I, the Rock King Emperor with 21 billion in power, have joined the chat group.

Accelerator (Avengers): @Avengers, @Golden Fairy, if you need my help, just use the mission card. No extra points are needed, and I'll come to your aid. I want to see just how powerful these so-called "Beasts" and "Gastrea" really are.

I am Subaru Natsuki: It seems that Accelerator has recently figured out a lot of things and no longer awkwardly calls himself a villain.

Ahead (One-Way Street): You've only just realized what you need to do, haven't you changed a lot, you useless NEET? Now you're drifting further and further away from being a useless NEET.

I am Natsuki Subaru: Hahahaha~~! Is that so? It really is because of Emilia's transformation that I went from a useless NEET to the Natsuki Subaru I am today. If I hadn't met Emilia, I don't know what I would have become.

Passing ahead (one-way passage): Hmph.

Zhongli (Zhongli): Subaru Natsuki, you don't need to underestimate yourself. You possess limitless potential. At least in my opinion, the fact that you've come this far despite the malice you've faced is due to the help of others, but your own efforts and willpower are the keys to your success.

Future Promising True Lord (Zhongli): Also, Accelerator. It seems you've found your own path. Constantly seeing yourself as a villain isn't the right thing to do. Facing the past correctly and facing the future correctly—that's what heroes do. At least in my opinion, you can be a hero now. That little girl called "Last Order" definitely considers you her best and greatest hero.

Passage Ahead (One-Way Pass): Hmph!

Promising Future True Lord (Zhongli): @Spider, Miss Spider, are you there?

Spider (???): I'm here, I'm here! I've always been here. Great Mr. Zhongli, what's the matter?

Promising Future True Lord (Zhongli): I'd like to inquire about the [Skills] of your world. I recall you mentioning that you met with a figure who appeared to be a deity in your world?

Spider (???): Oh, that guy, he was super handsome, I still remember him. He was wearing jet-black armor, and shortly after I killed the fire dragon, he immediately opened a portal and walked right in front of me. I was so scared, I almost banged my head on the ground.

Spider (???): Thankfully, a cell phone belonging to the higher-up, D, suddenly fell out in front of me and the armored deity, and then a familiar Japanese voice came from the phone.

Spider (???): Later, thanks to my clever and courageous communication, and with the help of the translator, the upper-level manager D, the armored man who seemed to be a god from the dragon lineage suddenly teleported away again. After the armored man left, the upper-level manager D told me a series of riddles via mobile phone, and then also teleported away again. I've returned to my peaceful life in the middle level of the great maze. How wonderful!

Spider (???): That concludes my only meeting with the higher-up manager, D, and the seemingly divine figure. Did this help Mr. Zhongli?

Zhongli, the Promising Future Lord: Thank you, Miss Spider, you've been very helpful. Could you describe your skills again? What does it feel like to activate a skill, and what does it feel like to upgrade your skills and your body?

Spider (???): Oh, that's a good question. Let me think about it.

Spider (???):.....

Spider (???): Where should I begin?

Spider (???): First of all, I usually learn skills because of what I do. For example, if I eat a strange insect and get half-dead from its blood, I gain [Corrosion Resistance LV1]. Or, if I kill a dragon, I get the title [Dragon Slayer]. Once I acquire a skill, especially a passive skill, my physical attributes will noticeably increase significantly, without any strange changes. I remember in older Jump manga, there were people who suddenly gained immense power but couldn't control it, but skills, as soon as they appear on me, I can release them naturally, as if breathing.

Spider (???): Oh right, you can also acquire skills by purchasing them with points. I remember my Demon King skill, and some other seemingly super powerful skills, were bought. It seems that as long as certain conditions are met, the skill or title will appear in your selectable list.

Spider (???): Hmm... As for the feeling of upgrading my body, it's hard to describe. It's probably like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Although the change was sudden, I was surprisingly able to accept it and react immediately. This is my body, and this is what I should do.

Spider (???): Some of the magic and detection skills are a bit mentally taxing. Using magic requires a series of prerequisites such as magic perception and magic manipulation, which makes it a bit difficult.

Spider (???): That's most of my thoughts. I don't know if it's helpful to you, Mr. Zhongli.

