Chapter 1055: Chapter 1055

Chapter 1055: Chapter 82: Spiritual Core

Xiao Jie skillfully started the computer, and the cold light from the screen reflected on his calm, expressionless face. He moved the mouse and clicked on the official website of the game “Old Soil.”

The page loaded, and the dazzling events and announcements instantly filled his vision. He went straight to the “Rewards Claim” section.

The interface expanded, displaying a dazzling array of reward items, each representing a legendary tale or an extraordinary journey within the game world.

Legendary Achievement Rewards: Here displayed are the honors only the top players of the server can reach. Such as [King of Nine Provinces] (the first player to unify Nine States), [Netherworld Conqueror] (solo accumulating ten thousand kills of elite Netherworld units), [God Slayer] (successfully participating in the killing of a Divine), [Legendary Explorer] (the first player to independently explore and map over 50% of the unknown area map)… Completing these legendary achievements not only grants the honor of a full-server announcement but also special titles, exclusive appearances, and legendary equipment with extraordinary attributes from the official.

However, so far, it seems that no one has achieved these types of accomplishments.

Limited-Time Event Rewards: This section mainly records various major event activities the server has experienced.

For example, the epic battle of Beiming State that was participated in before, players involved in these events could receive rich experience, game coins, reputation, and other rewards based on their contribution points.

Hall of Fame Rewards: …

And in the most inconspicuous corner of the page, a line of small gray text that almost blended with the background caught his attention—”Hidden Achievement Rewards.”

Xiao Jie clicked in, and the interface was so simple it was almost plain, with only a solitary input box.

A system prompt appeared calmly: “Please enter your game character name to inquire about any official rewards you can claim.”

Xiao Jie’s slender fingers typed the four characters “Hidden Moon Following Wind” on the keyboard and pressed enter.

After a brief delay, a line of system prompt text quietly appeared, without any dazzling light effects.

“Congratulations, esteemed player ‘Hidden Moon Following Wind.’ You have completed the hidden achievement [Immortal and Mortal Forever Separated]—you are the second player on this server to achieve this supreme accomplishment. As such, a special reward is granted to you: one [‘Spiritual Core’ Holographic Virtual Game Pod]. Please confirm your real address information is correct, our delivery service will ensure the reward is delivered to your location within 24 hours.”

The automatically filled-in address below was clear and correct: Jiangbei City… which was precisely the apartment he was currently in.

His mouse cursor hovered over the “confirm” button, and his fingertips paused slightly, not pressing immediately. The mind of an Immortal was operating at an unprecedented speed, analyzing each possible line of cause and effect.

Beside him, Gu Feiyu caught this hesitation and leaned over curiously: “Jie, the goods are about to be delivered to your door, what are you hesitating for? Hurry up and confirm it!”

Xiao Jie’s gaze did not leave the screen, his voice calm yet carrying a trace of imperceptible gravity: “I’m thinking whether I should take this opportunity to make some preparations.”

“Preparations? What preparations?” Gu Feiyu didn’t react for a moment.

“For example, figuring out how this omnipotent ‘game official’ will actually deliver this reward. What kind of people will they send? What kind of transport will they use? Perhaps… a glimpse into their real presence can be caught.” Xiao Jie’s tone was flat, but the content made Gu Feiyu’s hair stand on end.

“Jie, are you crazy?!” Gu Feiyu almost jumped up, his voice slightly changing due to fear, “Think of that director from the Game Administration Bureau! This is practically… asking for death!”

“I know.” Xiao Jie’s answer remained indifferent, without the slightest fluctuation in emotion. After becoming an Immortal, the fear of the mundane had significantly subsided, replaced by a calmness that transcends the mundane and… curiosity. Now that he possessed the Immortal strength to move mountains and seas, didn’t he at least have the right to observe from afar?

This game, being capable of granting him such great power, must have beings behind it whose level far surpasses ordinary Immortal imagination. At the very least, Xiao Jie admitted that with his current immortal power, he could not understand or even achieve making someone disappear from existence to being completely forgotten, with no trace remaining in reality or on the internet. This power approaches the level of erasing from the rules.

Yet, is it really the time to give up? The other party actively delivering to the door is an unprecedented opportunity to approach the truth. With the capabilities of an Immortal, setting up detection Immortal Laws in advance, concealing form and breath, perhaps a trace could be captured…

Risks and opportunities swayed violently on the scales. Xiao Jie remained silent for a long time, in his deep eyes countless streams of data flowed and flickered. Finally, he let out a light breath, which condensed in the air, as if carrying a hint of helpless weight.

