CHAPTER 72.2: HEAVEN'S END CLEARED, TIME TO MEET JIN LI

The Metal-Armored God shattered into fragments. For a split second before he broke apart, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Huh?!" Qi Yuan frantically looked around. "Where did he go?!"

There’s no way he’d die from one hit! He’s level 119!

Hence, it had to be an illusion. He just knew it!

"Come out! Show yourself! I know you’re here!" He swung his giant sword again, unleashing his signature sword art. "Eight Summer Slashes!"

The technique was riddled with flaws from his wild swings, yet he found the greatest sense of security in knowing it’d strike anyone who approached.

No matter how much he roared, there was no reply. Instead, a prompt appeared in his mind.

[You have slain the Broken Metal-Armored God's Remnant Soul. You have gained the opportunity to step into Level 100. Accept?]

Qi Yuan froze.

"Killed? An instant kill? No, that's not right!" He grew even more wary, sneering coldly toward the heavens. "This must be the strength of a level 119! He must’ve read my mind and figured he’s just an NPC! A simulated gamemaster is trying to trick me! Such a ruthless scheme! I bet the moment I drop my guard, he’ll strike like thunder to end me!"

Of course, no one answered.

He stood there for who knew how long. Finally, doubt crossed his face. "Was I overthinking?"

Then, he crouched, searching the ground. An hour later, he’d gathered all the god's remains.

"Dead? For real? That's it?" Shock flashed in his eyes. He couldn't comprehend anything. "I’m such an idiot, worrying for nothing! Luckily no one saw me, or I’d die from embarrassment. What was I even scared of?"

At last, his attention returned to the prompt. Qi Yuan was stunned by the offer to reach level 100. With Little Bride, he’d reached level 104, albeit that wasn’t his true strength.

Once he crossed level 100, his overflowing EXP would surge forward uncontrollably, reaching unfathomable height. Somehow, he dared not level up, especially after recalling the god’s words.

He had a feeling that ascending to level 100 would trigger something terrifying. After all, he’d yet to see a single, proper level 100 being in this world.

Qi Yuan declined the prompt. "Not for now."

He decided to hold on to the chance, using it only if absolutely necessary.

Another prompt appeared.

[Heaven's End cleared. Reward granted.] [Reward 1: Heavenly Dao Fragments ×30.]

[Reward 2: Opportunity to reach Level 100 (usable at any time).]

Qi Yuan's mood improved. "Sixty fragments already? Once I collect thirty more from Earth's End, and ten from Yinyang Forbidden Zone, I’ll be set."

Another message popped up.

[Now that you’ve stepped onto the Ascension Platform, Heaven’s End’s restrictions will vanish in two hours. You may descend to the mortal zone. After one month of worldly insight, transfer to Earth’s End will commence.]

"Mortal zone?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "I can finally meet Jin Li! But just a month? Really? Then, it’s off to Earth's End to fight a boss? Oh well, meeting her comes first!"

Excited, he hurried to message her.

Qi Yuan: Jin Li, I cleared Heaven's End! I can finally leave the end zones. I'll have a whole month in the human world! Let's meet under the Ancient Qichun Tree! By the way, you left Southern Qian recently to head there right? Have you arrived yet?

***

In a small lakeside town, Jin Li sat quietly under the Ancient Qichun Tree.

Children played nearby. A boy played in the water until his mother came, dragged him out, and smacked his bottom twice. Judging by her strength, she was definitely his real mother.

A bird swooped down from the tree, diving into the lake with a splash, catching a fish. Nearby, young couples whispered sweet nothing to each other.

Jin Li's heart throbbed when she saw Qi Yuan’s message.

Jin Li: You're coming to see me?

Qi Yuan: Yes. I've got one month. Where do we meet? Give me the location.

Jin Li: I’m at the Seventh Moon Town in the Moonlight Kingdom, right under the Ancient Qichun Tree. It’s easy to find. After leaving Heaven’s End, just keep heading southeast, and you’ll reach this place. I'll wait at Half-Moon Lake.

She shivered slightly, unable to hide her excitement.

Qi Yuan nodded before sending her a question.

Qi Yuan: Got it! How's things outside? Are things expensive? Is the food good? Is the scenery nice?

