C16 New Identity!

"Damn, couldn't this have waited until I was done? I demand compensation for my mental anguish, and for the indignity suffered by my little brother!" Chu Hen pulled up his pants, massaged his aching body, and steadied his slightly swollen head as he took in the sights of this strange new realm.

Before him lay a cobblestone path leading to a majestic jade palace. Chu Hen strode forward, the stones seemingly guiding him, channeling a mysterious energy that whisked him to the palace's entrance.

"King of the Gods Main Hall!"

The four golden characters blazed before his eyes.

"Commence the tally!" boomed a commanding voice from within the hall, as the mists and clouds receded like a receding tide. A vast play of light and shadow cast itself between the verdant mountains and waters, creating a luminous screen.

The screen replayed Chu Hen's every action in Xia Village, pausing at the most picturesque moments. Then, a whirl of Sanskrit symbols and nebulae swirled in his mind, translating to:

"Main Mission: Survive — Completed! Reward: 100 Contribution Points!"

"Kill six barbarian soldiers, Reward: 300 Contribution Points!"

"Kill one captain, Reward: 100 Contribution Points!"

"Kill one wizard, Reward: 500 Contribution Points!"

"Total mission rewards: 1,000 Contribution Points!"

"Congratulations to Testee #0911 for passing the test and becoming a candidate for the next round!"

"The King of the Gods Main Hall has detected that Testee #0911 has suffered mental trauma. Would you like to receive treatment? The fee is 2,000 Contribution Points!"

Trauma? Treatment? 2,000 Contribution Points? After all my efforts, it's still not enough to cover the cost of healing?

"No! No! No! Great King of the Gods, you've got it all wrong. Lianxiang and I were consensual, and while I'm a bit miffed about the interruption, my spirit is in excellent shape. No treatment necessary!" Chu Hen stretched his limbs, demonstrating his agility and mental clarity. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead, as if a realization had struck him.

"Could it be that my spirit alone has traveled through time? Did my brainwaves weaken during the journey?"

"But this treatment fee, isn't it exorbitant?"

Chu Hen lamented. Back in the 21st century, he was penniless. He had barely managed to cross over to the affluent households of Draseon, and before he could savor the luxury, he found himself impoverished once more in the realm of the King of the Gods.

"What else can Contribution Points be used for besides healing?"

Swish... Swish...

As the starlight swirled, the Sanskrit on the screen transformed, emitting dazzling beams of light.

"Martial arts secret manuals, weapons, and laws of the heavens..." Rows of Sanskrit text filled the screen, overwhelming Chu Hen with their abundance.

He first focused on the martial arts secret manuals. With a mere thought, the screen shifted accordingly.

"Xiantian Technique" – A divine method that, once mastered, unifies all laws and bestows the talent of gods and spirits. Requirements: 1,000,000 Contribution Points.

"Yin Yang Dual Cultivation Secret Technique" – Harmonizing Yin and Yang, fostering the birth of all things. Those who master this technique can reverse the natural order, achieving the talent of Yin and Yang. Requirements: A female partner and 1,000,000 Contribution Points.

"Nine Yin Nine Yang Scripture"... Requirements: 300,000 Contribution Points.

"Golden Wheel Secret Technique"... Requirements: 300,000 Contribution Points.

"Western Heaven's Tightening Spell"... Contribution Points...

"Stop! Stop!" The screen continued to flip through options, each costing tens to hundreds of thousands of Contribution Points. It was clear that those without wealth need not even bother looking.

Next, he turned his attention to the weapons and armaments...

"Star Chasing Moon Blade"... 1,000,000 Contribution Points.

"Purple Star Seven Ultimate Sword"... 1,000,000 Contribution Points.

"Golden Cudgel"... 4,000,000 Contribution Points.

...

What the heck? There was even a Golden Cudgel? Even if he could afford it, it would likely be too heavy to wield. Better to look for something within his budget!

"Swish!" The screen shimmered with starlight, and the King of the Gods Hall seemed to grasp Chu Hen's intent.

"Human Bone Mask" – Infused with the power of Shaman Spirits, a casting tool for Barbarian Wizards. Requirements: 1,000 Contribution Points.

"Witch's Blood Staff" – Containing the essence of Wizard's blood, an heirloom of the Barbarian Wizards. Requirements: 2,000 Contribution Points.

"Jadeite Bracelet" – Imbued with magical power, a standard magical artifact. Requirements: 700 Contribution Points.

The "Ruby Bracelet" contained magical powers and was considered an ordinary magical tool, requiring 700 Contribution Points.

"Huh?" These four items seemed very familiar; he had encountered them all during his missions.

He hadn't realized how valuable the Barbarian Witch's staff was. Had he known earlier, he would have definitely given it a try!

