[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-374":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250223,4069,"Chapter 374: Rule Fate City, Just Going Through the Motions","monsters-are-coming-chapter-374",374,"\u003Cp>Returning to the Colorful Mist Coast, Ming Hou opened his spatial inventory and took a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The originally empty spatial slots were now stuffed with various spiritual resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In order to fit more during this period, he had even performed an expansion upgrade on his spatial inventory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By tripling the spatial capacity, he was finally able to store the wealth of resources given by Ming An and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking out, the topmost spatial slots were packed densely with energy crystals, ranging from fist-sized to head-thick, stacked layer upon layer into separated small mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, there was a box of ghostly blue soul crystals, bearing the imprints left behind when Ming An and the others refined them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Hou casually took one out; a cold sensation traveled to his fingertips, allowing him to clearly perceive the pure spiritual energy flowing within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were originally the wealth accumulated by his fellow villagers, but now they had all become his possessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the heavenly opportunity he offered was something Ming An and his clansmen simply could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he summoned the \"Sacrifice Panel\" and used his consciousness to drag batches of resources from his spatial inventory onto the sacrifice page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the sacrifice profit number at the bottom of the interface began to jump up rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corners of Ming Hou's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wave had completely emptied Ming An and the others' family coffers; even the burning jade pendant around Ming An's waist, representing his status as a Grand Fate Envoy, had been \"borrowed\" by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Flame Lamp lineage's family fortune is indeed substantial.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the number floating on the sacrifice interface settled at 13.9 million Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For resource types without craftsmanship bonuses, the formula for calculating value was roughly between three to ten times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After roughly estimating the value of this batch of resources, Ming Hou closed the sacrifice interface and played a feint on his big brother Di Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also one of the valuation methods commonly used by players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He showed it to big brother Di Zhao but did not click confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he really clicked \"Confirm Sacrifice,\" he would definitely suffer a huge loss; the quote given by big brother Di Zhao was no different from robbery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by selling on the Exchange could the efficiency of converting resources into Sacrificial Power be maximized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming Hou felt that if he could hoard this batch of resources for a while, waiting for the comprehensive combat power of the player faction to achieve a new breakthrough and the demand for high-end resources to rise, the value of these resources could increase further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the Void Origin Stones in the early days, as the players' strength and Sacrificial Power income grew, their value continued to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now was precisely the time to spend money, so they had to be sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Converting resources into strength allowed one to hunt stronger monsters and obtain greater hunting rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Converting resources into the construction of the Fate Gambling City would also bring continuous future benefits to the Fate Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was more like an investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether investing in oneself or in future returns, both were far more reliable than the strategy of \"hoarding goods to wait for price increases.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his mind made up, he began listing resources in batches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Little Mage, who sold in bulk below market price to pursue extreme resource conversion efficiency, Ming Hou listed his resources without rushing to sell, setting them at the current market price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listing all the resources, a total of fourteen minutes had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Pending Sales Amount\" in the bottom right corner reached 53.92 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly every second, the number decreased, and prompts of successful sales from challengers rang out in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the rapidly growing balance of Sacrificial Power, Ming Hou leaned against a reef near the Colorful Mist Coast, letting the sea breeze carrying a salty and damp scent brush against his Iron Face, feeling utterly content in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pending sales amount of 53.92 million; this money might not last long, but it was sufficient for expenses at the current stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling of watching wealth actively flow toward oneself was truly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, waves crashed against the reefs, and the splashing water droplets refracted rainbow colors under the sunlight; Ming Hou gazed at the churning colorful mist, unable to hide the smile on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply closed his eyes, not even blocking the notifications of successful sales, letting the constantly increasing numbers of Sacrificial Power swirl in his mind, like listening to a melodious ballad of wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Profits earned through strength, wisdom, and that little bit of skill in \"going with the flow\" came in quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the resources were given by Ming An and the others, so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn't possessed the vision to see through the opportunities of the minor world at that time, hadn't demonstrated the strength of rule compatibility, and hadn't outlined a blueprint for transcending fate, how could Ming An and the others have been willing to empty their coffers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it plainly, this was exchanging future possibilities for current resources, a transaction so fair it couldn't be any fairer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were betting on the qualification to step onto the Heavenly Path, while he provided the opportunity to guide the way; neither side suffered a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps when Ming An and the others became players, they would think of this batch of resources again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, they might reach out to ask for the money back, hoping to use those resources they had given him to invest in their own novice-stage selves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he would definitely not give them a single penny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he wasn't using all this money