Chapter 3: A Beauty Isn't Always a Woman

Chapter 3 – A Beauty Isn’t Always a Woman

Yang Shan cleared the Novice’s Secret Realm in 47 minutes (game time).

The previous record holder for the title of “World’s First Douluo” in his past life was Xiao Aotian, a member of one of the “Three Great Sects,” and the owner of the “Fallen Heart Flame.” However, Xiao Aotian’s breakthrough had taken one hour and twenty minutes.

After securing the Global Announcement, Yang Shan wasted no time lingering in the Novice’s Secret Realm. After all, once a player became a Douluo, the experience gains there would plummet dramatically.

As he clicked the button to exit the secret realm, a system notification popped up:

【Ding! Congratulations, player! You’ve perfectly cleared the Novice’s Secret Realm. The system rewards you with a Yellow Tier – Low Grade cultivation technique and 100 Spirit Stones.】

“Perfectly cleared,” Yang Shan scoffed.

Even the weakest players could stroll into the Novice’s Secret Realm, idle there for a month, and still receive the same “perfect” rating upon leaving. Sky Brilliance Co.’s planning department was clearly staffed with shameless flatterers, doling out empty compliments as freely as candy. But the effect worked—players loved the sugarcoating.

The game’s currency, Spirit Stones, had been overhauled from the original novel. While “gold coins” only existed in the early and middle arcs of the story (disappearing entirely after the protagonist Xiao Yan’s journey to the Central Plains), Spirit Stones served as a far more versatile medium of exchange.

Spirit Stones contained traces of pure spiritual energy. Players could consume them during “offline Afk cultivation” to accelerate their progress. They were also integral to alchemy, forging artifacts, and deploying formation arrays. Their design was a cornerstone of Sky Brilliance Co.’s strategy to regulate in-game economic balance, ensuring a controlled circulation of resources.

Players who lingered in the Novice’s Secret Realm could earn more Spirit Stones and even stumble upon Yellow Tier – Mid Grade cultivation techniques. But for Yang Shan, advancing to the Douqi Continent was the priority.

In its quest for immersion, Sky Brilliance Co. had deliberately withheld Storage Rings for new players in the early game. Thus, Yang Shan stashed his rewards—The Basic Thunder Scripture and 100 Spirit Stones—into his sleeve.

【Basic Thunder Scripture】

Tier: Yellow Tier – Low Grade

Requirements: 1 point Thunder Spiritual Root

Boosts Douqi Potency: +1

Boosts Douqi Capacity: +10

Clicking “Use” immediately triggered a system prompt:

【Ding! Congratulations, player! You’ve mastered The Basic Thunder Scripture. Due to your extraordinary talent and exceptional Enlightenment, your proficiency has reached perfection.】

Yang Shan remained unimpressed.

“All gimmicks—cheap tricks!”

A map of the Douqi Continent materialized before him. The currently accessible regions glowed faintly: Gamarra Empire (the starting point of the original protagonist, Xiao Yan), Yuncheng Empire, Luoyan Empire, and Mulan Empire. More areas would open later, but for now, players could only choose among these four as their “arrival zones.”

One region, however, stood out:

Wutai City, Gamara Empire.

In the original story, Xiao Yan’s clan, the Xiao Family, was one of Wutai’s three major noble houses. If players were given unrestricted choice, over half would flock to Wutai City. To prevent overcrowding, Sky Brilliance Co. implemented a lottery system. Success meant arrival in Wutai; failure meant random placement. Opting out allowed free selection of other cities.

Yang Shan dismissed Wutai outright.

Millions of players gambling for a spot? He'd witnessed the chaos firsthand in his previous life. Despite server diversion measures, Wutai's population had skyrocketed. Resources were limited—even with boosted loot, supporting millions of players was infeasible. Back then, he'd taken his chances, won the lottery, and still found himself struggling fiercely for basic monster drops.

Besides, he chuckled inwardly:

“What’s the point of going to Wutai when the Xiao Family isn’t even the same anymore?”

In this timeline, the Xiao Family had no Xiao Yan, no Xiao Zhan (his father), no Xiao Ding or Xiao Li (his brothers). The clan leader was now Xiao Yuanshan. Curiously, characters like Xiao Mei, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Ning from the original story had all retained their roles.

Sky Brilliance Co. had kept this twist secret until players raised questions a week after release, then announced:

“If there’s a Xiao Yan, he’s the protagonist. Without him, everyone becomes the protagonist!”

As for the original female lead, Xiao Xun’er, her in-game name had been altered to Gu Xun’er upon her debut—a controversial change that initially sparked outrage. Yet over time, the game’s intricate branching storylines won players over, turning skepticism into admiration.

