"Ding-dong!"
"Dear players, Immortal Path will undergo a version update in five minutes."
"The new version will introduce dungeons, an in-game currency system, and an experience system!"
"We'll also adjust the Contribution points exchange rate and reopen applications for beta testers. This time, 10,000 spots will be available!"
"Please prepare to log out. Countdown: 300 seconds..."
As the game announcement appeared, all the players grew excited.
Over the past few days, they had already become immersed in the world of Immortal Path.
The game was so realistic that they could barely tell whether they were in the real world or inside a game!
The only thing that disappointed some of them was that Immortal Path had so little content!
Aside from fighting monsters, most players had nothing to do.
A recent Story Event had involved every player, giving them a powerful sense of belonging.
These days, many players even treated Immortal Path as their second home.
They hoped Immortal Path would keep improving and become more and more complete.
So when the system announcement appeared, almost every player was overcome with delight.
"Fantastic! The game's finally getting an update!"
"They're adding dungeons! I can't wait. I wonder what kind they'll be!"
"What about equipment? Why haven't they added any equipment yet?"
"Don't complain. Games this good are rare. Give it time to improve!"
"I'm not in a hurry for equipment or anything. I'm more excited about the new player spots. They're opening a whole 10,000 this time! Anyway, I need to log out and tell my gaming buddy. Maybe they'll know how to get us a beta spot!"
The players around them chattered excitedly, and plenty of eager ones had already hurriedly logged out.
They were ready to share the good news with their gaming buddies, besties, boyfriends, and girlfriends!
Earth.
A well-known gaming forum.
A post titled "The World's First 100% Virtual Reality Online Game, Immortal Path—Gameplay Footage" had been featured and pinned by the forum moderators!
After reading it, countless hardcore players left comments.
"OP, what game is this?"
"Holy crap, is it really 100% realistic? Which company made this game? Penguin? Wang Nan? How come I've never heard of it?"
"This is unbelievable. Has our technology really advanced enough to create 100% virtual reality?"
"Looking to buy a beta code. Paying a high price, starting at 100,000 Yanhuang Coins. DM me if you have one!"
"The guy above must be loaded. Let me cling to your leg!"
"Isn't this footage from an in-game event? It looks so real, it's hard to believe it's actually a game!"
"Exactly! I thought it was a real alternate world!"
A few days ago, not many players had managed to enter Immortal Path, so the game hadn't made much of a splash among players.
But after a guy named Patrick Star posted this thread...
The entire gaming world was instantly set ablaze!
Countless players went wild for it, clamoring to find out how they could get into the Immortal Path beta!
It wasn't just the players. The gaming companies were all shaken to their core!
Penguin Company.
Penguin was now run by Ma Jiaoteng, the Nth-generation descendant of its founding Ma, Ma Huateng.
At that moment, Ma Jiaoteng was livid, tearing into the company's chief planner, lead programmer, and CEOs of various departments!
"Are you all fucking useless?"
"A game like this hits the market, and you don't even know about it?"
"Do you understand what a game like this means for Penguin?"
"Huh? Answer me!"
His roars shook the senior executives in Penguin's gaming division. They all shrank back, hearts pounding.
Seeing his subordinates cower like that only made Ma Jiaoteng angrier.
"Look into it! Investigate everything!"
"I want to know everything there is to know about Immortal Path!"
"What are you waiting for? Get moving!"
As Ma Jiaoteng bellowed, the gaming division's executives scattered like startled birds.
After they left, Ma Jiaoteng slumped helplessly into his office chair.
He murmured to himself.
"It's over. It's all over!"
"My Penguin Empire is doomed..."
"Ancestor Hua Teng, this unfilial descendant has failed you!"
The same scene was playing out at Wang Nan Company.
Ding Sanshi, the descendant of the original pig-farming mogul Ding Sanshi, wore a look of utter despair!
A 100% virtual reality online game had been born!
In the wake of this shock, gaming companies like theirs were all facing the threat of going under!
With a 100% realistic online game available, who the hell would still want to play games riddled with bugs and less than 30% realistic?
Before long, the gaming giants led by Penguin and Wang Nan began frantically investigating the company behind Immortal Path.
Unfortunately, Immortal Path was something the system had created!
There wasn't even a game company behind it, so what could they possibly investigate?
But the commotion stirred up by the gaming giants was soon exposed.
In no time, almost every netizen in the Yanhuang Nation had heard of an online game called Immortal Path!
A 100% virtual reality game, said to be a second world!
Everyone went wild for it!
In just a few hours, beta codes were being bid up to a million Yanhuang Coins!
Just then, on that same famous gaming forum...
A new post was quietly pinned, though no one knew when.
The post was incredibly simple.
"Recruiting beta testers for Immortal Path. 10,000 spots available. Interested players can sign up by leaving a comment on this thread!"
That's right!
This was the system's doing!
This time, it had increased the number of player spots to 10,000.
The system wasn't going to keep picking players one by one!
Instead, it had posted directly on the gaming forum.
That would make it easier to recruit players!
Sure enough, it took only a few minutes.
The players discovered the post.
At once, they all got excited, thrilled, and worked up...
"L-L-Little Ma Ge, hurry and check XX Forum! Immortal Path's recruiting players!"
A gaming executive at Penguin Company rushed into Ma Jiaoteng's office.
Ma Jiaoteng, who had been slumped in his chair, shot to his feet!
"What?"
"Are you sure?"
"Quick, summon every Penguin employee! Get them to sign up on XX Forum!"
"Make sure they all use my name, Ma Jiaoteng!"
The gaming executive nodded timidly and backed out.
Once he was gone, Ma Jiaoteng planted his hands on his hips and laughed up at the ceiling.
"Hahaha! Let's see who can compete with me for a beta spot now!"
"Hmph! A 100% virtual reality game. Pretty damn impressive!"
"If my Penguin can't beat you, I can still join you!"
Before you continue