CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 20: HE’S MASTERED THIS GAME

The morning sun slowly rose, casting rays of light into the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

Inside the Martial Arts Hall’s lounge.

Before Lin Qi could get up from the bed, ten figures were already standing at the bedside, ten heads surrounding the bed, twenty eyes staring intently at Lin Qi, silent but with tired and bloodshot eyes, filled with excitement and anticipation.

"You guys... are you planning to play some doctor game?" Lin Qi looked at the ten heads in his view, suddenly feeling that his insomnia of these days was completely cured.

"Master, the task you requested has been completed." Fang Zhen looked at Lin Qi, who had just opened his eyes, with eagerness on his face, "Now we just need your review."

"Alright, you seven newcomers report the counts yourselves." Lin Qi got up, his gaze sweeping over the seven newcomers drenched in sweat. Clearly, the seven were still not very accustomed to such high-intensity underground work.

"Do we report the counts ourselves?" Outer Gunman was somewhat surprised, "Is that okay?"

Although what they did was definitely under system monitoring, and normally it would never escape the NPC’s control, he had heard from Twilight of the Gods before that this NPC was a bit dumb.

If someone falsely reported the expanded area, and this NPC really believed it, then all their efforts from last night would have been in vain.

The allure of the two martial arts books that Lin Qi brought out this time was too great. Originally, everyone had agreed to perfunctorily handle Lin Qi, but it all fell apart, with ten people dividing into three teams, each with their own plans.

Especially the four other newcomers formed a team. All four were ordinary players, having played different virtual games before. They only pre-ordered Descent of High Martial because it claimed to be 100% virtual, and ended up being lucky enough to be selected.

Initially, these people wanted to follow the professional players, but with the appearance of the martial arts books, their ideas changed. They believed that even if the Mecha Squad and Pilgrim Squad obtained the martial arts books, it would be difficult to teach them to outsiders in a short period, especially since both squads had experts advancing rapidly in Descent of High Martial, making it even harder to catch up later.

Therefore, the four joined forces, and with one extra person, there was a high chance of securing first place, allowing them to learn martial arts one step ahead of the other two squads.

Because of this, the competition among the three teams was extremely fierce, with no rest for 12 hours. If anyone ran out of stamina, they simply died and resurrected, restoring their energy instantly. It could be considered a glitch abuse, albeit an expensive one.

Throughout the night, the three people of the Mecha Squad each died at least ten times, which was no small burden for these professional players.

If they failed to obtain the martial arts books in the end, they would have eaten their month’s worth of bread in vain.

"There’s nothing wrong with it. If the numbers aren’t true, it just means expulsion from the Martial Arts Hall." Lin Qi looked at the somewhat concerned Outer Gunman and simply smiled, "Alright, you seven newcomers report the counts."

Checking the area of Energy Land expanded by these players would be too time-consuming, and ultimately, no one would know better than the players themselves how much they expanded.

He just needed to wield his authority, and he believed no player would be foolish enough to miss out on this Descent of High Martial fast track.

And as Lin Qi expected, when the ten heard the word expulsion, their expressions became much more cautious, especially the seven newcomers who had just arrived.

Before entering Descent of High Martial, they thought it was just a game with high virtuality but pretentious. However, once inside, they understood.

This is a masterpiece! It’s bound to set the world on fire in the future!

Now Descent of High Martial is conducting experience tests, and these tests are said not to have any data wipes, meaning their achievements in Descent of High Martial will persist. It’s the best chance to surpass other players, and only a fool would miss it.

Then everyone started reporting their counts.

"73 square meters!"

"1 square meter!"

"1 square meter!"

"1 square meter!"

The members of the four-man team reported their numbers proudly, especially the leader, a youth full of aura and nobility named One Leaf Floating Cloud, who appeared younger than Twilight of the Gods, at most 18 years old, yet became the center of the four-man team.

"You expanded that much in one night?" Lin Qi, upon hearing it, was amazed.

Disregarding the energy map distribution problem, achieving 76 square meters of excavation in one night would normally be impossible. After all, Fang Zhen and others managed twelve or thirteen square meters after a night of hard digging. But the four in front of him were complete newcomers, each digging nineteen square meters overnight, which was simply superhuman.

As for the other three newcomers reporting one square meter each, it was likely out of fear that the task might not be completed, leading to punishment. Otherwise, all results would certainly be given to one person by the other three.

