The Monster is Coming

Chapter 411 Cyber ​​Temple, Devout Posture

The information that surfaced in his mind filled Ye Ming with uncontrollable ecstasy.

He had already prepared for the most difficult situation.

Even for players, resurrecting their people will be a long and arduous journey.

You need to constantly explore the vast monster world to find potential opportunities.

Or it may wait for a special soul that has not yet been discovered to be contained, and the soul's characteristics have the ability to reshape the past and even revive a specific target.

But at that moment, a clear path suddenly unfolded before him.

Reviving one's people is not as complicated as one might imagine.

It takes 5000 sacrificial power to resurrect a member of the clan.

This might just be a pastime for a higher-dimensional deity, done on a whim.

But for him, it was a redemption rope cast down by the gods in the depths of despair.

His goal became clear at that moment, and there was no longer any fog over the road ahead.

He took a deep breath and his gaze fell once again on the red "Not Qualified" message box on the virtual desktop.

This is a problem he needs to solve right now: gaining player status.

Just as Ye Ming was about to continue looking up relevant information.

Beep!Beep!Beep!

A piercing alarm suddenly blared inside the gaming pod, interrupting his thoughts.

The virtual desktop in front of me was instantly covered by a flashing yellow warning sign, and the game pod's prompt sounded urgently:
[Warning: Abnormal fluctuations in the user's vital signs have been detected.]

[Warning: The currently used 2.0 Basic Nutrient Solution (Standard Version) cannot meet the user's energy and nutrient requirements for recovery.]

[Forced measures activated: To ensure user safety, the connection will be forcibly terminated in 10 seconds!]

[Recommendation: Please log off immediately and consume high-energy liquid foods or consult a medical professional.]

10……9……8…… The countdown timer is ticking.

Ye Ming frowned.

This body was far more fragile than he had imagined.

Even maintaining basic cognitive functions is so difficult.

3……2……1……The light went out, the virtual desktop disappeared, and consciousness was immediately bounced back to reality.

The game pod lid slowly opened, and the cold nutrient solution flowed away through the holes in the pod wall.

As the outside light poured in, a strong sense of exhaustion and overwhelming hunger enveloped him.

Ye Ming bent over and stood up. The intense hunger that had been ignored for so long was like a beast awakening, fiercely gnawing at his stomach and bringing waves of slight spasms.

He realized that he had to keep the body running before he could learn about the relevant information.

We must not fail before we even gain player status.

Any grand plan must be built on the most basic premise of "survival".

Leaving the gaming pod, he staggered out of the internet activity room and, guided by the remaining memories of "White Star," headed towards the orphanage's canteen.

It was past the normal mealtime, and only some cold food remained in the cafeteria.

He took a plain-looking nutritional paste and a piece of bread, and found an empty corner to sit down.

The food tasted bland; he had never eaten anything so unpalatable in his life.

In the monster world, even breathing is more nutritious than ingesting this kind of food.

As for the taste, it's so bad that even swallowing it is difficult.

But Ye Ming ate with utmost care, chewing and swallowing each bite carefully.

The comforting feeling of his stomach being filled, and the peace of mind brought by the replenishment of energy, gave him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Every bite of food that was hard to swallow was a way of fueling his body, supporting him as he continued toward his clear goal.

From this moment on, every step of the future will have an incredibly clear direction.

After eating the barely enough food to fill his stomach, he didn't stop for a moment and returned to the online activity room.

He must figure out how to obtain "player qualification".

This time, he did not choose the immersive gaming pod, but instead used a regular computer terminal to make inquiries.

The search results show that player qualifications are not issued on a fixed schedule.

Instead, they are randomly and intermittently distributed by higher-dimensional deities.

It might happen tomorrow, or it might take months or even longer.

There is no pattern to it, and no channel to apply for or expedite it.

Hope was there, but it seemed all he could do was wait.

But the result did not disappoint Ye Ming.

