Quasi-Fifth Stage

In the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall's combat room.

"After inputting your personal data, you just need to attack Instructor Number One directly," Lin Qi said as Luo Wu Shang stepped forward, explaining to everyone how to use Instructor Number One. "You have three attack opportunities. How you adjust them is up to you. As for the weapons for demonstration, there are specialized custom weapons in the weapon box beside you. Just pick one."

The student who managed to bury the Mechanical Doll underground was truly professional. The metal box contained not only the Mechanical Doll but also its matching specialized weapons, everything needed. This saved him the trouble of going out to purchase them.

Testing combat skills required specialized weapons that were very expensive. These weapons were not made of metal but a special type of rubber. Even if a martial artist used their full strength to attack the Mechanical Doll with these specialized weapons, the doll wouldn't sustain any damage. Instead, it could precisely test all data.

"Can I use a weapon?"

Luo Wu Shang's eyes lit up when she heard she could use a weapon, and she quickly walked over to the weapon box.

The weapon box wasn't large, only 1.2 meters long and 0.5 meters wide. The weapons inside were quite complete: swords, spears, sabers, bows, axes, whips, and over ten other types. However, all these weapons were made of rubber and were assembled.

Luo Wu Shang didn't mind, and was even a little happy. After all these days, she could finally use a decent weapon.

She then picked up a single-handed longsword from inside and swung it a few times.

"Not bad, the weight is acceptable."

After a moment of adjustment, Luo Wu Shang was satisfied with the single-handed longsword in her hand.

"Alright, attack Instructor Number One now," Lin Qi said, looking at the prepared Luo Wu Shang. He was also curious about her skill level.

Her performance during the previous battle with the White Feather Gang members in the wild had truly amazed him.

Her reaction time was almost inhuman. Especially when Lin Qi learned that the move, Point Star, was a sword technique Luo Wu Shang had created herself in the virtual game Pilgrimage, it almost made his jaw drop.

A sword technique created within a virtual game being replicated in a High Martial world was as incredible as bringing the martial arts of a peerless master from a wuxia novel to life in reality.

One had to remember that virtual games were still virtual games. Due to the virtual engine, they were ultimately not real. It was impossible for a real person to achieve the effects seen in game characters.

But Luo Wu Shang had done it. Even a simplified version was still incredible.

Luo Wu Shang stood about a meter away from Instructor Number One, holding the sword in one hand. After taking a deep breath, she instantly thrust six points of black light from her sword.

The six points of black light formed a cross-shaped mark, directly imprinted on Instructor Number One's chest, causing the fixed Instructor Number One to shake slightly.

"Comparing data..."

"Unknown martial skill detected. Please name the martial skill."

"Point Star."

"Inputting data. Martial skill Point Star confirmed. Score: Segment Four 26%. This martial skill has reached the Quasi-Martial Artist level."

As Instructor Number One announced the test results, the onlookers couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Sister Wu is awesome!"

"A Quasi-Martial Artist level martial skill! Sister Wu is too terrifying. I remember the Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps we learned were only at the Apprentice level. The martial skill Sister Wu created is actually one level higher."

"Sister Wu! Why don't you teach me? I'll give you a thousand points!"

As everyone marveled at Luo Wu Shang's new martial skill, Point Star, she proceeded to launch two more attacks on Instructor Number One.

"Martial skill Point Star. Score: Segment Four 28%. This martial skill has reached the Quasi-Martial Artist level."

"Martial skill Point Star. Score: Segment Four 22%. This martial skill has reached the Quasi-Martial Artist level."

As Instructor Number One revealed new data again, the entire audience erupted in gasps and admiration. But only Luo Wu Shang stared intently at Instructor Number One.

Her gaze was like that of a wolf that hadn't eaten in three days, spotting meat – filled with excitement.

"Can this Instructor Number One detect even my subtle changes in force?" Luo Wu Shang's eyes gleamed as she looked at the results provided by Instructor Number One. "Does that mean if I adjust according to the scores given by Instructor Number One, my Point Star can be fully realized in High Martial Descent even faster?"

