The golden wine liquid swirls in the cup.

"——Welcome, Lord Su Mingming, to the Wheel of Destiny, to jointly discuss the grand endeavor of breaching the World Tree."

In the hall, everyone bows to the sofa. They sweat coldly, showing considerable reverence for the person on the sofa.

On the sofa, a young man swirls the wine in his cup, deep crimson suit as somber as blood, adorned with an iron-gray tie clip, his lashes slightly drooping, holding a slender pipe in his hand.

"Hmm." His gaze is indifferent, yet carries a proper smile: "Where's your leader?"

Before him is a woman with a black hat, black mask, and only a hint of orange hair showing, she speaks muffledly: "The leader will be here soon... ah, the leader has arrived."

Ka-la.

The soft door makes a sound of opening, followed by the sound of leather boots landing.

A black-suited young man with blond hair and black eyes steps in, none other than the leader of the Wheel of Destiny, Wei Mo. He pauses, looking at the young man on the sofa.

"A newcomer, is it? Welcome to the Wheel of Destiny." Wei Mo looks at his subordinates: "Why are your manners so restrained?"

The subordinates stand trembling at the side, not daring to sit, showing extreme reverence to the young man on the sofa, unable to tell if Wei Mo is the leader, or if the young man on the sofa is the leader.

"Phew..." Ming takes a draw from the pipe, smoke swirling, the slender pipe slightly tilted downward, he smiles: "I just arrived as a newcomer, maybe your charisma is too strong, they only recognize you, not someone unfamiliar like me, so they tested my strength. But fortunately, everyone is sensible. I only gave a slight 'advice', and they realized I am a friendly person."

Seeing the terrified subordinates, Wei Mo's eyes deepen a little, and he shifts the topic with a smile: "Alright, it seems you are indeed friendly. Let's discuss the event that just happened. Ten minutes ago, the Dawn Goddess issued an Oracle——the World Tree has temporarily appointed eight Protagonist candidates."

"Oh?" Ming did not expect such a deep topic right after joining.

His disguised identity is a Minstrel, and Wei Mo surprisingly does not guard against him. Could it be that Su Ming'an's face is so trustworthy that anyone who sees it feels trustful?

Wei Mo invites him to a bright conference room. Seeing this, Ming puts away the pipe and blows the last smoke ring toward an unoccupied angle.

Wei Mo opens the door for him, his manner incredibly gentlemanly, speaking softly upon passing by: "Earlier you didn't drink any wine? That was my personal collection, a hundred years of fine wine from the Wine Brewing Tribe and Grape Tribe."

"I'm not accustomed to drinking secretions from other races." Ming says.

"What a pity... that was good wine." Wei Mo opens the door.

By the crystal-prism table, four people sit. Yongchun with curly blond hair, Eva with red hair draped over shoulders, an elder, and a middle-aged man with a beard.

Wei Mo invites Ming to sit at a position second only to the head seat, a treatment that makes one feel "flattered." These are the high officials of the Wheel of Destiny, yet Ming, as a newcomer, directly surpasses them.

Four scrutinizing gazes roam over Ming's face, Ming returns calmly, his bright and clear gaze causing the underlying resentful gazes to avoid one by one.

"The Mother's intention is that among the eight Protagonist candidates, only one will remain at the end." Yongchun plays with the hair fragments by her ear.

"It seems these eight people will become the stars of Luowasha, people will go all out to win the glory of riding the dragon. However, we don't need to choose sides, after all, regardless of who survives in the end, we will destroy the source of everything——the World Tree." Yongchun says with a smile.

"An eight-Protagonist melee..." Ming suddenly understands: "Oh, the Holy Grail War."

"What did you say?" Wei Mo looks at him.

"Nothing." Ming smiles.

He found it amusing that the World Tree, after being rejected by Su Ming'an, tries to dismiss him as a Protagonist and replace him with a newcomer. Among these carefully selected eight candidates, which one can compare to Su Ming'an?

A Protagonist requires comprehensive consideration of personality, wisdom, worldview, emotional intelligence, strength, identity, acuity, adaptability... he thinks it will be difficult for anyone to surpass.

"We don't know much about the situations of other candidates, but fortunately, the Hand of Destiny happens to have a Protagonist candidate." Wei Mo sells the suspense.

"Who is it?" Ming eagerly asks. These are eight people selected from the trillion lives in Luowasha.

