Chapter 3: First Materialization

Wang Xiu stared fixedly at the beef jerky on the table, his mind blank.

He reached out, his fingertips trembling, slowly approaching.

When his fingertip touched the plastic packaging, a clear sensation came through—cold and smooth.

It's real!

He snatched the beef jerky, squeezed it hard, and the firm meat inside felt utterly real.

"Fuck..."

Wang Xiu let out a dry, hoarse roar from his throat, his whole body stiff as if struck by lightning.

After a full half minute, he seemed to come back to life, fumbling to tear open the package.

A rich meat aroma instantly filled the air.

He grabbed a piece of beef jerky, not bothering with cleanliness, and shoved it straight into his mouth.

The familiar soy sauce aroma, the familiar chew, the familiar taste...

All this told him it was not a hallucination!

Things from the game can really be brought into reality!

Wang Xiu trembled with excitement—not because of a pack of beef jerky, but because of the infinite possibilities this discovery represented!

If beef jerky can... then what about Gold Sore Medicine? Strengthening Health Pills?

Even... the gold and silver treasures earned in the game?!

A bold idea that made even his own heart race sprouted wildly in his mind.

We've struck it rich!

This time we're really going to strike it rich!

What job hunting, what rent payments—at this moment it's all bullshit!

As long as he has this game console, does he still need to work for others?

He is the boss of his own life!

Wang Xiu paced excitedly back and forth in his cramped rental apartment, like a beast trapped in a cage.

He would glance at the beef jerky in his hand, then at the mysterious game console; his face showed excitement, ecstasy, and even a hint of disbelief.

Calm down!

Calm down!

Wang Xiu, you need to calm down!

He rushed to the faucet, splashing cold water hard on his face several times; the icy tap water slightly cooled his overheated brain.

He leaned against the sink, gasping heavily.

This matter is too big—so big he must reassess everything.

This game, or rather the "Family Inheritance Simulator," is not merely a tool for him to get rich.

The novice guide states clearly: "Every decision the host makes will truly affect the course of history and the family's fate."

This means his actions in the game will truly change the past.

And what he controls are his own ancestors!

If he makes a mistake in the game that causes his ancestor Wang Jin to die on the eve of the Shenlong Coup...

... would he himself perhaps instantly "pop" and disappear as well?

Wang Xiu, thinking of this, instantly broke out in a cold sweat on his back.

This thing is both an opportunity and a deadly blade!

If he messes up, there's no chance to reload and try again.

He returned to the computer desk, sat down again, and his gaze grew solemn.

He must think this through clearly.

First, the game's time flow differs from reality.

He had spent an hour in the game—an hour—while only a few minutes seemed to have passed in the real world.

This is a huge advantage, meaning he has ample time in reality to research and prepare.

Second, the materialization function.

This is his greatest reliance so far. But materialization consumes "Spiritual Power," and materializing that pack of beef jerky used 1 point; he only has 100 points total.

It seems Spiritual Power is a crucial stat that must not be wasted.

Finally, and most crucially, it's the choices in the game.

Li Duozu's invitation.

Go, or not go?

He was still hesitating earlier, but now he already has an answer in his heart.

He must go!

This is the Shenlong Coup! It's a major historical event worthy of the annals!

Ordinary people never encounter such a thing in a lifetime; now the opportunity lies before him.

If he can control his ancestor Wang Jin and gain even a tiny bit of merit in this coup—no matter how small—it would be a world of difference for the founding of the Wang Clan!

From an obscure commoner to a descendant of those who followed the dragon, the gap is obvious even to one's toes.

By then, not to mention gold and silver treasures, he might even snag official posts and titles.

Once those become family assets, could he also...

Wang Xiu's heart again traitorously began to pound wildly.

Risks and rewards coexist!

Want to change your fate—who does it without taking risks?

Let's do it!

Wang Xiu slapped his thigh, having made up his mind.

However, before entering the game, he must make thorough preparations.

The Shenzhou Coup……Li Duozuo……Zhang Jianzhi……

He immediately opened his computer and began frantically searching for all information about this coup.

Although he graduated from the history department, his studies were broad, and his memory of the specific details of events down to a certain day and a certain figure has already become somewhat fuzzy.

He needs the most detailed information, including all participants, their positions, their relationships, the detailed process of the coup, and even some wild historical rumors.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

His biggest cheat now is not that materialization function, but rather historical information that puts him over a thousand years ahead of the Tang people!

This is his greatest capital for controlling his ancestor Wang Jin, to establish himself in this historical torrent, and even to pull chestnuts from the fire!

He wants to push this advantage to the extreme!

Wang Xiu's eyes flashed with an unprecedented light; he licked his somewhat dry lips, and his fingers clacked on the keyboard.

"Ancestor, you better make me proud—grandson here will find you the most complete guide ever!"

He knew that from the moment he decided to put on that helmet again, he and his family would embark on a road never before heard of.

Either rise up then, becoming an immortal clan that lasts a thousand years.

Or silently vanish at some historical crossroads.

Everything depends on his next move.

He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already late at night.

But he felt no sleepiness; instead, he was full of energy.

Because he knew that a gamble spanning a thousand years was about to begin in his hands.