American comics: Praising the sun, starting from Gotham!

Xiu En and the sunflower on his shoulder watched the entire recruitment mishap without moving an inch.

On the ground, after being righteously rejected by the most devout believers, the golden orb representing the Sun Ring seemed to have fallen into a logical dead loop that the AI ​​couldn't understand. It flickered a few times unwillingly, and finally turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the sky to find the next less loyal candidate.

The children were left bewildered, while Joestar, a muscular giant radiating the great glory of his lord, stood out.

"ha……"

Xiu En finally couldn't help but let out a long sigh that was both amusing and exasperating.

He pulled a cookie out of his pocket and took a big bite, as if only in this way could he calm his feelings of being both amused and exasperated.

He mumbled through the mental link to the sunflower on his shoulder as he chewed on a biscuit.

"Xiaohua, I feel like I messed up."

"You don't seem like it."

"You've completely messed up."

"No, this isn't my fault, is it?"

Shuen tried to defend himself.

"I just thought the universe needed more light, so I casually made a solar cell based on that battery and threw it out. Who knew it would be so stubborn? It actually found its way to my own high priest?"

"That's a rule you set yourself: seek out those whose hearts are turned toward the light and whose will is the strongest."

"And Joestar is, without a doubt, the most fitting person on this planet for that standard. It is simply faithfully carrying out your orders."

Xiu En was choked and couldn't speak, so he could only stuff another cookie into his mouth.

He thought about the system he had come with when he transmigrated.

Then compare it to your own Sun Ring, which only blindly seeks out fanatics and ends up being rejected as a heretic.

The gap is too big.

"Oh right, the system I came with."

"It seems to have a faith component, but I've hardly ever used it. Yet that component is a hundred times more advanced than my solar cell."

Xiu En became curious about the system that had bound him to when he first transmigrated.

He wanted to take it apart to take a look.

No, he wanted to make one himself!

Be a better one!

Xiu En closed his eyes.

He sent out a wisp of the original golden energy belonging to the descendants of Shao Hao, along with a thought of his own, through a special channel.

This request pierced the veil of reality and reached a higher dimension.

One second later.

A thought descended.

Xiu En's mind automatically conjured up a sacred decree composed of lines of golden seal script.

I have heard of your request.

The ancient, golden characters slowly arranged themselves in Xiu En's sea of ​​consciousness.

[In the past, your body was as insignificant as dust, your life hanging by a thread. Therefore, this rule was established, and authority was bestowed upon you, firstly to help you overcome your tribulation, and secondly to show you the path ahead, so that Heaven may know that you are a descendant of the White Emperor, destined by Heaven.]

"Yes, you explained that before."

Xiu En muttered to himself.

"So, you guys were worried I'd get hit by a car and die, so you gave me some newbie protection because I was too weak back then."

Ivy patted his head with a leaf, signaling him to be quiet and listen attentively.

However, times have changed.

Now you hold the reins of life and death, prosperity and decline in your hands, and have established a new realm as your foundation. Your words and actions are guided by the laws of nature.

You are no longer the ant you once were.

You are now the ruler of a realm!

The ruler of a realm should possess the power to dominate.

The rules of the past were set for ordinary people. The laws of today should originate from your own hearts.

What is faith? What is divine authority? How are rules established? How are rewards distributed? All these questions rest on your decision. You alone can decide.

Go ahead, this system access has been granted.

You may use this as a reference to create your own heavenly laws.

The golden words eventually transformed into a golden sun totem filled with encouragement and expectation, which was then imprinted deep within Xiu'en's soul.

Then the thought faded away silently, just as it had come.

Xiu En opened his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Does the old man mean he's abandoning me and lets me do whatever I want?"

"It means you've grown up enough to run your own server and be a GM."

Ivy corrected her.

"So, esteemed GM, what kind of patch do you plan to apply to your buggy first version?"

Xiu En pinched his chin, revealing a dangerously bright smile.

"Patch? No, no, no."

Xiu En shook his finger.

"This isn't patching; this is version iteration! What we're doing is optimizing the user experience and enhancing the brand value of Sun!"

As he spoke, he reached out and gently touched the air.

A semi-transparent system backend interface, brimming with a sense of technology and ruthlessness, unfolds.

This is the GM mode that comes with his system.

The backend interface is clearly divided into two parts, left and right.

On the left is the framework of the system itself.

The interface was designed with several modules that radiated a sacred aura, such as [Daily Tasks], [Side Quests], [Merit Settlement], and [Heavenly Revelation]. Under each module were densely packed sub-menus and rule settings, as intricate as a spider web, with a tight and interconnected logic.

On the right is the solar cell system that Xiu En casually made himself.

Its interface is simply appalling in comparison.

The entire backend consists of only a solitary golden sun icon. Below the icon is only a simple, even somewhat rudimentary, text box.

The text box contained only one line of text:

Seeking those whose hearts are turned towards the light and whose will is most steadfast.

Gone.

That's it, that's all.

"..."

Looking at the comparison between the rudimentary code he had written and the system, even someone as thick-skinned as Xiu En couldn't help but fall into a long silence of ten seconds.

Even Ivy, unable to bear looking at it, covered her flower head with leaves.

This comparison is too cruel.

"Ahem!"

Xiu En coughed twice, trying to save face.

"Simplicity is beauty! That's called minimalism! You don't understand!"

Even so, his hand honestly pointed to the text box, ready to make changes.

"No matter what, the top priority is to fix that bug."

Xiu En said with a serious expression.

"Jostar showed great loyalty this time and held his ground. What if it finds Alfred next time? Are we supposed to make Alfred quit his job and become some kind of human sun?"

