Players Raising Themselves

"They beat us to it."

Luo Wu Shang looked at the taken Leopard Shadow Steps and sighed softly.

When Lin Qi had brought out the two martial arts manuals, Luo Wu Shang had already noticed Leopard Shadow Steps' enormous potential. It was practically the bicycle of the hauling world. Compared with Crushing Stone Fist, Crushing Stone Fist might have tremendous practical combat value, but in the current version of the game, underground development was the kingly path.

"Gunslinger, beautifully done." Fang Zhen walked up to Outlander Gunslinger, his eyes brimming with excitement. "Quick, let us take a look together. What exactly is this martial art?"

"Alright." Outlander Gunslinger promptly took it out and examined it together with Fang Zhen and Peerless One Shot.

The others present also cast envious looks their way.

With Fang Zhen's reminder, everyone understood that Leopard Shadow Steps was the child of the version.

Once they learned it, they would definitely pull ahead of the others and accumulate even more Martial Hall Points.

"The rewards have been distributed. Next, I have an important announcement." Lin Qi looked at the people preparing to leave, paused, and said, "These two hall-defending martial arts can be exchanged by any disciple of this martial hall as long as they have accumulated 20 points. You can check the detailed exchange list on the training ground's notice board."

He had stayed up late the previous night. Not only had he prepared the first volumes of Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps for everyone, he had also turned the old sign-in board left behind at the training ground into a notice board.

Previously, whenever he wanted to announce something, he had to find everyone, which was truly too troublesome. He had considered getting everyone Smart Watches, but they were far too expensive. Even secondhand ones cost a thousand bits. The watch on his own wrist had been discarded by Luo Qi after she had used it for five or six years.

So, Smart Watches would have to wait until he had the means before he could make them available to the players.

At this stage, to make management more convenient and prevent players from constantly running over to ask him what items could be exchanged, he had simply listed all the items currently exchangeable at the martial hall on the notice board. That would save a great deal of trouble.

"This can be exchanged directly? Wasn't it a quest reward?" After hearing that, Outlander Gunslinger looked at the Leopard Shadow Steps in his hand. It instantly did not smell so sweet anymore.

He had spent an entire month's salary on this Leopard Shadow Steps manual!

"You'll get used to it." Fang Zhen patted Outlander Gunslinger on the shoulder, as though he had long expected Lin Qi to do this. "It's not like getting Leopard Shadow Steps early gives us no advantage. After all, you need 20 points before you can exchange for it. We can practice it first during this time."

"That's true." Outlander Gunslinger could only accept it.

The newcomers currently had no points. Even if they desperately went out to develop land, it would probably take them a day to earn 20 points. That gave them one extra day to learn Leopard Shadow Steps.

Meanwhile, Luo Wu Shang and the others immediately rushed toward the training ground's notice board, wanting to see Leopard Shadow Steps' exchange price.

Leopard Shadow Steps (First Volume), Martial Apprentice-level movement technique. It is divided into two levels and two volumes. Mastering the first level, Chasing Wind, increases one's speed by 20%. Mastering the second level, Hunting Shadows, increases one's speed by 30%. (Requires 20 Martial Hall Points to exchange. The first volume costs 10 Martial Hall Points, while the second volume costs 20,000 points.)

Crushing Stone Fist (First Volume), Martial Apprentice-level fist technique. It is divided into two levels and two volumes. Mastering the first level, Shattering Stakes, doubles one's strength. Mastering the second level, Crushing Stone, increases one's strength by 150%. (Requires 20 Martial Hall Points to exchange. The first volume costs 10 Martial Hall Points, while the second volume costs 20,000 points.)

"The hall master actually grew a conscience for once. It only costs 10 points to exchange." Twilight of the Gods' eyes gleamed as he read it. "These two martial arts provide such huge improvements. If I could master them completely, I could absolutely fight a Quasi-Apprentice. With my current points, I can exchange for both."

"Cheap is cheap. If we grind for a day, we should be able to exchange for everything." One Leaf Floating Cloud frowned slightly as he looked at it. "But that would put us a day behind in progress."

"Would you be interested in borrowing points? If you want Leopard Shadow Steps, I can exchange it for you." Luo Wu Shang suddenly looked at One Leaf Floating Cloud, a faint curve rising at the corner of her lips. "Of course, not unconditionally."

