Chapter 193: Setting Out For The Wilds
Inside the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
Although it was already late, because of the sudden emergency task issued by Lin Qi, none of the players in the hall could sleep.
The A-level main quest “Wilderness Escort” required escorting the transport convoy to the wilderness town early the next morning, while ensuring the safety of the accompanying martial arts hall NPCs. This task was mandatory; all martial artist level players had to participate.
Upon completion, all participating players would receive a reward of five thousand contribution and one hundred thousand points.
In addition, the martial arts hall would open the qualification to develop wilderness resource points. All players with core disciple status could establish resource points in wilderness areas outside the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s sphere of influence. After players seized them, fifty percent of all resources developed had to be handed over to the hall, while the other fifty percent belonged to the players themselves.
“After completing this task, players who obtain level one wilderness exploration permission are going to feel amazing. Fifty percent of a resource point’s resources—if someone takes an energy vein, they will probably never have to worry about martial artist cultivation again.”
“More than just no worries. That is an energy vein. How could one person possibly use it all up? When the time comes, they can sell to others and earn a huge profit.”
“However, taking a wilderness resource point is not easy. The new expansion pack Age of Ferocious Beasts made it clear that there will be more and more monsters in the wilderness. Even martial artist level players will probably find it hard to defend alone. To take a resource point you need a large group. Rather than being personal development, this is clearly gameplay designed for major teams and guilds.”
“Looks like this version update is an epic-level buff for teams and guilds. It will only get harder for us lone wolf players.”
“Who says lone wolves have it hard? We free players can band together to seize resource points. Then everyone splits resources equally. We will not necessarily be worse than those teams and guilds. And nobody knows where these wilderness resource points are hidden. If one person discovers one and has enough strength, they can quietly mine it alone. With good luck, a single person can end up richer than a guild.”
“No, stop chatting. I have to grind out core disciple status before the hall opens the development qualification. Anyone forming a party to go to the wilderness to kill monsters?”
Regarding the task suddenly issued by Lin Qi, the players in the hall only grew more excited the more they talked, especially members of several major teams, whose breathing became rapid.
“Good thing I managed to become a martial artist before the task started, or I would have really missed out.” Yi Ye Fu Yun stared at the development qualification on his smart watch, practically drooling.
“Your luck is indeed good. This is an A-level task, and a main quest at that. There will likely be plenty of chances along the way to earn contribution.” Fang Zhen looked at Yi Ye Fu Yun, who had just been promoted to martial artist, and said with a smile, “If you missed this quest, who knows how long it would take to catch up in contribution later.”
“Following the convoy to the wilderness frontline this time, we will probably encounter quite a few monsters.” Luo Wu Shang, at the side, suddenly looked at Yi Ye Fu Yun and said, “Do you have any Golden Sand Eagles? I want to buy four, and also eight energy crystal shards.”
“Forget about the Golden Sand Eagle. That is a martial arts hall exclusive. Last time I only got one for trial.” Yi Ye Fu Yun shook his head and smilingly recommended, “How about the standard Desert Eagle made of B2-level alloy? One costs only four low-level monsters. As for energy crystal shards, I can give you a discount: one shard for ten tons of energy ore.”
“When did you start running a black shop, not afraid others will hang you up in the middle of the night?” Fang Zhen could not help looking at Yi Ye Fu Yun. “It is hard enough to encounter a low-level monster in the wilderness; the Gold-Devouring Unicorn Rats in the maze tunnels have basically been cleaned out by those Mythical Paradise people. And you are talking about a weapon made of B2-level alloy. Even if the price of B2-level alloy doubled, that is at most the price of one low-level monster. And a low-level monster is five hundred contribution. Is two thousand contribution for one gun reasonable?”
“What black shop! My prices are clearly marked, I run an honest business.” Yi Ye Fu Yun rolled his eyes at Fang Zhen and said speechlessly, “You see a B2-level weapon, but do you know how much a medium machine tool costs? Do you know how much time it takes to make one piece? Does hiring someone to manufacture cost nothing? Four low-level monsters is already very cheap, okay? And my guns come with attributes. Have you seen attribute weapons yet?”
“Fine, give me four and eight energy crystal shards.” Luo Wu Shang bought without hesitation. “I will have Qing Wei transfer sixteen low-level monsters from the warehouse to you later.”
“Alright, I also want four guns and eight energy crystal shards.” Fang Zhen sighed. With this quest coming, having more trump cards was always good.
Now that the game had opened a twenty kilometer free exploration area around the city, plus his level one wilderness exploration permission, the area from the City of Light Chasing to Crimson Moon Mountain a hundred kilometers away was his activity range. After becoming a martial artist, he had hunted quite a few low-level monsters during this time.
Sixteen low-level monsters were still something he could afford.
“Thanks for your patronage.” Seeing eight B2-level Desert Eagles sold in one go, Yi Ye Fu Yun was overjoyed. His weapon shop could finally start making big money.
