"Where is this..."

Jiang Chen, who was slumped over his computer desk, rubbed his aching head and opened his bleary eyes, looking around in confusion.

When he finally recognized his surroundings, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck his mind, leaving him utterly shocked.

This was his apartment from right after he graduated!

"I was just challenging the Ascension Steps in 'Gods'..." Jiang Chen murmured.

As a groundbreaking online game, "Gods" had caused a sensation upon its release in 2050. It offered an incredibly realistic experience and could even integrate player attributes into reality!

The so-called Ascension Steps was the path to becoming a god, open to all players.

However, if you failed the challenge, you would lose your life in reality.

If you succeeded, you would gain a divine status and become a true god!

In the final battle of the Ascension Steps, Jiang Chen sacrificed the artifact Yin-Yang Roulette, risking everything to take down his opponent, Asmodeus, one of the 72 demons.

At the moment the Yin-Yang Roulette shattered, an infinite white light erupted, instantly consuming the demon's life.

Simultaneously, Jiang Chen's own life force was completely drained, and his consciousness disintegrated.

He didn't see that as he fell and perished, a special fragment of the roulette transformed into a meteor and embedded itself into his body.

At the end of the Ascension Steps, Jiang Chen's lifeless body disappeared from the scene.

...

...

"Perishing together... how melodramatic!"

Recalling the final battle, Jiang Chen couldn't help but complain.

"At 8 PM 'Gods' will launch. Anyone want to join me in the livestream? Wow! Thanks for the rocket, Fish Bro... mua~ love you!"

A sweet, loli voice suddenly pulled Jiang Chen's thoughts back to reality.

He then noticed that his computer was on.

Seeing the screen, memories from five years ago, though a bit blurry, started to become clear.

This was a few hours before the launch of "Gods." With nothing better to do, he was watching a livestream.

At this moment, Jiang Chen finally confirmed that he had been reborn!

On the computer screen was a livestream page.

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In the video, a girl with delicate makeup and a sweet appearance was performing.

She wore a maid's short skirt, cat ears on her head, and white lace stockings on her slender legs.

A fluffy tail was also part of her outfit.

From time to time, she would raise her small fists and act cute, pretending to be a cat to thank her viewers for their gifts.

Wow, this is quite something.

"I used to like this kind of thing?"

Jiang Chen's expression turned strange. It didn't seem odd back then, but now...

It felt a bit off.

Cat-eared beast lolis and such, Jiang Chen didn't mind.

But this girl seemed too young.

No wonder I liked it back then, I was really something!

Jiang Chen mocked himself, but his eyes didn't leave the screen.

Hmm, just one more look.

Creak!

The room door suddenly opened.

Jiang Chen was startled and turned his head.

At the entrance, a graceful figure walked in.

She wore a tight camisole, revealing a slender waist beneath her proud chest.

Her lower half was clad in short hot pants, showcasing a pair of smooth, straight legs.

Not only was her figure stunning, but she was also very beautiful.

At about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, she was like a ripe peach.

"Rui'er, can't you knock?"

Jiang Chen looked at the woman and said irritably.

The woman's name was Xia Rui'er, and she lived next door to Jiang Chen. She was a junior manager at a trading company.

She was also Jiang Chen's boss.

A little over a month ago, Jiang Chen, who had just graduated, started an internship at a company.

The world is big, yet small.

Jiang Chen discovered that his boss, Xia Rui'er, was his neighbor.

Xia Rui'er didn't mind and often came over to visit.

They became familiar with each other because of this.

However, a few days ago, Jiang Chen quit his job.

One reason was that he, a homebody, couldn't adapt to a sales job.

The other reason was that "Gods" was about to launch.

"The door wasn't locked, weren't you waiting for me?"

Xia Rui'er walked to Jiang Chen's side and placed a box the size of a head on the computer desk. "Here, your stuff."

Seeing the box, Jiang Chen's eyes focused.

It's here!

The box was emblazoned with the words "Gods" in flamboyant script, and below it, in regular print, were the words: Game Helmet.

Xia Rui'er was right; Jiang Chen was indeed waiting for her.

To be precise, he was waiting for her to deliver the game helmet that connected to "Gods."

This game helmet was something Jiang Chen had asked her to buy for him, costing 2000.

It wasn't that Jiang Chen couldn't buy it himself.

It was purely because... he was too lazy to go out.

Yes, just lazy!

Sigh!

As a flower of the nation, a promising young man in society, and the dream of nine billion girls in "Gods," how could he be so lazy?

He really felt ashamed of his past self!

After silently mocking himself, Jiang Chen thanked her, "Thanks, Rui'er."

Xia Rui'er, however, was staring straight at the computer screen.

Looking at the livestream, Xia Rui'er clicked her tongue, "Tsk tsk! A little loli in white stockings, Jiang Chen, so this is your taste?"

"Huh?"

Jiang Chen quickly waved his hand, "How could that be? Rui'er, what do you take me for? Don't I like elegant ladies in black stockings too?"

Xia Rui'er: "..."

Hey, teasing her is quite fun!

Jiang Chen saw that Xia Rui'er, who had intended to mock him, was at a loss for words, and he felt inexplicably happy.

But the happiness was short-lived.

Xia Rui'er suddenly leaned close to Jiang Chen's ear and said in a very seductive tone, "So, am I the elegant lady you like?"

Huh?

Jiang Chen shivered and looked at Xia Rui'er with suspicion.

She smiled slightly, as if to say, "You little rascal, trying to outsmart me?"

This woman is terrifying!

Jiang Chen decided to change the subject, "Um... Rui'er, 'Gods' is about to launch, I..."

Xia Rui'er pressed on, "It's only 7:30, there's still half an hour. Want me to put on black stockings for you now?"

Woman, you're playing with fire!

Jiang Chen's eyes swept from top to bottom over Xia Rui'er's smooth, long legs.

If she wore black stockings, tsk tsk...

Who could resist that?!

Jiang Chen immediately shook his head, "No, no, that's really bad for your health."

Xia Rui'er: ???

Jiang Chen: "Sis, I have things to do. How about we admire it some other time?"

"Hmph! You wish, little brother!"

Xia Rui'er rolled her eyes at Jiang Chen and turned to leave, "I'm going to eat."

Heh, women.

Jiang Chen shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and looked at the time on the computer.

July 15, 2050.

19:35.

"25 minutes until launch."

Jiang Chen turned off the computer and opened the box on the table.

Looking at the familiar game helmet inside, he sat quietly for a while.

When the time reached 20:00, Jiang Chen put on the game helmet and silently said, "Log in to the game."

"Ding! Player information detected, logging in."

"Login successful!"

"Welcome to the world of Gods!"

Accompanied by an ethereal voice, the scene before Jiang Chen's eyes suddenly changed, and he found himself in a magnificent hall.

"Awakening player talent."

Every player entering "Gods" would randomly receive a talent.

Talents were graded as: Gray (Common), Green (Good), Blue (Rare), Purple (Excellent), Orange (Perfect).

What level of talent one could get depended on luck.

Last time, Jiang Chen received a Blue Rare talent.

He wondered what it would be this time, the same or different?

Jiang Chen felt both nervous and excited.

"Ding! Special energy detected, talent awakening interrupted!"

Hearing the notification, Jiang Chen was stunned.

What does this mean?

Before he could react, the game notification sounded again:

"Analyzing special energy, analysis successful!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the player for obtaining a special talent: Yin-Yang Reversal!"