Chapter 130: Improved Control
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Improved Control
The next day.
The midday sun pierced through thin layers of clouds, casting slanted beams through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the suite.
After a brief rustle beneath the soft, fluffy duvet, a small, silver-white head slowly poked out.
"Mmm~"
Xie Bai let out a satisfied hum, stretching her body like a lazy cat.
She rubbed her bleary eyes, her crimson pupils shimmering with a misty light under the sun's glow.
This was the deepest and most comfortable sleep she had enjoyed since obtaining the Godhead of Void. The mental exhaustion had been swept away, replaced by a long-lost sense of lightness and clarity.
I’m in such a good mood... I think I’ll head out for a stroll later and see if there’s anything good to eat.
Xie Bai thought contentedly as she crawled completely out of bed, casually smoothing her somewhat messy long hair.
As her bare feet stepped onto the carpet, a strange sensation rose within her.
"Hmm?"
Xie Bai paused, her fingertips instinctively lifting.
A wisp of Void power flowed out from a rift, condensing at her slender fingertip. In an instant, a palm-sized butterfly, shimmering with a purple-black luster, perched quietly upon her finger.
With a mere thought, the purple-black butterfly lightly flapped its wings. The dark colors rapidly faded, replaced by silver-white and crimson hues that mirrored Xie Bai’s hair and eyes, transforming it into a dreamlike spirit butterfly.
The spirit butterfly took a light leap, fluttering away from Xie Bai’s fingertip. It passed straight through the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window, dancing gracefully in the crisp air outside.
Xie Bai gazed in the direction the butterfly had vanished, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.
Her control over Void power seemed to have become finer, more effortless. She could now refine concepts of life from the Void to create tiny living beings possessed of simple consciousness.
If this level of control continued to deepen, could she perhaps eventually fashion gods out of nothing? Just as the previous Void King had used the power of death to create Thanatos.
"But... why did my power suddenly improve so significantly?"
Confused, Xie Bai habitually summoned her game panel.
【Xie Bai Lv.140】
Level 140?
The moment she saw the number, Xie Bai blinked. If she remembered correctly, her previous level was 137.
After reaching level 130, the experience points required for each subsequent level had climbed into the trillions. Under normal circumstances, there were no monster hordes in reality that matched the quantity or level required for this tier.
The strength of a Demigod relied more on the comprehension of laws, the deepening of authorities, and the collection of Godheads. The experience system of the player panel was no longer fully applicable at this stage. To continue leveling up, one had to find alternative methods.
Coincidentally, Xie Bai’s Reaper class possessed exactly such an entry.
*
【Branches and Leaves: You may bestow the "Reaper" class (excluding "Branches and Leaves") upon eligible individuals. For every "Reaper" who reaches level 100, you gain one level.】
*
"Could it be... that three players who received the Reaper class have already reached level 100?"
Xie Bai was slightly taken aback.
If she recalled correctly, it had only been two days since the closed beta began, right? This leveling speed... was it even faster than hers?
Was the new generation already outstripping the old?
She thought back carefully. There were only three players she remembered bestowing her class upon through the Soul Proof. Had these three really rocketed to level 100 during the day and night she had spent sleeping comfortably?
Driven by curiosity, Xie Bai clicked on the detailed information for the "Branches and Leaves" entry.
*
【Taro Ball Is Not Round Lv.110】
【Class: Nihility Retrograde】
【Godhead: Nihility (Embryonic)】
【...】
【Potato Is Not Taro Lv.105】
【Class: Inquisitor of Sins】
【Godhead: Sin-Judgment (Embryonic)】
【...】
【Cat Fur Hat Maomao Lv.103】
【Class: Soul Disaster Madrigal】
【Godhead: Soul (Embryonic)】
【...】
*
Every single one of them was over level 100. Not only had they completed their third class advancement, but they had also awakened their respective embryonic Godheads.
This meant they had begun to touch the threshold of the Demigod realm, setting them apart from ordinary players.
Especially Taro Ball, who sat at the top of the list at level 110.
Xie Bai remembered that in the "Reborn One" plan she knew of, Taro Ball’s target level for the closed beta was around level 80, after which he would pivot to other strategic layouts. But now, he had exceeded the plan by a full 30 levels—a feat that required accumulating over five trillion experience points.
The only logical explanation was that he had encountered a variable far beyond expectations.
The image of Aisarakus, who had appeared in Maomao’s livestream, immediately surfaced in Xie Bai’s mind.
"Don't tell me... they swindled Aisarakus into being their hired muscle?"
Xie Bai’s expression turned subtle.
"Aisarakus... shouldn't be that easy to lead astray, right?"
But if that were the case, everything made sense. With a mythic-level existence like Aisarakus acting as the main damage dealer and tank, Taro Ball and the others only needed to find high-level world bosses like the Skeletal Giant Lizard. Then, by using the Judgment Affix to deliver the final blow, they could harvest massive amounts of experience far above their level. Their efficiency would naturally skyrocket.
"That is actually a good strategy. Brandon must have approved it..."
Xie Bai mused.
"In the future, if new Reapers are born, I might consider arranging suitable escorts to help them power-level to 100 as quickly as possible to feed back into my own level."
But then again... were there really that many behemoths in the Land of Storms?
Xie Bai then remembered the expedition teaser video Maomao had posted recently. According to the hints in the video, they had likely finished grinding in the Land of Storms and were currently massing toward Heavenly Mountain.
Taro Ball pushing his level to 110 was undoubtedly so he could play a role in a campaign far bolder than the original plan.
"Forget it, that has nothing to do with me for now."
Xie Bai shook her head slightly and closed the panel.
Since the "Branches and Leaves" had successfully grown beyond level 100, their contribution value to her was essentially exhausted. Unless they could break through to an even higher tier, her future interactions with them would likely dwindle.
She only needed to remember that when conflict inevitably broke out with the resurrected True Gods in the future, she should try not to let the fallout affect the Blue Star behind these players.
Pulling her thoughts back, Xie Bai instinctively called out toward the other side of the room.
"Gamie, Little Gamie, how about we go out and find something good to eat?"
No one answered.
She turned her head. The large suite was empty, save for herself.
"Did they run off to play on their own again..."
Xie Bai wasn't surprised.
"Fine. As long as they don't cause too much trouble, it's good to give them some space to explore."
She believed the two little ones knew their limits. Besides, their strength was sufficient to handle almost any accident—except perhaps social ones.
After tidying her slightly rumpled dress, Xie Bai stepped out onto the somewhat quiet street...
That is, if one ignored the players rummaging through trash cans or attempting to pry open manhole covers.
Once she filtered out those out-of-place figures, Xie Bai quickly found a small shop that was still open and ordered a cup of warm goat milk seasoned with a bit of honey and spices.
She held the warm ceramic cup, taking small sips as the thick, fragrant liquid slid down her throat. The warmth spreading from the inside out made her squint with satisfaction, and her small feet tucked under the table began to swing unconsciously.
"This tastes good... should I bring some back for Gamie and the other?"
Xie Bai naturally thought of the two little ones.
Almost simultaneously, she habitually sensed their locations. The feedback was clear and stable, pointing toward a... considerably high elevation.
Following the direction of her perception, Xie Bai instinctively looked up.
The towering, precipitous silhouette of a massive mountain range, perpetually shrouded in holy radiance and swirling clouds, filled her vision.
Heavenly Mountain.