As dawn broke, the ward door was gently pushed open.
Lin Guodong and Zhou Li entered the ward and saw that their son was awake, staring at the ceiling with his eyes open. The two visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
" Xiao Ji, how are you feeling? Does your head still hurt? Is there anything else that feels uncomfortable?" Zhou Li walked quickly to the bedside, reaching out to touch her son's forehead, but afraid of hurting him, her hand hovered in mid-air, and her eyes instantly reddened.
"Mom, Dad, I'm fine." Lin Ji turned around, his voice a little hoarse.
When he saw his parents' faces clearly, his heart clenched.
I feel younger.
In my memory, I've had a long gaming career.
Although their parents underwent life-extending surgery and gained player status in their previous life, they still had some wrinkles around their eyes.
The only difference was that his parents were proud of him back then.
But in his parents' eyes at that time, he was still a son who had no future.
They were dressed simply, their faces showing the weariness from staying up all night and the paleness from shock, but their concern was pure and direct.
It feels like a lifetime ago.
These four words have never been so concrete.
In just one day, it felt like he had traversed another long chapter of his life and was reunited with his still-young parents.
Suddenly, a strong wave of bitterness surged into his heart, making him choke up.
"Are you really alright? The doctor said you had a slight concussion, but thankfully you had the safety net and nano-repair—" Lin Guodong looked his son over, his tone stern, but the concern in his eyes was undisguised. "You brat, can't you watch where you're going!"
"Dad, I can't exactly walk around looking up at the sky, can I?" Lin Ji joked, trying to ease his parents' tension. He then continued, "I'm really fine, Dad. I want to be discharged—today's the day for the lottery for discharge, and I don't want to miss it."
Lin Guodong and Zhou Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thing in each other's eyes: hesitation.
But more than anything, it's about understanding.
They knew how long their son had waited for this day, and this accident had almost made him miss the opportunity.
Put yourself in their shoes. If you miss out on this opportunity after a four-year wait, you'll inevitably spend the next few years in regret.
"Nonsense! You're not fully recovered yet, why are you leaving the hospital? You can still grab the qualification at the terminal, there's no need to go home, it's the same no matter where you are." Zhou Li was soft-hearted, but she still scolded her sharply.
"Mom, I'm really okay now. I feel much better. I can't calm down lying here." Lin Ji tried to make his tone sound relaxed and convincing, "I just asked the doctor, and he said I'm fine and just need to go home and rest."
"Wait a minute, I'll go ask about the details." Unable to persuade her son otherwise, Zhou Li had no choice but to go find the doctor in charge.
After a thorough examination and questioning, the doctor confirmed that Lin Ji's injuries had stabilized thanks to the combined effects of nano-repair and his youthful physique. There was no risk of intracranial hemorrhage, and he could go home to rest. However, he must return for follow-up examinations on time and avoid strenuous exercise.
"Look, the doctor said it's okay," Lin Ji said with a smile after the examination.
Zhou Li sighed and finally went to complete the discharge procedures.
Medical care in the city is completely free, so the application process is very simple; you only need to confirm with an electronic signature.
Half an hour later, Lin Ji returned to the warm and familiar room 1704 of Building B-47.
Pushing open the door, you enter a small foyer, a slightly cramped but neatly organized living room, and the faint scent of the synthetic cleaning agent your mother often uses, along with the unique warmth and homeliness of a family.
Everything was the same as when he left "yesterday," yet it was tinged with a nostalgic hue because of the heavy memories of the future.
This is where he started.
It was also a place he would often think of after he made a name for himself in the Monster World in his previous life and changed his family's fate.
Later, he used the money he earned in the game to buy a new house in real life, and also bought his parents a house with a private Xiao Hua in a better community.
He himself even uses the latest Moon Eclipse Clan Game Pod, which comes with an automatic exercise function.
No matter how glorious things become later, or how advanced the equipment used, I will still think of this old house.
I miss the clumsy days of sitting in front of my old computer, munching on a synthetic energy bar while studying Forum guides.
I also recall my mother's busy figure in the cramped kitchen, and my father's hushed conversations with his friends via video call.
