Chapter 264: Meng Qi, Don

Opposite Zhang Chuang was Su Lin; the moment Zhang Chuang drank water, Su Lin had already anticipated this classic scene—the droplets of water, big and small, were instantly vaporized.

But Zhang Chuang wasn't thinking about that now; he stared blankly at the "Yuan Shi Tianzun" on the livestream, his mind shifting abruptly from confusion to utter emptiness.

Inside the livestream.

The figure stood high in the sky, below him lay a palace resembling those of ancient imperial dynasties.

A nine-zhang-high altar for heaven worship, entirely forged from Bai Yu, was covered in a dazzling array of talismans; the Emperor, clad in a five-clawed dragon robe, bowed respectfully alongside several ministers and eunuchs.

This scene resembled the Tianzun descending to the mortal world, with the earthly emperor welcoming him.

Azure light formed steps stretching from heaven to earth; ancient, primordial runes of the Qingmen script, concealing the great secrets of heaven and earth, burst forth with golden radiance across the sky.

"We humbly welcome the Tianzun's descent."

Below, the crowd bowed solemnly and cried out in unison.

A celestial in black Daoist robes gazed down upon all this, descending step by step along the azure-lit stairs.

While performing all this, Meng Qi was half uncertain in his heart, half driven by humanity's most primal instincts.

The appearance of this chat group had left him bewildered for a long time; only after triple-checking—including retrieving from the group a thing called the Cross-Domain Talisman—did he realize he'd truly encountered a stroke of fortune, not some illegal kidnapping-and-murder scheme like the Six Paths Reincarnation Master, but a harmonious, friendly communication app.

He knew many of the names of those in the group.

Ye Hei, Xiao Huohuo, Pizi Long, and Han Paopao—he'd read plenty of them during university; and Weigong Shilang—wasn't that the protagonist from Type-Moon?

He'd heard of Lu Mingfei too, but he'd never read that book; he disliked stories with painful youth and preferred more hot-blooded ones.

When he first joined the Reincarnation World, he'd grumbled about the Exchange List provided by the Six Paths Reincarnation Master, who claimed to offer anything—why wasn't there a Gundam, no Great Saint Body, no Death God Eye, no Super Saiyan bloodline?

Yet here they were—these worlds truly existed—and according to their explanations, everyone here had representations in other worlds as works of fiction.

Coincidentally, he'd arrived in this affiliated world of Xian Ji to cultivate, and was conveniently helping the royal family resolve some matters—so how could he make a good first impression on his groupmates?

Livestream! Must livestream!

If I don't livestream, how will others know where my story is at? Ahem, of course, there's also a tiny bit of wanting to show off before others—really, just a tiny bit.

Whether this act was like carrying firewood to Mount Tai, or whether he'd expose himself as a mere Outer Realm rookie before the higher-ranked masters—

Why think so much?

No one in the chat group had spoken yet—would this entrance be too shocking?

Meng Qi: "I gained a stroke of fortune and joined Xian Ji, thereby receiving the alias Yuan Shi Tianzun. I now descend to this world to resolve the royal family's troubles and further advance my cultivation."

He thought for a moment and decided to explain his current situation and provide context—otherwise, they'd think he'd deliberately staged this entrance.

Zhong Li: "Friend, you can cross between worlds?"

Meng Qi: "Merely a trick, using the power of Biyou Tian within Xian Ji."

Su Lin: "This familiar flavor—it's definitely me…"

Song Shuhang: "+1"

Miss Kelaien: "+2"

Meng Qi froze—what did "familiar flavor" mean?

Wait—could there really be a work about me? What do you all think of Yi Bo Yun Tian Su Xiao Meng?

Ye Fan: "Is this really a big shot…?!"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Can't touch him, can't touch him."

Zhang Chuang: "I thought the Tianzun had actually joined the group—scared me half to death!"

Meng Qi: "Hahaha, sorry, sorry, Brother Zhang, you misunderstood."

Zhang Chuang: "Brother, you're imitating Zhang Sanfeng—first a Monk, now a Daoist."

Meng Qi: "You might not believe it, but I was truly a Shaolin disciple."

Zhang Chuang: "Damn, that's awesome."

Meng Qi gave some instructions to the emperor of this world, avoided formalities, and immediately found an empty room to chat with his groupmates.

He was desperate to learn about his own future.

Meng Qi: "So, fellow Daoists, can you tell me anything about me? Someone as handsome as me must be the protagonist, right?"

