Chapter 139

Chapter 10: Heart’s Sea Goes Live

Unlike the tranquil beachfront hotel, today’s events in other parts of Tianhai City, and even other cities, caused quite a stir.

According to data from the mobile phone IC card company, with family units as one entity, the pre-download rate reached over seventy percent. It was practically every household.

To Yuan Xiaoling and her crew, this was an impeccable start. But for others, it was like the arrival of darkness. Instantly, online forums were buzzing with all sorts of conspiracy theories.

Some said relevant personnel abused their power for personal gain. Others accused capital forces of reckless behavior. There were even claims about foreign influences.

Even in a place called Jingshui City to the east of Tianhai, their countermeasures office sent mocking remarks, saying you guys aren’t doing well, causing lots of jokes lately, and can’t even manage the Spiritual Energy Manipulators within your jurisdiction properly, letting them run wild.

Facing these voices, Director He… still said nothing.

But not everyone was clueless. Soon, someone knowledgeable in another city posted online:

“After several bursts of spiritual energy, each region has at least one dominant Spiritual Energy Manipulator faction. They express their needs or recruit new members, share information in their own ways.

Because great power rests in individuals, such factions are often decided by the strongest person or a close group, thus bearing strong personal characteristics.

For instance, I once traveled to a city also named with ‘sea,’ where the faction leader liked to make friends through flower appreciation gatherings, displaying themselves or passing on messages within the circle.

There are also tea parties, dance parties, etc., all reflecting the decision-makers’ personal styles.

So, clearly, the current faction leader of Tianhai City should be a relatively young person with otaku tendencies, hence choosing a 2D game as their form.”

This statement enlightened countless confused people and gave some inspiration.

Regardless, after this post, the long-silent Director He felt vindicated and immediately sent a message to his counterpart in Jingshui City, saying, “Oh, our young ones here are like this, youthful and obsessed with games, neglecting proper conduct. But it’s just gaming; no one’s dying, so it’s acceptable.”

“I wonder how your side’s faction leader is, what they’re thinking. Just don’t organize something like a battle royale event to showcase their style, okay?”

The director of Jingshui City’s countermeasures office hung up the phone in anger.

However, this raised curiosity among many. What message was the mysterious Tianhai leader trying to convey?

Of course, citizens of Tianhai knew it had something to do with some strange rumors in the city recently.

All sorts of ghosts, spirits, undead, and such.

Thus, the fervor only intensified.

…

“It was just a small mishap.”

On the day before school started, Yuan Xiaoling rested for a whole day and night, finally recovering both physically and mentally.

On her way downstairs, she encountered two roommates. Gu Hui subtly suggested that if possible, they hoped to switch rooms. That’s when Yuan Xiaoling remembered they lived right below her.

Meaning, they heard everything that happened the other night.

Yuan Xiaoling thought it necessary to explain the ins and outs to them, lest her radiant image be tarnished.

“That day when I came back, I saw Bai Ling drinking milk. I told her she’s useless, and she said she’s useful. I said, if you don’t believe me, try it out with me, and she said, sure, let’s try.”

After hearing this, Qiao Lili seriously thought for a moment and asked, “Isn’t it still you provoking it?”

“Academic discussion isn’t about provocation,” Yuan Xiaoling said, “I call it verification.”

That’s the scientific spirit of university students.

Gu Hui thought for a while and asked, “But why did Bai Ling suddenly start drinking milk?”

Yuan Xiaoling shrugged, “It’s due to the aftermath of your last conversation.”

Ever since you talked to her about marriage, she’s been obsessed, constantly holding a B book and trying whatever it says.

One day, if she comes asking for her salary card, Ningning wouldn’t be surprised.

“No worries, we’ll be back at school tomorrow,” Qiao Lili consoled her. “At least it won’t be like the other night.”

No matter how crazy Bai Ling gets, she wouldn’t make the entire dormitory building shake unless she goes completely insane.

Yuan Xiaoling agreed and went back to sleep, conserving energy for the start of school.

