36: Chapter 36: The End of Pay-to-Win is a Gameplay Feature Even the Developers Couldn't Have Foreseen.

"A question like this... wouldn't it be a bit too out of line?"

Inside the meeting room, Zhang Yunhai, the tactical team leader, furrowed his brows, a hint of worry on his face.

"Prying into the ultimate goal of the 'Source Realm' is equivalent to questioning its intentions."

"If it causes resentment from the existence behind it and leads to Chen You's expulsion, our losses would be immeasurable."

Director Li Guoan's deep gaze swept over everyone, his tone calm yet brooks no argument.

"A world where one cannot even ask questions would be far too narrow-minded."

"If it truly comes to that, it only proves this path was wrong from the very beginning."

Chen You looked at Director Li Guoan and spoke tentatively.

"Director Li, just to be safe, could we perhaps change the way we ask?"

"For example, ask what the level cap of this world is? Or what happens after reaching max level?"

"Or perhaps, if the game is cleared once the so-called final BOSS is defeated?"

A flash of surprise crossed Director Li Guoan's eyes.

All along, he felt that Chen You was young, lacked experience, and would be deficient in his thinking.

He seemed more like an operator meant to execute the arrangements of the Pay-to-Win project team.

But now, he suddenly felt that he might have been a bit biased.

In fact, Chen You had his own insights, and they were more reliable than he had imagined.

"You're right. Asking it that way is indeed safer."

Hearing Director Li Guoan's support, Chen You couldn't help but grin and nod heavily.

Seeing the meeting was about to end, Chen You seemed to remember something and slapped his thigh abruptly.

"Oh right, Director Li, I haven't taken out the things I bought this morning!"

Before his voice even faded, he sent a thought out.

Clatter—

A pile of metallic ores shimmering with various colors and unknown gemstones emitting strange fragrances appeared out of thin air on the massive conference table, instantly forming a small mountain.

The pale green halo of Wind-Grinding Copper and the brilliant silver light of Sunken Silver Sand complemented each other.

"My treasures!"

Materials expert Qian Zhonghua let out a cry of surprise, his eyes gleaming. He practically lunged forward, picking up a piece of ore as if stroking a peerless treasure.

Beside him, biology expert Zhang Ping looked at the pile of materials, his mouth almost watering with envy.

"Alright, everyone get to work."

Director Li Guoan waved his hand, shaking his head helplessly at the fanatical experts, then turned to Chen You.

"Remember, safety first."

...

With a flash of white light, Chen You reappeared at the Zhao City training grounds.

The surrounding Adventurers had already changed to a new batch; no one noticed this low-level human appearing out of thin air.

Just as he was about to set off, a series of crisp "ding-dong" system notification sounds rang in his ears.

Chen You opened the system interface, where a flashing envelope icon was particularly eye-catching.

Upon opening it, a long list of friend requests almost overflowed from the screen.

[Player 'Blood Claw' has requested to add you as a friend.]

[Player 'Wind Whisperer' has requested to add you as a friend.]

[Player 'Stone Fist' has requested to add you as a friend.]

...

Chen You twitched the corner of his mouth; he didn't even need to think to know this was all trouble caused by those ten gold coins.

Want to ride my coattails? No way.

He clicked [Reject All] without hesitation.

The world instantly became quiet.

To save time, Chen You activated the "Supreme Navigation" function again.

That blood-eyed giant rabbit wearing a golden bell appeared once more.

Whoosh—

A strong sense of being pushed back hit him, accompanied by the familiar weightlessness and dizziness.

When Chen You's feet touched solid ground again, he was standing before the grand white jade doors of the Supreme Tower.

He suppressed his churning stomach, with only one thought in mind—

When there's a chance, I must change my mount!

Even a dog wouldn't ride this thing!

Pushing the doors open, it was still that vast, elegant, and spiritually vibrant hall.

The beautiful guide, Siel, was already waiting there, a professional and perfect smile on her face.

"Honored guest, welcome back. Siel is at your service at any time."

"I have some questions I'd like to ask," Chen You said, getting straight to the point.

He went over Director Li Guoan's instructions in his head and chose a relatively mild starting point.

"I want to know, what are the PVP rules in the 'Source Realm'? What are the penalties for maliciously attacking other players?"

