Online Game: Me, with Unparalleled Comprehension

Information scrolled by rapidly. He swiped quickly, his gaze sweeping over the repeated acquisition announcements:

"135/100 coins, unlimited payments, instant arrival!"

"Long-term stable income, 135 ratio, reputation guaranteed!"

Gold prices remained stable at 135 yuan per 100 coins, with little fluctuation.

But what caught his attention were several new messages interspersed among the gold collection messages:

"Buying martial arts manuals of at least third-rate quality at high prices! We need fist techniques, palm techniques, sword techniques, saber techniques, and internal energy cultivation techniques! Price negotiable, absolutely the highest on the market!"

Looking to buy martial arts manuals of blue quality or higher. Some come with attribute diagrams. Price: M. No blacklisted individuals please!

"Our wealthy guild is sincerely seeking all kinds of martial arts manuals, especially those with special effects. Price is not an issue!"

Wu Feng's lips curled up slightly. After these wealthy individuals and guilds had initially established themselves, they began to turn their attention to a more core resource—martial arts manuals.

The stable price of gold indicates that the supply and demand of game currency are temporarily balanced.

Martial arts manuals, on the other hand, are third-rate or higher manuals that can provide permanent attribute bonuses. Having more martial arts skills is the real hard currency that sets players apart and determines the strength of a team.

In this game, you can gain permanent attribute bonuses by improving your martial arts level.

The more you learn and practice, the higher your attributes will be. Stacking attributes is essential; without it, even small monsters will be difficult to defeat later on.

These nouveau riche clearly don't lack money; what they lack is time and luck.

Directly acquiring ready-made skill manuals, skipping the lengthy learning and practice process, is the fastest way to improve.

"However, the drop rate of secret manuals is probably not high, and many advanced martial arts have learning conditions; you can't just learn them as soon as you get them." Wu Feng shook his head.

But this does not hinder the market's fervent demand for the secret manual.

If there are wealthy players willing to spend money, there will definitely be players willing to gamble on luck, hunt for treasures, or even... kill and rob.

He left the noisy group chat and casually opened the official forum app for "Jianghu Dream".

The homepage is still bustling with activity. A wide variety of posts are circulating.

I randomly clicked on a few popular posts:

"On my third day as a chores disciple at Shaolin Temple, I couldn't take it anymore! Every day I had to carry water and chop wood, and my master wouldn't even teach me the complete Arhat Fist! I'm defecting! I'm committing suicide and starting over!"

"Qingcheng Sect Outer Disciple's Chronicle: I was used as a punching bag by my senior brother for three days, my contribution points didn't increase at all, I didn't learn any martial arts, and I even had to pay for medicine. What a joke! I've defected, restart, restart."

"Life as a Sword Slave in the Huashan Sect: The name sounds nice, but in reality, it's just wiping and maintaining the swords of my fellow disciples. Any slight mistake will result in beatings or scolding. Lack of comprehension is a cardinal sin? I'm not serving you anymore! Defection +1!"

The comments below the post were bleak:

"Brother, the punishment for defection is too harsh! All the martial arts skills learned from this sect are wiped out, basic martial arts proficiency is reduced to level 1, that's ruthless!"

"That's still better than wasting time in there! How long would I be a menial laborer? Without martial arts skills or attributes, I couldn't even beat a stray dog ​​outside!"

"I've figured it out. Joining a sect in this game isn't easy. Without some talent, you'll just be a low-level laborer. It's better to be a free spirit outside, living freely and slowly saving money to build a foundation at a martial arts school or private academy."

"But independent cultivators don't have access to sect-specific martial arts. Martial arts schools teach only common, generic techniques, and private tutoring, which relies on comprehension, is both expensive and slow..."

"That's still better than being bullied in the sect! I'd rather start over, or just go the casual player route."

Wu Feng read through the list one by one, and couldn't help but shake his head.

Many players who joined the sect on the forum have chosen to defect because of insufficient comprehension, poor treatment, and inability to learn martial arts, or even committed suicide to start over.

It hinders your advancement, forces you to do odd jobs, and you don't even learn any martial arts skills. To put it bluntly, it's just a waste of time.

He can understand these players' choices.

When input and output are severely disproportionate, it takes courage to cut losses in time, or even to make drastic cuts.

There are advantages to being part of a sect, after all, you have exclusive training grounds and proficiency bonuses.

However, this advantage is based on the premise that you have access to the lineage, and have the time and resources to practice.

He was always bullied as a handyman and had little time to train.

Therefore, martial arts schools and private academies are the important places for most ordinary players to lay the foundation.

Martial arts schools offer basic and third-rate martial arts skills, while private schools provide pathways to improve one's comprehension.

Although both require investment, at least you can learn them by investing money, and they offer greater autonomy, without being too bound by the hierarchy and rules within a sect.

Even if you join a sect, it's useless if you don't have any talent.

This game is so realistic.

A feeling of wonder rose within him once again: "This was a completely perfect start."

With an absurdly high initial aptitude, a hidden joining mechanism triggered by the village chief's recommendation letter, he directly became a third-generation disciple of Wudang, exposed to second-rate or even first-rate martial arts, and had exclusive training grounds and double proficiency bonuses... This start has already left other players far behind.