himself; the future profits generated by the Fate Gambling City he invested in building would be shared with every player of the Fate Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helping them grow rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, this money should be considered as Ming An and his clansmen investing in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for repayment, that was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the forum players say: Investment carries risks, enter the market with caution, goods and money exchanged, no refunds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they dare to continue demanding it, they should learn about the Divine Punishment Technique: \"Pulling the Network Cable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stationed in reality and controlling the network cable, he was the god of the Fate Clan who wielded the \"Authority of Virtual and Real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Praise Di Zhao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the continuously rising balance of Sacrificial Power, Ming Hou leisurely enjoyed the sea breeze, waiting for the right moment to mature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His balance of Sacrificial Power reached 34.03 million, with most of the resources already successfully sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had finally gathered enough Sacrificial Power for the cost of fusing the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Little Mage and the Director of the Kindergarten, who used defective rules to fuse and create Fate Souls,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>what he held was a complete rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although there was no need to spend on completing defects, and the rule strength was only at the ordinary rule level, the fusion alone required an expenditure of 33.98 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ming Hou felt this expense was absolutely worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having suffered bitterness in the past, he clearly understood what fusing rules meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not something that could be measured by the amount of resources; the core lay in the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like someone holding a mountain of gold resources yet unable to even touch the edge of the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whereas for racial forces like the Black Black Tide, even the weakest Evil Spirit Warrior could easily open the door to using top-tier rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanting to reshape rules, even if their entire Fate Clan invested all the wealth accumulated over long years into it, they would still be unable to achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a player, one could easily complete it by spending 33.98 million Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't even need to lift a finger throughout the entire process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also one of the hidden benefits of being a player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he turned his head to look at the Guiding Water Sphere floating beside him, pressed his finger to the center of his forehead, bowed slightly, and said respectfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Guide, are you there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Go ahead.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guide slowly opened his eyes, still maintaining an impatient demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Guide, I have gathered enough Sacrificial Power; I trouble you, elder, to make your move and help me fuse and refine the Game Space Rule and the Fate Rule Derivative Imprint I carry into a special Fate Soul.\" Ming Hou's tone became even more respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guide did not answer but manifested a phantom arm, raising it to grab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the Fate Rule Derivative Imprint on Ming Hou's body and the Game Space Rule in his backpack inventory were extracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the guidance of the Guide's consciousness, the two masses of rules intertwined and collided in mid-air, spreading out ripples of fluctuation in circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fusion of two completely different absolute logics was a miracle that Ming Hou had once been unable to imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing he knew was that a faction called the Blue Lamp Clan possessed the terrifying ability to devour rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the method used by the Blue Lamp Clan was devouring; essentially, it extracted the absolute logical energy within the rules and fed it to the \"Divine Lamp Rule\" controlled by the Blue Lamp Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the devouring process, a large amount of rule efficacy would be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the framework bearing the rule energy, which was also a part that could not be absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also the reason why the remaining rule fragments in the Adventurer Dungeon would be distributed as rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most famous case was when a player team sold a defective rule fragment named \"March of the Dead\" for the ultra-low price of eight hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This largest Exchange loss case since the server launched remained one of the jokes among forum players to this day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whereas the Guide's rule fusion, in terms of technical level compared to the Blue Lamp Clan's rule devouring, was entirely on another dimension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like trying to pack water and fire into the same bottle, allowing light and darkness to coexist in fusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difficulty coefficient was not on the same level at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Guide initiated the fusion process, Ming Hou focused his entire attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once touched the realm of the Demigod and witnessed many strange sceneries in the Monster World, but the sight before him of two absolute logics mutually deconstructing, reorganizing, and fusing was a spectacle he had never seen in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, floating on his left was the Fate Rule Derivative Imprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its surface flowed with a silver galaxy, where countless silver threads tangled and wove together; each thread represented a fate trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the right was the Game Space Rule, shaped like a polyhedral Rubik's cube, with each facet reflecting different virtual scenes, while pixelated data streams poured down like waterfalls within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guide's finger traced across the boundary between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the fate silver flames and the data torrent bit and devoured each other, like two trapped beasts yielding to neither; every collision exploded with dazzling rule sparks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ming Hou discovered that the number of Sacrificial Power in his balance column began to decrease crazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>32.03 million, 28 million, 21 million... Every second, nearly a million Sacrificial Power turned into substantial scarlet flames, gushing out from the void to envelop the two masses of rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Sacrificial Power acted like an accelerant for the rules, with flame-shaped energy carrying