CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 4: EXPLOITING A BUG

"Did I overdo it?"

Fang Zhen looked down at the shovel on the ground, initially bewildered, then filled with regret.

"My big mouth!"

With over two thousand squat experiences previously, he had already gotten a sense of it, never expecting the NPCs to be this intelligent, not playing by the rules, forcing him to start accumulating experience all over again.

However, Lin Qi didn’t even think about what Fang Zhen was considering, his eyes directly sweeping towards the nearby man and woman.

"Your names and ages?"

"Twilight of the Gods, 19,000 years old this year."

"Wushang, 18 years old."

"Hmm, I like your honesty. Welcome to the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. I am your Hall Master, Lin Qi. According to the rules, if you wish to become honorable disciples of the Martial Arts Hall, you must prove yourselves. Now you can go over there, pick a shovel you like, and head to the small warehouse to the right. You’re on a timer for two hours and twenty minutes to dig out a 10 cubic meter space five meters underground."

Lin Qi nodded and jotted down the two individuals’ information in his notebook.

As Lin Qi was recording, Fang Zhen, who was about to leave the room, suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at Twilight of the Gods and Wushang with astonishment, his mouth agape as if discovering a new continent.

"You can play like this?" Fang Zhen looked at Lin Qi, who was diligently taking notes, feeling his intelligence being challenged.

Both Twilight of the Gods and Wushang were evidently spouting nonsense in terms of age, yet the intelligent NPC not only believed them but even awarded them the chance to pick their favorite shovel to dig, greatly improving the efficiency of their excavation.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you something," Lin Qi said, pausing as he observed the three heading to the small warehouse. "As the first batch of disciples recruited by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, you are also the inheritors to revive its glory. So the first to complete the proof will receive the Treasure of the Hall, the Shocking God Breathing Technique, to help you achieve higher accomplishments in martial arts!"

As if he were kidding, making it seem like everyone wouldn’t fall for it!

As Lin Qi finished speaking, the originally serene corridor turned even more silent.

"Treasure of the Hall? Did we trigger some special event?" Fang Zhen’s breath quickened a bit upon hearing that.

The Treasure of the Hall!

Just hearing it sounded complicated, and obtaining it would surely make him stand out when Descent of High Martial arrives.

"Based on my years of gaming experience, I think we triggered a special event," Twilight of the Gods adjusted his non-existent glasses, calmly analyzing. "But our chances of completing it are very slim."

"What do you mean by ’very slim chance of completing it’?" Wushang arched an eyebrow nearby, asking, "Isn’t it just the three of us competing?"

"This is where you’re wrong. The reason I say it’s impossible is entirely because this game is too realistic. Since entering the game, I’ve been observing it, from the feeling of the body to the dust visibly clear on the ground, there are no flaws or bugs to find. If it weren’t for you two being here, I’d almost suspect having crossed into another world." Twilight of the Gods explained without holding back, "With our physical capabilities being ordinary, let alone two hours and twenty minutes, even with five or six hours, it’s impossible to dig out a 10 cubic meter space underground."

"Does that mean we have no chance of getting the Shocking God Breathing Technique?" Wushang commented regretfully.

"No! We have a chance!" Twilight of the Gods said confidently.

"What chance?" Fang Zhen perked up his ears.

Two hours and twenty minutes to dig a 10 cubic meter space underground clearly seemed unreliable unless doubling the time was possible, or physical abilities dramatically increased.

But neither the first nor the second seemed possible, especially the second, since there’s not even a method yet known to enhance physical fitness. The only way is to complete the task first, making it an unsolvable problem.

"We team up!" Twilight of the Gods glanced at Lin Qi behind them with a smirk. "This NPC is really dumb, only following a set program. He even believed me when I said I was 19,000 years old, with no doubt or questions, which proves my point."

"Team up? How to team up?" Fang Zhen curiously asked. "But the NPC did say each of us should dig out a 10 cubic meter space."

Twilight of the Gods shook his finger after hearing this and pushed up his non-existent glasses again. "It said each of us to dig out a 10 cubic meter space, but how do you define ’each’? I just mentioned that this game is very realistic. If we three join forces, digging together in one place?"

"With the combined efficiency of us three, digging a 10 cubic meter space in two hours and twenty minutes is definitely achievable. As for obtaining the Shocking God Breathing Technique, that’s even simpler. I’ve already mentioned that this game is realistic. No matter who acquires it, once mastered, it can be taught to others, so we can all learn the Shocking God Breathing Technique."

"Whoa! In my life, I’ve never bowed to anyone, bro, you’re the first!" Fang Zhen was immensely impressed, his eyes opened to a new world, not expecting a 100% virtual game to be playable in such a manner.

"Alright! Let’s team up!" Wushang nodded in agreement, giving Twilight of the Gods another look. "By the way, let’s introduce ourselves, I’m from the martial arts game ’Pilgrimage,’ Vice President of the Celestial Might Guild, Wushang. If you’re interested in the guild, you can join us at Celestial Might. I guarantee at least core member treatment for you."

"Celestial Might Guild from Pilgrimage?" Fang Zhen was also stunned at Wushang’s self-introduction, looking at her in disbelief.

In this era of prevailing virtual games, the martial arts epic Pilgrimage, is a masterpiece with daily global online users reaching up to a billion. Even a second or third-rate guild in Pilgrimage boasts a market value exceeding 10 billion with over fifty thousand members.

As for the top guilds, they have market values over a hundred billion with member counts exceeding a million, comparable to some world-class companies, and Celestial Might is one of the five giants in Pilgrimage.

The core member treatment of Celestial Might can rival the top professional players of Mecha Continent.

"So it’s Sister Wu, a pleasure to meet you. If I ever think about joining a guild, Celestial Might would be my first choice," Twilight of the Gods was surprised as he looked at Wushang, simultaneously getting a new assessment of the game Descent of High Martial.

Pilgrimage, being a dominating force in the virtual gaming world, and not focusing on running the guild but coming to a newly launched game like Descent of High Martial, even recruiting in it, clearly signified Celestial Might’s high expectations for the future of Descent of High Martial.

As Fang Zhen, Twilight of the Gods, and Wushang conversed, viewers in the live stream were also left in awe.

"Combination Card BUG! They’re all set to pluck the NPC as greenhorns!"

"Gods’ Brother! Please accept my kneecaps."

"Awesome! Never would I’ve thought games could be played this way until now!"

"Quick! Who can let me in, I want in on plucking this NPC too."

Amid the crowd’s frenzied admiration and discussion, Fang Zhen, Twilight of the Gods, and Wushang made their way to the small warehouse. Together, they dug vigorously, filling their task with joy and energy.