"Let's focus on practicing my skills." Wu Feng shook off these distracting thoughts.

Other people's difficulties are theirs; you have to walk your own path.

The food was served, steaming hot. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

The braised pork ribs are fragrant and tender, the steamed fish is fresh and smooth, the garlic broccoli is crisp, and the Mapo tofu is perfect with rice.

The food quickly filled my stomach.

After a satisfying meal, we paid the bill and left. We took a walk to digest our food before returning to our accommodation.

Take a hot shower to wash away your fatigue and change into clean pajamas.

I lay back down in the gaming pod. The hatch closed, and my consciousness sank in.

In the game world, the night was deep, and the oil lamp in the small house was dim.

Wu Feng sat cross-legged on the bed. He cleared his mind of all distractions and focused his spirit into his dantian.

"Harmony with the World" has begun operation.

Compared to last night, it operates more smoothly and efficiently.

The serene yet mysterious vortex flows along a complex path, and with each cycle, its resonance with the surrounding environment deepens.

A tranquil mind and keen senses.

The body's vital energy is increasing and purifying in a stable and efficient manner.

[Harmony with the World Proficiency +336.]

The indicator shows a stable fluctuation.

Time passed silently through the process.

Outside the window, the stars shifted and the night deepened.

As the first rays of dawn had not yet pierced the darkness atop the distant mountain peaks, and the true energy of "Harmony with Light and Dust" within his body completed another cycle—

Wu Feng slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.

His eyes shone with a gentle, restrained light, and his mind and body were clear and peaceful.

The jade-like vortex of energy within his dantian became even more solid, and its interaction with the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) became increasingly apparent as it circulated.

He looked at the skill bar: [Harmony with the World (Proficient 141120/150000)].

"140,000... I'm only a few thousand proficiency points away from achieving minor mastery." Wu Feng's heart stirred slightly. Give him another half an hour, and perhaps he could break through.

But just then, "Clang... clang... clang..."

The morning bell at dawn pierces the silence of daybreak and resounds precisely through the mountains.

It's time for morning class.

Without any hesitation, Wu Feng immediately got out of bed, splashed cold water on his face, straightened his Taoist robe, and pushed open the door to go out.

I can't skip this morning class.

Although I have already mastered most of the martial arts taught in the morning class, and practicing them again would be purely for show, I must still maintain the right attitude.

After all, teachers don't like students who skip class.

Wu Feng was well aware of this. The NPCs in the game were highly intelligent, possessing independent favorability and behavioral logic.

The senior uncles Song Yuanqiao and Yin Liting would take time each day to give public lectures. Although this was a common practice in the sect, it was essentially a form of teaching and guidance.

"They're kind enough to teach me for free, and if I don't study properly, it's disrespectful to these senior uncles." He quickened his pace. "The NPCs in this game are very intelligent. Who knows what problems disrespect might cause? I'm most afraid that a few senior uncles might say I'm of bad character and that I'll be disqualified from learning the sect's ultimate techniques."

The Wudang Sect still values ​​the character of its disciples.

We can't afford to take that risk.

I still have to attend the morning classes every day, and I must show a serious attitude.

Upon arriving at the training ground, the disciples were already mostly present.

Today's duty officer is Mo Shenggu.

This seventh uncle still looks young and lively, with a hearty smile on his face.

He walked to the front of the group and clapped his hands: "Let's continue practicing the 'Ladder Cloud Leap' today! Everyone, keep your spirits up!"

After saying that, he walked directly to the plum blossom stake area, leaped onto the wooden stakes with the agility of a swallow, and began to practice that set of graceful and nimble leaping techniques.

Wu Feng followed the others to the plum blossom stakes.

His "Ladder to the Clouds" was already a masterpiece, and now watching Mo Shenggu's demonstration is more about appreciation and reminiscence.

He chose a quiet corner, jumped onto the wooden stake, and began practicing.

His movements were light and fluid, with smooth transitions. Although he was not using his full strength, his skillful and relaxed demeanor stood in stark contrast to the many disciples around him who were still stumbling and carefully maintaining their balance.

Mo Shenggu moved around the arena giving instructions, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Wu Feng, a knowing look and a smile flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

The morning class ended with continuous practice of the "Ladder Cloud Leap" technique.

"Alright, that's enough for today! Dismissed!" Mo Shenggu announced.

"Thank you, Seventh Uncle!" the disciples bowed.

Wu Feng followed the flow of people toward the dining hall.

After a quick breakfast to replenish his hunger, he didn't waste any time and headed back to the bamboo forest on the back mountain.

The open space remained quiet, and he was happy to be undisturbed.

He drew his iron-slaying sword, and the swordplay of the Tai Chi sword unfolded once more.

The Tai Chi sword at the Great Perfection stage has an even stronger sense of roundness and softness. As the sword moves, it seems to weave an invisible and intangible yet endless net.

He was completely absorbed in the world of swordsmanship.

Sweat soaked through his Taoist robe time and time again, only to be dried by the mountain wind each time.

Sunrise and sunset, simple and repetitive, yet incredibly fulfilling.