Large Team Dungeon?

Obsidian Martial Arts Hall basement.

After Lin Qi finished his introduction and laid out the newbie mission arrangements, both the newcomers and veterans in the hall were left dumbstruck.

"What's going on? Weren't we supposed to dig holes?"

"Why are we learning a breathing technique this time?"

"Are we really this lucky? We get to learn a breathing technique for free right off the bat?"

For a time, the newcomers erupted in celebration, while the veterans felt as though they had been stabbed in the back. Back then, they had labored away at digging holes for so long before they could finally learn the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique. Yet these newcomers did not have to do anything and could learn it immediately. Comparing people really could make one mad enough to die.

"This batch of newcomers is really too blessed. They don't need to dig holes and can start learning training techniques right away." Watching the newcomers line up one after another to register, Peerless One Shot could not help feeling a little envious.

Back then, in order to exchange for the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, they had even borrowed points from Fang Zhen so they could exchange for it and learn it as soon as possible.

"What's there to envy?" Outlander Gunslinger shot Peerless One Shot a disdainful look. "Don't forget, you entered only a few days earlier, and now you're already a Quasi-Apprentice. You've even planted nearly a thousand square meters of Blood Essence Rice, and you possess the Star Explosion Meditation Technique. Who knows how far ahead of these newcomers you are?"

"The widespread teaching of the breathing technique this time is probably the hall master deciding on later player missions based on the game's progress." Twilight of the Gods smiled. "It can also be considered a benefit for newcomers. After all, the earlier players enter, the greater their advantage. Those who come later need to be given a chance to catch up."

The other veterans nodded in agreement. A game had to take balance into account, especially a game like this experiential test that did not wipe data. It certainly would not let those who entered early seize every advantage. This could be called an unspoken rule of gaming.

"Zhao Hu?"

Seeing the towering figure over two meters tall among the crowd, Luo Wu Shang could not help showing a look of surprise.

Although Zhang Qingwei had already told her that Zhao Hu would definitely enter High Martial Descent, she had not expected it to happen so quickly. With twenty slots randomly drawn among nearly a hundred thousand people, getting in was no easy matter.

Even among the twenty people, only one had entered from the ten thousand newcomers Zhang Qingwei had previously arranged. This showed just how low the odds of entering High Martial Descent were.

"Elder Zhao, did you pass the test assessment?" Zhang Qingwei asked in surprise as she watched Zhao Hu finish registering.

Her own selection had indeed been due to luck, but there had only been a little over ten thousand purchasers at the time, and seven people had entered the game. Now, however, there were nearly a hundred thousand people competing for only twenty slots. To increase one's chances of entering, the only way was to pass the test assessment.

"No, I'm still a little short." Zhao Hu shook his head awkwardly.

His entry really had been due to good luck. When he was selected, he had even been completely dazed. After all, by taking the test assessment and watching Fang Zhen's livestreams every day, one could tell just how terrifying High Martial Descent's potential was.

Humanity's second world of the future was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

Because of this, he did not even go to headquarters anymore. Other than handling issues with other new games each day, he spent all his time madly challenging the test assessment.

Yet even now, he could only hold on for thirteen seconds. Twenty seconds was simply enough to make one despair.

"It's truly wonderful that Elder Zhao could come. Now our Heavenly Might can gain an even greater advantage in High Martial Descent." Zhang Qingwei said delightedly.

The addition of a Fist Saint could put the Heavenly Might Squad firmly in the absolute first echelon.

"Mm, but I don't plan to act together with you most of the time." Zhao Hu nodded and voiced his thoughts. "I plan to properly study the martial arts here, then challenge the test assessment again. If I don't pass it, I won't truly begin playing this game."

"Fine, then." After hearing this, Luo Wu Shang understood that Zhao Hu was just that single-minded. Since he had said he would pass the test assessment, he would definitely do so. There was no point trying to persuade him. After all, every saint-level existence on the Pilgrimage was exceptionally independent. "I have Leopard Shadow Steps and Crushing Stone Fist here. You can take them and learn them, but you'll have to find your own way to compete for a meditation technique."

"Meditation techniques are very special. You have to keep looking at the meditation diagram to train, so I can't provide one here. Exchanging for one requires a thousand points, and daily lodging and food also cost points. You'll need to do missions to earn those points too."

"Thanks." Zhao Hu accepted the two martial skill manuals, then headed upstairs to learn the breathing technique.

Meanwhile, under Fang Zhen's guidance, Li Ranxing also obtained Leopard Shadow Steps and Crushing Stone Fist, and joined the Mecha Squad, greatly increasing the squad's overall strength.

After Outlander Gunslinger and Peerless One Shot got to know Li Ranxing, their eyes lit up.

He was Mecha Continent's sixth player in the national tournament, and had even defeated the third-ranked Blood Flame Spear Princess in the circuit tournament. He was a true top-tier expert. With someone like him joining, perhaps before long they would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Luo Wu Shang's squad in the first echelon.

"Captain Li, you have to work hard. That meditation technique is special and can't be shared. Exchanging for it costs a thousand points. For a newcomer to earn a thousand points, even if they work themselves to the bone repairing the martial arts hall, it will probably take around ten days," Fang Zhen reminded him.

"Thanks, Old Zhen. I'll work hard." Li Ranxing nodded.

He understood that taking first place among the newcomers would be equivalent to instantly gaining nearly ten days' lead over the rest.

As the newcomers began learning the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, the veterans present also sat down nearby and began improving their own Soul Shocking Breathing Technique.

