047 The Secret Ring Master

A few minutes later, Xiu Nan was transferred to a private ward. The nurse and doctor lingered for a while, reminding him not to move around, then left. The entire room fell quiet, leaving him alone. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, scattering patches of gold across the pristine sheets. The air was scented with flowers, a few yellow blooms arranged in a corner vase.

Xiu Nan lay on the bed by the window, squinting down at the grounds below. Outside was a courtyard enclosed by a white wall, and further still, ornamental trees flourished. Bathed in the morning sun, they radiated vigorous life.

This must be a sanatorium, for in the distance, two or three identical white buildings stood. People walked the paths, mostly doctors and nurses in white uniforms, with the occasional patient out for a stroll. Sometimes, greetings were exchanged and conversations sparked.

“This is a real world…” Xiu Nan reassured himself once again. “Right now, I occupy Kashu’s body.” He scrubbed his chin, feeling the stubble. “Character panel,” he thought silently.

Instantly, subtitles flashed before his eyes, displaying information identical to that of the extraordinary game on his computer. One entry caught his attention.

[Nine Lives Cat (9/9)]

“It’s still here… Thank goodness…” Relief surged through him, bolstering his confidence. Even though Xiu Nan knew he could return to the real world and was merely using Kashu’s body, he still wanted some assurance. Now convinced this was a true world, his curiosity grew boundless. A brand new, supernatural world held immense allure.

Moreover, after using the virtual helmet, Xiu Nan felt a far greater sense of immersion. He’d long wanted to experience superpowers firsthand—surely it would be thrilling! Unfortunately, he was confined to a hospital bed, his wounds not yet healed, unable to force himself into meditation.

He recalled the Heart of the Ring operation from earlier, having observed it closely. The lead surgeon seemed to have modified this body’s heart, carving strange lines across it and filling them with powder along the threads, finally leading out from the back and branding a mark.

Xiu Nan sensed that the Heart of the Ring surgery was connected to superpowers, though there seemed to be a distinct difference. “Perhaps they’re two separate systems?” As he pondered, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Mr. J’s voice.

“Knight, are you resting?”

“Come in,” Xiu Nan replied.

With a click, the door opened. In walked the bald Mr. J, accompanied by his beautiful secretary, Miss Rose—Kashu’s old friends. J wore a shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing muscular arms tattooed in black. He looked less like a tycoon and more like a street tough.

Beside him, Miss Rose was as dazzling and alluring as ever, dressed in a form-fitting skirt that accentuated her figure. Her long, taut legs in black stockings brushed together as she walked, high heels tapping a rhythmic staccato.

As soon as they entered, Mr. J said, “I heard the doctor didn’t give you anesthesia, and you woke up halfway through the surgery? Even told him not to worry and to keep going?”

“Actually, I’ve had issues with my brain since childhood…” Xiu Nan repeated the excuse he’d given the doctor.

“Whatever the case, being able to calmly watch your own guts being cut open takes guts,” J gave him a thumbs-up. “Also, you waking up mid-procedure is on us. A will send someone to speed up your recovery—your body should be healed in three days…”

Xiu Nan nodded, subtly turning his head to the left to avoid Miss Rose’s fiery gaze. She’d always been interested in Kashu, and now even more so—her thoughts seemed barely contained.

Ah, handsome men are popular wherever they go. Add the tough, rugged persona, and you’re sure to win favor with mature women.

The next three days, Xiu Nan recuperated in the sanatorium, unable to log out due to a system prompt. During this time, he met Mr. A and the ability users brought by A. Through their exchanges, he learned much about this world’s extraordinary powers, and the threads of understanding gradually became clearer.

If one were to summarize, it all comes down to a single word: Ring.

In this world, there exists a peculiar force permeating every corner of the planet, every breath of air. Human activity, every inhale and exhale, forms a cycle with it—a close contact. Yet this force is colorless, shapeless, invisible, and in most places extremely sparse, beyond the reach of ordinary people.

This force is called the Ring.

Ordinarily, life would have continued unchanged, but at some unknown point, certain individuals suddenly developed the talent to manipulate the Ring. From the moment they were born, they could sense its mysterious power.

As they grew, the force of the Ring gradually manifested. These people possessed extraordinary abilities, able to command elements of nature through the mysterious Ring and wield incredible powers: flame, lightning, flight, invisibility, and more.

These superhumans gradually formed an elite group, using their abilities in battles and conflicts. The destruction they caused made ordinary people suffer, and the strength of their powers aroused envy and ambition in others.

Thus, people began to study how to become extraordinary themselves. They wanted power—to counter these flying, earth-shaking superhumans, as well as the awakened mutant beasts.

Thus, the Ring Masters emerged.

They researched superhumans and mutant beasts, dissected bodies, searching for traces where the mysterious Ring power once resided. A path from nothing to something took shape.

First, ordinary humans needed an organ capable of sensing and absorbing Ring energy. Thus, the Heart of the Ring was devised. Ancient Ring Masters imitated the hearts of superhumans, reconstructing ordinary hearts.

Secondly, they needed an organ to release Ring energy. Through countless trials, Ring Masters identified several materials with exceptional conductivity for Ring energy, suitable as external organs.

For example: bronze wood, demonsteel, amber stone…

These materials were shaped into rings, embedded in the human back, creating a synergy with the Heart of the Ring.

In this way, ordinary humans could possess superhuman powers—able to sense the omnipresent mysterious Ring, and manipulate elements across the planet.

Thus, humanity gradually regained dominance, suppressing both the naturally gifted superhumans and mutant beasts. After all, the strong produced by a cultivated path far outnumbered those born with innate powers or among the beast ranks.