Chapter 392- Back to The Real World (03)

Seeing Qiong Qi’s puzzled expression, Shun continued, “Could I ask you to guard the northern region of the lower realm? It would greatly benefit the people there and ensure their safety. Would you be willing to do that?”

With his strength, keeping an entire region in check was hardly a challenge. Qiong Qi knew that Shun was still concerned about his descendants, so he was naturally willing to grant him this favor. The two chatted pleasantly for a while before Qiong Qi finally left, eager to give Mu Jin a grand surprise once he woke up from his rest.

Meanwhile, 003 had originally returned with Mu Jin and Teng Gen. However, to his dismay, his host had abandoned him to run off with his lover, leaving him behind with Teng Gen, who was told to send him home and promised to visit another day.

But instead of taking him back, Teng Gen ended up bringing 003 to his own residence, claiming that he wanted to thank him for taking care of him.

Take care of him? Since when did a powerful figure like this need anyone’s care?

With a forced smile on his face but endless complaints in his heart, 003 had no choice but to accept his fate. Against someone like Teng Gen, he had no way to resist. The next thing he knew, he had been carried off by the black panther, entering a life of daily torment—constantly at risk of being petted bald.

It took an enormous effort, but he finally managed to escape and return to his master, Bai Rui.

Yet, just as he slipped through the door, ready to throw himself into Bai Rui’s arms and pour out his grievances, a certain black panther—now in human form—arrived hot on his heels.

Teng Gen was dressed in a black robe adorned with intricate dark patterns, his long hair loosely tied at the back. He strolled in leisurely, his sharp, narrow eyes filled with amusement as he spotted the little black cat hiding behind Bai Rui.

Without hesitation, he walked over and scooped the little feline into his arms.

Seeing 003’s utterly defeated expression, the man leaned in close to the little black cat’s ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Xiao Moxiu, all I did was make you take human form. Are you really that mad?”

003’s fur bristled in fury upon hearing Teng Gen’s words—he wanted to claw this man so badly! As if Teng Gen had only made him take human form!

That scoundrel!

Did he think that just because 003’s original form was a cat, he wouldn’t understand anything? When he was in cat form, cuddles, hugs, and being lifted into the air were simply affection. But when he was in human form and still being kissed, hugged, and carried around—that was blatant harassment!

And this shameless bastard had even pinned him down and kissed him!

Just thinking about it made 003’s face heat up.

But as soon as he remembered that he had no chance of winning a fight against this rogue, 003—Moxiu—completely lost the will to resist.

Seeing the little black cat’s hopeless expression, Teng Gen narrowed his eyes slightly and planted a kiss on 003’s tiny mouth, chuckling softly. “Heartless little thing.”

Only after securing his grip on 003 did Teng Gen finally lift his head and acknowledge the others in the room. He gave Bai Rui and Jumang a slight nod, then glanced over at Mu Qing and his Dao companion, Ao Zhan, flashing a smile. Casually making his way to a seat nearby, he settled down with the cat still in his arms and said lazily, “Oh, you’re here too.”

If anyone else were to sit so indolently, it might have come across as lacking decorum. But on him, it exuded an effortless charm. Those who didn’t know Teng Gen well would never have guessed that this was a man who spent most of his time sleeping and had remained a steadfastly uninterested “iron tree” that had never once bloomed for thousands of years.

However, Bai Rui’s gaze lingered on Teng Gen and 003 for a moment.

It seemed that this iron tree had finally bloomed.

Mu Qing, on the other hand, immediately perked up upon seeing Teng Gen and 003. The two of them had traveled alongside Mu Jin and were the most familiar with everything that had happened in the countless minor worlds they had traversed.

For the past few days, Mu Qing had been worrying about Mu Jin. He had originally wanted to let his little disciple rest properly after all the hardships of traveling through such dangerous worlds. As a master, he had done his due diligence in protecting his disciple from many threats along the way.

But who could have predicted that after returning, Mu Jin’s “rest” would turn into an extended retreat with no end in sight?

It had been quite some time, and yet he still hadn’t come out of that little building.

Mu Qing’s thoughts were filled with concern for his disciple. However, given the situation between Qiong Qi and Mu Jin, he also knew that barging in now might not be the wisest decision.

Now that they had finally caught Teng Gen and 003, they could at last uncover the details of what had happened in that world and how they had managed to escape.

When they learned the full story—that the evil thoughts born from Qiong Qi had completely separated into an independent entity, reformed its ways, and even ended up with the world’s main god, Qian Chen—everyone was utterly astonished.

Suzaku, who arrived a little later, was especially dumbfounded. Staring at the little black cat in front of him, he clicked his tongue and said, “Who would’ve thought that Qian Chen could actually find a Dao companion? I always figured someone as nasty as him was doomed to be single for life.”

The moment Suzaku spoke, everyone fell into a stunned silence, speechless at his words.

After all, if Suzaku was calling someone’s personality terrible, then Qian Chen’s temperament must truly have been insufferable. Suzaku was infamous for his sharp tongue and fiery temper, yet his Dao companion, Ying Zhao, was known for being gentle—so long as no one crossed his bottom line.

Standing beside him, Ying Zhao swiftly stuffed a spiritual fruit into Suzaku’s mouth before he could say anything more, then patted the back of his hand with a smile. “Alright, alright. It’s a good thing that Qian Chen was able to find a companion. He may have a rather peculiar nature, but that doesn’t mean he’s inherently bad. Now that he has a Dao partner, he likely won’t act as recklessly as before.”

Hearing this, Suzaku nodded hurriedly and grabbed hold of Ying Zhao’s hand, refusing to let him pull away. He found that whatever his Xiao Zhao said always made so much sense—but hearing another man’s name come out of his mouth left him feeling just a little bit irritated.

Ying Zhao continued, “Besides, this whole ordeal has actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Xiao Jin and Qiong Qi. I’ve heard that the crystallization of Qian Sha contains the power of countless great beings who failed their tribulations across all those minor worlds. Its strength should not be underestimated.”

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. These two had finally endured their hardships and reaped their rewards, achieving the happiness they longed for.

Only Mu Qing remained restless, constantly thinking about his little disciple. Not seeing him in person left him feeling uneasy. What made him even more exasperated was that, before he even had the chance to see Mu Jin, an invitation arrived—sent by Qiong Qi—inviting them to attend the Dao Companion Ceremony.

What in the world?!

He hadn’t even caught sight of his disciple yet, and now the kid was already about to be officially taken away.

Feeling a surge of frustration, Mu Qing was about to grumble when Ao Zhan, standing beside him, gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders, gazing at him with warmth.

Mu Qing knew exactly what Ao Zhan wanted to say. After all these years, how could he not understand the deep-rooted feelings his little disciple held in his heart? ‘Truly, he’s forgotten his master now that he has a Dao companion!’

Annoyed, Mu Qing silently cursed his wayward disciple. ‘That little brat hasn’t thought about me at all!’

‘He’s probably grinning from ear to ear right now, overjoyed that he’ll soon be officially bonded to Qiong Qi.’

Watching his precious cabbage run straight into the arms of a pig, Mu Qing couldn’t help but feel utterly exasperated.

And just as he had expected, when Mu Jin learned that Qiong Qi had already made all the arrangements and even sent out the invitations, he was overjoyed. Blushing, he gazed at his beloved and nestled into Qiong Qi’s embrace, obedient and docile beyond words.

Seeing Mu Jin so happy, Qiong Qi felt his heart melt completely. His anticipation for their Dao Companion Ceremony only grew stronger.

Once the date for the ceremony was set, Mu Jin finally remembered that he should visit his master.

Sure enough, the moment he returned, he was met with Mu Qing grabbing his ear and scolding him thoroughly.

Of course, the scolding was just for show—Mu Qing couldn’t truly be angry at Mu Jin.

After all, he had only ever taken this one disciple, who not only inherited his position as the Flower God but also allowed him to leisurely enjoy his days in the Immortal Realm. With such a wonderful disciple, how could he not dote on him?

Thinking about how Mu Jin was about to experience the most important event of his divine life, Mu Qing immediately turned his private treasury upside down.

After a long search, he finally turned around, his face filled with excitement, holding a moon-white ceremonial robe that looked especially ethereal.

Under the sunlight, the robe shimmered with a dazzling, flowing radiance. The moment Mu Jin took it into his hands, he instantly knew—it was a rare and priceless treasure.

Sure enough, his master soon began to boast.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? Back when I was preparing for my Dao Companion Ceremony, I originally planned to wear this. But since Ao Zhan’s clan has a set of traditional ceremonial robes passed down through generations, I had to wear that instead.”

Mu Qing patted the robe with a proud smile.

“But now, it’s perfect for you. This robe has been passed down through generations of Flower Gods. The material—Heavenly Silk—underwent countless refinements to achieve this luminous effect. And let me tell you, this isn’t just any ceremonial robe—this is a top-tier artifact!”

Hearing this, Mu Jin eagerly nodded, carefully stroking the fabric. His eyes sparkled as he turned to Mu Qing, excitement evident in his voice.

“Master! Does this robe have any special abilities? Will it make my spells even stronger when I wear it?”

Mu Qing blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by the question. Then, tilting his head slightly, he looked at Mu Jin with an innocent expression.

“What do you mean, ‘stronger’? It just looks good.”

Seeing the shock on his disciple’s face, Mu Qing cleared his throat and said,

“Little rascal, have you forgotten your divine duty? You are the Flower God! As Flower Gods, we are naturally the most beautiful beings in the Celestial Realm! On the day of your Dao Companion Ceremony, you better wear this robe properly and absolutely outshine everyone else for me!”

Mu Jin twitched the corner of his mouth. Outshine everyone? With his round little face?

Glancing at his master’s confident and triumphant expression, Mu Jin suddenly felt that his earlier hope that the robe might enhance his strength was rather foolish.

But on the day of the ceremony, he still obediently wore it.

However, Mu Qing had forgotten to mention one thing—the robe was called Yuehua (Moonlight Radiance), a highly renowned artifact in the Celestial Realm, though few actually recognized it. While it didn’t enhance attack power, its defensive capabilities were astonishing. Wearing it, one could survive even a full-force strike from Qian Chen.

Of course, as the beloved of the Heavenly Dao, Flower Gods rarely made enemies. Compared to the robe’s defensive abilities, its beauty was naturally of greater importance.

In the long history of Flower Gods, Mu Jin was an anomaly—a deity without a single flower, completely indifferent to appearances.

Yet, while Mu Jin always thought of himself as plain-looking, others did not share this opinion. At the Dao Companion Ceremony, many were utterly captivated by his breathtaking appearance.

No one was more conflicted than Qiong Qi. He wanted the entire world to witness his happiness, yet at the same time, he didn’t want anyone else to see Mu Jin’s unparalleled beauty.

Pouting, he reluctantly voiced his inner turmoil to Mu Jin. In the end, a soft kiss from his beloved was all it took to appease him.

On the ceremonial altar, the two gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, reciting their vows as they forged the highest form of Dao Companion bond. Their love, as solid as gold, left everyone envious.

Watching his disciple’s radiant happiness, Mu Qing smiled. With a flick of his fingers, he formed a hand seal.

In an instant, the flowing light of Mu Jin’s robe bloomed brilliantly. Simultaneously, his two true forms—a millennium-old ancient lotus and a black bracken fern—intertwined and cast shimmering reflections across the altar.

The entire scene was nothing short of breathtaking.

Mu Jin stared in surprise at the breathtaking scene before him. Turning his head, he caught sight of his master winking at him, and his heart swelled with emotion.

Beside him, Qiong Qi wrapped an arm around his waist, placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, and nodded toward Mu Qing and Ao Zhan in acknowledgment.

