Chapter 339: Cultivation and Adaptation
Select initial attributes...
Facing the three options — 100 for Weak, 200 for Ordinary, and 500 for Outstanding —
After a brief moment of thought, Zhou Ning decided on the "Ordinary" attribute, which cost 200 Traversal Coins, and clicked "Confirm."
A prompt instantly popped up on the panel:
[You have confirmed "Ordinary" as your template attribute.]
[Initial template confirmed as Green.]
[Matching in progress...]
[Match successful.]
[You are a seemingly ordinary, yet currently popular celebrity. Your greatest talent is acting. Though passionate about charity, you have grown disinterested in everything around you. Just then, you receive the chance to traverse worlds. What kind of waves will someone like you stir up? Stay tuned.]
Immediately, one of the four card slots below lit up with a new 3D card. On it, Zhou Ning was dressed in a white ancient-style costume, holding a curved blade. His face was handsome yet distant—indeed, unremarkably ordinary.
However, compared to the characters he had previously purchased, this one seemed to lack a bit of "life."
Zhou Ning tapped directly on the card. In the lower right corner, a small arrow pointed toward the option "Begin Traversal Simulation."
After clicking on it, the panel displayed another stream of messages:
[Randomly selecting traversal destination.]
[Selecting...]
[Selection complete. You have randomly arrived in the world of Date A Live!]
[Please choose your template's traversal simulation tendency.]
[1. Reserved — 0 Traversal Coins]
[2. Moderate — 50 Traversal Coins]
[3. Aggressive — 50 Traversal Coins]
Zhou Ning: "..."
If he remembered correctly, this was the harem anime where the protagonist gained power from beautiful spirit girls by kissing them — a series full of absurd seriousness. The protagonist kissed twelve spirit girls one after another, each fair-skinned, beautiful, and of every imaginable type — all catering to various tastes and preferences. Truly, the very definition of over-the-top indulgence.
The power system wasn't bad either — there were indeed supernatural abilities involved. Zhou Ning could only sigh that it wasn't him who had traversed into that world.
Given that it was a harem show, courage, keen observation, and a thick skin were indispensable traits. Choosing "Reserved" would only lead to tragedy and heartbreak. Without hesitation, Zhou Ning picked the "Aggressive" strategy and initiated the simulation.
[Boarding time machine... 1%... 33%... 65%... 95%... Whoosh... Traversal complete.]
[Traversal successful! On April 1, 2011, you found yourself confused and disoriented as you arrived in this world!]
[What kind of person will you become next? Stay tuned.]
After the traversal completed, the card turned white and could no longer be selected. In its upper right corner, a timer displayed "23:59:59," steadily counting down.
Zhou Ning understood at once. His earlier theory was correct — this cultivation template system really did resemble a farming game.
Once the countdown finished, he could simply come back to "harvest" his template.
Since that was the case, he might as well add another chip to the table — open a second field.
The "Find New Character" section had four total card slots, meaning up to four templates could be cultivated simultaneously. After some consideration, Zhou Ning chose the "Outstanding" attribute and clicked "Create."
[You have confirmed "Outstanding" as your template attribute.]
[Initial template confirmed as Blue.]
[Matching in progress...]
[Match successful.]
[You are a second-generation immigrant from Huaxia, born in 1977 and raised in Chicago. Growing up amidst an era of rebellion, rock music, and skulls, you seized the opportunity to become a mafia boss reminiscent of Scarface's Al Capone. Just as you were growing weary of this blood-soaked life, you received the chance to traverse worlds. What kind of waves will someone like you stir up? Stay tuned.]
Likewise, a new 3D card appeared in the slot below — Zhou Ning now wore a black suit, with a scar across his face, looking both handsome and fierce. From this card, Zhou Ning could almost smell the aura of a powerful man!
After clicking "Traverse," the panel displayed:
[Randomly selecting traversal destination.]
[Selecting...]
[Selection complete. You have randomly arrived in the world of Gotham!]
Gotham?
He wasn't sure whether it meant the TV series or the DC universe. If it was the former, Zhou Ning actually hoped he'd end up as Bruce Wayne, creating a "mafia boss version" of Batman for himself.
As for the simulation strategy — in Gotham, that was especially important.
After a moment of thought, Zhou Ning chose the "Moderate" approach. Survival came first — only the living could make an impact.
After completing these two template investments — totaling 800 Traversal Coins — Zhou Ning decided to stop for now.
Whether he would make another investment would depend on how tomorrow night's "harvest" turned out.
According to the updated FAQ, aside from the features he'd already experienced, the Reversion function had also been adjusted.
Perhaps because he had only played once before, the Reversion option currently came with a 70% discount for three days.
Zhou Ning couldn't help but suspect that behind this simulator lurked another version of "Gaben" himself.
A bargain like that was too good to pass up. Zhou Ning took out his pocket watch — it wasn't even 11 yet. Since his gaming urge was in full swing, he decided to use the Reversion Mode for another traversal.
[Reversion Mode: By paying double Traversal Coins (minimum 20), you can choose to traverse either as a completely random or an existing character template. Time and location are both random, and the timeline may have been altered by previous traversals. Rewards remain the same — three in total.]
Opening the Reversion interface, eight selectable worlds appeared before him. With the discount applied, Mist-Lost London and Endless War only cost 14 Traversal Coins — but those didn't hold much value anymore. After a short hesitation, Zhou Ning chose Across the Seas for his reversion.
No need to say it — he had already decided to use his Oceanographer template for this one.
Not only did it align perfectly with his expertise, but strengthening his abilities was an urgent matter.
Zhou Ning's Oceanographer had impeccable control — easily rated S-level — but his attack power was lacking. He wanted to see whether he could make his Oceanographer learn the three types of Haki or perhaps eat a Devil Fruit. Only then could he unleash his full potential.
Moreover, the "Hall of Curiosities" in Across the Seas still had more than ten empty slots — a perfect opportunity to fill them. Two birds with one stone.
[Reversion preparing... -18 Traversal Coins]
[Please select traversal mode...]
[1. Traverse using random template.]
[2. Traverse using existing template.]
Obviously, option two! Zhou Ning chose it without hesitation and entered Reversion.
Whoosh!
More than twenty cards split into three factions and arranged themselves into three rows. Zhou Ning quickly located his Oceanographer card in the Justice faction — wearing a white trench coat and matching hat — and selected it for traversal.
The Oceanographer tilted the brim of his hat, eyes sharp and focused, as a bluish-purple phantom spirit quietly rose behind him.