Chapter Three: Trial Version

Wu Yue did not attend the evening banquet—not out of reluctance, but because he simply could not go. Though he knew this would earn him a reputation for arrogance and make his situation even more perilous, Wu Yue had grievances he could not voice.

Beep. Data matching successful. Divine wish reality manifestation will take approximately nine hours.

Wu Yue was then placed in an awkward predicament, immobilized and seated rigidly on a stool. Though he could not see, he sensed faint, threadlike glimmers of light emerging from his body and gathering at his thumb.

He wished to offer an excuse to those who came to invite him, but could utter no sound. Eventually, a servant arrived, observed Wu Yue’s motionless posture, and said, “Ah, so young master is at a critical juncture in cultivation. I’ll take my leave, then.” With that, the servant gently closed the door. The words sounded reasonable, even provided Wu Yue an explanation, but what he heard was full of ill intent. Wu Yue sighed, powerless to change anything.

The night wore on until the moon stood high.

Another beep echoed in Wu Yue’s mind. Reality manifestation successful. Congratulations, host, for joining the Godhood Project.

Able to move again, Wu Yue quickly stood, removed the cloth band from his eyes, and opened them hastily. Thankfully, it was night; otherwise, he might have gone blind for a while longer.

On the table before him sat a bronze lamp, its gentle light illuminating the entire luxurious room. Landscape paintings adorned the walls, antiques crowded the windowsill, and although the furniture was unfamiliar, its value was unmistakable. Wu Yue’s heart stirred—evidently, the aesthetic sense of this world’s people was similar to his own. Now, was this a continent of swords and sorcery, a realm of cultivation and immortality, or some other world altogether?

At this moment, Wu Yue lowered his gaze to the ring on his thumb, and his consciousness sank into it.

Instantly, he beheld an enormous, cube-shaped crystal, reminiscent of a Rubik’s Cube with six faces. It rotated slowly in an apparently boundless darkness. One face gleamed with light; the other five were dim.

Congratulations, you have obtained Divine Wish—the current status is a trial version of the Ring of the Gods. Welcome to the Godhood Project. A clear, nimble voice sounded, suffused with celestial energy.

Then the voice vanished. The crystal stopped spinning. Wu Yue’s consciousness flickered, and he saw several lines of text on the colored surface. Thankfully, it was a spiritual message; otherwise, no matter how composed, Wu Yue would have been cursing aloud.

At the top, two large characters: White List. Below, a line of small characters: (Beginner’s gift pack failed to send. Host may select a random item from the original world.)

Is this my golden finger? Isn’t this a bit much?

He set that aside and continued reading.

Task One: Fulfill one of Yue Ziqing’s wishes.
Reward:
1. Relic of Yue Ziqing based on completion satisfaction.
2. Random item.

Task Two: Within one year, earn the admiration of Sword Immortal Yan Caitang.
Reward: Unlock God’s Perspective.

Below were three more lines.

First: Acquire shards of the realm and resources of the current world to upgrade ring functions.
Second: Interact more with the ring to strengthen integration.
Third: Wishing you early attainment of Creator God status, achieving invincibility.

...

Wu Yue withdrew his consciousness from the ring, his expression darkening. So it really is a trial version! What a shoddy, meager thing.

Still, he counted as a high-level transmigrator with a golden finger. Wu Yue began analyzing this golden finger, a habit developed during his hospital days—when boredom struck, he’d dissect a problem repeatedly.

Now, Wu Yue’s lips curled into a wry smile as he looked at the ring on his hand.

This ring, this Divine Wish, this so-called Godhood Project—there was a problem, a very serious one. But knowing it did him no good, for now Wu Yue lacked the power to abandon it.

Mutual reliance, growing together!

Confirm selection of original world item.

Drawing… Drawing complete.

Suddenly, the ring emitted a burst of light, then dimmed. Five items appeared before Wu Yue.

Seeing these mostly familiar objects, Wu Yue felt his earlier anxiety was somewhat belated.

Two books, a handgun, a small bag of clear drugs, and a kitten…

Meow… meow…

Damn! What is this? What use are these things? Is the ring brainless? What nonsense is this?

He picked up a book at random. On the flyleaf was written The Thirty-Six Stratagems. Wu Yue chuckled. Is this for cultivating my character?

Just as he was about to open it, a beep sounded and a line of text appeared in Wu Yue’s mind.

The Thirty-Six Stratagems—enables insight into schemes; information gained varies with cultivation disparity. (Single-use item.)

Ha! I knew a golden finger couldn’t be this useless. Wu Yue eagerly grabbed the second book, which seemed to be a martial arts manual—A Fei’s Swift Sword.

Congratulations, host, on learning advanced swordsmanship, advanced meditation technique, and advanced internal energy from a low-martial world. Integrating… Integration successful. Current swordsmanship integration: 50%. Meditation technique: 10%. Internal energy: 100%.

Wu Yue felt a surge of vital energy within, a wave of comfort spreading outward. He could tell he’d grown stronger, though the extent was unclear.

Looking at the remaining three items, his eyes brightened, then quickly dimmed again.

The drug was called MS—a toxin, quick to take effect, highly addictive…

The handgun was just a handgun—seven rounds, nothing more.

As for the kitten! Wu Yue hadn’t even reached out before it darted away with a meow, vanishing in a blink, leaving his hand suspended in midair.

Wu Yue barely caught a glimpse—the cat’s body glowed faintly as it fled… Clearly not an ordinary feline.

Glancing at the ring, Wu Yue wanted to ask: Is it too late to request a refund?

Regardless, he had to cultivate diligently.

Cultivate well, seize the present, and shape the future.

If circumstances allowed, Wu Yue wouldn’t mind killing Chen Jishan, repaying Yue Ziqing for lending him this body. If not, he’d let it slide. As for deeper questions—the golden finger, the reason for his arrival—Wu Yue couldn’t care less. If he could return to Earth, he’d burn incense for these entities—be they evil gods, immortals, or Creator Gods. Truly.

Wu Yue touched his wound through his clothes—it still hurt. Perhaps thanks to integrating A Fei’s Swift Sword, his vital energy flowed smoothly, with no internal injuries. But the surface wounds remained.

He might as well start with A Fei’s Swift Sword. Wu Yue closed his eyes, and information, images, unfolded naturally in his mind—a youth thrusting a twig into a wolf’s throat… a youth holding a wooden sword, facing fish swimming in water… a youth wielding a sword, confronting a figure as elusive as a ghost—one fatal strike…

Of all swords in the world, mine is not the fastest, yet it is swift.

Of all swords in the world, mine strikes true—when drawn, it kills.

A cold voice of a youth.

Wu Yue felt as if he were living it himself.