Forget philosophical questions about whether I'm real—imagine this: every time I enter an instance, I can strategize perfectly, foresee the future, and even use this chance to escape the Six Paths Reincarnation Master.

At the very least, I won't let tragedies like Brother Zhang's happen again—I can save my friends, give Jiang Zhiwei and the others a chance to survive.

Whatever else, obtaining information from these groupmates is now the top priority.

Just as Meng Qi waited eagerly, the chat group updated—three messages appeared at once.

Su Lin: "You should ask Song Shuhang."

Song Shuhang: "Ask Ke Lai'en."

Miss Kelaien: "Ask Su Lin."

Meng Qi: "?"

Far away on Shuijing Peak, Su Lin said to Song Shuhang beside him: "What are you afraid of, transcendence master?"

Song Shuhang's face stiffened; he said to Miss Kelaien: "This concerns the Tianzun's scheme—this Fu Sheng Xuan Huang Tianzun, you two were written by the same author."

"I'm the Fool, thank you." Miss Kelaien gave a professional smile. "Su Zongzhu, you tell him."

What if I accidentally mess it up—will I be hunted across worlds by the Bi'an?

Zhang Chuang blinked, suspiciously: "Could this guy have a huge background?"

"Is it possible he really is the Tianzun—even if not now, then in the future?" Su Lin glanced at the Tianqing Yu Xu Sword in his hand, wondering if he could someday ask the man to help lift the seal.

As for details, he himself didn't understand the other side's situation—neither did Song Shuhang nor Miss Kelaien.

Meng Qi: "Can I directly come over to your world to take a look? Also, I'd like to know who won the World Cup."

【Group member Meng Qi requests entry to your world】

【Accept / Reject】

Su Lin suddenly felt his heart stop for an instant.

Su Lin: "Don't come any closer!!!"

I'll give it to you, but do you really need to come over yourself!? Damn it, if the Three Pure Ones noticed, fine—but if the Demon Buddha shows up too, am I really done for?! Has Meng Qi even severed his connection to the Buddha and Demon yet at this point?!

Song Shuhang: "Big Boss, stay calm, don't rush."

Meng Qi: "Fellow cultivators, am I really that detestable?"

Meng Qi: "Humble little Meng begs for shelter qq"

Su Lin: "Big Boss! You're the real Big Boss! Calm down! Go find a statue of the Three Pure Ones first, tell them about the chat group, and see how they react? Should I give it to you—or should I let them decide?"

Su Lin: "If all else fails, log in with your main account—I'm just a plain, ordinary Earth, not built to withstand your chaos!"

The contestants in the Multiverse Battle Royale are already numerous enough.

Yuan Huang: "No problem, got it."

【Meng Qi withdrew a message.】

Su Lin: "."

Miss Kelaien: "."

Song Shuhang: "."

Zhang Chuanyan: "Does our chat group even have a withdraw function? Why didn't I ever find it before?"

Ye Fan: "Probably not."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "That instant just now wasn't an illusion."

Hanyu: "No withdraw function?"

Hanyu: "Huh? Really none? Even LINE lets you withdraw messages."

"Fuck." Su Lin dropped his chopsticks onto the table, losing all appetite for the dry noodles. He covered his head and said to Ye Fan: "Sometimes I genuinely can't tell which of you guys is who."

"How can you casually interfere with the past from the future?! Don't the rights of those in the past deserve to be Must Be Respected?!"

"Sword in hand, follow me! Slash the past with the blade, sever the future with the sword! Can't we just live in the present?!"

Su Lin felt his head spinning, then turned to Han Li and Song Shuhang and said:

"Hey, Liu Li Ge—no, is the Ancestor of Time here? If so, tap one."

"Is the Transcendent Song here? If so, tap two."

Han Li: "."

Song Shuhang: "."

Miss Kelaien pulled a black top hat from a historical projection, placed it on his head, and pressed it down, obscuring his gaze.

"Stay right here, I'll go fetch Young Lady Justice to treat you," Miss Kelaien said, pointing to his head: "And while I'm at it, treat Brother Li Huowang too."

"Song Shuhang," Su Lin looked toward Song Shuhang nearby: "Let me see if your face hides Transcendent Song underneath."

The chat group fell briefly silent again.

Su Lin's Divine Light avatar was using its semi-god psychologist trait to forcibly calm himself—why, after cultivating Tianwang, was he still not calm?

Because he couldn't tell them apart! He truly couldn't tell them apart!

Could it be that all the Big Bosses in the group are using their main accounts to lurk?!

