Chapter Summaries

Lin Yu prepared to try Epochal Shift, a game that promised complete realism, after ordering its unusually cheap gaming helmet. A seemingly supernatural instant delivery frightened him, but he found only a black package at his door and opened it to inspect what was inside.

• Lin Yu reflected on his ordinary life after transmigrating, including his parents’ deaths and his failed attempt to earn money as a short-video blogger.
• Lin Yu grew skeptical of Starsea Era’s claims about Epochal Shift but decided to buy its basic 108-yuan gaming helmet.
• Lin Yu received a delivery notice immediately after ordering and feared that something inhuman had brought the package.
• Lin Yu armed himself with a cleaver and opened the door, finding only a black package waiting outside.
• Lin Yu brought the lightweight package inside, opened it with a small knife, and saw what was inside.

Lin Yu tested the gaming helmet in its test space and confirmed that it reproduced physical sensations while allowing him to log out. Convinced that Epochal Shift and its creator, Starsea Era, were extraordinary, he ordered the luxury-edition gaming pod after finding the limited supreme edition unavailable and unaffordable.

• Lin Yu examined the soundless silver-white helmet, read its manual, and used it to enter the test space.
• Lin Yu tested his movement and stamina in the space, finding that he could run without tiring, then pinched his thigh and felt pain.
• Lin Yu summoned the logout panel, chose to log out, and woke up at home.
• Lin Yu concluded that something was unusual about the helmet, Starsea Era, and Epochal Shift, and decided to buy a higher-end login device.
• Lin Yu found that the limited supreme-edition pod was sold out and cost more than he could afford, so he ordered the luxury-edition pod instead.

Lin Yu received and installed his game pod while waiting for Epochal Shift to launch. Meanwhile, Hua Nation officials established a bureau for Supreme Edition owners who could remember the information overwrites, and began organizing their response to Starsea Era.

• Lin Yu carried the game pod into his bedroom, installed it, and stored the nutrient solution that came with it.
• Hua Nation officials investigated Starsea Era and found that the company, its finances, and its address left no trace, while purchases and records were altered by information overwrites.
• Officials discovered that owners bound to Limited Supreme Edition game pods could remember events and records erased by the overwrites.
• Attempts to seize owners' game pods failed, so officials established the Abnormal Affairs Investigation Bureau for qualified bound owners.
• The bureau had 373 members, while officials had identified 209 Supreme Edition owners who declined to join but agreed not to oppose the nation's plans.
• Hua Nation's upper echelons concluded that the overwrites affected investigations into Starsea Era and concealed Epochal Shift's abnormalities from everyone except Supreme Edition owners.

Lin Yu watched the world’s records of people trying to steal Ultimate Edition identities change, then entered Epochal Shift as it launched. As he began character creation, he discovered that his thoughts could enter the in-game name field.

• People worldwide who tried to seize Ultimate Edition users’ identities were killed by an unknown power, and the world’s memories and records were rewritten to hide the deaths.
• Lin Yu noticed his forum posts and online reports changing, but he could not share the anomalies he had found.
• Lin Yu entered his gaming pod and saw the countdown to Epochal Shift’s launch in the testing space.
• The Hua Nation authorities received information about the Ultimate Edition and instructed bound personnel to draw their bonus traits and talents, then log out before creating characters.
• When the countdown reached zero, Lin Yu registered his identity and bank card and started creating a character.
• Lin Yu thought of the words “How about,” saw them appear in the nickname field, and erased them with another thought.

Lin Yu finished registering his game character and learned about deluxe edition privileges, talent ranks, and special talent synthesis. He decided to pursue special talents and began studying the traits and prerequisites they required.

• Lin Yu struggled to choose a nickname, then successfully registered as I'm Just Passing By.
• Lin Yu browsed the race options and found that giant beast and divine descendant races, including dragons, required permissions he lacked.
• Lin Yu opened a flashing envelope and learned the game's attribute growth rules, talent rankings, and deluxe edition player privileges.
• Lin Yu discovered that deluxe edition players could choose among trait and talent options and received special talent synthesis and upgrade methods.
• Lin Yu reviewed the special talent prerequisites, learned that synthesis required particular traits and talents, and began planning how to obtain them.

