What a tragedy. At a glance, there was no reason to believe he could survive.
Endless Starry Sky finished loading.
Huh?!
Jiang Xiao abruptly sat up, his face alight with delight.
Loading game...
Please note: Due to an unknown error, the default game mode is Extreme Mode: Once you die, you cannot be revived. (Rewards gained in this mode are doubled.)
Confirmation complete · Loading system resources...
Player attribute datafication complete.
Loading progress 15%...50%...99%
Loading game.
Chapter 2: Call Me the Gaming Domain Master
Jiang Xiao widened his eyes and eagerly looked around.
It loaded. What now?
No "ding~" sound? At the very least, couldn't it give him a stand-in body?
Perhaps due to the Endless Starry Sky system, Jiang Xiao suddenly felt that the colors of his surroundings had become slightly richer. Then his gaze involuntarily fixed on the table not far away.
That terminal intelligent computer.
DF-1 Intelligent Terminal: A household holographic terminal manufactured by Yangfeng Group; 1200 Hz, 32K resolution.
Retrieve information?
Looking at the familiar entry format, Jiang Xiao suddenly understood. Did loading the game mean turning him into a player?!
He decisively said, "Personal Panel!"
Player: Jiang Xiao Level: None Talent Ability: None Source Energy Affinity: Extremely Weak (Basic AFK Speed: 1 Experience Point/h) Source Energy Intensity: 1 (3/15) Spirit Energy Intensity: 1 (No Esper ability, locked)
Sure enough, this was the most basic player interface of Endless Starry Sky!
The system's level classifications were the same as those of the Interstellar Alliance, with rank primarily determined by Source Energy and Spirit Energy Intensity.
The number in parentheses after the intensity value represented the Experience Points needed to increase each point of intensity. At the current stage, every increase required fifteen Experience Points.
The detailed levels were Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, all the way to Tier 5, followed by Champion-level and so on. Each tier was further divided into three minor stages according to Evolution Progress: ordinary, elite, and peak.
Within the same tier, reaching 50% Evolution Progress made one an elite, while the peak stage required 90%!
Specifically, Espers were judged by Spirit Energy Intensity, while Source Energy martial artists were judged by Source Energy Intensity, also known as Life Strength. As long as either attribute reached 10 points, one could become a Tier 1 powerhouse.
Tier 2 required 50 points.
Thirty points made one a Tier 1 Elite.
Every point of intensity represented a clear difference, though the exact gap varied from individual to individual.
However, no matter how much it varied, the intensity gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 creatures was far more than tenfold, and the actual combat gap was even greater.
There were quite a few Tier 1 Martial Artists aboard the Doran. Alone, they could easily wipe out four or five fully armed soldiers from a Primary Civilization. One had to understand that every one of those soldiers was an enhanced Captain America!
Furthermore, all Espers possessed decent Source Energy cultivation talent. After all, not every Esper ability was suited for combat.
"Thankfully, the AFK cultivation function can be used normally." Jiang Xiao was not disappointed after looking at his panel. Instead, he spoke happily.
In ten days, relying only on basic AFK cultivation would be enough to push his Source Energy Intensity to 10 points, but it was still not entirely secure.
Besides basic AFK cultivation, Jiang Xiao knew that Source Energy cultivation techniques of different levels could provide different amounts of additional Experience Points. Unfortunately, he did not have any.
It did not matter.
The most basic AFK function alone could make him a Tier 1 Martial Artist within ten days, not to mention the other functions of Endless Starry Sky!
Yes! Fantastic, children—it's a power fantasy game!
Jiang Xiao could not help gloating. "Sure enough, people with ambition are just lucky!
I, Jiang Xiao, will rely entirely on my talent and hard work as I walk this path!
Starry Sky, activate all functions for me!"
Loading...
"?"
No! Come on!!
Jiang Xiao was struck as if by lightning. It took several seconds for him to react, and his entire body immediately wilted.
"I'm so stupid. I really am. I knew it was a Golden Finger, but I forgot that its name had 'starry sky' in it..."
"Prisoner 114-514, do you require a psychologist?" the mechanical soldier's voice came from outside.
"Thank you so much."
"You're welcome."
Prison life was unbearably dull.
Two days gradually passed in that monotony.
Jiang Xiao woke from his sleep and immediately looked at his Personal Panel.
Source Energy Intensity: 4 (5/15)
His intensity had increased by another point!