And the ever-burning neon lights of Muxin City outside the window Reflection my youthful, pure, and fervent longing for another world.
This place is not just a residence, but the starting point of all his dreams and struggles, carrying his original, pure passion.
"What are you daydreaming about? Come in, don't stand in the wind by the door." His mother's voice, filled with concern, interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Ji snapped out of his daze, smiled, and stepped into the living room.
His gaze swept over the familiar furnishings and finally landed on the study door.
"Mom, I want to be alone for a while."
"Go ahead, lie down if you're tired. We'll call you for meals. Remember to remind us when you're trying to get the qualification, don't forget about me and your dad." Zhou Li nodded understandingly, feeling that her son had just experienced an accident and was preoccupied with the qualification, so he needed some alone time.
His parents wanted Lin Ji to go back to bed, but he insisted on sitting at the computer desk piled high with various physical books.
Although this old all-in-one machine has mediocre performance, its stability is its greatest asset, making it his "old partner" for researching Monster World strategies over the years.
The time has come to 7:37 a. m.
The final countdown to the distribution of Monster World access is about to end, with less than 2 hours remaining.
The room was quiet. The parents were talking in hushed tones in the living room, discussing what nutritious meal they would make for their son for lunch.
But beneath this quiet, Lin Ji could sense a global tension.
Even without seeing it, he knew that countless people around the world were just like him, hoping to be Lucky One to receive the qualification in this round.
Step through that dream gate leading to the Monster World.
He turned on his computer and logged into the official website.
The huge countdown numbers jumped on the screen, and each decrease felt like a hammer blow to his heart.
Thump-thump—thump-thump—the sound of my heartbeat amplified in my ears, and my palms were unknowingly sweating.
A question that frightened him quietly surfaced in his mind.
He—time-traveled.
Will the course of history be altered because of this "reborn" butterfly?
If someone who should have qualified in this round is excluded from the qualification screening system due to some minor disturbance, such as a change in mindset caused by knowing the information in advance, a 0.01-second change in the time of clicking the mouse—or even a difference in breathing rate—then he could be eliminated.
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
He possesses memories of the future, which is an unparalleled starting advantage for other new players.
This is even more true in the practical sense.
He knows better than anyone which industry will boom, which technology will break through, and even the key milestones.
With these abilities, he might be able to amass wealth in the real world, build a business empire, and live a life of luxury.
But so what?
This information about the future is nothing more than a more luxurious cage of the "old era".
He knew better than anyone that the real future did not lie in this increasingly rigid and Deathly Stillness reality.
The true future lies in the Monster World.
That place is the source of power and the testing ground for all new technologies—in the face of real-world wealth and power, which can be freely exchanged with Sacrificial Power in the Monster World, things that Transcendence the limits of real-world technology and life are pale and laughable.
More importantly, the Monster World may also hold the ultimate secret about the nature of the world.
It is the central stage for all future changes, and it cannot be compared to anything in the real world.
Reborn with lottery numbers, but with a bunch of extra digits.
Being reborn and discovering the blue ocean of business is simply a different way of accumulating the bargaining chips of the old era.
If you're reborn and can't get a ticket to the Monster World, it's like standing at the threshold of a new era, only to find that you don't even have the right to enter. You can only watch helplessly as others embark on the high-speed road to the Stars and the sea, or even Transcendence dimensions, while you're left behind.
If that's true, then it's the biggest joke a reborn person could ever make.
In this era, those who are reborn must overcome two hurdles.
One was at the moment of rebirth, and the other was at the moment the qualification for the Monster World was issued.
A joke made by a player on the Monster World Forum left a deep impression on him, "If you traveled back to the early days of the game, without player status, no matter how much you planned in the real world, you would still be a nobody."
These words perfectly capture my feelings at this moment.
He stared intently at the countdown on the screen, not daring to blink.
Scenes from my previous life, waiting for my application to qualify, flashed uncontrollably through my mind—the same tension, but with even more anticipation for the unknown.
At this moment, the tension was amplified countless times, mixed with a deep fear of possible loss.
He couldn't help but compare the information to the future in his mind.
