Vol-2: 080. The Booming Pig Farming Industry

080. The Booming Pig Farming Industry

A deep, magnetic male voice suddenly spoke up from behind him, and a large hand rested on Caramel Snail's shoulder. He jumped in surprise, but before he could turn around, a familiar profile entered the corner of his left eye.

The light distorted by gravity gradually returned to normal, revealing a strikingly handsome man whose appearance defied human comprehension. He placed one hand on Caramel Snail's shoulder and greeted him warmly:

"Not bad, you're the best among this batch."

His voice and appearance exuded a perfect charm, and the system interface popped up with green text, alerting Caramel Snail: [This unit is a benevolent ally. Do not attack.]

Caramel Snail suddenly realized who it was and excitedly looked at the man:

"You... you're Li—"

"Shh."

Li Aozi raised a finger to his lips. At such close range, the full effects of his [Aura of Kindness] and [Charisma] stats calmed Caramel Snail instantly.

"Street Kid, since you know who I am, I need a favor."

Oh? Could this be... the start of a hidden quest?

Caramel Snail nodded eagerly, looking expectantly at Li Aozi.

This was the mentor of the [Domination] path, after all. Not only was he the most popular character on Blue Planet in Star Abyss, but he had even become a celebrity outside the game. Caramel Snail hurriedly opened screenshot mode and snapped several close-up photos.

Handsome people are just different. Li Aozi's looks and temperament were the type that didn't inspire jealousy—he charmed everyone, regardless of age or gender. Caramel Snail was already planning to post the pictures on the forums, hoping to distract everyone from the fact that he'd foolishly boasted about challenging a pro gamer.

Before, Li Aozi had been operating in the Frost-Plated Republic. Not only did the expansion say so, but Li Aozi's profile also mentioned that he was from the Frost-Plated Republic. Who would've thought that such a big star would show up in Tianhuan!

There had to be some hidden plot behind this—probably linked to a major side quest or even part of the main storyline.

Caramel Snail couldn't wait. A high-level NPC like Li Aozi must have some amazing quests for him.

"Just leave it to me! I'll do anything!"

Li Aozi looked at this future 'Duel King' with interest. The [Twilight Sword Saint] path was one of the more standard paths within the various routes of the [Destruction] line.

In fact, he had come to Nuliang City specifically to recruit people.

The Kowloon Gathering was Tianhuan's annual feast. It was both a religious festival, a weapons exhibition, and a showcase of national spirit. Most importantly, it was a chance for Tianhuan's martial arts masters to exchange techniques and insights.

Now that the players were here, Li Aozi's goal wasn't just the two weapons he had his eye on. If he could nurture a couple of promising young talents in the [Destruction] line, it would greatly help him when he ventured into the Star Abyss later.

The low entry barrier for the [Destruction] line meant that it had a vast number of practitioners across the universe. When it came to intelligence and market sensitivity, being a [Martial Artist] was like being an open and aboveboard spy. Who knows, they might even welcome you to join their path.

The class characteristics in Star Abyss were clear—being exceptionally strong in one area often meant lacking in another. Just like how the [Starfall Master] class suffered from a fatal lack of numbers, the [Twilight Sword Saint] path was popular but rarely mastered. It wasn't suited for large raids, battlefields, or competitions.

There was no perfect path. To gain something, you had to be prepared to lose something.

Being a jack-of-all-trades often meant mastering none.

From Li Aozi's perspective, the [Twilight Sword Saint] class was holding back Caramel Snail's potential. The two of them had been streamers in the previous life, even colleagues on the same platform, and had sparred privately a few times. In one-on-one duels, Caramel Snail's skills and instincts were as ruthless as those of a professional player. Like Li Aozi, he was a specialist—no one could beat them in their domain.

However, the problem was obvious. After several bouts, Li Aozi realized that the [Twilight Sword Saint] class had very little room for error—it was fragile and, most importantly, had a short range, which put it at a disadvantage on the galactic battlefield.

Caramel Snail had absurdly fast reflexes, seemingly born for combat. His fights were clean and sharp, with a natural elegance, yet each move was deadly and endlessly adaptable.

Before version 14.0, they had fought five times. Li Aozi lost the first two, tied the next two, and finally won the last one.

However, on larger battlefields, Caramel Snail's performance was far inferior to Li Aozi's [Starfall Master]. All Li Aozi had to do was summon his companion star system, and Caramel Snail would be forced outside the gravity well, left standing there, watching as Li Aozi soloed an entire infected army—without getting any of the rewards.

[Tsk tsk tsk, my former colleague and rival, now looking at me with such admiration, eager for my commands… This feels amazing.]

Even Li Aozi couldn't help but feel a bit smug seeing his once-equal opponent now gazing at him like an idol.

