Chapter 261: After Returning Home (Part 3)

Chapter 261: After Returning Home (Part 3)

"Help! I died six times in three hours. My god, six times! Now I can't log in. The game is suggesting I get some sleep and try again tomorrow."

Just five days after its release, the Hungry Academy forum was filled with cries of despair.

Everyone thought they were born for this game, but they couldn't even make it two kilometers out of Novice Village.

"Hey, you need to adjust your mindset. If you treat this game casually, it will kill you. You have to be extremely cautious at every step."

"Nothing to say. I was beaten by an NPC I thought I could easily defeat. I lost both my life and my dignity."

"What kind of gods are these students who can complete this game? I'm dual-trained in abilities and magic!"

"I was led through by a senior player. Later, I found out they were a real student who had survived the game. We're not even on the same level."

It seemed easy at first glance, but once you started playing, everything fell apart. Even with strategies in hand, the presence of a supercomputer made the holographic instances change rapidly. Applying old experiences to new problems always led to disaster.

Even the most arrogant players now dared not boast. It was unimaginable how strong the hearts of those who had entered the Hungry Academy and made it to the end must have been. They were already breaking down just from playing the game.

Many accounts that had previously insulted the students were now filled with apologies.

"Before, I called you dog shit. Sorry, I was too loud. My performance was worse than dog shit."

"You were right. Holding steady when unsure is the best approach. But I'm an idiot. I'm sorry. If you can't forgive me, that's fine. Saying those things was truly stupid."

"Wah, thank goodness I wasn't chosen as a random student. Otherwise, countless people would have died because of me."

Of course, there were more praises than apologies.

"I tried and only lasted two days. Even with the strategy guide, I couldn't replicate it. Qin Shen is amazing."

Only by trying it themselves did they realize how extraordinary what Qin Yu had accomplished truly was.

"Qin Yu is a true hero, a mere mortal who rivals the gods. His strength is traceable yet impossible to replicate, because knowing and doing are two different things."

Ji Xinghai glanced around and quickly typed on his phone: "Those who judged from a limited perspective, do you think you can achieve even a tenth of what he did?"

Under his pseudonym, Ji Xinghai dominated the forum. He remembered everyone who had insulted him and hunted them down one by one, questioning them until they either hid or were forced to play the game.

But none of them had the mental fortitude or strength, and the results were predictable.

"Apologize." That was all Ji Xinghai said. It was laughable how small-minded they were.

Apart from those who pretended to be dead, the rest had to publicly apologize online after being pursued for days.

Seeing the neatly arranged apology posts, Ji Xinghai closed his new communication device with satisfaction. His joy spread to Qin Yu, who had just put on the latest protective suit.

Not far away, scientists were carefully adjusting the miniaturized portal delivered by the golden treasure chest. They would use this portal to travel to the Avia civilization, one of the seven advanced civilizations that had accepted their invitation.

A team from the Blue Star civilization was responsible for negotiating with the seven civilizations that had sent invitation cards. Unfortunately, most of them had a scattergun approach and didn't really care about Ji Xinghai and the Blue Star civilization, so they weren't willing to give up much.

The Avia civilization was the most sincere among them. They had accepted the 'Civilization Chapter' from the Blue Star civilization, recognizing it even before formal approval.

Blue Star speculated that Avia treated them kindly because they had once walked the same path and because Blue Star was developing supernatural powers like abilities and magic, which Avia also embraced.

Regardless, having such a high-level civilization extend a friendly hand was something they would firmly grasp.

"That place is ruled by women. For various reasons, men mostly stay home to take care of children and household affairs. But since you're exchange students... it should be okay, right?"

The liaison officer seemed even more nervous than they were, muttering, "At least there are no restrictions on showing body parts or going outside. Thank goodness, what a relief."

But then she remembered something: "There won't be any emotional entanglements, right?"

This concern was valid because even by Avian standards, Ji Xinghai and Qin Yu were handsome men who could attract excellent partners.