When he applied for the qualification in his previous life, what posture he used to click the mouse, whether he opened the window at the time—everything that seemed meaningless became the object of his reference.
Time ticked by, second by second.
The world outside the window gradually fell silent.
The hum of the hovering traffic disappeared, the noise from the street below stopped, and even the flashing of the giant billboards outside the window seemed to slow down.
In the last half hour, Lin Ji decisively reminded his parents to hurry up and prepare to grab a spot.
The parents also stopped what they were doing and sat on the living room sofa with their terminals in hand, waiting.
Lin Ji clearly remembered that in his previous life, his parents did not qualify in this round of qualification distribution.
As for this time, he was unsure of the outcome.
He wasn't even very confident that he would qualify.
29 points----28 points----27 points----.
Lin Ji's fingers tapped the table in time with the countdown numbers, his lips pressed together until they turned white.
03 points----02 points----01 points----.
Sixty seconds left!
Lin Ji felt like he was about to stop breathing; all his muscles tensed, and his pupils were filled with only shrinking numbers.
10--9--8------7--
He counted silently, his finger hovering over the "submit" button on the mouse.
3----2----1--
zero!
The moment the countdown reached zero, the official website page suddenly changed.
A slowly rotating crimson vortex appeared in the center of the screen, and below the vortex was a [Qualification Draw] button that shimmered with golden light.
At countless terminals around the world, the sounds of clicking mice or touching screens rang out almost simultaneously.
At that moment, Lin Ji pressed the button hard.
The screen went dark instantly, leaving only the slowly rotating starlight vortex in the center and a line of small text:
[Application submitted and currently being screened. Please wait patiently.]
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at that moment.
Lin Ji remained motionless, as if he were a statue, maintaining his clicking posture.
Only his violently heaving chest and the beads of sweat sliding down his forehead proved his extreme tension.
Can it be done?
Will history still favor this "time traveler"?
In fact, in another part of my memory, I had already developed a heart that became increasingly calm in desperate situations, having faced various life-or-death situations.
Life-or-death battles are merely another part of the daily routine in another memory.
At this moment, there were no enemies or dangers, but the tension and torment in my heart far surpassed any previous life-or-death situation.
Because in those battles, no matter how dangerous, the initiative is at least partially in one's own hands.
Strength, experience, judgment, courage—these are all variables that can be relied upon.
And the guaranteed Respawn Point in Emperor's Family Village is an absolute safety net.
But at this moment, the advantage he relied on—being given a second chance at life—seemed pale and powerless in the face of the unpredictable selection mechanism of the official website system.
He was like a gambler who had staked his entire future on the table. In the final moment before the dice were revealed, all he could do was hold his breath and stare intently.
This sense of powerlessness, of surrendering one's fate entirely to the unknown, this extreme tension hanging on the edge of hope and despair, allowed him to rediscover the long-forgotten fear that belonged to the primal "mortals."
At this moment, he was neither one of the future player leaders who would dominate the game, nor a returnee who had witnessed the ultimate terror of the world.
He was just Lin Ji, an ordinary young man in an old apartment in Muxin City, desperately trying to seize an opportunity to change his fate.
All glory, power, and secrets only have meaning after crossing the threshold of qualification.
The vortex on the screen continued to spin slowly and steadily. He knew that at this moment, tens of billions of people around the world were waiting anxiously, just like him.
Every second that passes feels like a dull knife cutting into your flesh.
Just as Lin Ji was becoming increasingly tense.
The screen suddenly lit up!
The vortex suddenly contracted inward, then exploded with a roar, transforming into a shower of golden light that poured down from the sky.
At the same time, a line of text cast in gold light, accompanied by rousing background music, filled the entire screen:
[Congratulations! You have successfully gained access to the Monster World. A brand new chapter of destiny is about to unfold for you (please be sure to log in within 24 hours to activate your access).]
A deathly silence lasted for about a second in Lin Ji's room.
immediately----.
"I won! I won!!!"
A roar of excitement, almost enough to lift the roof off, burst from Lin Ji's throat.
He sprang up from the chair with such force that he knocked it over with a loud crash.