Looking down from the ceremonial altar, Mu Jin saw the sincere blessings from his master and friends. A wave of emotion surged through him, and he turned back to tightly embrace his beloved.

With a deep sigh, he thought—this was truly an unforgettable ceremony. And beyond this day lay a lifetime of companionship.

His happiness was only just beginning…

[END]

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[Epilogue]

After the Dao Companion Ceremony, 003 took the opportunity to slip over to Bai Rui’s side.

“Master, this is the perfect chance! I’ll return to Lingqi Realm now and report to the boss!”

003 was eager to leave, recalling the boss’s promise—if he performed well this time, he’d finally get promoted in the Dimensional Management Bureau. He didn’t want to miss such a golden opportunity.

Bai Rui cast a glance at Teng Gen, who was helping Qiong Qi see off the guests. He then looked at the bright and handsome young man before him and hesitated slightly.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Xiao Moxiu. Something has happened in Lingqi. It has been sealed off from the inside. Xiao Bai says it involves Chen Tian, and for now, the Lingqi World and the outside realm cannot be connected.”

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(Inside Bai Rui and Jumang’s residence, within the countless micro-worlds of the Lingqi Realm)

Countless fragmented scenes of different worlds flashed past like afterimages. Bai Suo’s face was dark as he swiftly grabbed a fragment, gritting his teeth at the person behind him.

“Whatever your motives are, if Chen Tian doesn’t return, you’ll be buried with him!”

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ry’s note: Finally, Tyrant Meets Paranoid is finished~ (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

Thank you to all the readers who have patiently waited for updates and supported it. (*/ω＼)

I hope you enjoy reading it. (人´∀`)

See you in the next translation~ (〜^∇^)〜

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Chapter 391- Back to The Real World (02)

[In the Present-Day Heavenly Realm]

Mu Jin had truly succeeded in bringing Qiong Qi back from the perilous myriad small worlds, and word spread almost immediately. Countless people were eager to hear about their extraordinary journey—after all, many powerful figures had entered the myriad small worlds to undergo tribulations, only to never return.

Few dared to provoke Qiong Qi, but Mu Jin had a wide circle of friends throughout the immortal realm. Naturally, many of them were concerned about his well-being and wanted to visit. However, Mu Jin and Qiong Qi did not meet with a single one of them.

Before anyone could reach them, Mu Jin’s master, Mu Qing, had already taken a firm stance alongside Ao Zhan, blocking the crowd that wished to check on Mu Jin and Qiong Qi.

He even declared outright that his beloved disciple had barely escaped the treacherous myriad small worlds and needed proper rest. Anyone who dared to disturb Mu Jin would have to answer to him.

Mu Qing was notoriously protective and held grudges. With his warning in place, no one dared to trouble Mu Jin—at least for the time being.

Unaware of how much trouble his devoted master had shielded him from, Mu Jin was taken directly back to Qiong Qi’s residence. It was a place Mu Jin had long been curious about but had never truly set foot in before.

Though they had spent countless lifetimes together in various small worlds, experiencing untold years of hardships and joys, upon returning to the present-day immortal realm, they found that only two short months had passed.

Perhaps this was a sobering realization. They hadn’t lost much time at all, and from this moment onward, they had endless years ahead of them—countless days and nights to spend together.

This was the first time Mu Jin had ever stepped into Qiong Qi’s residence, and for some inexplicable reason, he felt a bit nervous. He knew that Qiong Qi had cultivated many plants here—something he had once envied. After all, those plants were carefully nurtured in the hands of the one he loved, while he could only admire from a distance.

But as he passed through the courtyard and entered the small building, Mu Jin finally realized something surprising: every plant growing inside was a black fern.

“So many black ferns?” Mu Jin was taken aback. Normally, indoor plants were vibrant, fragrant flowers—so why were there only these plain, bloomless black ferns?

“What do you think?” Qiong Qi’s voice was soft as he embraced Mu Jin from behind, his breath warm against his ear. Mu Jin’s ears tingled at the sensation, and the moment he realized the true reason behind it, his heart swelled with joy—his face instantly flushing red.

“What’s this? Back in the present world and suddenly getting all shy?” The tall man loomed over Mu Jin, extending his arms to rest on either side of the shelf, caging him in his embrace. Lowering his head, Qiong Qi pressed a gentle kiss to Mu Jin’s forehead, his voice hushed as he asked,

“Well?”

“I…” Mu Jin bit his lower lip. He didn’t want to be this flustered, but his lover was simply too seductive. And besides, this was the present world! He had been reckless and uninhibited in the small worlds, but now that he had returned, everything felt dreamlike—so much so that he found himself hesitating.

Perhaps this was why, after secretly watching the one he loved for so long, he had never dared to truly express his feelings.

Qiong Qi had no idea what was going through Mu Jin’s mind—he only knew that, no matter the time or place, his little companion always looked incredibly enticing. With nothing holding him back, the man no longer restrained himself. He reached out, gently pinching Mu Jin’s chin, and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

It tasted wonderful.

Qiong Qi thought so sincerely. This was their first kiss in the present world, and the feeling nearly made him lose control. He wanted to make this moment perfect, to give them the most beautiful experience for their first kiss, so he took his time, patiently deepening it, savoring the soft warmth of Mu Jin’s lips.

Mu Jin instinctively closed his eyes, his long lashes trembling slightly—just like his heart. The feeling of being treasured so deeply was intoxicating.

The man’s lingering kisses fell upon his face, each one gentle yet possessive. He cradled Mu Jin’s face in his hands, pressing tender kisses to every inch of his skin.

When Qiong Qi’s lips finally reached his earlobe, Mu Jin heard his lover’s deep, husky voice whisper in his ear:

“Xiao Jin, let’s hold a Daoist partner ceremony.”

“I want the whole world to know that you belong to me. I want to form the deepest bond with you. I want to stand beneath the heavens and make our vows, so that no one will ever be able to take you away from me again…”

“How could there ever be anyone else?” Mu Jin whispered in protest. This man knew full well that his body and soul had always belonged to him alone.

“You’re right. There has never been anyone else between us.”

Qiong Qi’s deep chuckle sent a shiver down Mu Jin’s spine, making his entire body melt like water. He could only lean against Qiong Qi’s chest, surrendering completely to his touch.

Qiong Qi knew he was being impatient. He shouldn’t be rushing things. They had only just returned—his beloved had endured so much hardship and deserved time to rest.

Or perhaps… he should wait.

Wait until after their Daoist partner ceremony.

But he had loved this person for so long, restraining himself from touching him because of the fear that he might lose control and go berserk. Now that he was finally free from those chains, how could he possibly be willing to wait any longer before claiming the one he loved?

Especially when Mu Jin was leaning so softly against his chest—how could he hold back? Since that was the case, he might as well devour him completely, keeping him safe and secure in the depths of his embrace.

Mu Jin might not realize it, but Qiong Qi knew very well—his little companion was utterly adorable, with a soft and delicate beauty, yet a spirited and fearless nature. There were surely many who secretly admired him.

But Qiong Qi was the lucky one—the one who had won Mu Jin’s heart. This man had even risked his life to enter a perilous realm just to save him. Since Mu Jin had given so much for him, Qiong Qi would naturally cherish him in return, protecting him with all his heart.

Mu Jin was caught off guard when he was suddenly lifted into Qiong Qi’s arms, instinctively wrapping his arms around the man’s neck. “T-this… isn’t this too fast…?”

His voice trembled slightly, but when he met the dark glow in those amber eyes, his entire body seemed to melt. He only wished they could be closer—faster, deeper—no one could possibly long for this more than he did.

The immortal realm remained ever unchanged, an eternal sanctuary untouched by time. But within the small residence, an unexpected warmth quietly arose. The gentle breeze grew into a burning heat, setting off waves of fire that made sweat bead upon their skin—yet neither of them showed any intention of stopping.

By the time they finally took a brief pause, Mu Jin was so exhausted he didn’t even want to lift a finger.

His lover had originally told him they were simply going to “review” the dual cultivation techniques they had practiced in the small worlds. But after all this time, they hadn’t even attempted dual cultivation—it had been nothing but pure intimacy and possession. And yet, that only made Mu Jin’s heart pound faster, his face burn even redder.

Now that Qiong Qi had finally found some temporary satisfaction, he held Mu Jin tightly in his arms, his expression filled with deep contentment. With his heart finally at ease, he gently kissed Mu Jin’s hair and asked in a soft voice, “Xiao Jin, when did you start liking me?”

After all, Mu Jin wasn’t the only one who felt like he was in a dream—Qiong Qi did too. He had loved Mu Jin for so many years, always noticing the way the little one would linger around him, occasionally sneaking curious glances his way. But never had Qiong Qi dared to believe he could be so lucky—that the one he loved would love him back.

“You don’t remember?” Mu Jin felt a little disappointed when he heard Qiong Qi’s question.

Seeing the confusion in Qiong Qi’s eyes, he thought about it from another angle. If Qiong Qi had forgotten yet still fallen in love with him, didn’t that only prove that their fate was truly unbreakable? Smiling faintly, he said, “Actually, I mentioned it to you before, but maybe you forgot or didn’t pay much attention at the time.”

As he spoke, Mu Jin recounted an old story—how Qiong Qi had once hunted the Ghost Plague Gu alongside Teng Gen, accidentally injuring a sentient black fern in the process. Realizing his mistake, Qiong Qi had then used his divine power to heal it. And Mu Jin himself… had been that very black fern.

It was only thanks to that strand of divine power that Mu Jin had been able to step onto the path of immortality. He had trained tirelessly, hoping that one day he might enter the Immortal Realm and personally thank Qiong Qi. But in the end, all he had done was watch him from afar for so many years.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that, little by little, Mu Jin had fallen completely in love—so deeply that he could no longer remove Qiong Qi from his heart.

Qiong Qi was overwhelmed when he realized the depth of their connection. This was fate—a gift from the heavens. He felt immense gratitude for the kindness he had shown that day, for it had led to such a precious outcome. Otherwise, how could he have possibly gained such a wonderful lover now?

Finally united with the one he loved, Qiong Qi still felt a lingering sense of yearning. But seeing Mu Jin’s exhaustion, he couldn’t bear to tire him any further. Instead, he placed a soft kiss on his forehead and whispered for him to rest.

Watching Mu Jin peacefully drift into sleep in his arms, Qiong Qi’s heart softened even more. Carefully, he slipped away without disturbing him. Now, he could finally start making proper preparations for their Daoist partner ceremony.

Just as Qiong Qi stepped out of the small building, he unexpectedly ran into Shun, who had been lingering nearby.

Seeing that Qiong Qi was completely unharmed, Shun felt a wave of relief and quickly walked over, clapping him on the shoulder. “You’re really back! As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. So, everything’s been completely resolved?”

Over the years, Shun had been helping him a great deal. Seeing his close friend again, Qiong Qi was just as happy. He nodded immediately and replied with a smile, “Yes, everything is settled. The hidden danger in my soul has been eliminated, and from now on, there will be no more worries. Chonghua, thank you for everything you’ve done all these years!”

“Come on, what’s there to thank me for? Aren’t we friends?” Shun—whose full name was Yao Chonghua—shook his head with a chuckle.

However, thinking of how Qiong Qi had always ignored his reputation, and how his frequent losses of control due to his soul’s instability had fueled countless rumors, Shun couldn’t help but remind him, “By the way, about all those rumors concerning you—I really think you should do something about them.”

“You never let me help in the past, and you never cared to clarify things yourself. I get that you might not mind, but now you have a Daoist partner. If Mu Jin were to hear so many people speaking ill of you, wouldn’t that make him upset?”

