To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

“Someone who puked the whole way has no right to say that,” Mukuai 1234 said coldly.

“Did I say I wasn’t up to it?”

“…You’re ruthless.”

Even though the sea star was no longer moving, Zheng Quan did not rashly approach. Instead, he looked at Fang Cheng, ready to follow his lead.

After a quick calculation, Fang Cheng said, “It’s dead, but something feels off. Let’s go up and take a look.”

Nodding, Zheng Quan summoned the sailors to start rowing. The sailing ship moved across the calm waters and soon reached the body of the sea star.

Leaping from the deck, Fang Cheng’s Taoist skills took effect, and his game character floated down gently, like a feather, onto the sea star.

Seeing Fang Cheng’s move, Zheng Quan’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help saying, “Mr. Fang turns out to be a Cultivator too.”

“Of course, my Taoism level is 30 now.”

In this period, although Fang Cheng only logged on occasionally to check on the players’ situation, he had still traveled with Xiemen Waidao, challenging several Taoist temples and obtaining three tokens.

With each successful challenge, his Taoism level increased. This was the fastest way to level up in Taoism in the game.

In “The Supreme One,” skill levels capped at 50, and the higher the level, the harder it was to progress.

At level 30, one’s advancement level could be termed as a master in the game. Certain spells could be cast at will, and some temple masters were just a little over level 30.

Under Zheng Quan’s admiring gaze, Fang Cheng had landed on the giant sea star. He then reached out and snatched up a chip in his hand.

Jumping back onto the deck, Fang Cheng looked at the chip with a sense of unease.

This thing isn’t listed in the item inventory.

Seeing this sudden appearance, Fang Cheng immediately felt an intense sensation of an impending backstab.

Something wants to harm me.

The Dustfire of “The Supreme One” was yet to be purified, but the signs of betrayal had already manifested, making Fang Cheng feel he had to act quickly to figure out the origin of the chip and nip the trouble in the bud.

After disbanding the party, he bid farewell to the others and, stepping on the seawater, left the calm sea area, venturing back into the earth-shattering hurricane.

Watching Fang Cheng appear and disappear suddenly, the captain Number One Under the Heavens, Zheng Quan, felt a sense of loss, as if something had gone forever.

As for Mukuai 1234, she breathed a sigh of relief, then became concerned about how the Great Heavenly Lord might judge her actions.

She had come to aid Xiemen Waidao, whose performance… well,

could only be described as befitting a merry troublemaker.

He had fully honored their prior agreement: after committing mischief, he always provided a favorable outcome for the other party.

After robbing, the items were returned intact, and double the amount of Silver Coins was offered as compensation.

If houses were to be burned, he would ensure that new ones were rebuilt with good merit afterward.

When it came to injuring people, he only targeted those who were utterly wicked.

As for forming gangs, although they were nominally thugs, every member received a daily wage and was required to do good deeds every day.

Thus, even though the task list of the Number One Evil Person Under the Heavens was almost completed, Mukuai 1234 found that Xiemen Waidao had actually earned some merit through his misdeeds.

Managing to earn merit from mischiefs, Mukuai 1234 thought there was nobody else but Xiemen Waidao who could achieve that.

This time was no different. Realizing he couldn’t imitate the pirates to rob ships, Xiemen Waidao simply pulled over Zheng Quan and declared loudly, “This is a robbery.”

“Alright, alright, will one Silver Coin do?”

“Yes.”

Taking the single coin, Xiemen Waidao found that his task of “pillaging a ship” was complete and said contentedly, “Thanks a lot, Big Boss Zheng.”

“It’s nothing, but is that really all there is to it?”

“That’s it.”

“Then what about Mr. Fang? Are we just going to let him go?”

“No choice, people have their own ambitions. No worries, though, our fates are deeply intertwined; we’re sure to meet again.”

Mukuai 1234 kicked Xiemen Waidao hard, docking ten health points from him.

Shut up, you harbinger of doom.

Meanwhile, Fang Cheng stepped onto the shore, walking on the water; with Palm Thunder, he dried the sea water from his body and then walked briskly toward the nearby town to find the Taoist temple there, ready to seize the token that would improve his Taoism level.

