Shi Jian stood in the silent desert, the Daluo Sword Embryo in his hand still humming faintly from the recent battle. He didn't have to wait long for the second self-service delivery from the foreign land; instead, he was interrupted by a familiar sound in his mind.

[Ding! Activity has met the standard. The chat group is beginning to upgrade!]

The sound entered the ears of all chat group members simultaneously.

The numerous chat group members, scattered across their respective worlds, instantly became lively.

[Xiao Yan: 'In a blink of an eye, the chat group has upgraded again. It's really fast... Feels like we just got the last one.']

[Luo Feng: 'This time, there should also be two new members joining the group. I wonder how strong the new members are. It can't be that I'm still at the bottom, right? 😭']

[Fang Han: 'I wonder what new functions will be added after this upgrade? I'm a little excited. More functions mean more resources to plunder.']

[Yang Qi: 'I am indeed a bit curious about what the new functions are. Hopefully, it's something that can bolster my strength.']

[Meng Qi: 'Borrowing Power, Offline, Myriad Worlds Dungeon... each function is already incredibly powerful. The functions added in this upgrade shouldn't be weak either!']

[Shi Hao: 'The chat group is upgrading? Cool. Will there be more milk?']

[Li Changshou: '...I am also anticipating it. Stability is key.']

Everyone discussed animatedly. Clearly, they were also very much looking forward to the chat group's upgrade.

[Ding! Chat group upgrade complete. Myriad Worlds Projection function activated!]

Amidst everyone's anticipation, detailed information about the new function entered the minds of the administrators, Shi Jian and Fang Han.

Both their eyes lit up simultaneously. This... this new function was very interesting.

[Shi Jian: 'Brothers, the new function is out: Myriad Worlds Projection.']

[Shi Jian: 'This new function is somewhat similar to a martial arts arena or a dungeon. You can battle against the projections of countless Children of Luck from the Myriad Worlds!']

[Inorin's Note: 'Children of Luck' (Qiyun zhi zi) is another term for 'Sons of Destiny' or 'Protagonists'—individuals favored by the destiny of their specific world.]

[Shi Jian: 'After winning, there's a certain probability of obtaining items, skills, or even bloodlines from these people.']

[Fang Han: 'This new function is indeed interesting. It's an excellent place to hone oneself. And you can also earn some extra money.']

[Fang Han: 'Those who can form projections are almost all Sons of Destiny from their respective worlds. In Shi Jian's words, they are protagonists, just like us. The things on a protagonist are not ordinary.']

[Xiao Yan: 'Wait... projections of other protagonists? And they drop items? Isn't this just another way to level up by fighting monsters? I love it!']

[Meng Qi: 'It is indeed leveling up by fighting monsters! Can we fight projections of each other? I want to see what Xiao Yan drops!']

[Li Changshou: 'This new function... it's powerful enough to be a standalone Golden Finger for someone else.']

[Shi Jian: 'Maybe the chat group just snatched it from some poor System... Haha.']

[Shi Jian: 'Myriad Worlds Projection also has some specific functions that Fang Han and I won't reveal. We'll keep a bit of mystery for you to experience yourselves.']

[Xiao Yan: 'Riddlers! Get out of the chat group! Just tell us!']

[Li Changshou: 'Riddlers, get out of the chat group (+1).']

[Shi Jian: '...']

A series of messages flashed by. Shi Jian had introduced the chat group's new function, and the group was already buzzing.

The ability to battle against projections of various powerful characters from the Myriad Worlds, and after defeating them, these characters would randomly drop equipment and skills...

Shi Jian vaguely remembered reading novels with similar Golden Fingers. He genuinely suspected that this function was something the chat group had pried off someone else's cheat.

After the group learned about the new function's purpose, they all felt a little restless. They all wanted to... enjoy a good fight.

[Shi Jian: 'Alright, you guys can play with the new function yourselves later. Now, let's bring in the new members.']

[Shi Jian: 'I have four people on my list here, and one of them is an old acquaintance!']

Shi Jian spoke in the group, all while looking at the system messages in front of him with a very strange expression.

There was no other reason. His new member information this time... he'd hit the nest of the 'Kings of Pretension'.

[Administrator Shi Jian is pulling in new members.]

[New member information detected. Please make a selection, Administrator.]

[1. Xu Que]

[2. Chen Beixuan]

[3. Zhang Xuan]

[4. Li Qiye]

Four selectable group members appeared before his eyes.

