The Fourth Disaster: People become gods through high martial arts and gaming

Chapter 223 This batch of freshmen is pretty fierce.

"They dug the hole for half a month, and finally let me in."

"The floor and the walls are so realistic!"

"The game's technology is amazing! The pain of hitting the wall feels exactly like it does at home. It seems those people were right, this is definitely a paradise for fighting game enthusiasts like us. The price is absolutely worth it. Shall we go outside and fight monsters together later?"

"I saw online that there are a lot of delicious foods in this city. Are we going to go and take some photos later?"

……

Five hundred novice players crowded into the basement of the martial arts hall, all filled with curiosity and excitement about the arrival of high-level martial arts. Some players even formed small groups to discuss what to do and where to find excitement.

The veteran players who had just logged in were amazed by the crowds, noting that more and more people were joining the game.

Previously, there were at most around a hundred people, but this time there are five hundred, doubling the number of online players. This will make the competition in the game even more intense.

"Five hundred people logged in at once, it seems a lot of top players from the gaming industry have joined this time." Zhang Qingwei looked at the many familiar faces among the newbies and couldn't help but smile. "I never had the chance to spar with these people before, but now I can have a good competition in this High Martial Arts Descent."

Looking at those familiar figures, Zhao Hu's eyes were also filled with excitement.

Because the great masters who entered the High Martial Arts Descent this time are not only from some of the major guilds, but also many from other masterpieces.

Let's not even talk about the top players from the pilgrimage; you can at least have a chance to fight them in the pilgrimage. But it's different with the top players from other masterpiece games. Apart from meeting them in some game invitational tournaments, they have no chance to fight each other at all, since they don't play the same game.

However, many gamers and gaming media outlets often rank them, even creating lists of top gamers based on their actual performance, the number of players, and their influence in the game.

Experts like him and Zhang Qingwei, and even other saints in Tianwei, couldn't even make it into the top 100 of these game master rankings.

Among the Heavenly Might, only Luo Wushang could barely squeeze into the top 100. As for the guild leader, he was excluded from the top 100 because he was too old and hadn't fought for too long. Everyone felt that his strength was definitely not as good as it was at his peak.

The arrival of "High Martial Arts" has attracted so many masters from other masterpiece games, which has made the competition more intense, but it has also given them some anticipation. They can compete with these masters whose names they have only heard of before and who they have never fought.

“That’s normal. After all, the game’s testing and assessment has already gained a great reputation in the industry. To this day, no one has been able to last twenty seconds.” Lu Fanchen explained from the side, “After one expert after another failed, it gradually aroused the curiosity of many top experts from other masterpiece games. I’ve heard that the number of top experts who have tried to challenge the testing and assessment has exceeded fifty. And that’s just what everyone knows. There are probably many more who don’t know.”

"I've heard about this too," Fang Zhen said. "Currently, several players from the top 100 of this year's gaming pros have already tried to challenge it, but unfortunately, they've all failed. Some gaming media outlets are even directly using the test and assessment as a ranking factor for next year's gaming pros list."

"No way, it's just a test, and they're using it as a ranking factor? Have these gaming media outlets gone mad?" Yi Ye Fu Yun exclaimed in surprise.

The annual ranking of top gamers is arguably the most discussed topic among players. Many fans of these top players are extremely dissatisfied with the ranking, since they are from different games, so why should their idols be ranked lower than top players from other games?

His idol, the leader of the Sky Travelers, Huang, was only ranked twenty-seventh, which he simply couldn't stand.

Although those experts ranked above Huang are all recognized legends, he does not think that Huang is below them.

“I think it’s fair to use tests and assessments for ranking,” Ye Qinglu agreed. “Although the test and assessment is just an assessment, it is highly virtual, probably the same as in the game ‘High Martial Arts Descends.’ It will also realistically simulate the physical qualities of the person. In addition, it is purely a test of skills. It is of great reference value as a ranking measure of technical strength.”

“That’s right.” Fang Zhen also explained, “Many game media outlets, as well as players who have participated in the test assessment, believe that the test assessment is very suitable as a reference. Therefore, more and more expert players from other games are thinking of taking the test, and it is becoming increasingly popular.”

"No wonder there are so many experts among this batch of newcomers." The gunslinger from beyond the Great Wall couldn't help but marvel at the many newcomers who had appeared on television programs.

Although he is now a formal member of the Blue Rose team and has a considerable reputation in the game Mech Continent, he is definitely a top player.

However, compared to the experts who appear on TV shows from time to time, their level is far inferior, especially those top experts who are no less than Luo Wushang, Zhao Hu and other saints.

With such a large group of people appearing before us, it's practically like an All-Star game in the virtual gaming world. Just thinking about the competition ahead is terrifying.

Keep in mind that the current High Martial Arts Tournament only has a total of one thousand players, but this gathering includes more than one hundred stars, and the number of experts whose fame rivals that of Chen Ya and Li Ranxing probably exceeds thirty. This is several times more terrifying than the National Mech Competition.

