CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 56: GIVE PLAYERS A SHOVEL, AND THEY’LL DIG TO THE EARTH’S CORE

Chasing Light City, outside the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

"Fluo, what were you thinking? You actually promised a 20% share. They’re all just at the Apprentice Level. Aren’t you afraid the old Gang Leader will have objections? This time, the old Gang Leader invited members from the Evil Wolf Gang and only promised ten Intermediate Apprentices 10%." Fisher, walking beside, expressed his confusion.

"That Lin Qi is too cunning. I didn’t expect their Gray-Clad Gang to actually have thirty Apprentice Level experts hidden." Fluo glanced at Fisher’s hands, which were torn in multiple places, and sighed, "But I don’t think this deal will be a loss. Even a basic Apprentice could hurt you. Even if the Gray-Clad Gang only had one such Apprentice, it wouldn’t be a loss for me, let alone getting thirty of them at once."

"With these thirty people, along with the ten Intermediate Apprentices from the Evil Wolf Gang, we from the Cyan Sparrow Gang only need to send out ten high-level forces. This way, we win big if we win, and not lose much if we lose."

"True." Fisher nodded, a bit regretful, "It’s just a pity about One Leaf Floating Cloud of the Gray-Clad Gang. After today’s battle, I’m afraid it will be hard for them to survive."

Fisher still admired One Leaf Floating Cloud. At least in the Cyan Sparrow Gang, no basic Apprentice could survive even one Scorching Moon move from her, and yet One Leaf Floating Cloud managed to injure her, which was simply incredible.

However, seeing One Leaf Floating Cloud’s condition, unless the Gray-Clad Gang was willing to pay a huge price, it would be difficult to save them, but no gang treats its members as expendable. The Gray-Clad Gang clearly would not spend such a large price.

"It is a pity." Fluo nodded, with a heavy gaze, "But this battle also made me realize that the Gray-Clad Gang is not simple. If that person were already an Intermediate Apprentice, today you might have lost. I also don’t know where the Gray-Clad Gang found such talent. If they have more of such experts, they might even threaten our Cyan Sparrow Gang."

"No way, just a few people, how could they threaten our Cyan Sparrow Gang?" Fisher couldn’t help but be surprised.

She knew very well the strength of the Cyan Sparrow Gang, and a few Advanced Apprentices couldn’t possibly be enough to compete.

"A few people indeed wouldn’t be enough, but the Martial Arts they used were of a high level, likely to be Quasi-Martial Artist Level Martial Arts." Fluo explained, "If the Gray-Clad Gang really has over a dozen Intermediate Apprentices mastering Quasi-Martial Artist Level Martial Arts, that’s equivalent to a dozen Advanced Apprentice power levels. Do you think, among outfield gangs, there are many with such Advanced Apprentice power levels?"

"Impossible, that’s Quasi-Martial Artist Level Martial Arts, not so easily learned. Just the teaching fees alone are not something an ordinary outfield gang could afford." Fisher completely disbelieved, as the higher the Martial Arts level, the higher the learning costs.

Just learning Apprentice Level Martial Arts Scorching Moon to a proficient level had already cost her over two hundred thousand, so learning Quasi-Martial Artist Level Martial Arts to proficiency was unimaginable in terms of cost, let alone having a dozen people learn.

Even if the Gray-Clad Gang Leader was an Instructor and waived the teaching fees, they wouldn’t be able to handle so many. The more advanced the Martial Arts, the higher the requirements for each detail, requiring hand-on-hand instruction from an Instructor, who couldn’t divide their attention to teach many, otherwise mistakes could be made, leading to irreversible consequences.

"Maybe I overthought it." Fluo chuckled, thinking he might have overthought it.

If the Gray-Clad Gang Leader really had that ability, they would have gone to live comfortably in the city center long ago, instead of running a gang in an abandoned area.

...

Inside the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

As Fluo and the others left, the Martial Arts Hall became incredibly lively, with everyone lining up to wait for the guidance from Instructor No. 1.