“You’re right.” He slowly said, a hint of melancholy in his tone that even he had not noticed, “Fear arises from the unknown, and the ‘unknown’ level of the other party far exceeds what I can currently probe. To act rashly is akin to an ant trying to stop a chariot.” Achieving the body of an Immortal, he thought he had already stood on the clouds, but now he found he might still be at the bottom of the well. This awareness brought an indescribable sense of loss and… dissatisfaction.

Unless, he can travel further down this road, stepping into that untapped expansion pack, to gain more powerful forces, until becoming a legend among legends, the Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal… This thought flickered, causing his previously steadfast intention to quit the game to waver a little.

For now, set it aside, he thought. Once this matter is over, perhaps the answer will naturally reveal itself. If that Wuming Taoist really seeks something from him, there will surely be a next move. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net

He moved the mouse and lightly clicked “confirm.”

In the ensuing time, Xiao Jie did not log into the game. He merely sat still in his computer chair, unmoving, almost frozen. The body of an Immortal made food and sleep unnecessary for him, even his breathing was so faint as to be almost imperceptible. He lost himself in thought, his consciousness clear and focused, vaguely perceiving subtle changes in the surrounding environment—the hum of electricity, the pulse of signals, and even the low rhythm of the entire city. He sat quietly, yet his thoughts already stretched outwards, reaching further places.

Meanwhile, Gu Feiyu was eagerly beginning his “Immortal Fate Pursuit Plan”. With Xiao Jie’s promise of “resurrection guarantee,” his courage had grown unprecedentedly bold. Equipped with sufficient supplies, he manipulated his game character, resolutely diving into the wild areas on the Nine States map marked with danger symbols, which had never been deeply explored by players.

He specifically chose remote, miasmic primal forests, the snow-capped peaks of extreme cold mountains, and even ancient battlefield ruins where spirits were said to frequently appear. He deliberately operated during the game’s nighttime, believing that during moonless, windy nights with spirits active, would be the best backdrop to encounter “Immortal Fate.”

Seven or eight hours passed in focused exploration in the blink of an eye. In the real world, dawn was breaking, yet Gu Feiyu remained fully concentrated on the screen, his fingers flying rapidly over the keyboard and mouse.

On the screen, his character broke out from an encirclement of Shadow Wolf Spiders, sending out streaks of Thunder Light Spells behind him to barely slow down his pursuers, while he used Qinggong to dash away.

Only after they were a safe distance away did he let out a sigh of relief and wipe the non-existent sweat from his brow.

“Whew… late-night forest excursions are indeed as perilous as rumored.” He exclaimed.

“Why sneak into the mountains at night?” a voice suddenly inquired behind him, causing Gu Feiyu to jump in fright.

“Jie! Damn, you scared me!” Gu Feiyu exclaimed, his voice slightly shifted with fear, “Think of that Game Administration Bureau director! What you’re doing is… sheer madness!”

“I know.” Xiao Jie’s response was still even, betraying no emotional fluctuation. “But shouldn’t there be a chance to prepare for this opportunity that has sought me?”

“Prepare? For what?” asked Gu Feiyu, not yet comprehending.

“Like, figuring out how this all-powerful ‘game official’ will ‘deliver’ the reward. What kind of people will they send over? What transportation will they use? Perhaps… I can glimpse a trace of their real existence.” Xiao Jie’s tone remained calm, but its content instantly made Gu Feiyu’s hair stand on end.

“Jie! Are you crazy?!” Gu Feiyu almost jumped up, his voice altered by fear, “Think about that director from the Game Administration Bureau! This is asking for death!”

“I know.” Xiao Jie’s answer was still indifferent, with no hint of emotional fluctuation. After achieving the Immortal Position, the fear of the mundane had significantly subsided, replaced by a sublime calmness and curiosity… Since he now had the power to move mountains and overturn seas, did he no longer even have the right to observe from afar?

If this game can grant him such great power, the entity behind it must exceed the ordinary Immortal’s imagination by far. At least, he knew that with his current immortal power, he was incapable of understanding or even achieving the erasure of a person’s existence to the point of becoming completely forgotten, with all traces on both reality and the internet disappearing without a trace. Such power approached the realm of rule elimination itself.