Something seemed to be about to happen in this world, as if it were going to be affected by certain things, and he was determined to find out what this influence might be in the game.

But just as he arrived at the entrance of the Taoist temple, he noticed the air in front of him twisting.

A Teleportation Array was conjured out of thin air; someone had directly cast a spell and created an array before Fang Cheng.

After the air stopped warping, a Taoist appeared before Fang Cheng.

The person seemed to be no more than sixteen years old, with a clear brow, handsome eyes, red lips, and white teeth, looking just like a pretty little Taoist.

However, what did not match his age was his aura of simplicity and naturalness, as though he was one with the world around him. Though he had appeared suddenly, his natural demeanor made it seem as if he had always been there and never moved.

Such a unity of man and nature was close to the Dao itself.

If he wanted to, he could merge into the world so that other passersby would not notice his presence, just like travelers hardly pay attention to a small pebble along the way.

While he could make himself like a pebble, he himself was unfathomable.

Standing before this person, Fang Cheng felt like he was facing the sea he had seen the night before; it could be calm but could also stir up a storm that could destroy heaven and earth.

With utmost respect, the young Taoist smiled and said, “I’ve seen Mr. Fang. My name is Xuanjizi, a cultivator of one hundred and thirty years, and I am considered the Number One Taoist in this realm.”

Fang Cheng returned the courtesy and then asked, “Is there a problem?”

“Although Mr. Fang is an Alien, your cultivation is extraordinary, easily breaking through several Taoist temples, which is truly admirable. However, may I ask if you could do me the honor of stopping this quest?”

“Why?”

“Can’t you calculate it yourself?”

“It’s a bit troublesome; just tell me directly.”

Xuanjizi sighed and then said, “The title of ‘First Under Heaven’ is cherished by heaven and earth. The more difficult the title to attain, the more the world bestows its care, and the more spirituality one gains. Like me, I have very high spirituality and can roughly guess the origin of you Aliens, as well as know some of the secrets of this world. But if the title is taken, much of the spirituality will dissipate, and the person will become confused.”

“So, you want to keep your spirituality?”

“Precisely.”

“And this chip…”

“It was created by us, the top ranks known as ‘First Under Heaven,’ to cause trouble for you Aliens.”

Hearing this answer, Fang Cheng nodded, feeling increasingly that the creator of this world was formidable indeed.

This technique was almost on par with reviving the dead and creating out of the void.

And the life created thus had considerable spirituality; this skill was somewhat extraordinary.

Seeing Fang Cheng lost in thought, Xuanjizi quietly waited for him to ponder for a while before asking, “So Mr. Fang…”

“Sorry, but I’m even more interested in obtaining the title of ‘First Under Heaven’ now,” Fang Cheng said. “Your creator has buried something in this world, and I really want to see what it is.”

“I understand, then there’s no choice but to offend,” Xuanjizi said.

Xuanjizi sighed, ready to use the Highest Mystical Method, only to feel a chill at his chest as a bolt of Palm Thunder pierced through, leaving him unable to muster any strength.

This body was a mana avatar created by a level 50 Taoism skill, a pinnacle construct that even had strength surpassing the real body by a margin.

He hadn’t expected to be vanquished in a single encounter, and with the most basic Palm Thunder at that.

Palm Thunder!

Realizing his supreme avatar had been extinguished by Palm Thunder, Xuanjizi was so shocked he couldn’t speak, pointing at Fang Cheng with his last bit of energy, he stuttered, “You… you…”

“Don’t worry, you will be the last one. After I collect all the tokens, I’ll come looking for your real body,” Fang Cheng said.

Knowing his fate was sealed, Xuanjizi’s avatar covered his face and departed, tears streaming down.

Having sent Xuanjizi off, Fang Cheng finally understood the origin of the chip.

After some deductions, Fang Cheng realized that his premonition had disappeared and everything was returning to normal.

After all, when all these ‘First Under Heaven’ joined forces, they could only raise the difficulty for the players, which would actually inspire their fighting spirit, urging them to continue the battle.

Thereupon, he tossed aside the chip with satisfaction and continued to challenge the Temple Master.

Xuanjizi, I’ll be coming for you soon.