Promising Future True Lord (Zhongli): ......

Future Promising True Lord (Zhongli): Thank you, it was helpful. After reading your description, my interest has grown even stronger. Generally speaking, this kind of system must have a complex core, which is perfect for some of my ideas.

Future Promising True Lord (Zhongli): Miss Spider, do you have enough points to unlock the mission card? I want to go to your world and take a look.

Spider (???): Huh? ? ?

Chapter Ten: Spider-Man, Emerging from the Great Maze

Eluro's Labyrinth

upper layer

Lying on its back in the nest it had built, the slightly plump spider rolled over.

Her scythe-like forepaws naturally folded together, making a circle.

The screen of the chat group in front of her rotated a few times as she moved, always remaining naturally positioned in front of her eight eyes.

[-----Future Promising True Monarch leaves chat group-----]

The large text displayed on the chat group page made her pause and ponder for a long time.

----Hmm, Mr. Zhongli is interested in my world? Why? Is it because he's interested in the skill system?

Or is he interested in managing skills systems?

I don't understand, but since "one person's skill is limited, two people's skill is superior," come out, my parallel consciousnesses, come on, quickly help me imagine what Mr. Zhongli's purpose is.

Minister of Body: Here it comes! Speaking of which, Mr. Zhongli is the Rock Dragon, right? So the Earth Dragon monster we killed a couple of days ago, wasn't it one of his kind?

Minister of Magic: Foolish, foolish, utterly foolish. This is from different worlds! Can dragons from other worlds be the same as those in this world? I think Mr. Zhongli is definitely a Chinese dragon, like the dragon god Gao Longshen, and he can transform into a super handsome, tall man. Just like the characters in "The Story of Saiunkoku".

Minister of Intelligence: You bunch of idiots! I'm really worried. As a supreme deity, Mr. Zhongli's arrival in this world is bound to cause conflict with the higher-ups. What if their battle destroys the world? Just like how the Vortex Destroyer destroyed seven worlds, including the Fate world, with a single shot, wouldn't we suffer the consequences too?

Minister of the Body: Hehe, I don't think we need to worry. At worst, we can just move to another world. I've wanted to go to the everyday world for a long time, where I can eat rice every day and play many different games. Wouldn't that be much more enjoyable than now?

Minister of Magic: You idiots! We can only evolve in this world. If we don't evolve into spider ladies here, we'll really have to live as spiders for the rest of our lives! Even so, can you tolerate that?

Minister of Health: That's true, hehe!

Minister of Intelligence: Don't try to act cute on yourself, you idiot!

Minister of Magic: So, do we agree to Mr. Zhongli's request or not?

Minister of Intelligence: I vote in favor. Last time when we were almost in despair, we were fortunate to have the support of Mr. Zhongli and everyone in the chat group. It is only right to help Mr. Zhongli this time.

Minister of Magic: Yes, the Minister of Intelligence is absolutely right. A small act of kindness deserves a great return; therefore, I also vote in favor.

Minister of Health: Since everyone agrees, of course I won't object either. Let's just leave it at that. Mr. Zhongli is going to transfer 1,000 points to us. Each chat group can send out 200-point red envelopes every standard number of days, so it will take another five days for Mr. Zhongli to come over. What a long time!

Minister of the Body: But speaking of which, it's been three days since we killed the earth dragon.

Intelligence Minister: Yes, yes. It was an extremely tough battle. We thought about it for a very long time, and with a bit of luck, we finally achieved victory. Although, there was a slight emptiness after the victory.

Minister of Intelligence: The earth dragon Yabala is a formidable foe, but the satisfied look on his face at the end of the battle made me a little unhappy.

Minister of Intelligence: It clearly lost to us, yet its gaze held only clarity. It should have acted more like a defeated dog, filled with even more frustration, but instead, it displayed only the nonchalant acceptance of defeat after fighting with all its might.

Intelligence Minister: This guy really cast a shadow over our victory; even when we enjoyed the spoils later, they didn't taste so good.

Minister of Body: But this is a dragon, isn't it? I actually think this kind of earth dragon is truly noble. Although it's our enemy, I surprisingly don't dislike it.

