Is That It? No Plot Twist—No One Would Watch This Even as a TV Drama

In the graveyard, few human footprints ever fell. Wearing the black burlap sack over her head, Wang Yuanyu looked at Qi Yuan with a glimmer of appreciation and admiration in her eyes. This bloodline practitioner appeared somewhat eccentric and prone to startling remarks, yet many of his words resonated deeply with her. For instance: "What is there to fear in death? You have acquaintances on both sides." "Even sunlight dies; shadows are its corpse." "I don't like women whose looks grow on you, because I don't have the patience to watch." Most importantly, his reflections on truth versus illusion and his attitude toward this mortal world had left a profound impression on her. So who cared who Tu Kongming was? He could take a hike! The memories she cared about were the real ones. "Do you think Ma Longhun never shows up because he can't afford a graveyard ticket?" Qi Yuan suddenly turned his head toward Wang Yuanyu. "Huh?" "If I'd known, I wouldn't have charged admission to this graveyard. Originally, I didn't want strangers disturbing the peace, so I turned the Ma family cemetery into an attraction, charging a fee as a barrier to entry. I forgot that Ma Longhun might be broke." Realization dawned on Qi Yuan, as if he had finally cracked the crux of the matter. Hearing this, Wang Yuanyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She began to suspect that believing Qi Yuan's previous musings meant she had caught his madness. "Mr. Qi, you're overthinking things," Wang Yuanyu said. Truth be told, she felt deeply curious inside. Even when Qi Yuan spoke utter nonsense, she still found herself believing a few parts of it. Just then, an elderly woman walked over with a conflicted expression. This old woman was Wang Niang. She glanced at Wang Yuanyu and said softly, "Young Miss, this old servant has something to discuss with Mr. Qi." The unspoken meaning was that Wang Yuanyu should excuse herself. Though puzzled, Wang Yuanyu tactfully departed. Qi Yuan and Wang Niang were left alone in the graveyard. Before Wang Niang could speak, Qi Yuan preempted her: "Ahem, cough up the admission fee. I toil from dawn till dusk diligently guarding this cemetery—I deserve my ticket money!" Wang Niang had heard this routine countless times. Clearly, Qi Yuan had demanded admission fees from her before. "Here are ten drops of demon essence blood." Wang Niang tossed the demon essence blood to Qi Yuan, and he accepted it with delight. It was a pity that Ma Longhun's parents and clansmen were minor demons rather than renowned monsters. Otherwise, charging admission here would have raked in a fortune. "Mr. Qi, this old servant has an uncouth request, though I know not whether it is inappropriate to ask." Wang Niang decided it was best to be polite before turning forceful. After all, in a sense, bloodline practitioners were considered their subordinates. "'Uncouth,' 'know not,' 'inappropriate'—that's one, two, three negatives. Is that an affirmative or a negative sentence?" Qi Yuan's focus was always bizarre. Wang Niang coughed, her expression turning melancholic before she continued, "Wang Yuanyu and Tu Kongming were originally a couple destined through three lifetimes..." "Why not seven lifetimes of bitter resentment?" Qi Yuan interrupted. Wang Niang paused, then went on, "Wang Yuanyu came from a noble background, while Tu Kongming was merely a poor youth, though he was diligent and driven. The two studied together and grew fond of each other over time, gradually falling in love. But then Ma Longhun appeared. Lusting after Young Miss's beauty, he secretly poisoned her. To save her, Tu Kongming ventured deep into the freezing pool of the Ice Mountain Valley, lying on the ice to seek the Black Turtle. The ice of that frigid pool not only chilled the flesh but froze the soul. At the cost of an arm, Tu Kongming finally drew out the Black Turtle, stripping its shell to concoct a miraculous medicine that restored Young Miss to life." As Wang Niang spoke, she seemed moved, filled with sympathy for Tu Kongming. If any man in the world had treated her that way, her heart would likely have stirred as well. "Poor little turtle. Lost its home at such a young age," Qi Yuan lamented. Wang Niang