Lin Yu explored humanity’s mixed-blood options and tested how bloodline proportions changed a character’s appearance and traits. After finding limits on dragon and Divine Descendant blood, he spotted the Fairy race and its powerful talents.

• Lin Yu learned that humans could trade negative traits for positive ones or mix their blood with another race, then browsed the many mixed-blood options.
• Lin Yu tested Shadow Cat blood proportions and watched the character’s appearance and available traits change as the Shadow Cat share increased.
• Lin Yu examined gender options, including futa, and wondered what the game would show once he entered it.
• Lin Yu tested Red Dragon and Divine Descendant bloodlines, but found their proportions capped at seven parts human to three parts other blood.
• Lin Yu resumed browsing races and discovered the Fairy race, whose listed talents included exceptional wit and extraordinary soul.

Lin Yu chose a fairy-human mixed blood and prepared to synthesize two special talents, accepting severe physical drawbacks in exchange for exceptional learning and Spirit growth. After weighing his remaining random talents, he left his final choice unresolved.

• Lin Yu selected a nine-to-one fairy-human mix and chose Exceptional Cunning and Transcendent Soul as his fairy talents.
• Lin Yu selected negative and positive traits to prepare for synthesizing Heaven's Jealousy of Geniuses and Mortal Body, Divine Mind.
• Lin Yu used the Genius trait to upgrade Exceptional Cunning and synthesized both special talents during character creation.
• Lin Yu examined the special talents' powerful bonuses and drawbacks, then ruled out Great Strength and Hunter from his random talent options.
• Lin Yu considered Steel Bones, Riding the Wind, and Analysis Eye, but had not yet chosen among them.

Lin Yu chose Analysis Eye, selected the Scholar class, and customized a fairy-human character before entering Epochal Shift. The chapter ended with Lin Yu arriving in a city full of diverse players and awkwardly realizing the game world was not what they had expected.

• Lin Yu chose the genderless option after learning that their mostly Fairy blood allowed only genderless or female, then found that most combat classes were unavailable.
• Lin Yu chose Scholar over Soul Mage and Elemental Mage, hoping its Insight trait would upgrade Analysis Eye, and the talent finished upgrading.
• Lin Yu customized their character into a 1.2-meter-tall, white-haired, red-eyed fairy who still looked inhuman, then finished character creation.
• Lin Yu entered the game, admired their appearance in a mirror, and arrived in a crowded area filled with players of many races.
• Lin Yu watched a likely Succubus player leave with a Dragonkin and silently complained that the game seemed more like an adults-only world than an adventure game.

Lin Yu fled an overzealous fox beastman in the game’s chaotic starting plaza, then opened his character panel to assess his unusual abilities and weaknesses. He discovered his character was a level-zero Mixed-Blood Fairy with powerful learning and spirit-related talents, but was currently afflicted with fragility.

• A pink-haired fox beastman mistook Lin Yu for a girl and invited him to play, but he rejected her and hurried away after she tried to stop him.
• Lin Yu found a quieter corner and reflected on the shocking public behavior he had encountered since entering the game.
• Lin Yu opened his character panel and saw that his character, I'm Just Passing By, was a level-zero Mixed-Blood Fairy with no gender and the scholar class.
• Lin Yu learned that his talents granted exceptional learning efficiency and spirit growth, while imposing severe physical penalties, and that his current status was fragility.

After spending more than five hours creating his character, Lin Yu checked his attributes and searched the official forum for beginner advice. He found a guide explaining character choices, starter-village facilities, and basic survival rules, but had not yet entered the game world.

• Lin Yu examined his low attributes and noticed that his health, stamina, hunger, and hydration were also displayed.
• Lin Yu realized that character creation had taken over five hours and searched for a beginner's guide.
• Lin Yu opened the official forum, recoiled at its pornographic posts, and then looked through the discussions for useful information.
• Lin Yu found a detailed guide recommending mixed-blood characters and describing class selection and starter-village facilities.
• The guide warned new players to conserve money, maintain their hunger and hydration, and form a party before entering the wild.

