Chapter 3: A Symphony of Stars and Blossoms
Bai Qinglai stood amidst the swirling virtual light, watching the countdown overhead. Only one minute remained until the official launch of Moon's Orbit. However, he was still facing a massive queue—he was currently ranked number 13,672, with an estimated fifteen-minute wait to enter.
Only now did Qinglai realize today was the actual launch day; he had assumed the game had been live for days. So many people... he thought, stunned by the sheer scale of the player base.
The white cat guide crouched elegantly in mid-air. Behind it, a fading ancient mural flickered into existence. In the painting, gods once resided above the nine heavens, demon lords commanded the depths of the abyss, and immortals soared through mist-shrouded peaks. It was a glorious era of peak power where all races coexisted.
"Thousands of years ago, this world wasn't called Moon's Orbit," the white cat said, its voice carrying a weight that seemed to transcend time. "Back then, the three realms of Immortals, Demons, and Gods stood in balance. However, some greedy souls among the Immortals and Demons sought to transcend the eternal threshold. They conspired to usurp the status of 'Gods' and launched a devastating war that lasted centuries."
With a flick of the cat's paw, the gods in the mural fell, and the demonic abyss collapsed.
"The result was catastrophic. The God and Demon realms were utterly destroyed, lost to the dust of history. The Immortal realm nearly crumbled, and the Human realm was reduced to scorched earth. Only a handful of simple mortals without cultivation survived." The cat turned, its sapphire eyes locking onto Qinglai. "A millennium has passed, and as you can see, the world's spiritual energy—Qi—is reviving. People have built homes on the ruins, and the forgotten cultivation techniques are slowly resurfacing. These are what players now know as 'Sects'."
The guide waved a fluffy paw, projecting a grand 3D map into the virtual space. It was like an unfurling ink wash scroll, lighting up the five top-tier sects known to all players: [Heavenly Sword Sect], [Guixu Island], [Hundred Flower Valley], [Tang Clan], and [Nether Hall].
"The world of Moon's Orbit is set in the 'Age of Hidden Divinity'," the cat cleared its throat, sounding like a professional narrator. "It is an era where the Immortal path has yet to fade, and Demonic Qi is just beginning to stir. As a 'Child of Destiny,' you will choose one of the five sects to study under, learn their techniques, and ultimately decide the fate of this world."
Five brilliant icons lit up on the map, representing the available classes:
[Heavenly Sword Sect]: Radiant sword energy, trading blood for blood. High burst damage, but requires close-quarters combat.
[Guixu Island]: Manipulators of ice and water. Ranged control. Elegant, but with an extremely high difficulty ceiling.
[Hundred Flower Valley]: Using lutes and petals as mediums. Healers and protectors. The most popular "Support/Healer" sect.
[Tang Clan]: Traps and mechanisms. Stealth-based. For players who love harvesting enemies from the shadows.
[Nether Hall]: Commanders of ghosts and spirits. Robust physique. The sturdiest tanks in any party.
Qinglai sank into thought. He immediately crossed out Heavenly Sword Sect and Nether Hall. Are you kidding? He was the guy who set his pain sensitivity to 10%. The idea of brawling with multi-armed monsters or standing at the front as a meat shield was horrifying. Even at 10% pain, the psychological pressure of being crushed by a monster was too much.
"If I want something less exhausting but still viable in this world, what do you suggest?" Qinglai asked the cat.
The cat's eyes twinkled. "Given your hidden attribute [Friend of All Creation] and your raw Charm of 98, [Hundred Flower Valley] is actually your best fit. NPCs will have an incredibly high affinity for you. When you play your lute, even the tigers in the dungeons might be too charmed to bite you."
Qinglai imagined himself holding an elegant zither, gracefully coasting at the back of a battlefield. He nodded, liking the mental image.
"Plus," the cat leaned in and whispered, "the sect uniforms of Hundred Flower Valley are widely considered the most ethereal and gorgeous in the game. Perfect for finding a romantic partner! Don't forget your seven-day deadline!"
Qinglai snorted, choosing to ignore the last sentence.
"Then I choose—" Before he could finish, the screen began to flicker unstably.
[Warning! Detection: Player possesses UR Attribute [Intertwined Branches]. Scanning for hidden matching Sect...]
"What?" Qinglai was stunned.
In the center of the map, a previously dark corner suddenly glowed with a faint purple light. A sect name that had never appeared in any official promotional material slowly emerged.
[Detection: Unique UR Attribute [Intertwined Branches]]
[Hidden Condition Met: Revival of Divinity]
System Notification: Player "Bai Qinglai" has triggered the Divine Sect lost for a millennium—
[Mount Lingxi · Star-Weaver].
Description: The stars are but chess pieces; karma and reincarnation lie at your fingertips. Train not the body, nor the sword, but Fate itself.
"Whoa, so this is your real trump card," the white cat stared at the screen, its tone becoming feverish. "Star-Weaver is the only spell-scaling ranged class in Moon's Orbit. Your attacks aren't based on Strength, but on your 'Inspiration' stat."