was left speechless. Wasn't the focus supposed to be the touching love story? "When Young Miss awoke and learned what Tu Kongming had done, she was deeply moved. The two formalized their bond and fell into the river of love, swimming freely within it day after day. Their days were blissful, yet happy times are always fleeting," Wang Niang continued reminiscing, clearly bearing the tendencies of a hopeless romantic. "Was it because someone peed in the river of love?" Qi Yuan felt quite clever, convinced he had unraveled the truth in a single glance. Why else would their happy days be short-lived if not for someone peeing in the river of love and grossing them out? "..." Wang Niang looked at Qi Yuan, the corners of her mouth twitching. She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Because... Ma Longhun appeared. No one expected him to defy the world by colluding with the foreign tribes. On the day of Young Miss and Tu Kongming's wedding, Ma Longhun led three thousand warriors from the foreign tribes to crash the ceremony and abduct the bride. Naturally, Young Miss refused him. Infuriated, Ma Longhun decided that if he couldn't have her, no one would. He struck at Young Miss, but Tu Kongming shielded her. Already grievously wounded, Tu Kongming perished from that blow, and Young Miss ended her own life out of devotion." "Is that it?" Qi Yuan was dumbfounded. "How boring. No plot twist? Based on modern screenwriters' tropes, shouldn't he have tried to kidnap the groom? Don't tell me there's a sequel where Ma Longhun digs up Tu Kongming's bones, refines him into a zombie, and starts a toxic forced romance?" Wang Niang massaged her temples, inhaling deeply once more. "Now, within this realm, the events of the past are playing out anew. Only in this way can Young Miss truly be revived and this realm saved from collapse. The underlying circumstances are far too intricate, beyond even this old servant's full understanding. But... the worldline must be reenacted. Yet a small problem has arisen. As of now, Young Miss has yet to fall in love with Tu Kongming. This is exceedingly dangerous. Time is running out for Young Miss, and for this world. I implore you, sir, to put the greater good first, prioritize the world, and for the time being... refrain from meeting Young Miss!" Wang Niang bowed solemnly, her tone earnest. Qi Yuan asked in surprise, "What does that have to do with me?" "Young Miss has spent so much time in your company that I fear she may develop feelings for you," Wang Niang said helplessly. It had to be admitted that Qi Yuan was exceptionally handsome. While his erratic speech spoiled the aesthetic once he opened his mouth, he made a splendid decorative vase when silent. To put it dramatically, after spending a short while around Qi Yuan, even Wang Niang felt as though her body—having entered menopause thousands of years ago—was about to start menstruating again. "Sigh, being handsome brings far too many troubles. Honestly, I never thought of myself as good-looking; I'm pretty ordinary." Qi Yuan followed the example of a certain CEO who claimed he couldn't tell whether his wife was pretty, transforming into a certain Qi who couldn't tell he was handsome. "Still, that isn't my fault to begin with. Besides... Wang Yuanyu doesn't seem to harbor romantic feelings for me, does she?" Qi Yuan stretched lazily. He truly hadn't sensed love from Wang Yuanyu—at most, some admiration and good conversation. If there were romantic feelings, Qi Yuan would have noticed long ago. And had he noticed, he certainly wouldn't be the kind to avoid taking initiative, shirk responsibility, or string someone along. "So telling me this is pointless. Wang Yuanyu doesn't love Tu Kongming not because she loves me, but probably just because she doesn't fancy him. Also, don't bother me with such trivial matters. There's no novelty to it, no twists—it's dull." Qi Yuan shook his head, utterly uninterested in a three-lifetime romance. It wasn't even as good as the seven-lifetime melodrama he had once watched on TV. Wang Niang's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. She said in a heavy voice, "This old servant speaks no falsehood. The survival of the world hangs in the balance. Not the slightest error can be permitted; it is