Star Network Ascends the Rankings, Free Legion

Emperor's Tomb Village, Weapon Forging Room.

Amidst the clanging and banging sounds, the vision gradually cleared.

What unfolds before your eyes is a bustling scene, with burly scene forgers hammering away in a separate scene.

After scanning the area, Star Network stopped at the circle of light in front of one of the forging platforms.

Immediately, the NPC standing behind the forging table looked up, flashing him a set of White Fang: "Welcome to the weapon forging room. How can I help you?"

Jingle!

As soon as he finished speaking, the forging interface appeared before Star Network like a drawn curtain.

Above are the weapon forging templates available.

It mainly consists of two parts: the main material (weapon blank) and enchantment particles.

Normally, when players forge Rune Resonance Weapon, they first look at the main materials, which determine the weapon's primary attribute direction.

However, Star Network skipped the selection of the main materials and jumped directly to the enchanting particles interface.

Immediately, various types of options appeared on the interface.

Armor-Breaking Particle:

Characteristic: Sharpness +5

Description: Armor-Breaking Particle are imprinted with Enlightenment properties, enabling them to form a microscopic serrated structure on the surface of the weapon body, thereby enhancing the weapon's penetrating power.

Flame Particle:

Special Feature: Deals an additional 5 points of fire damage.

Description: Flame Particle are imprinted with the properties of the Enlightenment Rules, enabling them to form a scorching energy film on the weapon's surface, causing flame burn damage to the attacked target.

Freedom Particle:

Features: The weapon's appearance can be freely adjusted according to the player's wishes and changed at any time.

Gale Particle, Infusion Particle, Toughness Particle —the number of enchantment particles available has increased from the initial 1,300 to over 1,500.

But Star Network's attention was drawn to the Freedom Particle within them.

This is an enchanted particle that costs 1000 points of Sacrificial Power each. Its effect is to change the appearance of weapons, allowing them to freely change shape according to the player's will.

To select Star Network, click "Freedom Particle" and drag the progress bar to the bottom.

(PS: Chapter 221 details the Freedom Particle and other enchanted particles; that was a concept from about a year ago.)

A total of 323,585 Sacrificial Power; all were invested.

"Alright, you have excellent taste, sir! Freedom Particle are a great product, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

At that moment, the blacksmith in front grabbed the Iron Hammer and slammed it hard onto the anvil.

Clang!

The reverberation echoed through the forging chamber.

The furnace beside the forging platform suddenly spewed out 323 jet-black particles, which spun and hovered in the air before stopping in front of the Star Network.

The blacksmith put down his Iron Hammer, smiled, and asked, "Well then, sir, the enchanting particles are ready. What type of weapon would you like to forge? Swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, forks—just name your name, and I guarantee I'll forge it beautifully for you."

Star Network did not respond.

He raised his hand, pressed "Settle" directly on the forging interface, and then mentally clicked: Exit.

Vision briefly blurred before clearing.

Star Network left the forging space and stood once again on the streets of Emperor's Family Village.

He then summoned the Monster Soul interface and spent 500 points of Sacrificial Power to purchase the "Petrification" Monster Soul, which was then embedded into the second Star Vein Slot.

With this, the initial planning was finalized.

This was his first Optimal Solution: the free mode.

This pattern was inspired by Black Tide.

The power of the Black Tide lies not in the combat strength of a single individual, but in its invincibility.

Any opponent facing the Black Tide is like facing an enemy whose weaknesses can never be found.

Just as you get used to its offensive rhythm, it switches to a different troop configuration, tearing through your defenses in a completely different way.

He had thought about this question as early as the initial launch of Monster World.

How can one achieve a legion system as impeccable as Black Tide?

The conclusion is: Impossible.

To achieve this, a comprehensive Soldier Type Repository is essential.

The Black Tide is able to do this because its basic unit is the Black Tide Particles.

Each particle can be freely combined to instantly generate any type of unit.

The existence of the Evil Spirit commander means that this system doesn't need to train soldiers; with just a thought from the commander, particles can be transformed into any type of soldier he desires.

Regardless of the type of opponent, they can instantly switch forms, ensuring their team always maintains a position of systemic advantage.

Taking the Di Nian Bully as an example, even a civilization stronger than it would be at a disadvantage when confronting it, being restrained by its system.

This has inadvertently narrowed the gap in hard power between the two sides.

In addition, there's the Black Tide's ability to devour and grow.

If the Di Nian Bully cannot be defeated quickly, the outcome of the war is already decided the moment it begins.