As the cat spoke, Qinglai felt his right palm grow heavy. He opened his hand to find a silver bell levitating above his palm.
"This is the 'Silverstar Astral Bell'," the cat explained. "If you choose Hundred Flower Valley as a cover, it will hide inside the jade flute provided by their uniform. When you need to fight, it becomes your spell amplifier. A Star-Weaver's range far exceeds traditional mages. If your dice rolls are successful, you can call down meteors from afar to crush your enemies."
Qinglai tapped the notification on his panel, opening his first skill:
[Star-Weaver Skill 01: Astral Verdict]
Type: Ranged Magic Attack (Range scales with mental strength).
Cost: Small amount of Spiritual Power.
Effect: Summons a beam of starlight to strike the target.
Passive: Complete Star-Weaver class quests to unlock further skills.
"This is bad... I just wanted to relax... Now I've triggered some crazy hidden sect! Oh my god!"
"The pressure is too much!" Qinglai wondered if it was too late to quit, but the cat interrupted him.
"Don't give up! You can do this! Just enjoy it, no pressure~"
"Sigh... so am I the only one with a hidden sect?"
"Oh, not necessarily. It's based on probability. You won't be the only one with a hidden quest, but for now, you must keep your secret. If you don't reveal it to others, you'll be granted sect techniques later for easier cultivation. According to the data, if you leak it, the hidden quest and class might be revoked."
"So, currently, all other players can only choose the 'Immortal' sects?" Qinglai asked.
"Exactly, because that's the only heritage humans can currently grasp." The cat jumped onto his shoulder, its tone turning sly. "But in this early stage of Qi revival, you are the only one who has touched the remnants of the Divine Realm. Remember, those people out there are looking for 'opportunities,' but you—you are the miracle."
Looking at the five "Immortal" icons on the map, Qinglai's feeling of being scammed was replaced by a spark of novelty.
"Three minutes until launch." The cat clapped its paws. "First, you need to choose an 'Immortal' sect as your cover. To the public, you'll be just another cultivator. No one will suspect you hold a 'Divine Class' that vanished a thousand years ago."
"Then it's [Hundred Flower Valley]." Qinglai looked at the elegant icon of the healers. Since he needed a cover, being a quiet male healer was the safest bet. Besides, his 10% pain tolerance made him steer clear of anything involving physical brawling.
[Ding! Player "Bai Qinglai" has selected cover sect: Hundred Flower Valley.]
[Detection: Player possesses UR Attribute. Successfully awakened lost Divine Heritage: Mount Lingxi · Star-Weaver (Sealed).]
Qinglai looked down at himself. His plain starter clothes transformed in a burst of white light into an ivory-white silken robe. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with pale pink petal patterns—ethereal and compassionate. A white jade flute hung at his waist. Yet, Qinglai could feel starlight flowing beneath the inner layers of the robe—the heritage of Mount Lingxi guarding his vitals.
"Both tutorials will run simultaneously," the cat reminded him. "In the village, you'll learn the Hundred Flower Valley way of healing. But in private, I'll guide you to find Star-Weaver quests. To the world, you are just an ordinary healer."
"I get it. Lay low, make money, and..." Qinglai sighed, "...fix that 'Romantic Bond' problem within a week."
At that moment, a massive countdown appeared in the virtual sky: 10, 9, 8...
"Are you ready, Player Bai Qinglai?" The cat's eyes shone with excitement.
"Ready." Qinglai gripped the jade flute at his waist. Even though he had dialed his appearance down to an "ordinary" 35, the innate elegance in his posture made him stand out like a quiet lotus in a crowd.
3, 2, 1!
[Welcome to — Moon's Orbit.]
With the tolling of a grand system bell, the scene before Qinglai shattered into a thousand peach petals. When he opened his eyes, he was standing at the entrance of a bustling village. The air was thick with the scent of reviving Qi, and countless players in starter gear were materializing from pillars of light.
And so, the clean-cut youth hiding a "Divine Gift" officially stepped into this world of variables and opportunities.
As the bell faded, Qinglai found himself in the starter hub known as "Peach Blossom Village." Unlike the empty forest from before, this place was instantly packed with thousands of players, running around and shouting in excitement.
Qinglai stood at the crossroads, watching them rush about like headless flies, and rubbed his temples in resignation.
"Meow. Player, pay attention." The white cat had transformed into a semi-transparent pendant hanging on Qinglai's shoulder. "Don't forget your [Friend of All Creation] attribute... and your dual-guidance mode is now officially active."
Two different navigation arrows appeared in his vision. One was a soft green "Hundred Flower Valley" guide pointing toward the kind medical officer in the village center. The other was a deep, ink-blue "Mount Lingxi" guide pointing toward a nondescript pile of rubble at the village entrance.
"What is this now?" Qinglai whispered.
