As a 35-year-old programmer, Zhang Lei’s programming ability was quite good. He occasionally accepted outsourced jobs on the forum.

I’ll take this job. Xu Jingming scanned the forum and accepted a huge job.

Soon, the other party contacted him.

“Octopus, are you sure you can handle it?” The other party found it unbelievable. After all, Zhang Lei was an old user on the forum; he wasn’t known for being that amazing.

“I’ll give you the results in three days,” Xu Jingming replied.

“Tsk, tsk. You’re quite confident! Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

…

He temporarily didn’t tell his family about the failure of the investments.

He completed the outsourced job in three days! After the other party confirmed that it worked as advertised, he paid 30,000 yuan!

In half a month, Xu Jingming—who had lost his job—completed a few relatively difficult outsourced jobs. He was recognized as a ‘phenomenal’ programmer on the forum.

The circle of programmers could be considered very large but also very small! This was because there weren’t many ‘phenomenal’ programmers.

After he became famous enough, he received an invitation and successfully resolved a large company’s problem, receiving a ten million sum as prize money! Moreover, the large company even hired him with a high annual salary and gave him equity!

“Other than the 15 million annual salary, we have also included bonuses and shares into your remuneration package. We are sincere about inviting you, Mr. Zhang Lei. Our major shareholder came personally today because we value your ability. I believe that you will definitely be able to lead our company to greater heights!” The company’s chairman, president, and major shareholder personally came to invite him.

Zhang Lei’s wife watched this scene in disbelief. Was her husband that impressive?

Xu Jingming watched this scene.

Whoosh!

The illusion dissipated.

I’ve cleared the first level of the Life Illusion. Xu Jingming looked at the first level of the black pyramid and gained full clarity.

The first Life Illusion isn’t actually difficult. All I need to do is find the ‘key’ to the predicament and resolve it. For us explorers… we can easily resolve it with our super-strong information science abilities. Xu Jingming nodded. But if it were Zhang Lei himself, it would be difficult for him to resolve the predicament with his ordinary programming skills.

It was impossible for an ordinary person in every aspect to earn ten million after falling into such a predicament. It was only easy for explorers.

Zhang Lei himself can only reduce all his expenses and even reduce his children’s tuition. Moreover, he has to think of ways to improve his personal skills. When he’s capable, he can naturally find a good job in the programmer circle that depends on skill…

In a peaceful and stable world, having good skills was strength.

Those who were weak could only go with the flow.

Those who were capable could face all kinds of storms as though they were just a light drizzle.

…

Xu Jingming leaped up and reached the second step of the black pyramid.

The scene in front of him changed—it was still Earth!

It was an earlier period of Earth—wartime.

In a forest, 15 disheveled soldiers leaned against a tree trunk, drinking water and eating rations. All of them were in a daze, and Xu Jingming was one of them.

This rifle? Xu Jingming noticed the rifle at his feet and the bullets he carried on his back.

This outdated rifle was also a product of Earth from more than 100 years ago.

“It’s over. It’s all over.” A soldier revealed a look of despair.

“The enemy is pursuing us, and they might find us at any moment. Why don’t we split up and escape? Perhaps one or two can escape,” a soldier whispered.

Xu Jingming sat there and received the memories.

Now that the world was in chaos and the warlords were engaging in chaotic battles, as an enlistee under the defeated Marshal Sun, the remaining ten-plus soldiers fled into the forest while a large number of enemies remained outside.

Illusory words appeared in front of Xu Jingming—

Second Step’s Life Crisis:

Clearance Requirements: Escape the pursuit. Establish your own army in a year and occupy Wufang City (maximum strength and speed limited)

Xu Jingming thought for a moment.

“Split up and escape?” Xu Jingming immediately got up and looked at the surrounding soldiers. “Perhaps none of us can escape! Are you willing to die just like that?”

“What can we do? There are only a few of us,” a soldier retorted.

Xu Jingming said, “The Xifan Army has fought us for so many years, and we have a blood feud. The son of Xifan Army’s Marshal Pan died on the battlefield, and all our brothers who surrendered were executed! Marshal Pan only has eyes for revenge; he refuses to accept surrender. He wants to kill everyone, and he’s now pursuing us.”

“We won’t survive,” someone whispered.

Everyone had long lost their morale.

“Then, think of ourselves as dead.” Xu Jingming’s eyes turned red as he said, “We’re already dead. Let’s think of a way to fight it out! Every additional person we kill is a gain! If we’re lucky enough to escape… it’ll be a killing.”

“To be honest—” Xu Jingming’s eyes were filled with anticipation. “—I still want to return to my hometown, Wu’an! I want to see my mother again.”

“I want to go back too and visit my son. My son should be three this year,” a soldier whispered as tears streamed down his face.

“I want to go back too… Xiao Cui said that she would wait for me, but I can’t go back. I can’t!” a soldier cried.

Xu Jingming looked at the soldiers. “There’s no hope if we now give up, but if we give it our all, we might really be able to return to Wu’an!”

The soldiers looked at him.

“Back to Wu’an,” Xu Jingming said. “Back to our hometown.”

“Let’s give it another try.” A soldier picked up his rifle.

“If we don’t fight, we’ll die. Let’s fight it out.” The soldiers gritted their teeth.

…

Xu Jingming first united this group of people. He later gathered more fleeing soldiers to strengthen his platoon. While doing so, he probed his surroundings and finished off small enemy teams while he dodged the larger groups!