Chapter 17 - Warrior Seal Extraordinary Alliance

Xu Shu stroked his chin, clicking his tongue in wonder.

This Upgrade Drive, having opened the upgrade network, actually brought up a webpage that resembled a chat forum.

This was indeed a bit unexpected.

After all, in this era, anything involving “signals” had been utterly destroyed during the Great Catastrophe, along with smartphones, computers, and the like.

“Could this interface be like the Tai Chu Scroll, visible only to me?”

Xu Shu observed for a while and then, through a mirror next to him, noticed a difference.

Not the same.

Not at all the same.

The computer-like interface opened by the Upgrade Drive wasn’t just visible in the mirror but also had a real particle texture when touched; it truly existed.

Meanwhile, the Tai Chu Scroll he had also opened was ethereal and inscrutable, invisible to the naked eye or any device, perceptible and controllable only by him.

Compared like this, the Tai Chu Scroll seemed much more mysterious and private.

As for the upgrade network, it should only be opened when there was absolutely no danger, preferably when nobody else was present.

“So the Upgrade Drive is somewhat like a supercomputer.

Aside from being a tool to contain the Curse Seal, it also has chat and communication functionalities.

“Human Transcendent Alliance?

That’s just too much.

These days, ordinary people can’t even surf the web, and now you have to become a Transcendent first to go online!”

Xu Shu immediately realized.

This device might take some time for the people after the New Era to get used to, but to him, it was all too familiar.

If it were his previous life, at this point in time, he would probably be lying in bed browsing forums.

“And this identity is rather interesting… Gu Pan?

Female?

Is this his real name?”

Xu Shu’s mind conjured up the image of Gu Qian—fine skin, red lips and white teeth, slender legs, and waist.

Was he actually a she?

The disguise had been too good, even faking an Adam’s apple without leaving any flaws.

Xu Shu clicked his tongue twice, thinking that it seemed the Supervision Bureau had given each of them an Upgrade Drive that was individually registered with their identity information.

Regarding this real-name authentication, Xu Shu could only say.

“Are you kidding me?”

From that “identity verification correct” alone, it was clear that the Supervision Bureau had very little authority over the upgrade network.

They merely had the ability to “create and issue Upgrade Drives.”

Could it be that the Supervision Bureau was not the creator of the upgrade network, but rather had inherited this precious legacy left by the predecessors?

“Hmm, this is actually good news for me, at least I don’t have to worry about being officially charged because I took that woman’s Upgrade Drive.”

Xu Shu smacked his lips and then, extending his hand to the name, which was “Gu Pan,” clicked on it.

The next moment, he saw the Upgrade Drive on his chest slowly emitting light, as if an electric current passed through his body, giving him an involuntary shiver, followed by a bit of relief.

On the screen, he entered the personal information interface while a loading icon spun:

“Scanning your Curse Seal…”

“Detecting a dual-profession Curse Seal, conducting a deep scan…”

Buzz, buzz, buzz~

Suddenly, Xu Shu felt several more electric jolts within his body, the electric current drilling into his chest, moving back and forth, giving him a tingling sensation that made him urgently need to pee.

Having just bathed and not changed yet, he stepped to the sink, turning on the water and continuing to watch the upgrade network’s progress on the screen:

“Your Curse Seal information scan is complete.

You may view it in the personal information interface shortly…”

“You have activated the Upgrade Drive for the first time and may now select a form configuration feature once.”

“Form configuration: We recommend choosing a form that is easy to carry and suitable for hiding.

The Upgrade Drive will transform its shape and, once chosen, cannot be altered (Tip: For example, a ring, bracelet, earrings, necklace, glasses, etc., easy to carry and not easily lost).”

“Please note: in case of loss, you can report to the Astronomy Association for a replacement at your own expense for the first time; if lost twice, you will be listed in the 3rd-level alert list; lost three times, you will face Judgement Department trial, please be extra careful and cautious.”

“Astronomy Association?”

Xu Shu scratched his head, scouring his knowledge.

Nothing.

He didn’t know what that was.

“Please define your form…”

The cursor on the screen blinked, clearly a step like a newbie tutorial that couldn’t be skipped; he had to select a form first before returning to the main interface.

“A form, use a ring?”

Xu Shu thought it over but wasn’t satisfied.

If it had to be carried with him and not easily lost, and also needed to be hidden, the recommended options didn’t seem quite right.