At this time, in the Academic Affairs Office of Tianhai University, several school leaders gathered together to discuss tomorrow’s opening ceremony.

Regarding Yuan Xiaoling’s sudden announcement that the server would open at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, they were all somewhat troubled.

“Let’s cancel it then,” a vice president suggested, referring to the cancellation of the opening ceremony.

Who could blame them? Yuan Xiaoling was part of Tianhai University, now leading the Spiritual Energy Manipulators of Tianhai City, reaching a certain peak.

Even though she’d only be a third-year student starting tomorrow, she was already on the list of outstanding graduates… no, she was one of the distinguished figures of Tianhai University.

Her actions were promoting the fine traditions of Tianhai University, bringing glory to the college.

“Canceling the opening ceremony might be too much, too deliberate,” another old principal said, “I’ve checked, we start at nine-thirty, the server opens at ten, half an hour is enough to finish speaking.”

Anyway, the opening ceremony was just repetitive words, condensed into half an hour was fine.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

This issue was briefly discussed, not very important. The more pressing question was—

“If what she said is true, what about those students on campus in the future?” the old principal asked.

He had connections and heard what Yuan Xiaoling said during the hearing at the Municipal Building, mentioning the fourth or fifth burst of spiritual energy had already begun, significantly increasing the number of Spiritual Energy Manipulators in Tianhai City.

So, after summer break, there might be some in the school too.

“We’re better off,” another teacher said, “High schools will have a tougher time.”

The vice president nodded, thought for a moment, and said, “No matter what, as educators, we have the responsibility and obligation to guide confused students in the right direction.”

“Hmm,” the old principal cleared his throat, “Speak plainly.”

“Ask Yuan Xiaoling to come up with a solution.”

“…”

…

Yuan Xiaoling didn’t bother coming up with a solution, she was busy herself, and didn’t even attend the opening ceremony.

Worried about being criticized for opening the server early, she stayed in the dormitory and slept in until eleven, by which time everyone’s attention was on the game content, then she’d check the situation.

Outside the window, far away on the square of Tianhai University, the school leaders were giving passionate speeches:

“In August, with the cool autumn breeze, the leisurely summer vacation has passed, and we happily return to school to welcome this extraordinary new semester…”

Many students below were somewhat surprised.

It was only nine-thirty, many people had just arrived and hadn’t found their positions yet, but the speech began directly without delay.

It wasn’t like this before.

The school leader giving the speech didn’t care about that and quickly got into the groove.

After he finished, the headmaster spoke, then the teachers.

When it was the old principal’s turn, he stepped forward, wiped the microphone, and was about to speak when he suddenly noticed commotion on the square. Countless students were looking down, openly taking out their phones, seemingly doing something.

“Damn, so sneaky, opened early.”

“At least I kept the main interface running, clicking occasionally.”

“Why’s it lagging suddenly? Is the server down?”

“It’s not the server, there are too many people here, fighting for the network.”

“Stay away from me, don’t steal my signal.”

The old principal stood on the stage, utterly confused, until a teacher rushed up and quietly told him, BYD… ah no, respected classmate Yuan Xiaoling opened the server twenty minutes early.

“Alright, that’s all I have to say. Please enjoy the new semester, dismissed!”

Even though he didn’t say much, it didn’t matter, saying the last sentence was enough.

Although the students below didn’t listen carefully for the past ten minutes, it didn’t matter, hearing the last sentence was enough. People on the square scattered instantly, rushing back to their dormitories to find WiFi, competing to see who could run faster.

Gathering for half an hour, speaking for ten minutes, dismissing in three. Looking at the empty square, the old principal put down the microphone and turned to the others, saying:

“Our students are still full of vitality.”

Isn’t that good enough?

“Let’s go, let’s see what classmate Yuan Xiaoling has to say in the game.”

Because it was significant, within two hours of the official launch, game experts had summarized the main storyline.

The game is called “Heart’s Sea,” set in a virtual… real city named Tianhai City. Here, you will be endowed with Spiritual Power, meet various partners, and uncover the secrets behind the Tianhai crisis.