Minister of Magic: Alright, alright, let's stop talking about dragons and talk about what we should do next.

Minister of Intelligence: Indeed, we should be doing something much more useful right now. Don't you think so, Minister of Magic?

Minister of Magic: Of course, I've been prepared for this for a long time. I still have the marks of those four people who came to the Great Labyrinth before. By following these marks, we can...

Minister of Intelligence: Then... hehe!

Minister of Health: Huh? What do you mean? What are your thoughts? Could it be...?

Minister of Magic: Is that it?!

Minister of Intelligence: We're finally leaving this dark and hopeless labyrinth!

......

Teyvat.

Ritsuki

The location of Zhongli's residence.

Today, Zhongli stood in the courtyard with his eyes closed, a sight he hadn't done in a long time.

He stood with one hand supporting a long spear, and all around him were scattered spears of various shapes and sizes on the ground.

He was practicing his marksmanship.

The phrase "the spear strikes like a dragon, or a silver bottle suddenly spills" perfectly describes this moment.

Every attack, every thrust, seemed perfectly executed, flawless.

At least Miss Guizhong, who was watching from the sidelines, felt that if she were to face such an attack, she would have no other way to resist it except by using stronger power.

The marksmanship honed through practice has reached a level of mastery that is almost divine, seemingly effortless yet brimming with the essence of killing.

"Whew~~~~!"

A wisp of white vapor emerged from Zhongli's mouth as he slowly sheathed his gun and stood still.

The small courtyard, which had just been shimmering with countless silver lights, suddenly fell silent, with only the occasional breeze ruffling the hair of Zhongli, who was as perfect and handsome as a classical marble statue.

"Zhongli, were your spear skills this good before? I remember before..." Gui Zhongru's long hair was also blown by the breeze. She asked softly with some doubt, "Well... you used to be like me, only knowing how to use elemental power and throwing it around randomly."

"After thousands of years and countless battles, one must know a few martial arts skills." Zhongli casually tossed the spear in his hand, and the ground trembled slightly. The broken spears that had been scattered on the ground and the spear he had just thrown away vanished without a trace.

"Some enemies only use the power of the elements, and it is impossible to defeat them."

Zhongli's voice was calm as he turned his gaze to Guizhong, a knowing smile playing on his lips: "However, in the last thousand years, as my power has become increasingly refined, I have forgotten how to use my own martial arts, and my skills have deteriorated considerably."

"In terms of skill alone, I'm definitely no match for Fu Hua and Xiao, who are masters of their craft."

"However, it's sufficient for many situations."

Gui Zhong smiled and made no comment on the matter.

After a moment's thought, she didn't hide her thoughts and asked directly, "Zhongli, you seem to be busy with some things I don't know about lately. Could you tell me about them?"

Zhongli had no intention of hiding what she had done.

He carefully considered his words for a moment, then said knowingly, "There are indeed some things I haven't told you, but it's not that I'm deliberately hiding them from you."

"If I really wanted to hide something, by general rationality, no one else would be able to detect it."

"That's true." Gui Zhong nodded slightly with interest, then asked again, "So what have you been busy with lately?"

“Hmm…” Zhongli pondered for a few seconds.

"It's not anything too important, just an experiment. Even if it fails, it won't have any impact."

"Well, as you should know, there's a 90% or higher chance that Fu Hua is the former Qing Li. Now that we've found her, although she hasn't recovered all her memories from the Qing Li era yet, the rest is just a matter of time."

"And because of this, the anxiety I felt has been greatly relieved."

"After that feeling subsided, I suddenly found myself with plenty of free time."

Zhongli then casually summoned the rock spear, which emitted a silver light. Although his expression was calm, one could still discern a trace of confusion within it.

The Rock King, who had always taken it upon himself to revive his beloved, felt a long-lost sense of motivation after his wish was fulfilled.

"So, is that why you've changed recently?" Gui Zhong blinked his bright eyes, which seemed to hold the stars.

“Of course not.” Zhongli put his hands behind his back, looking at the bustling and magnificent city of Liyue Harbor outside the courtyard.

"From a purely rational perspective, I am not a lazy person. So when I have some free time, I start to think about my future path."