Shi Jian was stunned, looking at these four names.

Well, well. In one go, he got all four 'Kings of Pretension'.

[Inorin's Note: The "Four Kings of Pretension" (Si Da Bi Wang) is a popular fan nickname in the Chinese web novel community for four of the most famous protagonists known for their 'face-slapping' and 'pretentious' (acting cool) behavior.]

Southern Li Qiye, Western Zhang Xuan, Northeastern Chen Beixuan, Northern Xu Que...

These four were all renowned, infamous figures.

Xu Que, needless to say, had appeared in previous options.

The remaining three were also one more impressive than the last.

[Shi Jian: 'The four new members I can bring in are Xu Que, Chen Beixuan, Zhang Xuan, and Li Qiye. Xu Que has appeared before; he's a cheater from the 'Ultimate Scheming System' who gets stronger by showing off and slapping faces. And these other few... they are no less impressive than Xu Que.']

[Li Changshou: 'Good heavens! You've gathered all four Kings of Pretension in one go!']

[Xiao Yan: 'What four Kings of Pretension?']

[Lin Dong: 'I'm also confused. What is that title?']

[Li Changshou: 'It's these four people. They are known as the Four Kings of Pretension in the modern web novel world: Southern Li Qiye, Western Zhang Xuan, Northeastern Chen Beixuan, and Northern Xu Que.']

[Li Changshou: 'There are thousands of pretentious characters, but these four are revered as the Four Kings by countless readers, which shows just how strong their pretense skills are.']

[Fang Han: '...How idle are your Earth readers? To come up with nicknames like this?']

[Yang Qi: '666']

[Xiao Yan: 'Did I transmigrate too early? I've never heard of these titles. What deeds have these guys done to be called the Four Kings of Pretension?']

[Shi Jian: '...I won't say much about Xu Que. That cheater, coupled with his innate talent... I can only say he's incredibly flamboyant.']

[Shi Jian: 'Let me focus on introducing the other three. Among these few, the strongest should be Li Qiye. His story is called Emperor's Domination.']

[Shi Jian: 'Li Qiye was originally a shepherd boy, but by chance, he was transformed into an undying and unkillable Dark Crow. In the endless, subsequent years, he was unwilling to be controlled by time, and he schemed in various great eras. A typical 'invincible stream' protagonist.']

[Inorin's Note: 'Invincible Stream' (Wudi Liu) is a genre of web novel where the protagonist is already overwhelmingly powerful from the very beginning.]

[Shi Jian: 'You can tell why this guy is called a King of Pretension just by looking at the synopsis of his book.']

[Shi Jian: 'The synopsis of this book goes like this: Ten million years ago, Li Qiye planted a green bamboo. Five million years ago, Li Qiye adopted a little girl and raised a carp. Today, Li Qiye woke up from a nap, and the green bamboo cultivated into a God, the carp transformed into a Golden Dragon, and the little girl became the Nine Realms Empress.']

[Xiao Yan: '...Awesome. That synopsis is indeed impressive. A strong aura immediately comes to mind.']

[Fang Han: 'Starting at tens of millions of years. Interesting. His timeline is almost as long as mine.']

[Lin Dong: 'So synopses can be written like this? Learned, learned! I'm using this.']

Everyone in the group expressed that they had learned something. Just by looking at the synopsis, they already felt a strong, oppressive aura coming at them.

This synopsis, in terms of sheer aura, couldn't compare to the arrogant slogans shouted by Fang Han and Yang Qi, but it was a subtle, profound kind of cool.

There was a feeling of returning to simplicity within it. Upon hearing this, they felt that this Li Qiye was not ordinarily strong.

Lin Dong's eyes lit up even more. This synopsis was truly refreshing. He decided it would now be the synopsis for his 'Martial Ancestor's Legacy' in the group files.

[Shi Jian: 'There are many realms in this world, and the world rank is very high. However, I haven't read it completely, only a small part of the beginning. I don't know the specific situation of this world very well. I wonder if Changshou has read it?']

[Li Changshou: 'Coincidentally, I've only read a little bit too. After all, this book... you know if you know. When I transmigrated, it hadn't finished yet!']

[Li Changshou: 'I only know that there are at least hundreds of realms inside, and then it's constantly nested. Li Qiye's cultivation is even more extreme; he pursues Super Invincible Great Perfection in every single realm. If he has some new insights, he'll sever his Dao and cultivate all over again.']

