Chapter 1278 - 19: Expansion Pack [Winter Is Coming]

In the darkest of times, humanity finally realized what it had missed and began consciously and secretly nurturing the "Favored by Heaven."

Until a millennium later, the human hero [Sima Changkong] emerged from obscurity. With formidable personal strength, he led the enslaved humans to overthrow the rule of the Fierce Beasts, expelled them from human territory, and established a new unified regime—the [Starlight Alliance]—on the ruins of the [Senluo Dynasty].

Only then did humanity finally regain a foothold on this continent.

Under the leadership of the new leader of the Human Race, [Sima Changkong], humans began to rebuild civilization upon the ruins. Although cold waves still occasionally swept across, humanity now had the capital to resist the Fierce Beasts.

This period is historically known as the [Civilization Revival Era].

However, three thousand years later, the [Starlight Alliance], which had once made great contributions to the rise of humanity, had long since deteriorated.

A carefree life gradually corroded the minds of the alliance’s upper echelons, making them increasingly extravagant, indulgent, and greedy. Ordinary civilians’ lives became increasingly difficult, yet the terrifying cold waves once again descended upon the world, dealing a substantial blow to the Starlight Alliance.

Subsequently, humanity entered the post-[Cenozoic Era], where the outbreaks of cold waves became more frequent and violent. To preserve their lives and maintain their hedonistic lifestyle, the alliance’s upper echelons became increasingly greedy and brutal in their extortion, causing ordinary civilians to suffer immensely.

Your birthplace, Farmstead 9326, under the jurisdiction of [Celestial Frost City], had just gone through a large-scale tax levy, resulting in severe shortages of food and clothing in the village.

Yet at this moment.

[Winter is coming].

Great Favored by Heaven, will you and your kin be able to survive this even fiercer winter?

Great Favored by Heaven, what will you choose?

Is it death or rebirth?

The expansion pack [Winter is Coming] of [Divine Martial Ascension] has officially launched.

Following the epic background story of the "third-rate hibernation pod online game."

A flash of white light crossed Wang Yingxuan’s vision, and she appeared in a dilapidated farmstead. The villagers around her were all gaunt and pale; in the biting wind, their clothing failed to cover them, leaving them shivering from the cold.

"Is this... the real virtual world?" Wang Yingxuan felt the realism slightly and then began looking around.

"Favored by Heaven, is this where you are?" An old man in tattered clothes approached with small, hurried steps, a hint of hope in his wizened expression. "That damned Celestial Frost City is just a bunch of bandits. Our farmstead has five hundred people, but there’s only a hundred units of food left. The fields yield less and less, and the true winter will surely arrive within ten years... our Farmstead 9326 may find it difficult to survive this winter... Favored..."

"Oh no, the task assigned by Master has begun," Wang Yingxuan interrupted, grasping the situation immediately. "I know, each unit of food can sustain one person for a year, and under normal circumstances, we will run out of food in just over two months."

"If we ration it, we could last four months..." the old man added.

"First, select one hundred relatively fit young adults from the five hundred people."

"Second, allocate forty units of food for training purposes, providing triple food supply to the young adults during training, which can be sustained for three months."

"Third, supply the remaining four hundred people with sixty units of food, aiming to sustain for three months."

"But, but, but..." the old man stammered in fear. "Favored by Heaven, what about our Grain Seed?"

"In this damned cold, it’s hard to grow much," Wang Yingxuan said coldly, "you just need to obey, I have no time to explain. The task for those four hundred people is to gather vines to weave baskets and produce simple wooden-handled Stone Spears for mass production."

Although iron tools exist in this world, the ruling class maintains strict control over them.

Under the title of Favored by Heaven, Wang Yingxuan initiated her first strategic step, rigorously training one hundred relatively strong young adults. With the threefold food supplement, they grew stronger day by day.

At the same time, resources like vine baskets and wooden-handled Stone Spears were accumulating continuously.

Meanwhile.

An audience outside watched this scene on a large screen at double speed.

Jiang Zhencang looked utterly bewildered; my precious disciple, are you serious? Didn’t Master give you the experience guide? Just follow that carefully! At the start, don’t provoke mountains bandits or Fierce Beasts, you’re no match for them!

Steadiness and patience are key; if you fail like this, it’ll all be over.

Meanwhile, Zhen Shicong’s Master, Celestial Fire Zhenren, called out, "Place your bets! Place your bets! The Saint Son may not have the qualifications, but when it comes to everything but Talent, we might not lose."

"Does anyone dare to gamble with me, Celestial Fire?"

Celestial Fire Zhenren seemed ready to make a profit from a side bet.

...