[Ah, Brother Snail, back in the day, you were such a talent that I struggled to keep up with you. But now, the tables have turned—you're perfect to be my prize pig. I'm going to train you so well, you'll be fat and strong, worthy of your title as the 'Duel King.']

Among the first wave of guilds and pro players from Yanxia, Caramel Snail was one of the most talented. What mattered most was that Li Aozi knew Caramel Snail inside and out.

Among all the streamers, Caramel Snail was the only one who publicly shared his income, donating much of it to people in need, like terminally ill patients or lonely elderly people. He was a genuinely kind person, but once attacked, his violent side would emerge.

Li Aozi didn't see that as a flaw. In the universe, if you were going to defend yourself, it was best to go all out—killing your enemies was the safest option.

In the vast distances of the universe, people only cared about the outcome, not the process. The fuzzier the information, the less anyone cared about right or wrong.

Caramel Snail was perfect for careful cultivation. He was one of the players Li Aozi had decided to bring into space.

However, instead of the [Twilight Sword Saint] path, Li Aozi intended to set him on a stronger, more suitable course.

Li Aozi quickly drafted a quest and sent it to Caramel Snail, who eagerly devoured the details:

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[Life Quest Triggered—"Path: The Power of Destruction"]

[Type]: Legacy

[Duration]: None

[Difficulty]: D

[Description]:

"Welcome to the Star Abyss, where every mortal has the chance to change their fate and achieve transcendence by following different paths."

You are fortunate. From humble beginnings, you've encountered a benefactor. However, it's unfortunate that you are not yet qualified to walk the same path as him.

Since that's the case, begin your martial training.

Martial arts, the only path with no entry barriers.

Clumsiness can be remedied by stance work, frailty by footwork, obesity by blood and energy training, poverty by hand-to-hand combat, and illness by cultivating your qi.

However, because it has no barriers, the competition is far fiercer than any other path. Before stepping onto this path, are you prepared to prove your courage through violence and bloodshed?

[Completion Criteria]:

A. "Physical Potential"—Li Aozi finds you promising and is willing to sponsor your path toward becoming a [Martial Artist]. However, as a condition, you must take his sponsorship and enter a martial hall to train and become a [Martial Artist].

Reward: 10,000 zhu, 4,000 experience points.

B. "Join the Feast"—Li Aozi appears to be attending a banquet in Tianhuan and needs an escort to assist him with various tasks. During this time, you must complete the missions he assigns.

Reward: +50 Favor with 'Li Aozi'

Upon reaching this favor level, you can learn certain skills from Li Aozi and purchase various items and potions from him.

——————————————

"Whoa! I accept! I accept, I totally accept!"

Caramel Snail was so moved, he almost cried.

How lucky was he? If he posted this on the forums, wouldn't his clicks skyrocket?

He'd already planned out the post: 'I thought it was interesting, so I recorded it and casually posted it online. Then, it blew up!'

Riding the wave of popularity, he'd start streaming, effortlessly selling out products like compressed towels—small, portable, and they expand in water—until he became financially independent.

Just as Caramel Snail eagerly accepted the quest, he caught a fleeting, curious expression on Li Aozi's face.

'That was a strange look—'

Caramel Snail was briefly puzzled but quickly forgot about it as he excitedly accepted the quest.

[You have accepted the quest—"Path: The Power of Destruction"]

But the next moment, Caramel Snail's expression changed as he realized something.

'Wait a minute—there's no time limit on this quest. How long do I have to follow Li Aozi for?'

"I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic; I suppose I was being stingy—let me see your terminal for a moment."

Li Aozi chuckled, taking out his own terminal and exchanging contact info with Caramel Snail.

"So your name is Saga Ki—my number's saved in there now. You can contact me anytime."

As he spoke, Li Aozi casually asked:

"Ki-san, you look like you haven't eaten and your clothes are in tatters. Did you just get into a fight?"

He emphasized "Ki-san"—knowing that being called by their avatar's name would be disconcerting for any player.

"Uh, I'm fine," Caramel Snail replied, shivering at the sound of that name. He quickly said, "But don't call me that—my nickname's Caramel Snail. Just call me Snail."

Li Aozi nodded. "Alright, Niuzi."

"It's Snail! Or even Caramel or Candy, anything but Niuzi!" Caramel Snail snapped.

"Oh, I see. I'm from Red Arrow—Frost-Plated Republic—so I'm not too familiar with Tianhuan's Common Speech pronunciation," Li Aozi said indifferently.

Seeing that his protests were futile, Caramel Snail gave up and asked helplessly, "So how long do you need my help?"

"Not long. Once I die, you can leave."

"What? You think you're making me your lifetime servant? No way—"

[Your wallet balance has been updated: 10,000 zhu (current exchange rate: approx. 1,450,000)]

Caramel Snail straightened up and declared with conviction:

"—There's no way I can refuse your invitation!"