Chapter 1: A peculiar Game
After enduring a grueling day of work, Lu Yao wearily made his way back to his modest rental abode. Enclosed within the confines of a small-scale company, housing no more than a dozen individuals, he found himself surrounded by a disparate collection of coworkers, mostly consisting of interrelated kinfolk idling away their time. With the exception of the boss and his partners, only a triumvirate remained genuinely dedicated to their tasks. And while only three months had passed since Lu Yao began working here, the weariness that enveloped him made it seem as though an entire year had transpired.
Nevertheless, he dared not tender his resignation until he secured an alternative means of livelihood. In these economically challenging times, survival took precedence, relegating future prospects to the realm of secondary consideration.
Yet, at this juncture every day, Lu Yao sought refuge in relaxation, momentarily setting aside the day's tribulations and allowing himself a sliver of solace.
Now, it was game time.
With a mixture of anticipation and weariness, he powered on his antiquated computer, his mouse cursor gliding languidly across the screen.
Today, which game shall it be?
A competitive pursuit aimed at attaining a lofty rank?
An immersive adventure brimming with intrigue?
Or perhaps a captivating strategy game, like Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
...
However, within this assortment of choices, an inconspicuous icon captured Lu Yao's attention.
Positioned unobtrusively in the lower right corner of the screen, its logo, a green pixelated island, blended seamlessly with the verdant grass of the computer's background, barely catching his eye. Its unassuming presence piqued his curiosity.
"The Celestial Experience"?
What manner of game could this be?
Lu Yao had no recollection of downloading or purchasing such a title.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he clicked on the file properties, hoping to glean additional information. The source file, a modest 20 megabytes in size, hinted at its status as a relic from the bygone era of gaming.
Lu Yao's computer, equipped with meager specifications, had dutifully served him since his college days. Reluctant to bid it farewell, he persevered, enduring the lowest graphical settings to savor the likes of League of Legends and Dota. For more popular titles, he relied on cloud gaming and content consumption, immersing himself in the gameplay videos of others. In the scarce moments of respite that life afforded him, Lu Yao delved into the rich tapestry of classic old games.
With unwavering determination, he chose to open "The Celestial Experience."
Gradually, the screen faded into darkness.
Accompanied by the harmonious strains of old-fashioned, 8-bit electronic music, white Chinese characters materialized one by one on the ebony canvas, evoking a nostalgic pixelated aesthetic reminiscent of bygone eras.
"On this momentous day, the world rejoiced as the esteemed lord once again graced the realm."
"Your advent has bestowed renewed vigor upon this desolate earth. Your indomitable might shall forge a brand new civilization."
In due course, the solemn scene yielded to a bustling tableau. An assemblage of characters, their actions synchronized like a well-choreographed dance, tirelessly erected intricate structures, cultivated fertile fields, and exulted with arms raised high. The pixelated artistry exuded an aura of novelty and nostalgia, momentarily easing the weariness that had gripped Lu Yao's fatigued spirit.
Against this backdrop, three pristine options beckoned, gleaming like precious gems amidst the pixelated landscape.
"New Game."
"Continue the game"
"Quit"
Lu Yao eagerly initiated the game by selecting the "New Game" option, an ember of anticipation kindling within him. As the screen gracefully dissolved into obscurity, a splendid screen akin to a painting unfurled before his eyes—an artful mosaic of vibrant green pixels, akin to an expertly rendered composition of paint blocks on a sable canvas.
A cryptic proclamation materialized after a fleeting moment of suspense, declaring, "The world is being captured." Swiftly, the screen metamorphosed into a living mural of verdant splendor. Luxuriant forests, meandering rivers, majestic mountains, and vast deserts embraced a central structure, resplendent and resolute—an ivory dome that exuded an aura of sanctity, a shrine befitting the divine.
Within the heart of this picturesque scene, an invitation beckoned Lu Yao to bestow a name upon this celestial haven. Pausing momentarily to contemplate, he bestowed upon it the moniker of "Yao Temple," an appellation summoned forth with effortless fluidity.
