Chapter 1: Chapter One: On How to Manifest Divine Presence Before Ordinary People

Su Lin watched the news on TV, his eyes dry and gritty from prolonged use, his eyelids twitching nonstop.

He casually opened his computer's browser and clicked directly on his last search history.

Today, no strange events occurred anywhere; everything was calm and quiet.

He picked up the eye drops beside him and dripped two drops into his dry eyes.

This was a normal Parallel World.

Maybe there were some extraordinary events—after all, novels and films often featured them: secret organizations, the world's hidden underbelly—but those were things a normal person like him could never touch.

"I did my best, I did my best."

After a blind date, he came home and ended up reincarnating as his Parallel World self—fine, his parents were still his parents, and he even got a system as a newbie bonus; he was secretly a little excited.

But if this was just an ordinary world, why did his system give him a "Manifest Divine Presence Before Mortals" system instead of a Copycat Writer system or a Celebrity system?

Seriously.

Extraordinary systems are stronger than ordinary ones.

But...

Su Lin racked his brain but couldn't figure out how a normal person could Manifest Divine Presence Before Mortals to earn points.

It's too hard... he wasn't good at literature or martial arts... he couldn't even remember lottery numbers, and even if he did, it wouldn't help.

His newbie gift pack yielded two one-time-use items.

"Linear Time Reversal Watch" and "Library Series—Abilities Log."

【Zuo Kete's Linear Pocket Watch】: I did my best. Even if I return to the past, the present cannot be changed—it only creates new branches. Then so be it. Let me escape. Abandon everything now. Steal the past version of myself. Let me drown in the happiness that never belonged to "me."

Note: One-time-use item. Upon returning to the original time point, this item will permanently cease to function.

【Library Series—Abilities Log】: All existence in the world ought to be remembered. —Fala.

The items came with short stories, reminding Su Lin of the days he played DNF.

But Su Lin had no time to dig into what hidden meanings lay behind these notes.

Of the two items, the first granted one chance to return to the past, but any change would spawn a Parallel World—meaning you couldn't alter your future, only redirect the past toward a new branch.

The second had a 24-hour duration and could record and replay abnormal abilities; the only drawback was that it required recording the entire process from activation to use, and only one ability could be used at a time—after 24 hours, the recorded ability vanished.

In this mundane world, where could he even find abnormal abilities?

Without abnormal abilities, he couldn't Manifest Divine Presence Before Mortals to earn points, draw rewards, or exchange for cultivation techniques, making sustainable development impossible.

It seemed he was trapped in a vicious cycle.

Scripture of Illuminated Longevity, Eternal Unextinguishable Law, Starlight at Fingertips, Creation Atlas...

Wine of Immortality, Ninefold Jin Dan, Ashen Staff, Law Simulation Device...

Aside from the brutal start, this system had nothing wrong—it had every item type found across every category on novel websites.

Looking at the dazzling exchange list and gacha rewards, tears trickled unconsciously from the corner of his mouth.

Since graduating university, he'd been unemployed and staying home for half a year—if he didn't find a job soon, his family's support would cut off.

Before his reincarnation, after graduating university, he'd held a fairly stable job.

But who could've guessed that in this world, he'd studied civil engineering?

So this was the Parallel World born from choice—I get it now.

Was he going to have to work on a construction site and mix concrete?

No way—the Parallel World version of him quit and ran away precisely because he couldn't handle it. How could he Manifest Divine Presence Before Mortals by going back to a construction site?

Should he film short videos about mixing concrete and become the king of the garish fashion crowd... would that count as Manifesting Divine Presence?

The system informed him that any achievement leaving a record among a certain number of people would earn him points.

OK, everyone, look at me—I'm announcing something...

Actually, Su Lin had another plan: memorize major historical events of the next few years, then travel back in time and try being a prophet.

The risk was that without any self-defense capability, he'd most likely vanish from public view first... rendering the item useless.

Just as Su Lin pulled out a sleek silver pocket watch and fell into deep indecision, a sudden voice echoed in his mind.

"The Multiverse Chat Group has opened. Su Lin, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, Han Li, Ye Fan, Meng Qi D. Luffy, Weigong Shilang have joined."

"Congratulations, you are all beta members of the chat group."

"This group aims to foster friendly exchanges across worlds, break through dimensional barriers and information walls, and contribute to the evolution of all worlds."

"There is no group owner, but daily moderators will be appointed based on activity levels and member votes."

"The moderator cycle lasts one year; both moderators and members receive fixed gift packs monthly."

"To cultivate a harmonious chat environment, members must not engage in combat—violators will be forcibly expelled."

Su Lin was slow to react.

What the hell? I'm not a modern-system protagonist?

"Ding—Monthly member gift pack has been distributed."

"Congratulations, you have received three Cross-World Travel Charms (must be used with the consent of the target group member; if the target leaves their world, you will be forcibly removed)."

"You may now begin chatting."

No way, you can actually do this? Wait—aren't these group members characters from anime and novels?

Meng Qi D. Luffy: "Chat group? What's this? Hey, is this some Devil Fruit power? One of Kaido's men?!"

Someone mentioned you.

A message flashed before Su Lin's eyes.

Meng Qi D. Luffy: "@everyone Waaah, what is this?"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Don't joke with me—has Old Ma expanded his business to Cross-World Travel? Leave me alone, I'm broke. @Meng Qi D. Luffy, I vaguely remember you—are you the guy from the Pirate world?"

Ye Fan: "If I remember right, he's the man destined to become Pirate King. I never thought I'd be on another planet and still run into a chat group like this. @Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, are you from Earth too?"

Master Meng Qi D. Luffy: "That's right, my name is Master Meng Qi D. Luffy, the man who's going to become the Pirate King! Ah, I'm off to throw a victory banquet! Meat meat meat!!!"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Outer space? Damn, I transmigrated in 2009. Brother, what year did you go to outer space?"

Ye Fan: "2010."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "???"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan was just wondering why, just one year later, humanity had already entered the interstellar era.

Ye Fan: "My situation over here is a bit complicated."

System notice: Weigong Shilang (group member has entered soul state)

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "......"

Ye Fan: "......"

Su Lin: "......"

System notice: Group member Weigong Shilang has been revived

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Awesome."

Ye Fan: "Awesome."

Su Lin: "Indeed."

Su Lin ignored the pole-vaulting protagonist's sit-ups, deliberated for a moment, and then posted in the group.

Su Lin: "TL; DR, just transmigrated, Parallel World."

Li Feiyu: "Fellow Daoists, may I ask what this chat group thing is?"

He had actually changed his name the very first chance he got.

But wasn't this a bit like covering one's ears while stealing a bell?

Su Lin was silent for a moment, then decided to come out and lay things out clearly.

Su Lin: "Fellow Daoist Han, I know you. To be precise, I know everyone here."

Li Feiyu: "?"

At this moment, Han Li, who was currently in the Scattered Star Sea, furrowed his brow. He wasn't surprised that his name change had been discovered, but from this person's tone, did they also know him inside and out?

Fortunately, he was now in the Scattered Star Sea; people from Tiannan shouldn't be able to find this place.

Su Lin: "Just like how you all know the Pirate, Wang Luffy, I also know every single one of you."

Su Lin: "Mm, it's possible that in the future someone will know me too."

Ye Fan: "Got it..."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Now that's just ridiculous."