The main story combat dungeon mission was about to open, and no one knew how high its physical fitness requirements would be. Therefore, even if they had to go without food and sleep, they needed to improve their physical fitness desperately. They absolutely could not miss the dungeon combat mission.

For a time, a strange sight appeared on the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall training ground. In the dead of night, a large group of people sat cross-legged in the empty hall. Every so often, blood flowed from their seven orifices. Some even spat mouthfuls of blood, their faces filled with wild joy.

When some passing drifters saw this, they were so frightened that they no longer dared come within half a step of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, afraid they would be dragged in and made to spray blood in celebration with everyone else.

"Three days. We can only improve as much as possible."

Lin Qi looked at everyone madly learning the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique and was very satisfied.

Although they would not be fighting the entire White Feather Gang this time, they would still have to face several of the White Feather Gang's squads. As one of the top hundred gangs in the wilderness, even the weakest members of the White Feather Gang were Quasi-Apprentices. This hostage exchange might even have true Apprentices standing guard.

Facing a group of Quasi-Apprentices and true Apprentices, without enough Quasi-Apprentices to serve as cannon fodder, even experts like Luo Wu Shang and Zhang Qingwei would probably find it difficult to resist.

Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, as the sunset faded on the third day.

Looking at the thirty players standing in neat rows on the training ground, Lin Qi felt deeply moved.

It had to be said that once players started grinding, they truly did not care about their lives.

Over the past three days, Lin Qi did not know what these players were thinking. Not one of them had logged out forcefully—or rather, they only occasionally logged out to use the restroom or eat. The rest of the time, they madly improved their Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, or practiced Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps.

He did not know whether this new batch of players was exceptionally talented, exceptionally wealthy, or whether the veteran players had simply taught them well.

Every one of them had actually raised the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique beyond 15% Beginner proficiency. Among the newcomers, two were the strongest. One was Zhao Hu, who directly claimed first place among the newcomers.

In only twelve hours, he had trained the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique to 9% Beginner proficiency, and his physical fitness had broken through to become a Quasi-Apprentice. Close behind him was Li Ranxing, whose Soul Shocking Breathing Technique had reached 8% Beginner proficiency, with physical fitness likewise at the Quasi-Apprentice level.

By now, both of their Soul Shocking Breathing Techniques had surpassed 30%. Zhao Hu was at 32% Beginner proficiency, while Li Ranxing was at 31%. Their physical fitness had already surpassed that of many wilderness drifters.

Even more astonishing, however, were the ten veteran players. Every one of them had surpassed 30% Beginner proficiency. Among them, Luo Wu Shang, Zhang Qingwei, Fang Zhen, and One Leaf Floating Cloud had somehow broken through 70% Beginner proficiency in the Soul Shocking Breathing Technique, perhaps because of their meditation techniques. In terms of physical fitness, their strength had all exceeded 190 kilograms, while their speed was above 11.7 meters per second.

In terms of physical fitness, the four of them could be said to be at the level of peak Quasi-Apprentices.

But among everyone, Lin Qi had gained the most. Absorbing five times a day for three days, fifteen times in total, had directly brought Lin Qi to an entirely new realm.

Host: Lin Qi.

Age: 25.

Privilege Level: Level 1 Merit-Based Admission Privilege. (Upgradeable)

Martial Arts Level: Martial Apprentice.

Strength: 243.8 kilograms. (Quasi-Martial Artist standard: 900 kilograms)

Speed: 13.6 meters per second. (Quasi-Martial Artist standard: 26 meters per second)

Martial Skills: Crushing Stone Fist, First Layer, 12% Proficient; Leopard Shadow Steps, First Layer, 17% Proficient.

Training Technique: Soul Shocking Breathing Technique (Beginner 96%)

Meditation Technique: Star Explosion Meditation Technique (Beginner 14%)

Number of Players That Can Be Introduced: 30 (The host's current online player limit is 30. Current reservations: 99,527.)

"Now, I can be considered an expert in the wilderness." Looking at his status panel, Lin Qi was very satisfied with his progress over the past three days, and even felt somewhat surprised.

He had thought reaching the level of a peak Quasi-Apprentice would already be good enough. He had not expected to leap straight into becoming a true Apprentice. Although he would only be considered an elementary Apprentice among Apprentices, his identity and status were already beyond comparison with ordinary people in the High Martial world. If he joined one of those wilderness gangs, he could even serve as a middle-ranking officer or minor leader.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Qi slowly walked to the notice board in front of the training ground and posted an A4 sheet of paper on it.

"A temporary extermination mission is now being issued. The evil White Feather Gang has kidnapped an important companion of our Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. To rescue our companion and display the glory of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, any disciple whose physical fitness meets the standard may participate. If there's anything you don't understand, go read the mission details yourselves."

Lin Qi paused. After issuing the mission, he headed directly toward the Big Three-Wheeler to prepare for the final rescue operation.

"Holy shit! Just like the seniors said, this is a combat mission opening up against a main-story hostile faction!"

"The physical fitness requirement is Quasi-Apprentice. Great! These three days of hard work weren't for nothing. I can participate in this dungeon combat mission too!"

"There's no participant limit, and we can freely choose trial weapons according to our physical fitness ranking. Could this be a large team dungeon?"

"A large team dungeon? Do newcomers like us get to have this much fun right away? Who wants to form a party? I've already learned Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps. Looking for teammates around my level. We'll split the drops evenly when the time comes!"

"Fresh and tender newbie here, strength 120 kilograms, speed 10.5 meters per second, already learned Crushing Stone Fist. DM if needed!"