Wayne Manor can't function without him!

The consequences would be unimaginable.

So, after careful consideration, Xiu En added the first and most crucial GM rule he had learned that day, in bold, red, capital letters, below that line of text:

[Core Directive #1: Strictly prohibit any form of personnel or business conflict with the Ximu Realm and its affiliated forces (including but not limited to Wayne Manor, the Cult of the Sun, Martha's Welfare Home, etc.)! No poaching allowed!!!]

After writing it, Xiu En felt that the cookies in the whole world were much safer.

Having fixed the most critical bug, Xiu En finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He began to study the system on the left with great interest, especially the module called Merit Calculation that he coveted the most.

He discovered that the essence of this module is a two-way feedback mechanism.

The system space even contained a large number of basic skills for beginners. These included everything from firearms and stealth to magic. However, his talent was too high and his growth too rapid, so he couldn't use any of these skills prepared by the old men.

Xiu En slightly modified and copied the merit system.

When believers or recipients receive divine grace, they will experience feelings of faith or gratitude, which will be automatically quantified and converted into merit points by the system.

Xiu En, on the other hand, can consume merit points to issue new miracles or exchange for various rewards.

"This is great..."

"Isn't this just a super VIP points mall that works all over the universe?"

"But the problem is, how am I supposed to know what kind of miracle they need? I can't possibly listen to their prayers every day, that would be too much of a hassle."

"Besides, listening to them one by one is too inefficient."

Ivy, standing nearby, suddenly interjected, "Isn't it possible that you're just too lazy to use your brain? Otherwise, why don't you just use a few projectors?"

"nonsense!"

Xiu En refuted him righteously and eloquently.

"I'm doing this to optimize workflows and improve office efficiency!"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on his simple backstage area, which only had a sun icon.

A brilliant, highly personal idea has emerged!

"Ivy!"

He excitedly called out to the sunflower on his shoulder.

"I've got an idea!"

"I want to rewrite this merit calculation module!"

"I want to turn it into a food review system!"

Ivy: "?"

Xiu En ignored Ivy's questioning gaze and excitedly started gesturing on the backend interface on the right.

"Look! We can design it like this!"

"From now on, my followers will no longer need to practice; their spiritual practice will simply involve searching for delicacies scattered throughout the multiverse!"

"They can report their favorite restaurants or unique ingredients to me through this system!"

"The system will automatically generate a comprehensive score based on the reported food's deliciousness, energy purity, rarity, and the quality of the reviews!"

"The higher the rating, the more food points you get! They can use these points to redeem my blessings! Like, good health, or winning the lottery!"

As Xiu En spoke, he became more and more excited, his fingers dancing wildly in the air, as if he could already see the rise of a church composed of countless gourmets.

A sinister smile, like that of a final boss, appeared on Xiu En's face.

"Hey, as a god, all I need to do is open this system every day, look at the food lists they submit, and then pick the ones that interest me to try and approve them personally!"

"Collect information online, verify services offline! Perfect!"

The sunflower used its leaves to support its forehead.

"As long as we find something delicious, that's all that matters?"

Ivy's voice was as calm as that of the strictest quality control officer.

"What if the most delicious food in this universe was the cub of a mythical beast from an endangered species? What if obtaining the finest ingredients required destroying the ecosystem of an entire planet?"

"Your followers did these things to meet KPIs and to receive your blessings. Do you, as a god, reward or punish them?"

"That can't be, right?"

Xiu En paused for a moment, then immediately retorted defiantly.

"My Sun God Cult's core doctrine is to have one's heart turned towards the light and to do good deeds! Those chosen by my Sun Ring must all be good people! How could good people do bad things for food?"

He spoke with absolute confidence.

Shuen seemed to have great faith in his followers.

Ivy remained silent for a moment.

She did not directly refute Shuen's naive logic.

She knew that Xiu En was quite humane at the moment, but a little naive in this respect.

She held out a leaf and pointed it to the ground.

It pointed to Joestar, who was surrounded by children and proudly showing off his chest muscles.

"Is he a fanatic of yours?"

"Ivy asked."

"Of course! Loyalty is MAX!"

"Does he yearn for the light?"

"Absolutely! He's brighter than a light bulb!"

"Then him."

Ivy's leaves pointed in another direction, towards the highest roof of the orphanage.

Although they were far apart, Shuen could still see a tall, thin figure in a purple suit, just like a gloomy gargoyle, crouching there with an extremely vigilant gaze, as if ready to pounce and take Joestar and the children down at any moment.

That figure was Alvin.

"Is he also one of your fanatics?"

Ivy asked again.

"Well, in a sense, you could say that."

"So, Joestar, who, in order to spread love and positive energy, would love to turn all children into believers and have them memorize your quotes from a young age."

"And Alvin, the former Claw, who thought children were too fragile to be exposed to such crazy things, and who stayed on the roof every day, ready to rush down and stop Joestar from brainwashing and proselytizing."

"They are all from Gotham, they are all human, they are all your fanatics."

"But now, these two are acting like sworn enemies over something as trivial as how to promote your doctrines."

"One fanatic is troublesome enough. Now it's two fanatics with completely different ideologies."

"Shuen, tell me, what if in the future your followers number in the tens of thousands, spread throughout the entire universe? One planet's followers believe that vegetarianism is the way to the light, while another planet's followers believe that eating meat is the only way to replenish energy. Wouldn't they break out into a holy war over whether tofu pudding should be savory or sweet?"

"Um, is that right?"

What do you think?

"..."