He clenched his fist and could already clearly sense the power growing within his body. He was not sure how Source Energy affected silicon-based or energy-based lifeforms, but for carbon-based lifeforms, Source Energy continuously strengthened every aspect of the body, including bone and organ durability!
Once Source Energy Intensity reached a certain level, it could even turn into tangible energy and be released outward!
Just then, a cold mechanical voice suddenly rang out. "Recreation time will begin in one hour. Prisoners may move freely within the hall.
Please do not engage in any conflicts during this period. Otherwise, there will be no recreation time for the next eight days."
Recreation time? How humane.
After washing up and finishing breakfast,
one hour later, Jiang Xiao followed the directions to the hall.
Aside from him, more than a dozen bizarre creatures had already gathered there. They all carried an obvious air of menace and were clearly prisoners.
After taking a rough look, he searched their information, leaving nothing hidden.
Not one of them was a ranked martial artist. Even the strongest had a Source Energy Intensity of only 5 points. Seeing this, Jiang Xiao inwardly relaxed.
For now, it seemed that the proportion of martial artists on Frontier Prison Star was not particularly high.
Because the system's other functions could not be used, Jiang Xiao, who was imprisoned, had no room to act. He could only wait for AFK cultivation, which had left him increasingly restless lately.
He did not join the others in conversation. Jiang Xiao quietly walked to the edge of the hall.
Through the enormous porthole, he looked out at the boundless deep space. Staring at the profound darkness of the starry sky and its indescribable allure, Jiang Xiao was slightly lost in thought.
It was precisely that allure that had led him aboard the Doran back then. Of course, the bearded captain's deceptive words had also played a part.
The transport ship was not moving very quickly, maintaining roughly sub-light speed. Its destination was probably a nearby spaceport.
This universe did possess supernatural forces, but many things still had to follow basic laws. For example, a material ship could not reach the speed of light in space. To cross astronomical distances in a short time, one either had to use the Deep Space Network Channel established by the Interstellar Alliance or travel through an Ancient Star Gate.
"Haha, I can't believe I was lucky enough to be assigned to KL-21 Frontier Prison Star. Our Viper Clan has a large gang on KL-21. This isn't imprisonment at all—it's retirement! Hahaha!"
A hoarse, shrill voice came from behind, interrupting Jiang Xiao's wandering thoughts.
"Congratulations, congratulations. We'll be counting on big brother to look after us when the time comes." A creature immediately began flattering him.
"Big brother, have a cigarette."
Jiang Xiao turned his head and saw an ugly creature standing at the center of the prisoners, enjoying their flattery. Its lower body was a snake's tail, while its upper body resembled a blobfish.
Jiang Xiao's brows furrowed slightly.
The Viper Clan—one of the hostile races to Pan-Humanity. They even treated some humans as food. They were a mortal enemy species.
Perhaps because Jiang Xiao was unusually conspicuous, or simply because he was human, he soon attracted the attention of the Viper Clan prisoner.
After deliberately looking him up and down, the prisoner mocked, "I wonder what Valan was thinking. Since when could an Ordinary Human enter a Prison Star? I find even lowly food difficult to digest."
"Hahahaha!!"
"Maybe he's a scammer. After all, all they know how to do is play little tricks."
Jiang Xiao's expression did not change. He silently turned around and continued looking toward deep space.
Seeing that he had no reaction, the Viper Clan prisoner looked slightly disappointed. He then stopped paying attention to the food in his eyes and continued boasting along the same line of conversation.
"Come to think of it, compared to ordinary adult humans, young humans are obviously tastier. Last time, I led my brothers from the Pirate Group in hijacking a small ship. There were more than three hundred Ordinary Humans inside.
"Those little brats less than a meter tall... steamed, they..."
"Tsk."
After glancing at the nearest guard mechanical soldier, Jiang Xiao remained expressionless and turned toward the corridor.
Seeing this, the Viper Clan prisoner laughed even louder. "I wonder what such low-intelligence vermin need intelligence for. They might as well just be livestock. Hahaha!"
At the instant they passed each other, Jiang Xiao, who had seemed calm and unruffled, suddenly exploded into action!
The several-meter distance vanished in an instant. His fist transformed into a blade-hand and plunged into the Viper Clan's eye socket. The tremendous force shattered its facial bones like porcelain, with most of his hand sinking into its brain.
Squelch!
Before you continue