"This person is currently studying in the Underground Kingdom, and to ensure her safety, I am arranging for subordinates to bring her to the surface plane to join me." Wei Mo says.

"May I know her name?" Ming asks.

Wei Mo smiles slightly, humble: "Her name is Wei Zi, she is my sister."

...Huh?

Even Ming, upon hearing this name, feels as if blasted by ocean waves, his expression immediately turning indescribable. Red, green, white, black, purple, you all really are... each have their own merits.

"Did not expect you to have a sister." Ming says with emotion.

"You? It seems you have met one of my unpromising brothers or sisters?" Wei Mo exclaims: "My eldest brother is too cautious and timid, hard to achieve great things. My second brother is too focused on intrigues, only dealing with matters unpresentable. My third brother idles all day, only knows poetry and moon-gazing. And my younger brother... whatever, let me not embarrass myself."

Ming catches the hint, chimes: "…So none of them can match you?"

Wei Mo's eyes flicker, still humble: "Words that leave room, maybe they have strengths that exceed mine."

Implied meaning is… yes, this is what he thinks.

Ming's eyelids droop slightly, still maintaining a friendly smile on his face.

"My sister's Golden Finger is... the Golden Carp Group Pet System. I'm unsure of the specific usage, but it allows her luck to always be favorable, making everyone who meets her gradually like her." Wei Mo says.

"Sounds powerful." Ming says.

"Unfortunately, according to the information we hold, this ability ranks low among the eight." Yongchun laughs aside: "The other seven likely possess abilities like Grandpa-in-a-pocket, Slice Boss Care, Perspective Treasure-Dragon-King System... whereas the leader's sister's ability is somewhat passive."

Ming realized.

...

——Luowasha's eight Protagonists' melee is essentially an eight-main-character battle representing different story styles, each possessing different Golden Fingers.

...

Grandpa-in-a-pocket, clearly a Fantasy genre setup. Perspective Treasure-Dragon-King System, clearly an Urban genre setup. Golden Carp Group Pet System, clearly a Farming genre setup.

Whomever emerges victorious not only demonstrates superior comprehensive abilities but also signifies the upcoming period when Luowasha will trend in the story style of the victor's genre. Since the World Tree slightly adjusts its savior script according to the Protagonist, people will flock like crucian carp to embrace the style of the Protagonist.

A period is a hotspot. When the Protagonist has this style, just a brush with this style allows people to take off by standing on the hotspot.

Using a more specific term—

Era Trend

After a few words, Wei Mo raises a glass: "Have you heard of the now-famous across the continent Lighthouse Jellyfish Su Liujin?"

Ming's eyes move: "I have heard of it."

"I suspect the original Protagonist should be him." Wei Mo says: "He lay dormant for sixteen years, emerged in one moment, cultivated the Sea Emperor, cleared the first stage in the Disciple Game, called Olivius by royalty, and recently met the World Master... If Luowasha indeed had a Protagonist who stirs the storm upon emergence, he would be most suitable."

Upon hearing the conversation deepen, Ming raised the lemonade before him, and politely said, "Since the World Tree is choosing a new host, perhaps Su Liujin has no intention of becoming the protagonist."

"What do you think, if he is the protagonist, what kind of abilities would the World Tree grant him?" Wei Mo tilted his head and asked, the black hexagonal earring beside his ear swaying lightly, "[Simulator]? [Medical Series]? [Unlimited Clan Conversion]?"

Ming thought for a moment but did not answer.

Wei Mo drank the wine in his glass, the edge of his lips stained with bright red, "I think... he already has an undying body, ordinary abilities wouldn't suit him. The World Tree would likely grant him..."

"[Time Retrospection], such an ability."

A warning bell rang in his heart.

Ming's fingers tightened slightly, his face remaining calm.

Wei Mo continued drinking, seemingly unaware of the earth-shattering words he had just spoken, "It's a pity... if he were the protagonist, I think he'd be more interesting than the others."

Ming glanced at the other four people, all of whom were very quiet.

Wei Mo turned his gaze to Ming's hand and noticed that the glass of water in front of Ming remained untouched, "Huh? You won't even drink lemonade? This isn't some racial secretion, I personally made it for you with lemons."

Ming smiled, "Thank you for the leader's kindness, I only drink plain water."

"Oh." Wei Mo nodded, slightly murmuring:

"What a pity..."

The next moment.

Clack, clack, clack—

Several golden chains suddenly emerged from Ming's chair, locking his wrists and ankles with a series of clicks, leaving red marks from their force.