But really, should he abandon it ? The other party delivering to the door was an unprecedented opportunity that might bring him closer to the truth. With the ability of an Immortal, by setting up a detection Immortal Law, concealing his breath, perhaps he could capture a glimpse of a clue…

The balance between risk and opportunity swung violently. Xiao Jie remained silent for a long time, his deep eyes flickered with numerous streams of data projection light and shadows, illuminating and fading intermittently. Finally, he let out a gentle sigh, as if the breath held a touch of resignation.

“You’re right.” He said slowly, with a tinge of unrecognized regret in his voice, “Fear arises from the unknown, and the ‘unknown’ level of the other party is far beyond what I can currently fathom. It would be reckless to act rashly. Once I’ve ascended to the Immortal Position, mortal fears have greatly subsided, giving way to a calm beyond the mortal realm and… an insatiable curiosity. Since I already possess the immortal power to move mountains and seas, don’t I even have the qualification to observe from afar?”

The realization brought an indescribable sense of loss and… a smidge of dissatisfaction.

Unless… perhaps, using this opportunity to prepare might be wiser. He could pre-set the Immortal Law to alert or conceal his presence, potentially discovering clues…

Risk and opportunity vehemently teetered on the scales. Xiao Jie remained silent for a long while, countless streams of data-like simulations flickering in and out of existence within his profound gaze. Finally, he exhaled a gentle breath, as if the exhalation bore a hint of resigned weight.

“You’re right,” he said slowly, with a hint of unnoticeable sorrow in his voice, “Fear stems from the unknown, and the ‘unknown’ level of the other party greatly exceeds what I can currently perceive. Acting rashly would be reckless. Once I’ve ascended to the undying legendary status of a Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal… I’ll deal with it then.”

This thought flickered, making his resolve to quit the game, which had been firm, to waver slightly. Indeed, this is an unprecedented, potentially truth-approaching opportunity, willingly delivered by the opposing party. With the powers of an Immortal, setting up detection to observe, concealing his form and presence, perhaps he could capture a trace of evidence…

In a moment of contemplation, the balance between risk and reward oscillated violently. Xiao Jie stood silent for a long time, a flickering play of light and shadow like a stream of data passing in his deep eyes. At last, he exhaled softly, his breath hanging in the air with seemingly a hint of reluctant weight.

“You’re right,” he said slowly, with a hint of yearning even he did not realize. “Fear comes from the unknown, and the ‘unknown’ level we’re dealing with is far beyond what I can currently explore. Acting imprudently might really be just… seeking my own demise.”

Giving up, however, was something he was loath to do. Since the opposing party offered to deliver the reward to his door, this was an unprecedented opportunity to get closer to the truth. Leveraging the power of an Immortal, he could prepare advance detection spells, conceal his presence, and possibly capture some traces of evidence…

The scales of risk and reward tipped violently. Xiao Jie remained speechless for a long time, the deep shadows in his eyes flickering like streams of data, fading in and out unpredictably. Finally, he exhaled lightly, the breath carrying an almost palpable weight of resignation.

“You’re right.” He said slowly, with a hint of an unrecognized longing in his voice, “Fear comes from the unknown, and the ‘unknown’ level of the other party is so far beyond what I can currently perceive. It would be rash to act hastily. Perhaps with time, the truth will reveal itself. If that Wuming Taoist has any plot against me, surely there will be a next move.”

He eventually restrained the urge to release the Immortal Sense to probe his surroundings, simply sitting still in his computer chair as if frozen. His Immortal body required neither food nor sleep, and he became lost in contemplation, keenly aware of every slight change in his environment—the hum of electricity, the pulse of signals, and even the city’s low hum. He sat quietly, as if suspended deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Gu Feiyu eagerly commenced his “Immortal Fate Quest Plan.” With the “Guaranteed Resurrection” promise from Xiao Jie, his courage reached an unprecedented level. Equipped with sufficient supplies, he guided his in-game character to boldly explore the uncharted territories of the Nine States map, places marked with danger symbols, and never deeply investigated by other players.

He specifically chose to operate during the game’s night-time, believing that roaming around in the haunted mountains under the cover of darkness would increase the chances of triggering a hidden event. Fifteen minutes elapsed in this immersive world, and as the game dawn rose, sunlight struggled to pierce the dense poison fog forest. Gu Feiyu remained hyper-focused on the screen, occasionally wiping at nonexistent beads of sweat on his forehead.

Suddenly, a voice behind him broke the night air, startling Gu Feiyu. “Why venture into the mountains at night?” it questioned.

