Soul Wandering

What kind of UI should be provided to players? Each game has different considerations.

For example, in first-person FPS games, small icons containing information are placed only at the edges of the screen, ensuring players can focus their attention on real-time battlefield information.

MMORPGs, even with dozens of skill icons to display, will try their best to keep the center of the screen clear.

By the time of holographic gaming, game UIs were hidden even deeper.

Because holographic simulation helmets read players' brainwaves, eliminating the need for button operations, games would hide the UI to reduce text information outside the player's view.

Generally, unless specifically configured, players in some games might not even see their own health bars, let alone information about others.

To differentiate players from NPCs, most holographic games give players and NPCs distinctly different art styles.

It is precisely because of this that veteran players, who have developed habits, would subconsciously treat the human on the ground as a player.

"Is this an NPC?"

As the elf's voice sounded, everyone finally noticed the human on the ground.

[Name: Li Li]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Creator God]

[Level: 1]

[Rank: None]

[Traits: ???]

[Attributes: ???]

[Skills: ???]

[Affinity: 0]

"It looks like an avatar of a deity."

A Half-Winged Celestial named "Golden Wind" fanned his golden single wing.

"Creator God... What version is this NPC from? I haven't heard of it."

Another elf player asked.

Qian Peng glanced at the live stream comments and found that his viewers didn't recognize him either.

So, he opened an external webpage, searched for a bit, and then said:

"It should be a newly released NPC. There's no such character in Despair Expedition."

"Li Li... I remember him. He wrote the recruitment letter on the game's official website at the very beginning." A Shadowfolk named "Lost a Leg" stepped forward, walked to the elf, and extended his hand, saying, "Let me heal him a bit?"

The elf hesitated for a moment before reluctantly handing Li Li over, muttering:

"Forget it, I won't court death for now."

"Lost a Leg" took Li Li from the elf's arms and plunged his ink-black palm into the shadow on the ground.

The next moment, a darkness as viscous as petroleum flowed down his fingertips.

[You used 'Dark Offering' on Li Li, applying 10 points of health recovery.]

[Due to your healing, Li Li's affinity towards you increased by 10.]

"It seems the Shadowfolk's racial traits are the same as the original."

"Golden Wind," who was observing from the side, turned to the Wind Elemental player and asked curiously:

"Brother Wind, how about you? Can you fly?"

"Level 8 Great Gale" roared, "I can't even stand steady!"

Only after using up his daily five "Shadow Points" did "Lost a Leg" stop healing, feeling refreshed and saying:

"Not bad. I didn't spend a penny and gained 14 points of affinity with a golden NPC."

As a Shadowfolk, his body, which was originally like Conan's "black" character, revealed skin identical to that of a human after he consumed his daily "Shadow Points."

A moment later, Li Li on the ground opened his eyes and sat up groggily.

He looked like someone who had pulled several all-nighters and then was forced by his wife to fulfill his marital duties, exuding a genuine sense of exhaustion.

"Did it work?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Of course." "Golden Wind" placed his right hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and his broad golden wings unfolded, covering his left side, performing an impeccable celestial greeting. "Respected Creator God, I, on behalf of the Golden Wind guild, greet you."

As soon as he finished speaking, another human female player, who looked like an elementary school student, stepped forward, holding up a non-existent skirt, and bowed:

"Magical Girl Liyuan, I have come in response to your call. I will purify all evil and reclaim the world's radiance."

Qian Peng looked at the two who had appeared out of nowhere, suddenly thought of something, and followed with a slightly non-standard knight's salute.

"I am 'Amulet Owl.' I look forward to clearing the path ahead for you."

[You introduced yourself to Li. Li's affinity towards you increased by 1.]

Just as expected!

Qian Peng's eyes lit up.

Across ten major versions of "Despair Expedition OL," there were fewer than 50 living NPCs in total, so a favorability system didn't exist.

But "Glorious Expedition" was different!

Just as Qian Peng was congratulating himself, the Dragonkin playing with its tail beside him suddenly exclaimed:

"Saluting increases favorability? Big bird, you're too sly, why didn't you tell us!"

Under his loud shouts, the other players also reacted and introduced themselves one after another.

"Why are they all using nicknames..."

After everyone finished introducing themselves, Li Li finally managed to compose himself. He got up, leaning against the wall, and tossed something out.

"Amulet Owl, catch! It's because of this thing that I was almost drained dry."

Qian Peng caught the thrown object. It was an hourglass no bigger than his thumb.

[Ember (Amulet Owl)]

[Item Effect: Upon use, restores all the power of "Time Palace Knight Amulet Owl" for 1 hour.]

[Item Description: Legend has it that a certain knight, who conquered time, descended into this world at the cost of burning himself out.

Even burnt firewood leaves behind embers.

However, this is the last of them.]

"A gold-tier item!"

The Dragonkin was shouting again.

Qian Peng's mouth twisted, and he suddenly felt the urge to shut down the livestream.

"Alright, alright."

Li Li clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, and explained:

"This is the only one of its kind right now. As for everyone else's [Ember]... I'll tell you once I've recovered my strength."

After several days of all-night experiments, Li Li had used over 300 [Faith]. Subtracting the 100 points consumed in creating 10 bodies, Li Li had reserved nearly 1400 [Faith] as a backup.

However, when he summoned the first soul projection, Li Li unexpectedly discovered that these Earthlings' soul projections contained some kind of unknown power.

He tried to materialize this power, and the result instantly depleted his reserved [Faith]. It then began to draw power from his very source, nearly reducing his body to a dried husk.

Thinking of this, Li Li's heart sank.

Without the [Faith] reserve, he couldn't revive these people...

And these ordinary people, spoiled by modern society, would probably not even be able to hold a sword if they didn't die a few times.

That's why he gave the [Ember] to these newcomers from Earth, hoping they could use this power well and help him gather enough startup capital.

Taking a deep breath, Li Li surveyed these Earthlings of various appearances and recited his prepared speech:

"I believe you all know that I am the one who summoned you to this world. The reason I summoned you is to hire you to clear the pollution in this world."

"As for the method of clearing the pollution—"

"It is through killing."

"In the wastelands outside the Alliance, countless monsters roam, and they will all become achievements etched by your blades."

"Every time you defeat a monster, you will seize corresponding Faith. When you collect enough Faith, you can return to me, or find my Saintess. We will convert this Faith into power, making you stronger."

"Is that understandable?"

Everyone nodded.

Qian Peng, standing at the front, prompted by the chat, stepped forward and asked:

"If we accidentally die, what happens to the accumulated Faith?"

"It will dissipate, but if you can bring back the corpse, I can still recover that Faith," Li Li replied.

Now, everyone truly understood.

Killing monsters drops souls, leveling up requires finding the Saintess, and death resets the burden.

—It was like a soul-travel game.

Someone come and see this!