As if responding to his call, the words "Yao Temple" materialized in ethereal grandeur, adorning the heavens above the sanctum. Yet, to Lu Yao's bewilderment, the image remained entrapped within an unsettling stillness. Undeterred, he attempted to interact with the temple, his perplexity growing with each futile click. Alas, no options unveiled themselves, leaving him to ponder the audacity of the game's eccentric creators—an endeavor bereft of even the most rudimentary tutorial or guiding compass.
However, just as disillusionment began to take hold, two strange figures emerged from the periphery of the screen. Clad in nothing but their birthday suit, their soles treading upon the fertile ground, they embarked on a deliberate pilgrimage, circumambulating the temple in a perpetual dance of reverence.
A sudden exclamation point sprouted above the head of one of these inscrutable beings, heralding the emergence of a dialogue box.
"What an exquisitely crafted temple! Surely, it must have been forged by the divine," the utterance resounded, resonating with an overwhelming sense of awe.
The other figure raised their hands toward the heavens, an embodiment of profound veneration. "God, god!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices imbued with reverent fervor.
"Behold! This must be a divine revelation—a realm blessed with propitious fortune! Let us summon forth more souls to establish their dwelling here," they passionately proclaimed.
"The land blessed by the divine! The land blessed by the divine!" they fervently chanted, their countenances adorned with jubilant smiles. Without hesitation, the two figures vanished from the screen, only to reappear moments later, accompanied by a retinue of five kindred spirits.
A total of seven devout souls commenced a ritualistic homage around the hallowed temple, fervently engrossed in erecting a modest thatched abode adjacent to its sacred walls. Diligently, they transplanted berry-like shrubs, carefully uprooted from realms unseen, nurturing them to thrive alongside their newfound sanctuary.
It was at this juncture that a prompt materialized, commanding Lu Yao's undivided attention.
"Congratulations, for you have garnered the allegiance of the inaugural disciples within this realm—an unequivocal testament to their unwavering faith, which shall serve as the conduit for your wondrous miracles. Endeavor to amass an even greater abundance of faith," the prompt elucidated.
Lu Yao directed his gaze toward the upper right corner of the screen, where a diminutive portrait of a human head indicated the population count. Adjacent to it, an icon reminiscent of a palace symbolized the measure of belief.
Both figures stood harmoniously at a serene equilibrium of seven, signifying that each devotee contributed a single unit of faith.
Intrigued, Lu Yao sought to engage with the population tally, yet his endeavors were met with a deafening silence. Undeterred, he guided his cursor towards the representation of faith, inciting the emergence of an ethereal fog-like symbol, captivating in its enigmatic allure.
[Miracle]
Before Lu Yao, an array of options stretched forth, accompanied by their corresponding stick figures. All the wonders lay dormant, their vibrant hues faded into a somber gray, signifying their current unavailability.
The execution of miracles exacted a toll in faith points, depleting them with every divine intervention. Even the most unassuming of miracles, like the ephemeral bestowal of rainfall, demanded a minimum expenditure of 10 precious faith points.
Thus, amidst the intricate interplay of concerns, one thread stood resolute: population growth had ascended to paramount significance.
Unlike conventional simulations where deities could erect edifices or spawn inhabitants at will, the "The Celestial Experience" withheld such godlike powers. It consigned the deity to an anticipatory role, their sole agency restrained to awaiting the pixelated populace's natural proliferation or spontaneous congregations. The solitary recourse within reach lay within the mysterious realm of miracles.
Lu Yao, his gaze transfixed upon the digital realm, observed the pixelated denizens toiling upon the land with meticulous virtual strokes. The restless cursor traversed the screen in an incessant quest for influence, while Lu Yao's stomach growled, vehemently demanding his attention.
Determined to appease his hunger, Lu Yao withdrew to the kitchen and conjured a bowl of fragrant noodles. Returning to his station, he bore a few cloves of garlic, their pungent aroma wafting through the air.
