Chapter 647 - 413: Zhou Chen, Oh Zhou Chen, How Could You Have Fallen So Low

Chapter 647: Chapter 413: Zhou Chen, Oh Zhou Chen, How Could You Have Fallen So Low

Li Xiye immediately raised an eyebrow. "I knew it!"

"The Life Church has a special Secret Technique, they don’t need this thing!" Zhou Chen quickly explained.

"Fine, as long as you know what you’re doing." Li Xiye didn’t press the issue. She just didn’t want to be a godmother too soon.

She then pointed to a package on the table. "This came from Jiang Che this morning."

Surprised, Zhou Chen pulled out his phone and saw a message from Jiang Che. It said she had sent him something and to look out for it, but didn’t specify what it was.

After opening the package, Zhou Chen’s eyes widened in surprise. Inside was Forbidden Object C-003, the Hypnotic Pocket Watch!

’Did Jiang Che sever her Soul connection with the Hypnotic Pocket Watch? Right, she only contained it to keep herself rational at all times, to avoid making mistakes, forcing herself down the path of revenge like a robot. Now that her revenge is complete, it makes sense she wouldn’t need it anymore. She probably wants to experience what normal human emotions are like...’ Zhou Chen’s thoughts flickered.

’But is it really a good idea to mail such a valuable Forbidden Object?’

"The Hypnotic Pocket Watch? Cool! Let me play with it... Hehe! Hand it over!"

Li Xiye snatched the Hypnotic Pocket Watch and dangled it in front of Zhou Chen. He instantly froze, falling into a state of hypnosis.

The next second, Zhou Chen remembered the anti-hypnosis failsafe Jiang Che had once set up for him and immediately snapped out of it.

"You snapped out of it that fast?" Li Xiye was stunned. "I was going to hypnotize you and play some little games."

Zhou Chen was baffled. "How did you use it?"

One of the containment conditions for the Hypnotic Pocket Watch was a doctorate in psychology, which Li Xiye clearly didn’t have.

"If it doesn’t obey, just keep beating it until it does." Li Xiye tossed the Hypnotic Pocket Watch to Zhou Chen. "I can now forcibly use unowned Forbidden Objects."

"You’re getting stronger that fast?"

"Of course. Don’t you know who I am?" Li Xiye puffed out her chest proudly. "In two years at most, or as little as six months, I’ll be able to advance to Crowned King."

She already had an Authority suited to her. Advancing to Crowned King was just a matter of time. If she had a stroke of luck or a sudden epiphany, her Advancement could come even sooner.

"I’m not far from Tier Four myself," Zhou Chen said. "I’ll spend this time slowly comprehending the Rules. Maybe I’ll even master them inside Zone 009."

"Just don’t accidentally advance before entering Zone 009. That Restricted Area only allows Tier Three and below to enter," Li Xiye reminded him.

Zhou Chen absolutely had to go to Zone 009. First, the Restricted Area was incredibly interesting—a must-visit for any thrill-seeker. Second, Players could gain massive benefits there, so great that people would willingly slow their cultivation to enter.

Besides, as a hardcore gamer, Zhou Chen wanted to try and clear Zone 009 himself.

"Zone 009 has a lot of classic game elements, so I need to play more games during this time... The files say the ’Fire-Bearer Undead’ series has a ton of related content in Zone 009. Alright, today I’ll play ’Fire-Bearer Undead 14’!"

Zhou Chen decided not to go anywhere and just stay home to play games.

·

New Calendar Year 235, April 15th.

Half a month remained until Zone 009 went live.

To push himself to complete his training plan, Zhou Chen decided to write a diary entry every day as a reminder and to summarize his daily life. If he failed to meet a day’s goals, he would have to reflect on why he failed and complete double the amount the next day.

·

[Zone 009 Training Plan Diary]:

"April 15th. Finally beat the ’Fire-Bearer Undead’ series today. They’re all great games. The vast experience of suffering has improved my gaming skills and tempered my mindset, giving me more confidence for Zone 009.