This is also the most terrifying aspect of the Black Tide.

However, this model is something that other forces simply cannot imitate.

Of the answers he replicated back then, the only feasible one was to build an "Eternal Tower" as his body, then use the God Metal rules in the hands of the Mechanical Overlord to create rule particles, and then mass-produce Mechanical Nano-Insects, which could theoretically be infinitely combined into mechanical warriors of any form.

(PS: The relevant plot is in Chapter 212: Star Network Legion)

However, this model still has serious shortcomings.

When facing hostile forces like the Black Tide, which possess "Supreme Rule- level devouring characteristics," the God Metal particles also become nourishment.

This problem had troubled him for many years.

Until the moment he entered the player world and acquired the player's body, a path that belonged only to him gradually became clear.

He currently possesses powerful computing capabilities and the body of a player.

This means that he no longer needs the early concepts like Eternal Tower.

In the current Player Camp, the rune weapon system can be regarded as the player's signature weapon, which can be upgraded, engraved, and improved infinitely.

The Freedom Particle in the Enchantment Shop are very similar in design to the Black Tide Particles.

It can be shaped at will, and can be changed in countless ways.

Split, recombine, aggregate—essentially, Freedom Particle can be everything.

At that moment, he calculated the Optimal Solution.

Using Freedom Particle as the "basic unit," and then through the Monster Soul provided by the Astral Veins system, Freedom Particle are endowed with various rules and characteristics.

In theory, he could do the same thing as Black Tide.

Each particle can change according to his will, and can be assembled into any type of soldier or weapon; if there are enough of them, they can form an army.

They can even coalesce into a bird or a venomous snake—theoretically, they can create any life form if they so choose.

The Black Tide System is replicated in a player-centric way.

All you need are three things: Freedom Particle, Monster Soul, and a Artificial Intelligence that can provide computing power.

Freedom Particle are responsible for morphological changes, Monster Soul are responsible for endowing characteristics, and computing power provides specific combination schemes and execution steps.

By combining these three elements, he can Time Slice, just like the Black Tide.

A single particle can be a needle.

Hundreds of grains can form a net.

A thousand grains can be transformed into a shield or a spear.

With a sufficient number of Freedom Particle, the more Star Vein Slot there are, the richer the embedded Monster Soul, and the more likely he is to maintain a system advantage when facing any enemy.

Most importantly, rune weapons will be reforged and returned after a player dies.

No matter how you use it, there will be no loss.

This is the real: a war for freedom.

Half an hour later.

The Star Network reappeared in the ancient Yellow Sand Road region, with 323 jet-black particles evenly attached to its body, supporting its body as it flew at high speed through the raging sand.

Unlike telekinetic flight, Freedom Particle possess inherent flight characteristics and can freely aggregate in the air.

Therefore, there is no energy consumption during high-speed flight.

At this moment, the Eagle Head Demon's Monster Soul in the Star Vein Slot lit up, and the Perception ripples, centered on him, instantly swept in all directions.

Every undulation of the sand, every movement of the wind—even the lurking aura of monsters beneath the sand—was precisely captured.

It was transformed into data and transmitted into the Star Network consciousness.

127 three-headed serpents, 32 sandstone giants, 41 Poison Thorn sand scorpions – a total of 212 monsters.

The Star Network mode operates at high speed, instantly analyzing the weaknesses and movement trajectories of the monsters it has encountered, and even calculating the optimal attack angle for each particle.

In the blink of an eye, the Freedom Particle attached to his body detached from his body, hovered in front of him, and transformed into a stream of pitch-black particles.

The next second, the Stone Gargoyle's Monster Soul activated, and its special effects were transmitted to the 323 Freedom Particle.

The originally black and soft particles instantly hardened, and Petrification patterns appeared on their surface at a microscopic level, making them all Petrification particle bullets.

The thought was given, and 323 particles shot out like bullets, whistling through the Breaking the Void, towards the location of the 212 monsters.

Each particle targets a monster's fatal weakness: the eye socket of a three-headed serpent, the life core of a sandstone behemoth, or the joint gaps of Poison Thorn sand scorpion.

These are the optimal strike points calculated by the Eagle Head Demon after it Perception and locked onto the target.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

A dense cacophony of Breaking the Void sounds filled the air as dark particles, like a torrential downpour, pierced through the sand and struck the monster.

Just as a three-headed sand serpent was about to raise its head, several particles precisely pierced its eye sockets, entering its body and transforming into a strangling millstone.

