"Emperor Snow, wait!" FloatingPagoda_ShieldMountain called out as Tianhao prepared to log off.
"Something else?""Emperor Snow," ShieldMountain said, squaring his shoulders slightly, "I'm the heir apparent to the Floating Pagoda Clan. I'd like to formally invite you to join us. We're offering an annual salary of ten million yuan. What do you say?"
ShieldMountain had seen enough. Tianhao's skill level dwarfed any pro player he'd ever witnessed. That alone was worth eight figures. Combined with those monstrous stats? It was a bargain.
"Appreciated," Tianhao replied evenly, "but I've already formed my own team."
"Oh?" ShieldMountain wasn't entirely surprised. "Fair enough. But perhaps we can still be long-term strategic partners? Supply and demand?"
"Absolutely." Tianhao nodded, then paused mid-step. "You said… heir to the Floating Pagoda Clan?"
"That's right. Why?"Tianhao met his gaze directly. "Consider this… a word of advice, from one acquaintance to another. Keep an eye on your sister."
"Watch… my sister?" ShieldMountain's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Just remember it." Tianhao gave a final, dismissive wave. He'd offered the warning. What ShieldMountain did with it, or what fate befell him, was no longer Tianhao's concern.
He didn't log out in the wilderness. Remembering the cold efficiency of that assassin, Shadow's_Embrace, Tianhao opted for the safety of the Newbie Village's boundaries first. Logging out in the open was an invitation to be ambushed upon return. Not worth the risk.
Logging off, Tianhao checked the real-world clock: 8:00 AM. Zhou Xiaopang was still deep in Godslayer's Twilight. One remarkable aspect of the game was its restorative effect. Playing didn't drain you; it rejuvenated. While early theories claimed it simulated deep sleep, the truth discovered later was more profound: leveling and gaining stats subtly strengthened the soul, enhancing mental clarity and resilience in reality.
"Fatty, log off. Breakfast." Tianhao called out. Their budget only allowed for standard gaming pods, not the high-end nutrient pods rumored to sustain players offline for weeks with specialized fluid.
Zhou Xiaopang emerged from his pod, beaming. "Bro Hao! You were right! Going solo is where the money's at! Snagged a Level 7 piece today, sold it for twelve grand! The whales in this game are insane!"
Tianhao smiled faintly as he set plates down. It wasn't just individual whales. Guilds, corporate syndicates, and even government-backed entities were the real market drivers, pouring resources into Godslayer's Twilight, recognizing its future value. A traditional MMO market measured in billions? Godslayer promised trillions.
Xiaopang's early success wasn't pure luck. He'd chosen Warrior and stumbled upon a village Bard spouting terrible poetry. Xiaopang, channeling classical Chinese masters, utterly schooled him. Instead of offense, the Bard was awestruck and offered to become Xiaopang's disciple. The initiation gifts? Three incredible passive Warrior skills:
Double Armor: Reflects a percentage of all damage taken back to the attacker.
Double Shield: Grants a shield worth a percentage of max HP upon successfully landing a Crowd Control ability.
Double Strike: Grants a chance for any attack (including skills, item effects, potions) to trigger multiple times.
Reflect, Shield, Multi-hit. Versatile and powerful, especially since they were passives with unlimited triggers. Crucially, Double Shield and Double Strike could synergize – a CC ability triggering Double Shield could also proc Double Strike, potentially layering multiple shields instantly.
"Bro Hao, I'm Level 9 now! Got those three passives! Gonna find even better gear soon!" Xiaopang shoveled food enthusiastically.
"Good progress, Fatty. Don't rush," Tianhao said, sliding a payment receipt across the table. "Qingqing's surgery fee? It's covered.""Covered?!" Xiaopang's eyes widened."Mm. Got lucky. Took down a boss.""HOLY— Bro Hao! You're Snow Emperor?! The global announcement?!"Tianhao nodded. "Eat. I'll compile some Newbie Zone guides for you after. There are hidden rewards everywhere here."Xiaopang shook his head in awe. "Li Haitao is gonna be sick with regret if he finds out."
As they ate, Tianhao mentally mapped out optimal paths for their group. Each class had specific hidden gems in the starting zone."Fatty, head to the village tavern. Buy two bottles of their most expensive rotgut. Take them to the Blacksmith. Tell him you want the strongest Warrior weapon he can forge. That'll start a quest chain. The better you perform in it, the better your reward.""Got it!" Xiaopang agreed instantly, no questions asked about Tianhao's source.
After breakfast, Tianhao handed Xiaopang two more guides, tailored for Skinny Monkey (likely a Rogue or Assassin) and Specs (probably a Mage or Priest)."Log back in, Fatty. I'm heading to the hospital to see Qingqing.""Wait up, I'm coming too." Xiaopang insisted, powering down his pod.
At the hospital, the atmosphere was calmer. With the payment secured, surgery preparations were underway. Qingqing lay still in her bed, connected to monitors. Tianhao stood beside her, his usual stoicism softening as he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead.
"Doctor," Tianhao asked quietly as the physician entered, "when is the surgery scheduled?""It's being prepped now," the doctor replied, offering a clipboard. "We can proceed this afternoon. Please sign the consent forms here.""Understood." Tianhao signed the documents with a steady hand, a silent vow echoing in his heart. This time, I protect you.
Mission accomplished for now, Tianhao returned to the apartment. He settled into his pod, the familiar hum starting up. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to dive back into the digital expanse of Godslayer's Twilight. The real battle – securing power for the trials to come – was just beginning.