better to take drastic precautions than let a tragedy unfold. Please leave Young Miss, sir, and allow her and Tu Kongming to return to their destined trajectory!" Qi Yuan shook his head. "What does your trajectory have to do with me?" "This concerns the survival of the world!" "I thought it was something major. Isn't it just a game server crashing? You should sacrifice a programmer to the heavens. Look at my full head of hair—do I look like a programmer? Oh, I forgot, you're an NPC; you can't kill a programmer." Qi Yuan waved his hand. Then, as if recalling something, his expression softened into utter warmth. "Oh, by the way, Wang Niang, are you married? I have a friend who's been desperate to find a breathtaking wife. I think you'd be a great match. Even if you're married, it's fine—just get a divorce. My friend isn't picky." Qi Yuan had thought of Han Xianyun, the Northern Crane. He still cared about his friend and worried about ending his bachelorhood. Wang Niang was left dazed and bewildered, unable to keep up with Qi Yuan's train of thought. What on earth was all this? "This old servant has devoted her entire life to the world and has no leisure for petty romance," she declined. Qi Yuan looked disappointed. Finding a match for Han Xianyun was going to be tough. "If you won't marry, then forget it. I won't waste words on you either. Stop distracting me from roleplaying a system; I need to cultivate." Qi Yuan's demeanor shifted instantly. Wang Niang's mind spun. She could barely understand half of what Qi Yuan said. Giving him a deep look, she finally vanished from sight. In the graveyard, Qi Yuan stared at the tombstones ahead as numerous scenes flashed through his mind. Having cleared so many dungeon worlds, he seemed to have caught the scent of something deeper. "Aiya, can't think about it anymore, or my brain will grow too big. I don't want to become a big-headed monster." Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered to ponder or uncover the reality behind the curtain. Strength alone was what mattered most. Conspiracies, truths, schemes... were they useful? Yes. Yet as long as Qi Yuan was powerful enough, every scheme and conspiracy could be shattered with a single punch. "You consumed 100 drops of demon essence blood and gained 100 days of cultivation." "You consumed 100 drops of demon essence blood, and the Explosive Bird-Killing Fist has advanced." "Damage bonus +50% against airborne creatures." "Defense penetration +50% against birds." As the prompts faded, Qi Yuan's eyes widened. "Doesn't that mean every man under heaven will fear me now?" "Sigh, why don't girls have birds? If they did, wouldn't I be invincible?" Qi Yuan let his thoughts run wild. "Wait, women cannot be defined. Who's to say she doesn't have a bird? What if it's hidden in her pants? I haven't seen it, so how would I know she doesn't?" Putting an end to his wild wandering thoughts, Qi Yuan closed his eyes to rest his mind. Suddenly, an ancient, weathered voice spoke up. "Kid Qi... to think this old man is still alive." The voice resonated from within Qi Yuan's body. Qi Yuan's eyes brightened. "Old Geezer Shenlei, you're finally awake!" Hearing that long-lost voice, Qi Yuan felt a surge of emotions. Yet reuniting with an old acquaintance was as calm as still water. In the Origin Land, Great Venerable Shenlei's eyes flickered with boundless melancholy. "Originally, this old man had resolved to die, falling alongside the Mortal Heart Realm. You kid, remarkable—you actually slaughtered the Yang Gods." Toward Qi Yuan, Great Venerable Shenlei felt both admiration and gratitude. The Mortal Heart Realm was his home after all, an innate world where countless beings thrived. A Yang God's might was insurmountable. Back then, Qi Yuan had turned the tide and displayed extraordinary combat power. But the enemies were two Yang Gods; Shenlei had never imagined they would win. "Don't bring up the past. Old Geezer Shenlei, hurry up and cultivate so you can drop some loot for me," Qi Yuan urged. Only after departing the Mortal Heart Realm could Great Venerable Shenlei and the others truly thrive like fish in water. Equipped with visualization methods of limitless potential, Great Venerable Shenlei faced no bottlenecks in his cultivation; reaching the Yang