Similarly, Avian women possessed unique charms. Excellent people tend to attract each other.

While cross-civilization marriages weren't entirely bad, reproductive barriers or mutations could arise...

"I don't think you need to worry. Both Qin Minister and I have someone we care about," Ji Xinghai dropped this bombshell. "What?"

"We will focus on our mission and study hard without developing any romantic relationships with the locals," Ji Xinghai rephrased.

"Good, it's good that you're prepared."

The liaison officer, a secret fan, struggled to suppress her personal feelings, forcing a gentle smile and using a professional tone: "Although personal matters aren't part of our mission, if you have any other requests, feel free to mention them."

"Thank you."

Having had previous contact, the portal was soon opened, and a team from Avia emerged from the white light.

The envoys from Avia rode tall white griffins, adorned with glittering gems and animal skins that wrapped around their athletic bronze bodies. Their faces and bodies were painted with beautiful, vibrant designs, complementing the gems and animal skins, giving off a unique primitive charm.

The leader immediately looked at Ji Xinghai, her pale golden eyes, accentuated with peacock blue eyeshadow, fixed on him, making the atmosphere suddenly serious. But after a few seconds, she smiled. "I am Eva, here to welcome you."

Hearing the translated voice, the Blue Star representative finally snapped back to reality and stepped forward to greet her.

In everyone's mind, high-level civilizations usually possessed ultra-advanced technology, but the Avia civilization took a different path. Legend had it that every Avian could communicate with nature and wield god-like power.

But they weren't against technology; it just wasn't always better than their innate abilities.

The Avian envoys rode powerful, wild griffins, while they brought sleek, streamlined spacecraft to welcome the Blue Star envoys.

The Blue Star representatives boarded these seamless silver craft for the first time. These silver shuttles followed the soaring white griffins through the portal, flying towards the skies of Avia.

This was a world of breathtaking beauty, akin to a divine wonderland. The grasslands were like green carpets, and brown vines formed bridges. They saw streams cutting across the grasslands, divided into numerous channels by white rocks, ending at silver waterfalls.

The earth seemed to split open, with high and low cliffs, water dragons rushing down from above.

The griffins let out a roar, bursting into supersonic speeds as they swept past the waterfall, stirring up a storm in which rainbows flickered.

Screams echoed all around, and Ji Xinghai looked up at the sky, where layer upon layer of clouds pressed down. Even through the barrier, he could smell the fresh air. Energy particles far denser than those on Blue Star lay dormant, ebbing and flowing with the rhythm of nature—wind, water, rocks, earth... The world he saw was vastly different from that of ordinary people.

Qin Yu's eyes were lowered, feeling the joyous excitement of the person beside him, like a fish struggling in a basin finally returning to the sea, free and unbridled. That happiness was light and airy, lifting him up along with it.

But the aberrant beings born from death had long lost their ability to feel beauty. The colors he saw were dull, each one resembling the cold, lifeless appearance of the newly dead. The blood-tinted hues questioned him: How dare you be happy?

The only difference in his world was Ji Xinghai, who was enveloped in a faint glow.

"Ah Qin, close your eyes."

Ji Xinghai's warm hand reached over, covering his eyes. Qin Yu closed his sightless eyes, and another world unfolded before him.

The subtle shift in perspective left Qin Yu stunned for a few seconds before he realized he was seeing the world through his beloved's eyes.

He saw layers of white clouds transform into swimming fish, chasing each other across the sky, changing endlessly in the colorful twilight.

He also saw a rainbow spanning the land; the high waters did not fall vertically but bounced off the rocks, leaping into the sky before gently descending and then leaping again with the terrain.

It was a world of dazzling colors, as if seen after eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Was this the world Ji Xinghai saw, filled with such splendid sights?

"I'm sharing my world with you."

Having given temporary control of his eyes, Ji Xinghai's world turned pitch black, but through the thin layer of air, happiness was being transmitted. It did not diminish by sharing but multiplied, overflowing.

