Master Tongtian's Internet Addiction

The invisible sense of being watched from outside the window was like a persistent, clinging leech, rapidly cooling the slight warmth that had just risen in the room from the delicious food. Lin Fan felt a chill down his spine, as if countless eyes were peering through the walls, recording their every move. He instinctively pulled the curtains tighter, though he knew it might only be a psychological comfort.

"Will... will they come in?" Lin Fan asked in a low voice, nervously.

Tongtian sat back down on his yoga mat, closed his eyes, and sensed for a moment before saying indifferently, "Not yet. They are merely observing."

Nüwa also nodded slightly, a flicker of understanding in her clear eyes. "Guardians of this realm's order? It seems our existence has drawn their attention." Her tone wasn't panicked, but rather contemplative of this unfamiliar situation.

"Then... what do we do?" Lin Fan was a bit lost. Being targeted by a national-level force felt ten thousand times more terrifying than facing thugs.

"Wait and see," Tongtian said concisely. "If they don't move, we don't move. A mere mortal institution is not enough to pry into our true nature." His tone carried the innate arrogance of a saint. Even if a tiger was trapped in flatlands, its vision and spirit were far beyond that of ordinary mortals.

Nüwa also gently reassured Lin Fan, "There's no need to worry too much. This realm's laws are stable and its order is well-maintained. Their actions must follow a certain protocol. Since they are only observing now, it means they are still in the observation phase and haven't made a judgment."

The composure of the two saints, to some extent, infected Lin Fan. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Yes, panicking was useless; what was coming would come. At least for now, the other party didn't seem inclined to take forceful action.

However, this feeling of living under surveillance was truly suffocating. He glanced at the messy takeout packaging on the table, lacking the mood to even clean it up.

To distract himself and alleviate his inner anxiety, Lin Fan habitually sat down in front of the computer and pressed the power button. For a salaryman like him, escaping into the online world was the lowest-cost way to de-stress.

The computer fan emitted a faint hum, the screen lit up, and the familiar operating system interface appeared.

Lin Fan didn't notice that as he turned on the computer, a slit of a gap opened in the deep, abyss-like eyes behind him, which had previously been closed.

Tongtian, while seemingly meditating and regulating his breath, actually divided a portion of his consciousness to remain alert to external scrutiny, and was also filled with curiosity about this mortal world. The square "magic artifact" called a "computer" that Lin Fan activated caught his attention.

Upon activation, the incredibly complex and minuscule "runes" (circuits) inside were instantly "lit up," operating according to a pattern he couldn't fully comprehend, ultimately constructing a stable and clear interface on the screen. This process subtly contained a hint of... a combination of "formation arts" and "talismans"? Yet it was completely different, more precise, more systematic, as if countless simple rules were layered upon each other, deriving nearly infinite variations.

Lin Fan skillfully opened a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) he often played. He was playing as a swordsman and was currently controlling his character standing in the main city square. He watched the colorful outfits and mounts of other players on the screen, and the skill effects flying all over the sky, distractedly completing daily tasks.

Tongtian had merely glanced casually at first, but when he saw the mountains, rivers, cities, and people in the virtual world on the screen, especially when he saw Lin Fan's sword-wielding character unleash various "sword skills" and battle other "players" or "monsters," his gaze was completely captivated.

The virtual sword skills, in his eyes, were naturally crude and full of flaws, lacking any true Dao intent, and not even comparable to the lowest-tier sword cultivators in the Primordial Era. But what interested him was this "world" itself!

Mortals of this realm could actually use this "computer" magic artifact to construct such a vast, complex virtual realm that could accommodate numerous "divine souls and intentions" (in his view, players controlling characters were akin to a faint projection of divine sense) to interact?

This was no longer a simple skillful "artifact," it was akin to... creating something from nothing! Although it was illusory, its underlying operational logic, its information-carrying capacity, and its real-time interaction far exceeded his imagination!

This was completely different from any illusion formation, confusing formation, or even minor world he knew! This was a "digital world" constructed based on pure rules and logic!

What further narrowed his gaze was that when Lin Fan controlled his character to release a wide-area skill called "Myriad Swords Technique," the screen was instantly filled with sword qi and flashing lights (although the effects, in Tongtian's eyes, were as crude as a child's scribbles).