The smile on Siel's face didn't change in the slightest, as if she had long expected this question.

"In the 'Source Realm', except for a few safe zones like major capital cities, free PVP is allowed in all wilderness maps."

"The system will not actively interfere in battles between players."

"However," she shifted her tone.

"Actively attacking and killing other Adventurers will accumulate 'Sin Value'."

"The higher the Sin Value, the color of your name will turn from white to red."

"When Sin Value reaches a certain level, you will be hunted by the Garrison Army upon entering any city."

"Once captured, you will be thrown into prison until your Sin Value is cleared to regain your freedom."

Chen You understood; this red-name mechanism wasn't exactly new.

He took a deep breath and asked the most core question.

"What is the endpoint of the 'Source Realm'?"

"Or rather, will there be a day when this world is cleared?"

Hearing this, the smile on Siel's face froze for the first time.

In her eyes, which were like stars, a flash of extremely complex yet fleeting emotion passed through.

"Honored guest, the 'Source Realm' is the 'Source Realm'. It is its own purpose; there is no endpoint."

"The world will continuously evolve along with the exploration of all Adventurers. New continents, new races, new power systems... all will be presented one by one in the future."

"Here, the concept of 'clearing the game' does not exist."

The answer was airtight, yet it said nothing at all.

Chen You frowned slightly and changed his approach: "Then what is the meaning of existence for this world, or rather, this game?"

"Existence itself is the meaning."

Siel bowed slightly, her tone still respectful, but carrying a sense of finality that allowed no further questioning.

Chen You understood.

Regarding questions about the nature behind the scenes of the 'Source Realm', he probably wouldn't get any results.

The other party's authority, or the 'Source Realm' itself, simply did not allow such underlying logic to be probed.

Since that was the case, he'd ask something practical.

"Is there any powerful equipment without level requirements? And how can it be obtained?"

Hearing this question, Siel's perfect smile froze once more.

She seemed to be thinking about how to answer this somewhat "unreasonable" request.

"Honored guest, the power of equipment is closely related to the Adventurer using it. Powerful equipment usually has strict level or attribute requirements."

"You can obtain equipment by clearing dungeons, exchanging reputation at the quartermaster, or searching for items sold by other Adventurers at the auction house."

"Of course, the daily Supreme Gacha also has a tiny probability of directly yielding legendary artifacts."

She paused and added: "Equipment without level requirements usually... has relatively limited attributes."

Chen You nodded, having made his calculations.

It seemed the prerequisite for everything was still level.

"Then," he finally asked the ultimate goal of this trip.

"How can I level up most efficiently?"

This time, the smile on Siel's face finally returned to that hint of "enticement."

"To meet the needs of our supreme members, we have specially opened an exclusive cultivation mystic realm."

With a wave of her delicate hand, a brand new option popped up on the member interface in front of Chen You—

Supreme Training Room.

"Inside the exclusive training room, the monster respawn rate is ten times that of the outside world, and the experience gained after killing them is twice that of same-level monsters."

"Not only that, the concentration of spiritual energy in the training room far exceeds the outside world. Your efficiency in cultivating techniques within it will also be greatly enhanced."

There's such a good thing?!

Chen You's eyes lit up. Wasn't this a "Money-Power Leveling Package" tailor-made for him?

He impatiently looked at the price.

[10 Gold Coins / Hour]

The price was steep, but the effects were heaven-defying.

To the current Chen You, this was nothing at all.

"Open it for me... wait."

Just as Chen You was about to say "open it until the end of time," a new system notification rang out with a "ding-dong" again.

Again?

He opened it somewhat impatiently, thinking it was another player wanting to ride his coattails.

However, the name flashing with silver brilliance at the top of the request list made his pupils suddenly shrink.

[Player 'Yue Ying' has requested to add you as a friend.]

Yue Ying?

Chen You clicked on the other party's information.

Elf God Clan?

One of the Three Great Divine Races in the rankings!

A member of a top-tier divine race actively reaching out to a LV5 "newbie" like him?

Alarm bells rang in Chen You's heart.

He instinctively wanted to click reject.

But with his finger hovering in mid-air, he stopped.

This might be an opportunity.

Maybe the other party could bring him some unexpected information?

Anyway, chatting for a bit wouldn't hurt.

After thinking for a moment, Chen You pressed [Accept].