Building a sect from scratch.

Chapter 15 The Art of Explosion

[Official Announcement for Version 1.1.2 of *Ten Continents Chronicles*]: [Thank you very much for your support. Due to server capacity limitations, we will be releasing 5 more beta test slots. These slots will be awarded through a lottery system. The new version's storyline, "Return of the Sect," will also be available. Maintenance will be performed from 07:00 on the 23rd to 00:30 on the 24th. During this period, you will be unable to log in to the game. We apologize for the inconvenience. (The actual update content is subject to change, and *Ten Continents Chronicles* reserves the right of final interpretation.)]

"This stupid game is doomed!"

Turning off the announcement that suddenly popped up in front of him, Wang Ergou grumbled and tightened the rope around his waist.

This is the third time everyone has tried.

While tying the players to the tree did have some effect, it wasn't very effective. The black tornado only took a few extra seconds before it threw both the tree and the players out.

The second time, at Zhao Qing's suggestion, everyone tied themselves to trees near Huang Gong Temple instead of cutting them down, thinking that this would prevent them from being blown away. However, it turned out to be completely useless—the several tree pits that were later exposed mercilessly mocked everyone's wishful thinking.

At this point, the task was basically impossible to complete, so everyone turned to researching the steam engine—this was Wang Ergou's obsession after questioning the game's excessive realism.

However, creating a steam engine by hand was no easy feat, so the four-person team's ambition shifted from making a steam engine to making a generator, and then, after countless steps, to making a light bulb. Of course, the actual result was that they only barely succeeded when they finally decided to make gunpowder by hand—if we disregard the power of the gunpowder they produced.

After successfully making black powder, everyone agreed to try the hidden quest again the next day, which was the fourth day after the server opened.

To this end, the four of them dug up spiritual plants and herbs that covered several kilometers around to sell, and then used the purchased materials to prepare tons of gunpowder. In Wang Ergou's words, "If we can't beat them, can't we at least blow them up?" and "I don't believe that we can't blow up that dilapidated temple and still not find the BOSS."

Indeed, anyone who spends three days relentlessly working on a single mission and still can't see the boss would start to lose their nerve.

Today is the fourth day since the server opened. It's said that there will be an update tomorrow, and five new players will be added. To prove the prestige of the "veterans," most players are diligently grinding for resources or meditating to cultivate their skills.

In reality, let alone meditation and cultivation, anyone who can sit still for more than an hour without touching electronic devices like phones or computers is a superhuman. But in the game "Ten Continents Chronicles," it is possible to do so, which is due to its unique "sixth sense" and "seventh sense."

The so-called "sixth sense" is somewhat similar to the popular concept on Earth, except that in this world it is called "spiritual perception," which means a "feeling" of one's own external foresight and warnings. The higher one's cultivation level, the stronger one's spiritual perception.

The "seventh sense" is completely different from the seventh sense in a certain religion on Earth, and it's not even called the "seventh sense." During her evening 8 PM sect lectures, Baili Shuang has repeatedly explained this concept; its real name is "inner awareness." The feelings people experience, such as fatigue or thirst, caused by their organs and physiological functions, are called "inner awareness." During cultivation, spiritual energy circulates within the body, cleansing the five internal organs, producing an extremely comfortable feeling—simply put, "it feels great."

This exhilarating feeling is comparable to the boost from dopamine, which is why players can sit still for a rare treat.

Just as some people despise fitness, while many others are addicted to the "comfort" feeling after exercising, cultivation is similar. Some players find sitting there circulating spiritual energy boring and tiring, while others thoroughly enjoy the process.

However, even though many players are engrossed in cultivation, Zhao Qing (Pig Rush Forward) still tops the player cultivation rankings. It is said that this is because the NPCs have a high level of affection for her and often give her private lessons. This is why she did not fall behind in cultivation even though she followed Wang Ergou and the others and did nothing for several days. This made many players extremely jealous.

At this moment, Zhao Qing was gathered with Wang Ergou, Han Tiaotiao, and the Jade Emperor, making final preparations.

"Let's do one last review. Old Han is fast. Go in and throw in the explosives, then throw the ignition talisman in place. If there's not enough time, then the Great Emperor will come. If we can't blow up Huang Gong Temple, I'll be the third one to rush in and draw attention. Second Senior Sister, use the speed talisman to try and get something out of there, OK?"

The group made a hand gesture, and Han Tiaotiao even subconsciously mimicked the classic skill animation of a character he often used in Saint's Glory, eager to try it out. However, the absence of that familiar spear behind him made him somewhat uneasy. "Alright, close the door! Let Old Han out!"

"roll!"

Following Wang Ergou's mischievous commands, Han Tiaotiao shot off like an arrow, rushing towards the stone temple.

He ran faster and faster, and at the same time, a familiar black gale gradually gathered in the open space in front of the stone temple.

By the time Han Tiaotiao approached the stone temple, the black gale had already formed a huge tornado, which swept towards him.

Then, Han Tiaotiao kept taking out oddly shaped paper packets from her game backpack and throwing them one after another towards the Stone Temple.

Some of the paper packages were not wrapped securely enough, and strange black powder was scattered all over the ground, but most of them were thrown around the stone temple, and two were even thrown into the stone temple.

This scene was naturally witnessed by Wang Ergou and his group, and they couldn't help but feel excited.

"Old Han truly lives up to his reputation as the fastest man!"

Wang Ergou started teasing in the team chat, and Han Tiaotiao couldn't help but shout it out in mid-air—

"Get out!!"

Because he shouted so fast, it sounded a bit like "quack," which made everyone laugh even harder.

The laughter and chatter didn't disrupt the four-person team's plans. Seeing that Han Tiaotiao's attempt to throw the fire-starting talisman failed, the Jade Emperor cracked his knuckles and said, "It's time for the Emperor to step in!"

"Your Majesty, it's up to you now! Close the gate! Unleash the Emperor!"

As Wang Ergou finished speaking, the Jade Emperor rushed out as well. He wrapped the flaming talisman around the stone and rushed into the stone temple from the side. Just as the tornado swept him into the sky, he threw the flaming talisman into the gunpowder pile.

"boom--"

With a loud bang, flames shot into the sky in front of the stone temple, and the sound of the explosion could be heard for miles. Even players who were chopping down trees nearby started discussing what had happened in the world chat.

Without being conservative, the explosive charges that Han Tiaotiao threw out at the time weighed at least 100 kg. Although the black powder produced by the four-person team was less powerful due to inaccurate proportions, the energy released by the explosion was still enough to destroy an ordinary two-story building, let alone this small temple built of stone.

Several thick plumes of white smoke shot up several meters high, like clusters of giant white mushrooms. The smell of sulfur from the explosion even quickly spread behind the bushes where Wang Ergou and Zhao Qing were!
(End of this chapter)