Myriad Swords Technique?

Tongtian's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Such a crude trick, and it was called "Myriad Swords"? In his eyes, it was merely the superposition of countless pre-set, rigid light and shadow trajectories, devoid of any spirit, let alone sword intent.

However, the very existence of this "virtual world," and the form of "combat" it could simulate, allowed him to see a glimmer of... possibility?

He had lost all his magic power now and was unable to cultivate and fight for real, but in this virtual world, could he... simulate and deduce? Even if it was just the crudest form based on rules, perhaps it could help him nurture and familiarize himself with his suppressed sword Dao true intent?

At least it was better than sitting idly sensing this "spirit-devouring land."

When Lin Fan finished his daily tasks and was about to go offline to browse web pages to relax, a calm but undeniable voice sounded behind him:

"This 'realm,' let me have a look."

Lin Fan was startled and turned around abruptly, seeing Tongtian standing behind him at some unknown time, staring intently at his computer screen. His deep eyes flickered with a research desire he had never seen before, almost... fervent?

"Ah? You... you want to look at this?" Lin Fan was a bit stunned, pointing at the game interface on the screen. "This is just a... game, for entertainment."

"Game?" Tongtian repeated the new term, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "Is that its name? I wish to try."

Try?! Master Tongtian wants to play an online game?!

Lin Fan felt like he had heard the most fantastical news of the year. He looked at Tongtian's serious and earnest face, as if he wasn't talking about playing a game but discussing the supreme sword Dao, then looked at the cartoonish game character on the screen. The intense sense of incongruity almost made him laugh out loud.

But he didn't dare to laugh. He cautiously confirmed, "You... really want to play?"

"Yes," Tongtian nodded, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"...Alright." What else could Lin Fan say? He quickly got up and made way. "You sit here. This game is operated like this..." He began to clumsily explain the basic functions of the keyboard and mouse, as well as operations like moving, attacking, and releasing skills in the game.

He spoke haltingly, his heart pounding, afraid that this ancestor would lose patience, or feel that this "virtual sword Dao" insulted his intelligence, and simply blast the computer with a glare.

However, to his surprise, Tongtian listened with extreme focus. His powerful true spirit foundation and learning ability were fully displayed at this moment. After Lin Fan explained it only once, he had already memorized the positions and functions of dozens of keys on the keyboard, and his mouse control quickly went from awkward to smooth.

"The basic operations are like this," Lin Fan swallowed. "Do you... want to create a new character?"

"Yes," Tongtian said concisely.

Lin Fan helped him create a new swordsman character (Tongtian seemed to approve of this profession), skipped the tedious character creation process (Tongtian showed no interest in it), and directly entered the novice village.

Next, Lin Fan witnessed the most subversive scene of his gaming career.

Tongtian controlled the level one little swordsman and walked out of the novice spawn point. Instead of following the quest guide like ordinary novices, he stood still, controlled his character to face the air, and began to practice the most basic attack action—normal attack.

One hit, two hits, three hits...

His expression was serious, his eyes focused, as if he wasn't playing a game but performing some sacred ritual. He wasn't clicking mechanically, but feeling! Feeling the trajectory, speed, and force of the virtual character's sword strikes, feeling the attack startup and recovery frames set by the game engine, feeling the cooldown time and range judgment of skill releases...

Lin Fan watched from the side, dumbfounded. This... is this how a saint plays games? Analyzing from the most fundamental rules?

After practicing basic movements for about ten minutes, Tongtian seemed to have a preliminary understanding of the "performance" of this virtual body. He began to accept novice quests and deal with low-level monsters.

Then, Lin Fan saw what was called "extreme operation."

When facing monster attacks, Tongtian's controlled character could always dodge with a hair's breadth, each normal attack seemed to hit the optimal interval of the game mechanics, and the timing and angle of skill releases were outrageously precise. Despite being the lowest-level character and the worst equipment, the effect was as efficient as if he were wearing divine gear.

He wasn't "playing" the game at all; he was... deconstructing the game! Using his reaction speed, calculation ability, and combat instincts, which were countless times superior to mortals, to forcibly control this virtual character!