[Li Changshou: 'His strength is like Schrödinger's cat: you say he's invincible, but he might have just stepped into the first cultivation realm; you say he's a weakling, but he can kill a Great Emperor if one comes.']

[Li Changshou: 'Anyway, this guy usually does two things: showing off, and looking for sheep.']

[Xiao Yan: 'Looking for sheep? What does that mean?']

[Li Changshou: 'Before this guy became an undying Dark Crow, he was a shepherd boy. After he became a Dark Crow, his sheep got lost. So he's been looking for his lost sheep for tens of millions of years... Emperor's Domination is also jokingly called The Shepherd Boy's Search for Sheep.']

[Xiao Yan: '6']

[Meng Qi: '666']

[Luo Feng: '66666']

[Shi Jian: '...']

Shi Jian thought for a moment and then made a summary.

[Shi Jian: 'All in all, the development prospects of this world are still good. Li Qiye as a person... should also be considered decent. It's just that he's lived a bit too long, so he has a bit of an old man's smell!']

[Xiao Yan: 'What the hell is 'old man's smell'...']

[Li Changshou: 'Haha, Li Qiye's character is still good. It's just that his taunt aura is a bit strong. He's a peerless powerhouse, yet everywhere he goes, someone looks down on him.']

[Shi Jian: 'He's also an expert at feigning weakness to ambush foes.']

After Shi Jian and Li Changshou's introduction, the people in the group also gained a rough understanding of Li Qiye and his world. Although this understanding was not very clear.

After introducing Li Qiye, Shi Jian began to introduce the others.

[Shi Jian: 'Li Qiye is the strongest; correspondingly, Chen Beixuan should be the weakest among these few.']

[Shi Jian: 'This person's worldview is somewhat similar to Luo Feng's, following that kind of urban-to-cosmic flow, but the cultivation system is a traditional Immortal Cultivation system.']

[Shi Jian: 'It's still a common template. Starting on Earth, then fighting out into the starry sky and the universe.']

[Shi Jian: 'The cultivation realms are the traditional Immortal Cultivation system: Qi Refining, Innate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Reversion to Void, Dao Integration, Undergoing Tribulation... ']

[Shi Jian: 'However, these realms are a bit stronger than the traditional traditional Immortal Cultivation system realms.']

[Shi Jian: 'Just this Qi Refining Realm is divided into Foundation Establishment Realm, Profound Connection Realm, and Divine Sea Realm. The Foundation Establishment Realm is the entry realm. After achieving it, every move has thousands of jin of strength, as fast as a galloping horse, transcending human limits.']

[Shi Jian: 'Profound Connection Realm and Divine Sea Realm are collectively known as the Divine Ability Realm. Cultivating to this realm, one possesses divine abilities and magic power, capable of summoning wind and rain, appearing like Immortals to mortals.']

[Shi Jian: 'The Innate Realm will condense a life core, used to carry more than half of the body's essence. Only by destroying this core can one truly kill an Innate being.']

[Shi Jian: 'The Golden Core is called a True Monarch, with a lifespan of 2,000 years, an indestructible divine body, an eternal core, and an eternal divine soul.']

[Shi Jian: 'The Nascent Soul can control space with its own power. Slaughtering cities and destroying nations is effortless.']

[Shi Jian: 'A Soul Transformation's Primordial Spirit is entrusted to the void, known as indestructible, capable of myriad incarnations, regenerating from a drop of blood, and can traverse the cosmic starry sky.']

[Shi Jian: 'The subsequent Reversion to Void, Dao Integration, and Undergoing Tribulation are also progressively stronger. The Dao Integration Realm possesses a million-year lifespan, can shatter stars with one strike, and swallow the sun.']

[Shi Jian: 'The Undergoing Tribulation Realm is also known as Immortal Venerable. Chen Beixuan, also known as Chen Fan, is an Immortal Venerable who reincarnated onto Earth, then cultivated all the way from Earth and ascended.']

[Shi Jian: 'The Immortal Cultivation system in this world is quite powerful. Coupled with the Immortal Realm of that world, the upper limit is also very high. It's just that the original work never mentioned what the Immortal Realm is like.']

[Li Changshou: 'My Chen Beixuan's actions throughout his life, why do I need to explain them to others... If I remember correctly, this book seemed to have an unfinished ending, right?']

[Shi Jian: 'What unfinished ending? This is my Immortal Venerable Beixuan realizing someone was prying into his life, then severely punishing the author.']

[Xiao Yan: '...']