"Wow! How many times did they die?" Twilight of the Gods looked at the four-man team, feeling these people must be wealthy.

The only way to allow newcomers to dig nineteen square meters of Energy Land each in one night is to simply die when tired. This overnight death count would be at least twenty or thirty times, totaling over a hundred for the four people, equivalent to spending over a hundred 648s.

"Is this the power of money?"

Lin Qi, hearing Twilight of the Gods’ words, instantly understood, his heart full of shock.

The four-member team in front of him could actually use money to exploit the system bug. From some perspectives, these players were even stronger than professional players like Fang Zhen.

"Not bad, with such results, no wonder you disdain teaming up with us." Luo Wushang, upon hearing this, smiled, "Unfortunately, we will be the ones winning this competition!"

Zhang Qingwei also nodded, directly saying, "78 square meters!"

"That’s impossible!" One Leaf Floating Cloud looked disbelievingly at Zhang Qingwei.

To secure the martial arts books, he had them constantly reviving, which was, in some ways, the maximum expansion four people could achieve overnight.

The Pilgrim Squad was only three people, and even with masters, they shouldn’t surpass them.

"You spent quite a bit of time on soil transportation, didn’t you?" Twilight of the Gods couldn’t help but laugh.

"You... Could it be..." One Leaf Floating Cloud instantly understood.

In underground development, transporting soil was the most troublesome because there must always be one person, even two, to transport the soil. Otherwise, digging would be pointless.

"Unfortunately you arrived later than us. I previously dug a channel and found a large crevice deep underground, allowing us almost no need to go to the surface for soil transportation," Twilight of the Gods explained.

"I accept defeat without resentment," One Leaf Floating Cloud couldn’t help but admire Twilight of the Gods for exploiting Lin Qi, the NPC, so well.

"And what about you?" Lin Qi couldn’t help but glance at Fang Zhen.

Even though the result was already known, it was still a duty for him as an NPC to ask.

"I’m not good, only 1 square meter." Unstoppable Gunman shook his head with a smile.

"I managed 84 square meters," Outer Gunman revealed with a proud smile.

"84 square meters? How did you achieve that?" Twilight of the Gods looked in astonishment at Outer Gunman.

Even with Fang Zhen leading the Outer Gunman team, they couldn’t possibly dig faster than others, and he hadn’t shared his find about the large crevice with others.

"Not much, just luck. During digging, I accidentally uncovered a small tunnel, which wasn’t polluted and was abundant with energy, roughly 42 square meters," Outer Gunman laughed, "That tunnel doesn’t count as cheating since I found it. The rules didn’t specify personal excavation, just the expansion of Energy Land."

"Wow! How could you encounter something like that?" Twilight of the Gods was left speechless.

They didn’t lose to money, but to luck; resisting wasn’t an option. After all, the rules indeed didn’t mandate personal excavation.

"Alright, the rankings are confirmed. Choose a martial arts book," Lin Qi felt delighted, seeing an expansion of over 200 square meters of Energy Land in one night. This efficiency far surpassed outdoor planting.

"I choose..." Outer Gunman reached for Lin Qi’s martial arts books, trying to grab Shattering Stone Fist.

For a man, nothing is more enticing than an increase in strength.

"Gunman, don’t choose that, pick Leopard Shadow Step!" Fang Zhen hurriedly shouted at Outer Gunman, who was reaching for Shattering Stone Fist.

"Leopard Shadow Step?" Outer Gunman looked at Fang Zhen incredulously, unsure of his meaning.

"Are you dense?" Fang Zhen replied with mock exasperation, "What do you think is the most troublesome about our expansion?"

Outer Gunman, after a night of digging, instinctively said, "Soil transportation?"

"Exactly, all we need is Leopard Shadow Step to significantly boost our speed. Not only will this improve soil transportation efficiency, but we can also use it to train Leopard Shadow Step, hitting two birds with one stone. Don’t be foolish." Fang Zhen nodded knowingly.

"Right, why didn’t I think of that?" Outer Gunman suddenly realized and promptly chose Leopard Shadow Step, not giving Shattering Stone Fist another glance.

Lin Qi stood dumbfounded on the side.

Fang Zhen’s words were truly enlightening!

Invigorating!

This game truly was being figured out by Fang Zhen.