Anyway, since he had nothing better to do, Lin Xian simply wasted another precious three minutes to browse his game’s official website again.
The official website looked even more refined.
Honestly, just the speed at which updated its official site…
It almost felt like watching a cyber-raising game.
Those two promotional images for the game—Lin Xian still liked them.
But after the confusion of the night passed, he no longer felt that rush of excitement.
“Probably some set photo from a film crew. How can any game now create a style with 100% realism?”
Lin Xian glanced at it, then closed the webpage without a trace of hesitation.
A few hours later.
Lin Xian opened the website again, then closed it.
Another few hours passed, open, close.
Open, close.
In the middle of the night, unable to sleep, Lin Xian crawled out of bed again.
He ruffled his bedhead, face expressionless.
“Seriously, Lin Xian, you’re bound to fall into the pit of virtual reality games sooner or later!”
He cursed himself fiercely.
Then, decisively turned on his computer, filled out the closed beta application, and paid by scanning the code!
When the pop-up [Reservation Successful: 3] appeared, Lin Xian let out a long breath.
Because had provided a distant view promotional image.
During the day, Lin Xian had deliberately researched film crews that shot Western fantasy dramas and short films in similar terrains.
He confirmed that none of the scenes matched ‘ promotional image.
After all, when people look at Western fantasy worlds, they’re drawn to the dazzling realms of swords and magic.
Who would specifically shoot a gray wasteland with no tragic battlefield or strange landscape?
Lin Xian comforted himself—at least the two promotional images were made by the game company, and you could see their sincerity.
99 yuan wasn’t expensive, either.
And with his recent video income doing well, sparing some money for a closed beta slot wasn’t a problem.
Originally, Lin Xian thought he was the only fool.
But realizing there were two others just as foolish, who also paid the 99 registration fee!
That feeling of being ripped off in his heart disappeared quite a bit.
Finally, he glanced at the registration deadline, which had one day left, and Lin Xian climbed into bed feeling relaxed.
At last, a night of good dreams.
***
Aeltia Continent.
Due to monsters and pursuing soldiers along the way, Leaf Zhi and Edegar traveled for two days and nights before reaching the Giant Oak Forest.
Since the Godfall War six hundred years ago…
The gods fell, the world’s laws went out of control.
Monsters with immense power, acting only on instinct, appeared and gradually encroached on the territories of various races.
The thousand-mile jungle composed of forests, swamps, and hills—the Giant Oak Forest—was one of the territories completely overtaken by monsters.
Around the forest, the Yoan Kingdom and Erisir Principality erected tall city walls.
To fend off the monsters’ occasional “outbursts”.
Inside the Giant Oak Forest, however.
It had become a wild jungle where, apart from adventurers and a few naïve nobles, no one would set foot.
Only in such places could unclaimed Magic Nodes possibly appear.
After another half a day.
Edegar finally found a spot on the forest outskirts that met Leaf Zhi’s requirements.
Amidst the dark trees stood dozens of dilapidated houses made of wood and earth.
Trees breaking through ruined walls, dried-up wells filled with mud and sand, roads buried underground…
Clearly.
This was a city completely destroyed by a Monster Tide.
Hundreds of years ago, the Giant Oak Forest wasn’t nearly as vast as it is now.
With monsters expanding their territory and trees growing wild without human intervention, towns along the way were naturally “devoured”.
About four hundred years ago, Leaf Zhi had even been here.
The town had a decent population flow, and wasn’t even considered a border city of the Yoan Kingdom.
Leaf Zhi vaguely remembered the town’s name was Sweetwater Town.
The reason was the abundance of fruit trees in the Wolensi Mountains.
Every autumn, various ripe fruits would fall into the Wolinde River, and by the time the water flowed to Sweetwater Town, it was sweet.
Leaf Zhi lay on Edegar’s back, looking around and nodding.
“Not bad. There’s a river, fields, and endless trees to chop—perfect as a player’s starting point!”
Plus, the mana flow nearby was gentle—clearly indicating the presence of a Magic Node!
Leaf Zhi’s recovery problem could also be solved!
Then, rubbing his chin, he pondered: “But the houses are too broken—guess they’ll have to be torn down and rebuilt…”
“Whatever, players don’t actually have to sleep in Aeltia anyway, so this flaw isn’t an issue!”
Leaf Zhi was very satisfied!
Edegar, helpless, carried the Undead on his back:
“Since you’ve found the Magic Node, can’t you walk on your own now?”
Leaf Zhi looked shocked: “You actually want a wounded person, nearly dead after two days, to walk by themselves—have you no sympathy?”
“Shocking! The former Dawn Knight does this after betraying the Church!”
Black lines spread across Edegar’s forehead: “You’d better have some awareness of your own weight!”
Although Leaf Zhi was a skeleton, without flesh or fat.
His bones had undergone alchemical modification and were denser than mithril!
Carrying one Leaf Zhi was more exhausting than ten fully armed Knights for Edegar!
He had carried the other for two days—it was kindness beyond duty!
Edegar wasn’t unfamiliar with Undead.
Upon reaching the Magic Node, even if Leaf Zhi’s injuries didn’t instantly heal, at least temporary suppression was possible.
Undead didn’t feel physical pain—they could walk on their own!
Realizing he couldn’t bluff his way anymore, the Soulfire in Leaf Zhi’s eye sockets flickered, as if in regret.
The convenient transport had reached its expiration.
Leaf Zhi slowly got down and continued exploring Sweetwater Town with Edegar.
It seemed quite some time had passed since Sweetwater Town’s destruction.
None of the houses they passed had more than half their structure intact.
Having a single remaining wall counted as well preserved.
The only building with a ceiling still standing was the church at the town’s center.
Seeing the dilapidated yet still sacred church, weathered by time, Leaf Zhi clicked his tongue.
Edegar frowned: “Another church.”
“This is just how people in this world treat the God. We have to get used to it.”
Leaf Zhi had seen too many cities destroyed like this—he was already numb.
“I bet building this church cost more than half of Sweetwater Town’s funds!”
Edegar said nothing.
He had no interest in a bet he’d lose.
He grew up in the Bright Church and understood the madness of believers all too well.
They really would donate themselves into bankruptcy, just to add another golden spire to a church.
Leaf Zhi stretched.
“Come on, let’s see which God was so lucky to find a group of faithful willing to die to stop monsters from entering the church.”
Creak—
The long-sealed door opened, sending down a cloud of dust.
In the center of the hall, an ivory-white goddess statue glowed with rainbow light under the broken stained glass overhead.
Leaf Zhi stared in surprise at the emblem in the statue’s palm.
“Well, what a familiar face!”
Edegar’s gaze was complicated: “Light God……”