To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

Before the official release of “The Physician,” he had already experienced other games from Fang Cheng Studio with the VR Integrated Machine and was moved by how VR truly enhanced those games.

But compared to Mukuai, those games really tasted bland.

Entering the official version, Chen Rang found the graphics had become more refined, the control felt more accurate, and the sensory connection between the player and the game world was further enhanced, bringing another qualitative breakthrough in the game’s authenticity.

His birthplace was still the same as before, located in a place in Lost Valley. Following the small path, he walked through a forest filled with eyeballs, waded through black river water, avoided the Night Owls in the sky, and kept moving along the glowing path until he finally saw the abandoned Taoist temple.

A girl in white sat by the campfire, the glowing flames casting her in an incomparably beautiful light.

She was just as perfect and pretty as she had been over a month ago, and the corn on the cob in her hand was still screaming in a non-human voice.

When she saw Chen Rang approaching, she lifted her head and with a bright voice identical to the one in his memory, she said, “Yo, you’re here again. Who’s within you today?”

As expected…

She doesn’t remember me…

But looking at her familiar smile, Chen Rang was already prepared to rebuild their relationship and said earnestly, “I am…”

Before he could finish, the girl burst into giggling and laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.

Wiping away the tears that came out from laughing, she stood up and gave Chen Rang a big hug.

Mukuai’s voice rang in his ears, soft and lingering, with a nostalgic flavor, as sweet as cotton candy.

“Just kidding, I remember you, Chen Rang. Welcome back, my partner.”

The haptic gloves conveyed the feeling of the hug.

Memories poured out like flowing water, making Chen Rang marvel from the bottom of his heart:

This game…

Is amazing!

Holding Chen Rang’s hand, Mukuai walked ahead, chatting as they went, “The merits in you are gone, but no worries, we can earn them back… Well, actually your previous merits are with me, but I have eaten them all up.”

“You still want to eat merits?” Chen Rang asked, holding her hand with a puzzled tone.

“Of course, we Heavenly Tao Messengers live on merits. Though we won’t actually die—without merits, we will return to the Heavenly Tao and descend again next time.”

“What kind of bizarre setting is this!”

“I don’t know. We Heavenly Tao Messengers rely on merits to exist. Of course, you can also use these merits to strengthen yourself, just like before.”

Chen Rang nodded to show he understood.

“Since you have returned this time, you must proceed according to the official version. Wait a moment, let me get into the mood.”

After coughing once, Mukuai covered her face and said in a mysterious tone: “Distant stranger…”

“Is it really that fun?”

“It’s alright. Shut up, listen to me. This world has been corrupted by disease, and the core of the planet has become the source of the disease. It releases disease every moment, causing all life to decay and turn to filth. And you, my partner, join me on this journey to save the world. By the way, there are two million four hundred thousand other Physicians like you.”

“That many!”

Mukuai covered her mouth and snickered, “You didn’t think you could handle everything by yourself, did you? The power of a single Physician is very small; you need to unite to make a difference.”

“Will I meet those other Physicians?”

“For sure, we are scattered on four different planets, with different climates, and some places even have survivors of the Human Clan. So, partner, are you interested in exploring this world with me? Let’s devour all the deliciousness. Oh no, I forgot you don’t have the taste function. Hahaha, look at you, look at you!”

Watching Mukuai unabashedly tease him about his own deficiencies, Chen Rang felt a little annoyed but mostly warmth.

In such a decaying world, having such a partner was really lovely.

In Chen Rang’s view, the world of “The Physician” was no longer just a game, but a home.

A home that bore his dreams of adventure and where he had a partner to support each other.

“Alright, stop getting sentimental there. Have you decided where to go next?”

Snapped out of his thoughts by Mukuai, Chen Rang pondered for a bit and then said, “Dead Water Lake? There seemed to be traces of humans there last time; I want to check it out.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The world of “The Physician” is an open world where players rely on merits to cast spells, repair Heavenly Tao, and expel evil spirits to gain merits.

The quickest way to gain merits is by completing the tasks of local residents, which yields the most merits.

Killing massive Disease Beasts can also earn a large amount of merits, but Disease Beasts are monsters with a Monster Core formed inside their body from the disease.

Either extraordinarily powerful or as fleeting as the wind, before amassing a substantial amount of merits, one must stay far away from these Monsters, or risk fatal dangers.

Having decided on the next destination, Chen Rang was about to set off when he heard hurried breathing.

Turning his head, he saw a wild boar as tall as a man jump out behind him, its blood-red eyes staring intently at them.