Mini World Game Console

After returning home, Ren Suo peered at the car downstairs from a window and quickly pulled the curtains shut.

He turned on the Mini-World Game Console, lowered the game volume, and excitedly opened the Content Preservation Vault.

Up until now, he hadn't fully understood how Keys worked. The only thing he was sure about was that Keys probably had nothing to do with Awakeners, since most ordinary Cultivators who hadn't undergone Awakening didn't possess any Keys at all.

As for Li Dan, Ren Suo had obtained a Key from him once during the intensive training. Yet, a month later, a Key had surprisingly appeared on him again!

Could it be that as long as one was a Key bearer, after a Key was obtained, it could regenerate itself after a cooldown period? Wouldn't that mean if I had several regular Awakener friends, I could continuously harvest Keys from them? If so, obtaining Keys isn't really that difficult.

However, when Ren Suo saw the contents of the Content Preservation Vault, his excitement instantly subsided.

Because the Key that appeared before him was a two-star key.

"Two Star Insight Key: Additional +15% chance of receiving Insight-type rewards."

The Key Ren Suo had obtained from Li Dan before was a one-star key. How had it turned into a Two-Star one now?

Could it be that after some time, not only do Keys regenerate, but they also upgrade? No, that thought is too optimistic.

Ren Suo recalled Li Dan's appearance. Though he looked more haggard than a month ago, there was no denying that the oppressive feeling Li Dan gave Ren Suo was much stronger than before, even somewhat resembling Yu Kuangtu's commanding presence that inspired awe without anger. This kind of presence wasn't psychological pressure exerted by a superior on an inferior, but purely 'fear' caused by the strength of one's Qi Cyclone.

When facing a Cultivator with a Qi Cyclone one level stronger than their own, a Low-Level Cultivator's Qi Cyclone would run a bit chaotically. These disturbances didn't have much impact but were enough to disorient the Low-Level Cultivator's mind, creating an 'intimidating' effect. In other words, when this feeling occurred, a Cultivator would know they were facing an expert several times stronger than themselves. At the very least, this could prevent the tragedy of 'a Low-Level Cultivator provoking a high-level Cultivator and then being humiliated.'

Therefore, is it because Li Dan became much stronger that he recondensed a higher-level Key? If that theory holds, then what exactly is a Key?

Ren Suo pondered for a while. Knowing he couldn't find strong evidence to prove or disprove his theory, he recorded these thoughts, making his list of questions even longer.

What is the purpose of the Mini-World Game Console? Am I a child of Destiny? When can I start a harem? As a successor to society, how should I consider what the masses consider, be anxious about what the masses are anxious about, solve what troubles the masses, and use the game console to contribute to society?

A heavy sense of responsibility settled on Ren Suo's shoulders. He composed his worried thoughts about the country and its people, then turned around—and joyfully went to open the Treasure Box.

Now Ren Suo had a Two-Star Treasure Chest and a Three-Star Treasure Chest. The Three-Star Treasure Chest required a three-star key to open, which Ren Suo naturally didn't have.

Of course, I could also wait until I acquire, say, two more two-star keys, or perhaps four one-star keys. Once I've gathered enough to make three two-star keys, I can then combine them into a three-star key... It didn't seem that difficult when I looked into it before, but now I realize—it's actually quite hard.

All things considered, Ren Suo was currently only fairly certain about obtaining Keys from Lin Xianyu and Dong Chengling. As for others... even if I tried to take them by force, I might not be able to beat them. Take Lin Xianyu, for example. She was terrifying during her Awakening. After successfully Awakening, she could probably perform feats like cutting gold and jade effortlessly. The other students capable of Awakening are likely similar. With my current combat power, if I don't manage to suppress an Awakener with "Lock" immediately, I'll probably be counter-killed. And if I get counter-killed, it would serve me right. Who asked you to timidly try and subdue others anyway?

Gathering his thoughts, Ren Suo glanced at the waiting Two-Star Treasure Chest and chose to open it!

How could anyone resist opening a Treasure Box that was ready to be opened?!

