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"What are you standing around for?!"
"We didn't serve that lord because he looked rich!"
"It was because—whether in words or expression—he treated us as human beings!!!"
Wang Ma Zi roared at Wang Chen. How could something so valuable be exchanged for a mere bowl of porridge?
Besides, hadn't the man also bestowed a name upon them? What was a bowl of porridge compared to that?
No noble ever treated commoners as people—not even the protagonists of the original story...
"Huh?"
Wang Chen froze for a moment before snatching the glass orb from the table and darting toward the door.
"Grandpa, I'll return it to them right away!"
Neither noticed that as Wang Chen clutched the orb, it began to glow faintly...
Zhongli and Paimon hadn't gone far. But with Wang Ma Zi and Wang Chen's meager abilities, if Zhongli didn't want to be seen, they wouldn't see him.
"Zhongli, that thing you left behind… wasn't actually amber, was it?"
"We're filthy rich right now, yet you claimed to have nothing on you."
"And then—that was a Geo Vision, wasn't it?!"
Paimon whispered. Others might not recognize a Vision, but she certainly did!
That was unmistakably a Geo Vision!
And what was all that nonsense about "never taking without giving"?
Sure, they had money now, but this guy had mooched off others plenty of times without ever spouting such noble words!
"Indeed. It was a Geo Vision—though not one issued by Celestia."
"Rather, it was a product of my own Geo energy."
"In function, it is no different from a true Geo Vision."
Zhongli nodded, speaking frankly.
"Eh?!"
"But… why would you do that?"
Paimon blinked, utterly baffled.
A Vision in exchange for a meal?
If a certain banker heard about this, he'd probably short-circuit on the spot!
Hearing this, Zhongli glanced at Paimon and smiled helplessly.
"Paimon, in time, you will understand."
"???"
Paimon stiffened before her face darkened. She stomped midair in frustration.
"You infuriating riddle-spewer! Can't you just explain properly?!"
"You're just like that 'Ehe~' guy—so annoying!"
"Ugh, this is maddening!"
"Shh."
"?"
"Let us witness Wang Chen's first battle."
Scene Shift: Wang Chen's Side
The moment Wang Chen rushed out, he saw no trace of Zhongli or Paimon. He froze.
Their village might have eighty households, but within a 500-meter radius of his home, there were no obstructions!
What was going on?
Where had they gone?
He had chased after them the instant they stepped out—how could he have lost them so quickly?
Even with his limited knowledge, Wang Chen understood:
He had encountered true masters.
Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the "glass orb" and sprinted in a random direction—completely oblivious to one critical detail.
Despite his constant hunger and weakness from malnutrition, today was different.
He dashed a hundred meters in one breath without the slightest discomfort—in fact, his speed only increased the further he ran!
Gradually, the "glass orb" in his palm seemed to melt, dissolving into streams of golden light that seeped into his body.
This was Zhongli's safeguard for the otherworldly Vision!
A Vision, in essence, was an external magical organ—allowing its wielder to harness elemental energy.
But being an external object, it could also be stolen or stripped away.
Zhongli's modified version fixed this flaw—integrating directly into the body, functioning akin to a martial soul.
Of course, unlike a true Vision, this one lacked a storage function...
Similar to a martial soul, yet not one—it couldn't absorb spirit rings.
To grow stronger with this Vision, the user needed only to continuously develop its inherent abilities.
How much power they could unleash depended entirely on their effort and ingenuity.
Naturally, the Vision had an upper limit—after all, the Geo energy Zhongli infused into it was finite.
Unless…
The user shattered that limit.
And once that happened, they would transcend humanity itself.
The more Wang Chen ran, the more energized he felt. Soon, he realized the trees around him were blurring past at an impossible speed.
Something was wrong.
"What's happening?"
He skidded to a halt, stunned.
Since when could he move like this?
It wasn't self-deprecation—he knew his own limits. This speed was impossible for him.
His gaze dropped to the "glass orb" in his hand just as the last wisp of golden light vanished into his skin.
"This…"
Wang Chen stood paralyzed. The orb had turned into light and merged with him?!
His mouth hung open, words failing him.
Then—
A surge of knowledge flooded his mind.
When he came to, he stretched out his hand. With a golden flash, the "glass orb" reappeared in his palm.
"!!!"
"Geo Vision."
"..."
"I… how could someone like me deserve this…?"
"Lord Zhongli… if I, Wang Chen, ever achieve greatness—whether climbing the heavens or parting the seas—I will find you and repay this kindness!"
With that, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed in all four directions.
He didn't know where Zhongli was, but surely one direction was right!
Just as he rose—
A bestial snarl tore through the air.
Wang Chen's blood ran cold.
Had this been any other day, he would've sprinted for his life.
But now, though fear still gripped him, he had a means to fight back.
Moments later, several wolf-like creatures emerged from the trees—standing upright on two legs.
"W-Wolf Bandits?!"
Wang Chen's pupils contracted. Of all things, why did it have to be Wolf Bandits?!
He'd only heard of them from village elders—
Brutal. Savage. And worst of all…
They were known to abduct human women.
"Didn't the Spirit Hall exterminate all Wolf Bandits?!"
"Why are they here?!"
His entire body trembled. Half an hour ago, he'd been an ordinary village boy!
How could he not be terrified?
"I… I can't run!"
"Behind me is the village—if I flee…"
"What happens to Grandpa? To everyone else?!"
Tremors wracked his frame—not just from fear, but from a long-buried thrill for battle.
The Wolf Bandits spotted him instantly. Without hesitation, they charged.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 70 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.