Meng Qi was already lost in reading, unable to tear himself away—hmm, I'd really like to see his expression when he finds out who his future wife is.

Li Huowang will wait a while; he'll talk to him only after he believes the chat group is real. Otherwise, just knowing certain things could drive one mad. But judging by the current situation, it'll still take time before he truly believes.

That's normal. Su Lin asked himself: if he were in Li Huowang's position, he wouldn't believe it either.

"Even if you peel off my skin, I'm still the Second-Rank True Master Song Shuhang, Senior Su Lin!" Song Shuhang groaned: "I'm truly just a novice cultivator. Even counting time spent cultivating in other worlds and entering special dungeons here, it's been less than two and a half years."

"Heh. One year to transcend," Ye Fan smirked at Song Shuhang: "By the way, I forgot—you mentioned wanting to polish your foundation. Tomorrow I'll help you train."

"Thank you… Elder Ye Fan, but tomorrow I'm going into a dungeon with Yu Rouzi," Song Shuhang politely declined.

"Then the day after," Ye Fan said, tone leaving no room for refusal, still smiling warmly: "Or now."

"Speaking of now, Su Lin, didn't you forget something?" Miss Kelaien reminded.

Su Lin's eyes were vacant; his true body had already hidden itself within a familiar historical fissure.

Just as Song Shuhang was about to argue further with Ye Fan, and Miss Kelaien's true body shattered one glowing patch after another in the historical mist, another teleportation gate ignited nearby.

Su Lin's historical projection also turned toward it—he had just received an application: from Hanyu, requesting entry.

From the blue vortex stepped a striking figure: a girl with long, straight black hair, a princess-style haircut, and straight bangs covering her eyebrows.

She wore a dress heavy with Western elements, pink in color, with a large white bow tied at the chest, and long sleeves that could fully cover her hands.

She looked like a princess from a fairy tale—though every inch of her body was tightly covered, her otherworldly beauty surpassed all dopamine-driven adornments.

Hanyu covered the lower half of her face with her sleeve, observing everyone curiously, her gaze filled with confusion.

"Did I get lost?" She lowered her hand and bowed slightly: "Apologies for the disturbance."

Everyone watched as she walked back into the teleportation gate, then—

Hanyu: "@Master Meng Qi. Luffy, I just applied to enter your world, but why didn't the cross-realm talisman consume any energy? When I got there, the other side seemed to be a group of socialites having late-night snacks?"

Hanyu: "By the way, are minors allowed to drink alcohol freely now?"

Hanyu: 【Image】

It was a photo of several people seated around a stone table under a large tree. Beer bottles and piles of shrimp shells littered the table. Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan was chugging a beer bottle, while Ye Fan pulled at Song Shuhang—their tugging looked like mutual shoving.

Hanyu: "The dead-eyed guy in the middle is distinctive, but I don't recall any such character in One Piece. Did I get the wrong world?"

Luffy: "Ah, aren't those Su Lin and the others? You're having a gathering and didn't invite me?! @Su Lin"

Su Lin: "Sorry about the dead eyes."

Su Lin: "@Luffy, it's overtime work dinner—hardly a gathering."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "How am I a socialite?"

Ye Fan: "Are you saying I'm a minor?"

Himeko of Mount Hōrai: "Huh? Did I really get lost? Sorry for the rudeness just now."

Luffy: "You just said you wanted to come to my world, but I'm in Su Lin's world right now."

Su Lin: "You've applied to be transferred here."

Himeko of Mount Hōrai stood in her room; unlike her breathtaking beauty, the room she was in was extremely messy.

Snack wrappers lay scattered about, empty drink bottles stacked in the pattern of bowling pins to the left of the game controller; the room had no lights on, and these were visible only because of the glow from the TV screen and the computer monitor.

The only thing that looked relatively tidy was the bookshelf of manga and light novels, and right now several copies of One Piece had been taken from the shelf and stacked on the computer desk.

Although her main purpose for hiding was to evade the Lunar Envoys and her enemies, even in seclusion one must cultivate some hobbies.

Besides fighting turkeys, she now had a greater interest in anime; she originally wanted to visit the One Piece world, but who would have thought the person wasn't even in their own world?

Himeko of Mount Hōrai: "Are you all holding an offline meetup of your online group?"

Song Shuhang: "No, we're filming a movie."

Luffy: "Huh? Aren't we testing the simulated universe? @Su Lin, why can't I pull out food with the Light Memorial Coin?"

Xing: "?"

(End of Chapter)