He cleared the novice village quests with astonishing speed, his level skyrocketing. Lin Fan even felt that if it weren't for game mechanics (like unskippable quest dialogues and monster respawn times), he could have left the novice village within an hour!

Nüwa was also drawn by the commotion and walked over curiously. When she saw the tiny figure on the screen, controlled by Tongtian, weaving through the monster horde with a continuous stream of sword light (special effects), her eyes widened in surprise.

"Senior Brother has such talent in this path..." she said softly to Lin Fan, a hint of amusement in her tone.

Lin Fan gave a dry chuckle, unsure how to respond. This wasn't talent, it was a dimensional attack!

As time passed, Tongtian became completely immersed in this virtual world. He had no interest in quests or storylines; his pleasure came from challenging the "limits of the rules" of this world. He specifically sought out elite monsters that were higher level than him and seemed impossible to challenge alone, grinding them down with near-perfect movement, blocking (if the game had such a mechanic), and skill rotations.

During this process, he would also critique the flashy "sword skills" in the game.

"Flashy but impractical, a waste of energy (mana)."

"The angle of this move is off by three points, leaving a huge opening."

"Hmph, only this move, 'Sword Sweep of the Eight Directions', has a semblance of 'area clearing' intent, but it's all form and no substance."

Lin Fan broke out in a cold sweat listening beside him, feeling like the games he'd played for years were utter trash full of loopholes in the other's eyes.

However, despite his critiques, Tongtian became more and more engrossed in "playing." Though his perpetually frozen face still showed no expression, Lin Fan could feel that the sharp, unapproachable aura around him seemed to have become more restrained due to his focus.

He even... forgot to meditate?

When Lin Fan left briefly due to needing the restroom and returned, he found Tongtian still in the same posture, fingers flying across the keyboard and mouse. The character on the screen was soloing a boss in a dungeon, its health bar fluctuating precariously, but his control was as steady as a rock.

Lin Fan glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of the computer and was startled. Unknowingly, nearly four hours had passed!

And Tongtian showed no signs of stopping.

"Um... Senior Tongtian, would you like to take a break? Have some water?" Lin Fan asked tentatively.

"No need," Tongtian replied casually without turning his head, his gaze locked onto the battle on the screen. In his voice, there was even a hint of... imperceptible excitement?

Lin Fan exchanged a glance with Nüwa, seeing a hint of helplessness and... amusement in each other's eyes.

Nüwa gently shook her head and whispered, "Although Senior Brother's heart is devoted to the sword, he also has his stubborn side. I never imagined that a mundane pastime of this realm could draw him into such... focus."

Lin Fan, meanwhile, had a ridiculous thought: could this Master Tongtian... have developed an internet addiction?

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Supporting one Saint was already strenuous enough; if he had to support an internet-addicted Saint... would his meager salary be enough to cover electricity and internet fees?

Moreover, if Yuanshi Tianzun or Dao Ancestor Hongjun found out their junior brother/disciple Tongtian was addicted to online games in the mortal world, would they directly smite this building with heavenly lightning?

Just then, on the computer screen, the character controlled by Tongtian, with an extremely precise movement that exploited the boss's blind spot, dodged a fatal blow. Then, a combo of skills successfully defeated the low-health boss!

The golden words "Victory" flashed across the screen.

Tongtian slowly leaned back in his chair. Though his face remained expressionless, Lin Fan felt as if he could hear a sigh of satisfaction from his heart. He casually moved the mouse, preparing to exit the dungeon.

However, the moment his mouse moved, the computer screen suddenly went black!

Immediately after, a huge, ominous red window popped up in the center of the screen, displaying in both Chinese and English:

[Warning: Abnormal game data detected! Your account is suspected of using third-party illegal programs (cheating software) and has been system-banned! Ban duration: 365 days!]

Lin Fan: "!!!"

Tongtian: "???"

The air in the room instantly froze.

Tongtian stared at the glaring red warning on the screen, his brow slowly furrowing. The sharp aura that had just subsided began to rise again.

He turned his head to look at Lin Fan, his deep eyes filled with chilling coldness:

"What is the meaning of this? 'Cheating software'... what is that?"