Previously, everyone wanted to become an Inner Sect Disciple by accumulating contributions, but now there was another way. As long as their skill level reached the fifth rank, they could become an honored Inner Sect Disciple.

And becoming an Inner Sect Disciple not only meant a change in status but also received a One-Star Black Obsidian Emblem awarded by Hall Master Lin Qi, symbolizing the status of an Inner Sect Disciple.

When everyone saw that emblem, which had a black dragon design, they couldn’t hold back anymore, even though it was just an emblem Lin Qi had bought online for five Bits; it was enough to drive all the players mad.

"Boss Yiyi, is this the emblem of an Inner Sect Disciple? It’s incredibly cool!"

"Not too bad, just too conspicuous when worn. If it weren’t for being able to receive 100 grams of rice cooked with Blood Essence Rice from the Hall Master weekly with this emblem, I wouldn’t want to wear it."

"Rice cooked with Blood Essence Rice? Is this game’s Blood Essence Rice even edible? Boss Yiyi, how does the Blood Essence Rice taste?"

"The taste is average, like the rice we usually eat at home, but compared to synthetic food, the texture is much better. Also, I heard from the Hall Master that eating this Blood Essence Rice can help improve physical fitness, like adding a small training buff."

"Damn! Does this game have such functionalities? Doesn’t that mean culinary professions will rise in power in the future? I’ve almost vomited from eating synthetic food these days. If not for being able to order different flavored takeout in the mornings at home, I wouldn’t be able to eat synthetic food at all."

"Does anyone here know how to cook? After becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, I can directly spend points to buy Blood Essence Rice from the Hall Master at a 30% discount of our selling price, and it’s already cooked. I want to make fried rice and rice balls so that I can eat at the mines when tired."

"Fried rice? That’s simple, I know how to make it. Do you have a pan, oil, salt, eggs? Oh, and fire."

"Oil, salt, eggs? I’ll ask the Hall Master if there are any for sale. As for the pan, we might find one in the abandoned buildings."

Following Yiyi’s becoming an Inner Sect Disciple and being able to eat Blood Essence Rice rice at a cheaper price, players who had been eating synthetic food were shocked.

They didn’t expect the game to have a lifestyle system. Not only can the Blood Essence Rice they grow be eaten, but it can also be made into fried rice, with the crucial benefit providing a training buff. Even though the buff effect is slight, it still provides a slight boost.

Especially since the Blood Essence Rice texture is quite good, making fried rice in Descent of High Martial, especially eating it by the mines, is extremely satisfying.

"You want eggs?" Lin Qi glared at Yiyi, "Why not ask for lobster while you’re at it? You might find some of what you want, but don’t think about it now. I can get oil and salt, but they cost points. A liter of cooking oil is five thousand points, and three hundred grams of salt is also five thousand points."

Oil and salt do sell in Chasing Light City, but at high prices, generally sold in downtown shops. However, since players need them, Lin Qi figured a fivefold markup seemed fairly honest.

Everyday life for vagabonds in the Abandoned Area and even residents living on the outskirts is difficult. Being able to eat synthesized food is considered decent. To think these players plan to eat such luxurious dishes like fried rice means this trend must be suppressed.

"That expensive?" Yiyi was dumbfounded too.

This making fried rice is more expensive than a feast in real life.

Just as Lin Qi was about to explain the costs in more detail, a dark man carrying an alloy shovel ran inside.

"Hall Master! Take a look at this, could it be useful for the Martial Arts Hall?" The blackened man, covered in mud, excitedly pulled a fist-sized blue-green mineral from his pants, almost shoving it into Lin Qi’s face, afraid Lin Qi wouldn’t see clearly.

"Ancient Bronze Ore?" Lin Qi, initially dismissive, stood abruptly at seeing its sheen. "Where did you get this?"

Ancient Bronze Ore isn’t just any metal ore; weapons and equipment purely made from it are A6 Level, and if mixed with other metal ores, it can forge B2 Level alloy weapons and equipment.

"I dug it up from over five hundred meters underground." The dark man rubbed his bald head and eagerly asked, "Hall Master, can this ore be exchanged for points?"