Official Forum

The Transcendent Game might provide him with immense wealth and social standing in the future, but for now—at least for now—he still had no way to cash out. He was dirt poor.

Besides, Mu Yuan possessed lofty morals. How could he possibly resist registering his identity and obeying the law?

It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his identity had probably already been confirmed by the authorities.

Judging from the situation, the official was certain that he was a genuine player.

He did want to obtain more information from the authorities, and it would be even better if he could get it for free.

Mu Yuan did not fully believe him, but since he was getting the information for free, whether it was true or not did not matter much. With his mind crammed full of questions, he carefully selected one and tentatively asked,

"It's said that top-tier troops possess the power to overturn rivers and seas. What exactly are top-tier troops, and how far must they be developed to possess such strength?"

"That question..."

Yang Kong was just about to answer when he realized that it covered a rather broad range of knowledge. A single question had actually asked about at least three or four different points. Good grief!

Some of those areas even touched upon his blind spots.

Ahem, stay calm. This kid is just a newbie. I can skip over the parts I'm not familiar with. A newbie won't be able to tell the difference anyway.

He paused before saying, "Actually, it's very difficult for the vast majority of players to obtain high-level or top-tier troops. However, even ordinary troops can possess terrifying strength if cultivated to a high enough level.

"Uh, let me first explain the troop ranking system to you. You should have seen on the panel that newly recruited troops are at 'Zero Order Level 1.' We also call Zero Order the Apprentice Grade. Troops at this stage are still fairly ordinary, remaining within the bounds of mortals.

"Once a troop reaches Level 9, it can begin attempting a breakthrough into Professional Grade, also known as Soldier Grade. At that point, a troop can cleave boulders, smash through walls, and even dodge or withstand bullets, possessing all sorts of incredible abilities. Most veteran players' main troops are at this level.

"Above that are Second-Order Elite Grade, Third-Order War General Grade, Fourth-Order Commander Grade... A Commander Grade troop is already a powerhouse in its own right."

But Yang Kong had never seen just how strong a Commander Grade troop truly was. He was only a clerical worker, after all.

"Of course, it isn't easy for troops to break through a major tier. Not only must their experience be cultivated to the limit, but quite a few rare materials are also needed to assist with the breakthrough. You can understand that, right?"

Mu Yuan naturally understood.

This was standard procedure in games. Soul Sand was equivalent to experience books, while rare treasures were breakthrough materials. He was far too familiar with this routine. He had never expected that after crossing into another world and entering the Transcendent Game, he would still have to grind away honestly for materials.

"Not only that, but breakthroughs across major tiers also have a chance of failure. The failure rate is closely related to a troop's grade, which is why everyone pursues high-level troops. Unfortunately, high-level troops are incredibly difficult to obtain."

"Then, do ordinary troops have no chance to... advance to a higher grade?"

Mu Yuan asked.

Yang Kong said, "Of course they have a chance. On the Eternal Continent, anything is possible. Some treasures possess the effects of baptism, transformation, and evolution. It's just that such treasures are so rare that obtaining one isn't much easier than recruiting a rare troop."

From Yang Kong, Mu Yuan also gained an understanding of the troop grade divisions.

Common, Rare, Excellent, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical Grade. Each major grade was further divided into one to three stars.

So, the Skeleton Soldier could be called a top-tier Common Star troop. ←_←

"If a player randomly gets a high-level troop at the start, wouldn't that mean they've instantly risen to the top?"

"That situation is impossible. Even veteran players have great difficulty recruiting a rare troop, let alone newbies. Besides..."

Yang Kong paused. "Even if a player randomly obtained a high-level or top-tier troop, a newbie still wouldn't be able to control it. Many high-level troops possess a certain degree of intelligence from the very beginning, while a few extraordinarily gifted ones can even awaken self-awareness, speak human language, think independently, learn, and improve... Such powerful troops would never submit to a new player.

"Still, high-level troops really are powerful. Rare-grade troops usually possess skills, and can manipulate energy even before entering Professional Grade. Troops of even higher grades possess innate abilities. Against low-level troops, it's like a father beating his son."

So that was how it worked. But...

Mu Yuan switched back to the game interface and looked at the skills on Deathbone's panel. Thinking of this skeleton that was currently practicing on its own, constantly improving, and even capable of speech, he fell into deep thought.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

"High-level troops really are incredibly powerful. I'm so envious."

Mu Yuan asked several more questions one after another. It seemed Yang Kong was beginning to get a headache, and only then did he reluctantly stop.

An opportunity to get information for free like this might not come again in the future.

"Ahem, you don't need to worry about information. This forum is only an introductory forum for now. It doesn't contain much data, and the people here are a mixed bunch. For true game players, our Xuan Kingdom has also established a communication platform—the Tai Xuan Forum. I'll send you an invitation code later. You can find most information on the Tai Xuan Forum."

Mu Yuan had long guessed that Xuan Kingdom possessed a vast information exchange platform, but getting things for free was more satisfying.

Yang Kong swiftly changed the subject. "Next, I want to discuss a rather important issue, one that concerns the safety and future of you new players."