Things like earrings and glasses were too easy to lose, while rings and bracelets seemed to scream “this item is special.”

To keep it concealed, the best would be something kept close to the body and not often taken off!

Xu Shu finished peeing, shook himself dry, and while looking down at his groin, an idea struck him.

“Well, if you talk about being concealed and not easy to lose…”

So he entered a command on the screen:

“Form customization: Men’s underwear!”

Buzz, buzz, buzz~

As he input the information, the Promotion Drive on his chest began to tremble violently, sending surge after surge of electricity through his body.

“Ah, ahh!”

This time the electric current was much stronger than before, lasting for several minutes and making Xu Shu’s hair stand on end before the screen finally displayed the message: “Physical form customization complete.”

Then the Promotion Drive clicked and changed, detaching from his chest and transforming into a pair of trendy men’s underwear, which fell into Xu Shu’s hands.

Its color was dark, the fabric felt great, soft and silky—perfectly fitting.

A luminescence flickered across its surface, a testament to its extraordinary nature.

The switch button for the “Promotion Network” interface was cleverly positioned on the front side; a deliberate forward push would quickly activate it.

It was a little trick Xu Shu had thought of, which would allow him to toggle the network on and off with just a slight movement of his waist while lying in bed scrolling through his phone, just as convenient as in his past life.

“Nice, not bad at all.”

When Xu Shu put on the “Transcendent Underwear,” he found it to be exceptionally form-fitting, soft and smooth—the most comfortable and high-quality underwear he had ever worn.

“Huh?

There’s something extra here.”

Opening the Promotion Network interface again, Xu Shu noticed a difference from before.

At the very top of the page, next to his account name, a new rank display had appeared.

“A First-tier Warrior?

What is that?”

“I remember there was a prompt earlier, saying I could check Curse Seal information in my personal information.”

Xu Shu clicked on

The screen shifted, showing something similar to a character attribute chart.

Details about the Curse Seal could be accessed by clicking on it:

*Talents: Mastery of Architecture, Spit Silk

*Talents: Thick-Skinned, Great Strength, Resoluteness

*Note: Dual Career Curse Seals are determined by the highest-tier entry deciding the final career.

“Thick-Skinned, Great Strength, Resoluteness, Spit Silk, these are the abilities I’ve gained…

What the heck is this ‘Mastery of Architecture’?

“Damn it, why do I suddenly feel the urge to go work on a construction site?

Is this the confidence that ‘Mastery of Architecture’ gives me?”

Xu Shu was examining the description of the Curse Seal on the interface and closed his eyes, feeling the knowledge that had appeared in his mind.

The knowledge was as if it had been directly poured into his brain, engraved deeply in his memory.

The “Character Panel” in the Promotion Network helped depict this visually, allowing him to see and express the knowledge clearly.

“Even though it’s a Dual Career Curse Seal, the abilities seem pretty plain and humble, no ability to shoot water or fire.”

Xu Shu clicked to return to the main interface.

This number conveyed to him a sense of power, as well as security.

There were so many human Transcendents, it seemed to be thriving—even in such a catastrophic apocalypse, humanity should be able to endure, as it always had throughout history, right?

After a moment’s thought, Xu Shu set his sights on the pinned newbie must-read and earnestly clicked it open.

——(Melanie, Fourth-order Dongxuan True Monarch)

Xu Shu understood that the name behind the designation was the rank and Curse Seal profession.

“Why would the thread creator, clearly titled Dongxuan True Monarch—which sounds Taoist—have a Western name?”

“A Western maiden Taoist?”

Xu Shu shook his head to clear the stray thoughts and focused on the newbie must-read.

It wasn’t lengthy, just a few lines as such:

*Newbies, you only get one chance to set your nickname; with each post, you can choose to use either your real identity or your nickname, which can help protect yourself.

*Only those above level 12 can post.

*Do not casually accept friend requests from strangers, and definitely do not join teams lightly, as Lie Zhenzi will share teammate locations in the team channel.

*If you encounter Transcendents with the following careers, act with utmost caution: Alien Species, Demon, Evil Spirit; remember, they are no longer human.

*Humans are in a very difficult situation, and safe zones are not absolutely secure.

If you want to survive, go fight monsters and level up—it’s not hard to find them, as they are everywhere.

*May Lie Zhenzi bless you.