CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 5: THIS GAME IS TOXIC

In a small warehouse with only one light, the lamp flickered with the wind, illuminating two men and a woman diligently excavating a cave in the dark underground pit.

The two men took turns shoveling soil, while one of them quickly transported the dug-up soil to the surface. The three rotated every ten minutes to maintain the highest efficiency, never taking a break, akin to emotionless robots.

"This game is incredible, truly worthy of its 100% virtual reality. The soil we dig up is mixed with variously sized stones, and even the hardness of each shovelful varies. It’s a new experience every time."

"I really don’t know how the game developers achieved this. Only 4999 to experience this feeling, it’s totally worth it!"

Twilight of the Gods, while digging, marvelled continuously, completely conquered by the technology of Descent of High Martial.

"Yes, although this game is a bit tough at the start, its freedom is unparalleled." Fang Zhen nodded in agreement, "I initially thought this was just an RPG game. Who knew you could dig too? I wonder if we can dig all the way down. If we can, this game is really awesome."

"I don’t know. We still have too little data, and we’re not even clear about the world’s background." Twilight of the Gods shook his head slightly, but his eyes were full of anticipation, "But if this game can really keep expanding underground, it would be amazing. Give me time, and I’ll definitely build an underground city."

"Do you feel anything?" Wushang suddenly interrupted the conversation with a serious look on her face, "When we first started digging, I didn’t feel much, but now I feel a vague stabbing pain all over my body."

"Stabbing pain all over your body?" Twilight of the Gods looked at Wushang, who was returning with soil, puzzled. "I haven’t felt anything so far. Is there something wrong with this warehouse?"

"Do you feel something?" Upon hearing this, Fang Zhen found the remark familiar, and couldn’t help but look at Wushang with admiration. He had to admit that the vice-president of Celestial Might was indeed not comparable to regular players, and said, "I know this situation."

"Is there indeed something wrong with this warehouse?" Twilight of the Gods couldn’t help but stop his work and asked Fang Zhen with curiosity, "Brother Zhen, what’s going on?"

Seeing their earnest gazes, Fang Zhen paused and said with a smile, "It’s not a big deal, it’s just that there’s poison here."

"Poison?" Twilight of the Gods was speechless upon hearing it.

Being poisoned is not a big deal? They’re on a digging challenge task!

"No wonder I said it’s a bit difficult to mobilize my body’s strength; it turns out it’s poison." Wushang’s expression immediately relaxed upon hearing this.

"Um, guys, we’re doing a challenge task. If we die, we have to start over." Twilight of the Gods looked at the calm expressions of the two, suddenly feeling like the only normal person.

"Don’t worry about that." Fang Zhen explained, "The poison won’t kill us within the task’s time limit."

"Hmm, though the poison is potent, it can’t kill me in two hours and twenty minutes." Wushang nodded, "This game is really realistic. It generally restores my control over my body. Although I can’t expel the toxin, I can slow down its spread. Lasting half a day is not a problem."

After Wushang finished speaking, Fang Zhen and Twilight of the Gods looked at Wushang as if she were a monster.

Slowing down the spread of toxins in the body, can a person really do that?

The conversation between Wushang and her companions quickly reached the ears of Lin Qi, who was coming to oversee the work.

"Is this the gap between people?" Lin Qi took out a small notepad and turned to Wushang’s section.

Player Wushang, age 18 (self-proclaimed), physical fitness detected: strength 99 kg, speed 9.8 meters per second.

When players enter the Gao Wu world, the Martial Arts Transmission System conducts basic evaluations that can roughly reveal physical data.

The physical data detected for Wushang shows she’s just a hair away from Apprentice Level. Her martial artist talent is formidable, comparable to a middle schooler in this world.

It’s important to know that people in the Gao Wu world are different from those on Blue Star. They train from a young age, and schools teach basic Body Strengthening Techniques. Plus, city dwellers with formal status often give their children food or medicine to boost Qi and Blood. Their physical condition can’t be compared to people from Blue Star.

Despite the lack of resources from the Gao Wu world, Wushang is only a hair’s breadth away from Apprentice Level. Her martial arts talent is evident. This is why Lin Qi decided to give her the Fitness Breathing Technique as a reward.

The Gao Wu world isn’t peaceful, and neither is Chasing Light City. It’s hard to survive without strength, especially for someone like him who wants to open a martial arts hall.

With Wushang’s exceptional bodily awareness, calling her a little monster is not an exaggeration. She’s undoubtedly the ace strength of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, and naturally requires nurturing, even if he currently has nothing, he still has to show some gesture.

Two hours later, Fang Zhen and his companions ran excitedly to the training hall.

"Master Hall, we’ve completed it."

Seeing Lin Qi at the desk, jotting away without looking up, Fang Zhen and his team reported their task completion in unison. They were fully prepared to exploit a bug in Lin Qi’s system.

"Hmm."

Lin Qi responded but didn’t stop writing. After a while, he replied calmly, "You did well. You proved your potential. From this moment, you are formal disciples of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Here are three books on the Shocking God Breathing Technique. Take them. I hope they’ll aid your future."

After speaking, Lin Qi placed the three freshly copied booklets on the table in front of them. They were overjoyed at the sight.

"It worked!"

"This NPC is not very smart indeed."

"We can finally start training now."

Fang Zhen, Twilight of the Gods, and Wushang immediately flipped through the slightly wet-inked booklets, eager to see how powerful this hall’s treasure was.

Shocking God Breathing Technique (Upper Volume), the top-level Training Technique for Apprentice Level martial artists, divided into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower. It employs a special breathing rhythm to stimulate all the body’s cells for the most effective training, ultimately breaking the body’s limit to achieve martial artist status. (1 Martial Arts Hall Point required for upper volume, 10000 points for middle, 50000 for lower.)

"Upper volume?"

"1 point?"

After reading the basic introduction, Fang Zhen, Twilight of the Gods, and Wushang were all stunned.

They spent more than two hours, even exploiting a bug, while being poisoned, just to receive a book that could be exchanged for 1 point?

Is there really any difference from each person having one?

"Since you’re official disciples now, you can take on the martial arts hall’s daily expansion and planting tasks." Lin Qi glanced at the still-dazed trio, continuing calmly, "The expansion task rewards 1 point for every square meter of energy-rich area expanded underground, with priority planting rights on that land."

"The daily planting task costs 5 points to redeem a blood essence rice seed. Each submission of ten grams of blood essence rice rewards 20 points. Renting expanded planting land is 1 point per 10 days per square meter."

As the game planner here, do they think they can exploit his weaknesses?

If he can’t deplete them, he might as well concede!