"You should have experienced how difficult it is for players to take even a single step on the Eternal Continent during the early stages, right? As time passes, the presence of a player's territory will become increasingly conspicuous, attracting the attention of more and more enemies. Surviving will also become increasingly difficult."

Indeed.

Putting himself aside, quite a few players on the forum had posted pleas for help. They had suffered heavy losses on the first and second days. If things continued, the odds of them being doomed could not be called high—they were absolute.

"New players have few troops, most of them only Common One-Star, and no experience. Even if they obtain some opportunities while exploring later on, it will still be difficult for them to survive the Novice Trial. You should know that players will face an even fiercer onslaught during the trial."

"A territory cannot be defended, but losing a territory doesn't necessarily mean losing one's life. Therefore, our advice to most new players is to abandon their territory and transfer their game characters to a safe location. Naturally, they would no longer need to worry about losing their lives."

This did seem feasible. What a clever trick.

However...

"Losing a territory should have quite a significant impact on players, right? Besides, players can't cross the wilderness and find a safe place through their own strength."

"The impact is indeed significant. Without a territory, a player's identity will fall from 'Quasi-Heaven Chosen Lord' to 'Heaven Chosen.' There will also be a limit on the number of troops they can command, and they won't be able to possess Troop Buildings or anything of the sort. Their future prospects will be far inferior... Ahem, I've said too much. Lord players naturally have greater advantages than non-lord players, but there's a prerequisite here: We must first ensure your survival."

"For new players without a transcendent background or extraordinary luck, my advice is to prioritize staying alive."

Yang Kong continued, "As for the relocation, if you accept our proposal, the authorities will dispatch an elite team and escort you to a Large City established by the elites of our Xuan Kingdom.

"Dispatching an elite team through layer upon layer of obstacles to escort your game character requires no small price. I'll be frank about it: That price will be paid by the Lord Altar you dismantle. A Lord Altar that is dismantled manually still retains considerable value. Therefore, relocating to a safe area won't just be something you needn't worry about—you'll even receive an additional amount of Soul Sand.

"Of course, locating your game territory will take time, and you'll need to cooperate as well. The authorities may not have enough manpower available. You'll need to hold out for at least several days, until the escort team arrives."

According to Yang Kong, the locations where players descended were not entirely random. Xuan Kingdom's players were highly likely to descend on the outskirts of the territories Xuan Kingdom had already explored.

Mu Yuan was from Baijiang City, so he would descend in the corresponding area of Baiyun Province, not far from Baijiang City.

The authorities had already established a Large City in Baiyun Province, giving them considerable strength and influence on the Eternal Continent. This was also the prerequisite for rescue operations.

Otherwise, given the vastness of the Eternal Continent, dispatching an elite team from a more distant location would be completely impossible in time, while the danger would be countless times greater.

"The authorities certainly profit from conducting rescue operations, but the players are also very willing to participate. After all, most players have no choice. Without official rescue, they wouldn't even be able to keep their lives. As long as the authorities intervene, players can escape the crisis of life and death while retaining their player status. It's an entirely worthwhile deal."

Mu Yuan pondered.

"You're right, but I still want to give it a try."

Yang Kong said, "Since you agree, I'll register you for—huh? Wait, what did you say?!"

Yang Kong: "???"

Had he forgotten to describe the dangers of the Eternal Continent, or was this kid simply a little too stubborn?

Brother, this was a major matter concerning your very survival!

Wait. Yang Kong thought of a third possibility. This kid looked quite calm. If his initial troop was decent, he might indeed have some confidence.

But people who knew how to swim were often more likely to drown.

During his time as an instructor, he had seen players brimming with confidence only to be utterly crushed in the end. Of course, he had also encountered genuine geniuses who had cleared the Novice Trial through their own abilities and developed independent territories.

This was a thorny road.

The players who had lain down early and enjoyed themselves, on the other hand, could live quite comfortably.

Just like him.

But Yang Kong also knew very well that for players who were full of confidence or simply stubborn, it was difficult to change their minds with words alone.

He respected them for it. Xuan Kingdom also hoped that more players could pass the Novice Trial, allowing Xuan Kingdom's territory and influence on the Eternal Continent to continuously expand.

He emphasized the dangers of the Novice Trial, then warned him, "No matter what, be careful when exploring the surrounding areas in the early stages. You can't afford any mistakes during this period. Also, if you change your mind, you can contact me at any time... Remember, remember, don't force yourself. If something really happens, it'll be too late to regret it."

"The authorities also provide substantial support for lords who aspire to pass the Novice Trial, including Troop Remnant Souls, Soul Sand, equipment, and so on. However, to obtain these benefits, new players need to prove their potential. In other words, they must pass an assessment... For the specific details, you can consult the local Player Association."

"Lastly, let this old brother nag you one more time. Don't forget to register with your local Association. Our player community may compete occasionally, but most of the time we cooperate for mutual benefit. You can trade resources with other players, exchange information, and team up to raid Monster Camps, among other things."

"And most importantly, stay safe. You can only have a future if you're alive."