C1 Memory Recovery!

Removing his gaming bracelet, Wang Yipao let out a deep sigh.

This was the thirty-second attempt.

Yet, the elusive brown scorpion poison remained out of reach.

Neither the Sub-Dragon Scorpion, a Qi Refining stage boss, nor the ubiquitous Poisonous Scorpions had yielded the item.

Was it his luck that was off?

Or was the information flawed, and these creatures weren't the right source?

Where could the brown scorpion poison be?

"Do I really need to take on a Foundation Stage boss?" Wang Yipao mused with a wry smile.

A month had passed since the launch of Immortal Realm, a cultivation-themed MMORPG. Currently, players were just managing to scrape by with Qi Refining bosses. But to challenge a Foundation Stage boss?

That was practically a death wish!

They probably wouldn't even need to lose their temper; a couple of light slaps would be enough to finish you off.

What a nightmare!

Shaking his head, Wang Yipao left his club's private training room and headed to the lobby.

Lee, a club member who farmed gold, caught sight of Wang Yipao and couldn't resist asking, "Mr. Pao, still no luck with the brown scorpion poison?"

"Nope, nothing," Wang Yipao replied, grabbing an extra bottle of Nutri-Boost from the vending machine and tossing it to Lee. "But thanks for the tip about the scorpion spirit."

"Heh, no problem at all. You're my idol, Mr. Pao," Lee said, catching the drink with an innocent grin. "After I finish today's quota, I'll round up some guys to help you hunt for those wild monsters."

"Deal. If you find it, dinner's on me," Wang Yipao promised, his smile tinged with resignation. He knew the item wouldn't come easily, but he was genuinely grateful for the help.

"Long live Mr. Pao!" Lee chugged down the drink and tossed the bottle into the bin, eager to get back to work.

A short distance away, a young man sneered, "Still sucking up to Mr. Pao, huh, Lee? You really were born to be a lackey."

In the blink of an eye, the color drained from the faces of everyone in the grand hall.

"Little dog, you better apologize—now."

"Have you lost your mind, Han Bai? You're actually picking a fight with Mr. Pao?"

"Do you have a death wish? Fine, but don't drag us down with you! We're freaking innocent here!"

Han Bai sneered, "A guy who's gone from pro player to benchwarmer, then to a gaming guild president, and now just a member of our raid team—what's there to fear? For all we know, he might get kicked out of the Divine Wind Club any day now. Scared of him? Not me!"

Wang Yipao just smiled, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh? You want to throw down? Bring it on! Hit me if you dare! The club will have your name struck off the roster in no time!" Han Bai taunted, his sneer unwavering, "My uncle is the manager of this branch of the Divine Wind Club. Go ahead, make a move. Do you think you're still the revered Divine Wind Sword Immortal?"

He even had the audacity to flip Wang Yipao the bird.

At that moment, everyone in the room covered their eyes.

They all knew Han Bai had just signed his own death warrant.

Sure enough,

The next second, Wang Yipao's fist thundered down, striking Han Bai squarely in the gut.

The poor guy nearly stopped breathing right there, collapsing in agony, gasping for air, unable to utter a sound. His contorted face said it all—the punch had been devastating.

Wang Yipao still held an empty water bottle in his left hand, which he nonchalantly tossed aside.

The bottle arced gracefully into a trash bin ten meters away.

Onlookers shook their heads in disbelief.

This unfortunate kid clearly had no clue about Mr. Pao's past.

Did he not know that Pao's family once ran a martial arts school?

How could he possibly lack genuine skill?

"No need for your uncle to sack me—I quit. As if I ever needed the Divine Wind Club. You just want me to quit on my own to dodge paying a hefty severance, right?" Wang Yipao scoffed, pulling out the resignation letter he had prepared well in advance and tossing it next to Han Bai.

With that, he coolly turned on his heel and walked out of the Divine Wind Club branch.

It wasn't long before...

Wang Yipao returned to his residence, a sprawling five hundred square meter mansion purchased with his earnings as a former professional player. Slumped on the sofa, he cradled his head, lost in thought. What was he to do now that he had left Divine Wind?

Suddenly, fragments of memories began to surface in his mind. They multiplied rapidly, piecing together until a coherent memory played out in his thoughts.

"Code Cannon King System, you have successfully completed ten thousand missions, mentoring seven Immortal Emperors, two hundred Immortal Kings, six thousand Earth Immortals, and over three thousand Loose Immortals. You've achieved Perfection of Virtue, transformed into a spirit, and now you're free to travel to any world and pursue your desires. Tell me, which world will it be? The vast and endless Divine Sky Universe, the Nine Heavens Continent rife with ceaseless battles, or perhaps..."

"No! I choose Earth!"

"Ah, I see. Earth, a realm where Spiritual Qi is scarce, yet it frequently produces remarkable individuals. Great responsibilities are bestowed by the heavens upon such people, who must endure hardships to strengthen their resolve. Going there, you're sure to cultivate a supreme Immortal Heart. Very well!"

"No, no, no, that's not it at all."

"Oh? It appears you have some unique insights. Indeed, having mentored so many talents, you must possess valuable knowledge. Share your thoughts, so that I may pass your wisdom on to other systems."

"I want to play online games."

"Excellent! Playing online games is a fine choice. It's a perfect way to refine the Immortal... Wait, what did you say?"

"I said, I'm going to Earth to play online games!"

"Holy smokes! Are you dead serious? You're an enlightened system, for heaven's sake! Even if you were to lower your aspirations, you could at least become a Loose Immortal and have some fun! How else can you justify your legacy to those you've trained? How can you live up to the title of Cannon King System? How can you meet my great expectations?"

"Lord Jade Emperor, please, no harsh words. You promised that once I completed my mission, I could do anything I wished."

"You can't just waste your time on online games either! Obsessing over games leads to lost ambition! Let's sit down calmly and have a serious discussion about the future."

"Lord Jade Emperor, may I inquire, what is the most important thing in the world to me?"

"What?"

"My determination to play online games."

"…"

That's where the memory cuts off.

It's somewhat disjointed.

Wang Yipao held his head.

Is this really my memory?

Are you certain it belongs to me?

Are you actually serious?

Are you saying that I, a full-grown adult, am not really a person, but a system that's become sentient?

Well, regardless of its truth, it seems irrelevant to me now.

Despite the fragmented nature of this memory, it likely signifies that he lived as an utterly ordinary individual.

It's true that I have a fondness for online games, that much is correct.

But since resigning from Divine Wind, and given my progress in Immortal Realm, catching up to professional gamers is out of the question, let alone the least skilled reserves.

Such a dull memory. Why can't it let me have just a little edge?

"It's all over. Without the brown scorpion's poison, I can't even get past the basic Qi Refining Stage, let alone pursue my dreams! Perhaps I should just delete my account and start anew, then resign myself to a life of mediocrity." Wang Yipao opened his game bracelet, gazed at his account on the screen, and eyed the delete option.

With a clenched jaw, he clicked next to delete, choosing to enter the game instead.

Huh?

Wait, shouldn't it be 'log into the game'?

Why does it say 'enter the game'?

Has the game been updated?

Before Wang Yipao could fully grasp the situation, he lost control of his body and was once again transported into Immortal Realm.

And then,

My hand!

Why has it turned into a brown pincer?