The next choice is the classic action game ’Demon September Cry’ and its entire series. The files say Zone 009 also has some elements from this series. After that is ’Monster Torture.’ Ugh, why are they all soul-crushing games?

Haven’t slacked off on my Forging homework. Made a few Extraordinary Weapons that I’m planning to list on my online shop."

"April 16th. Erin was clinging to me all day while I was trying to game. Sigh, what a bewitching little imp. Can’t blame her, though. Once you get a taste, you want more. I had no choice but to dispense justice on the spot. By the time I came to my senses, it was already night. Had to give up on gaming to make sure my Forging homework got done."

"April 17th. Xiye kept wandering around in a lace garter belt while I was gaming. Couldn’t be helped, she’s just too sexy. I had to dispense justice on the spot... Dammit, didn’t finish my game or my Forging homework today. I have to work twice as hard tomorrow!"

"April 18th. Morning with Xiye, afternoon with Erin... Xiye suggested we all do it together, but Erin adamantly refused. Hmm... it is a bit too soon for that..."

"April 19th. I asked Xiye to create another independent Time Circle, which gave me more time. It’s a shame the Time Circle can’t exist for long, and there’s a cooldown for Xiye to make one. But it’s fine, it still bought me an extra three days.

I stayed in the Time Circle for three days, beat nine games, and caught up on all the Forging homework I’d fallen behind on. Woohoo, a great success!

But after returning to reality, Xiye dragged me away to collect her payment. Then I spent the evening with Erin."

"April 20th. Intimacy."

"April 21st. Intimacy."

"April 22nd. Intimacy."

"April 23rd. Zhou Chen, oh, Zhou Chen! How could you be so depraved! How can you be so addicted to the temptations of the flesh! Have you forgotten the plan you set? As the Master said: ’I daily examine myself on three points.’ You can’t go on like this! You have to get serious, Zone 009 goes live in a week!"

"April 24th. Erin wore white stockings. So cute."

...

Zhou Chen stared at his recent diary entries and felt that life was meaningless.

Ah... so this is the price of being a scumbag.

If he hadn’t mastered the Vajra Indestructible technique, and didn’t have the Wish Bottle to restore his body to peak condition at any time, not even a Tier Three Ascender could withstand this kind of abuse. Even the strongest ox would be worked to death.

Of course, that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that his training plan was in shambles. With two beautiful, cute, and sexy girlfriends wandering around, he couldn’t focus on any of his games. The only good news was that his Forging homework was still getting done on time, and his progress in repairing the Hammer of Forging and understanding "Destruction of All Things" was steadily improving.

But if things continued like this, he definitely wouldn’t complete the gaming tasks on his schedule.

Luckily, the cooldown on Li Xiye’s Skill for creating an independent Time Circle had passed. She quickly made another one for him. He redoubled his efforts, working nonstop to catch up on all the gaming he’d missed, and even crammed a ton of lore analysis and setting details for those games.

That evening, while writing his diary in the forge, Zhou Chen was surprised to find that he hadn’t fallen behind on his schedule at all. In fact, he was even ahead.

The Time Circle really was a wonderful thing.

It was just a shame that Li Xiye could currently only create an independent Time Circle that lasted for three days inside while only three minutes passed in reality. If only it could last a few more days.

After finishing his diary entry, Zhou Chen picked up the Hammer of Forging, lit the furnace, and began his daily smithing.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sparks flew as the steel was hammered, the crisp ringing sound echoing day after day like the great bell of a remote mountain temple.

Time passed. The days went by, calm and uneventful.

All the beta Players who had received an invitation to the launch were scrambling to improve their Abilities and make preparations for the new challenge ahead.

For the Players, this would be the journey they had been anticipating the most, bar none.

Finally.

April 30th arrived.

Only 24 hours remained until Zone 009 went live.