As Lu Yao settled back into his seat, an intriguing scene unfolded before his eyes. The surrounding denizens, typically adorned with there usual countenance, now donned a collective visage of melancholy. They congregated around the venerated temple, their solemn devotion palpable.
Dialogue boxes materialized above the diminutive figures, each one beseeching the divine presence.
"Great deity, I implore your manifestation!"
"Bestow upon us your sacred blessings, O Exalted God!"
"The woodland tribe deems our beliefs sacrilegious and conspires to overthrow the hallowed temple. Pray, reveal unto us a miracle!"
Lu Yao savored a hearty slurp of noodles, his thoughts contemplating the gravity of the situation. It seemed that the first crisis had unveiled itself.
However, the scale of faith had dwindled to a mere 7 points, insufficient even to summon a gentle shower from the celestial expanse. The sacred column of miracles tantalizingly remained beyond reach, its powers yet untapped.
Lu Yao continued his explorations, his deft hand effortlessly navigating the new interface that materialized upon the virtual facade of the ancient temple.
Captivating his gaze within the center of the image stood an austere stone bonfire, commanding attention with its presence. Beside it, a gray humanoid statue sat in a serene posture, its countenance obscured by a hazy veil, devoid of any distinct gender. This enigmatic figure was a manifestation of pixelated imagination, embodying the divine essence itself.
At the forefront of the statue, an elongated table stretched out, adorned with two distinctive slots, each bearing a purpose and intriguing Lu Yao's inquisitive mind.
The left slot, clearly labeled as "Sacrifice," held an air of comprehensibility, providing a designated space for the faithful and the temple's denizens to offer their heartfelt tributes to the gods.
On the right, a smaller slot, elegantly labeled as "Gift," aroused curiosity, suggesting the temple's potential to bestow remarkable powers or sacred artifacts upon its devoted inhabitants.
Could this be the miraculous discovery they had sought so fervently?
Lu Yao scoured every pixel of the virtual environment with meticulous dedication, his eyes darting across the digital tapestry before him, searching for any clues or interactive elements. Yet, to his dismay, he found nothing amenable to manipulation. Frustration gripped him as he grappled with the enigma laid before him, stumbling at the very first hurdle.
Amidst his perplexity, a peculiar observation seized Lu Yao's attention, like a tiny pearl glimmering amidst the vast digital sea.
The elongated table before the divine statue bore a striking resemblance to his own workstation—a serendipitous convergence of the virtual and the tangible world.
An uncanny coincidence, surely...
The two slots, the sacrificial one resembling the rectangular shape of a keyboard, and the gift slot, its contours graceful and oval—resembling a mouse.
A sudden realization dawned upon him—was the enshrined deity himself engaged in the act of playing with a computer?
The notion startled Lu Yao, his mind recoiling from the implications it carried.
Impossible...
It had to be a mere fortuitous alignment of symbols.
However, a daring notion sprouted within him, like a fragile bud breaking through a crack in the concrete.
With delicate precision, he positioned a clove of garlic next to the bowl of instant noodles, placing it exactly adjacent to the mouse-shaped slot.
Lu Yao fixed his gaze upon the virtual mouse, anticipation coursing through every fiber of his being.
Within moments, the garlic clove slipped from its precarious perch, succumbing to gravity's inexorable pull.
"It truly was just a coincidence," Lu Yao chuckled, masking the subtle tinge of disappointment tugging at his heartstrings.
But then, a bewildering turn of events unfolded before his incredulous eyes.
The fallen garlic clove vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of its existence.
Lu Yao's instinctive response was to shift his gaze toward the computer screen, seeking answers within the digital realm.
And there, in the temple's "Gift" slot, a pixelated icon of garlic materialized, shimmering with a mystical aura.
[Garlic]: A divine offering, possessing both the allure of culinary delight and the healing properties of ancient remedies.
In that moment, a line of text emerged on the screen, a messenger from the virtual realm.
——Might I beseech you to bestow [Garlic] upon your faithful followers?
[Accept] or [Decline]
Lu Yao's trembling hand grasped the mouse, its weight imbued with the weight of destiny itself.