"Hundred Flower Valley teaches you how to live in the public eye; Mount Lingxi teaches you how to control destiny behind the scenes." The cat smiled mysteriously.
Just as Qinglai was about to walk toward the medical officer, a frantic woman carrying a bamboo basket—Auntie Wang—rushed toward him. She ignored the crowd of players trying to flirt with her and grabbed Qinglai's hand, her eyes shining. "Oh my! Young man, you look so kind-hearted. You must be a compassionate healer! Here, take these Ganoderma fruits I gathered and give them to the Old Village Head. He's been ill for so long; he needs a bright child like you to check on him!"
[Ding! NPC Auntie Wang's favorability has maxed out. Gift received: [Ganoderma Fruit] x10.]
[Triggered Hidden Hundred Flower Valley Tutorial: [The Village Head's Chronic Illness]. Deliver the fruit and help him with a massage.]
The surrounding players exploded: "Are you kidding me?! I spent ten minutes talking to her and she told me to go shovel manure, but this pretty boy gets spirit fruit the second he shows up?"
Qinglai walked toward the Village Head's house under the murderous glares of the crowd. However, as he passed the pile of rubble, the cat on his shoulder jumped. "Now! Turn right, step on the 'Qian' position, and touch that cracked stone. Quick!"
Qinglai reacted instantly, his body moving on instinct. The moment his fingers touched the stone, something changed—the noisy crowd seemed to freeze, and an ink-blue array unfurled beneath his feet, visible only to him.
[Ding! Hidden Class [Star-Weaver] Newbie Guidance activated.]
[Detection: Karmic Fluctuation. Player, please perform your first 'Fate Roll'.]
Qinglai's right palm grew warm as the jade dice pendant automatically appeared in his hand.
"This is how Star-Weavers gain Inspiration in the early stages," the cat whispered excitedly. "See that muscular player shouting at you? He was just about to steal your spirit fruit. Don't use your hands—throw the dice and determine his 'Misfortune'."
Qinglai looked at the thuggish-looking Rogue player sneaking closer. He took a deep breath and tossed the dice into the void.
[Roll: 18 (Critical Success!)]
[Result: Karmic Exchange. Target player will suffer 'Tripping' and 'Equipment Damage' for the next five minutes.]
A second later, as the Rogue's fingers brushed Qinglai's sleeve, he suddenly slipped. Thud! He face-planted onto the stone pavement. Even worse, his starter cloth armor let out a loud Rrip! and tore into shreds right in the middle of the street.
"Pfft—" The crowd erupted in laughter.
Qinglai had already pocketed his dice and walked into the Village Head's house as if nothing happened.
The Old Village Head looked at Qinglai entering the room, his sickly eyes actually tearing up. "Good child, you carry the scent of the stars that vanished millennia ago... Only you can bring out the true spirit of this heirloom: [Lingxi Breeze Robe] (Purple/Superior)."
Qinglai accepted the robe, looking at the dual rewards on his screen:
[Hundred Flower Valley Reward]: Purple/Superior Armor, Starter Medical Manual +1.
[Mount Lingxi Hidden Reward]: Inspiration +2.
"What is Inspiration? And could the others see what I just did?" Qinglai was still a bit dazed.
"A temporary barrier space was opened; they couldn't see a thing. To them, you just stood still for a second. Your movements were too fast for them to catch anyway."
"Inspiration is your Star-Weaver experience and combat power. Collect as much as possible to unlock more skills."
Listening to the cat's explanation, Qinglai realized this Divine Class was more powerful—and more dangerous—than he had imagined. After delivering five Ganoderma fruits, he massaged the old man while calculating in his head. If the crazy players outside find out about this hidden class, they'll probably hunt me down like a walking treasure chest.
Qinglai felt the faint flow of light from the purple robe he was now wearing, his heart racing.
"Can others see this purple glow?" he asked, worried about being a target.
"Don't worry, only you can see it. To others, it looks like standard Hundred Flower Valley starter gear. The glow will fade completely in a minute."
Relieved, Qinglai finished the massage and prepared to leave, but the Village Head insisted he sit for tea. "Good child, listen to me... when I was young..."
Qinglai tried to say goodbye several times, but the old man's enthusiastic gaze stopped him. He sat through thirty minutes of the old man's life story, maintaining a polite, if slightly awkward, smile.
The pressure... this NPC talks way too much... He cried silently.
Finally, the Village Head slapped his thigh and laughed. "Ah, it's been a long time since anyone was willing to listen to me. Here, take this map. Go to the back mountain to search for century-old herbs. There are 'encounters' to be found there!"
[Ding! Side Quest Triggered: [Search for Century-Old Herbs].]
Qinglai was floored. "Wait, a side quest already?"
"That's the benefit of 'listening to your elders'," the cat said, wagging its tail smugly.
Looking at his quest log, Qinglai sighed and bid the old man farewell. Gripping his jade flute, he headed toward the medical officer to complete the main quest he was supposed to be doing.