"You have used a 'Two Star Insight Key' to open this Treasure Chest."

"You have obtained the prop 'Unlimited Fried Chicken Set'."

"...Huh?" Ren Suo was completely stunned.

"Unlimited Fried Chicken Set"

"Quality Rank: Two-Star Item, Prerequisite: Requires a digestive system."

"Effect: After equipping, the Player can speak 'Fried Chicken Combo' and, from any 40cm x 15cm x 18cm bag or container (this specific access point/space is invisible to others), directly pull out a very delicious Fried Chicken Combo. This combo can satisfy an adult man's energy needs for a whole day. Cooldown: 12 hours."

"Special Effect ①: You can add descriptive prefixes to the Spell 'Fried Chicken Combo', e.g., 'Sichuan Pepper', 'Amber', 'Soy Sauce', 'Mustard', etc., to change the flavor of the fried chicken."

"Special Effect ②: You can change the Spell 'Fried Chicken Combo' to 'Whole Wing Bucket', 'Snack Bucket', or 'Tender Beef Wrap', etc. While the energy content remains the same, the game will try to fulfill the request (refer to a typical fried chicken fast-food menu for specific options)."

"Note: A high-energy food with great texture and delicious flavor, recognized even by deities."

Ren Suo was utterly dumbfounded.

He had expected the Insight Key not to grant an extra Spell, as the chance was only 15%. In fact, he had only gotten lucky with the first Key, drawing an additional reward.

But, a Two-Star Item, an Unlimited Fried Chicken Set! I really hadn't expected the Mini-World Game Console to pull something like this! I suspect that if my luck had been just a bit worse, I might have pulled an unlimited Nuclear Cola... If you just prefix all props with 'unlimited', can they all legitimately become rewards!? Even an unlimited Holy Handgun would have been better! At least then I could have become a weight-loss master. Now, this Unlimited Fried Chicken Set... I can only get it once every 12 hours! I can't even compete with the school cafeteria—they even sell salt-baked chicken legs! After all that effort to get a Key, this is the result! I, Ren Suo, would rather starve to death than eat fried chicken that the game console conjured from who-knows-where!

That's what he thought, but Ren Suo figured he should at least test it out. So, he equipped this prop, found a backpack, and called out, "Fried Chicken Combo."

Suddenly, his hand felt a bit heavier. When he reached into the backpack and pulled it out, there was a Fried Chicken Combo in red packaging.

Ren Suo said with a disgusted expression, "So this is the stuff... Hmm..."

"This smell is quite strong…"

"...I'm a bit hungry."

"...It actually smells amazing."

By the time Ren Suo finished the Fried Chicken Combo, the red packaging on the table had vanished. However, Ren Suo wasn't particularly surprised. Compared to the Mini-World Game Console itself, this was a relatively mundane occurrence.

Ren Suo checked the time: 12:57 AM. It was now May 21st, Grain Full!

In the end, Ren Suo had followed Naiser's official advice. He hadn't spent money searching for games but had obediently waited three days, until today, a day that might feature a holiday promotion, to see what games were available for purchase!

In the "World Store," apart from "Sacrifice," a new section had indeed appeared: "Grain Full Promotion!"

Clicking on it revealed a large banner proclaiming—"As long as you're bold enough, you can take free games home!"

***

After a night of high-speed flight, the Flying Bird was finally exhausted and plummeted, landing softly in a patch of jungle. In just one night, it had flown over 800 kilometers. Its wings showed multiple points of strain, and its body lay on the ground, trembling slightly.

It retched, expelling a tiny Glimmer, no bigger than a speck of dust. It was difficult to discern the Glimmer's shape. Soon, an ant, waving its antennae, touched the Glimmer.

Not knowing whether it mistook the Glimmer for a corpse or a piece of sugar, the ant lifted it and shakily began carrying it back to its nest. However, halfway there, it was caught by a long, pointed snout, which lapped up both ant and Glimmer together into a Pangolin's stomach.

The Pangolin continued to sway its head. Not finding other ants and feeling sleepy again, it obediently returned to its burrow, curled up, and peacefully spent its final, quiet night.