Chapter 14: A Gambler Must Not... Die

The first wine cabinet allows for the purchase of some information from intermediaries.

The intermediaries had already become demigod beings, and no one knew why they helped humans or where they came from.

Of course, whether it was drinking to cause mischief or drinking to gain insight, one had to pay the intermediaries a hefty fee.

The second wine cabinet, called the Voice of Pioneers, served as a wall for communication among the pioneers.

The information here differed from that of the first wine cabinet, as it mostly came from pioneers and often related to version updates.

The third wine cabinet's contents were still unknown to Zhou Baiyu.

Lin smiled faintly:

"You indeed achieved something nearly impossible, and moreover... it had a significant impact on the future."

"You made the whole event interesting and made the upcoming version 2.50 even more complex and elusive."

"The beverages from the third wine cabinet are unique, but you have gained a privilege. Every time you are summoned, you will receive a random complimentary drink."

Zhou Baiyu's interest was piqued:

"So what exactly do these white, green, blue, purple, and dark gold beverages correspond to?"

Concerning the relay station's questions, Lin answered promptly:

"White is the cheapest, dark gold the most expensive, providing you with some assistance in your next summoning. However, it is limited to that summoning challenge. When the challenge is over, the effect disappears."

"And dark gold often brings with it some divine power."

"Perhaps you might drink the favor of a goddess of cause and destiny, which could bring you good fortune all the way."

"Though it's random, the first drink is on me, a dark gold vodka."

Zhou Baiyu straightened up:

"I take back what I said before, Lin, Midel doesn't lag behind you by a little, but by a vast margin."

No matter the survival challenge or doomsday crisis, gods seem to stand atop the food chain.

Their power could surely help them through many more crises.

Zhou Baiyu was thrilled.

Lin found Zhou Baiyu increasingly interesting, but her next words were not so amusing:

"However, our god is the God of Difference and Chaos, so you know... you might end up paying to learn a lesson, like drinking the curse effect of a certain god."

"After all, where does a trade that only profits exist?"

Fuck.

Zhou Baiyu mentally flipped the bird. What kind of crappy god was this?

Loving to drink and gamble, a complete loser! Buying something was like opening a blind box, has god become a domestic online game planner?

After a round of internal grumbling, Zhou Baiyu still decided to give it a try.

"Since my god is a gambler, then perhaps I should not shy away from this gamble..."

"Courageous."

Lin had already prepared the drink, the dark gold liquid shimmering in the glass.

Zhou Baiyu knew that, as a pioneer, he started off in an exceptional manner.

From data analysis, he had ventured into a version beyond imagination and survived an impossible challenge.

And the reward he received, while ample in pioneer points, the free status each time he was summoned was the real preferential treatment.

He raised his glass and downed it in one gulp!

Lin, unusually, showed an expectant expression, seemingly very interested in what was to follow.

Zhou Baiyu felt the aftertaste of the drink was infinite, richer and more aromatic than any drink he had ever tasted.

But immediately thereafter, he also felt a strong dizziness.

The surroundings became blurred, and he felt as if the world was spinning around him.

"Oh, an interesting temporary trait—'Teasing by the God of Death and Reincarnation.'

I believe you've already guessed, blessings are enhancement statuses, curses are weakening statuses, and teasing… well, it requires you to spend a little time."

Simply put, in your next challenge… you gain the power of rebirth. No matter how you die, you can revive after thirty seconds."

Hey, don't be too happy just yet. Since it's teasing, of course, there has to be some entertainment involved. You need to die in 16 completely different ways in your next challenge."

Otherwise… you'll truly die. Quite an interesting tease, isn't it?"

Zhou Baiyu remained silent. Even Lin was silent.

After a while, Lin coughed and cleared her throat:

"This god is indeed rather mischievous~ But dying in 16 different ways might not be too hard for you, perhaps?"

"I'm actually very excited to see what version you'll enter next, and which ways you'll choose to die. Hehe, little brother, I'm rooting for you."

Zhou Baiyu had a full head of sweat.

But upon further thought, equipped with immortality, if he could meet this requirement, couldn't he endlessly seek death?

Then, in the next version recruitment… he at least wouldn't have to worry about being killed by enemies.

Of course, he still inwardly scorned the 'God of Difference and Chaos.'

This god really… was too random.

"Can't I, is it possible to, buy something I can be certain of? Not something random…"

"Sorry, no, even your career advancement path is filled with variability," Lin shrugged.

Truly, mutation failure, sometimes decreasing the deviation rate by .1 percent, sometimes by three to four percent…

Zhou Baiyu gave up hope:

"So the fourth wall liquor cabinet… is the cabinet that upgrades my career attributes?"

Lin nodded:

"Correct answer, but unfortunately, advancing in your career requires a massive amount of pioneer points. You currently have quite a few pioneer points, but the liquor in the fourth wall cabinet is too expensive."

"You can improve your skills through actual combat in various versions, or you can use pioneer points to buy skill proficiency or advancement experience."

"Right now, although you're quite wealthy, you can't afford it. Or you could use the second wall cabinet, the 'First Voice,' to buy some treasures unearthed by others."

Pausing, Lin tapped her pipe and continued:

"How to spend money, you'll have to plan for yourself. Although I'd really like to persuade you to continue buying liquor from me, according to the rules, during your first visit to the transit station, you can only stay for a short while, and you need to return to version 1.0."

Lin placed two types of liquor, blue and red, in front of Zhou Baiyu.

"Later, after the countdown ends, you won't go directly to the next version but will come to the transit station first to make some pre-battle preparations."

"Only after drinking the red liquor will you be transported to the next version to take on the challenge."

"And the blue liquor, once consumed, will return you to the original world, that is, the world of version 1.0."

Zhou Baiyu nodded; he needed to go back too. If he didn't return soon, his will would automatically be sent out…

If he was still alive, it would reveal that he was a pioneer, and other pioneers might trouble him.

He picked up the blue liquor cup, and before drinking, Lin said:

"Little brother, here's a free piece of information for you."

"Voyeurs are extremely important for everyone."

"They aren't good at combat, but they can bring a lot of valuable information. All major forces vie to attract Voyeurs; you could say they start with an advantage at the starting line."

"You're lucky. The reason you were recruited for this absurd version 2.21 is that you were punished."

Zhou Baiyu was shocked:

"Punished? What did I do wrong?"

"You accidentally saved a Voyeur who was meant to be forced to commit suicide."