And with the two teams of Luo Wu Shang and Fang Zhen purchasing B2-level Desert Eagles, Xiao Yuan Ye Feng Kuang, who had also advanced to martial artist, likewise bought two guns and four energy crystal shards at once.
“Luckily we cleared out the Two-Headed Gang’s warehouse last time and got two energy crystals, or even our own team would not have had enough.” Yi Ye Fu Yun checked the inventory of energy crystal shards. Counting what had been used last time to reimburse the martial arts hall, there were only twenty-six shards left. If more people came to buy, he would not even have ammo for the Desert Eagle. “No, I have to talk to Zi Long later about improvements. This consumes energy crystals too fast. Even with an energy vein, we cannot afford to waste them like this.”
Early the next morning.
After all the martial artist players had prepared through the night, and after Lin Qi extracted and absorbed another round of three sets of martial skills from six martial artist players, the proficiency of the three sets had generally reached over thirty percent entry-level. Reverse Star Hand and Ghostly Light Finger had even reached over sixty percent entry-level. It was only a bit more than thirty percent short of the proficiency needed for continuous use.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s set off.”
Carrying a human-sized wooden box on his back, Lin Qi looked at the assembled Meng Wei and Luo Wu Shang, Fang Zhen, Zhang Qing Wei, Zhao Hu, Li Ranxing, Twilight of the Gods, Xiao Yuan Ye Feng Kuang, Chen Ya, Yi Ye Fu Yun, and Ye Qinglu, eleven people in total.
Among them, Luo Wu Shang, Ye Qinglu, and Li Ranxing, through cultivation during this period, already had strength and speed that surpassed the lower limit of intermediate martial artists. Calling them intermediate martial artists was no exaggeration.
Everyone then followed Lin Qi onto the martial arts hall’s large transport vehicle and headed directly toward the outskirts of the City of Light Chasing.
City of Light Chasing, eastern suburbs.
Large transport vehicles filled the deserted road, more than fifty in total, and the gathered martial artists made many passing vagrants click their tongues.
Normally, martial artists were rarely seen even in the suburbs, but now there were over five hundred. Among them, there were fifty members of the City Guard wearing uniform B4-level and above battle armor; each of them was at least at intermediate martial artist level, and all the captains leading small teams were advanced martial artists.
The fifty martial artists of the City Guard stood in a neat line, making martial artists from major factions and independent martial artists from the suburbs involuntarily tremble.
“For just transporting goods to one frontline stronghold, the City Guard sent fifty intermediate and above martial artists to escort. Is this the strength of the City Guard?”
“With strength like that, no wonder every year those martial arts graduates all want to join the guard. Unfortunately, the guard’s restrictions are too strict; you normally cannot live freely. It is either patrolling the wilderness border areas two to three hundred kilometers from the city, or garrisoning discovered medium energy veins and B-level metal ore veins. There is hardly any time to rest in the city. Otherwise, if I had joined back then, I would at least be a captain now.”
Looking at the imposing City Guard, martial artists from all factions were both amazed and envious. They had not expected the City Guard to be so strong at cultivating martial artists, making even those who had lived in the suburbs for years feel tempted to join.
While martial artists from all sides whispered among themselves, a flying armored transport vehicle appeared in the sky. From a height of over a thousand meters, it took less than two seconds to come to a stop above the transport convoy.
Before anyone could react, a figure dropped from the flying armored transport vehicle hovering a hundred meters up, slamming into the cracked concrete roadside and forming a pit over two meters in radius.
As this figure appeared, everyone present could not help but suck in a sharp breath.
“Bone Forging Realm martial artist!”
“He is a Bone Forging Realm martial artist!”
“Did the City Guard actually send a Bone Forging Realm martial artist to escort the transport this time?”
Everyone stared, mouths agape, at the half-scale race man over three meters tall, his whole body’s muscles bulging like loaves of bread, each step like heavy machinery moving.
“I am Bai Luo, leader of this transport convoy. I do not care which faction you are from. Here, you must obey my orders. Anyone who disobeys, I will cripple without mercy. If you have no objections, get in the vehicles now and prepare to depart.” The half-scale race man swept a glance over all the martial artists and issued a direct order.
Martial artists from all the major factions hurried to move, not daring to delay in the slightest.
“The City Guard’s strength really is not to be underestimated. They even dispatched a Bone Forging Realm big shot for transport.” Meng Wei looked at Bai Luo, the leader this time, with emotion in his eyes. “It is a pity I was too proud back then. I thought that once I became a martial artist I could make it on my own, so I directly refused the City Guard’s invitation. Now I am still a beginner level martial artist, while those who chose to join the City Guard back then are probably advanced martial artists already.”
“It is fine. It is not too late for you to join our Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Let’s get in.” Lin Qi smiled and walked onto the vehicle.
