Chapter 23: The Consequences of Flaunting One’s Success

Tang Shen casually browsed through the posts. The thread owner was still energetically replying to comments, responding to every single one, his words brimming with pride. Especially towards those who flattered him, his replies were even more enthusiastic, full of affectionate terms. Tang Shen couldn't help but roll his eyes. This fellow called "I'm Not a Coder" really had a big heart—so naïve. All Tang Shen could do was silently mourn for him.

If he had a powerful background, a strong family, it might be alright. But if he was just an ordinary person, chances were he'd soon attract unwanted attention. Anyone could see that his responses to those wanting to buy him out were perfunctory; he was delighting in conversations with his admirers instead.

Suddenly, replies about him in the thread stopped. Just moments ago, he had been chatting enthusiastically with several people, yet now not a single new message appeared. Those people kept refreshing the page, asking after him. Tang Shen narrowed his eyes, noting the abruptness of the silence. No normal person would behave this way.

Yet Tang Shen didn't close the thread; he waited. After about two minutes, a new reply appeared: "I'm a bit tired today, so I'll rest for now. Let's talk again later." Upon seeing this, Tang Shen was instantly certain of his suspicions. He couldn't help feeling shocked—those people's speed was astonishing.

Indeed, there were no fools in the world. The families of genetic warriors must have prepared for this game long before it launched, perhaps even before the servers opened. After all, "War God" prophesied the future evolution of humanity—how could they not take it seriously? The information released through official channels was government-approved; those super genetic warrior families would have had no trouble acquiring such basic details ahead of time.

This thread had only been open for ten minutes, including all the chatting, and they had managed to locate him and get there in such a short time. Below the post, a crowd continued worshipping him, pledging fealty, truly believing the guy had gone to sleep.

Tang Shen only sneered coldly in his heart. This world was far from peaceful and safe on the surface; in truth, it was much more dangerous than his previous life. Resources always belonged to a select few.

...

Two minutes ago.

Fukang Residential Complex was actually right next to the old neighborhood where Tang Shen lived, separated only by a street. In one of the towers, a chubby, shifty figure sat before a computer, typing away with a smug grin. Despite his plumpness, his hands danced over the keyboard with the speed of a sprite.

Zhao Xiaodao, twenty-five years old, a programmer. Though the world was now in the era of apocalypse, as humanity's living space stabilized and expanded, some ordinary people with technical talent could gradually lead good lives. Zhao Xiaodao was an ordinary man, but a master programmer. His days passed leisurely, and he had a hobby: playing games, especially online ones.

The moment immersive online games appeared, they caught his attention. Even more so, the ability to synchronize strength with reality was tremendously attractive to him. Who wouldn't wish to become powerful?

Zhao Xiaodao harbored such desires. He had failed to awaken back then, which sent him down the technical path. Now, with this immersive game released, his old dreams rekindled. Since he already loved online games, his interest grew even keener.

On the day the official announcement came, he immediately found a way to order a gaming helmet. Upon logging in, his rich experience with online games made him habitually search for loopholes. After all, this wasn't like traditional games—it was immersive—so he looked for what he thought were flaws.

He discovered that the auto-play intro could be disabled, tried it, and thus became the second person to log into the game, earning a special reward. Especially upon realizing how rare equipment and skills were in the game, his excitement grew. He happily posted on the game forum. Whenever he played a new online game, he'd see others boasting and feel envious. This time, finally, it was his turn, though he was disappointed not to be first.

As expected, a crowd gathered to praise him, perfectly satisfying his urge to show off. As for those wanting to buy him out or recruit him, he wasn't foolish or desperate for money—why work for someone else? He replied perfunctorily and lost interest.

What attracted him most were the girls messaging him privately, chatting,