A Reluctant Farewell and the Dawn of Divine Realm

The day slipped away quickly. Qin Yuxin clung to Lin Shenyue, her face etched with reluctance.

“Mother, it’s alright,” Lin Shenyue soothed. “You can still come back and see me when you’re free. Besides, didn’t Father say I’d likely recover soon?”

Lin Feimu sighed, pulling his wife into an embrace. “Alright, Xiner, we need to hurry and get ready. The server launch is in just half an hour.” Turning to Lin Shenyue, he added, “Yue’er, because of your head injury, your reaction speed might be slower than most. However, all we want is for you to enjoy yourself in the game, have a good time. Xiner and I will come to visit you periodically.”

Lin Shenyue, too, felt a pang of sadness. In just one day, she had fully accepted the parents of this body; their concern for her was undeniably genuine, springing from the depths of their hearts. Nonetheless, she said, “Mother, please go to work. I’ll take good care of myself.”

Qin Yuxin, still reluctant, stroked Lin Shenyue’s head one last time. Then, she departed from Divine Realm with Lin Feimu.

Lin Shenyue let out a long breath. She turned her head, surveying her surroundings, and couldn’t help but pause, a slight frown on her face. ‘Where… is this?’ She pulled up her map. The Newbie Village map was fully revealed, though it didn’t mark any NPC locations. ‘Never mind,’ she mused. ‘There’s still half an hour until the server opens; I can take a good look around.’ Dismissing her momentary confusion, Lin Shenyue began walking towards the center of the village.

****

Thanks to the extensive publicity surrounding ‘Divine Realm,’ even before its official launch, the outside world was brimming with anticipation for its release. ‘Divine Realm’ was touted as ‘Humanity’s Second World,’ ranking first among virtual games with an astonishing 99% simulation fidelity. Supported by the state and developed by the Muxin Company, ‘Divine Realm’ was a virtual game crafted through the joint efforts of both parties. The official forums for ‘Divine Realm’ were already abuzz with activity, since the official website had revealed scant game information, offering only some basic introductory guidance. Consequently, the forums were flooded with threads discussing ‘Divine Realm.’ Among them, a pinned post had garnered widespread attention and debate among players.

[Differences Between ‘Divine Realm’ and Conventional Games]

[Bai Xiaosheng]

First and foremost, connecting to ‘Divine Realm’ differs from other online games that require a computer; instead, players must enter via a game helmet or a game pod. Game helmets are relatively inexpensive and suited for widespread use, but prolonged gaming with them can lead to physical degeneration as they offer no restorative benefits to the body. While ‘Divine Realm’ limits experience gain to eight hours, it places no restriction on total playtime. This time limit was likely implemented to prevent players from becoming overly engrossed in the game and neglecting other aspects of their lives. After all, ‘Divine Realm’ even accommodates sleep requirements while gaming. Game pods, on the other hand, are the Muxin Company’s latest innovation, allowing players to nourish their bodies while gaming. However, their price is astronomically high, with even a basic model costing 100,000 RMB, and superior versions being even more exorbitant.

According to my estimations, approximately one million game pods and nearly 100 million game helmets have already been sold for ‘Divine Realm.’ Among these, our nation, Z-Country, boasts the largest player base, accounting for roughly 40% of the total. This implies that competition within Z-Country will be significantly fiercer than in other nations. Yet, simultaneously, our country’s overall strength is also unparalleled.

The most significant difference between ‘Divine Realm’ and conventional games lies in its perspective and control scheme. In most RPGs, the third-person perspective predominates due to its ease of control. However, ‘Divine Realm’ unequivocally employs a first-person perspective, offering an unparalleled sense of immersion. According to official information, the game entirely abandons traditional mouse and keyboard controls, opting instead for complete consciousness-based control. Undoubtedly, ‘Divine Realm’ emphasizes reaction speed, though it would be inaccurate to say it disregards hand speed entirely. This will undoubtedly present a new test for our operational skills. I advise everyone to first familiarize themselves with their characters upon entering the game, rather than rushing out to grind monsters and level up. This approach will benefit both our initial progress and future development. Furthermore, the game’s official channels have offered no introduction to professions nor detailed information about game maps. However, there should be profession guidance upon entering the game and map introductions upon entering new areas; otherwise, the game’s ambiguity would be too great, causing significant inconvenience for players. Of course, as the game has yet to launch, everything I’ve stated is purely speculative. I hope it proves somewhat useful to the wider player community.

Below the post, a flood of ‘filler’ replies followed.

[“Bai Xiaosheng has appeared! Everyone, gather ’round!”]

[“First! If this isn’t the first comment, I’ll livestream myself eating dirt.”]

[“Who’s Bai Xiaosheng? Newbie asking!”]

[“Second floor, eat dirt! Line up below!”]

[“Second floor, eat dirt!”]

[“Second floor, eat dirt!”]

….

[“Bai Xiaosheng is a celebrity in the online gaming world. Anyone who’s played games knows Bai Xiaosheng, famous for trading information.”]

[“Second floor, eat dirt!”]

….

“Bai Xiaosheng, eh? So you’ve finally shown up. It seems you intend to conquer this new game as well.” Inside a luxurious villa, a man offered a faint smile before stepping into his game pod.

“Bai Xiaosheng… I wonder when I’ll ever be able to repay your kindness.” In a common apartment building, a young man sat before his computer, glancing at the forum before letting out a sigh. He rose and walked to his bed. “Heh, ‘Divine Realm,’ I’m back.”

[‘Divine Realm’ will open in one minute.]

****

“5… 4… 3… 2… 1.”

[“Welcome to ‘Divine Realm.'”]