"Wu Shang?" Zhang Qingwei looked at Luo Wu Shang in surprise, not understanding what she intended to do.

After getting to know one another over the night, Zhang Qingwei had learned that Luo Wu Shang was unquestionably the richest of the three. Not long ago, she had bought 500 points from Twilight of the Gods in one go, paying 200 yuan per point for a total of 100,000 yuan.

It had seemed somewhat not worth it before, spending 100,000 yuan on 500 points. But now, it was simply too worthwhile.

"What are the conditions?" One Leaf Floating Cloud glanced at Luo Wu Shang and said in a low voice, "If you want us to join, forget it. We're used to freedom and don't like joining guilds."

"Rest assured on that point. Heavenly Might has never forced anyone to join." Luo Wu Shang smiled. "The conditions are simple. I can lend each of you 80 points now. I don't need you to repay the points. I only need priority usage rights to 200 square meters of the energy land you develop. This is a very worthwhile deal, isn't it?"

"Deal!" One Leaf Floating Cloud agreed without the slightest hesitation.

The other three also nodded, agreeing with One Leaf Floating Cloud's decision.

Though each of them would lose priority over 50 square meters for planting Blood Essence Rice, greatly reducing the points they could earn later, as long as they could obtain the two martial arts manuals first, then so long as they were willing to grind afterward—

They could completely earn back the lost land. After all, once they learned Leopard Shadow Steps and Crushing Stone Fist, their work efficiency would absolutely double.

Leopard Shadow Steps in particular was a godly skill that could raise work efficiency while being continuously practiced and improved at the same time. Missing an entire day of learning would be far too regrettable.

Soon afterward, Luo Wu Shang exchanged six copies of Leopard Shadow Steps' first volume and five copies of Crushing Stone Fist's first volume from Lin Qi. Fang Zhen, meanwhile, used all the points he had earned to exchange for two copies of Leopard Shadow Steps. The sight left Lin Qi deeply moved.

"As expected, these professional players are the real professionals."

Lin Qi had originally thought these newcomers would have to grind for another day before exchanging for martial arts to learn. Yet Luo Wu Shang and Fang Zhen would not even give the newcomers that one day. They would directly grind while learning martial arts.

When it came to exploiting a game, these professional players were indeed the experts.

After distributing the martial arts manuals in his hands, Lin Qi did not forget the daily sign-in.

"I wonder how much the three of them improved today." Lin Qi opened the system panel and directly used Extract on Luo Wu Shang and the other two.

At once, three system notification chimes rang beside Lin Qi's ears, and countless training memories appeared in his mind.

System: Congratulations, Host. Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, first level, beginner proficiency has increased to 8%.

System: Congratulations, Host. Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, first level, beginner proficiency has increased to 9%.

System: Congratulations, Host. Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, first level, beginner proficiency has increased to 10%.

"Extracting the same training method from multiple players can actually stack proficiency?" Lin Qi stared at the system notifications, utterly stunned.

Originally, Lin Qi had thought this extraction merely obtained memories from players, allowing his own proficiency to reach the highest level among them.

But now, it seemed that was not the case at all. This was a far more terrifying ability. He could absorb the training experience of multiple players, fuse it from different angles, and improve his proficiency.

This time, the improvement from Soul Shocking Breathing Technique was also extremely obvious. It had leapt from Beginner 3% to Beginner 10% in one breath, making Lin Qi feel as though every breath stimulated the cells throughout his entire body, causing them to improve rapidly without cease.

The sensation was so blissful that Lin Qi could not stop. He no longer cared what the players were doing, merely finding a spot rich in energy to sit down and frantically stimulate every cell in his body, allowing them to absorb the wandering energy.

After more than two hours, the stimulation of his cells finally reached its limit. Lin Qi felt incomparably refreshed and could not help opening his personal data panel.

"Have I... reached Quasi-Apprentice?"

Even after all these years, whenever Old Cat's new book got recommended during its initial run, it still felt like being sent to the execution ground. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

A new week had begun. Please send monthly votes, recommendation votes, and follow-up reads!!!

Follow-up reads especially!!! They are extremely important! They affect the major issue of future recommendations. Everyone only needs to open the latest chapter once every 24 hours, and Old Cat can keep updating!