Hope has emerged, and now we must make adequate preparations before hope arrives. Waiting does not mean doing nothing.

He immediately began searching for information related to the game pod and nutrient solution.

After delving deeper, he discovered a problem.

The gaming pods provided by the orphanage are fairly new, only four generations behind the current version.

However, the 2.0 basic nutrient solution used is an obsolete product from more than a dozen versions ago and is almost on the verge of being discontinued.

It simply cannot achieve a fully immersive experience and is worlds apart from the latest products on the market.

Discussions among forum users also confirm this.

To experience the monster world as a player for an extended period of time with high efficiency, a high-performance gaming pod and a high-efficiency nutrient solution are essential.

Otherwise, he would be forced offline by the system for "abnormal vital signs," just like he did earlier.

He subconsciously checked the prices of the latest game pods and nutrient solutions released by the Lunar Eclipse Clan.

The long string of zeros on the screen made him fall silent for a moment.

He tried logging into the bank account of the original owner of this body, "Shirahoshi".

Balance: 7374.6 (Human Federation Credits).

This amount of money is far from enough to buy the latest gaming pod; it's not even a fraction of the price.

Secondly, cash purchases require an appointment and waiting in line.

Only by making a purchase with special power can one jump the queue and get the latest game console ahead of time.

"What a shrewd businessman!"

The objectives were further refined.

The primary task at this stage is to survive and find ways to earn more money.

Prioritize saving money to buy high-efficiency nutrient solutions to ensure you have more online time once you qualify.

The second consideration should be replacing the game pod.

He looked up from his computer and glanced at the old orphanage.

He clearly cannot obtain enough resources here.

He now needs a job that can earn him enough money.

The first stop on the road to hope is not a magnificent monster world, but the problem of survival and funding in this quagmire world.

Secondly, he can take advantage of the time before the qualifications are issued to learn in detail about the different effects of life souls on the player forum, and even what gameplay modes can quickly accumulate start-up funds.

With her goal clear, Ye Ming began searching for job-related information.

time flies.

Information found online revealed that the operating logic of this world is completely different from what he is familiar with.

In the monster world, resources must be obtained directly through military conquest and mining.

But in this quagmire world, his current body clearly lacks any means of plundering.

Any attempt will only result in swift suppression by the forces maintaining order.

Secondly, the stability of this world is the will of the higher-dimensional gods, and even if they had the ability, they would not dare to do so.

This can be gleaned from online information.

In recent years, the Earth has faced several impending crises, all of which have been resolved silently.

This might be the work of a higher-dimensional deity acting in secret.

Since the world is different, development strategies must also change.

He needs to find ways to acquire resources, namely money, within this framework.

Further investigation revealed that the vast majority of production and service industries in the Earth Alliance have been taken over by highly developed "intelligent puppets".

Jobs available to ordinary living beings are very scarce, and are generally concentrated in fields that require complex emotional judgment or specific professional skills.

All of these fields require long-term professional training and even certification.

It is far beyond what his current body can immediately handle.

Ye Ming's gaze swept over the information on the webpage, and he fell into deep thought.

He changed the criteria, selecting tags such as high risk, special environment, and emergency hiring in the filter options.

Suddenly, completely different job postings popped up in the list.

[Urgent Recruitment]: Deep Cleaning Personnel for Radiation Residue in Abandoned Mine Area No. 7, Night City

Job duties: To manually clean and collect samples in high-radiation mining areas where intelligent robots are susceptible to interference and cannot operate normally.

Requirements: Meet the physical fitness requirements, pass the radiation tolerance test, and sign an accident waiver agreement.

Daily wage: 8000 credits (including extra bonus for high-risk activities).

[Periodic Recruitment]: Space Station Outer Layer Maintenance Worker (Observation).

Job duties: Calibration and maintenance of intelligent sensors for outer space observation (to be carried out by intelligent robots, which only need to observe and report any abnormalities).

