Chapter 346: A Gamble Betting on the Future

The idea took root in his heart, growing uncontrollably and wildly.

Ming Hou felt this plan was entirely feasible.

According to information on the Star Net, high-dimensional deities only recruited players within the tiny world of Earth.

However, there were no requirements regarding a being's life structure, racial abilities, or strength level.

Whether carbon-based or silicon-based life, whether flesh and blood or an energy conglomerate, as long as one was within Earth's physical territory and possessed an identity number bound to the Earth Alliance, one could apply through the Monster World official website to obtain player qualification.

Therefore, theoretically, by joining the Earth Alliance family in the capacity of a descending clan, he could enjoy equal rights after obtaining an identity code.

This thought made Ming Hou's heart (his Fate Core) pound.

He had never imagined that an opportunity countless races dreamed of could be obtained in this small world through a loophole.

If successful, he would gain the power and authority bestowed by the high-dimensional deities.

The Fate Soul Repository, Territory Rules, the Player Mall, immortality... along with various powerful functions still being rolled out.

In comparison, his own Fate Clan relied on nothing but the Rules of Fate.

Even exchanging his Demi-God realm cultivation for this was worth it.

One side was weak in the early stages but possessed a future of infinite possibilities.

The other was a Demi-God realm expert, yet still struggled to survive in the Monster World.

Which was stronger and which was weaker was obvious; the player faction representing the future held far more potential.

The two could not even be compared on the same dimension; the gap in mechanisms across all aspects was simply too vast.

However, the Earth Alliance always accepted members in the form of entire clans; relying on himself alone, his strength might suffice, but his clan's scale clearly did not.

Negotiating from a standpoint of strength had a high probability of failing.

At that time, what he would Iron Face might be the Star Net itself.

Although it was merely an intelligent life form created by others, behind it stood the high-dimensional deities.

Trying to negotiate with strength would be nothing short of a death wish.

He needed to return immediately and lead a group of his clansmen here.

But here lay another problem.

How could he make his clansmen willingly follow him to Earth, settle there permanently, and become residents of this place?

Directly revealing the truth was undoubtedly the most straightforward method.

Clansmen who knew the truth would not even need his request; they would decisively agree, even willing to abandon the strength they had worked so hard to cultivate.

But the problem was that the will of the high-dimensional deities did not allow Earth's secrets to be spread externally.

Was there a possibility that his act of informing his clansmen would anger the high-dimensional deities?

There existed enormous risk here.

One wrong step, and instead of becoming a player, he would drag the entire Fate Clan into paying the price for his erroneous actions.

Becoming a player was indeed stepping onto a heavenly path.

But right now, he stood at a dangerous crossroads, and how he chose was crucial.

Every choice could trigger a chain reaction.

The will of the high-dimensional deities was hard to fathom, but one thing was certain: any attempt to leak Earth's secrets could invite devastating strikes.

Amidst the surging thoughts, Ming Hou thought of a method.

Perhaps he could use a "Fate Revelation" to explain things to his clansmen.

As a Fate Apostle, the Fate Clan believed: everything was arranged by Fate.

And a Fate Revelation was a concrete guidance given to the Fate Clan by the Rules of Fate.

In the entire history of the Fate Clan, this had only occurred once.

It was when the previous Grand Fate Lord was deciding the future direction that he received a Fate Revelation.

Guided by the revelation, the Fate Clan migrated their entire race from their resource-exhausted homeland world, descended into the Monster World, and embarked on the path to climb to the peak.

During that period, the Fate Clan clashed with various descending forces from the Pale Continent.

The Grand Fate Lord also perished during that phase.

The new Grand Fate Lord inherited the predecessor's last wishes and brought the Fate Clan to heights never before reached.

But aside from the previous Grand Fate Lord, no other member of the Fate Clan had ever received a Fate Revelation.

Therefore, he could completely pretend to have received a revelation from the Rules of Fate, telling his clansmen that he had discovered a path to a higher level.

This would guide his clansmen to believe that migrating to Earth was the arrangement of Fate.

Once they obtained their Earth Alliance identities, the problems and risks would cease to exist.

By that time, if the high-dimensional deities had not descended divine punishment, it would mean they tacitly approved their entry.

Becoming a player meant that from then on, they would be war pieces in the hands of the high-dimensional deities, considered part of the high-dimensional deity system.

There would be no need to worry about his clansmen knowing the truth.

A bold plan gradually took shape in his mind.

"Let's do it this way."

With his decision made, Ming Hou slammed the bone staff in his hand fiercely onto the ground.

But this strike did not pierce the floor; instead, it raised rippling waves that spread across the floor, as invisible energy began to tear space, generating a twisted spatial rift.

Ming Hou took one last look at the sleeping orange cat and the white-haired girl in the game pod, then his form turned into a black gale of deadly wind and drilled into the spatial rift.

Pale Star Continent, Throat-Splitting Valley (Deadly Wind Valley).