Hearing Shun’s words, Qiong Qi nodded in agreement. His friend had a point. However, he was already busy preparing for his and Mu Jin’s Daoist partner ceremony, and handling these rumors felt like an extra burden. Just as he was wondering how to manage it, Shun suddenly grinned and said, “Why don’t you leave it to me? I can clear things up for you. But… I do have a favor to ask in return!”

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Chapter 390- Back to The Real World (01)

But in such a desperate situation, how could Qian Sha possibly surrender? So, he used the world power he had painstakingly created, even at the cost of the world collapsing, to try to bury them.

This was because he spared no effort in drawing the power from the small world, which caused Qian Sha’s strength to surge, and for a moment, neither of the two adversaries could gain the upper hand.

However, just when it seemed they were evenly matched and their standoff might go on endlessly, one of the subordinates of the BOSS, who should have been lying dead, suddenly leapt to his feet.

The disguise of Ying was torn away, revealing the red hair and red eyes beneath the mask. He joined forces with Qiong Qi, even using the influence of his intrusion into this world to help temporarily trap Qian Sha. This allowed Qiong Qi to successfully unleash his power, which pierced through Qian Sha’s soul.

In an instant, Qian Sha was completely penetrated by the golden beam of light that contained purification power, emitted by Qiong Qi.

The black mist seemed unable to withstand the force, constantly bulging outward. Finally, with a wail, countless golden beams erupted from the sphere of black mist, scattering it into pieces, completely dissipating.

Qian Sha was finally dead. Once the soul that had created this world was completely torn apart, the suppression on their souls also vanished, and everyone’s original power was restored. At the same time, the remnants of this small world began to crumble into dust, and its collapse intensified.

In this critical moment, Qian Chen hurriedly sent out his power, pulling everyone present back into his domain.

When they opened their eyes again, Mu Jin and the others had already left the crumbling world behind. The group lay sprawled on the ground in disarray. In addition to the four of them, there was also a black leopard with long horns and red totems, and a small black cat.

The small black cat lay limp on the black leopard, lazily meowing in confusion.

Mu Jin was surprised to see Teng Gen and 003 appear as well, his eyes widening in astonishment. He heard Qian Chen explain as he helped Ying up, “My domain has restrictions, so your system was directly pulled out. Don’t worry, they’re fine.”

Hearing this, Mu Jin saw the black panther use its tail to gently secure 003 onto its back. The panther nodded at Mu Jin, finally easing his mind, allowing him to take in his surroundings.

All around was an expanse of whiteness, somewhat resembling the system space. Mu Jin realized this must be Qian Chen’s usual retreat. As the main god of these small worlds, if he didn’t reside within one of them, he would naturally create a domain of his own.

However, this place seemed completely barren. Aside from a palace in the distance, everything else was bare, appearing dull and lifeless. Mu Jin couldn’t help but wonder how Qian Chen had managed to live in such a place for so many years.

Recalling the recent battle where they defeated Qian Sha, it truly had been an intense fight. When they were previously trapped and encountered the boss, they hadn’t managed to get any information from Qian Chen at first. However, Ying had forcefully embraced Qian Chen, successfully transporting the two of them to another location.

Ying had leveraged the bond between himself and Qian Chen to awaken his mind, ultimately restoring his memories.

Later, after their surroundings shifted to the cultivation world, Ying reunited with Mu Jin and Qiong Qi to discuss their strategy. They devised a plan to deceive Qian Sha, pretending to be severely injured and on the brink of death. They predicted that Qian Sha would reveal himself at that moment, allowing them to strike together.

Their plan succeeded. With Qian Sha defeated, Qian Chen no longer faced any threats in the myriad worlds, and he no longer needed to worry about anyone targeting Ying to get to him.

Thinking of this, Qian Chen’s face was full of smiles. However, Ying, standing beside him, frowned deeply, seemingly weary of all the fighting and killing.

Noticing Ying’s expression, Qian Chen realized his beloved was upset. He quickly put on a flattering smile, sidled over, wrapped himself around Ying, and playfully said, “Baby, I was wrong!”

The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence for a few seconds…

Ying blushed but remained silent, while Mu Jin and Qiong Qi exchanged complicated glances, their expressions indescribable as they looked at Qian Chen.

Qian Chen cleared his throat a couple of times, but he didn’t let go of Ying. He knew exactly why Ying was upset—forcing Mu Jin and Qiong Qi to help deal with Qian Sha was, at its core, a petty retaliation for Ying’s earlier intention to make Mu Jin his partner.

Now, however, it seemed that his increasingly perceptive lover had seen through his little scheme.

Qian Chen felt a bit helpless. Even humbling himself in front of others didn’t bother him, but seeing Ying remain indifferent despite all his sweet words left him at a loss. Gritting his teeth, he turned and approached Mu Jin and Qiong Qi.

Qian Chen extended his hand, revealing two black energy crystals. Although they were black in color, it was evident that the crystals had been purified. The immense energy contained within them could be felt even from a distance.

Mu Jin’s eyes lit up at the sight. Before he could say anything, Qian Chen, looking as though he was in great pain, said, “These are Qian Sha’s energy crystals. He’s dead now, and the remaining energy has been compressed into these black crystals. There are only these two. I’m giving them to you.”

“Giving them to us?” Mu Jin was startled. After all, such items were not easy to come by.

Just sensing the energy within them would be enough to make even the Celestial Emperor green with envy. But since Qian Chen had offered them of his own accord, Mu Jin didn’t hesitate to accept them.

Watching the two black crystals being taken without hesitation, Qian Chen felt reluctant, but after glancing at Ying’s face, he forced a smile and said gratefully, “This time, it’s all thanks to your help. Actually, Qiong Qi should be able to sense that the bond between you and Ying has been completely severed.”

“The missing piece of your divine soul was also restored when you entered my domain. With these two crystals, your divine souls will become more stable, and your cultivation levels will greatly improve. Consider this my compensation and apology.”

Qiong Qi nodded without any objection, while Mu Jin accepted the crystals with a cheerful smile, looking thoroughly pleased.

Noticing Ying nodding slightly at him, with a faint blush on his face, Mu Jin understood why Ying had been giving Qian Chen the cold shoulder earlier. It seemed Ying had long discovered that Qian Chen had obtained these treasures and, feeling guilty, wanted to use them as compensation.

Mu Jin found it amusing, but given the immense power these crystals held, helping Qian Chen eliminate Qian Sha had clearly turned out to be a worthwhile deal.

Seeing Mu Jin and Qiong Qi accept his gifts, Qian Chen quickly scurried over to Ying’s side, leaning close to his ear and whispering, “Baby, I’ve already given them the crystals. Can you stop being mad at me now? I originally wanted to use those to nourish your divine soul, but I…”

Before he could finish, Ying shot him a sharp glare, cutting him off. Qian Chen immediately shut his mouth, laughing awkwardly as he added, “It’s fine even without them! I’m strong enough! We can absorb energy from the small worlds, and your divine soul will become more solid, and your strength will keep growing!”

Hearing this, Ying sighed. Faced with a lover so skilled at being playful and endearing, he couldn’t stay angry for long. Seeing Mu Jin and Qiong Qi watching the scene unfold with amused expressions made his face flush even more. Together with Qian Chen, he personally escorted Mu Jin and Qiong Qi out of this world.

When it came time to part ways, Mu Jin, noticing the now serene-looking Ying, avoided Qian Chen’s gaze and asked him quietly with a smile, “Have you decided to stay here with him forever?”

Hearing this, Ying nodded. A trace of softness appeared in his eyes as he looked at Qian Chen. Then, he turned to Mu Jin and sincerely said, “Thank you.”

“If it weren’t for you and Qiong Qi, I think I would have never longed for a love of my own, nor would I have realized how truly blissful it can be. Mu Jin, I made so many mistakes in the past…”

“It’s all in the past now,” Mu Jin quickly interrupted with a smile, squeezing the energy crystal hidden in his sleeve. His grin became even more genuine. Having gained such tangible benefits, Mu Jin was more than willing to let bygones be bygones. After all, having one more friend was always better than having another enemy.

Although the myriad worlds were independent, they were deeply intertwined with the immortal realm where they lived. Making Ying feel indebted to them was undoubtedly a good thing.

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, Ying nodded gratefully. He watched until Mu Jin and Qiong Qi’s figures disappeared from view before turning to look at Qian Chen, who was now pouting and brimming with jealousy, wearing a scornful “wronged lover” expression. Ying patted the back of Qian Chen’s hand and led him back home.

Even as they walked far away, Qian Chen’s constant muttering could still be heard.

“Baby, I’m so hurt! You were looking at someone else and whispering to them. I’m your one true love!”

“I need compensation. Let’s go back to the bedchamber and look at the spring palace drawings I collected from the small worlds. We can try—ow! Baby, go easy! That hurts! Ah!”

---

Chapter 389- Infinite Online Game (09)

The opponent’s actions were unexpected for Mu Jin; it seemed that he had made a misjudgment earlier. The reason the BOSS hadn’t attacked him and Qiong Qi before was because there were enough targets to consume his energy.

In fact, the boss needed to expend a lot of energy to deal with those who attacked him more intensely, so he naturally wouldn’t actively target those who hadn’t provoked him.

However, now, in the BOSS’s eyes, there were only three enemies left. How could he pass up such a good opportunity? Qian Chen’s mind lacked clear consciousness; he only felt that after eliminating all the enemies, he might achieve victory.

Under the influence of this information, he continuously released attacks on Mu Jin and Qiong Qi. However, it was clear that in this world, Qian Chen’s powers were also suppressed, so at least these attacks weren’t fatal.

One could only say that the world created by Qian Sha, using his soul as a sacrifice, was truly mysterious, almost like a game that had everyone spinning in circles.

However, Ying naturally couldn’t stand by and watch Mu Jin and Qiong Qi get hurt for no reason, so he quickly moved forward to stop Qian Chen.

He stood in front of Mu Jin and Qiong Qi, desperately shouting Qian Chen’s name, but the other party still didn’t respond. After a while, the three of them noticed that Qian Chen had only been attacking Mu Jin and Qiong Qi, never Ying.

Perhaps it was because of their deep bond; even in his subconscious, Qian Chen couldn’t bring himself to hurt Ying. So, even though he didn’t understand why, he still focused all of his attacks on the other two enemies in front of him.

Mu Jin and Qiong Qi couldn’t bring themselves to kill Qian Chen, and as for the attacks Qian Chen launched, most of them were blocked by Ying. Although this prevented any major disasters and neither side could gain the upper hand, time was passing by minute by minute.

After the earlier battles with the seven so-called players and now this farce, the two-hour time limit was quickly approaching. In the final second before the world switched, Mu Jin and Qiong Qi could only helplessly retreat a few steps, waiting for the white light to sweep over them in regret.

Ying rushed over and tightly hugged Qian Chen, and they both vanished from sight at the same time.

As they switched to a new world again, Mu Jin and Qiong Qi exchanged a helpless glance before they began browsing the so-called world background. This was a cultivation world, with two opposing factions: the Immortal Cultivators and the Demon Cultivators. Fortunately, this time, there was no conflict between Mu Jin and Qiong Qi’s factions, as both were Demon Cultivators.

However, after leaving the safe zone, they didn’t plan on forming a team to hunt monsters or battle with the opposing faction. Instead, after finding some replacement clothes and equipment, they went straight to a more secluded location to lie low.

Mu Jin asked Qiong Qi to summon Ying. When they saw Ying standing before them unharmed, Mu Jin and Qiong Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief. The three of them gathered together to discuss for a long time before they parted ways.

Qiong Qi, initially planning to go outside and kill enemies to gain points like before after seeing Ying leave, was stopped by Mu Jin before he could leave.