Jin Li: The scenery here is beautiful. The Ancient Qichun Tree is really, really huge. As expected of the sacred tree of the Moonwatch Continent. The Moonlight Kingdom is built around it. Unlike Southern Qian, there’s no war here. Everyone lives peacefully. There's plenty of delicious food too. Today, I tried a crispy sweet duck and it was really tasty. I'm learning to make it. When you come, I'll cook it for you.

Qi Yuan: Great. Just make sure it tastes good, or I'll have to pretend it is and finish everything. That'd be torture.

Jin Li was speechless.

Qi Yuan: It's my first time meeting an online friend in real life. Honestly, I'm nervous.

Jin Li: Me too.

Qi Yuan: Are you good-looking? ...Ah, that was rude of me.

Jin Li: Not too bad... I think?

Qi Yuan: No worries. I'm very handsome. I won't dislike you. I've asked you so many questions, don't you want to ask me something? Like my height, my income, if I own a car or a house, how much betrothal gift I’ll pay...

Jin Li was dumbfounded.

Qi Yuan: The more I say, the more it sounds like a blind date. On the internet, people usually just say CPDD. [1]

Jin Li: What does that mean?

Qi Yuan: It means looking for a partner. Anyway, enough talk. Today drained me. I need to log off and rest. I should be out of Heaven's End tomorrow. If I don't get lost, we'll meet then. If I do get lost, three or seven days later!

He logged off after sending that message.

Jin Li, dressed in white, sat by the lake, lost in thought.

Aunt Qin appeared by her side. "Your Majesty, is that person coming to see you?"

Jin Li smiled gently. "Yes. Also, Aunt Qin, don't call me Your Majesty anymore. Just call me Little Li. I'm no longer the empress of Southern Qian, nor am I fit to be one."

Aunt Qin smiled. She knew Jin Li too well. "You seem absent-minded. What ails you?"

"N-no... nothing."

"Your Majesty, you have a precious body and a beauty that could topple nations. You are worthy of anyone."

Jin Li stayed silent.

"And since that man entrusted you with the terrifying Garment Forbidden Army, it's clear he holds you dearly. You need not worry. If you keep being so distracted, you'll look haggard before you even meet him."

Jin Li stood. "Enough, Aunt Qin. Let's go back."

The two left the lakeside, heading toward the courtyard they had bought.

As they walked, a group of masked children passed by. Their masks were all different. Each child carried a stick, chanting a rhyme, led by a private tutor toward some destination.

Jin Li asked curiously, "Aunt Qin, what are they doing with masks?"

"I think they are going to worship some god's statue. I don't really know."

"What god? And why the masks?"

"Supposedly, that god also wears a mask."

"Then why the sticks?"

"That, I don't know."

"What does this god govern?"

"Well, not marriage. This town will hold a temple fair in three days. If that man comes, you can see it together. This town has many shrines and statues, with incense burning everywhere. That masked god doesn't have many followers, and only that tutor seems devoted."

"A temple fair? Sounds interesting. I'd like to see."

***

The next day, inside Heaven's End...

Qi Yuan stretched by the lakeside, catching his reflection in the water. "Still as handsome as ever."

He stood, then paused.

"Since we’ll be meeting in person, should I bring a gift? Otherwise, she’d think I’m rude." He pondered for a while. "But I've got nothing."

Then, his figure flickered as he ran around Heaven's End. A wooden hairpin appeared in his hand not long after. It looked simple, but was crafted from many precious plants.

"A handmade hairpin. This should be fine, right? Hopefully it doesn't end up online as one of those cheap, tacky handmade gifts people mock. No, Jin Li isn't like that. It'll be fine."

After thinking about it, he sent her a message.

Qi Yuan: I made you a gift. A wooden hairpin. Yes, handmade. Don't mind if it seems cheap.

WIth that, he left Heaven’s End.

***

A few seconds later...

Qi Yuan looked up into the sky. "A desert?"

No matter how far he looked, all he saw was an endless expanse of golden sand. An ancient poem surfaced in his mind.

A lonely plume of smoke rises straight over the vast desert. The great river swallows the setting sun, round and red.

Soon, he noticed something and froze. "Huh? Where did my game interface go?"

The moment he stepped out of Heaven's End, his game interface had vanished.

1. In the context of Chinese internet slang and gaming, "CPDD" (CP滴滴) means "quick date" or "find a partner" for a game, where "CP" stands for "couple" or "partner," and "滴滴" is a sound-alike for the Chinese word for "taxi" (dīdī), implying "to fetch" someone. It's a way to request a temporary partner or a date in the informal setting of a video game. ☜