Requirements: Possess good adaptability and psychological qualities in space, have no claustrophobia, and pass the basic space operation assessment.

Hourly wage: 500 credits (calculated 24 hours a day, including rest time).

[Special Project Volunteers]: Adaptability testing for new psycho-sensing devices.

Job Responsibilities: Participate in the testing of new equipment under controlled laboratory conditions and record physiological and psychological reactions.

Requirements: High mental stability, no history of serious illness, and signing of a confidentiality and risk disclosure agreement.

Reward: 5000-100000 credits per test (depending on test level and duration).

……

Ye Ming discovered that these jobs were all related to danger and hardship, tasks that intelligent puppets were not capable of performing.

For example, intelligent puppets are clearly irreplaceable as living test subjects.

The advantage is that the pay is much higher than that of ordinary jobs, and apart from requiring good health, there are basically no other requirements.

Ye Ming's gaze swept over the job information in the list, and he made a decision.

He doesn't need comfort, he only needs efficiency and sufficient rewards.

While the work of an outer-space maintenance worker on the space station is well-paid, it requires long-term residence in outer space, which means he will be completely isolated.

It is difficult to keep up with player forum information in real time, or even the dynamics of qualification distribution.

This is clearly unacceptable.

However, the adaptability test of the new psycho-sensing device perfectly met his needs.

The timing of a single test is relatively flexible, and the reward range is extremely wide.

Although it may cause physical harm, the job description details that the intensity of the test is related to the participant's willpower.

There are ways to repair damage at the psychological level.

The main reason why it is difficult to recruit testers is because the process is quite painful.

Many people cannot bear it and will request to terminate it early.

If it's just mental pain, it's equivalent to having no burden at all for him.

It is it.

He immediately followed the instructions in the recruitment information and submitted his basic information for "Bai Xing" online to apply.

At the same time, he also noted down several other short-term, high-risk work projects as alternatives.

The registration process was not complicated, and he soon received an automated reply email.

He was asked to wait for further preliminary screening notification, which would include a specific testing schedule.

After doing all this, Ye Ming closed the recruitment page and focused his attention on the player forum.

While waiting for job opportunities and player qualifications to be issued, he needs to absorb all information about player factions like a sponge.

This includes the distribution of power in the various regions the player has explored, the characteristics and combinations of mainstream Souls, the advantages and disadvantages of different playstyles, resource distribution, and even the rules of conduct among players... This knowledge will become his most valuable intelligence reserve when he returns to the monster world.

A week flew by in waiting and learning.

During this period, Ye Ming participated in three "adaptability tests," as described in the introduction.

The so-called "unbearable" mental anguish and possible hallucinations during the test were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

He only needs to follow the instructions and remain absolutely calm under the specific instruments to easily complete the testing requirements.

After receiving his payment, his account balance easily exceeded six figures, enough for him to buy high-efficiency nutrient solution for a period of time.

Secondly, he also spends a small amount of time each day "accompanying" the young children, as required by the orphanage.

Despite having no interest in it and even feeling it was a waste of time.

But he also understands that maintaining a facade of "normality" is a necessary rule before resolving the issue of independence.

He usually just sits silently in the corner, letting the children play around him, while his thoughts drift to the tactical analyses and power maps on the player forums.

11 p.m. on the eighth day.

That night, Ming logged into the Monster World website as usual.

As he routinely checked the grayed-out "Eligibility Application" button, his movements suddenly stopped, and his pupils contracted sharply.

The four large characters "Qualification Application" that were originally grayed out were now lit up.

Below the button is a line of gold text and a ticking countdown:
[A new round of player qualification distribution is about to begin, time remaining: 23:59:42.]

coming!

The next round of qualification distribution was finally about to begin. Ye Ming's body tensed instantly, and all thoughts in his mind were cleared in an instant.

His eyes flashed with an unprecedented sharpness as he stared intently at the constantly changing numbers.