“What’s wrong?” Qiong Qi looked at his beloved with some confusion.

To his surprise, Mu Jin flashed a sly smile and said, “Husband, have you forgotten what I said earlier? That Qian Sha is most likely hoping that we both end up hurting each other.”

“Our situation is different from Ying’s. He is an outsider invader. It’s not easy for Qian Sha to control Ying’s movements, or perhaps Ying is hiding well. Qian Sha probably still thinks that Ying has turned to ashes after protecting us from the attacks.”

“But we’re different. Do you think those so-called tools meant to attack Qian Chen have much power? Qian Sha’s greatest hope is likely us. He wants us to kill Qian Chen. The best scenario for him would be for us and Qian Chen to both suffer and for him to reap the benefits.”

“So, no matter how many points we have, Qian Sha will definitely put us in the final team that faces the BOSS. In that case, we should just quietly wait here.”

Qiong Qi nodded upon hearing Mu Jin’s words, thinking that his partner was indeed clever and insightful. He had thought of many things more thoroughly than he had. Given this, perhaps it was worth trying.

At most, they wouldn’t enter the top ten this time, and it wouldn’t have too much of an impact. However, once the entire world scenario ended, there would still be a long period of time left. What should they do during this time?

Qiong Qi pondered seriously, but his gaze couldn’t help but shift to his side, where his increasingly delicate and charming partner was.

In recent days, they had been busy dealing with enemies or figuring out ways to escape, and hadn’t really spent much time being affectionate. At least since they arrived in this world, they had only exchanged a simple kiss at most. Thinking about this, the man couldn’t help but feel a growing desire.

Mu Jin, who was quite familiar with his lover’s gaze, had no intention of rejecting. He blinked his cat-like eyes and smiled at the man beside him, saying, “Husband, do you remember the cultivation world we once went through together? You were my senior brother, and I was your junior disciple. But it turned out you were a demon cultivator, and later became a demon lord.”

The man nodded upon hearing this, not understanding why Mu Jin suddenly brought up this topic. The next second, he saw his beloved lean into him, whispering in his ear, “Senior brother, would you teach me how to cultivate?”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words and seeing his enticing posture, the man’s throat constricted as he struggled to control himself. “Alright, junior disciple, what do you want to learn?”

“Let’s practice dual cultivation. I love doing it with you, senior brother…”

The suggestive words were soon swallowed up by the man’s urgent kiss. Qiong Qi felt like he was being ignited by Mu Jin’s touch.

This little demon! The man cursed inwardly, but in reality, he loved him dearly.

Mu Jin directly embraced his man, encouragingly lifting himself up and meeting him halfway.

The two of them used the demon cultivator techniques from this world to set up a barrier. Inside the cave, they practiced the necessary precautions for their dual cultivation when they returned to the real world, discussing what kind of state was most suitable for them to study such a rigorous cultivation method.

Both students were very serious, tirelessly discussing and practicing together, from top to bottom. They didn’t know how much time had passed until, just as the world scenario was about to end, they regretfully stopped. They agreed that next time, they would definitely study together again, striving to improve as one.

As Mu Jin had predicted, they had been brought right to the world boss’s side without fighting a single monster in this world.

Unlike some other world scenarios, this time, the world boss was surrounded by a few weak subordinates. These subordinates wore black robes and iron face masks, hiding their heads and adopting a strange monk-like appearance, attacking them along with the BOSS.

Mu Jin and Qiong Qi exchanged a glance. This time, they didn’t hide behind the others but instead took the initiative to confront the enemies. The two sides were locked in a fierce battle, and soon the boss’s subordinates, as well as the other enemies that had been transported, were all slain.

When only Mu Jin, Qiong Qi, and the BOSS remained, both sides were in a bad state. Their movements had become slower and slower, looking as if they were nearing the end of their strength.

However, continuing to stalemate like this would obviously benefit no one. So, Qiong Qi leaped forward, seemingly gambling everything, and with his sword in hand, he charged straight at the BOSS without a second thought.

Who would have known that the white mist retreated for a moment? After gathering energy, it released a surge of power that clashed against the tip of Qiong Qi’s sword. Both sides seemed to have exerted their full strength, and the impact that followed instantly swept the entire area with a shockwave.

After a burst of smoke and dust, everyone was lying on the ground, dead from the battle. However, Mu Jin, Qiong Qi, and the BOSS, along with the group of black-robed figures beside him, did not disintegrate and disappear like the others who had died.

At this moment, the BOSS, who had been hidden in the mist, finally revealed his true appearance. Dressed in a white robe, his face was sharp and handsome, unmistakably resembling Qian Chen.

This scene of mutual destruction didn’t last long before black streams of energy began emerging from all directions of space, gathering toward the center of the battlefield. Eventually, these streams merged into a cloud of black mist, and that black mist was none other than the very Qian Sha they had been desperately searching for.

Qian Sha laughed maniacally, emitting an unbearably harsh sound. To set up this trap, he had sacrificed his soul and finally created this twisted world. Even because of this, his true form had become unstable, forcing him to appear in this distorted shape.

Yet, he had no regrets because he had finally killed all of his enemies. Once he devoured the divine origin and soul energy of these dead gods, Qian Sha would not only be able to restore his original form, but also take control of this space, even becoming the true supreme god of this vast multitude of small worlds.

Qian Sha smiled with pride, knowing that his long-awaited wish was about to be fulfilled. He slowly floated down beside Qian Chen. This man, who had fought him for so many years, always suppressing him, was finally going to die at his hands.

With a cold snort, Qian Sha decided to strike first. However, just as his hand reached out to touch Qian Chen’s body, the person who was supposed to be dead suddenly opened his eyes. Meanwhile, Mu Jin and Qiong Qi, who had previously fallen to the ground, stood up again, drawing their swords and pointing them at the black mist in front of them.

Qian Sha, seeing the current scene, immediately realized he had been played by this group of people. Enraged, he desperately attacked them, clearly intent on fighting them to the death.

Although the three of them were strong, they were in a dimension created by Qian Sha, which suppressed their powers. Even though Qian Chen’s awakening helped alleviate their situation, allowing them to regain some of their original power, defeating Qian Sha was not going to be easy.

Clusters of black smoke twisted into countless swirling currents, obscuring everyone’s vision. The world turned dark, and the surrounding scenery began to collapse. Qian Sha started absorbing the power he had previously distributed when creating illusions to confuse everyone, drawing it all back into his body.

Qian Chen knew that Qian Sha was born from the countless small worlds and merged with his own original power, so his attacks on him were limited.

Clearly, among them, the one who had a restraining effect on Qian Sha was Qiong Qi. So, Qian Chen gathered his magic and finally helped Qiong Qi lift the suppression of this world. However, this also left Qian Chen temporarily weakened.

Feeling the return of his power, Qiong Qi immediately instructed Qian Chen to take Mu Jin and retreat to the side. Then, he charged directly at Qian Sha, using purification power to attempt to consume Qian Sha’s already corrupted soul.

---

Chapter 388- Infinite Online Game (08)

However, all this time, Ying had been searching for Qian chen but had never received any news about him.

Mu Jin hadn’t expected such a reason and had once again changed his opinion of Ying. But he wasn’t in the mood to dwell on all the twists and turns of the situation, as escaping their predicament was their top priority.

There were things that Ying and Qiong Qi might not have considered, but Mu Jin had some guesses. The world they were currently in was clearly a world that Qian Sha created by distorting space and time in the later stages, intending to confuse them. It was incomplete, a broken dimension.

Thinking back, when they had been traveling through the various small worlds in this so-called game, weren’t the scenes in those game worlds the same as the small worlds they had experienced in their memories?

Qian Sha must have stolen part of their memories due to his lack of ability, using them to create this world, piecing it together just enough to form something coherent. The so-called tournament was nothing more than a facade—there was no real world, only this patchwork dimension trying to make sense of itself.

Moreover, this so-called game tournament was hosted by Qiansha Company.

Qiansha, Qian Sha! The glaring truth was right in front of him, and Mu Jin felt that the mastermind behind it all was undoubtedly Qian Sha.

As for the world boss they had been fighting, it had never changed in any of the worlds, and with each attack from the people around them, the boss’s wounds had been worsening. Mu Jin suspected that the boss was likely Qian Chen.

After all, with Qian Chen’s power, even if Qian Sha could trap him, he wouldn’t have the ability to kill him. This world, created with Qian Sha’s own soul as a sacrifice, could mess with their minds. So, Qian Chen probably didn’t even realize he was trapped. With his power suppressed, he had become the world’s boss and could only act mechanically like a puppet.

Qian Chen is the God of the Myriad small worlds, and clearly, he’s not as easy to deal with as outsiders like himself and Qiong Qi. So, Qian Sha came up with a plan—he constantly made the people he created act as his weapons, slowly wearing down Qian Chen’s power.

Even the rule of having one hundred people in each world and two hours to complete the task, Mu Jin believed, was designed by Qian Sha to avoid pushing Qian Chen too hard and triggering the opposite effect. Once Qian Chen’s power erupted, the entire world might collapse. Instead, this method of slowly grinding him down, like boiling a frog in water, was much safer.

As for himself and Qiong Qi, they were also misled in this world, with the task to fight the boss essentially being a scheme to get them to kill each other.

After hearing Mu Jin’s words, Qiong Qi also had an epiphany. Although he hadn’t lost his memory, he hadn’t guessed who the world boss actually was.

However, he felt that since this dimension was created by Qian Sha, every command he gave must have sinister intentions. That’s why, when he was completing tasks, he was always cautious.

When the system instructed them to kill the BOSS, Qiong Qi, upon realizing that the boss wouldn’t actively retaliate against those who hadn’t attacked it, decisively decided to let Mu Jin slack off and just watch how things unfolded. Looking back now, he felt that his decision was the right one.

After discussing this with Qiong Qi, Mu Jin wanted to find Ying to discuss things further. After all, the more people involved, the stronger their power would be.

Previously, Qiong Qi hadn’t invited Ying to form a team, partly because Ying had once shown interest in his partner. Even though he could now confirm that Ying no longer had any other intentions towards Mu Jin, Qiong Qi still felt uncomfortable about it.

On the other hand, Ying needed to search for information about Qian Chen, and it was impossible for him to stay fixed in one team all the time. However, now that Mu Jin had analyzed so much, at a critical moment, it would be understandable to bring in a capable helper.

In fact, after the world of the primitive tribe ended, Qiong Qi realized that the last connection between him and Ying had been severed, and they had become completely independent individuals.

However, to avoid accidents, after meeting in this dimension, the two of them used their past bond to find a special way of contacting each other. This way, if anything unexpected happened, Qiong Qi could summon Ying right away.

When Ying was out looking for information about Qian Chen, he suddenly received a summons from Qiong Qi and thought that something urgent had happened with him and Mu Jin, so he rushed over.

When he saw that both of them were safe and sound, he looked at Qiong Qi with some suspicion. Then, he saw Mu Jin stand up, smile faintly at him, and say, “Ying, long time no see.”

Ying was surprised to hear Mu Jin’s address, and then he realized something. With a joyful expression, he exclaimed, “You’ve recovered your memories!”

When he saw Mu Jin nod, Ying felt somewhat relieved. But what delighted him even more was Mu Jin’s analysis and speculations that he shared.

After hearing Mu Jin’s analysis, Ying agreed that it made a lot of sense. He had searched all over this world and looked at everyone. Even the so-called elite monsters were specially observed, and none of them were Qian Chen.

Now, the only person he hadn’t seen was the BOSS, and it was very likely that this person was the one he had been searching for. Ying trusted Mu Jin a lot, so hearing Mu Jin’s confirmation made him eager to find Qian Chen.

