Chapter 26: An Invitation from Level 4

The red light before his eyes faded, and Liu Zong looked around in confusion. Although he hadn't left the game instance through the usual channels, he should now be in the rented space of Yang City Third High School. Yet the current situation felt as if he had been forcibly sent back to the real world.

Staring at the countless matchbox-like skyscrapers before him, Liu Zong was utterly bewildered; he still couldn't grasp what was happening.

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

"Player DS-54370681-157?"

Liu Zong turned his head and saw a man in his thirties standing behind him. The man wore an ordinary suit, with no adornments on his hands, and looked just like a regular person. But it was precisely this ordinariness that made Liu Zong uneasy.

In this world dominated by the game, even ordinary people carried traces of gaming on them. Liu Zong, for example, if he walked in the real world, would inevitably have a box for his game items or equipment by his side. If he reached Level 1, he could even convert certain pieces of game equipment for use in reality.

To Liu Zong, a normal person with no connection to the game could only be an underage minor, not yet eighteen.

But the man before him was clearly in his thirties, yet appeared utterly ordinary—there was no way this was normal.

Before Liu Zong could react, the man smiled and said, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Li You."

Liu Zong was stunned at these words. Others might not know, but in Yang City, there were a few people everyone recognized, and Li You was one of them.

He was famous not only because he was one of Yang City's five Level 4 players, but also because he was the head of Yang City's judicial authority, commanding both the police and the military. Among the city's over ten million players, he was at the very pinnacle.

Liu Zong couldn't imagine any reason Li You would seek him out—their worlds were simply too far apart.

But Li You went on, "Young man, do you have time to join me for a drink?"

Without hesitation, Liu Zong nodded, and in that instant, Li You waved his hand and Liu Zong found himself transported to a bar.

The bar looked rather dilapidated, reminiscent of those in Western movies, with old songs playing. A few men and women of some age were quietly drinking their own beverages.

Li You walked up to the bar, ordered two drinks—uncertain whether they were ale or beer—and carried them to a booth, motioning for Liu Zong to sit.

By now, Liu Zong had regained some composure. He seated himself opposite Li You, gingerly picked up his glass, then set it down again.

"This drink?"

"No worries," Li You replied. "It's the owner's specialty. Many of the ingredients are hard to come by; you can only taste it here. Have some more." As he spoke, he took a sip himself.

Liu Zong cautiously took a sip. Instantly, it felt as though his soul had been flung out of his body. It took him a while to settle down, and then he noticed a thick layer of sweat on his body. At the same time, he sensed that the shadow he usually visualized in meditation had grown much clearer. For the first time, Liu Zong felt the presence of this thing while awake.

It was a fragment of soul hidden deep within him, a piece from an unknown origin.

Liu Zong wanted to speak, but Li You, seeing the greasy sweat, remarked, "The first time you drink this, that's what happens. Your level is too low. Drink it a few more times and it'll be fine."

"Drink it again..." Liu Zong's expression clearly said he hadn't meant that.

Seeing this, Li You laughed. "You know, others would do anything to taste this, and you complain."

Then Li You grew serious, fixing Liu Zong with a gaze. "You must be curious why I sought you out."

Liu Zong nodded hurriedly; there was no way their paths would cross, and he hadn't done anything illegal lately.

Li You then asked, "Did you obtain a Titan Artifact in your instance?"

"I didn't exploit any bugs!" Liu Zong exclaimed, knowing that profiting by exploiting game bugs was a heavy offense.

"I know," Li You replied. "Actually, after the Titan Artifact appeared, I received word immediately. Normally, such items only show up on bosses in forty-player Level 3+ instances, so when one appeared in a Level 1 five-player instance, I checked your instance records right away.

So I know the broad strokes. I must say, you made a choice most wouldn't dare.

You know, you could run a thousand instances and only meet the Pearl King once. If it drops the Lucky Pearl, even I'd be tempted. Yet only you would have the nerve to use it as a key to open a treasure chest.

So, the Titan Artifact you received is truly a reward for your courage.

And even if others learn this method, they can't replicate your results. Your Titan Artifact carries the cumulative effect of the three prior players who gave up.

I doubt, if your method spreads, the next person who meets the Pearl King will choose to take the Lucky Pearl rather than gamble on their luck."

As Li You explained, Liu Zong understood; Li You had a clear grasp of human nature. The Titan Artifact in Liu Zong's hand was essentially unique to that instance. It wasn't a bug, and no one would question its origin or the rules behind it.

"So you're saying, the Titan Artifact is truly mine?" Liu Zong asked excitedly.

"Of course," Li You smiled, as if recalling his younger self. "But that's not why I sought you out. There's another matter."

"Oh?"

Li You explained, "Everyone knows that items connected to Titans or Pangu are all Creation Artifacts—the entry requirement for Level 4. Actually, that's only what players below Level 2 believe. Every Level 3 player receives a quest: the True Name Quest, whose key lies in Titan Artifacts or Pangu relics."

"True Name Quest?"

"Yes. It means making your game name, badge, and all things representing your identity truly yours. From then on, your name will refer to you in both the real and game worlds.

Though certain events or worlds may cause subtle changes, whenever anyone mentions that name, it means you. That's a true name.

Take my name, for example. When people in Yang City say 'Li You,' everyone knows it's me—because my game name is 'No Reason.'"