A sandstone behemoth was still asleep when several particles shot out simultaneously, hitting its chest precisely and piercing its core.

The Poison Thorn sand scorpion tried to burrow into the sand to escape, but particles pierced through the gaps in its hard shell, killing it instantly.

After all the Freedom Particle completed their objectives, they instantly returned under the Control of the Star Network's will.

Then it shoots again at the next monster.

Launch, hit, return, relaunch—the entire process proceeded flawlessly.

The 323 particles, like 323 repetitive sharp blades, darted through and reaped the monsters, moving so fast that their afterimages were barely visible.

The Eagle Head Demon's Perception constantly covered the entire area, correcting the trajectory of every single particle in real time.

Even if a monster tries to dodge, the Perception can instantly capture its movements, and the Star Network computing power can simultaneously calculate and adjust the particle flight angle to ensure that every strike hits the vital point accurately.

Star Network levitates in mid-air using telekinesis, simultaneously Control the trajectory of 323 particles and calculating the attack efficiency of each particle with each attack.

Under the precise slaughter of the Freedom Particle, the 212 monsters detected by the Perception scan were like lambs to the slaughter, utterly powerless to resist.

The monster horde, which currently requires a team of dozens to handle with caution, is incredibly vulnerable under the hunting rhythm of Petrification particles that precisely target its weaknesses.

In just 23 seconds, the Freedom Particle returned and reattached to the surface of the Star Network, thus removing the Petrification effect.

Clumps of mist drifted in with the wind and sand, and the Monster Soul levels of the Star Network continued to rise.

Star Network slowly opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of any emotion.

Lifted by Freedom Particle, it sped towards the next hunting spot.

This is the core reason why he preserved the Eagle Head Demon and inlaid the Stone Gargoyle's Monster Soul.

The Eagle Head Demon is the eye of this Free Legion.

Without the Eagle Head Demon's all-around Perception, the 323 tiny particles would lose their way in low-visibility environments.

With the aid of Perception, each particle can accurately hit the weakness, maximizing the advantage of computing power and avoiding ineffective actions.

The Stone Gargoyle's Monster Soul provides sharpness and hardness.

While Freedom Particle can be shaped at will, they lack sufficient destructive power.

This is like a sword without a blade; it has the form but cannot deliver an effective blow.

With the added benefit of Petrification, each particle possesses unparalleled hardness.

Transformed into reusable "particle bullets" to maximize harvesting efficiency.

Compared to particles that provide additional defense, the Stone Gargoyle Monster Soul, which can be purchased for 500 points of Sacrificial Power, is the Optimal Solution.

The two complement each other, and together with his extreme computing power, they formed the prototype of the "Free Legion".

At this moment, Star Network flew deeper into the ancient desert road.

The Eagle Head Demon's Perception were activated again, and it began searching for the next batch of monsters.

When encountering monsters along the way, there's no need to stop flying; the Petrification particle bullets will automatically fire, and the monsters will return after being killed.

Before long, a lone target appeared in the Perception field of view.

On the sand ahead, a lone sandstone cub was clumsily digging in the sand.

The moment the Eagle Head Demon's Perception detected its presence, the Star Network's will issued an order.

The three particles detached from the body surface, instantly activating the Petrification property, transforming into three jet-black afterimages that shot out with a faint Breaking the Void sound.

It drilled into the monster's eye socket, stirred up its brain, and then exited from the back of its head.

The young monster's body stiffened for a moment, then it softly collapsed onto the sand, turning into mist and drifting away.

The three particles, following the will of the Star Network, returned and reattached to his wrist, thus dispelling the Petrification effect.

Unlike other players who consume a lot of energy when Control telekinesis, Star Network uses willpower to control particles throughout the entire game.

The inherent properties of Freedom Particle allow them to perfectly receive will commands without the need for telekinesis as a medium, significantly reducing mental energy consumption.

He doesn't even need to activate the Brain Overclocking feature; the Star Network mode will automatically correct his trajectory.

The flight never stops, the harvest never ceases.

The Poison Thorn sand scorpions, three-headed snakes, and even the An Xing worms lurking beneath the sand encountered along the way could not escape the Eagle Head Demon's Perception, nor could they escape the precise strikes of the Petrification particles.

Sometimes it's a precise kill with a few pellets, sometimes it's a coordinated annihilation with hundreds of pellets. Regardless of the strength of the target, it can be dealt with in a short time, without delaying the flight progress, and the hunting rewards of each monster can be pocketed.