Chu Hen thoughtfully tapped the interface, and the words 'Witch Blood Staff' disintegrated, transforming into the exchange screen.

"To exchange, you need two thousand Contribution Points. A transaction fee of ten percent is applied. Tester number 0911, Chu Hen, you will need a total of two thousand two hundred Contribution Points. If your Contribution Points are insufficient, would you like the King of the Gods to reclaim your personal items or Blood Essence?"

Alas, even the exchange came with a fee.

"No!" He thought, with nothing of value on him, could they even take his worn-out clothes?

"Wait, the bracelet?" Chu Hen quickly rolled up his sleeve to check his wrist. The magical tool his sister had given him was still there, surprisingly valued at seven hundred Contribution Points.

"They don't charge for reclaiming, do they?"

"Reclamation Rules: To reclaim an item, its functions must first be erased. Only after the functions are restored can it be reclaimed by the King of the Gods. Restoring functions requires one hundred Contribution Points." As expected, the King of the Gods Hall was just finding another way to charge fees.

Chu Hen shrugged in resignation. The mission's reward of one thousand Contribution Points, plus the seven hundred from the bracelet, minus the one hundred fee, totaled only one thousand six hundred Contribution Points. He was still four hundred short of the required two thousand.

What to do? It was common sense to address ailments; Chu Hen didn't want to risk any complications. But where could he scrape together the remaining four hundred Contribution Points?

"Notice: The tester may contribute Blood Essence!" An ancient and authoritative voice chimed in just in time.

"Blood Essence? So, like donating blood?" Chu Hen rolled up his sleeve, ready to take the plunge. Blood was a renewable resource, but the loss of spirit was invaluable.

"Tester number 0911, Chu Hen, initiating bloodline verification..."

No one approached with a needle or any blood-drawing equipment. Instead, the King of the Gods Hall stirred slightly, causing Chu Hen to instinctively step back.

"Damn it, this isn't some shoddy work, is it?"

Thankfully, the grand hall remained intact, radiating countless beams of light that shrouded Chu Hen's form.

"What's this?"

Chu Hen kept backing away, but he couldn't escape the relentless brilliance. His expression suddenly shifted, "It couldn't be..."

The light engulfed him, and once more, clouds and mist emerged, creating an interplay of light and shadow that seemed to fill the space with all things in the world, instilling in Chu Hen a sense of mystery and vastness. Moments later, his heart rate spiked, his blood boiling and racing through his veins.

"Ah... I can't take it anymore!" Just when he thought he couldn't endure it, the clouds and mist abruptly cleared, revealing Chu Hen's figure once again as the area returned to tranquility.

"Sacred Light Energy, the world's source energy, perfectly aligns with the incomplete section of the King of the Gods Hall. Would you like to contribute?"

"What's in it for me?" Chu Hen wiped away his sweat, astonished that all this commotion was just for an appraisal.

"..."

There was no reply.

"How many contribution points will I receive?"

"..."

The King of the Gods Hall remained silent.

"Could it be..." Chu Hen's face lit up with realization.

A few things were clear: His blood essence, which gave off an exotic scent, was Sacred Light Energy, part of the world's source energy, and it matched the incomplete section of the King of the Gods Hall.

Considering Chen Sheng's overnight increase in strength and his wild words before death, it seemed to confirm the wonder of it all.

Moreover, the King of the Gods Hall was incomplete, lacking proactive thought, and had not resorted to forceful taking.

"Contribution!"

Chu Hen reasoned: His blood essence was peculiar, yet it had brought him no benefits. On the contrary, the unique fragrance it released upon bleeding might attract deadly trouble.

Meanwhile, the King of the Gods Hall's offer sounded miraculous. Contributing might well bring him extra advantages.

Besides, whether it was an investment or a gamble, he was still just a small-time thug at the bottom of the ladder. Plus, he needed to gather contribution points for his mental health treatment.

Chu Hen clenched his jaw and proceeded with the confirmation.

The Main Hall of the King of the Gods vibrated with what seemed like immense excitement. The tremors intensified, shaking with a force several times stronger than before.

"Whoa, take it easy..." Chu Hen instinctively raised his hand to calm the fervor.

A radiant glow burst forth, surrounded by swirling mists.

As Chu Hen found himself once more bathed in a myriad of light beams, a comforting warmth enveloped him. The hall itself appeared to grow taller, like bamboo after a spring rain, with the air between the jade structures thick with an even richer essence of divinity.

Eventually, the mists cleared, and the shaking ceased. Yet the light emanating from the hall grew increasingly luminous, coalescing into a sphere before pouring into Chu Hen's body.

"Congratulations to tester Chu Hen for advancing to the rank of Believer of the King of the Gods and for acquiring special privileges!"