However, when Mu Jin saw Ying’s movements, he immediately stopped him. Seeing the puzzled look on Ying’s face, Mu Jin helplessly said, “Where are you going to find him?”

Hearing this, Ying’s face showed a look of frustration. Indeed, he wouldn’t be able to find the BOSS until this dimension ended. Fortunately, Mu Jin reassured Ying and suggested that Ying hide his identity and join their team. With Ying’s addition, reaching the top 100 in the small world’s rankings wouldn’t be a difficult task.

What worried Mu Jin, however, was that even if they met the BOSS and confirmed that the person was Qian Chen, once the game started, the hundred people would be fighting and killing each other. The scene would be too chaotic, and they might not have time to speak with Qian Chen.

Moreover, Qian Chen’s consciousness was likely in a chaotic state right now. It would be difficult for them to determine whether his consciousness could recover quickly in such a short time.

But when Ying heard about this dilemma from Mu Jin, he fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he said to Mu Jin, “Perhaps I have a way to give us a chance to talk with Qian Chen.”

“Although this world is a fragmented dimension, because of that, there is a lot of mixed information inside, which makes it easier to invade. I can make some adjustments to certain settings. After all, I’ve done this kind of thing many times in the previous small worlds.”

At this point, Ying let out a wry laugh. Seeing that there was no displeasure on Mu Jin and Qiong Qi’s faces, he continued, “I should be able to reduce the number of people fighting the boss, from 100 down to 10.”

“Although it looks like a significant reduction, from the world’s perspective, changing the number from 100 to 10 is a change that would be hard to notice.”

Qian Sha used all of his power to create this world. In fact, he is now a part of the world’s consciousness. “I should be able to deceive him. When only ten people are left in the end, it will be easy for us to communicate with the boss,” Ying said.

Upon hearing this, Mu Jin was pleasantly surprised. He hurriedly said to Ying, “If we really have the chance to talk to Qian Chen, the most important thing is to wake up his consciousness. At that point, the four of us will need to work together to kill Qian Sha and escape from this world.”

“However, we don’t know how Qian Chen is doing right now. If he doesn’t recognize us when the time comes, then waking him up will depend on you. After all, among the three of us, you and Qian Chen have the deepest bond.”

Ying nodded in agreement with Mu Jin’s words, and then they formed a team together. To be on the safe side, they killed several monsters and so-called other players. Of course, the main purpose was to increase Ying’s points.

Sure enough, when the alarm sounded again and they were pulled into the world to siege the BOSS, Mu Jin, Qiong Qi, and Ying were all among the ten people selected.

Seeing that, apart from the three of them, others were eagerly launching attacks on the BOSS, whose appearance was unclear in the mist, Ying frowned. He could feel the connection between the person in the mist and himself. Ever since Qian Chen had kept him by his side, they had developed a deeper connection.

In fact, to prevent Ying from running away, Qian Chen had even used his own heart’s blood to strengthen their bond. Therefore, when he saw the BOSS, and with the spatial distortion from the small world no longer interfering, Ying easily recognized that the BOSS was indeed Qian Chen.

Since that was the case, Ying naturally couldn’t just watch Qian Chen be harmed by these people. With a swift motion, he quickly helped Qian Chen kill the other seven so-called players.

However, just as it seemed like only the three of them remained, the BOSS in the mist suddenly launched an attack on them.

---

Chapter 387- Infinite Online Game (07)

After all, even in this day and age—where same-s*x marriage has long been legalized—many people are still heteros*xual and wouldn’t interpret his confession as romantic love between two men.

Seeing the man in front of him frozen in place after hearing his words, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. What he didn’t know was that Qiong Qi was utterly stunned, completely floored by the sheer joy of such an incredible blessing falling into his lap.

To think that his Xiao Jin, even without his memories, had fallen for him so quickly—Qiong Qi felt like he was about to faint from happiness. How could his precious one be so soft, so warm, so perfectly attuned to his feelings?

He had just been lamenting in his heart, wondering when his darling would fall in love with him, and now, here he was, confessing his feelings outright. How could such an adorable, wonderful person exist in this world—and belong to him, no less? Qiong Qi felt like the luckiest person alive.

His heart was brimming with joy as he looked at his blushing sweetheart, who seemed like an irresistible little dessert, just waiting for him to take a bite.

However, Mu Jin had no idea what Qiong Qi was truly thinking. He mistook the man’s dazed expression as being utterly shocked by his confession. But that was within his expectations. He hadn’t really hoped for any response from him in the first place.

Clutching the dagger tightly in his hand, Mu Jin felt a pang of loss. He had already resolved to end things after confessing his feelings. But looking at the handsome face of the man he loved, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel greedy, wanting to create just one more beautiful memory for himself.

Just once—just this once. This was just a game. Even if he kissed him, it wouldn’t be real. He just hoped Brother Qi wouldn’t be too angry with him.

With this thought, Mu Jin no longer hesitated. Taking advantage of the man’s momentary daze, he grabbed the collar of his shirt and pressed a kiss onto his lips.

The man’s lips weren’t exactly soft, but they carried a refreshing taste, one that Mu Jin assumed was due to the hyper-realistic sensory settings of the game, making it feel exceptionally wonderful. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel regret, thinking he might never see this person again in the future.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Jin pulled out the dagger in his hand. But just as he was about to act, an intense, searing pain suddenly shot through his head. The pain was so overwhelming that he couldn’t hold on to the dagger, which clattered to the ground.

Mu Jin trembled all over from the pain, unable to do anything but collapse powerlessly into the man’s arms. Images began flooding into his mind in a forceful, unstoppable tide.

The scenes mostly depicted two men together: a king and his royal advisor chatting and laughing, two students joking and playing around, a tall young man coaxing a cat-eared boy with a small fish snack, and a green-haired youth who looked like an elf riding a winged white tiger through the sky.

The final scene was set in an ethereal paradise. In the center of the paradise stood a small building, surrounded by tall, sturdy walls. Inside the walls was a sea of flowers. A tall man dressed in a black robe tended to plants with a melancholic expression.

On the wall, a young boy peeked in secretly, his eyes filled with longing as he gazed at the man inside. His gaze was filled with unmistakable, deep love that anyone could recognize at a glance.

Most of the scenes showed the two of them deeply in love, and even the animals in the scenes had the ability to take human form. While their appearances and clothing varied slightly, Mu Jin recognized the two people in every scene—they were himself and Brother Qi.

Why? Why were there scenes of him and Brother Qi in these memories? Was this his past life? Did this mean Brother Qi was actually his lover across countless worlds?

Mu Jin felt an unbearable, searing pain in his head, but as the final image froze in his mind, it was as if something deep within his soul had begun to awaken.

His body convulsed in agony, and instinctively, Mu Jin clung to the man’s clothing, his entire weight leaning heavily against him. He struggled to steady himself, desperately trying to endure the pain brought on by his soul breaking through barriers to completely merge and awaken.

Qiong Qi, who was holding him, was utterly panicked. Just a moment ago, they had been in a blissful moment of confession, and now his beloved little one had collapsed in his arms, his face contorted in unbearable pain.

What could he do to help? How could such a simple kiss lead to this? What had happened?

The man’s eyes were filled with desperation as he clutched Mu Jin tightly. Fear gripped his heart like never before. If anything were to happen to Mu Jin, Qiong Qi swore he would destroy that cursed Qian Sha, even if it meant shattering his own soul in the process.

Life without Mu Jin was something he couldn’t even begin to imagine. If his Xiao Jin were no longer in his world, Qiong Qi felt that he, too, would have no reason to exist.

After what felt like an eternity, the sounds of Mu Jin’s agonized groans finally subsided. His face was pale, and he looked utterly drained. However, when he opened his eyes again, Qiong Qi saw a sharpness in them that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

But as soon as Mu Jin confirmed the person in front of him was his man, he retracted all the sharpness in his gaze, returning to his usual obedient and gentle demeanor.

At this moment, aside from his eyes, which had turned a striking emerald green, Mu Jin’s appearance hadn’t changed.

No, something had changed. His entire aura had transformed drastically. Gone was the frailty and hesitation of the past—those buried traits of inner strength had now fully emerged, radiating an undeniable confidence and power.

“Xiao Jin! Xiao Jin, are you okay?” Seeing Mu Jin finally open his eyes, the man hurriedly asked the person in his arms.

To his surprise, the young man tightened his embrace in response, nuzzling his head into the man’s chest with a satisfied motion. Then, leaning against the man’s chest, he murmured, “No, I’m not okay. I feel terrible. I need hubby to kiss me and hold me to make it better!”

Hearing Mu Jin’s playful tone, Qiong Qi’s entire body stiffened. He lowered his head to look at the bright, playful glint in the young man’s eyes and the faint smile on his lips. Blinking in astonishment, the man asked excitedly, “Xiao Jin, you’ve recovered your memories!”

“Mm,” Mu Jin responded softly, lifting his weak arms to wrap them around the man’s neck. Then, he bit the man’s lips lightly before speaking with a hint of grievance. “I remembered everything. It was Senior Teng Gen who helped you recover your memories, wasn’t it? Why didn’t you figure out a way to awaken mine sooner?”

“It would have caused you too much pain,” Qiong Qi said gently, lightly caressing Mu Jin’s cheek. Recalling how much Mu Jin had suffered earlier, his eyes filled with deep heartache.

Then, holding the young man even tighter in his arms, Qiong Qi finally felt a sense of relief and softly said, “Besides, you’ve cared for me across so many worlds, chasing after me all this time. Shouldn’t you let me take good care of you for once?”

Hearing this, Mu Jin’s heart filled with warmth. The truth was, his memory recovery had been somewhat of an accident. In this world, their powers had been significantly suppressed, and Mu Jin hadn’t expected Qian Sha to go to such extremes, sacrificing its own soul to trap them here.

Xiao Bai, in order to protect him, had sealed part of his soul within the system’s space, preventing him from getting hurt. Although this meant losing his memories, it also ensured that his mind wouldn’t be tampered with. Even if he were severely injured in this world, there was still a chance to recover.

Xiao Bai’s decision was undoubtedly the best choice, made in an emergency with Mu Jin’s cooperation.

His memories hadn’t awakened earlier because part of his soul was still in a dormant state. Just now, he had been deceived by this world, thinking that after death, he could return to the real world. This led him to think of ending his life in the game so as not to burden his lover.

Xiao Bai, upon realizing his intentions, knew that this would undoubtedly damage his soul, so he quickly supplied all the system’s energy to the dormant part of his soul.

This meant that the Mu Jin who had been acting independently before was only a fragment of his soul, and now, he had become whole again. This was what allowed Mu Jin to fully recover and for his memories to return completely.

However, even though Xiao Bai had been protecting him, the process was still incredibly painful. The only benefit was that with the system’s power assisting, the separation and rejoining of his soul didn’t cause any damage. Unfortunately, to help him, Xiao Bai had temporarily fallen into a dormant state.

Mu Jin sighed inwardly, remaining in his lover’s embrace as he looked around at the scenes in this world. His brow unconsciously furrowed.

He clearly remembered that after Qian Sha had been forced out, Qian Chen also appeared. The three of them had been trapped in this world together. He also recalled that just before he lost consciousness and entered this world, he seemed to have seen a flash of red light.

Mu Jin wasn’t entirely sure at first, but now, considering the memories from each game world in this dimension, it seemed that Ying had been helping them all along. However, he didn’t know how Ying had managed to keep his memories from being altered. And, he was unsure where Qian Chen was now, or if they were as fortunate as he was.

Thinking of this, Mu Jin asked Qiong Qi about Ying’s condition. Before his memories were restored, he couldn’t recognize Ying, but now that he thought about it, Ying’s distinctiveness was indeed very high.