Lin Yu experimented with the Mixed-Blood Fairy’s flight, nearly crashing after disabling system assistance, then searched for a cultivation method at the library. The chapter left Lin Yu ready to borrow books from the white-robed librarian.

• Lin Yu learned to control assisted flight with mental commands and practiced moving in every direction.
• Lin Yu disabled flight assistance in midair, nearly fell to the ground, and discovered that taking off without assistance was impossible.
• Lin Yu decided to find a cultivation method at the library and flew above the village to locate it.
• Lin Yu entered the library, chose to borrow books, and paid the white-robed old man a silver coin for the hourly fee.

Lin Yu borrowed books for an hour and used an extraordinary learning bonus to gain levels and learn many practical skills. After reaching level 7, Lin Yu prepared to borrow books again to study cultivation techniques and spells.

• Lin Yu borrowed copper coins for an hour and rapidly learned Gathering, Logging, Mining, Carving, Fishing, and many other skills by reading books.
• Lin Yu put each level's free attribute points into Spirit, reaching level 7 and developing greatly increased calculation speed and memory.
• When the borrowing time ended, Lin Yu checked the character panel and saw Spirit at 117, level 7, and numerous learned skills.
• Lin Yu searched the bookshelves for cultivation techniques and found the Basic Meditation Method before heading toward the front desk.

Lin Yu learned the Basic Meditation Method and 140 spells during his library visit, then left to practice casting magic at the village training ground. After noticing his increased Spirit had likely made him faster in flight, he chose the Ignition Spell as his first spell to test.

• Lin Yu borrowed the library books for an hour, learned the Basic Meditation Method, and reached level eight after gaining experience.
• Lin Yu learned 140 spells but left the library without casting any after the old man warned him that magic was forbidden inside.
• Lin Yu noticed his hydration had dropped, drank from his waterskin, and ate bread before deciding to practice magic.
• Lin Yu flew to the training ground, observed that his Spirit had likely increased his flight speed, and found an empty practice spot.
• Lin Yu selected the Ignition Spell and reviewed its casting steps while facing a wooden training post.

Lin Yu tested his spells and chose a defensive, movement, control, and two attack spells before venturing into the wilderness at night. A gray wolf ambushed him at the village boundary, and his HP fell to zero when two more wolves joined the attack.

• Lin Yu tested Ignition Spell on a wooden stake and compared the other spells he had learned.
• Lin Yu chose Mana Protection, Windwalk, Frost Cloud Spell, Magic Missile, and Flame Strike for his spell slots.
• Lin Yu restored his mana, replaced Frost Cloud Spell with Glimmer Illumination, and flew out of Newbie Village to search for monsters.
• A gray wolf ambushed Lin Yu and pinned his hands before he could cast another spell.
• Two more gray wolves attacked Lin Yu, and the first wolf emptied his HP bar with a bite after his shield was depleted.

After respawning in Newbie Village, Lin Yu bought a sewing kit, rented an inn room, and repaired the clothes damaged by the wild wolf. Lin Yu then reviewed the death and recognized that poor spell choices and a failure to dodge had caused it.

• Lin Yu respawned in Newbie Village with torn clothes and declined a woman's offer to mend them.
• Lin Yu bought a sewing kit from the general store after confirming Weaving could repair the clothes.
• Lin Yu rented a private room at the inn, used the Inn Key to enter, and mended the shirt with Weaving.
• Lin Yu reviewed the fight and concluded that failing to use Windwalk and Magic Missile had led to the wild wolf's kill.
• Lin Yu also realized that equipping Life Sense instead of Flame Strike could have revealed nearby creatures and prevented the ambush.

After being killed by a wild wolf, Lin Yu questioned why magic was so difficult to use and discovered that mastering Manual Casting might let him cast without hand seals. He planned to study at the library the next morning, then went to bathe before bed.