God realm was merely a matter of time. After all, had Great Venerable Shenlei stepped into the Mythological realm back in the Mortal Heart Realm and then appeared here, he would likely have broken through to the Yang God realm in an instant. This was tied to the visualization methods Qi Yuan provided, the unique nature of innate deities, and their connection to the Ancient Clan's Ancestral Land. "Quit nagging, kid. This old man is already cultivating. By the time I see you, I'll strive to have stepped into the Yang God realm." Great Venerable Shenlei spoke with emotion, radiating brilliance. Once upon a time, the unattainable Yang God realm had felt impossibly distant, yet now it was within his grasp. Furthermore, Qi Yuan's Divine Infants—those innate deities—were much the same as him. As they awakened and shed the shackles of the innate world, they thrived like fish in water; breaking through to the Yang God realm was truly as easy as drinking water. "Speed it up. My enemies are too strong; one Yang God probably won't be enough. The others are in your world too—look after them and help them awaken and grow stronger," Qi Yuan said. Although his Divine Infants were sprouting in the Origin Land, they moved purely by instinct. None had fully awakened like Great Venerable Shenlei. "Fine, fine, this old man will go find the others right now," Great Venerable Shenlei grumbled. "So many chores the moment I wake up. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered waking." Despite the grumbling, his tone carried delight and pride. "I have a plan!" Qi Yuan said excitedly. Great Venerable Shenlei couldn't help massaging his temples. "What plan is it this time?" He had experienced Qi Yuan's plans before. Crude and simplistic, they couldn't even be called plans—they were pure nonsense. Yet such slipshod schemes somehow succeeded every single time, which left Great Venerable Shenlei thoroughly exasperated. "I want to buy out this game, but I don't have the money. How about this: we plunder it by force! The plan has three steps. First step: unite the other citizens, boost your strength, and conquer that world down there for me! Second step: as your strength rises, feed it back to me so I can conquer Arch Star and Can Star. Third step: once all the worlds are under our control, I can diligently complete missions and advance to Human Dao Martial Master, Spirit Dao Martial Master, and ultimately Myriad Dao Martial God! Such a flawless plan—invincible, so easy!" Whenever Qi Yuan devised a plan, he grew exhilarated and felt his mind clear up. Back on Blue Star, excitement over such a plan would have kept him up all night, forcing him to take melatonin—or, for some people, needing to rub one out. "Heh, the quality of your plans has dropped. Not detailed enough." "You just reminded me. I made a huge mistake this time by leaving out the timeline. Hmm, time flows fast where you are—forty years there equals one year here. So for step one, strive for everyone to become a Yang God within three thousand years. For step two, I'll aim to unify Arch Star within a century!" Qi Yuan felt a lingering sense of fear. Even the wisest made mistakes in their calculations. The ancients truly did not deceive him! Even someone as exceptionally brilliant as him could overlook such a detail, let alone others. "The lower realm is called the Origin Land, and its mightiest faction is known as the Eastern Alliance. The Eastern Alliance has quite a few Martial Lords, their strength passable at best. But... behind them stands a mysterious expert named Dongjun. That powerhouse might be a Yang God. His methods... may even surpass ordinary Yang Gods." Great Venerable Shenlei spoke with apprehension, recounting the intelligence he had gathered in the Origin Land to Qi Yuan. "The Origin Land? Using the Brush of Mountains, Seas, and State to create countless Mountains and Seas Picture Scrolls? Could that guy really be a programmer?" Qi Yuan chuckled. Regarding the Yang God realm, he knew of the Heavenly Position Realm and the Ultimate Principle Realm. What sort of realm did it take to construct worlds like the Mountains and Seas Picture Scrolls as if programming them? "No matter. Let him be as strong as he wants—I have the Explosive Bird-Killing Fist. I don't fear him!"