Mini World Game Console

Summoning in reality and summoning in "High Energy Ahead" are not the same; the former causes the summoned person to appear before Ren Suo, while the latter causes them to appear directly before the adventurer.

Therefore, Ren Suo had believed that "Rippling Spring Sounds" must have a 'summoning range.' This wasn't the game character's movement range, but rather the radius within which the game character had to appear when first summoned.

But now it seemed the reason Ren Suo couldn't summon game characters thousands of miles away was likely due to his lack of the necessary ability—yet, in a game, it might still be feasible.

In "My Life is Not Your Game," the game interface itself closely resembled a tactical board game. When summoning, the game would abruptly halt. The entire game screen, originally a 2D tactical grid, would suddenly tilt slightly, instantly transforming from 2D to 3D—a three-dimensional tactical board game.

This mode wasn't for Ren Suo to control pieces in battle, but for him to prepare an advantageous entry point for the Assassin.

All NPC characters turned into 50% transparent apparitions. Instead, every grid square in the space lit up with flowing, colorful brilliance, its center displaying the corresponding cost.

For example, in the square furthest from the Rebel, directly above the banquet hall doorway, a cost was marked: 8 Merit Points.

When Ren Suo moved the cursor to this square, his "Listening Headphones" played a prompt: "Summoning the 'Assassin' to this location requires 8 Merit Points."

Thus, Ren Suo also understood: "Rippling Spring Sounds" manifested differently in each game. In "My Life is Not Your Game," players could freely set the game character's entry position.

Among these, positions overlapping with NPCs required the most Merit Points. For instance, the central position amidst the chaotic battle in the banquet hall demanded at least 18 Merit Points as the cost for the Assassin's Random Intrusion.

As for spaces not overlapping with NPCs, the required Merit Points were calculated based on the linear distance to the Rebel, increasing from near to far. Spaces closer to the Rebel required fewer Merit Points, while those farther away required more.

It was worth noting that outside the Lady of Light's barrier, in an unoccupied square only two spaces from the Rebel, a gray '0' indicated that summoning the Assassin to this spot cost no Merit Points at all.

However, inside the Lady of Light's barrier, even an unoccupied space displayed a dazzling golden '30'!

The Lady of Light seemed to have immense control over everything within her barrier. If Ren Suo wanted to forcibly bring the Assassin inside, it would cost at least 30 Merit Points! Summoning onto a space overlapping with Her Royal Highness the Princess was even more daunting, costing a staggering 150 Merit Points!

Ren Suo shifted his gaze to other parts of the banquet hall, contemplating the optimal entry point for the Assassin.

Since he was orchestrating the Assassin's grand entrance, Ren Suo naturally wouldn't skimp on a few Merit Points.

At that moment, Ren Suo noticed an extremely ornate chandelier directly above the center of the banquet hall. It was a perfect spot for hiding and making an entrance, requiring only 5 Merit Points. After Ren Suo selected this square, he was even lucky enough to trigger the 'Plucking Feathers from a Flying Goose' effect, which reduced the cost by 10 Merit Points, meaning he paid nothing!

A moment later, the Assassin began to materialize above the chandelier, pixel by pixel. This time, however, he wasn't wearing a black suit but seemed to be draped in a black cloak, perfectly fitting the fantastical medieval combat unfolding below. The game resumed, the screen reverting from 3D back to 2D!

Ren Suo immediately returned to the "Equipment Interface," re-equipped "Rippling Spring Sounds" to himself, and then mentally commanded the Assassin to attack!

"I bloom in the midst of slaughter, like the flowers at dawn."

The Assassin floated down into the banquet hall, grabbing a villainous warrior's head and twisting it until his pixels burst. Then, he picked up the warrior's firearm, spun around, firing in all directions, blooming on the spot like a dark lotus!

The villains were aghast, speech bubbles popping up over their heads. Although Ren Suo couldn't understand some of the languages, most were in English—

"It's the Assassin!"

"It's the Assassin again!"

"How is it him again!"

"Is Destiny on the side of the Lady of Light!?"

Wrong, it's the game console that's on the Lady of Light's side. Who designated you as the villains anyway? Ren Suo muttered. He noticed the battle was still raging and ordered the Assassin to first help the White Emperor, Female Demon, and Female Knight defeat their opponents.

To ensure the mission's success, Ren Suo couldn't let these three NPCs die, as that would reduce the Rebel's maximum Determination Value. Moreover, these three NPCs were much more to his liking than the Rebel. Being important game NPCs with considerable combat power, they naturally warranted extra protection.

The Assassin followed Ren Suo's orders, spinning and leaping through the banquet hall, using tables and chairs for cover to dodge the villains' attacks. With the Assassin's help, the White Emperor and the others managed to escape the brink of death and even counterattack their opponents.