However, when he recalled that when he had asked his lover about Ying, the other had awkwardly said that Ying was his brother, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a little amused.

Although unwilling to admit it, under Mu Jin’s strange gaze, the man still told him the truth.

It turned out that when they were about to be trapped in this distorted world, Qian Sha had tried to harm Mu Jin. At that time, Qiong Qi’s soul had just been pulled from his body, and his instinct was to protect Mu Jin. However, even then, at least one of them was bound to get injured.

But at this critical moment, Ying had rushed in from outside and blocked Qian Sha’s strike for them.

It was important to know that although Ying’s power had been continuously increasing, and with the help of Qian Chen, he was now considered a powerful being, compared to others, his soul, which had been recently formed, was still unstable. To protect them, Ying had been severely injured.

Although Ying couldn’t prevent the closure of this world, the impact of his sudden intrusion gave Xiao Bai and Teng Gen a moment to breathe. This allowed Xiao Bai to help Mu Jin seal part of his soul, while Teng Gen enabled Qiong Qi to retain his memories in this world.

As for Ying, although his memory hadn’t been altered because he was an intruder in this world and had kept his power, he had been injured. His strength wasn’t enough to confront Qian Sha or break the world. So, he could only temporarily hide in the shadows, occasionally offering them help.

There were so many complexities in all this. In the beginning, Qiong Qi hadn’t wanted to accept Ying’s help, but Ying had directly said that he was repaying a debt.

Considering their current situation, with their powers sealed and for Mu Jin’s safety, the man had no choice but to accept.

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Chapter 386- Infinite Online Game (06)

In this world, Qiong Qi led Mu Jin through constant evasion and hiding. Due to the game’s fixed rules, Mu Jin couldn’t even disguise himself as a vampire.

His light-based attributes were impossible to conceal, and the same went for Qiong Qi. As a vampire, his dark attributes, along with his conspicuous fangs and red eyes, made it impossible for him to blend in with humans.

Thus, they had no choice but to stay on the move, ensuring their peculiar pairing wasn’t discovered. After all, a strange duo like them—just two individuals, with one being a priest who wasn’t strong in combat—would undoubtedly attract the attention of other teams and likely provoke attacks.

Qiong Qi’s powers were currently suppressed, and in this world, they were up against too many enemies. Being with Mu Jin meant they had to face adversaries from both factions.

Even so, neither of them ever considered parting ways. Qiong Qi couldn’t entrust his beloved’s safety to anyone else. He knew how fake this small world was and suspected that anyone in it could have been specifically created by Qian Sha to endanger them. A single moment of carelessness could cost them their lives.

Thus, even with former teammates, Qiong Qi suppressed his emotions and acted as though nothing was amiss. Yet deep down, he remained constantly on guard and wary.

Despite the man’s utmost caution, the two of them still suffered numerous injuries along the way. Compared to the strength of their previous larger team, their combined combat power was now far too limited.

However, what comforted Qiong Qi was that most of the injuries had been borne by him. Mu Jin only suffered superficial wounds, which he could even heal on his own using his light magic.

However, Mu Jin felt incredibly guilty and distressed about this. Although injuries in the game world didn’t cause real bleeding, the sensation of pain was exactly the same. To enhance realism, the pain level could reach 100% of what one would feel in the real world. Additionally, the weakness caused by excessive injuries, as indicated by the system, felt incredibly genuine.

It was all his fault. If it weren’t for protecting him, Brother Qi wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. What made Mu Jin even more frustrated was the fact that, as a human priest with light-based attributes, he couldn’t even provide Brother Qi with support or healing.

The only thing he could do was stay vigilant at all times, paying close attention to the resources they could gather and ensuring that he replenished Brother Qi’s medicine and weapons as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, the resources they were able to collect were still far too limited. During this time, the man dressed in black with red hair appeared several times, each time delivering medicine and weapons to them before leaving without a word.

Reflecting on past scenarios in various worlds, Mu Jin realized that every time they were running out of supplies or in a dire crisis, that man always seemed to appear. This stirred a strong sense of curiosity within him.

Initially, he thought that person might be helping everyone, like a savior. However, during his interactions with other teams in previous worlds, he learned that none of them had ever heard of such a person.

Now, in this world, with only him and Brother Qi, that person had appeared once again. Mu Jin began to wonder if the man’s actions were specifically for one of them.

Clearly, he didn’t know the man, so he speculated it might have something to do with Brother Qi. Unable to suppress his curiosity, Mu Jin turned to Qiong Qi and asked, “Brother Qi, do you know that man in black who keeps helping us? He always drops off supplies and leaves without saying a word. We haven’t even had the chance to properly thank him.”

The man pressed his lips together and hesitated before finally replying to Mu Jin, “That guy is my brother.”

Hearing this, Mu Jin nodded, not feeling particularly surprised. It made sense that there was a connection; otherwise, the man wouldn’t have consistently helped them. So it was all for Brother Qi’s sake. However, Mu Jin hadn’t expected Brother Qi to have a brother. Thinking about it, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel that he owed Brother Qi even more.

One thing puzzled Mu Jin, though. Clearly, Brother Qi’s brother was incredibly powerful. So why was it that every time they reached the final battle with the BOSS, among the first hundred players teleported to the BOSS’s side, that man’s figure was never present?

Still, Mu Jin didn’t dwell on it for too long. After all, just surviving was already an overwhelming challenge, leaving little time to ponder such things.

As the game progressed in this small world, their level of danger steadily increased. The monsters they faced grew stronger, and the hostility from opposing factions became even more perilous.

After killing yet another wave of high-level monsters, Qiong Qi and Mu Jin hid in a cave. Leaning against the rocky wall of the cave, Qiong Qi took the potion Mu Jin handed him and drank it all in one go. Fighting off the lingering weakness in his body, the man smiled at Mu Jin and said, “We did pretty well earlier. That wave of monsters earned us a good chunk of points.”

But seeing the smile on the man’s face only made Mu Jin feel even more heartache. No matter the situation, Brother Qi was always like this—always smiling warmly at him. Even just now, when he had been injured while protecting Mu Jin, he never blamed him or got angry.

Lowering his gaze, Mu Jin struggled to suppress the sadness in his heart and finally made up his mind. He couldn’t continue being a burden to Brother Qi.

Mu Jin knew that Brother Qi was truly a great person—loyal and selfless. Even if Mu Jin expressed his desire to leave so as not to burden him, Brother Qi would never abandon him.

After all, as a priest, Mu Jin’s role might sound useful, but in reality, his contributions were limited. Even if he joined another team, he would most likely end up as cannon fodder. That’s why Brother Qi was unwilling to entrust him to anyone else. Now, it seemed the only solution was for Mu Jin to voluntarily leave the game.

Only if he left this world and Brother Qi was alone would he be able to team up with other vampires without worry.

With this thought, Mu Jin bit his lip, turned to the man, and deliberately said, “Brother Qi, I’m tired. Honestly, I’m not that into competitive gaming. I came here mainly because the competition rewards were appealing, and I wanted to try my luck.”

“Making it this far is already good enough for me. How about this, Brother Qi—you bite me and let my character die so I can leave the game. I’d like to go back and rest. Anyway, my life is going to be wasted on someone, so why not give it to you? At least you can earn some points from it. Don’t look down on it, even if it’s just a little, it’s still something, right?”

As he said this, Mu Jin forced himself to suppress his sadness and tried to smile at the man as if he didn’t care. But in truth, his heart was filled with reluctance—he really didn’t want to part with the man in front of him.

He didn’t know if he would ever have the chance to see this man again after leaving the game. He wanted to ask Brother Qi for his true identity, wanted to stay in touch with him. But considering his own circumstances, Mu Jin didn’t know if he should open his mouth and ask.

Though Mu Jin was feeling lost and conflicted, after living together through so many lives, how could the man not understand what Mu Jin was thinking? This silly boy just didn’t want to be a burden to him.

With a soft sigh in his heart, the man reached out and ruffled the young man’s hair. He said warmly, “What nonsense are you saying? Don’t worry, stay here. I’ll protect you. The two of us will definitely make it to the end!”

The warmth in the man’s eyes was utterly genuine. Seeing it, Mu Jin thought once again how wonderful Brother Qi was, comforting him like this. But he also knew he couldn’t be too selfish, dragging him down again and again.

With this thought, a flicker of resolve crossed Mu Jin’s gaze. He had made up his mind. If Brother Qi couldn’t bring himself to act, then he would take matters into his own hands.

Mu Jin touched the dagger hidden in his chest and lifted his head to look deeply at the man before him—the man he admired and loved.

He knew he wasn’t worthy of someone like Brother Qi, and most likely, their paths would never cross again after this. In the end, Mu Jin decided not to ask the man for his real name. Yet selfishly, he wanted to hold onto one final, beautiful memory. He believed that once he left, this would be their eternal goodbye.

So Mu Jin raised his head, his gaze burning, and said to the man, “Brother Qi, thank you for taking care of me all this time. You’re the best and most perfect person I’ve ever met in my life!”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, the man smiled. Across countless worlds, his lover had always confessed to him in this straightforward way. He loved how candid Mu Jin was with his emotions.

He felt the same way. To him, Mu Jin was the most adorable and perfect lover in the world. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder if his beloved—without his memories—would still fall for him as quickly as before.

But before he could ponder further, the young man before him suddenly blushed and, in a loud voice, said, “Brother Qi, what I mean is, I like you!”

As if afraid the man wouldn’t understand, Mu Jin quickly added, “When I say I like you, I mean the kind of like where I want you as a lover and partner.”

Mu Jin’s voice was so loud it was almost a shout. It seemed as though he had used up all his courage to get those words out. After finishing, he still worried that the man might not understand his meaning, so he emphasized it again.

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Chapter 385- Infinite Online Game (05)

But what about himself? How could he possibly harbor such feelings for the older brother figure who had always taken care of him? Yet, even though Mu Jin knew it was wrong, he couldn’t control his emotions.

He wanted to hug him, to feel his warmth, to breathe in his scent.

He wanted to kiss him, to taste the thin lips that were always tightly pressed together.

He wanted to dedicate everything to him, like an offering, to be completely possessed by him…

Mu Jin thought he must be crazy. If Brother Qi ever found out about these thoughts, would he be disappointed? Would he be angry?

But he would never find out. Mu Jin wouldn’t let him know. This was his eternal little secret, or so he comforted himself.

Even though their conversations didn’t reveal much personal information, Mu Jin could sense that Brother Qi was an extraordinary man.

Compared to Brother Qi, Mu Jin felt like he was nothing in real life—just a skinny, unremarkable orphan with no parents. He had managed to get into an average university but couldn’t even afford the tuition. Someone like him, how could he ever be worthy of such a perfect man?

The thought left Mu Jin feeling a little disheartened, but he quickly gathered himself, grateful that he had joined this competition. It gave him the chance to meet Brother Qi, to spend so much time with him, and to be cared for by him.

No matter what the future held, Mu Jin thought that the memories of everything they had experienced together—every little moment—would be etched in his mind as beautiful and cherished.

Still, he reminded himself to be careful and not get carried away. He had to maintain control, ensuring that Brother Qi wouldn’t notice anything and, worse, grow tired of him.

But Brother Qi was truly such a gentle person. No matter what Mu Jin said to him, his attitude was always so kind and warm. He even made it a point to politely act as if he genuinely enjoyed talking to him. To know and like someone as wonderful as this—it made Mu Jin feel incredibly lucky.

If the man knew what Mu Jin was thinking, he would surely believe that Mu Jin was overthinking things. After all, Brother Qi never felt the need to pretend to enjoy speaking with anyone. He liked being with Mu Jin—not just talking to him, but everything about him.