At this moment, it wasn't just Luo Wu Shang who noticed; everyone present had also realized it.

"Holy crap! Does this game also have a hidden function for creating and developing martial skills?" Twilight of the Gods suddenly understood after hearing Luo Wu Shang's words, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

Previously, when everyone practiced the Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps, they could clearly see the proficiency progress on their personal data panels. Players familiar with virtual games knew very well that this proficiency progress bar was used to help players master martial skills.

The more correct a player's movements were, the higher the proficiency progress would be. Once it reached 100%, they would have perfectly mastered that martial skill.

As for the various techniques players created in virtual games, they were not supported in virtual games, forcing players to explore, adapt, and adjust on their own. This was a common unwritten rule in all virtual games.

But now, High Martial Descent had completely broken this.

Not only could it guide players in learning the game's built-in martial skills, but it could also guide them in creating and perfecting their own martial skills. Such free gameplay was unheard of.

Meanwhile, in Fang Zhen's live stream, the entire stream exploded.

"Is this game this free?"

"I have to play this game! With the virtual reality at 100%, I can still freely create martial skills. Then I can recreate all the awesome skills I've learned before in High Martial Descent in reality, and crush those guys from the White Feather Gang!"

"Didn't you guys notice? High Martial Descent is playing the long game. More and more gameplay features are being released recently, and now they're allowing the creation of martial skills. This means that even players from other games who enter High Martial Descent won't be starting completely from scratch. Coupled with 100% virtual reality, and with the continuous addition of gameplay, it can completely replace all existing virtual games and become a true Second World!"

"Damn, you're right! Streamer, I'll pay a million for your account!"

"A million? How dare you even think that? The ambition of this game company is to build a true Second World. It already achieves 100% virtual reality, and the rest is just expanding the gameplay. Imagine billions of people worldwide playing one game, what a scene that would be? Do you think your million can open the door to a new world?"

"No, I need to try the test assessments more. Next time, I must get in!"

As more and more players caught on, they chose to challenge the assessment BOSS again.

The ticket to the new world was right before their eyes. Once they could obtain it early, it wouldn't be impossible to stand at the pinnacle of the world in the future.

For a time, players who were still hesitating about whether to buy it or not, all chose to purchase High Martial Descent and try their luck, causing the pre-order numbers to soar, approaching the 100,000 mark.

Meanwhile, Lin Qi inside the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall had no idea what was happening, or how quickly the pre-order numbers had climbed.

However, under Instructor Number One's testing, not only did Luo Wu Shang give Lin Qi a surprise, but Zhang Qingwei also gave him a huge one.

Surging Wave Blade, Stage Four, 18%!

Another Quasi-Martial Artist level martial skill. Normally, only Quasi-Martial Artists could master such skills, yet both Luo Wu Shang and Zhang Qingwei, who were only Quasi-Apprentices, had managed it. It could be said that once the two reached the intermediate apprentice level, they would likely find it hard to encounter any rivals among the top apprentices.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were comparable to an extreme apprentice like Qin Mu.

Bang!

With a loud bang from the combat room, Lin Qi, who had only taken two steps away, rushed back.

Instructor Number One was currently his prized asset for controlling players. If it got damaged, he wouldn't have the money to repair it right now.

"What happened?"

"What's going on with you all?"

Lin Qi looked at the still-shaking Instructor Number One in the combat room, One Leaf Floating Cloud with only one arm remaining, and Fang Zhen and the others standing by with their mouths agape. His face was full of confusion.

"Comparing data..."

"Inputting data, confirming martial skill Spiral Demon Spear Kill. As the skill was not fully executed, the result is temporarily set at Stage Five, 0%. This skill is temporarily classified as Martial Artist level."

System: Detected a player who has independently created a Martial Artist level martial skill, Spiral Demon Spear Kill. Reward: Introduction slot limit increased by 20.

System: Congratulations to the host for triggering the hidden quest 'Born Talented'. Have players independently create three Martial Artist level martial skills or training methods. Currently, one has been created. Reward: Introduction slot limit increased by 40.