But he didn't care at all. He swung his fist forcefully in the air, his body, which had been tense for who knows how long, trembled slightly due to extreme relaxation and excitement, and his face blossomed with an undisguised smile of ecstasy.
Almost at the same moment his roar ended.
The entire old apartment building seemed to explode like a bomb.
"Holy crap!!! I won, Dad, I won, hahaha!" A male's distorted roar came from upstairs, accompanied by the sound of stomping the floor.
"Damn it, why, why am I not included again? How many times has this happened? Star Network, you bastard, are you targeting me?" A furious, tearful outburst of curses and the sound of things being smashed came from next door.
"Daughter, look! Mom drew the winning number! We're going to be rich! Your brother is saved! Waaah!" A woman's choked sobs and incoherent words could be faintly heard from across the street.
"Quiet down, all of you shut the hell up! Just because you got picked doesn't mean you can be so noisy!" This was the furious roar of someone who had clearly lost out.
Cheers, roars, cries, curses, the sound of things breaking, excited running—all sorts of sounds erupted like a long-suppressed volcano, emanating from every corner of the building within seconds, weaving together into a chaotic and intense ocean of sound.
The old building seemed to tremble slightly, a resonance triggered by countless emotional outbursts.
It's not just the building where Lin Ji is located.
The entire silent world was activated at that moment.
Similar scenes are playing out in every block of Muxin City.
Behind countless windows, some people roared to the sky, some wept bitterly, some stood frozen in shock, and some angrily smashed everything in front of them.
The previously stagnant atmosphere on the streets was instantly ignited, with various sounds merging into a cacophony that swept across the entire city and even the world.
The tension that had gripped the world at once finally subsided.
The Lucky One and the unlucky are separated at the same moment by an invisible selection mechanism.
Hopes may materialize, bringing a pleasant surprise, or they may simply vanish into thin air.
Lin Ji stood in the center of the room, listening to the sounds of "the myriad lives" belonging to this era, feeling the faint vibration of the floor beneath his feet, his chest heaving violently.
The ecstasy in his eyes gradually subsided.
He bent down, picked up the chair that had fallen over, and sat back down in front of the computer.
The golden rain of light on the screen was still slowly falling, and the words of congratulations were still shining.
"The first step, finally—has been taken."
He muttered to himself, a confident smile playing on his lips.
The clamor outside the window sounded to him like the prelude to his coronation.
The real challenge lies on the other side of qualification, awaiting him, this "time traveler" carrying memories of the future, to create it himself.
Bang!
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and his father and mother rushed in expectantly, clearly startled by his earlier roar.
" Xiao Ji, just now—was that you who shouted that?" Lin Guodong's gaze immediately locked onto the still-flushed blush of excitement on his son's face, his voice trembling slightly. "You really won?"
Lin Ji turned to his parents, nodded vigorously, and a bright smile spread across his face, "Yes, Dad, Mom, I won!"
"That's wonderful, wonderful!" Zhou Li covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. Then, she excitedly patted her husband's arm. "Old Lin, did you hear that? Our son passed! He passed!"
"I heard you." Lin Guodong's face was also beaming, his mouth almost stretched to his ears in a wide grin. His usually serious face was now full of joy. He slapped his thigh hard. "Good lad, you finally qualified! It's a pity your dad didn't have that luck; he'll probably have to wait for the next round."
As he spoke, he turned to look at the still-flashing gold qualification confirmation page on the screen, and his eyes welled up with tears.
He knew his son had waited too long for this day; only they knew the anxiety and anticipation he felt.
Now, the huge weight that had been pressing on my heart has finally been lifted with my son's success.
They were happy for their son's happiness.
"Dad, Mom, I want to log on right now." Lin Ji took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and looked at his parents with a firm gaze. "After this round of qualification distribution, there's a Newbie Rush event with very generous rewards. I want to give it a try."
In the time ahead, we must make the most of every second.
In my memory, players who eventually climbed to the top of the leaderboard could maintain their initial advantage for a long time.
Back then, he was also among the top names on the list.
But this time, he's aiming for first place.