"The minister and Deputy Minister Qin have such a good relationship. No wonder they made it through together." Staff members watching Ji Xinghai cover Qin Yu's eyes saw them like playful children, rarely witnessing such childlike fun in adults.

Only the Avian warriors aboard the silver shuttle seemed thoughtful.

"Two equally dangerous and violent presences, yet when combined, they become gentle and serene." Could death and death bear fruit full of vitality?

The shuttle traversed half the planet, landing atop a remote holy mountain, revealing an unusual building that blended with the snow.

But this was not their destination.

"This is the school. Children are hope and light; they will reside here. But our shaman wants to meet you. Please follow me." The warriors dismounted from the griffins, unfastening unnecessary items, and walked down the mountain into the uninhabited forest.

"The shaman lives alone here, conveying the will of the earth and sky through her voice."

Every blade of grass and drop of water in Avia has its own 'spirit.' The warriors call their names, borrowing their power, but ultimately everything returns to the earth and sky.

And the shaman of Avia is the closest to the heavens and the earth, transcending self to understand the true essence of power in pain.

The Avian warriors, like mythical elves, melded into the untouched forest, while the envoys from Blue Star stumbled awkwardly. Yet, they eventually arrived at the shaman's dwelling.

Unexpectedly, it was a simple shack built with stone slabs, entirely different from the school that blended technology with primitive aesthetics. The shaman was an elderly figure, her skin sagging from years of wear, her eyes half-closed, their light obscured.

"Visitors from afar." She did not speak, but the rustling leaves, intertwining grass, falling twigs, and babbling streams formed a strange language, understood without translation.

As if the old woman had become one with nature, the sounds of the earth were her voice, and her will would be the will of the earth.

The people of Blue Star civilization experienced the awe of conversing with an entire planet for the first time. This humble form must surely house the soul of the entire planet.

The shaman lifted her eyes, which were of two colors—one deep as the ocean, the other light as dawn.

Those who met her gaze felt inexplicable fear, stepping back, unable to look directly.

In silence, the old woman slowly approached Ji Xinghai and Qin Yu. Her intimidating eyes scanned them, as if the civilization itself was scrutinizing the outsiders.

"I cannot teach you anything. You have not yet determined the path you wish to walk."

Ji Xinghai looked at the old woman, taller than she, yet feeling as if he were being looked down upon. Strangely, he did not feel the discomfort of being looked down upon; instead, he sensed a caring presence.

Trusting his intuition, he crouched down. "What should I do?"

"Walk the path you came from."

The shaman placed her hand on his head. "Walk the path you do not wish to revisit, with your companion. Until you let go, you cannot set sail."

In that moment, stars shifted, day and night changed, and plants withered and flourished. Many forgotten fragments flashed through Ji Xinghai's mind, rising to form a vast sea. He was like a solitary boat, tossed by waves, about to capsize and never resurface.

Heat radiated from his left hand, and Ji Xinghai turned sharply. Beside his small boat, a lamp appeared, its tiny flame flickering amidst the raging winds, barely surviving.

Suddenly, a wave crashed over, threatening to extinguish both the boat and the light. Ji Xinghai suddenly 'awoke.'

Drenched in cold sweat, he looked around to find a desolate autumn scene, people moving like zombies, and a damaged billboard still displaying the words 'Alien Invasion.'

The wind blew into his hollow heart, spreading endless despair: Was it just a dream?

"Xinghai."

A voice pulled him back from the depths. Ji Xinghai looked at his silent and reliable comrade, and his fear shattered like thin ice.

His heart began to thaw, and he smiled at Qin Yu.

"This is probably my past."

"Past?"

"Yes, though I don't know how she did it, we seem to have been projected here." Ji Xinghai looked around at the oblivious pedestrians. "If you're curious, I can show you around."

Qin Yu did not respond; he simply stood beside Ji Xinghai, as always.