The Rebel's fluctuating Determination Value also stabilized.

At that moment, a second wave of enemies stormed into the banquet hall. Countless spells and energy beams flooded the screen like quicksilver. The Assassin, along with the White Emperor and the other NPCs, retreated into a defensive circle towards the Lady of Light's barrier, fighting so fiercely that even the building began to tremble!

The White Emperor was seen chanting loudly, and Ice Walls rose from the ground, shielding everyone from incoming attacks!

No way, can we not beat them? Ren Suo, feeling helpless, suddenly remembered something. First, he issued a 'Kill on Sight' command to the Assassin, then equipped him with items like "Mage's Death-Defying Feather," "As Close As The Ends of The Earth," and "Mysterious Lord's Secret Record·Chapter One."

Then, the Assassin suddenly darted into the midst of the villains, brutally obliterating a villain's pixels with his weapon, seized the latter's weapon, and unleashed another 'dark lotus' flurry of attacks, instantly killing five or six villains!

Just as the villains were about to kill the audacious Assassin, he serenely teleported back behind cover, completely unscathed!

The "Mage's Death-Defying Feather" and "As Close As The Ends of The Earth" allowed for flashy maneuvers combining displacement and teleportation!

These were maneuvers only a game character could execute. Of course, Ren Suo could also achieve them—with a controller or a keyboard and mouse.

Ren Suo quickly switched the Assassin's outfit to "Gauze Clothing," significantly boosting the Assassin's offensive capabilities, enabling him to boldly engage opponents even while under attack!

At this point, the villainous enemies could no longer hold back. Several foes with Advanced Magic unleashed various energy strikes, forcibly breaking through the Ice Walls. Other enemies seized this opportunity to close in for a melee!

Just as the situation was about to worsen, a large number of the villains' ranged attackers in the rear suddenly dropped dead!

A new NPC dressed in blood-red Clothing appeared at the banquet hall entrance, a dialogue box popping up overhead: "I am Blood Demon, and I won't let your evil organization accomplish its plans!"

Among the villainous enemies, an NPC in a green outfit who had been firing black energy turned to face Blood Demon, a dialogue box emerging: "Blood Demon, we weren't actively hunting you, yet instead of laying low, you dare show your face?"

Blood Demon: "I will live in obscurity, but before that, I must destroy your plans! Ink Guest, even you cannot stop me; I specialize in group battles!"

Ink Guest: "You're walking into your own demise!"

Blood Demon and Ink Guest, along with their cohorts, immediately engaged in fierce combat, greatly relieving the pressure on the Assassin and his allies.

Just then, the barrier protecting the Rebel suddenly vanished, and the Lady of Light unexpectedly stepped out of it!

Her Royal Highness the Princess quickly went over and embraced her, while the Lady of Light shouted, "Thank you, big brother, big sister!"

A dozen beams of sacred golden light descended from the sky, landing on every member of their side, including the Rebel. The light that fell on the Assassin was particularly thick, making it look as if he'd been struck by a golden cudgel!

Game information flashed in the lower-left corner:

The White Emperor was imbued by the Lady of Light with the support effect "Shine (light)": All of the White Emperor's abilities enhanced, all recovery speeds increased;

The Rebel was imbued by the Lady of Light with the support effect "Shine (light)": All of the Rebel's abilities enhanced, all recovery speeds increased;

The Female Knight was imbued by the Lady of Light with the support effect "Shine (light)": All of the Female Knight's abilities enhanced, all her recovery speeds accelerated;

...

The Assassin was imbued by the Lady of Light with the permanent support effect: "Eternal Starshine (starlight)," permanently enhancing all abilities and recovery speeds of the Assassin!

After casting this skill, the Lady of Light seemed tired. She had to be carried back to her seat by Her Royal Highness the Princess, and then she raised the barrier again to protect herself.

Meanwhile, the Assassin and the others, who had been barely holding on, saw their combat power suddenly skyrocket as they exchanged blows with the villainous enemies!

At this moment, a dialogue box suddenly popped up from the Rebel: "To heal the world is my desire!"

Strategy tip updated: "Equip 'Touch of Healing' for the Rebel."

Ren Suo was momentarily taken aback, then caught on to the Rebel's cue. He entered the "Equipment Interface," hurriedly equipped the Rebel with "Touch of Healing," and then shamelessly had him follow the Lady of Light to perform Healing or Mana Replenishment.

He's clearly just trying to take refuge, yet he has to frame it as healing someone. Rebel, did you pick up this habit from the adventurers?

However, the Lady of Light soon said, "Thank you, brother, I feel much better now."