As a transmigrator carrying memories of the future, if one lacks even this much spirit and ambition, it would be a waste of this gift from fate.
"Now? Your body—" Zhou Li asked instinctively with concern.
"Mom, I'm fine. It'll be okay for me to lie down in the Game Pod." Lin Ji pointed to the Game Pod in the corner of the room. It was a second-hand, near-new model that he had bought half a year ago. It had good performance and he had been waiting for this day to come.
Lin Guodong stopped his wife, who was about to say something, and walked up to his son. He patted Lin Ji's shoulder forcefully with his rough hand. "Go on, now that you've got the qualification ticket, you should fight for it, compete for it, and experience the Monster World in your own way."
He paused, his voice a little hoarse. "You don't need to worry about anything else. Dad will change the nutrient solution regularly. Just focus on doing your job well and make a name for yourself."
As he spoke, he raised his other hand, clenched his fist, and waved it forcefully at his son in an encouraging gesture, his face showing a somewhat clumsy but hopeful expression. "Go and create your own future, son."
Looking at his father's somewhat cheesy encouraging gesture, Lin Ji felt a lump in his throat, but more than that, he felt a warm sense of understanding filling his heart.
He couldn't help but laugh, a hint of teasing in his voice. "Dad, I'm not used to you being so sentimental all of a sudden."
"You brat!" Lin Guodong's face flushed red. He withdrew his fist, pretending to hit him on the head, but in the end just patted him lightly. "Go on, don't waste time. You've been researching for years, getting into the top million shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Only in the top million? You're seriously underestimating your son."
"Bragging—that's something I do."
Zhou Li wiped away her tears and smiled through them, "Yes, yes, go quickly, Mom will make you something delicious. No, I'll make you something delicious after you log off."
"Yes." Lin Ji nodded emphatically, no longer hesitating.
He went to the corner, bent down, and began to check the basic parameters displayed on the side of the Game Pod, especially the nutrient solution level and the status of the circulation pump.
Then, under the expectant and encouraging gaze of their parents, they entered the Game Pod.
[Identity confirmed: Lin Ji.]
[Logging into virtual desktop.]
[Basic life support system activated - nutrient solution circulation test normal.]
[Neural interface stable - establishing deep consciousness connection -]
Shortly after, Lin Ji clicked the Monster World icon on the virtual desktop and officially entered the game.
After a brief period of darkness, a line of text appears on the screen.
Welcome to the Monster World!
The moment the lettering disappeared, a familiar scene came into view.
Directly in front of him, an endless Crystal Wall rapidly approached from the depths of darkness, finally settling on a spot not far away.
The walls were divided into hundreds of shimmering squares, each a cage containing Primal Monster in various poses.
Some of them are ferocious and terrifying, some are mysterious and elegant, some are as still as stone, and some are as restless as thunder.
Some squares are dimmed, indicating they cannot be selected.
The squares illuminated by blue light represent the First Generation Origin available for selection.
This is also where countless newcomers' dreams begin.
Lin Ji's gaze quickly swept over the familiar monster silhouette.
The three beginner-friendly gods: Black Armor Snake, Stone Gargoyle, and Eagle Head Demon.
High-damage opening combo: Inkflame, Li Man Axe ----
The most powerful support skill at the start of the game: Rejuvenation.
At this stage, there are no rising stars in the Soul Repository, such as Rock Armor Bear, Little Fire Spirit, and Night Lantern, which are powerful Monster Soul.
He had personally used most of the current Monster Soul in another life, and was very familiar with their characteristics.
As he gazed at the crystal wall, weighing the best starting point for this lifetime...
The air around him rippled slightly, and a water sphere the size of a fist, with a warm blue glow on its surface, condensed out of thin air and floated quietly beside him.
The water sphere seems to contain swirling nebulae, which is the player's ultimate support: the Guidance Guy.
At the same time, a semi-transparent "naming interface" unfolded before his eyes.
But Lin Ji did not rush to act; he turned to look at the Guiding Water Orb beside him.
After a brief silence, he suddenly asked a question that seemed somewhat abrupt, " Guidance, you know everything, right?"