"Maybe... we should just accept our fate."
In a certain world, Ximen Wangcai and Situ Xingye met. Both wore bitter smiles, and Ximen Wangcai let out a sigh.
Although both came from powerful lineages, they were outcast descendants with mediocre aptitude. Cultivating for a hundred million years—or even a trillion years—would never make them Mighty Ones.
To say nothing of Mighty Ones, they would be fortunate just to reach Cosmos Rank.
"Wangcai, what do you plan to do next?" Situ Xingye asked.
Ximen Wangcai rolled his eyes at Situ Xingye and snapped, "We've already left the Zhen Realm, and you're still calling me Wangcai!"
"Sorry, sorry! Habit," Situ Xingye quickly apologized.
Yet just as the two found themselves at a complete loss regarding their future, a dialog box suddenly popped up before their eyes.
[The Administrator has sent you an invitation: Do you wish to return to the Zhen Realm and start over from scratch?]
The pair looked at each other in utter shock. Since when did the Zhen Realm have an Administrator, and why would an Administrator invite them?
"Shi'er, this couldn't be a trap, could it?"
"Could it be an illusion?"
The two instantly scanned their surroundings, warily bracing for battle.
Right then, the text in the dialog box shifted: [Dogs of the Sparkle Legion, hurry up and accept!]
Seeing the changed words, Ximen Wangcai and Situ Xingye's eyes went wide. In unison, they gasped in delighted surprise, "Legion Commander!"
***
In a certain world, within an ancient dynasty.
Fang Qinghao sat with lifeless eyes, allowing her handmaids to dress her.
She didn't want to return to this world. She didn't want to marry a stranger. She desperately wanted to hide.
"Miss, Young Master Zhou might be a bit fat, a bit ugly, and have a bit of a bad temper, but he's still the Prime Minister's son. Please don't be like this... Seeing you like this terrifies me," sobbed the personal maid who had always looked after Fang Qinghao. Seeing her mistress's vacant, deathly gaze after the other servants left, she dropped to her knees, clinging to Fang Qinghao's leg in tears.
Fang Qinghao vaguely remembered having been to a world. Though dangerous, she had later met...
What had she met?
Her brows knit slightly. She found she couldn't recall, retaining only the vaguest impression of something golden and plump. What had it been?
Yet even with just that hazy memory, a warmth of happiness bloomed inside her.
Just then, a black frame abruptly appeared before her eyes: [The Administrator has sent you an invitation: Do you wish to return to the Zhen Realm and start over from scratch?]
The Zhen Realm!
Little Nora!
Fang Qinghao felt the fog in her mind disperse in a rush. Every single memory of the Zhen Realm came flooding back.
With trembling excitement, she stared at the prompt, then decisively tapped accept. The next instant, she vanished into thin air.
***
After shattering the void, Little Nora appeared in an expanse of pure white.
This space was not meant to imprison it, but to grant it the freedom to choose the exact point in time to leave the Zhen Realm.
After a moment of thought, it decided on five minutes after Nora and the others had departed the Zhen Realm. That way, it would be as though it had never left their side.
Once the choice was made, blinding white light swallowed it.
When the glare faded, it stood in the bridge of the Aska.
"Little Nora? How is that possible?"
"Little Nora, were you attacked too?"
Zhang Shou stared in utter shock at Little Nora's sudden appearance.
After all, Little Nora's skills were thoroughly absurd. Any class user whose luck wasn't greater than Little Nora's couldn't hope to land a scratch on it.
Seeing everyone present, Little Nora rushed forward and threw its arms around Little Huangquan, crying out emotionally, "Thank goodness! Sister Huangquan, it's so wonderful that you're okay!"
Watching Little Huangquan fall under attack had broken its heart.
Once the initial surge of excitement calmed, Little Nora recounted in detail everything that had transpired after everyone was logged out. When the group learned that Yu Xian had slaughtered his way across the entire Zhen Realm, they were both moved and exasperated. For a moment, none of them knew whether to call Yu Xian hopelessly reckless or far too generous to his friends.
"So we're going to enter the Zhen Realm again?" Jin Sheng asked after a pause.
Little Nora nodded. "Mhm! Big Bro said this time will be a fair competition. There won't be high-level players suppressing lower-level ones. Everyone can definitely reach Level 250!"
"I think I'll pass," Shui Yuetian said with a self-deprecating smile.
As much as she wanted to soar to the heavens in a single leap, she truly felt ill-suited for battle.
Grinding monsters to level up was simply too difficult for her. Before, having Yu Xian around had made things bearable, but now he was max level. If she had to rely entirely on herself, she figured she would be better off cultivating outside.
"Shuishui, give yourself another chance. Try it," Gong Qian encouraged.
She understood why Shui Yuetian was reluctant. In truth, she had harbored doubts as well, but the thought of being able to choose a new class filled her with anticipation.
If she got a class better suited to her, combined with fair competition, she might genuinely have a shot at max level, shattering the void, and becoming a legendary Mighty One.
"You can do it, Shuishui! Give it one more try!" Nora chimed in warmly.
Niman said gravely, "The Zhen Realm's high difficulty is only natural. After all, every class user who successfully shatters the void and leaves will become the strongest beings beneath transcendence. To any world, a Mighty One is no different from a true divine spirit.
"To encounter an opportunity like this once is already monstrous luck. Now we're getting a second chance, and Salty Fish has even cleared the early obstacles for us, putting everyone at the same starting line.
"If you back out now, you'll never amount to anything in this lifetime."
In truth, among everyone present, only Niman and Jin Sheng had begun rubbing their fists the moment they heard of the second chance, resolved to see it through to the very end.
Both knew full well how precious such an opportunity was.
"As long as there's a chance and I'm permitted inside, I will keep going in. If I die once, I'll enter again. I will never give up," Jin Sheng said with absolute conviction.
Cheng Pi nodded. "Indeed, we shouldn't give up so easily. By the way... Little Nora, are you a Mighty One now?"
The rest snapped out of their thoughts and looked curiously at Little Nora. From appearance alone, they couldn't spot the slightest difference from before.
"Mhm! I'm super strong now!" Little Nora beamed proudly, nodding vigorously.
"I can't tell in the slightest," Zhang Shou teased with a flat stare.
Little Nora grew flustered and retorted, "Of course there's a difference! Look at the screen over there—watch closely!"
It pointed to the monitor on the left side of the bridge. Beyond the display hung an enormous dead star. As everyone turned their gaze toward it, Little Nora shouted, "Boom!"
A single gold coin appeared, instantly obliterating the dead star.
Yet that was not all. The coin continued streaking forward, detonating all matter along its path. An unfortunate Tree Universe creature was wiped out on the spot.
Watching the golden streak extend into the infinite distance, everyone present finally realized that Little Nora had indeed grown stronger—absurdly so.
Chapter 570