Looking at Ye Qinglu, whose expression had suddenly turned solemn, Yi Ye Fuyun asked curiously, "Sister? Is there a problem with those newcomers?"

Ye Qinglu was looking in the direction of a dozen muscular men, most of whom were unusually young, around twenty-five years old. Moreover, their sharp aura clearly didn't resemble that of players.

The dozen or so people were huddled together, but because the basement was so crowded and noisy, it was impossible to hear what they were saying.

"It's nothing." Ye Qinglu regained her usual composure, smiled at the newcomers, and said, "I just didn't expect that these professionals would come to play games."

"Professionals?" Yi Ye Fu Yun looked at the dozen or so muscular men with some confusion.

“Yes, professional combat maniacs.” Ye Qinglu didn’t hide anything and said directly, “If I’m not mistaken, they are likely space mercenaries.”

"Cosmic mercenaries?" Upon hearing this, Yi Ye Fuyun looked at the dozen or so muscular men with disbelief. "Why would this group of people come here to play 'High Martial Arts Descent'?"

In this era of space exploration, there are many enterprises and companies that develop various planetary resources. Naturally, these planetary resources will attract the attention of unscrupulous individuals in the vast universe.

Because of the emergence of these criminals, the mercenary industry, similar to security companies, has gradually sprung up. It can be said that the profession of mercenary is a genuine profession where one lives on the edge of a knife every day.

It's hard to imagine that such a group of people would come to play High Martial Arts Descent.

"They're probably training new recruits." Ye Qinglu looked at the dozen or so muscular men. Although they were full of vigor, they still lacked a bloodthirsty aura. She guessed, "The virtuality of High Martial Arts Descent is 100%, which can maximize the experience of these mercenaries on the battlefield. This is something that other games don't have."

"This game is getting more and more complicated." Looking at the dozen or so muscular men, Yi Ye Fu Yun couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

It's one thing for a group of professional players to be involved in the game, but now a bunch of people from outside the game have come in to join in. This game is simply unplayable.

And all of this was pretty much as Ye Qinglu had guessed. A dozen muscular men gathered together, and when they saw a lean man about the same age as Fang Zhen appear in the basement, the dozen muscular men all went over to him.

"Instructor, a total of one hundred people signed up this time, and 17 of us made it in," a young man full of courage reported.

“You don’t have to call me instructor here. Just call me by my ID, Dark Judgment, or you can call me captain.” The lean man glanced at the trainees who came in, quite satisfied. “Seventeen out of a hundred people made it in. It seems your physical fitness is pretty good this year. You can actually compete with those people who spend their days figuring out how to dig holes.”

"Captain, what are we going to do next?" a trainee asked curiously.

Their instructors are Dark Judgment, notorious devils in the mercenary world; less than 10% of trainees graduate successfully from it.

Of course, it's also because of their great reputation. All the trainees who graduate have some name in the mercenary world, so many people are willing to join the training. These 100 people have gone through layers of assessments before they finally made it in.

They never expected that after entering the devilish instructor's training class, what they thought would be some kind of hellish training would turn out to be that the first thing they had to do was enter a game, which was practically child's play. And this "High Martial Arts Descends" test was even more bizarre, actually making them dig holes to obtain a spot. They had never played such a brutal game before.

Players who want to play this game are practically a bunch of lunatics.

They were mercenaries, trained every day, and their physical fitness was impeccable. Yet, even under these circumstances, only seventeen of them were selected. They simply couldn't believe that these people were just playing games.

It's even harder to imagine that playing a game now requires this level of physical fitness.

"We'll have to wait until the curator finishes speaking." Dark Judgment couldn't help but look at Lin Qi, who was walking down.

"The gym leader? Is he an NPC in this game?" The trainees couldn't help but look at Lin Qi.

With Lin Qi's appearance, a surge of energy, like a mountain pressing down, instantly filled the entire area, causing the newcomers, whose physical abilities weren't even at the apprentice level, to collapse to the ground, unable to move an inch. The veteran players who were only apprentices weren't much better off, struggling to stay upright. The players who had become martial artists felt a heavy weight on their bodies, and their movements were significantly restricted.

The entire room fell silent. There was no noise or conversation, and everyone looked at Lin Qi.

"Welcome to the glorious Obsidian Martial Arts Academy. From today onwards, you are official disciples of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy." Lin Qi said the NPC's lines that he had long wanted, enunciating each word clearly. "However, although you have become disciples of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy, you still need to prove yourselves and whether you are qualified to become glorious Obsidian disciples."

"There are registration books and pens on the table next to you. After you write down your names and ages, you can go to the first floor to receive our Obsidian Martial Arts Academy's basic martial arts techniques and training methods. Tomorrow morning, a transport vehicle will take you to Death Valley. There, the academy needs mithril ore. You need to prove yourselves. Within four days, each of you must bring back one ton of mithril ore. Those who fail to do so will be punished by the academy. Please take this seriously."

