Chapter 202: Secondary World, Internet-Addicted Old Man!

Qin Shi opened cross-region matching and discovered the function was unavailable.

Only then did he recall that the Galaxy Region had all been disconnected from the Great Universe Server.

Below there was a normal matching system, but it required reaching level three hundred.

"One hundred percent simulation technology, plus sensory sharing, being called the 'Second Universe' is indeed flawless."

While familiarizing himself with various functions, Qin Shi used Xu Kong Coins to attempt purchasing food.

This world's universal currency was rather retro, coins imprinted with the Door and three strings, divided into three types: gold, silver, and copper.

These belonged to "Game Currency," their value not high; what truly circulated in the Trading House, auction houses, and such places were still Xu Kong Coins mined relying on spiritual energy.

"Eating things, drinking beverages, can also provide very realistic feedback."

Qin Shi entered an inn, ordered a specialty drink and dish, and savored them carefully.

He also went to a clothing store and changed into a brand-new long robe, no longer looking like a rookie fresh out of the novice village.

"Talking with these 'NPCs,' their reactions aren't rigid either, a bit like real 'native residents' living here."

Qin Shi did not hold a "player" mindset; the Great Universe Server was the handiwork of the Upper Pillars.

Hard to say whether this belongs to the "True Universe" they opened up.

Leaving the inn, Qin Shi seemed to wander aimlessly.

The overall social atmosphere leaned toward a medieval style.

There were brothels, horse farms, bathhouses, arenas, and many other entertainment venues.

There were also grand cathedrals, libraries, city squares, and other public facilities open to the outside.

Like patrolling guards, including law enforcement officers, Qin Shi sensed extremely tyrannical auras from them.

Anyone wearing medals, dressed extraordinarily, had mostly already entered the Professional Domain.

Even their weapons — long spears, lances, greatswords, giant axes, and so on — emitted intense energy fluctuations.

"Wonder if there are fantasy creatures existing in textbooks, like dragons, elves, beastmen, and such."

As Qin Shi explored deeper, he gradually realized why the Great Universe Server was so captivating — here one could live different lives.

If he was willing, for instance spending a bit of money, purchasing a vast tract of land, then acting as lord himself, driving slaves, recruiting knights, accepting subjects;

Or being a wanderer, following caravans to numerous kingdoms, admiring scenery along the way, recording interesting stories.

"Compared to the 'props' that attract low-level players like me, for those strongmen who have transcended the Professional Domain, perhaps real life is more tempting — no need to worry about time's galloping horse chasing wildly behind, settling one's heart to experience everything……"

Qin Shi pondered; no matter what kind of powerful being, lifespan always has an end.

Immortality is the trait of Divine Spirits; eternity is the privilege of Pillars.

Even the Nine Marshals, those Martial Gods who climbed to the peak of the Star Sea, within the nine millennia since establishing New Dongxia, they only led the Great Expedition's progress in the early stage, presided over the grand pioneering, and then one by one fell into slumber.

Precisely speaking, without the Heaven Crystal Coffin forged from Divine Source, the Nine Marshals' true bodies would long have been washed corrupt by the torrent of time, impossible to remain long in the mortal world.

"This is rather like a playground, or a trial ground, prepared by the Divine Spirit Pillars for true strongmen who have surpassed the Professional Domain."

Qin Shi pondered a moment, discovering login time remaining was still seventy-two hours.

He chose to log off for now, to come again another day.

The Original Energy Company giving him this card had a very simple purpose.

Experience the wonder of the Great Universe Server, promote intention to cooperate.

"Need to ask Teacher Lin, see what she says. United Pharmaceutical is big business; if the cost exceeds the return, there's no need to talk."

Qin Shi exited that vivid "Second Universe," spirit returning to his mortal body, with a moment of maladjustment.

Until senses re-received various information, feeding the driving noise, the wind outside the window, and the tactile feedback of the cushioned seat into his consciousness sea.

"Where exactly is the boundary between real and illusory?"

Qin Shi lowered his head to look at his palm — this was his doubt upon just leaving that universe.

Even the mental realm of condensing a Holy Embryo prototype seemingly couldn't distinguish the difference within.

"A huge gap at the level of fundamental rules."

Super Xiao He in the Inner Landscape spoke up.

"If explained in game terminology, it's probably 'different physics engine layers.' How did it feel killing monsters and leveling up in that game universe?"

Qin Shi frowned, splitting off a wisp of spirit to communicate with Super Xiao He:

"Very easy."

Super Xiao He continued:

"If you further try to deduce inheritances, perfect cultivation paths, or break through your own realm, you would also receive the same experience — easy.

That is a 'world' with very weak fundamental rules; although it is incomparably real, every existence not false in the slightest, the beams and pillars supporting it are far from sturdy enough, so it cannot even accommodate the existence of Kings and Emperors."

Qin Shi thought seriously, then asked:

"The material world we're in has stronger rules, is that it?"

Super Xiao He nodded:

"About right. The Great Universe has twelve Upper Pillars; they constitute everything. But the Second Universe inside the server only counts as a 'Secondary World'; the upper limit has already been locked dead — even after ten billion years, a hundred billion years, it could never naturally give birth to existences surpassing the Professional Domain."

Qin Shi's thinking diverged, recalling in the ruined temple he had spiritually resonated with Qin Shuai and the Deputy Commander's conversation.

"If Qin Shuai wants to surpass the Martial God, transcend the path, reach the road's summit, he undoubtedly must become a Pillar of the Great Universe.

Secondary worlds constructed from 'Door' and 'World String' cannot give birth to existences surpassing the Professional Domain; then by what does Qin Shuai think he can stand shoulder to shoulder with those twelve Pillars?

From ancient times to now, the Great Universe has only given birth to these twelve Pillars, right? What basis does Qin Shuai believe he can do it?"

He sat in the window-side seat of the carriage compartment, wind blowing through the hair at his forehead, thoughts like thread ends constantly being pulled out, merely drifting, unable to grasp the key point.

……

……

Nanhuang Dojo, because Qin Shi went to Central City, this place also became desolate.

Little Yu went along, Xiao Zhu's vacation ended and he returned to Haizhou, leaving only Lao Zhang and Old Ren in the vast venue, plus Zhou Ning who slipped in through the back gate.

"Dojo Master, when you fought Qi Wuxiang and He Lanchan back then, would that count as a narrow loss?"

That day, after Zhou Ning finished his cultivation practice, he saw Lao Zhang pushing his wheelchair out and jogged over with a fawning smile.

If Qin Shi were here, he would know that his dead party buddy was dancing in a minefield.

Lao Zhang most tabooed others mentioning two people, and those two happened to be Qi Wuxiang and He Lanchan.

After all, losing to those two was the most crushing, the most unsightly.

He even had the humiliating record of being killed on first encounter by Qi Wuxiang, finished in one move.

"Hmph. Although these guys beat me, they also lost."

Lao Zhang proudly held his head high:

"I lost the Star Cup, but I've lived long enough. Look — where is He Lanchan now?"

As a standard champion stan, Zhou Ning muttered quietly:

"But Qi Wuxiang is still alive."

Lao Zhang gave a cold snort:

"No different from dead, he can only hole up in the virtual universe."

(Chapter End)