Chapter One concludes, progressing directly to the task evaluation phase.
"Completion of base task objectives—60 points;"
"Total score: 60 points, rated as barely passing."
"Task score for this attempt: 60 points (barely passing); Highest task score: 60 points (barely passing)."
"Due to the player achieving a barely passing rating and meeting the hidden requirements, you will receive information on hidden side-quests in this game."
"Side-quest ①: Treasure Hunter. Uncover all Destiny Cards."
"Side-quest ②: The Golden King favored by destiny. In all destiny determinations, only draw 'Hope' or 'Great Hope'."
"Side-quest ③: The Thorn-Striding Black King. In all destiny determinations, only draw 'Despair' or 'Great Despair'."
"Task evaluation uploaded: you have earned 5 Merit Points, please use them wisely."
Ren Suo blinked, rubbed his eyes, and took a serious look at the screen.
He was well aware that task evaluations were uploaded directly; having been broadcast live, there was, of course, no turning back.
But this... just 5 Merit Points!?
"Hand of Fate" was divided into 10 chapters, with a total of 500 maximum Merit Points available. Even one chapter should have yielded 50 Merit Points!
Having just completed "My Life is Not Your Game" and claimed all the reward Merit Points, Ren Suo felt as if he had played in vain upon seeing this. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
No, not in vain—I've been completely fleeced by the game console! he fumed internally.
These 5 Merit Points were worse than nothing. Ren Suo decided to just consider himself thoroughly fleeced by the game console.
Being given only 5 Merit Points and a barely passing score of 60 felt like a slap in the face. It was as if, after the game console was done with him, it had disdainfully rated his skills as poor and tossed him 5 Merit Points, explicitly stating that was all he was worth!
Ren Suo gritted his teeth but nonetheless dutifully noted down the content of the side quests.
Moreover, this score was probably the lowest for clearing a chapter—60 points being the minimum for passing. It finally made Ren Suo understand the relationship between scores and reward Merit Points.
Scores were graded in increments of 10 points: 100 points yielded 100% of the reward Merit Points, while 60 points yielded only 10%. Without completing certain achievements to gain additional points, the benefits of clearing a chapter lay only in the Treasure Box and exclusive rewards. The actual Merit Points gained were negligible.
Fortunately, "Hand of Fate" evaluated tasks after each chapter. Otherwise, if everything were tallied only at the very end and Ren Suo hadn't managed to unlock any achievements, earning a mere 50 Merit Points, it would have been far too late for regrets.
"No, that's not right!"
Ren Suo quickly realized a problem. He had never paid special attention to achievements when playing games before. However, his task evaluations had always been decent, so he hadn't cared much.
Even when side-quest prompts appeared during task evaluations, Ren Suo had been indecisive and reluctant to replay for them.
This time, because evaluations were split into ten parts, with side-quests given at the end of each chapter, Ren Suo could complete them in the next one. Therefore, the game console might become very strict about achievements!
Yet, even after seeing through the game's conspiracy and tricks, Ren Suo ruefully found he had no choice but to follow its options and try to complete the side-quests in the . His supposedly resolute integrity was insignificant in the face of a tenfold difference in Merit Point rewards!
Moreover, these side-quests themselves were quite enticing to Ren Suo. Not to mention the luck-related Golden King and Dark King, uncovering all the cards was a natural goal—how could one claim to have truly played an RPG without opening all Treasure Boxes and triggering all events?
"This damn game is so tempting."
Ren Suo clicked his tongue and turned off the TV.
As he ate his breakfast of century egg and lean pork congee, Ren Suo browsed his phone and instantly scowled:
"Strategy for Li Dan: Write a report on the 'Disaster Form' phenomenon appearing in Ren Naiser's "Destiny" live broadcast, no less than 10,000 words, to be submitted by the 3rd at the latest, using this month's paper quota."
"Heavenly Lotus Bai Ji: Notice from the Sky Capital Research Institute— All university-affiliated Cultivators conducting Spiritual Energy research must write a report on the content of Ren Naiser's "Destiny" live broadcast, no less than 8,000 words, to be submitted by the 4th at the latest. This is a research task; failure to submit on time may result in revocation of research qualifications."
"Internal Network: All level 3 Researchers and above (including level 3) are to analyze the exchange between the Supreme Supreme and the mysterious woman in Ren Naiser's "Destiny" live broadcast. Relevant reference materials have been granted access. Any form of writing is acceptable except poetry, no less than 5,000 words, to be submitted before 24:00 on October 1st. Offenders will have Research Points deducted."
Although Ren Suo knew the live broadcast would definitely be explosive, he had not anticipated it to this extent—especially not that it would blow up in his face!
Ren Suo, feeling depressed, scrolled through his phone and opened QQ, only to find that all his groups had already exploded with everyone discussing the recent live broadcast.
Even though it was 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the long holiday, Ren Naiser possessed the kind of charm that could rouse people from their beds.
And this was Ren Naiser's first live broadcast. It was as nerve-wracking and exciting as if a mafia boss had suddenly gone to Thailand for sex reassignment surgery and returned as an idol—countless people were eager for a glimpse of Ren Naiser's true face.