• Lin Yu browsed forum posts about skill activation and learned that warriors could use Qi Enhancement and physical skills more easily than mages could cast spells.
• Lin Yu read a discussion about weak mages and noticed a comment suggesting that Manual Casting could reveal their true strength.
• Lin Yu realized that the Meditation Technique and magic books at the library contained clues to mastering Manual Casting.
• Lin Yu decided to visit the library the next morning, since it was late and he was tired.
• Lin Yu considered buying spare clothes but decided he did not have enough silver coins, then filled a wooden tub and began bathing.

Lin Yu browsed Era’s official forum and learned that upgrading a starter village required surviving a monster trial after filling its construction level. The trial described in a player’s post ended in disaster, and the village’s construction level reset to zero.

• Lin Yu logged out after starting deep meditation in an inn room, then woke the next morning and checked Era’s forum for information.
• Lin Yu read player posts about homemade gear, game mechanics, and the danger of logging out outside an inn.
• Lin Yu found a post explaining that a starter village could be upgraded once its construction level reached 1,000.
• Players who triggered the upgrade lost the village barrier and faced 2,000 monsters during the trial.
• The monsters repeatedly killed the players, then vanished when the countdown ended; the trial failed and the village construction level reset to zero.

Lin Yu entered the game weakened, hungry, and dehydrated, then chose potion-making as a way to earn money despite their poor stamina. After finding the village's Player Market, Lin Yu began negotiating for potion materials and haggled with a werewolf over Vitality Grass.

• Lin Yu entered the game after completing ten deep meditation sessions and discovered that the day's random effect had left them weak.
• Lin Yu ate bread and drank water, then decided against gathering, mining, chopping trees, or hunting because their stamina was too low.
• Lin Yu chose potion-making as a way to earn money and spent seventy copper coins on a cloth bag and ten glass bottles.
• Lin Yu found a Player Market in the village square and searched its stalls for potion ingredients.
• Lin Yu asked a werewolf about his Vitality Grass and offered nine portions for one copper coin after he demanded two portions for one copper coin.

Lin Yu bought materials and spent four hours crafting Vitality Powder and Beast Lure Powder, learning firsthand why players paid logistics specialists for them. Meanwhile, players had begun hunting magical beasts with the powders’ help, and the chapter left Lin Yu with 140 portions of Vitality Powder and 100 portions of Beast Lure Powder.

• Lin Yu bargained with a werewolf for 140 portions of Vitality Grass and bought Redblood Flowers, receiving magic-infused grass seeds for free.
• Lin Yu planned to make Vitality Powder and Beast Lure Powder, while noting that players used them to sustain combat and lure herbivores for hunting.
• Players discovered Wind Wolves and other magical beasts, then began forming parties to hunt them after learning that Vitality Powder helped prevent stamina exhaustion.
• A five-person party used Vitality Powder to defeat a level-two magical beast, and players increasingly shared successful hunts on the forum.
• Lin Yu spent four hours crafting 140 portions of Vitality Powder and 100 portions of Beast Lure Powder, concluding that their five-copper-coin price was fair.

Lin Yu sold all her Vitality Powder and Beast Lure Powder at the market, then used her earnings to buy ingredients and rent a room at the Alchemy Workshop. She successfully brewed her first batch of Simple Blood-Activating Potions and considered their value to combat players.

• Lin Yu displayed her Vitality Powder and Beast Lure Powder at the market, where players crowded around and argued over who could buy them.
• Lin Yu priced both medicines at five copper coins per portion, and the players bought her entire stock within a minute.
• Lin Yu decided to earn more instead of visiting the library, and spent 3 silver and 500 copper on Vitality Grass and Magic-Infused Grass Seeds.
• Lin Yu paid five silver coins to rent a private room at the Alchemy Workshop and prepared to brew Simple Blood-Activating Potions.
• Lin Yu used the alchemy workbench to brew 10 bottles of Simple Blood-Activating Potion with a 100% success rate.