Every time he saw Mu Jin, how he longed to hold him close. Just like in countless worlds before, to embrace him tightly, stroke his hair, and kiss his lips. To have him, possess him, and merge their beings into one, so that Mu Jin’s mind and heart would be filled with nothing but his name.

But now was not the time. Brother Qi’s gaze swept over the false surroundings and the artificial people around them.

Not yet. It wasn’t the right moment. Xiao Jin still hadn’t remembered anything. This world was too distorted, too strange. If he deliberately tried to trigger those memories, it might cause chaos in Xiao Jin’s mind. If, by accident, his beloved’s soul was harmed, it would be a disaster.

This was his treasure. How could he bear to let him suffer?

After longing from afar for so long, and finally being able to hold him, it felt as though everything had reset to the beginning again. Bitterness filled Brother Qi’s mouth, but he could only steal a few extra glances at Mu Jin to ease his yearning.

He knew Mu Jin too well. Watching his expressions shift between joy and sadness made Brother Qi feel both amused and exasperated. This little one was always so alluring without even realizing it. With these constant little provocations, Brother Qi felt as if he could barely resist pinning him down.

After finishing another battle with the BOSS and transitioning to a new world, Mu Jin, as usual, waited obediently for Brother Qi in the safe zone. After traversing several worlds together, they no longer needed to make any arrangements. Mu Jin simply knew—he had absolute confidence—that Brother Qi would come looking for him.

This time, the world they found themselves in seemed to be a vampire-themed one. The players were divided into two factions: humans and vampires.

The human roles included vampire hunters and priests, while the vampire faction needed little explanation. However, this time, the vampire faction had an innate advantage in combat. Their fangs could serve as natural weapons, and upon leveling up, they even gained hypnotic abilities.

In this world, Mu Jin’s role was that of a priest affiliated with the Church of Light, capable of using light magic. He believed that his abilities would make him a valuable support when facing vampires, as he could also heal his teammates effectively.

Thinking about it, Mu Jin felt a little happy and grew even more eager to see Brother Qi. He speculated that Brother Qi might take on the role of a hunter this time. He couldn’t help but imagine how cool and striking Brother Qi would look after gearing up for the role.

But when the person he had been longing to see finally arrived, all of Mu Jin’s beautiful imaginings were instantly shattered.

Brother Qi’s eyes were red, and his mouth bore prominent fangs. In this world, Brother Qi had been assigned to the vampire faction—directly opposing Mu Jin’s faction.

Did this mean that, in the context of this world, they would have to be separated?

The thought of standing on opposing sides with Brother Qi made Mu Jin feel an ache in his heart. What upset him even more was the realization that he wouldn’t be able to team up with the person he secretly loved.

When Brother Qi saw Mu Jin, he froze for a moment. Seeing the dejected look on Mu Jin’s face, he quickly asked, “Xiao Jin, what’s wrong? Why do you look like that?”

Mu Jin felt utterly helpless at Brother Qi’s words and said to the man, “Brother Qi, the roles we’ve been assigned in this world…”

Hearing this, the man finally realized why Mu Jin seemed so upset. However, he didn’t appear concerned. He leaned closer to Mu Jin and whispered, “Xiao Jin, you’re a priest this time?”

Mu Jin nodded, and the man gave him a smile before continuing, “But I’m a vampire. Xiao Jin, would this priest mind succumbing to temptation and teaming up with a vampire?”

Hearing these words, which sounded almost like a confession laced with ambiguity, Mu Jin couldn’t stop his face from turning red. He knew Brother Qi probably didn’t mean anything romantic by it and was simply referring to forming a team. Still, his heart couldn’t help but race, and his cheeks burned.

At the same time, he felt deeply touched by Brother Qi’s kindness. Despite belonging to opposing factions, Brother Qi hadn’t abandoned him.

Mu Jin knew he wasn’t strong enough on his own. Without Brother Qi’s support, the road ahead would undoubtedly be dangerous. Even if he were to team up with others, no one else would protect him the way Brother Qi did. Yet here Brother Qi was, in an enemy faction, still willing to stick with him.

Mu Jin was filled with indescribable gratitude. He thought he should refuse, that he shouldn’t continue to burden Brother Qi. After all, having a priest like him around meant Brother Qi couldn’t team up with other vampires. Partnering solely with him would likely increase the danger significantly.

Brother Qi’s abilities were beyond doubt. Mu Jin had always believed that Brother Qi could make it to the very end. Even though Brother Qi had often dragged him along to “fish in troubled waters” during the battles against the BOSS, Mu Jin saw it as a wise and strategic approach.

They all knew just how powerful the BOSS was. If they were to take the initiative and engage, the most likely outcome would be their deaths. Rushing forward at this point would be nothing more than reckless bravado.

Observing the state of the BOSS across these worlds, Mu Jin had already deduced that the BOSS in each world was likely the same entity. Moreover, the BOSS’s injuries didn’t reset with each transition to a new world, which made its ultimate defeat a real possibility.

Thus, with each successive world, the BOSS’s injuries accumulated, becoming progressively worse. The final opportunity to deliver a fatal blow would only come at the very end. Rushing in now would merely result in needless sacrifices, which was why Brother Qi’s cautious approach was the wisest strategy.

Mu Jin regarded Brother Qi’s actions as a well-thought-out, long-term tactic. He didn’t want Brother Qi risking himself for his sake and potentially getting hurt in this world.

Yet, faced with the man’s resolute gaze, Mu Jin ultimately nodded almost involuntarily. The moment he did, he couldn’t help but inwardly scold himself for being selfish. In the end, he couldn’t bear to separate from Brother Qi. Even if it was impossible for them to truly be together, he still wanted to create as many memories as he could with him.

Besides, in this world, Brother Qi’s identity as a vampire made him undeniably charismatic—especially after he donned a perfectly tailored suit. Seeing him like that, Mu Jin’s heart raced uncontrollably. He had to fight the urge to approach him and confess his feelings with a kiss.

What he didn’t know was that the man opposite him was equally captivated by him.

When Brother Qi saw Mu Jin in a pristine white priest’s robe, exuding a pure and abstinent aura, it stirred something deep within him. Indeed, Mu Jin looked as tempting as ever. Once everything was settled, Brother Qi vowed to savor him fully to make up for lost time.

Reflecting on Mu Jin’s earlier worries, Brother Qi agreed that they had a point. For now, with their opposing identities in this world, it was best to keep a low profile. This strange world had suppressed much of his strength, and he assumed Mu Jin’s situation was the same as his.

At that time, Teng Gen realized that something was amiss. His abilities, however, could only protect one person’s soul from being affected by this distorted world. Knowing that his powers were particularly effective against malicious entities like ghostly plagues, he focused all his strength on protecting himself.

Although Qiong Qi was safeguarded, Teng Gen was temporarily forced into slumber due to the rejection and compression he faced in the system’s space within the small world.

In the previous world, when Qiong Qi’s soul left his body, his memories were awakened. Thanks to Teng Gen’s efforts, his memories remained intact upon entering this world. Because of this, he was able to stay by Mu Jin’s side from the very beginning.

Now, both of them were trapped here, surrounded by Qian Sha, with no clear way to escape. Regardless, Qiong Qi knew one thing for certain: he could not afford to die here. Even if his soul wasn’t completely destroyed upon death, it would still suffer significant damage.

Turning to look at the oblivious Mu Jin, Qiong Qi found comfort in his ignorance. His beloved had already protected him across so many worlds. With his memories now fully restored, Qiong Qi finally had the chance to sort through all the moments they had shared in the small worlds.

Although his experiences in those small worlds had initially been more bitter than sweet, as long as his beloved found him and stayed by his side, all that bitterness would inevitably transform into sweetness.

How fortunate he was to have earned this person’s love. Now, with an opportunity before him to become the protector, Qiong Qi was more than willing—beyond a thousandfold. Moreover, he was acutely aware that forcefully awakening Mu Jin’s soul and memories could cause him considerable harm.

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Chapter 384- Infinite Online Game (04)

Just as everyone was feeling increasingly puzzled, a powerful vortex suddenly surged from the center of the destroyed building. This vortex swept up the dust and quickly transformed before their eyes, forming a thick ring of white mist. Within the mist, there appeared to be a humanoid figure shrouded by the dense fog.

The silhouette seemed to exist within a veil of mist, making it impossible for anyone to discern its appearance. However, everyone instinctively understood that this must be the boss. After all, aside from that figure, there was nothing else in sight that could be considered an enemy.

While the crowd exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to do, someone finally ventured to launch an attack at the shadowy figure. The attack struck the silhouette, causing it to stagger slightly as if caught off guard. This confirmed that the figure could indeed be harmed.

Mu Jin noticed the humanoid shape wobble, as though it was unaccustomed to its current state. A world boss behaving like a newcomer—unfamiliar with the environment and unprepared for sudden attacks—struck Mu Jin as very odd.

However, the others didn’t bother to dwell on it. Following the lead of the first attacker, the crowd quickly raised their weapons and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks on the shadowy figure.

After being struck several times, the boss seemed to finally realize that the people around it intended to harm it. Without warning, it retaliated, moving with an almost ghostly speed to confront its attackers head-on, systematically eliminating those who had dared to strike it.

The boss was incredibly powerful, and many people couldn’t withstand even a single strike from it. However, it was still vulnerable to attacks, and during moments of intense bombardment, its movements would occasionally falter. Mu Jin speculated that the boss must have been injured, yet even so, those attacking it gained little advantage.

In the chaos of the battle, Mu Jin hesitated, unsure if he should join the fray. Just as he was wavering, the man beside him grabbed his wrist.

Mu Jin turned his head to see Brother Qi leaning close to his ear and whispering softly, “Don’t get near that boss; it’s not something you can handle. If we rush in and anger it, we’ll definitely die. It’s better to stay back while it’s chaotic. If we can hold out for the full two hours, we’ll switch to the next world.”

Hearing this, Mu Jin nodded. He knew his own capabilities weren’t up to par. Facing such a formidable enemy, killing it was obviously beyond his reach. His earlier urge to join the battle was simply a desire to support Brother Qi, as he considered himself a decent support player in this world.

But since Brother Qi had advised against approaching the boss, there was no way Mu Jin would act recklessly. Following the man’s lead, Mu Jin stayed on the outskirts of the battlefield, avoiding the core of the fight. Watching others recklessly charge forward, all vying to be the one to kill the boss, he could only sigh inwardly.

This boss was truly a high-difficulty challenge, killing people as effortlessly as slicing vegetables. Mu Jin suddenly felt that the others were being far too reckless. After all, if they were killed by the boss, their in-game character would face permanent death, eliminating any chance to continue playing.

However, as long as one could ensure survival, there was always a chance to continue participating in the game. Whether it involved killing monsters or eliminating members of the opposing faction in the next world, it was still possible to earn points. These points could later be exchanged for rewards or even converted into real money.

As Mu Jin watched the countdown displayed in the sky ticking down visibly, he noticed that even though the boss was injured, its speed showed no sign of slowing. Clearly, the attacks from the players weren’t dealing significant damage to it.

If there were more players and a longer duration, the sheer numbers might make a difference. But under the current conditions—just one hundred people and only two hours—defeating this boss seemed utterly impossible.

The boss, on the other hand, appeared more than capable of wiping out their group. Mu Jin couldn’t help but suspect that even when the two-hour time limit ended, this world’s boss might still remain undefeated.

At the same time, he felt relieved that he had listened to Brother Qi’s advice. Those who had rushed into direct confrontation with the boss met grim fates, while those who avoided attacking it and kept their distance from the battlefield managed to survive.

