CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 45: LARGE-SCALE TEAM DUNGEON?

Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall basement.

After Lin Qi finished his self-introduction and the arrangement of newbie tasks, the newcomers and veterans present were dumbfounded.

"What’s going on? Weren’t we supposed to dig holes?"

"Why are we learning breathing techniques this time?"

"Are we really this lucky? We can learn the breathing technique for free right off the bat?"

For a time, the newcomers celebrated wildly, while the veterans felt a sense of betrayal. Back then, they had to dig for a long time before they could barely manage to learn the Shocking God Breathing Technique. Now these newcomers don’t have to do anything and can learn it right away. Indeed, comparison is maddening.

"This batch of newcomers is truly fortunate. No need to dig holes; they get to learn the Training Technique right off the bat," One Gun Overlord said with some envy while watching newcomers line up to register one by one.

Back then, in order to exchange for the Shocking God Breathing Technique, they even borrowed points from Fang Zhen, just to be the first to learn it.

"What’s there to envy?" Outer Gunman gave One Gun Overlord a sidelong glance, "Don’t forget, you came in a few days earlier. You’re now already a quasi-apprentice, and even the blood essence rice you planted spans nearly a thousand square meters. You also possess the Fixed Star Explosion Visualization Technique. Your progress is far ahead of these newcomers."

"The popularization of the breathing technique this time is likely due to the Hall Master aligning with the game’s progress to decide the subsequent tasks for players," Twilight of the Gods laughed, "It can be considered a benefit for newcomers. After all, those who entered earlier have an advantage, but there must be a chance for those following to catch up."

Other veterans nodded in agreement. The game needs to consider balance, especially since the experience test doesn’t wipe the data. It wouldn’t allow those who came in earlier to hold all the advantages; this is an unwritten rule of the game.

"Zhao Hu?"

Luo Wushang glanced at the crowd, spotting the tall figure over two meters in height, showing a look of surprise.

She had heard from Zhang Qingwei that Zhao Hu would definitely enter Descent of High Martial, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon. With twenty spots out of nearly ten thousand people chosen randomly, it wasn’t easy to get in.

Even among the twenty, only one person was selected from the ten thousand newcomers Zhang Qingwei arranged before, showing just how low the chances were to enter Descent of High Martial.

"Elder Zhao, did you pass the test?" Zhang Qingwei looked at Zhao Hu, who had just finished registering, with surprise.

Back then, she was chosen by luck, but even at that time, there were only over ten thousand people who could participate, and seven were able to enter the game. But now, with nearly a hundred thousand, there are only twenty spots, making the test the only way to get a higher probability of entry.

"No, I’m still short," Zhao Hu shook his head awkwardly.

He got in purely by luck and was stunned when selected. After all, he knew through test broadcasts and watching Fang Zhen’s live streams just how terrifying the potential of Descent of High Martial was.

The future second world for humans is not an exaggeration in the least.

Because of this, he stopped going to the headquarters and spent his days crazily challenging the test exams aside from handling other new games’ issues.

But even now, he could only hold on for thirteen seconds; the 20-second goal felt utterly hopeless.

"Elder Zhao coming in is really great; now our Celestial Might has an even bigger advantage in Descent of High Martial," Zhang Qingwei said with joy.

The inclusion of a Boxing Saint would place the Celestial Might squad in the absolute leading tier.

"Yes, but I don’t plan to act with you usually," Zhao Hu nodded and expressed his thoughts, "I plan to study the martial arts here thoroughly and then challenge the test again. I won’t truly start playing this game until I pass the test."

"Alright then," Luo Wushang understood after hearing that Zhao Hu was straightforward like that, and once vowed to pass the test, he would insist on it till the end; persuasion wouldn’t work, as each Saint in Pilgrimage was uniquely individual, "I have Leopard Shadow Step and Shattering Stone Fist here; you can take them to learn, but you’ll have to find a way to contend for the Visualization Technique."

"The Visualization Technique is special; it must be practiced while constantly looking at the visualization image. I can’t provide it, and exchanging requires a thousand points. Daily living and expenses also require points, which you’ll need to earn through tasks."

"Thanks." Zhao Hu took the two martial arts books and went upstairs to learn the breathing technique.

Meanwhile, Li Ranxing, under Fang Zhen’s guidance, also obtained the Leopard Shadow Step and Shattering Stone Fist, and joined the Mecha Squad, significantly enhancing its power.

Upon meeting Li Ranxing, both Outer Gunman and One Gun Overlord stared in awe.

The Mecha Continent’s national tournament’s sixth participant, who even defeated the third-ranked Blood Flame Gun Girl in the tour, was truly a top expert. With such a master joining, it wouldn’t take long before they might stand on par with Luo Wushang’s squad, the first tier.

"Captain Li, you must give it your all. The Visualization Technique is special and cannot be shared. Exchanging it requires a thousand points, and it might take ten days of repairing the Martial Arts Hall to earn a thousand points for a newcomer," Fang Zhen reminded him.

"Thanks, old Zhen, I will give it my all," Li Ranxing nodded.

He understood that securing the top newcomer spot would mean leading other newcomers by nearly ten days in one fell swoop.

