The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle

Ah Ling spoke in a somewhat hesitant murmur, "Brother Su, you and your companions really have a great relationship."

"That's for sure, after all, we're all one big loving family."

-----------------

The fog was thick.

Su Qi and Ethan Dawn, along with a group of players, were making their way through the mist.

He had spent less than half an hour with Ah Ling; the rest of the time, he had been following the team on missions, understanding the map mostly... but even more so, fighting.

The ways to proceed through the sequence, the methods of Ascension, were numerous and varied, but combat was the main way to integrate Spiritual Ability Points and increase Spiritual Power.

Of course, he couldn't miss out.

After all, there was still time before the big event, and Buxian couldn't just sit idle.

Ethan Dawn expressed his surprise, "Brother Yang, it feels like we've walked a long distance without encountering any Chaotic monsters. Are there none left nearby?"

The two of them led on their own, guiding a group of Ordinary players from the Justice League. Over the past two days, they had reached a stage where they called each other brothers.

Su Qi calmly said, "After all, many players are competing. These extermination missions are less dangerous and the Points are earned quickly, naturally becoming the most taken missions by all players."

"It's so competitive..." Ethan Dawn muttered, "Why do I feel like this Final Home keeps issuing endless tasks as if it's exploiting all the players?"

Su Qi shook his head, "That's not the way to put it... I don't like hearing that. They seek peace and safety, and we... we get Spirit Coins and Points, why not enjoy it?"

"That's true," Ethan Dawn sighed reluctantly, "This is the key way for Ordinary players to accumulate Points, not to mention Spirit Coins... The latter's value in the real world has already reached a 1:100 ratio."

Simply put.

One Spirit Coin could be exchanged for one hundred yuan.

The key was... they were priceless, all players in the public test held few Spirit Coins.

Moreover.

The clubs wouldn't sell the Spirit Coins they held, and in reality, a big hand was controlling the market, maintaining the exchange rate at 1:100.

Ordinary players naturally became frantic, pushing themselves to the limit.

"But why do I feel like the Spirit Coins given by the missions seem to be much less than those of the Guardians before?"

"It's good as long as there is some, and players don't spend the Spirit Coins they earn anyway..."

Su Qi patted his shoulder, "According to market demand and supply relations, when the total money supply increases and consumption stays the same, the likelihood of overproduction rises, and the currency LM curve shifts to the right..."

"Brother Yang... can you say something I understand?"

To put it simply in one sentence... "If you don't do it, there are plenty of others who will."

"....."

Ethan Dawn, "I got that, but why does it feel so heart-wrenching?"

Of course.

This was a lie.

Because Su Qi had adjusted the task handover for players.

The rule set by Tentacle Man was to split with the abnormalities fifty-fifty.

Su Qi turned it into... an eighty-twenty split.

At this moment.

Su Qi suddenly paused and looked ahead, "There seems to be something up ahead."

The many Ordinary players perked up immediately, entering battle mode.

Ethan Dawn also turned serious, "Brother Yang, is there something wrong?"

It was Ethan Dawn who led the team before.

But now.

It had become Su Qi's lead, as this cheerful and sunny young man, through very calm analysis and command, had resolved the crisis for the players on two dangerous missions.

After several more missions, the players by now had a lot of faith in Su Qi.

"Don't be nervous, it's other players."

"Other players..." Ethan Dawn's expression stiffened slightly.

His gaze flickered toward the distance, where more than a dozen members of a club slowly emerged, dragging the body of a Seventh Rank Polluted creature... exuding a dangerous aura as they walked along.

The body of the Polluted would attract the same sequence monsters, but its aura would also intimidate many beings rank below it.

"Hmm?"

The young man at the forefront was the player who had been sharpening his Hidden Blade at the first outpost.

He looked with some surprise and interest at Ethan Dawn and Su Qi:

"It looks like we meet again."

Upon entering the central building of Last House, Ethan Dawn also saw the other party and realized that this young man was the rising superstar of Hidden Blade Club! And he was the leader of the current team; without any renown information available, naturally, Ethan didn't recognize his face.

Ethan spoke in a deep voice, "Indeed, I didn't expect to run into you here."

"What's with this pointless banter, and ... " Su Qi paused, "Who are you?"

"..."

The young man narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at Su Qi, and then smiled, "If I've forgotten, it's not important."

"However, this is neither the place for you nor... without your second and third here, you shouldn't have shown up."

Ethan's voice grew heavier, "What do you mean."

They were on their way to the stronghold to meet with Penelope Bloom and Justice Chief, the two big shots, but they were a bit late due to task handover; at this moment, it seemed like something was amiss.

"Because..."

The young man looked into the distance and smiled, "They're here."

Figures were emerging from the distant fog.

"This path... someone indeed arrived earlier."

Members of the magnetic card Club slowly appeared, with a red-haired woman at the forefront, adorned with various electromagnetic force items, and with a menacing grin, "Yo, aren't these Hidden Blade's people? These guys... are they your underlings?"

"I wanted to yell, 'Underlings my ass!'"

But Su Qi looked towards another group, as numerous figures continuously made their appearance. It seemed like the top clubs had an agreement to meet here.

And moreover.

They had avoided the stronghold, avoided Final Home.

Ethan Dawn was now silent; he was at best a core member of the Justice League, while the super newcomers and super players from the top clubs were present.

"Bad, I'm starting to panic."

"Panic about what?" Su Qi looked at them, "As a member of the Justice League set to take down Su Buxian, shouldn't you stand tall and confident?"

"Your spiritual power is even higher than mine!"

Su Qi had also noticed.

These people had an unspoken agreement; everyone kept silent, seemingly waiting for other clubs to arrive. It looked like they'd caught up with something big.

The Justice League players, however, were gradually looking weaker and trembled before the multitude of influential figures.

And at that very moment.

[Six hours remaining until the Ascension points elimination starts.]

The countdown appeared every hour, and people had grown accustomed to it.

But the next moment.

[Attention: Main task 'Audience' eligibility will be linked to players' points. Only the top one thousand from each region and an additional one hundred with outstanding performance will qualify. Points... At the same time, points will play a very important role in the final Audience phase!!]

[PS: Fate is turning; countless insignificant lives are being watched at this moment. Even if inconspicuous or of lowly status, struggling in despair, a new era is coming. In the grand prelude of this era, those who can make a name for themselves will surely be born.]

"..."

Everyone briefly fell into silence.

"We had countdown before, but now there's new information," someone squinted, "and they emphasized points."

"And there's this cryptic message at the end."

"I don't know about the rest."

Someone paused briefly and laughed, "But from what I see now, the priority to deal with Su Buxian just increased."

-----------------

Tentacle Man silently observed a Star Chart in Chaotic City, clutching the remaining Spirit Coins in his hand, looking somewhat ragged while standing inconspicuously in the crowded queue for a large-scale teleportation ritual.

Surrounded by terrifying beings with dangerous auras.

The respected Manager in Final Home was just a weak and insignificant creature here.

"It's been a month; I wonder what has become of Final Home."

He felt heavy-hearted and slowly closed his eyes.

He still remembered two years ago, the entire world was as dark and profound as a decaying Star River with Chaos, where an apocalyptic silence and abnormalities were pervasive.

And now.

Nothing had changed.

Even after establishing Final Home.

Whether it was himself, his daughter, or the numerous abnormalities — all were still struggling.

The burden on one's shoulders was much heavier than imagined.

"Hopefully, nothing chaotic happens in Final Home, and everything can go over smoothly."