Despite still not seeing Ren Naiser's true face, witnessing the conversation between the Supreme Supreme and the mysterious woman was enough to give the audience a thrilling sensation.
Humans have always harbored a desire to pry into secrets, ranging from whether their partner is having an affair to whether national affairs involve conspiracies.
And possessing secrets can give one an unparalleled sense of superiority, as if proving oneself smarter than the masses.
For example, online rumors and conspiracy theories are often meticulously fabricated 'works' stemming from this mindset. They don't bring much benefit to the speaker, but they do make them feel as if they possess secrets unknown to the common folk, thereby granting them immense satisfaction and a feeling of superiority.
In the live stream, the Supreme Supreme and the mysterious woman were beings beyond the reach of ordinary people; indeed, beings of such a high station that most could never hope to glimpse them. The conversations, discussions, and actions of such beings should not normally be accessible to ordinary people.
But now, possibly due to Ren Naiser, or perhaps with the permission of these exalted beings, ordinary people were able to witness them commanding the heavens and earth, altering destinies with a word or gesture, and affecting the lives of multitudes. This instantly set everyone's imagination ablaze.
Does the cabin represent the universe?
Is the candle the sun?
Does the wooden table symbolize Earth?
Could it be that the cards manipulated by the girl with blue hair are inscribed with the future of the world?
Why are the chess pieces gold? Could it be that the Supreme Supreme is racist?
Why are the Destiny Cards square?
When Ren Suo saw this question in the student group, he immediately replied, "If the Destiny Cards were round, you would definitely ask why they're round. But they have to have some shape, right?"
The classmate immediately contradicted him, "The actions of a wise person are never that simple. And since when is the world only circles and squares? Aren't fan shapes okay? What about ovals?
"Squares, in ancient times, were a metaphor for Gossip, and Gossip was an important mathematical tool used by ancient Cultivators for Divination and predicting the future. Gossip is closely linked to Destiny, fitting perfectly with the metaphor of the Destiny Cards!
"Ren Suo, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. This world has many mysteries and secrets that you cannot comprehend!"
At that moment, another female classmate said, "You seem very knowledgeable. Can you do a divination for me?"
The classmate boasted proudly, "You've come to the right person. I've studied 'The Book of Changes' for many years, and as Spiritual Energy gradually revives, I've also vaguely grasped the essence of Divination.
"This Ren Naiser might very well be the patriarch of our divination lineage! That's why our patriarch knew five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future, was familiar with astronomy and geography, and could even see through the secrets of the Life and Death Profound Gate and the Fairy Palace!
"Moreover, Ren Naiser has merged Divination with modern photography technology, audaciously seizing the creativity of heaven and earth, capturing the secrets of past and present—truly pioneering the 'Steal Camera' technique!
"Many big bosses come to me for divinations, and I've had some success... so I'm usually quite busy. Send me your birth date and a photo of your face—no makeup."
So the girl sent over her birthdate and photo. Ren Suo blinked. Wow, she's quite pretty, he mused. Big eyes, wavy hair, a devilish figure... Tsk, tsk.
Then they didn't talk anymore, probably chatting privately.
A thought struck Ren Suo—This guy is flirting! And he's even riding the East Wind from my own live stream!
However, after Ren Suo finished his century egg and lean pork congee, another question suddenly occurred to him: there were only three female students in his major, and if he wasn't mistaken, the female classmate from a moment ago didn't seem to be one of them.
Not one of those three female classmates, but still a classmate from my major... Ren Suo mused.
With that realization, Ren Suo calmed down and opened another group chat.
This group was the Heavenly Lotus Teachers Group, where any public affairs of the academy would be announced and discussed.
After discovering that Ren Suo hadn't received messages sent by the academy during a recent evening event, Bai Ji and Dong Chengling had added him to this group.
The group was also very lively. Unlike laypeople, the Heavenly Lotus teachers were insiders who could discern much more, leading to higher-quality discussions. They focused on matters like the Unnamed girl's abilities, the power of the Just-In-Time Gauntlets, and the Great Rift Valley's Abyss of Despair. However, Bai Ji didn't say anything.
It seemed that teaching and research were now arranged by Bai Ji. Ren Suo, considering the difficulty of the three reports, typed into the chat, "@Bai Ji, Old Bai, can I turn in the research report a few days late?"
Liu Yingying: "Leader Bai is someone you can directly @? And 'Old Bai,' what kind of attitude is that? I don't want to see it a second time."
Liu Yingying: "Is it only ACDEF ratings?"
Yuan Jiamin: "All male teachers and staff, please be mindful of your status and the way you speak. @everyone"
Zhao Huo: "Actually bothering Leader Bai over some trifling matter? Ren Suo, do you even know the rules? Don't you realize this is Leader Bai's harem group!"
Zhao Huo withdrew a message.
Ren Suo was exasperated with Zhao Huo. Does he even realize being so cheeky could leave him without a girlfriend? ...Oh, right, he's not exactly lacking in that department.