After a long wait, hope has finally emerged; the moment that will decide our fate will arrive in 24 hours.

……

The next morning, the sky was just getting light.

Ye Ming's figure appeared in front of a strangely styled building: the Cyber ​​Temple.

The rise of this temple stems from the highly networked era.

In contemporary times, regardless of race, the daily lives, social interactions, and even spiritual sustenance of the vast majority of living beings are deeply dependent on a virtual world called "StarNet".

Thus, a new belief emerged.

People began to worship the representative gods of those virtual worlds, with the most symbolic cyber god being StarNet.

There are also virtual deities representing good luck and drop rates in other popular games.

Some people saw a business opportunity in this and bought land in the real world to build cyber temples to make a profit.

In addition, online forums are filled with various posts of gratitude: after devout worship, good products were indeed obtained; after burning incense, a certain quality product was obtained as desired... It is difficult to distinguish between true and false, but this makes the incense of such temples flourish.

Almost every city has a cyber temple.

Although many voices scoff at this behavior of placing hope in something illusory.

Even if there's only a one in a billion chance, Ye Ming wants to give it a try.

Moreover, the one he wanted to worship was not a cyber god, but a real, supreme god: Emperor Zhao.

He followed the "guide" he found on an online forum and bought the most expensive electronic incense stick at the temple gate.

Inside are eight slender, transparent pillars with shimmering light inside.

Stepping inside the temple, it feels more like a science and technology exhibition hall.

There are many glowing projection statues of gods, all of whom are popular "cyber gods" on the internet, and many of them are game characters that young people like.

At this moment, many figures stood in front of these projections, making gestures from the game and muttering something under their breath.

In the most prominent position in the temple stands a majestic projection of a Lunar Eclipse Clan man, his hands holding a flowing waterfall of data.

There are no images of StarNet online.

The speculation about StarNet's appearance was directly based on the Lunar Eclipse Clan.

This majestic Lunar Eclipse Clan man is exactly what people imagine "StarNet" to look like, and he is also the most popular deity in the temple.

But Ye Ming didn't even glance at it.

It is merely a mortal creation, yet it is revered as a god by the foolish masses; it is truly laughable.

What he wanted to worship was the true source that governs the rules and gives rise to all things.

He bypassed the main hall and arrived at a newly built branch of the Cyber ​​Temple.

There is a projection here with a completely different style, which is the Emperor Zhao Brother that the players are talking about.

His image was inspired by the statue in the center of Teizuka Village.

Its shape is a blurry humanoid silhouette, with no visible face, and its body is engulfed in an inextinguishable crimson data flame, as if it is endlessly cycling between burning and reconstruction.

Around the raging flames, countless tiny points of light swirled like stars, each seemingly representing a world or a primordial rule rune.

Although the shape is a projection replica, one can still feel its vast and boundless majesty.

Below the projected statue, two simple characters are engraved: Di Zhao.

The description at the end reads: The supreme god of the monster world.

This is the most bustling branch hall besides the main hall of the temple.

Ye Ming walked up to the projector, ignoring the passersby around him, took out eight dazzling electronic incense sticks, and slowly and solemnly inserted them into the interface.

The electronic incense burner immediately flashed with light, simulating the rising smoke.

Having accomplished all this, Ye Ming slowly bent his knees and bowed deeply with utmost respect, performing the most solemn kneeling ceremony of the Mingwu tribe.

Boom!
A dull yet clear impact rang out in the relatively quiet branch hall, briefly drowning out the surrounding sound effects.

Crimson blood instantly seeped from his forehead, staining the ground.

Tourists nearby who were also worshipping the Emperor were startled by the sudden noise and turned to look.

When they saw Ye Ming with blood streaming down his forehead, their faces were filled with shock and disbelief.

"Holy crap, buddy, what's going on with you?"

"Dude, are you alright? It's just a cyber ceremony, just go through the motions, why make such a fuss?"