"In addition, the martial arts school will only provide one day's worth of food and water. You will need to purchase the rest yourselves. There are still more than six hours until the morning departure. If you have no problems, you are free to move around now."

After finishing speaking, Lin Qi ignored the player who asked the question and went upstairs. At the same time, all the players wearing smartwatches received messages, including resource collection tasks needed for Red Moon Town, as well as escort and protection tasks that only veteran players could accept.

Any player whose strength reaches the Advanced Apprentice level or above can escort newcomers to Death Valley tomorrow morning. They will protect the newcomers while they mine mithril in Death Valley and return safely after four days. This event is limited to 200 players and will reward them with points and contribution points, as well as 100 reputation points in Red Moon Town.

As the players looked at the 100 reputation points in Red Moon Town, their breathing became somewhat rapid.

After the 1.4 update, all the currently released quests, except for the resource gathering quest in Red Moon Town which gives reputation rewards, do not give reputation rewards for other quests such as raids.

As for resource collection tasks, even if you kill a mid-level monster and bring back the entire mid-level monster, you won't be rewarded with any reputation points unless you hand over ten mid-level monsters at once, in which case you'll be rewarded with five reputation points.

A high-level monster is more valuable; bringing them all back will directly reward you with 20 reputation points, but hunting high-level monsters is no easy task.

Right now, all you need to do is protect the newcomers in Death Valley for four days to get 100 reputation points. That's a lot of reputation points, and this mission is clearly a one-time limited-time mission. We don't know when it will appear again.

While the players were frantically signing up for the mission, Fang Zhen inside the martial arts hall was stunned.

He just logged on, and his mithril mine was confiscated—that was mine he had conquered!

"Brother Zhen, why haven't you signed up yet? There are only two hundred spots left, and they'll be gone if you don't sign up now." Ragnarok looked at Fang Zhen, who hadn't reacted at all, with a strange expression.

After regaining his senses, Fang Zhen quickly signed up. Now that the mithril mine had been confiscated, if he didn't earn some back, he would only lose even more.

The next morning.

After a night of training, the 500 new recruits boarded five large transport vehicles, along with 200 veteran players, and headed directly towards Death Valley.

Such a commotion attracted the attention of many people, who were curious about what the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy was suddenly up to. Why was there such a big commotion, with hundreds of people leaving the city, and even the academy's master accompanying them?

On the mountain road outside the City of Light.

"This mission is really time-consuming. It seems I can only practice martial arts for the next four days." Yi Ye Fuyun looked at the scenery outside the car and felt quite regretful.

If it weren't for this mission, they could definitely have sucked the blood of the two-horned cheetah and leveled up quickly, but now, for the sake of reputation and to get the resurrection point selection right as soon as possible, they can only spend four days in Death Valley.

Ye Qinglu, standing to the side, didn't care about this at all; in fact, she was quite happy. Her Thousand Swords Diagram would take a lot of time to practice, and four days should be enough for her to master the Giant Sword Formation. At that time, her strength might not be inferior to Luo Wushang's current strength.

Inside the last large transport vehicle in the convoy.

"Captain, I think we're being followed, and there are quite a few of them." A capable male trainee glanced at the woods outside the window and whispered to Dark Judgment.

“Not bad, you were the first to notice.” Dark Judgment, who was meditating with his eyes closed, nodded, then asked, “So, what do you think we should do next?”

“I think we can counter-track them, find out their hideout, and then wipe them out in one fell swoop,” the capable-looking man said.

"It seems there are some outstanding individuals among your trainees this year," Dark Judgment said with satisfaction. "In that case, I'll give you a task: now go and investigate the hideout of the people who are tracking us, and report back to me later."

"Yes!" Immediately, the seventeen trainees got off the car without saying a word and went to track down the people who were following them.

Only after the seventeen trainees left did Dark Judgment's lips curl into a slight smile.

"I never expected that a mission would have such a hidden plot. It seems that bringing in these trainees was definitely the right decision." Dark Judgment looked at the trainees who went to track them down, and couldn't help but think that High Martial Descent was indeed very suitable for training these mercenaries.

Escort and annihilate!

This is their traditional profession as cosmic mercenaries. Before becoming official cosmic mercenaries, they rarely have such opportunities for real combat. But now that high-level martial arts are open and free to explore, such opportunities are everywhere.

On the other side, a group of winged men and women who had been following the convoy looked in the direction the caravan was heading and then beckoned to one of them.

"Go back and inform Lord Mans that the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy's convoy is heading towards Death Valley," the winged man leading the group instructed. "Go quickly and return soon; we will leave marks along the way."

"Yes!"

The winged man, whose strength was only at the beginner level, nodded and headed directly toward the White Feather Gang's headquarters.

It wasn't until the winged man had run five or six hundred meters away that a group of trainee players appeared.

"At least someone went to deliver the message."

"Follow them!"

After saying that, the mercenary trainees began to move with the Shadow Leopard Step, quietly following behind the Feather Clan man.

(End of this chapter)