Players, Please Board the Train

”There are many kinds of sources that can cause matter to evolve, but there is only one type of raw stone capable of giving ores special properties, known as the ’Origin Point of Time.’” She explained, ”It’s unclear why it’s called that name. It’s said that this raw stone is the foundation of the entire game world, because it inherently possesses properties that humans cannot fully comprehend, and it is a product of multidimensional spatial evolution.”

”However, its birth is quite random, much like some fine items that might evolve on their own over time, making it no easy task to find.”

The Origin Point of Time... A stone tied to the concept of time.

Xu Huo pondered briefly before saying, ”No matter how fine an ore is, it’s still just a stone. Can it be used to create Super Items?”

Bai Kou, however, smiled and shook her head. ”Super Items cannot compare to it. You don’t have a real sense of what I mean by that, but let me give you an example and you’ll understand.”

”From A-grade wormhole points to E-grade wormhole points, the number of Game Partitions is beyond counting. However, partitions also vary in strength, and they are typically divided into four types. The first type is dominated by the Game Government, and these partitions are relatively mature. The second type boasts powerful local strength and a large player population. The third type consists of ordinary, small partitions where overall evolution is still in its early stages. The fourth type has just entered the game, teetering between development and destruction.”

”District 011 belongs to the second type, and it’s also a developmental example of a partition where the players themselves are exceptionally powerful. But there was once someone who traded a single piece of ’Origin Point of Time’ with the Game Government for exactly such a Game Partition.”

”The Game Government would take control of that Game Partition and then sell it to that player. Every resource in that partition would belong to that player. Aside from being unable to interfere with the game’s own operations, the economy, politics, and military would all be decided by that one player alone.”

”This is the value of the ’Origin Point of Time.’”

The value of a Game Partition like District 011 speaks for itself. If the Game Government was willing to exchange it for a stone, then that proved the stone had transcended the category of ”items.” Whether it could create items or interfere with them, neither would be enough to trade for a Game Partition.”In a game like Dimensional Rift, something whose value surpasses countless large partitions teeming with resources can only be connected to the game’s operational laws, especially when this stone carries the name ’Origin Point of Time.’” Bai Kou said meaningfully. ”There’s no one who doesn’t want it.”

”The Sub-Class Stone that was influenced by the ’Origin Point of Time’ is the one He Pu gave me... Do only ores get affected?” Xu Huo asked an additional question.

”I’ve never actually seen a real ’Origin Point of Time’ myself,” Bai Kou said. ”As for whether it has any other effects, only the Game Government would know.”

Xu Huo gazed at her. ”Don’t you think He Pu might have had an ’Origin Point of Time’ in his possession?”

He Pu had left him a Sub-Class Stone and an address, which easily invited speculation.

Bai Kou laughed out loud. ”He didn’t have one. If he did, he would have certainly given it to me.”

Xu Huo also found it unlikely that He Pu would have possessed an ”Origin Point of Time,” but his perspective differed. The ”Origin Point of Time” was not something that couldn’t be taken away. If it were possible, He Pu should have entrusted it to Mr. Dong rather than leaving it in District 001.

As for why He Pu might have held something back from Bai Kou, it may not have been a matter of sentiment, but rather a consideration of her identity.

But that being the case, He Pu leaving the Sub-Class Stone to him could carry a different meaning.

This Sub-Class Stone was also extremely valuable. If it were simply meant as a memento gifted to an heir, exchanging it for a ready-made item would have been more practical.

Of course, this was merely his speculation. He Pu’s true intentions were impossible to ascertain, but the fact that Rose Castle had been the place where He Pu had stayed for ten years suggested it should have been more than just a place for recuperation.

He reined in his thoughts and returned to the main topic. ”Do you think District 011 acquired an ’Origin Point of Time’ during their recent harvest?”

”It’s not necessarily the ’Origin Point of Time.’ I’ve said before, there are also some sources that can change the properties of objects, and naturally, some of them can alter the properties of ores. Although the quality of the produce can’t match the Sub-Class Stones evolved through the influence of the ’Origin Point of Time,’ the source itself is equivalent to a cornucopia. Some Sub-Class Stones might not be able to produce special properties, but they’re more than enough to craft items.” Bai Kou paused before continuing, ”Players in District 011 have been out looting and plundering recently. Some people have predicted that they might have found a raw stone. As for what kind it is and how good its quality is, that won’t be known until they bring it out.”

Items in the game are divided into those crafted by Artificers and those born naturally. Certain special ores are one of the raw materials for items, but not every ore can be forged into an item with spacetime properties. In other words, the ores or other raw materials found must possess similar attributes, but this category is non-renewable, and every single use depletes the supply, requiring a stroke of luck to come by.

In contrast, Sub-Class Stones, if produced by the ”Origin Point of Time,” would be equivalent to having an endless stream of items with special properties.

Ore resources in the game are likewise depleted with every use. Comparing the two, if raw stones, or substances similar to raw stones, could be found and studied, it might bring an entirely different prospect to the game.

This was a different kind of ”non-renewable” resource, and it was hardly surprising that wars would break out over it.

The Phantom Sound Knights had set their sights on District 011, while the Holy Sword Society seemed to have focused its attention on the base.

Xu Huo subtly studied the person beside him.

Bai Kou’s attitude was somewhat strange.

She didn’t show much interest in the possibly existing ”raw stone,” and her hostility toward the Phantom Sound Knights wasn’t as obvious as she made it seem. She was enjoying this moment, watching the flames of war in District 011 as an observer.

Rain began to fall from the sky. The woman walked out into the rain holding a black umbrella, carrying a small lantern in her hand, her head slightly raised as she looked at the city ahead.

The night breeze stirred her long hair, occasionally brushing against her cheeks. From Xu Huo’s angle, he could see part of her profile. Whether that beautiful face was real was hard to say, but the light flickering in her eyes allowed one to viscerally feel her delight.

Her gaze lingered on the patch of darkness that shrouded half the city for a few seconds, then she suddenly burst into laughter before striding forward with light, cheerful steps.

Xu Huo watched her figure and called out just as she was about to enter, ”Bai Kou!”

Bai Kou turned around, her gaze cold and piercing as she looked at him.

”It’s nothing,” Xu Huo stopped himself and instead said, ”Be careful.”

She didn’t respond, simply turning and walking away.

Xu Huo stood in place for a moment before picking up his communicator to contact Wan Tingfang. She connected quickly. ”Are you alright?”

”I got lucky and made it out,” Xu Huo said. ”How did you get out? What about the others at the base?”

”I don’t know about the others, but I was rescued by Director Sanyang.” Wan Tingfang said. ”He happened to be in the area.”