Ren Suo glanced at the game information: The Rebel used "Touch of Healing" on the Lady of Light; the Rebel's Vital Energy and Spirit decreased, while the Lady of Light's increased.

It was then that Ren Suo remembered that "Touch of Healing," unlike typical healing spells, could be used even without Spiritual Energy because it consumed the caster's physical strength and spiritual power, but it could also replenish the life energy and Mental Energy of the one being healed.

The tide of battle gradually turned in the Rebel's favor. Just then, Blood Demon, who had been stirring trouble behind enemy lines, suddenly slipped away!

Just as Ren Suo was thinking this NPC was all bark and no bite, many people suddenly appeared at the banquet hall entrance, led by a person whose every pixel seemed to burn fiery red:

"You evil organization dares to cause chaos here! You really don't take us seriously, do you?"

This fiery individual, like the White Emperor and the Lady of Light, had a name above his head: "The Righteous Red Chariot."

The villain known as Ink Guest, seemingly realizing the situation was hopeless, suddenly sprayed black energy towards the banquet hall entrance, causing the hall to fill with thick smoke.

When the smoke cleared, the villains were nowhere to be seen.

"A bunch of rats... Go and rendezvous with the Hermit, catch them!" the Red Chariot commanded loudly, and half of his subordinates immediately left the banquet hall.

The enemies had fled, yet a tense atmosphere remained in the banquet hall.

All eyes turned towards the Assassin.

Even in a magical world, the Assassin was a special outsider. Moreover, they knew about the Fairy Palace and naturally understood that the Assassin was the earliest character sent out by it.

Just as Ren Suo was about to have the Assassin deliver some witty parting words and leave, the game screen suddenly went dark.

"Successfully protected the Lady of Light"

"Mission completed"

"Generating the next level, please wait..."

"The Rebel is idle. Do you want to set an action plan for him?"

Ren Suo blinked, puzzled.

He hadn't ordered the Assassin to withdraw yet…

Ren Suo opened the "Equipment Interface" and saw that the summoning duration for "Rippling Spring Sounds" had not decreased; he scratched his head in confusion.

Could it be that using 'Rippling Spring Sounds' in-game doesn't consume its summoning duration? No, that can't be right. In 'High Energy Ahead,' when I summoned Ren Woxing—Ren Han—it used up several minutes.

However, this time I'd spent Krypton Gold to use 'Rippling Spring Sounds' in the game. Maybe the Mini-World Game Console was being merciful and decided not to double-dip by also consuming the item's duration?

Unable to come up with a more plausible explanation, Ren Suo had to believe this was a major discount from the Mini-World Game Console.

The game console wouldn't trick me here, would it? Ren Suo muttered, returning to the game.

A fusion game was a fusion game; after Ren Suo finished one level, the second hadn't even generated yet. He would have to wait.

But what did setting an action plan for the Rebel mean?

Ren Suo chose "Yes," and a 24-hour schedule appeared on the screen, with a slot for every hour.

Ren Suo clicked on a slot, and numerous options appeared: "Sleep; Work; Cultivate; Study; Entertainment; Daydreaming; Loafing; Makeup; Exercise..."

There was also a "Priority List" on the side: Eating, Using the bathroom, Urgent work, Emergency missions, Bathing...

"Listening Headphones" began to explain, "Actions on the Priority List take precedence over all scheduled actions. If the Rebel needs to execute an action from the Priority List, it will immediately interrupt any ongoing scheduled action."

"After the action plan is set, the Rebel will follow this schedule daily until the start of the next level."

"Properly scheduling activities can enhance the Rebel's skills in a certain area."

So that was it! It's like a nurturing game! Ren Suo quickly understood. He then saw a "Reset" button beneath the timetable and clicked it.

The Rebel's schedule was instantly filled: "Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, Loafing, Loafing, Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment..."

"...Is this really the timetable the Rebel set for himself?" Ren Suo muttered, sighing. "That's too lazy... What kind of protagonist are you..."

Six hours of sleep is enough. Get up and exercise for an hour, then study for the whole morning... Can't choose subjects, huh? Tsk, I was hoping the Rebel would learn English on his own, then I wouldn't have to translate… I hope the Rebel learns English on his own…

From afternoon to night, just Cultivate. Ten hours of Cultivation isn't much; others do it 25 hours a day.

Entertainment, Loafing, Daydreaming—get rid of all that. You're the protagonist! What's there to be entertained by? Why would you loaf around or daydream?

Still need to leave some time for Work…

Ren Suo meticulously arranged the Rebel's schedule. Rebel, you're a mature game character now. You can't always depend on the player; you need to learn to grow strong on your own!