“Jie! Damn, you scared me!” Gu Feiyu exclaimed, his voice slightly changing from fear. “Think about that Game Administration Bureau director! This is practically… a death wish!”

You might be right, Gu.” Xiao features remained fixed on the screen, his voice calm, yet there was an element of undetected intensity: “I am contemplating whether to seize this opportunity to prepare myself.”

“Prepare? For what exactly?” Gu Feiyu was momentarily clueless.

“Like figuring out how this all-powerful ‘game official’ plans to ‘deliver’ the reward. Who are the people they send? What kind of transportation do they use? Perhaps… I can glimpse a trace of their real existence.” Xiao Jie’s tone was calm, but the content sent a chill down Gu Feiyu’s spine.

Gu Feiyu almost jumped, his voice slightly altered by fear, “Jie! Are you mad?!”

He finally held back the impulse to release his Immortal Sense to probe around, letting out a soft sigh, “You’re right.” He said quietly, with a hint of unrecognizable regret, “Fear comes from the unknown, and the opponent’s ‘unknown’ level is far beyond what I can currently fathom. Reckless action would be foolish. If that Wuming Taoist really has designs on me, the next move will inevitably come.”

Unless, with the power of an Immortal, preparing detection spells beforehand and concealing his form, he might be able to capture a clue… The scales of risk and reward swayed intensely. Xiao Jie remained silent for a long time, his deep eyes reflecting countless flickering streams of data. He finally exhaled lightly, the breath hanging in the air seemingly carrying a touch of resigned weight.

Meanwhile, Gu Feiyu had eagerly begun his “Immortal Fate Pursuit Plan.” With Xiao Jie’s promise of “resurrection guarantee,” his courage had grown unprecedentedly bold. Equipped with sufficient supplies, he led his game character into the uncharted wilderness marked on the Nine States map with danger symbols, places unexplored by other players.

He specifically chose to operate during the game’s night-time, thinking that during the blackest nights with active spirits, was the best context for triggering “Immortal Fate.” Seven or eight hours passed in focused exploration, and as dawn broke in the real world, Gu Feiyu remained fully concentrated on the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard and mouse.

On the screen, his character dashed from a circle of grotesque Shadow Wolf Spiders in disarray, firing Thunder Light Spells behind him, barely slowing the pursuit, while using Qinggong and Shrinking Earth Technique to quickly create distance, struggling to escape the pursuit, checking no monsters were around.

He let out a deep breath, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.

“Whoo… Night adventures in the deep mountains and forests are indeed thrilling, almost got taken out.” He murmured to himself, relieved to be a “True Man,” mastering a plethora of supportive Daoist skills, [Bright Light Technique] to disperse darkness, [Path Finding Technique] to avoid getting lost, [Blinding Technique] and [Invisibility Talisman] helped him escape danger multiple times.

He checked the mini-map and found his character had already delved into an unexplored area named [Mist Poison Forest]. The in-game dawn rose, sunlight struggling through the dense mist and canopy, offering a semblance of safety.

“Why did you specifically choose to act at night?” a calm voice suddenly said behind him, causing Gu Feiyu to flinch violently.

“Jie! Damn, you scared the daylights out of me!” He patted his chest in complaint, then immediately became excited again, “You just don’t get it! Finding Immortal Fate is about the serendipity of the moment, often triggered in desperate situations or certain specific scenarios. Like those legendary ancient books, which one isn’t about ‘stumbling into Peach Blossom Land’ or ‘happening upon Immortals playing Chess’? Where’s the story of directly finding it following a map? I believe roaming around the deep mountain forests at night with spirits active is definitely a better backdrop for triggering hidden events! Unfortunately… I haven’t encountered any. Seems it’s not as simple as I thought.”

He paused, a confident glint in his eye: “But no worries, I’ve mapped out eighteen different ‘Encountering Immortal’ environment modules, I’m going to try them one by one, and I bet I’ll hit the jackpot!”

It was then that he noticed Xiao Jie had ended his meditative state, his expression somewhat delicate.

“Huh? You’ve ‘woken up’? Figured it out?”

“The game pod arrived.” Xiao Jie said blandly.

“Huh? When did that happen?” Gu Feiyu was taken aback.

“Just now.” Xiao Jie let out a light sigh. In the end, he restrained the impulse to release his Immortal Sense to probe his surroundings, choosing instead to wait in a mortal way. When the doorbell rang, he instantly rose to open the door, only to find no one outside, just a nearly three-meter-long, simply designed white metal box standing silently in the hallway, as if it had appeared out of thin air.