In the world of the heavens, there are an elite few in history who transcend the word "genius." They rise through the ranks of cultivation with unparalleled speed, perform feats that defy common sense on a regular basis, and generally educate all who cross their path on just what it means for the difference between two cultivators to be as the difference between heaven and earth.

This…is NOT their story.

Xu Zuhui has never been considered a genius, or particularly talented, though no one would call him a failure either—no small feat in the cutthroat world of VRMMOs, the dominant form of entertainment on a dying Earth. Indeed, he is one of the lucky few to escape the terrible, ruined real world by uploading to a persistent virtual world based on the world of Cultivation.

But though his new body and new life comes with substantial perks, he will soon discover there are substantial risks as well. He’s far from the only strong talent in this new world, and few such people are happy to welcome more into their ranks. In what was supposed to be a virtual world, Xu Zuhui will soon find that the stakes he’s fighting for are very real…and he’ll have to become very strong indeed to survive the events the real hero of this world will inevitably drag him into.

Updates MWF, 2PM EST.

There was silence from Chen Huan for a short while, then, <The rat says he agrees, that if Gao Rong causes you to win by strengthening himself through this trial of overcoming his fellows, he won't even complain or make excuses. He says even Heihei said he'd kind of enjoy seeing it happen.> 


<Yeah, too many such stories end in tragedy. I'd love to see a second one end better, like with Lo Kien.> 


<Yeah, that kind of person is interesting,> sent Chen Huan, <maybe we can even be friends with him after, depending on which sect he joins.> 


<Yeah, I kind of miss the days tutoring Lo Kien. Although, now that we know it'll be a while before anything more happens with the bet, I should get cultivating while I can.> 


<Gotcha. Actually, he did get into the 800s of the group after yours. So, we're thinking we'll rejoin you and Heihei until you take the third test, since nothing's likely to happen with the bet until after you go anyway.> 


Chapter 239 - Strange Starlight