The Game of Global Mining

After wrapping things up with the Earth Flame Tribe, Chun once again took out the Azazel Badge to initiate teleportation.

The scene changed—not to the second layer of the volcano, but directly in one step to the long-missed splendid and majestic Cloud Palace.

Maria’s laughter echoed: "You’ve returned!"

Earth Lotus was also excited: "Mother Goddess!"

Uh... Last time you didn’t call me that. This teleportation change is still a bit hard to adapt to!

Chun stepped forward to greet: "Maria—"

Maria laughed and said: "What are you calling me?"

Chun corrected: "Dear! I brought gifts from the Earth Flame Tribe."

Maria was very pleased: "Good, come, sit next to me..."

Chun didn’t hold back, not only sitting beside her but also directly wrapping an arm around her waist.

Maria remarked: "The child was young before, but as they grow up, they’ll naturally learn their parents’ identity. I kept my identity secret because I’m working on a grand plan, including having you infiltrate the Demon Realm. Now it’s time to reveal our plan."

Chun felt incredibly thrilled: "Dear, please explain."

Maria said: "A thousand years ago, in that battle, God, Demon and Dragon were all severely wounded. The Emperor seized the opportunity, rose to godhood, and while the Demon Race was weak, he sealed the seventy-two pillar Demon Gods for his use. Among these seventy-two pillars, those ranking below the fiftieth pillar are mostly King-level and Dukes; they are the core of the Emperor’s Hell power. The top ten pillars are strong, Count-level individuals. After the war, the demon gods didn’t notice until hundreds of years later that infiltration had already reached a point where the Seven Great Demon Monarchs had to pretend not to see."

Chun was stunned: "Pretend not to see?"

Maria laughed: "Exactly, as long as both sides maintain dignity, everything can work out. Otherwise, it would be a big civil war within the Demon Race, and the Emperor wouldn’t sit by idly. He would surely seize the chance to rally the Divine Realm to wage war against Hell."

Chun was shocked: "Don’t the Seven Great Demon Gods have a plan to deal with those traitors?"

Maria said solemnly: "There is a plan. Since they can’t make a move internally, they can only strike externally. You’re a newcomer, a rising star, and you need to appear as an ambitious figure—start by challenging the 72nd pillar family, crumble them, and challenge all the way to the 50th pillar."

Chun’s scalp tingled: "Aren’t they all Divine-level?"

Maria said: "Yes, but dear you have acquired the Initial Tier Divine Format, Earth Lotus is also an Initial Tier deity, plus you established a Secret Sect gaining substantial Power of Nature support. You also have the backing of the Seven Great Demon Monarchs’ Azazel family. This is enough strength to stir things up. Moreover, gods need prestige; the more opponents you challenge and defeat, the higher your prestige, which will transform into faith and augment your power."

The higher the prestige, the stronger the power! Previously, this setting was encountered through bragging about gang skills, but now it seems this skill is fundamentally a Divine Skill!

Chun was still a bit puzzled: "Must I help the Demon Race deal with the traitors?"

Maria said sternly: "Yes, we must limit the Emperor! His ambition isn’t just confined to these two worlds."

Meaning, once the Emperor, this artificial intelligence breaks out of the game, it turns into a sci-fi movie legend, Celestial Net controlling humans?

Chun still asked the question he couldn’t figure out: "What’s your status in the Demon Race?"

Maria smiled: "Didn’t I take you to Cloud Cliff Villa last time to show you my status?"

Chun said awkwardly: "The villa number is 011, the 11th pillar?"

Maria laughed: "Because of humility, I stayed at the 11th number, but it’s actually the 9th pillar, the Paimon family. This family’s title is ’King of Principal Angels,’ so you see many Blood Angels; essentially similar to angels in the Divine Realm, just from different camps. Originally, my Paimon identity was controlled and sealed by the Emperor, but because I’m too familiar with the Emperor, I replaced them and pretended to be controlled and sealed. This enables me to know the Emperor’s movements firsthand. Even if my family notices I’m acting strangely, they’d only assume it’s due to the Emperor’s control, not knowing the actual family members have been replaced by me."

Chun was amazed, great strategy! No wonder the Earth Mother of Oak City needed a stand-in Liya.

Chun asked again: "Now the Black Dragon God hopes I go to the Void to fight for him. Do I have time to challenge the 72 pillars?"

Maria said: "The Dragon God’s action this time is actually permitted by the Seven Great Demon Monarchs, aiming to test the Divine Realm’s strength and attitude a millennium later. In my opinion, it’s not very meaningful for you; your focus should still be challenging the 72 pillars and even cooperating with my actions, as many industries of the 50 pillars are in the mortal world."

Speaking of true identity...

Should I mention the Emperor’s preference to recruit me? But, it’s not a good idea, right?

Like when I told Xiaoqin I stayed at Zhou Qing’s internet café, saying this isn’t advisable, is it? Moreover, it’s not fully confirmed if the Emperor values me, so let’s leave it out.

Chun remembered another matter: "I met another incarnation of yours in the Void—"

Maria shook her head: "Because this identity of mine is highly confidential and the link with other incarnations is very weak, I’m not very clear, but it should be fine."

As long as it’s fine.

Chun said: "I understand, let me get back to action then!"

Maria coquettishly hugged him: "No hurry, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, let’s rest for a while. I’ll help dear enhance your power!"

Ah! This... In front of the child, it’s not very appropriate, is it?

Chun awkwardly said: "Alright then!"

Maria waved her hand, the scene changed again, and Chun returned to the familiar Cloud Cliff Villa.

—System Notice: You have arrived at Hell’s third-layer city, Cloud Cliff. You’ve gained owning rights to Cloud Cliff Villa number 011. You’ve received a property attribute bonus, increasing your All Attributes by 60%, and acquired a Special Skill: Earth Series and Fire Series skill effects increased by an additional 20%.

Chun was surprised: "Dear, last time I only had usage rights, and my attributes were only amplified by 30%!"

Maria laughed: "Of course, that’s because your identity is different now. You’re my dear!"

So that’s the case!

At the time, I thought that 30% was impressive, but compared to the bonus of a regular apartment on the seventh layer, it didn’t create a huge advantage. Now it seems it was really because of permissions!

Maria led Chun to the swimming pool, waved her hand, and the pool once again transformed into steaming purple mud.

"Come in."

Uh...

Chun glanced around the cliff columns, feeling slightly uneasy: "Open-air? What if they see from the other side?"

Maria laughed: "Can you see inside the courtyard of the villa opposite?"

Chun was momentarily dazed: "No, I can only see the outline outside."

Maria: "Then that’s settled."

"Alright then!"

System notice: FBI Warning...

Chun wanted to idle, but this is his legitimate wife, and he must take it seriously. Better switch accounts, check Aileen’s side, and yes, patrolling as usual, all’s well.

Then let’s go all out, embrace love.