"I understand your desire for the Monster World qualification; I'm here today for that too, but you've gone too far."

"He's bruised and bleeding; has this guy gone mad?"

The whispers quickly turned into exclamations.

But Ye Ming ignored all of this, as if he could neither feel the pain nor hear any sound.

He maintained the most standard etiquette and bowed again.

Boom!
The second kowtow was even heavier and more resolute.

The bloodstains on his forehead had spread a bit more.

The surrounding chatter abruptly ceased, leaving only incomprehensible astonishment.

Everyone was awestruck by this fierce determination and devotion.

But many others think this guy is completely insane.

But for Ye Ming, this was the most basic reverence he felt towards the supreme being who governed all things and shaped the rules.

This frail human body could not contain even a fraction of the vast, star-like reverence in his heart.

The simple ceremony and the insignificant pain on his body were as light as dust compared to what he sought, far from sufficient.

But this is the limit that this humble body can achieve.

Unable to offer the head of a powerful enemy or provide precious resources in the manner of the Mist Clan, he could only express his piety in this most primitive and direct way.

As he kowtowed, he silently recited in his heart:

"The supreme creator, the source of rules, the beginning of all things."

"Your humble creation, Nightmoon, in this mortal form, I offer you the most insignificant reverence."

"Though my body is weak and my blood is mortal, I am willing to use this insignificant pain to inscribe my piety... I beg your mercy and grant me the qualification to embark on a great undertaking. I am willing to be your sharpest blade and strongest shield, to clear away all obstacles in your path."

"My will is an extension of your will; my existence is to add a glimmer of light to your grand narrative..."

Every drop of blood that seeped out carried Ye Ming's heartfelt prayer.

Each heavy blow was a cry of his will.

Blood trickled down his forehead, but he seemed oblivious.

The fall of the Mingwu civilization plunged him into endless self-blame.

But now, he, a defeated general, has actually gained the favor of this supreme being who has evolved countless worlds and controls everything, and has been granted a path to salvation.

This gift might be nothing more than a trivial thought when a higher-dimensional deity lowers their gaze.

But for him, it was an opportunity that he couldn't obtain even if he gave everything, even if he had to gamble everything.

Having been given a second chance at life, his life was given a completely new meaning.

Boom!
He kowtowed again, his forehead now a bright red stain, blood slowly flowing down his nose.

It dripped onto the ground, spreading out in a small, striking dark red patch.

A kind-hearted uncle nearby couldn't bear to see him like this and stepped forward to help him up.

"Young man, get up quickly, stop hitting yourself. If you're having a hard time, don't play around with your health."

The moment his hand touched Ye Ming's arm, Ye Ming flung it away.

Ye Ming suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes flashing with a terrifying ferocity, like a beast whose sacred ritual had been disturbed. His icy gaze pierced the man, and he growled through clenched teeth:
"Go away!"

The middle-aged man was so frightened by the sudden ferocity and the blood-covered, ferocious appearance that he took several steps back, his face pale, and he said awkwardly:
"Madman...madman, you really don't know what's good for you."

The surrounding chatter instantly erupted:

"Holy crap, what kind of person is this? They've completely ungrateful for my kindness!"

"I think he's really gone mad, he's seriously ill, let's call security right away."

"That was terrifying! Maybe we should help him contact the nearest medical facility..."

Ye Ming ignored the whispers around him; the whole world consisted only of him and the burning crimson figure before him.

All the hopes in my heart were condensed in each and every bow.

For Ye Ming, this was a ritual of prayer to the supreme being, and it was not to be disturbed or defiled by outsiders.

The entire process lasted ten minutes, until the ceremony concluded.

Ye Ming slowly straightened up, and a strong feeling of dizziness immediately overwhelmed him.

Blood loss and the impact caused his vision to darken slightly.

But he still managed to steady himself with his strong willpower, ignoring the dark red scabs that had already formed on his forehead and the whispers around him that were a mixture of fear, pity and disgust.