[Lin Dong: 'Feels a bit weaker than Li Qiye... Doesn't seem worthy of being called one of the Four Kings of Pretension, does he?']

[Shi Jian: 'You have to look at the details. Chen Beixuan's understanding of the Dao of Manifestation has truly reached Transcendent. He's very good at stirring emotions.']

[Li Changshou: 'Bold! How dare you question my Immortal Venerable Beixuan? My Immortal Venerable Beixuan's actions throughout his life, why do I need to explain them to others?']

[Fang Han: 'Unbelievable']

[Xiao Yan: 'Today I've said '6' so much my mouth is numb...']

[Shi Jian: 'Alright, let me also talk about the last person, Zhang Xuan, from the Library of Heaven's Path. This guy is also a cheater, and he even has a similar Golden Finger to mine!']

[Shi Jian: 'This guy's Golden Finger is also a library. He follows the education stream. In his world, there's a special profession called 'Master Teacher', which, as the name suggests, is a teacher specifically for cultivation.']

[Shi Jian: 'Master Teachers are all people with special insights into cultivation. They can correctly guide others, helping them avoid detours and rapidly advance.']

[Shi Jian: 'Zhang Xuan's Library of Heaven's Path can detect information related to cultivation and point out the correct path. Zhang Xuan, relying on his Golden Finger, advanced rapidly, knowing everything, mastering everything, and excelling at everything.']

[Shi Jian: 'This guy is a 9-Star Master Teacher, 9-Star Alchemist, 9-Star Artifact Refiner, 9-Star Beast Tamer, 9-Star Formation Master, 9-Star Physician, 9-Star Poison Master, 9-Star Calligrapher and Painter, 9-Star Startling Swan Master, 9-Star Demonic Sound Master, 9-Star Appraiser, 9-Star Heavenly Craftsman, 9-Star Spirit Awakener, 9-Star Witch Soul Master... At the same time, he also holds positions as President of the Xuan Xuan Society, Dean of Hongyuan Academy, Hall Master of the Saint Hall, Clan Chief of the Zhang Family, Clan Chief of the Luo Family, Clan Chief of the Jiang Family...']

[Shi Jian: '...President of the Witch Soul Master Guild, Acting Hall Master of the Master Teacher Hall, Sect Master of Lingyun Sword Pavilion, Sect Master of Myriad Beasts Gate, Sect Master of Seven Stars Tower, Sect Master of Star Chasing Palace, Nine Heavens God King...']

[Xiao Yan: 'Hiss... With so many people joining the group, can the group accommodate them all?']

[Shi Jian: 'I'm not finished.']

[Shi Jian: 'He also has: Heavenly Dao Cultivation Technique, Heavenly Dao Disguise, Heavenly Dao Poison Art, Heavenly Dao Sword Art, Heavenly Dao Saber Art, Heavenly Dao Spear Art, Heavenly Dao Hammer Art, Heavenly Dao Fist Art, Heavenly Dao Palm Art, Heavenly Dao Leg Art, Heavenly Dao Movement Technique, Heavenly Dao Golden Body, Mortal World Stepping Heaven Steps, Deriving Void Heavenly Book, Traveler Without Borders, Great Sorrowful Heavenly Demonic Palm, Consecration Seal, Heavenly Dao Medical Arts, Heavenly Dao Alchemy, Heavenly Dao Artifact Refining, Heavenly Dao Painting Arts, Heavenly Dao Tea Arts, Heavenly Dao Startling Swan Arts, Heavenly Dao Demonic Sound Arts, Heavenly Dao Beast Taming Arts, Heavenly Dao Spirit Awakening Arts, Heavenly Dao Formation, Heavenly Dao Witch Soul Arts... and so on.']

[Meng Qi: '...My god.']

[Luo Feng: '...Is he a person or a walking encyclopedia?']

[Fang Han: 'A waste. Focusing on so many paths only leads to mediocrity.']

[Li Changshou: '...Brother Fang Han, for him... 'mediocrity' means being number one in all of them.']

[Fang Han: '...']

[Inorin Note: If you wish to support me so I can continue to survive and afford proper food, you can join my membership on Patreon [patreon.com/InorinTL].

As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Plot Uncoverer" (normally $25), but at a much cheaper rate.

These slots are extremely limited:

"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 60% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots

"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 40% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots

"The Founding Pillars": $19.99 (Save 20% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots

Grab your slot before they run out! Besides membership, you can also donate via Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/inorintl].

I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]