This place had once been the clan grounds of the Fate Clan, a piece of origin land they had brought from their homeland world.

A gamble between the current Grand Fate Lord and a Ni Chao deity back then had resulted in the Fate Clan being sealed underground.

It was only recently that they were completely unsealed.

And this piece of origin land from their homeland world had long since belonged to the Ni Chao Legion and been renamed: Throat-Splitting Valley.

A Phase Five training camp of the Ni Chao Legion was stationed right here.

Regarding this outcome, Ming Hou, like the other members of the Fate Clan, had chosen to accept their fate.

This was the price they paid for losing their gamble, and also the choice given by Fate.

At this moment, Ming Hou, transformed into a gale of deadly wind, burst out of the spatial rift, shooting straight into the earth until he reached three thousand meters deep underground.

The instant the deadly wind broke through the rock layers, a silver-gray light flooded Ming Hou's vision like a Black Tide.

Thousands of pure white Pillars of Fate rose from the ground, their bodies wrapped in flowing silver mist, weaving together into a massive three-dimensional star map within the underground space.

Suspended atop each pillar was a crystallized star, illuminating the entire underground space as bright as day.

On the periphery of the clan grounds, twelve arched bridges extended outward.

The bridge bodies were woven from semi-transparent energy threads; with every step upward, water-like ripples would spread.

On both sides of the bridge surface stood huge mirror structures, but what they reflected was not reality, but all the branches of fate choices in the history of the Fate Clan.

Crossing the great bridge, Ming Hou looked up at the dome of the underground space.

There hovered an inverted silver city; this was the miniature version of the Fate Clan's homeland world, and also their new clan grounds now.

Star sand poured down from the bottom of the city like a waterfall, turning into points of light that rose again before hitting the ground, forming an endless cycle of light here.

Whoosh!

Ming Hou's body of deadly wind swept past the star sand waterfall, startling a flock of "Fate Observers" resting within the light curtain.

These creatures, shaped like silver cranes, spread their semi-transparent wings; they were concrete manifestations of rule-derived energy created by the Grand Fate Lord, responsible for recording the fate fluctuations in every corner of the clan grounds.

Just as he was preparing to head to the Fate Hall, a voice sounded beside his ear:

"Ming Hou!"

An aged voice echoed through the underground space.

On one side of the inverted city, a silver mirror flipped, revealing the blurry figure of the Grand Fate Lord.

He sat endways on a throne cast from energy derived from the Rules of Fate.

Hovering in the palm of his hand was the origin of the Rules of Fate: a cube-shaped Rubik's cube.

"Grand Fate Lord, I have returned."

Ming Hou bowed respectfully, then raised his hand to tap the position between his eyebrows as a sign of reverence.

Although he was one of the twelve Fate Lords of the Fate Clan, he and the Grand Fate Lord were not born in the same era.

The Grand Fate Lord came from the homeland world and was one of the pioneers who followed the previous Grand Fate Lord to migrate to the Monster World back then.

As for him, he was born in the Monster World and had never seen the homeland with his own eyes.

In his eyes, the current Grand Fate Lord was both a leader and an elder and teacher.

"It seems you have given up on reclaiming the Fate chips."

The Rules of Fate in the Grand Fate Lord's hand rotated slowly:

"Then, has this return decided that you will completely submit to the arrangement of Fate?"

The expression on Ming Hou's silver mist mask shifted, finally settling on a serious look:

"Grand Fate Lord, I request to convene the Tianming Pavilion Council."

The Tianming Pavilion Council was the highest-level meeting of the Fate Clan, discussing major events that would affect the future development direction of the Fate Clan.

Hearing these words, the Grand Fate Lord appeared somewhat surprised.

The blurry Iron Face looked deeply at Ming Hou through the mirror surface, then slowly nodded:

"It seems you have made a major discovery; then let it be as you wish."

Without asking for reasons, the Grand Fate Lord chose to trust Ming Hou's judgment.

With the Great Fate Lord nodding in assent, the entire underground space suddenly trembled.

Thousands of Pillars of Fate simultaneously ignited with silver radiance, the crystalline stars atop them pulsing like breathing.

A waterfall of star sand surged upward, forming a brilliant galaxy scene across the dome.

Dong~!

A distant bell toll echoed from the depths of the inverted city; the mirror bodies on the twelve arch bridges simultaneously turned toward the center, their surfaces rippling with wave-like patterns of light.

The Observers roosting within the light screens beat their wings in unison, their silver feathers weaving an ancient Fate Rune in the air.

"The Fate Lords return to their posts."

The Great Fate Lord's voice reverberated through the clan grounds, after which the Rules of Fate in his hand automatically decomposed, transforming into twelve streaks of flowing light that flew off in various directions.

One of these streaks landed in Ming Hou's hand, becoming a silver token engraved with an image of the Homeland World.

Space quivered, and twelve jade platforms manifested in the air, arranged in a ring.

Each jade platform was carved with a totem of a different branch.

The totem for Ming Hou's lineage was a creature from the Homeland World called the "Dragon Sparrow."

