserve when he returned to Monster World.

A week flashed by in waiting and study.

During that time, Ye Ming took part in three "adaptation tests," and the process was exactly as described.

The so‑called "unbearable" mental pain and possible hallucinations during the tests were nothing more than a breeze brushing his face.

He just had to follow instructions and remain absolutely calm under specific instruments to easily meet the test requirements.

With the payment smoothly in hand, his account balance easily broke into six figures, enough for him to buy high‑efficiency nutrient solution for a good stretch of time.

Second, every day he would also spend a little time "keeping company" with the younger children, as required by the orphanage.

Even though he had zero interest in this and even felt it was a bit of a waste of time.

He also understood that before he solved the problem of independence, maintaining a façade of "normal" was a necessary Rule.

He usually just sat silently in a corner, letting the children play around him while his thoughts had long since flown to the tactical analyses and power maps on the Player Forum.

p.m. on the eighth night.

When Ye Ming once again habitually logged into the official Monster World website.

And, as usual, checked the gray "Qualification Application" button, his movements suddenly froze, his pupils sharply contracting.

The originally dim four big characters "Qualification Application" were actually lit up at this moment.

Below the button was a line of golden text and a pulsing countdown:

[New round of Player Qualification distribution is about to begin. Remaining time: 23:59:42.]

It’s here!

The new round of qualification distribution was finally about to start.

Ye Ming’s body instantly tightened, all thoughts in his mind wiped clean in a flash.

An unprecedented sharp light burst in his eyes as he locked his gaze on the constantly ticking digits.

The long wait had finally seen a glimmer of hope; the moment that would decide his fate would arrive 24 hours later.

...

Next morning, dawn just breaking.

Ye Ming’s figure appeared in front of a building with a peculiar style: a Cyber Temple.

This temple had risen with the advent of a highly networked era.

In contemporary times, regardless of race, the daily lives, socializing, and even spiritual sustenance of the vast majority of living beings were deeply dependent on the Virtual World known as the Star Network.

From this, a new kind of faith emerged.

People began to worship those representative Gods in the Virtual World, and the most symbolic Cyber God was the Star Network itself.

There were also virtual deities from other popular games, representing good luck and high drop rates.

Someone saw a business opportunity in this and bought land in reality to build Cyber Temples for profit.

Coupled with the forums being flooded with all kinds of posts like: "Devoutly worshipped and really got good loot," "Burned incense and successfully obtained gear of X quality"... all sorts of wish‑fulfilment threads, hard to tell true from false, yet driving incense offerings at these temples to flourish.

Almost every city had a Cyber Temple.

Even though many voices sneered at this behavior of pinning hopes on illusory things.

Even if there was only a one‑in‑a‑billion chance, Ye Ming still wanted to try.

Besides, what he wanted to worship wasn’t a Cyber God, but a truly existing Supreme God: Emperor Zhao.

Following the "Strategy" he’d seen on the forums, he bought the most expensive bundle of electronic incense at the temple gate.

Inside were eight slender, transparent sticks with flowing Liu Guang flickering within.

Entering the temple, the interior looked more like a technology exhibition hall.

Many glowing statue projections stood there, all popular "Cyber Gods" from the network, and quite a few were game characters beloved by young people.

Quite a number of figures were standing before these projections, gesturing with in‑game hand signs and murmuring something under their breath.

In the most eye‑catching position in the temple stood the projection of a dignified Moon Eclipse Clan man, hands holding a flowing data waterfall.

There were no images of the Star Network on the net.

For guesses about the appearance of the Star Network, people directly referenced the Moon Eclipse Clan.

And this imposing Moon Eclipse Clan male was precisely people’s imagined visage of the "Star Network," and also the most worshiped idol in the temple.

But Ye Ming didn’t spare him even a proper glance.

Mere mundane fabrication, yet worshiped as a God by the foolish masses—truly laughable.

What he intended to worship was the true Source that ruled Rules and derived all things.

Skirting the main hall, he came to a newly built side hall of the Cyber Temple.

Here stood a projection of a completely different style: the Brother Di Zhao spoken of by players.

His image was modeled on the statue at the center of Imperial Tomb Village.

In form it was a blurred humanoid silhouette, with no face visible, its body wreathed in eternal crimson data Fiery Flames, as if endlessly cycling through burning and reconstruction.

Around the Flames, countless tiny points of light orbited like Stars, as though each light point represented a world, or a single Primordial Rules Rune.

Even though the projection merely imitated the form, one could still feel a vast and boundless majesty.

Beneath the projected statue, two simple words were engraved: Emperor Zhao.

The suffix introduction read: Supreme God of Monster World.

This was, aside from the temple’s main hall, the liveliest side hall.

Ye Ming came before the projection, ignored the bystanders around him, took out the eight electronic incense sticks gleaming with Liu Guang, and slowly, solemnly inserted them into the interface.

The electronic incense immediately lit with flowing light, simulating the image of smoke rising.

After doing all this, Ye Ming slowly bent his knees and, using the Mingwu Clan’s most solemn kneeling rite, bowed low in utmost reverence and knocked his head to the floor.