When the two-hour hunt finally came to its last second, just as Mu Jin had predicted, the boss was still standing tall before them. It didn’t even appear significantly damaged. The shadowy figure within the mist showed no signs of weariness, while nearly half of their team had perished.

At that moment, the white light swept across the world again. Just before Mu Jin’s mind went blank, he distinctly heard Brother Qi shout, “In the next world, stay in the safe zone and wait for me!”

This time, Mu Jin obediently followed Brother Qi’s instructions and stayed in the safe zone, waiting for him. The two quickly regrouped and formed a new team, recruiting additional allies. Having gone through the first two worlds, Mu Jin had thoroughly familiarized himself with the game’s mechanics and developed a seamless cooperation with Brother Qi.

He also discovered that his own reflexes were quite agile. While he couldn’t achieve the sheer power Brother Qi displayed, he was at least capable of protecting himself. From time to time, he could even assist Brother Qi and the other teammates when needed.

In the worlds they experienced afterward, there were ones filled with ghosts and others set in eras of war and chaos. Brother Qi always stayed by his side, looking after him. Mu Jin knew that without Brother Qi, he wouldn’t have grown as much as he had.

More importantly, he wouldn’t have gained the confidence or the drive to push himself harder—motivated by the simple desire to ensure that Brother Qi wouldn’t regret helping him.

What astonished Mu Jin the most was that almost every time they reached the end of a world, both he and Brother Qi were among the top 100 players and participated in the boss battles.

However, something puzzled Mu Jin: the bosses that appeared in each world seemed almost identical. Shrouded in dense white mist, their forms were impossible to discern, and their speed, attack methods, and incredible strength were always nearly the same. Mu Jin began to suspect that the bosses they faced in each world were, in fact, the same entity.

After every two-hour siege, the boss was never successfully defeated. This made Mu Jin feel that the system’s promise of earning 100,000 points for killing the boss was practically an impossible goal.

What was even more perplexing was how intelligent and precise the boss’s attacks seemed to be. It primarily targeted those who attacked it first. Meanwhile, following Brother Qi’s advice to avoid drawing attention, Mu Jin managed to survive every time by staying out of the thick of battle.

The game’s time flow was different from that of the real world. An hour in reality was equivalent to a full day in the game. The gaming pods were equipped with automated systems, immersing players in a nutrient solution that ensured cleanliness and health. This setup allowed players to remain in the pods for up to a year without compromising their well-being.

Although not much time had passed in the real world, to Mu Jin, it felt like he had lived over a hundred days in the game.

During those hundred days of traversing through various worlds, Mu Jin witnessed all kinds of fascinating and surreal scenes. However, he didn’t find them particularly novel. In fact, many of these environments evoked a strong sense of familiarity.

For instance, there was a dense forest filled with glowing fireflies, and an eerie old mansion haunted by ghostly shadows.

Even though he disliked this intensely competitive, ceaselessly violent game, Mu Jin found that having Brother Qi by his side made it bearable—even enjoyable.

But watching the man effortlessly fend off the opposing team, his blade swift and deadly, Mu Jin hid the emotions flickering in his eyes. He quickly cast a spell to enhance the man’s attacks.

He realized that his experience in this game world had become far more complex than it was in the beginning. Initially, his participation was purely about earning points, gaining rewards, or striving for first place to secure a substantial monetary prize.

Now, however, he carried a secret in his heart: he had fallen for someone. Someone he met in this virtual world. A man whose ruggedly handsome features and resolute demeanor reminded Mu Jin of an unsheathed blade. Yet, when it came to Mu Jin, this same man was gentle and caring, always protecting him like a guardian angel.

“Brother Qi.” After they had wiped out another opposing squad, Mu Jin sat down beside the man and quickly handed him a potion. His face flushed as he struck up a casual conversation, occasionally sneaking glances at him.

He always wanted to know more about the man sitting beside him, to understand him better. Mu Jin knew that his feelings might be inappropriate. After all, Brother Qi had been selflessly helping and taking care of him throughout this journey—treating him almost like a younger brother.

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Chapter 383- Infinite Online Game (03)

Mu Jin couldn’t help glancing at the man inspecting his weapons out of the corner of his eye. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, a tall and strong figure, strikingly handsome features, exceptional combat skills, and a thoughtful, caring personality—such a perfect man was someone anyone could easily fall for. So, his earlier reaction was perfectly normal, wasn’t it?

Mu Jin tried to reassure himself. He felt truly lucky to receive such a person’s help and friendship and decided not to entertain any unrealistic thoughts. But he couldn’t help wondering: who would be the lucky one to win the heart of such a perfect man in the future?

After a brief rest, the team set out on their journey again. Mu Jin noticed that his teammates seemed unusually excited. Along the way, they had defeated many monsters and members of the opposing faction.

However, as the number of participants dwindled, it became clear that the remaining players were the strongest and most skilled. The closer they got to the end of the competition, the harder the battles would undoubtedly become. After all, anyone who had survived this long was undeniably formidable.

After taking down another Zerg team equipped with advanced weapons, the group was left in a sorry state. Their previously abundant supplies were almost depleted, and their equipment was badly damaged. Without timely repairs, much of it had turned into a pile of scrap metal.

The potions in Mu Jin’s inventory were now down to a few bottles, and most of their teammates were either severely injured or already dead. It was clear that their team wasn’t in any condition to engage in another fight right away. As the team leader, Brother Qi suggested they take a break and search the surrounding area for more supplies.

Unfortunately, plans rarely go as expected. Just as everyone had taken their potions, regained some energy, and prepared to hunt for resources, another heavily armed Zerg team appeared.

Unlike their team, the Zerg squad hadn’t just fought a grueling battle. They looked much better prepared. Worse yet, the disparity in numbers and weaponry was glaring. It was clear that engaging in combat under such circumstances would not be a wise choice.

The enemy charged at them with incredible speed, leaving no time for escape. With no other choice, Mu Jin’s team could only engage them head-on, hoping that by fighting with all their might, they might still have a slim chance of survival.

One by one, their teammates fell. Their weapons and ammunition were running critically low, and the situation was growing increasingly desperate. After downing his last potion, the man’s face hardened with determination.

He knew the odds were stacked against them. He had been reduced to the level of an ordinary person and could do little under such circumstances. However, if he were to escape alone with Mu Jin, there was still a chance. After all, his true goal had never been about winning the competition—it was to protect the person beside him.

Just as he prepared to make his move, a man dressed entirely in black suddenly appeared out of nowhere. His short, fiery red hair stood out strikingly against his dark attire.

The newcomer moved with astonishing speed, wielding an unknown weapon. To Mu Jin, it seemed as though the man moved at the speed of light, weaving swiftly through the enemy ranks. Everywhere he went, the enemies were struck with devastating, fatal attacks, their bodies disintegrating and breaking apart before Mu Jin’s eyes.

The orc team quickly took advantage of the unexpected ally’s arrival, coordinating their efforts to attack the remaining Zerg squad. With the black-clad man’s assistance, the tide of battle shifted rapidly, and they managed to annihilate the entire Zerg team in a short amount of time.

When the black-clad man dispatched the last enemy and finally stopped moving, he turned to face them. It was then that Mu Jin noticed his fiery red eyes, matching the color of his hair. However, there was no sign of an orc tribe marking on his forehead, and his appearance offered no clue as to what kind of species he belonged to.

The man’s face was rugged and resolute, his build tall and imposing. Unlike the natural aura of dominance emanating from Brother Qi, this man exuded a different kind of power—strong, yet cold and indifferent.

There was also a faint sense of familiarity about him that Mu Jin couldn’t ignore, though no matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn’t find any trace of this person in his memories.

Faced with the sudden appearance of this powerful figure, all the team members looked at him with awe and excitement. However, the man remained expressionless as he approached, set down a package in front of them, and quickly left. His speed was astonishing; they didn’t even have time to thank him before his figure disappeared entirely.

After confirming that the man was gone, one of Mu Jin’s teammates hurried over to open the package. Inside, they found a large cache of top-tier weapons and dozens of advanced potions. At this critical juncture, it was akin to receiving a “treasure trove,” and everyone couldn’t help but cheer in excitement.

They began speculating about the mysterious man, calling him a savior who had seemingly descended from the heavens. Mu Jin, too, felt curious, but seeing that no one around him seemed to know who the man was, he decided not to press the matter.

Only Borther Qi, standing quietly at the back of the group, frowned slightly. His gaze lingered on the weapons and potions inside the package as he clenched his fists, his expression shadowed and unreadable.

With the advanced potions, their recovery rate improved significantly. Coupled with the top-tier weapons, even though their numbers had been reduced, their overall combat strength had actually increased.

Thanks to these new supplies, the team managed to endure for many more days. They never again faced the dire circumstances of being surrounded by the Zerg squad. However, they also didn’t encounter the black-clad, red-haired man again.

After they once again annihilated a Zerg squad, the familiar alarm sounds echoed all around. However, this time, there wasn’t the overwhelming white light that usually followed. Instead, everyone received a message from the central system. On the massive public screen of the world, their new mission was displayed.

From this world onward, new rules would be introduced. The central system issued an instruction: [Starting now, each world would feature an ultimate boss.]

At the end of every world, the top 100 individuals on the leaderboard for that world would be transported near the world boss. Each encounter with the boss would have a fixed duration of two hours.

Within the allotted time, they must defeat the boss. If they failed or succeeded, all participants would still be forcibly transferred to a new world after the two-hour limit. However, the most important and attention-grabbing detail was this: the person who delivered the fatal blow to the boss would receive 100,000 points.

One hundred thousand points—an astronomical figure. In this competition, killing a single monster only yielded between 1 to 5 points, and defeating an opponent from the rival faction awarded just 10 points. Therefore, securing the kill on the boss and earning 100,000 points would undoubtedly crown the victor of the tournament.

Upon hearing this announcement, expressions of excitement spread across everyone’s faces. They realized that slaying the boss was essentially a shortcut to becoming the competition’s champion. Even those who previously had low individual scores rekindled their hopes.

If they were willing to fight hard in just one world, they would have the chance to make it into the top 100. And if they reached the top 100, they might become the one to deliver the final blow to the boss.

As everyone gradually processed this game-changing directive, a white light finally began to spread across the world. In an instant, all their minds went blank.

When they opened their eyes again, all of them found themselves in an unfamiliar place. Mu Jin noticed that six people from his team, including Brother Qi, had been transported to this location. Judging by the architectural style of the surroundings and their attire, it was clear they hadn’t switched to a new world.

Soon, more people began to appear around them one after another. The newly arrived individuals scanned the crowd and showed excited expressions. Mu Jin guessed these people must be the top 100 scorers in the current world, as mentioned earlier by the central system.

What surprised him, however, was that he was among the top 100. Given his stats and abilities, it seemed impossible for him to reach that ranking.

It must be because he had teamed up with Brother Qi. By supporting Brother Qi with buffs, some of the points Brother Qi earned from defeating enemies must have been shared with him. Thinking this, Mu Jin glanced gratefully at the man beside him.

In front of them stood a magnificent building. Mu Jin speculated that the world boss was likely hidden inside. However, they had no idea where the boss was or how to access the building, as there seemed to be no way to enter.

Since the central system had stated that each world would feature a boss, they realized this scenario would likely repeat in subsequent worlds. If someone managed to gain multiple opportunities to land the final blow on a boss across different worlds, the ultimate winner of the competition would remain uncertain.

It was clear that those present, eligible to participate in this boss hunt, were brimming with excitement and ready to act. However, just as someone reached out to touch the building in front of them, it suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash.

The scene before them was now fully exposed. Since they had surrounded the building, there was nothing obstructing their view. But despite the building’s disappearance, they still couldn’t see any sign of the so-called boss.

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