After taking a deep breath, he resolutely turned around.

Under the watchful eyes of those nearby, he left the Cyber ​​Temple with slightly unsteady steps.

……

That night.

Orphanage, internet activity room.

Ye Ming sat alone in front of a top-of-the-line computer, the screen's light illuminating his pale face.

The wound on his forehead was still noticeable after a simple cleaning, but he didn't care.

On the screen, the application page for Monster World's official website was displaying a slow, crimson countdown.

Every passing second felt like a hammer blow to his heart.

The only sounds in the activity room were the faint hum of the machines and his own barely audible breathing.

At this moment, his attention was highly focused.

His fingers hovered over the mouse like a soldier awaiting the bugle call to charge, his body tense, his eyes sharp as knives, fixed intently on the ever-decreasing numbers.

Whether you can obtain player status will be revealed in these final ten minutes.

This sense of tension made Ye Ming vaguely recall the equivalent game he had played with the Fate Clan, using the "Mist Rules" as a wager.

At that time, he and the members of the Fate Clan sat on opposite sides of a scale symbolizing an equal exchange, embarking on a high-stakes gamble that would determine the future of the Mist Clan.

He was just as nervous then as he is now.

However, the two are fundamentally different.

Back then, he had no room for error.

If they lose the bet, they will lose the very foundation of the Mist Clan's existence, and face utter annihilation and despair from which they will never recover.

This is a true do-or-die battle; failure means losing everything.

But even if we fail this time.

He can continue to struggle in this quagmire, work hard to save money, and then wait for the next opportunity to qualify.

For him, who had experienced true despair, this was an unspeakable luxury.

But this did not alleviate his tension at the moment.

Even if he had the chance to start over, he still longed for success and to seize this glimmer of hope favored by the higher-dimensional gods as soon as possible.

Countdown, just ten seconds left.

Ye Ming held his breath completely, his pupils contracted, and all his distracting thoughts were cleared away.

The whole world is reduced to that finger about to press down, and the fateful choice on the screen that is about to reset to zero.

Just as the countdown reached zero, Ye Ming's finger, like a venomous snake poised to strike, swiftly and fiercely clicked the left mouse button.

Click! Click! Click!

The sound of rapid clicking filled the quiet event room, as everyone feared that being even a second too slow would mean missing out on a player qualification.

At this moment, apart from the activity room where Ye Ming was, the whole world seemed to have fallen silent.

There was no sound, either indoors or outdoors.

Even online forums and live streaming rooms, places where netizens usually chat, have fallen silent.

However, the page did not redirect immediately. Instead, after a brief pause, a new pop-up message appeared:
[You have successfully entered the qualification queue for this round... Please wait patiently for 30 minutes...]

Ye Ming had already learned about the lottery system beforehand.

But his earlier tension made him completely forget about it.

His gaze remained fixed on the countdown timer on the notification box, and every second of the wait became incredibly agonizing.

These 30 minutes felt a hundred times longer than the seven days he had waited before.

During this time, Ye Ming sat in front of the computer like a stone statue, his body tense, and various thoughts flashing uncontrollably through his mind.

How many people applied?
What are the chances of winning the lottery?

If it fails, how long will it take to wait until next time? ...

Time ticked by, and the countdown on the screen seemed to slow down on purpose.

Finally, after an agonizing wait, the screen flickered again.

The information in the prompt box is refreshed.

Ye Ming's heart nearly leaped into his throat; he held his breath and stared intently.

Congratulations! You have obtained Monster World player access. You need to download and enter Monster World within 24 hours to activate your access. Otherwise, your access will be revoked.

Become!

An indescribable surge of joy poured out like a torrent, instantly washing away all the tension.

Ye Ming clenched his fist in excitement and let out an excited roar.

Meanwhile, shouts and curses echoed from all over the world, and even from the moon.

　Here are 7500 words~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)