Now, Yang Shan tapped the Gamara Empire on the map. Zooming in, he selected the northeast quadrant.

【Respected player Yang Shan, confirm selection of Gamara Empire’s Yunshuang City as your arrival destination.】

“Confirm.”

【Please close your eyes for teleportation.】

When Yang Shan opened them again, he stood before the towering gates of Yunshuang City, the northeastern hub of Gamara Empire, bordering the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

The Magic Beast Mountain Range had dominated the original story’s early arcs. It was there that Xiao Yan had met his two legendary companions—Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, and Xiao Yixian, the “Little Medicine Emperor.”

In this game, nearly every player in the northeast region would grow strong by conquering the range.

At the city gates, two banners flew prominently—one emblazoned with the surname "Chai", the other with "Pang." Much like the three rival clans competing for dominance in Wutan City, Yushuang City had long seen the Chai and Pang families locked in conflict. As the region’s foremost metropolis among five, both families were led by genuine Dou Ling experts—powerhouses of the game world.

Yang Shan inhaled sharply. This was his first hurdle after leaving the Novice’s Secret Realm: how to turn down invitations from the Chai and Pang families. Joining an Npc faction was a mandatory choice for every new player stepping into the game, Sky Brilliance. Aligning with a faction offered early advantages—exclusive quests, gear, and a foothold in the upcoming 1.1 update: "Clan Wars"—a patch set to plunge cities into factional chaos.

Approaching from the distance, a woman in red robes glided forward, her curves swaying with every step, her charm impossible to ignore.

"This humble one is Pang Yan. Young hero, your strides speak of a dragon and tiger’s might. Surely one as extraordinary as you has no plans yet? Might you grace this servant’s home for tea?"

[Ding! Player alert: Your exceptional talent has caught the eye of Clan Elder Pang Yan. You may choose to accept her invitation and join the Pang family’s ranks.]

Yang Shan retreated two steps, widening the gap. Pang Yan, a certified Great Dou Master, could flatten him with a pinky—his current level as a mere One-Star Douluo made resisting futile. He hesitated, knowing the Chai family’s emissary was already closing in.

"Don’t trust this venomous woman!" a voice chimed. A blue-clad beauty stepped forward, her sharp eyes softening as she regarded Yang Shan. "I am Chai Wenjing of the Chai family—the true first family of Yushuang City. We cherish those with rare talent. Might you honor us with a visit?"

[Ding! Player alert: Your potential has drawn the attention of Chai Wenjing, Chai Clan Elder. Accept her invitation to join the Chai family.]

Pang Yan scoffed. "When did the Chai become Yushuang’s rulers? Think, young man—she’s baiting you into a viper’s nest!"

"Says the woman who’s killed dozens with her own hands", Chai shot back. "I’m here to save you from her claws."

Both women were masterpieces of Battle Through the Heavens’ hyper-realistic engine—so lifelike Yang Shan could almost smell their perfume. One radiated fiery passion, the other icy sincerity, each tailored to tempt players into choosing a side.

[Ding! Special exclusive storyline triggered: "The Duel of Beauties." A choice here grants +5 goodwill with your selected faction.]

"Exclusive, my foot", Yang Shan thought. Every player faced this ‘event’ at launch. Goodwill points? Another trap. He’d seen too many male players hooked by Xiao Mei—the Xiao family’s alluring young cousin in Wutan City—who’d strung players along for months chasing a 50 goodwill rating.

No, his sights were set on Yushuang’s hidden faction: the Mithril Branch. Through it, he’d gain access to the Mithril Family—the Gamara Empire’s top-tier power. Joining either Chai or Pang was a dead end compared to that.

As the women bickered, Yang Shan slipped sideways, determined to escape. Pang Yan, sharp-eyed, intercepted him, draping her arm over his shoulder. "Leaving already, hero? Have I offended you?"

Chai lunged to intervene, only to stumble—Pang Yan’s subtle push sending her tumbling into Yang Shan’s arms. "My ankle… I can’t walk", she whispered, her voice a velvet purr.

"Ladies, please", Yang Shan sighed. "I’m afraid I’m not… interested in women."

A beat of silence. Then Pang Yan grinned. "Ah, a preference for men, then? No problem!"

A snap of her fingers, and two male Npcs emerged—one in white, refined and poised; the other in black, a mountain of muscle.

"Shit", Yang Shan muttered. "Even the female players get this choice? Muscle-bound hunk or pretty boy pup?"

The muscular man grinned, drawing a saber. "Brother, dueling today?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end