As the newcomers started learning the Shocking God Breathing Technique, the veterans also all sat down nearby and began enhancing the Shocking God Breathing Technique.

The main line battle quest is about to start, and no one knows the physical requirements needed for the task, so even if they have to skip meals and sleep, they must desperately improve their physique, and can’t miss out on the battle quest.

For a moment, a strange sight appeared in the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s training ground, with a large group of people meditating in the empty Martial Arts Hall in the middle of the night, some bleeding from seven orifices now and then, while others coughed up blood, their faces overjoyed.

This made some passing vagabonds so frightened that they dared not approach the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, fearing they might be pulled in and end up bleeding together in celebration.

"Three days, only trying to improve as much as possible."

Lin Qi looked at everyone frantically studying the Shocking God Breathing Technique and felt very satisfied.

Although this time we are not confronting the entire White Feather Gang, we still have to face several squads of the White Feather Gang. As a gang that ranks within the top hundred in the wild, even the weakest members’ strength is almost apprentice level, and it is likely that real apprentices will oversee the hostage exchange this time.

Facing a group of near-apprentices and real apprentices, without enough near-apprentices to act as cannon fodder, even masters like Luo Wushang and Zhang Qingwei would struggle in confrontation.

Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, the third day’s sunset was slowly setting.

Lin Qi looked at the training ground with thirty players lined up and felt overwhelmed with emotion.

I have to say, once players commit, they’re really reckless.

For nearly three days, Lin Qi was baffled by the players’ thinking. Barely anyone logged off, or if they did, it was only to visit the bathroom or grab a meal, otherwise, they spent the rest of the time crazily honing the Shocking God Breathing Technique, or practicing the Shattering Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Step.

It wasn’t clear if it was a new batch of players with high talent, excellent financial resources, or the veteran players’ guidance made all the difference.

Each one somehow achieved over 15% in the Shocking God Breathing Technique; among the newcomers, two stood out, one being Zhao Hu, who clinched the top position among newbies.

Within just 12 hours, he made the Shocking God Breathing Technique achieve 9% entry-level, breaking through to become a near-apprentice physically. Hot on his heels was Li Ranxing, with 8% entry-level in the technique, and also reaching near-apprentice physical stature.

Even until now, both had broken through to over 30% in the Shocking God Breathing Technique, Zhao Hu achieved 32% entry-level, and Li Ranxing reached 31%—physically, they are stronger than many outside vagabonds.

Even more astonishing were ten veteran players, each exceeding 30% in the entry-level, notably Luo Wushang, Zhang Qingwei, Fang Zhen, and One Leaf Floating Cloud; possibly due to their Contemplation Technique, their Shocking God Breathing Technique broke through 70%, with physical strength exceeding 190 kilograms and speeds over 11.7 meters per second.

These four, in terms of physical stats, could be considered as extreme near-apprentice level.

But among everyone, Lin Qi gained the most, absorbing five times a day, fifteen times in three days, reaching an entirely new realm.

Host: Lin Qi.

Age: 25.

Permission Level: Level 1 preferential admission permission. (Upgradeable)

Martial Arts Level: Martial Artist Apprentice.

Strength: 243.8 kilograms. (Standard for near Martial Artist: 900 kilograms)

Speed: 13.6 meters per second. (Standard for near Martial Artist: 26 meters per second)

Martial Arts: Shattering Stone Fist First Layer proficiency 12%, Leopard Shadow Step First Layer proficiency 17%.

Training Technique: Shocking God Breathing Technique (Entry-level 96%)

Contemplation Technique: Fixed Star Explosion Visualization Technique (Entry-level 14%)

Player capacity: 30 (Currently limited to 30 online players by the host, current pre-booking number is 99527.)

"Now, in the wild I can be considered a master." Lin Qi looked at his panel, satisfied with the progress of the past three days, feeling somewhat surprised.

Originally, he thought achieving extreme near-apprentice level would be decent, unexpectedly, he directly advanced to become a real apprentice. Though only at a basic apprentice level, his status and position are now incomparable to a regular person in the High Martial world, joining those outside gangs, he could hold a middle management or small leader role.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Qi walked slowly to the announcement board in the training ground and pasted an A4 paper on it.

"Now releasing a temporary eradication task, the villanious White Feather Gang has kidnapped one of our important Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall companions. To rescue the companion and display the glory of our Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, any disciple with qualifying physical fitness can participate. If unclear, refer yourself to the task details."

Lin Qi paused, after posting the task, walked directly towards the tricycle, preparing for the final rescue operation.

"Damn! It’s really as the seniors said, opening up combat tasks against the main storyline antagonistic forces!"

"The physical fitness limit being the near-apprentice level is great news, three days of hard work weren’t in vain, now I can participate in this instance combat task!"

"Unlimited numbers, even weapon trials based on physical ranking, isn’t this a massive team instance?"

"Massive team instance? We newbies get spoilt from the start, right? Who wants to form a team, I’ve trained Shattering Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Step, looking for similarly skilled teammates, items will be equally split!"

"Fresh newbie here, strength at 120 kilograms, speed at 10.5 meters per second, have learned Shattering Stone Fist, need a M!"