Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 380 - 025. Return to the Source

Chapter 380: 025. Return to the Source

Rules are dead, people are alive.

Li Aozi felt that after his spiritual power awakened, his mind became exceptionally sharp, and his perspective broadened significantly.

In the past, he would have thought of using his [Charm] and acting skills to interact more with students and teachers, keep a low profile, and work hard in his studies, ensuring that "Li Aozi is just an average spellcaster" would not be revealed.

But now, Li Aozi’s perspective changed significantly.

Efficiency.

The most efficient way was not to act and waste time but to directly change one’s aptitude, physically alter one’s talent.

Perform? Nonsense, I was a genius all along, just changed species.

Originally, Li Aozi planned to first acquire the Perpetual Specialization, then slowly wait and study, and after a year, stabilize and transition to [Star Realm Echoer], then advance to Gamma Rank.

This was relatively safe.

But Li Aozi suddenly realized: Why wait to advance to Gamma Rank?

Why can’t I use Gamma Rank power to complete the transition task?

Although it was just a change in order, it immediately provided a different approach to the problem.

On Azure Star, this was impossible, but it was different in the universe.

"Now, I have the identity of interstellar civilization, and joining a legal civilization is very easy. I can pull off some clever maneuvers."

His eyes gradually emitted a blue glow, and a thought flashed in his mind, causing him to speak out subconsciously:

"First go to the [Temple of Obliteration], sell the Spirit Maggots, then turn around and join the [Empire of Heralds]. Interaction between the two Narrative-Level Civilizations is quite frequent, especially since their currencies are interchangeable. I can directly take an interstellar flight over."

"At [Empire of Heralds], I can first try to transition to [Echoer], if successful—what’s there to worry about?"

"With this plan, I estimate it will take less than half a month. I’ll be back just in time to meet the players. Stay on Baizhu Star for a year, obtain the specialty, and then go back to [Empire of Heralds], report the matter of Lord Entropy, and get it resolved quickly."

After all, nationality change was something Li Aozi was adept at.

"Efficiency, efficiency."

Li Aozi’s eyes glowed with a slight blue hue as he muttered:

"I only awakened spiritual power, unexpected how much my thinking broadened—it’s true, I was limited by fixed thinking before."

This wasn’t a game; there were no version limitations.

If merged with Implant Gear, Li Aozi’s two secondary professions, [Biochemist] and [Magician], were both strong [Fine Artistry] mages with [Intelligence] as their main attribute.

Besides having [Perpetual Love Hunting] and [Unilateral Action], upon reaching space, he also acquired the effect of the [Pioneering the Future] title, increasing [Intelligence] gain by 20%.

As a result, once the Implant Gear was merged, Li Aozi’s Intelligence gain would be (84+8.4) × 120% = 110.8 points.

And by merging the Implant Gear, removing the negative effect of [Idle Hands], [Charm] gain would become (12+99) × 130% = 113.2 points.

Li Aozi looked at the list of Arcane Energy he possessed:

As luck would have it, he did have an arcane energy with both [Intelligence] and [Charm] dual benefits, and of not low grade.

Sequence 77: [Calamity]!

[Calamity Perception]: Omega Level (Omega, the final Greek letter) Arcane Energy, with dual benefits of [Will] and [Charm].

Li Aozi’s [Will] had already been converted into [Intelligence], so the final benefit was also the value of [Intelligence].

The difference in [Intelligence] and [Will] during judgment was minimal, but in reality, the difference was vast.

[Will] provided various resilient qualities and strong mental resistance, while [Intelligence] provided sharp thinking and a broad perspective, which were both screened out in the game.

But Li Aozi did not need their additional value right now.

Because the value judgment enjoyed was the same.

Li Aozi’s heart stirred.

"[Sequence 77: Calamity], regardless, is a sequential arcane energy. With my values, combining [Charm] and [Intelligence], the total reached 224 points. The destructive power of this arcane energy... probably approached Delta Rank?"

This wasn’t good; Li Aozi, a technically skilled player, now became an overpowered numerical monstrosity.

No techniques, just pure stats, all his abilities now driven by numbers.

Moreover, his path was of the Blood Demon Style, maximizing survivability.

"Player experience granted me foresight but also limited my imagination."

Li Aozi took a deep breath:

"Alright then, merge with the implant gear, charge ahead directly, if fast, I could advance to Gamma Rank within six days."

Even if the transition failed, visiting a Narrative-Level Civilization at least allowed him to cash out Spirit Maggots, acquiring a substantial amount of startup capital.

At worst... he could hire mercenaries with money by then.

"It’s really strange... My intelligence attribute hasn’t changed, yet I’ve become forgetful. So why has my thinking pattern expanded this much?"

Li Aozi slightly frowned.

He vaguely sensed something amiss, but since the system logs were fine, he could only attribute the changes to the influence of spiritual power.

"Looks like I need to increase some training in spiritual power."

In summary, Qiqiao Network had too many things screened out for players.

Li Aozi shook his head, controlling himself not to think in that direction.

As for the players’ side, he chose to trust the people of reality, because that was where he came from.

No matter the intentions behind players and the real world, his experience suggested that most players were fighting for the peace of the Starry Abyss Cosmos.

Players and Abyssal Locals, indeed, had differences.

The biggest difference was in the source motivation.

Players played for enjoyment, while residents of Starry Abyss mostly aspired to ascend to godhood.

Universes deep down knew that mastering pathways allowed control over the cohesion of all transcendents on that path.

Every pathway was a path to divinity, not a secret but common knowledge.

Narrative-Level Civilizations could mass-produce some ’deities,’ at best serving as large-scale weapons or production units.

Personal ascension to godhood, however, resulted in truly free deities.

The former resembled high-ranking corporate employees with no stock dividends, losing status and income upon ceasing labor.

But the latter were emperors, capitalists, or popes; as deities of a pathway, they possessed free will, and as long as their pathways existed, the more followers they had, the stronger they became, even surpassing the world.

Even if the pathway construction fell apart, they could retire gracefully, becoming nearly immortal longevity breeds, without needing to heed narrative-level faces, easily retreating even if societal conflict arose.

Furthermore, betraying the Starry Abyss while retaining followers of their pathways still allowed them to live prosperously.

No one could refuse such temptation. Besides, this history had just passed recently.

Indeed, some Chief Gods of pathways had practiced these.

According to Li Aozi’s understanding, the former [Raiding] system’s Chief God—[Soul of Plunder] Redd Gold, had indeed done so.