Just then, the jade platform representing the Great Fate Lord condensed at the center, above which a scroll phantom resembling parchment slowly unfurled.

This was the "Book of Heavenly Mandate," recording the history of the Fate Clan.

Every proceeding of the Fate Clan's Heavenly Mandate Council was recorded in detail within it.

Eleven spatial rifts subsequently appeared in the sky.

Summoned by the Great Fate Lord, the Fate Lords of other branches descended across space, appearing one after another upon the jade platforms.

There was an elderly man with white hair holding an astrolabe, a cultivator appearing as a youth carrying a giant coffin on his back, and a hazy figure shrouded in misty light... they all wore silver masks, with a sigil representing the Fate Lord flashing between their brows.

These differences in appearance were related to the structural framework of the Fate Clan.

Every member of the Fate Clan was a gambling merchant wandering the outside world.

Differences in the information and environments they encountered meant that different branches of the Fate Clan, and even clansmen of the same lineage, would have completely different attire.

At this moment, Ming Hou took a deep breath and flew to his own jade platform.

The instant he stepped onto the platform, the totem beneath his feet lit up, sending a pillar of light shooting into the sky to connect with the galaxy above.

The figure of the Great Fate Lord also appeared shortly after on the central jade platform.

With a sweep of his sleeve, the Book of Heavenly Mandate moved without wind, causing countless golden characters to float up from the scroll and form a long scroll of the Fate Clan's history in the air.

"Since the conclusion of the last Heavenly Mandate Council, 394 star-orbit cycles have passed." The Great Fate Lord's voice carried the weight of crossing history; after sweeping his gaze over the assembled Fate Lords, he continued:

"Today we reopen the council; I hope all Fate Lords will remember the admonitions of our ancestors and decide the clan's fortune with caution."

All the Fate Lords simultaneously nodded and raised their hands; twelve beams of silver light converged in the air, ultimately transforming into a huge phantom of a Fate Disk that slowly rotated above everyone's heads.

Ming Hou felt the surging power of fate within his body, knowing that every word he spoke next could alter the future of the entire clan.

At this moment, the Great Fate Lord cast his gaze over:

"This council was initiated by Ming Hou of the Dragon Sparrow lineage; next, he will explain the specific situation."

Hearing this, Ming Hou nodded; what he should say, he had already planned on his way here.

He spoke then in a deep voice:

"Fellow Fate Lords, I have received a revelation from Fate and witnessed an entirely new path for our clan's fortune."

The Fate Lords of various lineages on the jade platforms remained motionless, but the ripples of energy dissipating from their bodies revealed the shock within their hearts.

"A revelation from Fate has appeared again?!" The Fate Lord carrying the giant coffin sounded somewhat incredulous, then hurriedly pressed:

"What revelation exactly did Fate give you?"

"To relocate the entire clan and settle in a minor world."

"What minor world?"

"A world without spiritual energy, where almost no spiritual resources can be found; the types of energy in the air are also extremely scarce, with the content of spiritual energy equivalent to none..."

After hearing Ming Hou's account, the white-haired Fate Lord could not help but frown:

"What value could such a world possibly hold? After our clan regained vitality upon arriving in the Monster World, are we to enter a cage once more?"

"Well said; do you know what doing so implies? Our clan will completely lose its future..."

The Great Fate Lord raised his hand to halt the commotion:

"Ming Hou, are there any specific omens accompanying this revelation?"

The expression on Ming Hou's mask shifted rapidly.

He understood that any terms regarding players, high-dimensional gods, or the like at this moment could trigger unpredictable consequences.

After cautiously reciting it once in his heart, he spoke:

"I perceived a fleeting starlight in the long river of fate; I saw our clansmen gaining new life in that desolate minor world, but know nothing else."

On the right, the hazy figure shrouded in misty light let out a laugh:

"Little Twelve, having just broken your seal to go out, you've actually learned to speak in riddles?" Then shaking his head, he said:

"I believe this decision is improper; by logic, a revelation from Fate should lead our clan toward glory, so how could it guide us in reverse? It is likely that Little Twelve has recently suffered backlash from fate, causing some unknown illusion that led to an error in judgment."

"I agree with Ming Shi's thoughts; Little Twelve is likely to have fallen for some faction's illusionary arts while exploring outside; how could a revelation from Fate be so careless?"

Facing Ming Hou's proposal, the other eleven Fate Lords all held opposing views.

Such was indeed the reality.

The minor world described by Ming Hou was desolate, with thin spiritual energy and scarce resources; it was fundamentally impossible for it to bring any developmental opportunities to the Fate Clan.

The Fate Lords present were veterans who had experienced countless games of fate; to them, such a proposal seemed utterly absurd.

No matter how one analyzed it, one could not see what this world could bring to the Fate Clan.

The most probable outcome would be that each generation of the Fate Clan would be worse than the last.

Until they were completely trapped in the quagmire of the minor world, unable to break free ever again.