080. The Booming Pig Farming Industry

  A deep, magic male voice suddenly spoke up from behind him, and a rge haed on Caramel Snail’s shoulder. He jumped in surprise, but before he could turn around, a familiar profile ehe er of his left eye.

  The light distorted by gravity gradually returo normal, revealing a strikingly handsome man whose appearance defied human prehension. He pced one hand on Caramel Snail’s shoulder and greeted him warmly:

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

  His void appearance exuded a perfect charm, and the system interface popped up with gree, alerting Caramel Snail: 【This unit is a benevolent ally. Do not attack.】

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

  "You... you're Li—"

  "Shh."

  Li Aozi raised a fio his lips. At such cle, 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 hidde?

  Caramel Snail nodded eagerly, looking expetly at Li Aozi.

  This was the mentor of the 【Domination】 path, after all. Not only was he the most popur character on Blue P in Star Abyss, but he had even bee a celebrity outside the game. Caramel Snail hurriedly opened sshot mode and snapped several close-up photos.

  Handsome people are just different. Li Aozi’s looks and temperamehe type that didn’t inspire jealousy—he charmed everyone, regardless of age ender. Caramel Snail was already pnning 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 beeing in the Frost-Pted Republiot only did the expansion say so, but Li Aozi's profile also mentiohat he was from the Frost-Pted 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 lio 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 i. The 【Twilight Sword Saint】 path was one of the more standard paths within the various routes of the 【Destru】 line.

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

  The Kowloon Gathering was Tianhuan’s annual feast. It was both a religious festival, a ons exhibition, and a showcase of national spirit. Most importantly, it was a ce for Tianhuan's martial arts masters to exge teiques and insights.

  Now that the pyers were here, Li Aozi’s goal wasn’t just the two ons he had his eye on. If he could nurture a couple of promising young talents in the 【Destru】 li would greatly help him when he ventured into the Star Abyss ter.

  The low entry barrier for the 【Destru】 li that it had a vast number of practitioners across the universe. When it came to intelligend market sensitivity, being a 【Martial Artist】 was like being an open and aboveboard spy. Who knows, they might even wele you to join their path.

  The css characteristi Star Abyss were clear—being exceptionally strong in one area ofte g in another. Just like how the 【Starfall Master】 css suffered from a fatal ck of numbers, the 【Twilight Sword Saint】 path opur but rarely mastered. It wasn’t suited fe raids, battlefields, or petitions.

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

  Being a jack-of-all-trades ofte mastering none.

  From Li Aozi's perspective, the 【Twilight Sword Saint】 css was holding back Caramel Snail’s potential. The two of them had been streamers in the previous life, even colleagues on the same ptform, 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 pyer. Like Li Aozi, he ecialist—no one could beat them in their domain.

  However, the problem was obvious. After several bouts, Li Aozi realized that the 【Twilight Sword Saint】 css had very little room for error—it was fragile and, most importantly, had a she, which put it at a disadvantage on the gactic battlefield.

  Caramel Snail had absurdly fast reflexes, seemingly born for bat. His fights were 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 wo, and finally wo one.

  However, er battlefields, Caramel Snail’s performance was far inferior to Li Aozi’s 【Starfall Master】. All Li Aozi had to do was summon his panion star system, and Caramel Snail would be forced outside the gravity well, left standing there, watg as Li Aozi soloed aire ied 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 ands… This feels amazing.】

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

  【Ah, Brother Snail, ba 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 pyers 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 ine, donating much of it to people in need, like terminally ill patients or lonely elderly people. He was a genuinely kind person, but oacked, his violent side would emerge.

  Li Aozi didn’t see that as a fw. 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 oute, not the process. The fuzzier the information, the less anyone cared abht .

  Caramel Snail erfect for careful cultivation. He was one of the pyers Li Aozi had decided t into space.

  However, instead of the 【Twilight Sword Saint】 path, Li Aozi inteo set him on a stronger, more suitable course.

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

  ——————————

  【Life Quest Triggered—《Path: The Power of Destru》】

  【Type】: Legacy

  【Duration】: None

  【Difficulty】: D

  【Description】:

  "Wele to the Star Abyss, where every mortal has the ce to ge their fate and achieve transdence by following different paths."

  You are fortunate. From humble beginnings, you’ve entered a beor. However, it’s unfortuhat you are not yet qualified to walk the same path as him.

  Sihat’s the case, begin your martial training.

  Martial arts, the only path with ry barriers.

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

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

  【pletion Criteria】:

  A. 《Physical Potential》—Li Aozi finds you promising and is willing to sponsor your path toward being a 【Martial Artist】. However, as a dition, you must take his sponsorship aer a martial hall to train and bee a 【Martial Artist】.

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

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

  Reward: +50 Favor with ‘Li Aozi’

  Upon reag this favor level, you learain 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 pnned out the post: ‘I thought it was iing, so I recorded it and casually posted it ohen, it blew up!’

  Riding the wave of popurity, he’d start streaming, effortlessly selling out products like pressed towels—small, portable, and they expand in water—until he became financially indepe.

  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 fot about it as he excitedly accepted the quest.

  【You have accepted the quest—《Path: The Power of Destru》】

  But the moment, Caramel Snail’s expression ged as he realized something.

  ‘Wait a mihere’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 exging tafo with Caramel Snail.

  "So your name is Saga Ki—my number’s saved in there now. You tact me anytime."

  As he spoke, Li Aozi casually asked:

  “Ki-san, you look like you haveen 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 discerting for any pyer.

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

  Li Aozi nodded. "Alright, Niuzi."

  "It’s Snail! Or even Caramel or dy, anything but Niuzi!" Caramel Snail snapped.

  “Oh, I see. I’m from Red Arrow—Frost-Pted Republi not too familiar with Tianhuan’s on 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 leave."

  “What? You think you’re making me your lifetime servant? No way—”

  【Your wallet bance has been updated: 10,000 zhu (current exge rate: approx. 1,450,000)】

  Caramel Snail straightened up and decred with vi:

  "—There’s no way I refuse your invitation!"

  FAL