Chapter 88

Chapter 088: Five Finger Realm

After finishing everything, Yan Cang initially planned to go online directly.

Then he remembered he hadn't written the relevant announcement yet.

After all, this was an important feature update; it would be too casual to not even have an announcement.

So he opened the Fate Net backend, ready to write an update announcement on the fly.

But as soon as he set pen to paper, he found himself in a bit of a bind.

The content of the announcement was simple—just explaining the addition of the visualization function, that users could obtain different spell techniques through visualization, and that it would consume Fate Points to use.

These straightforward statements formed easily in his mind and were effortless to write.

What really stumped him was something else.

That multicolored giant hand—surely it needed a proper name?

He couldn't just call it "Totem," could he?

That would be too perfunctory.

Yan Cang rested his chin on his hand, his gaze falling on that giant hand in the Fate Star Sea.

Each of the five fingers had a distinct color, while the palm was a deep, pitch-black, giving the whole thing an imposing and mysterious aura.

Several names flashed through his mind, but none of them felt quite right.

"This hand's main function is to grant spell techniques to those who visualize it..."

"How about calling it the Blessing Hand?"

Yan Cang muttered aloud, then immediately shook his head.

"Too ordinary, no presence at all—makes me sound like some benevolent saint handing out warmth."

"The six abilities also consume Fate Points to use."

He pondered for a moment, and a few more names popped into his head: "Hand of Fate? Hand of Destiny? Spell Hand?"

They felt okay at first glance, but on second thought, they seemed mediocre.

Then he thought of himself. "Cang's Hand?"

"If it weren't for the Personal Contribution Ranking exposing my name, that might have worked."

Yan Cang shook his head and shifted his approach.

"Five Finger Mountain? That's for suppressing monkeys—it has nothing to do with this."

"Might as well call it Five Finger Realm."

"Yeah, that's it."

After racking his brain and finding nothing more suitable, he simply gave up and settled on it.

Though it still sounded a bit casual, it was at least more refined than "Totem."

Plus, it could be extended—he could name the sub-areas Palm Realm, Thumb Realm, Index Finger Realm...

Simple and clear.

After convincing himself, Yan Cang dashed off the announcement in no time.

The content was concise, even crude, but he couldn't be bothered to polish it further.

By the time he noticed, it was almost three o'clock, and his stomach was starting to growl in protest.

Even though he'd eaten quite a few Life Fruits in the morning.

But with the Sword Nurturing Art—a major consumer—running constantly, the little reserves in his stomach had long since been digested.

No wonder ancient cultivators had Fasting Pills.

With that, Yan Cang went ahead and launched the feature.

Then he immediately switched to the Food Zone to pick up his meal.

—

On the other side.

Just after one in the afternoon.

Yu Jing was handling People's Union Association affairs when she glanced at the time and started monitoring the order status at the State Banquet Restaurant.

Not picked up yet.

Chief's lunch was delayed again?

The thought flashed through her mind, and an involuntary speculation began to form.

Based on previous experience, there is a synchronous relationship between Fate Net updates and the Chief's delayed meal pickups.

Especially around lunchtime.

From this, it's not hard to see that the new features added to Fate Net have some connection to the Supply Boxes.

This isn't some brilliant deduction.

It's simply because the Chief has never deliberately tried to hide this.

And if this guess holds true, it means that Fate Net will soon have another new feature going live?

Will it be a minor update like yesterday's? Or something more important?

Yu Jing thought to herself.

However, unlike yesterday, after she had this speculation, Fate Net didn't quickly send any update notifications.

Yu Jing didn't mind, assuming it was just a matter of time.

So she refocused on the People's Union Association's work, only sparing a sliver of her attention to wait.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Two in the afternoon.

Still no meal pickup.

Fate Net remained silent as well.

Yu Jing began to grow restless.

She set aside her current tasks and proactively asked the logistics personnel in charge: "Has that big client's pre-ordered lunch not been picked up yet?"

"Reporting, not yet."

After receiving this answer, her earlier speculation began to waver.

"Still busy? Or..."

Yu Jing recalled the Designated Transaction feature updated yesterday.

This feature addition did seem tailored for private transactions.

If the Chief had specifically updated it because of food from other channels,

Then the meticulously arranged eight State Banquet Restaurants here indeed risked being silently eliminated.

Even if they still held the order, that meal cost was nothing to the Chief.

This thought made her heart sink slightly.

Although she had already instructed each restaurant to try exploring the procurement and cooking of special ingredients, it had only just begun and had yet to show results.

If, during this time, the Chief had already been completely distracted by other channels...

This meant that the Special Task Force's only possible window to contact the Chief was gradually closing.

Yu Jing felt a surge of irritation.

The pleasant chirping of birds came from the forest outside, but she no longer found it melodious.

Time felt especially long in the waiting.

Over the next nearly hour, besides the logistics personnel's routine reports every five minutes, she proactively asked a few more times.

The order status remained unchanged.

Fate Net stayed quiet as usual, with no announcements, no hints of any new features.

At this point, Yu Jing couldn't help but open the Fate Net Forum, trying to find some clues.

The front page was as usual.

Discussions about Good Fortune Coin Chest Opening, analysis of price fluctuations, feedback on the People's Union Association's Rescue Team...

Nothing unusual.

Wait, Forest Clearing? Demon King Invasion?

Just as Yu Jing was about to close the forum, a trending post caught her attention.

This post had already been noticed by the officials last night.

But due to the unified statements from people in that area, it had to be set aside for now.

She had actually learned about the relevant situation before and had found many suspicious points at the time.

If those people had formed a community of shared interests to cover up a secret, why would they fabricate such an obvious tactic as saying, "This matter isn't important"?

And they were so certain, as if it were the truth.

Moreover, what benefits did those people gain?

What could have made them all change their stories in unison?

Thinking more carefully, with such a huge commotion happening now, aside from the changes within the Trial Ground itself, only the mysterious Chief could be behind it.

In that case, did the Chief pay them off to keep quiet?

As for the conspiracy theory that he might have been blackmailed, it never crossed Yu Jing's mind.

She didn't believe that the Chief, who held the Fate Net, would be a harmless presence.

After all, just the Good Fortune bestowed by the Good Fortune Coins was enough to put him in an invincible position.

Perhaps she should send nearby personnel to investigate!

Just as Yu Jing decided that the area might involve the Chief and resolved to spare no effort to get to the bottom of it, the Fate Net finally popped up with an update announcement close to three in the afternoon.

Shortly after, the relevant personnel also sent good news: "Food has been picked up."

Yu Jing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Good... it's not the worst-case scenario."

Her restless anxiety instantly eased.

Hmm, why did it feel a bit like a palace concubine waiting for the emperor to flip her name card?

She mocked herself.