Ming looked down indifferently.

"Minstrel Su Mingming... is that right?" Wei Mo stood up, and the other four slowly stood without movement, already showing a position of encirclement, surrounding Ming in the center.

"Yes, I am merely an ordinary minstrel, I wonder why you act so suddenly?" Ming smiled.

Wei Mo grinned, noncommittal, "Have you heard of the Dawn Goddess's prophecy in the Third Epoch?"

"Please, go ahead." Ming, though restrained, remained gentle in expression.

"[Fourth Epoch, red sun and frosty sky, myriad visitors, Demon Lord awakens...] " Wei Mo paced about, "It's an ancient prophecy, but I happen to have a record, and the image sent down by Her at that time... is your face."

"I see." Ming continued to smile, "No wonder you took me into the high-level meeting as soon as you saw me, you were afraid I'd run away. But you need not treat me this way, since you want to challenge the World Tree, even if I am the yet-to-awaken Demon Lord, we do not have conflicting interests."

He understood in his heart, it seems the Dawn Goddess prophesied Su Ming'an as the Demon Lord, but since he and Su Ming'an share the same face, Wei Mo mistook him.

Wei Mo walked in front of Ming, tilting his wine glass, the wine sliding down... yet the moment before it fell, he slightly lifted his wrist, the wine halted at the rim.

"Though I have many suits, if you really fall on me, I might still get angry," Ming smiled.

"So, I stopped," Wei Mo subtly pointed out, "… Can I hold back?"

"That depends on how you want to treat me. Your distrust is justified, but I advise against pushing me to the enemy's side," Ming said with a smile.

Wei Mo returned the smile. Having come this far, with influence spanning the Five Great Planes, he certainly had his own considerations. He trusted strength over the words of the Demon Lord. If he could control the Demon Lord's power...

"I am very curious about the color of the Demon Lord's heart," Wei Mo said.

"Are you still considering pouring the wine?" Ming asked.

"Without trying, how would I know," Wei Mo tilted his wrist.

Ming's face still held a smile, but the light in his eyes had grown cold.

——

...

At night, eleven o'clock.

In the cave, having slept for a while, Su Ming'an rubbed his eyes.

He had nothing to do the entire afternoon, he asked the cat to keep watch, and took a deep nap to replenish his spirit.

After waking, he used his wristwatch, Du, to surf the internet and learn about the outside world.

"Eight protagonist candidates... currently known are Wei Zi of the Hand of Destiny, and Mizushima Kawa Sora of the Death Arbiters," Su Ming'an pondered.

Seeing he had awakened, Xi Li brought over a leaf of clear water, "Drink some water."

Su Ming'an glanced at it, the water was refreshing, unlike ordinary water, "What is this?"

Xi Li whispered, "I just heard the voice of the World Tree... I seem to be one of the eight candidates."

Su Ming'an's eyes moved slightly, "What ability?"

"[Farmer's Spiritual Spring]," Xi Li said, "I have a little space where I can farm, it has spiritual spring water, drinking it can enhance talent and strengthen the body, also satisfying the appetite of many races..."

Su Ming'an was surprised.

Though this ability seems weak, likely among the last of the eight, it was very suitable for him. In the future, giving his teammates spiritual spring water to drink would prevent them from eating him.

He took a sip of the clear water, immediately feeling alert and clear-headed, it even had the effect of relieving the spirit.

"Is it tailored for me...?" Su Ming'an began to doubt. Was the World Tree doing it deliberately, specifically granting Xi Li this ability, slyly demonstrating the Golden Finger's strength to entice him to quickly abandon darkness for light and become the protagonist?

He looked at the task list, a casual glance, suddenly noticing—that the Ruler's Quest had changed.

The original [Question the World Tree, Understand the World Tree, Become the World Tree] unexpectedly turned into... [Kill the World Tree].

This was the first time he had seen the Ruler's Quest change. Perhaps it had to do with his rejection of the World Tree.

"Xiao Bai hasn't arrived yet?" He looked outside the cave, where it was quiet.

"No," Xi Li said.

Su Ming'an stood up and walked out.

The vast starry sky was like a painting, the galaxy stretching like a ribbon. The sky was deep, and he saw an expanse of endless green grass, the blades swaying with the wind, as if the earth gently breathed.

The Blue Moon cast its light, the leaves of the forest shimmering with silver, like the evening breeze whispering old stories in his ear.

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