At this moment, the race for the top spot on the Star Network officially began.

Just as Star Network launched its "Ranking Soaring" mode, the Forum exploded because of him.

Various topics about him emerged like mushrooms after rain.

Star Network's performance has once again surprised Forum users.

On the Newbie Leveling Ranking, his ranking is jumping at an astonishing speed.

An hour ago, "11111" was ranked 799th, but now it has soared to 701st.

The leap is enormous, and it's still soaring at an astonishing rate.

The record of over 4.9 billion in just 9 days had already left Forum users speechless.

But at this moment, the "11111" seemed completely out of control to them.

A meticulous player took a screenshot of the shoulder area and immediately noticed a detail.

This player, named 11111, seems to have abandoned his teammates.

On the Leqian Rising Stars leaderboard, the players below 11111 are clearly from the same team; all of them are climbing in sync, and their total Evolution Points are roughly the same.

However, the players ranked number one have now stagnated, and their rankings have even slightly declined.

Only 11111, like a wild horse, galloped alone towards the top of the list.

The gap between them and other players on the rising leaderboard is widening at a visible rate, and they are no longer relevant to each other.

But that's not the point.

What's driving Forum users crazy is the "View Details" option.

After clicking, you can see the Astral Veins placement of the players on the leaderboard.

Players who clicked on the "11111" Astral Veins search were dumbfounded.

The original Astral Veins Search for No. 1 had already left Forum users speechless.

The Astral Veins, composed of five Monster Soul, shows no distinguishing features.

Without the boost from the rankings, Forum users would definitely curse, "Idiot, what a ridiculous job!"

At this moment, the Astral Veins location of No. 1 was updated.

But it wasn't the "awesome" combination they were looking for; it was so simple it left them speechless and full of question marks.

First Star Vein Slot: Eagle Head Demon.

Second Star Vein Slot: Stone Gargoyle.

Third Star Vein Slot: Porcelain Eyes.

That's all.

One of the popular posts used a series of question marks as its title.

Find a screenshot of Astral Veins configuration for Star #1, and then use four words as the content: Holy crap, cheating!

1st floor: Account banned!

21st floor: Holy crap!

Floor 35: "Am I still asleep? Eagle Head Demon + Stone Gargoyle + shrewd eye, is this Astral Veins combination that a human could come up with? If a player had told me this before, I would have slapped them and called them 'idiot.' Even a brain-dead person wouldn't think of this combination, and you're telling me this thing can climb the rankings?"

Floor 46: Wait, let me sort this out. The Eagle Head Demon is Perception support, and the Stone Gargoyle is a damage-absorbing and defensive unit—so what can these two Monster Soul do with their Seeking skill? Just stand still, activate Perception to see more clearly, and then petrify themselves to let Petrification bite? The problem is, what about damage output? How can you hunt without damage?

Floor 61: No---- How can you hunt without a source of damage from Monster Soul? If it's a complex combination, I can at least imagine some possibilities, then do a brilliant analysis, and then post a strategy guide. How am I supposed to analyze this? I racked my Brain Overclocking for a long time, and the final conclusion is that this player is really fucking cheating.

75th floor: Is Bo Fang Star Network's favorite son? He's blatantly using his account and they don't even ban him? Does the ranking list have any credibility anymore?

82nd floor: Stop doubting it, this is definitely a cheat, I'll eat ten pounds of shit if I'm not, I'm posting this as proof.

95th floor: I'm so annoyed. I tried to imitate this setup out of curiosity, and I realized I'm such an idiot. This combination is absolute garbage. It's impossible to kill monsters with it. Five level 1 characters are just cheating.

The Forum exploded.

The usually active strategy and research enthusiasts all fell silent.

It's not that I don't want to post to answer the questions of the Forum players, but I simply can't figure out what kind of wonderful effect the combination of the two Monster Soul and Shi, could produce.

Having frequented Forum for many years, they've seen all sorts of matchmaking requests.

I've also seen many exceptionally talented players who, with overwhelming advantages, took the top spot on the leaderboard in their respective year's newbie event.

However, the growth of these players all follows a predictable logic.

Even if it cannot be imitated, the specific principles can still be analyzed based on theoretical support.

This particular player, number 1, used a simple build that essentially meant "standing still and waiting to die," yet it soared to the top of the event rankings.

--

His ranking fluctuates every minute.

However, no one on the Forum could explain why this was the case.

All the analyses ultimately point to one possibility: This is a scam!