Chapter 53: Living Off Ruan After All (3/3)

Klein squatted in the corner of the arena, leaning against the wall with clear eyes, contemplating the meaning of life.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to be doing?

At that moment, he once again saw the subtitles that had appeared before his eyes multiple times.

[Let me ask you, how long have you been here?]

Klein replied with a dazed look, "I have no sense of time. I only remember that I've been given seventeen blessings, and I've successfully enhanced them seventeen times."

[Ah, seventeen times. What kind of blessings do you desire?]

Klein shook his head helplessly. "Just give me whatever you wish. As long as it has some use, I'll take it."

[Then, how about I bestow upon you the technique of 'Abundant Blessings and Extended Longevity'？]

Klein initially didn't think much of it, but the more he heard these words, the more familiar they felt. He probed as he played along, "With something like this, can it achieve a one-hit kill?"

[Well, no, it cannot.]

"Extended longevity is better left in one's own hands. No, no." Klein's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

[Then, how about I bestow upon you the technique of 'Divine Construction: Resonance Transmission'?]

"Can it achieve a one-hit kill?" Klein asked once again.

[Much like trying to scoop the moon's reflection from the water.]

Klein thought for a moment and said, "You don't speak plainly. I am an honest man and don't care for riddles. What is meant by scooping the moon from the water?"

[The moon is in the vast sky, and its reflection rests in the water. Though visible, it cannot be grasped, ultimately ending in vanity.]

"That being said, divine construction is inferior to having the skill within oneself. No, no." The more Klein spoke, the less he could conceal the excitement on his face.

Hearing this classic reference from his homeland made it feel as though even dying would be worth the price of admission!

[If you won't learn that, then how about 'Echoing Articulation: Event Horizon'?]

"Can it achieve a one-hit kill?" Klein continued to cooperate.

[Well, that too is like viewing flowers in a mirror; you wish to pluck them, but cannot.]

"No, no. An event horizon is inferior to simply using hacks. Change it to something else."

[Hmph, you fellow, you refuse this and you reject that. Are you simply here to toy with me?]

Klein was momentarily stunned. That's not right! Weren't the lines supposed to go differently? Shouldn't the ruler strike three times, and then grant me some cheats?

Just then, a pillar of light descended from the sky. A spotlight struck the high boundary wall at the far end of the arena opposite Klein. There seemed to be something—or rather, someone—standing there.

Klein's gaze was drawn to it, and he then felt his vision pulled and stretched in that direction, much like a zooming camera lens in a movie.

It was a young maiden whose beauty resembled that of a young lady from a noble household. She wore a slim-fitting qipao primarily in azure blue, cradling a ruan lute in her arms.

She moved with light, lotus-like steps, walking gracefully to the edge of the high wall and gazing in Klein's direction.

Such attire! Klein's eyes nearly popped out of his head. It wasn't just her beauty that captivated him, but the fact that her clothing looked precisely like the ancient attire of his homeland.

Klein was immensely excited. Though he knew this was merely a simulation, it thrilled him all the same.

Suddenly, the maiden's expression turned stern. With her right hand gripping the ruan lute, she hoisted it up onto her shoulder. Leaning forward, she pointed her left hand at Klein like a heroic martial arts master and shouted:

"I am here to assist you!"

Klein was dumbfounded. What on earth was this?!

Immediately afterward, she leaped boldly, diving down from the high platform. Instead of falling to the ground, she transformed mid-air into a streak of azure light that hurtled straight toward Klein, merging into his body.

[Congratulations on acquiring all Nihility blessings.]

Suddenly, over twenty different blessings manifested within Klein's body, and he simultaneously gained a brand-new ability: the power to actively inflict negative statuses upon others.

He felt as though someone was whispering in his ear:

Don't worry, young man. All you need to do is survive; leave the rest to Big Black.

Klein stood back up, feeling that he was once again capable of anything. He cast the maiden's bizarre performance to the back of his mind—that was no longer important, as there were more pressing matters at hand. He raised a hand and pointed into the distance at the Voidranger.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; do not bully a young man into poverty! Right now, a mere whim on my part is enough to take your life."

***

In the outside world, Caelus slowly nodded.

"Mhm, this should suffice."

He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table.

Inside the Simulated Universe, the miniature Herta quietly recorded the segment featuring Ruan Mei's entrance. A stream of data flowed through the antenna on top of her head, crossing infinite distances to land in a certain genius's mailbox.

PS: Monday and Tuesday's readership retention is crucial—super crucial. Everyone, please make sure to read along! My revival match depends entirely on all of you. If I cannot revive, I won't get any recommendations or data.

Come and assist me!