Logging into the Dou Qi Continent, the meta class

"So this is the Special Watch that costs a hundred thousand."

Inside a private room at the hotel, Chu Zhou unpacked the encrypted delivery box brought directly by a government courier and took out a sleek, futuristic watch made entirely of silver-colored material.

He put the watch on his wrist and pressed a button, following the instructions the government had posted on major public platforms.

The next moment, he felt something like a pinprick on the back of his hand. Then nothing else happened.

"Now I just have to wait for the Firmament Ledger to launch tomorrow. I wonder how we'll travel to the second world, and whether it'll be what I think it is." Chu Zhou's eyes were full of anticipation.

He spent the rest of the day eating and drinking with Meng Ziwei, then went with her to a foot spa for massages and foot baths.

[I can't wait. I wonder what the Dou Qi Continent, the Firmament Ledger's first server, will be like.]

[Dou Qi sounds like Western fantasy. It probably won't be very friendly to us Chinese players.]

[It's not magic. Besides, our own country's writers write Western fantasy too.]

[The government released the cultivation ranks for the Dou Qi Continent: Dou Qi, Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, Dou Wang, Dou Emperor, Dou Zong, Dou Zun, Dou Sheng, and Dou Di.]

[This reeks of a brainless fantasy power trip.]

[Do you guys think a world like this will have chosen ones blessed by fate?]

[Hard to say. Since cultivation exists, maybe? Everyone who succeeds in this world could count as a chosen one.]

[Heh heh heh, then we, the fourth calamity, are all chosen ones.]

[...]

"Brr."

Seeing that sinister chuckle, Chu Zhou shivered.

That commenter had the makings of a Hall of Souls Protector.

"What's wrong?"

Meng Ziwei reached out and hugged Chu Zhou.

"Nothing. I just think it's time to head back. We can meet up again when we have time." Chu Zhou put his phone away and stopped browsing.

They had already finished their late-night meal. It was time for him to return to his temporary lodgings.

"You're going back?" Meng Ziwei was very pleased with how Chu Zhou had performed lately and felt reluctant to let him go. "You little brat, stay with me for a few more days. I'm planning to start a gaming guild. You can join, and we can explore the Dou Qi Continent together."

Chu Zhou pushed Meng Ziwei away, stretched his arms, and stood up. "Ziwei, we agreed I'd keep you company for seven days. It's already been eight. If you want me to stay longer, that'll cost extra."

Let alone exploring the Dou Qi Continent together.

If his guess was right, he had a very bright future ahead of him. He couldn't afford to expose himself to others.

"I'm off!"

With his back to Meng Ziwei, Chu Zhou waved.

"You..." Meng Ziwei bit her lip.

That damned man. What a bore.

Just wait until you run out of money. You'll come begging to me then.

Over an hour later, Chu Zhou arrived in a small county town near Hangzhou. He had rented a reasonably convenient place to stay without showing his ID. Its owner was a hard-of-hearing elderly person who lived alone.

He sat on the sofa, waiting for time to pass. Soon, midnight came and went.

[Special Chosen One detected. Would you like to travel to the Dou Qi Continent?]

A voice rang out in Chu Zhou's mind.

Chosen One?

What am I, a Digimon?

"Yes," Chu Zhou answered immediately.

The next moment, his body vanished into thin air.

"I've transmigrated again?!"

Chu Zhou's heart jolted as he took in his suddenly altered surroundings.

[Special Chosen One, please select your general arrival location: Northwest Continent, Northern Snowfields, Southeastern Beast Region, Far South, Endless Islands, Southwestern Desert, or random (random selection has an extremely low chance of placing you in the Central Plains, the Savage Ancient Region, or a mysterious small world).]

The voice spoke again, allowing Chu Zhou to steady himself.

Only then did he realize that he was standing amid the stars. Below him floated an immense landmass enclosed in crystalline walls, its edges stretching beyond sight.

Unfortunately, he couldn't take out his phone to record the view. Chu Zhou turned his attention back to the selection.

Random selection offered a chance to enter the Central Plains, which wasn't among the fixed options. Apparently, that was the only way in.

The Supreme Watch, whose existence he wasn't even sure of, might allow someone to select the Central Plains directly.

A mysterious small world... Could that mean somewhere inhabited by a Dou God Clan, like the Ancient Realm?

It was possible. He remembered the novel mentioning that the Ancient Realm was no smaller than the Central Plains.

Based on the information available so far, his guess was very likely correct.

"The Northwest Continent." Chu Zhou pressed his dry lips together.

[Please continue your selection: Heavenly Snake Empire... Jiala Empire... Snake-People Tribe, Jia Ma Empire, Chu Yun Empire, Black-Corner Region...]

Seeing those familiar place names, Chu Zhou nearly laughed aloud.

It matched. Everything matched.

This Firmament Ledger really was the Firmament Ledger from the Great Thousand World.

That meant the Dou Qi Continent was the Dou Qi Continent from Battle Through the Heavens.

There was no need to hesitate over his choice. As the saying went, putting money on an unknown outcome was gambling; putting money on a known outcome was investing.

With the plot to guide him, offering a few small favors at crucial moments to befriend the future ruler, the Flame Emperor, would yield an enormous return!

Of course, that was a backup plan based on his knowledge of Xiao Yan's character.

As a member of the fourth calamity who knew the plot, his first choice was to become a Dou Di himself!

If he couldn't make it on his own, he would find a powerful backer. If he could, he would rely on himself.

"I choose the Jia Ma Empire!"

"I choose Wutan City!"

[Random arrival location selected successfully.]

[Special Chosen One, please select your desired Soul Attribute: Metal Attribute, Wood Attribute, Water Attribute, Fire Attribute, Earth Attribute, Wind Attribute, Lightning Attribute, Yin Attribute, or Yang Attribute.]

Chu Zhou clenched his hands, his gaze burning with eagerness. With an anxious edge to his voice, he said, "I choose the Fire Attribute—a Fire Attribute mixed with a trace of the Wood Attribute!"

[Selection successful. Your soul's corresponding Dou Qi attribute is the Fire Attribute mixed with a trace of the Wood Attribute.]

[Beginning arrival.]

[Summoner Chu Zhou, generating random identity.]

"It worked!" Chu Zhou clenched his hands, overcome with excitement.

Alchemist was the most prestigious secondary profession on the Dou Qi Continent. It was the right choice for the current meta.

Alchemists could rally considerable support. People often hoped to earn a favor from one, and alchemists could collect both service fees and rewards. It was an unparalleled shortcut to accumulating resources.

A powerful Alchemist was essentially a walking Sect.

But the requirements for becoming an Alchemist were extremely strict. Two conditions had to be met.

First, one's attribute had to be fire, with a trace of the Wood Attribute to act as a catalyst. Second, one needed exceptional soul perception.

He couldn't say how talented he was in soul perception, but at least his Dou Qi attribute now met the prerequisite for becoming an Alchemist. He was far better off than those "players" who had recklessly rushed into the Dou Qi Continent knowing nothing.

"One step ahead, miles ahead."

As he pondered, Chu Zhou noticed his surroundings changing once again.

Immediately afterward, he felt an invisible force guide his hands into a special seal.

The next moment, he sensed a faint current appearing within his meridians. It rapidly grew stronger, reinforcing his meridians as it did.

The process ended quickly, and a virtual screen popped up above his watch.

Seeing the information displayed on it, Chu Zhou's expression brightened.