the aura of rules constantly striking the framework barriers of the two rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fate-Derived Brand melted into silver liquid the next second, unfurling within the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the seven-colored streamers blooming from the Game Space Rules began to boil under the scorching fire, their melting speed slowing considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast majority of the scarlet flames also poured onto the Game Space Rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those points of light representing rule nodes danced violently within the scarlet fire, as if struggling to break free from the constraints of their own forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the scarlet flames suddenly tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver liquid suddenly pierced into the core of the Game Space Rules, while the seven-colored streamers surged back along the brand’s patterns in a furious counterattack; the essences of the two rules rapidly merged within the scarlet fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rule information of Fate and the rule information of the Game Space continuously combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sacrificial Power consumption also broke through twenty million at this moment, bringing the fusion to its most critical instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver and seven colors suddenly erupted with blinding light simultaneously, condensing within the scarlet fire into a rotating energy cocoon; fate patterns and rule runes related to the Game Space constantly emerged on the cocoon's surface, only to be swiftly annihilated and reshaped by the burning flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Ming Hou clearly saw tiny specks of silver light drifting out from the cocoon, captured by the seven-colored streamers and transformed into brand-new rule runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the trajectory of the Fate Rules had suddenly sprouted multiple branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the scarlet flames abruptly extinguished, the rule cocoon cracked with a \"click,\" and a fist-sized Soul Brand slowly hovered in mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outer layer of Fate was a flowing seven-colored halo, as if wrapping countless miniature spaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner layer consisted of silver-blue fate veins, penetrating the entire halo like a spiderweb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brother Ming Hou extended his hand, and the Soul Brand automatically fell into his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the perception of the Eagle-Headed Demon, he could clearly see the two rules coexisting perfectly within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, this was already a brand-new rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, a Challenger Notification rang in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Challenger Notification: Obtained Special Soul Brand (Unnamed).]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Special Soul Brand: Unnamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soul Brand Introduction: Can generate rule-derived energy by engaging in equivalent games of chance with targets; regardless of victory or defeat in the game, acquire 6% of the opponent's chips as a Fate Gift. Alternatively, obtain rule-derived outputs through specific game mechanics, such as the built-in card game of chance, the Maze of Destiny, the Probability Battlefield, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the rule introduction, excitement was unmistakable in Brother Ming Hou's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Special Soul Brand in his hand fit his needs even better than the method of using Fate Rules he had originally conceived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fate Casino he had previously envisioned offered only one type of gameplay: an equivalent game of chance similar to comparing dice rolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides relied entirely on luck to determine the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this rule, future gameplay in the Fate Casino could flourish in a hundred ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adding various strategic games of chance would ensure that every guest entering the Fate Casino could find their preferred style of wagering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides relying on luck, one could also rely on strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what, as the house, aside from the initial investment in attracting customers, he would always make a steady profit without risk of loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he encountered a high-rolling client, he would simply deploy his own technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the aid of a Fortune-type Soul Brand, he could not imagine any way he could possibly lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Soul Brand's name, he summoned the Soul Brand Analysis Interface and used his consciousness to input three characters into the \"Unnamed\" field: Fate City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the naming was complete, a channel-wide notification rang in the minds of all players:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Challenger Notification (Channel-Wide): Congratulations to player \"Throat of Defying Fate\" for obtaining the Special Soul Brand: Fate City.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This notification immediately caused the player forum to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players capable of creating Special Soul Brands were invariably heavyweights within the player faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, the ID appearing in the notification was no stranger to the forum players, who had previously engaged in heated discussions about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than the strongest novice, known as the \"Cheater Bro,\" who had steadily held the first place spot in the latest novice leveling event: Throat of Defying Fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, many guilds had wanted to recruit him, but Throat of Defying Fate had kept his shield Cultivation Mode active the entire time, making it impossible for the major guilds to establish contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one expected that the Cheater Bro, who topped the novice rankings this round, had done it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had actually accomplished a feat many veteran players failed to achieve, forging a special rule entirely his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forum players were curiously asking how this Cheater Bro had managed to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wondered if there were any guides or video shares available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, Brother Ming Hou clearly had no intention of sharing his joy; upon seeing the bullet comments sent by his clansmen, he immediately logged off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thirty-nine clansmen who had helped him secure the Game Space Rules had all descended to Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His clansmen had already connected with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After logging off, Brother Ming Hou decisively used the communication device provided by the Star Net to attempt contact with the Star Net.\u003C\u002Fp>",2874,"2026-06-19T09:20:37.851Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4f9fe052882e37517cdfcfa873e404b7f4a9b05ae6b06c11ba66a32f27359bd5","monsters-are-coming-chapter-375","monsters-are-coming-chapter-373",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]