Chapter 231: Chapter 193: Advancing Toward the Wilderness
Inside the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
Although it was already late, the players in the hall were wide awake because of the sudden emergency mission Lin Qi announced.
The A-level main quest ’Wilderness Escort’ requires escorting a transport convoy to the wilderness town early tomorrow morning, while ensuring the safety of the accompanying NPCs from the Martial Arts Hall. This mission is mandatory, and all Martial Artist level players must participate.
Upon completion, all participating players will be rewarded with five thousand contributions and one hundred thousand points.
In addition, the Martial Arts Hall will grant the right to explore external resource points. All players with core disciple status can develop resource points outside of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s jurisdiction. Once occupied, 50% of the developed resources must be submitted to the Martial Arts Hall, while the remaining 50% belong to the player personally.
"Once you complete this mission and gain first-level outdoor exploration permission, it’ll be absolutely thrilling. Fifty percent of the resources from one resource point—if you occupy an energy ore vein, martial arts cultivation wouldn’t be a worry in the future."
"Not just no worries, but an energy ore vein is impossible to use up alone. Selling to others later could yield huge profits."
"However, securing an outdoor resource point isn’t easy. Didn’t the new expansion pack ’Era of Rampant Beasts’ say that wilderness monsters will increase? Even Martial Artist level players might struggle alone. Taking over a resource point would require a large group; this isn’t individual pioneering but gameplay designed for major teams and guilds."
"It seems this version’s update has given teams and guilds a legendary enhancement, making it increasingly tough for us lone wolves."
"Who says lone wolves have it tough? We group of free players can occupy resource points together. Dividing resources equally among everyone won’t be any worse than those teams and guilds. Also, who knows where those outdoor resource points are hidden? If one person discovers them and has enough strength, they could secretly mine alone. With luck, a single person could become richer than a guild."
"I can’t chat any longer; I must quickly grind out core disciple status before the Martial Arts Hall opens the exploration qualifications. Is anyone teaming up to go hunting monsters outdoors?"
The sudden task release by Lin Qi made players in the hall increasingly excited and more agitated, especially the major teams, whose breathing grew rapid.
"Luckily, I became a martial artist before the quest started; otherwise, I would have missed it this time." One Leaf Floating Cloud looked at the exploration qualification on the smart watch, drooling.
"You are indeed fortunate. This task is A-level and a main quest; there will be many opportunities to earn contributions along the way." Fang Zhen looked at One Leaf Floating Cloud, who had just been promoted to a martial artist, and said with a smile, "If you miss this quest, catching up on contributions later would take an unknown amount of time."
"Following the convoy to the wilderness front this time, we’ll likely encounter many monsters." Luo Wushang suddenly looked at One Leaf Floating Cloud and said, "Do you have any Golden Desert Eagles? I want to buy four guns and eight shards of Energy Crystal Stone."
"Don’t even think about the Golden Desert Eagles. They’re exclusive to the Martial Arts Hall; last time I only got them to trial." One Leaf Floating Cloud shook his head and, with a smile, recommended, "Do you want a regular version of the Desert Eagle made of B2 level alloy? One costs only four Initial Tier monsters. I can give you a discount on the Energy Crystal Stone shards, one ton of energy ore per shard."
"When did you start running a black shop, One Leaf? Aren’t you afraid of being hung out by others at night?" Fang Zhen couldn’t help but look at One Leaf Floating Cloud. "It’s tough encountering an Initial Tier monster in the wild, and those Single-Horned Gold-devouring Rats in the Maze Tunnel have been almost completely cleared by the Mythical Paradise group. Even if you sell a B2 level alloy weapon at twice the price, it’s worth at most one Initial Tier monster. An Initial Tier monster gives five hundred contributions, and you’re asking two thousand for one gun—is that reasonable?"
"What black shop? This is clearly marked pricing with honest business." One Leaf Floating Cloud rolled his eyes at Fang Zhen, speaking quite speechlessly, "You see a B2 level weapon, but do you know how much a medium-sized machine tool costs? How long it takes to make one gun? Doesn’t it cost money to hire someone to make it? Four Initial Tier monsters is very cheap, and my guns come with attributes. Have you seen weapons with attributes?"
"Okay, give me four guns and eight shards of Energy Crystal Stone." Luo Wushang bought them without hesitation, "I’ll have Qingwei transfer sixteen Initial Tier monsters from the warehouse to you later."
"Fine, I’ll also need four guns and eight shards of Energy Crystal Stone." Fang Zhen sighed, knowing the upcoming quest warranted extra bargaining chips.
The game now offered a twenty-kilometer free exploration area around the city and with his first-level outside exploration permission, from Chasing Light City to the Red Moon Mountain a hundred kilometers away, all fell within his activity range. Since becoming a martial artist, he had hunted many Initial Tier monsters during this time.
At the moment, he could afford sixteen Initial Tier monsters.
"Thanks for the business." One Leaf Floating Cloud felt a burst of joy inside from selling eight B2 level Desert Eagles in one go; his weapon shop could finally start making big money.
With both Luo Wushang and Fang Zhen’s teams buying B2 level Desert Eagles, Xiao Yuan, also recently promoted to a martial artist, went wild and likewise bought two guns and four shards of Energy Crystal Stone in a single breath.
"Thank goodness I got two Energy Crystals from clearing the Two-Headed Gang’s warehouse last time, or even our team wouldn’t have enough." Looking at the remaining 26 shards of Energy Crystal Stone in stock, One Leaf Floating Cloud considered the possibility of running out of ammunition for the Desert Eagles if too many more were purchased, "No, I must discuss with Zi Long about improvements. So much Energy Crystal consumption—having an energy ore vein won’t cover it."
The next morning.
After preparing all night, Lin Qi absorbed the three martial arts skills from six martial artists, with proficiency for all three reaching over 30%. For skills like Reversed Star Hand and Dark Light Finger, proficiency even exceeded 60%, just 30% away from continuous use.
"Everyone’s here, let’s set off," Lin Qi said.
Carrying a wooden box as large as himself, Lin Qi looked at the assembled group: Meng Wei, Luo Wushang, Fang Zhen, Zhang Qingwei, Zhao Hu, Li Ranxing, Twilight of the Gods, Xiaoyuan is Crazy, Chen Ya, One Leaf Floating Cloud, and Ye Qinglu, making eleven people in total.
Among them, the actual strength and speed of Luo Wushang, Ye Qinglu, and Li Ranxing had surpassed the baseline of mid-level martial artists, thanks to their cultivation during this period. One could even consider them middle-tier martial artists.
Then, everyone boarded the martial arts hall’s large transport vehicle, heading directly towards the outskirts of Chasing Light City.
Chasing Light City, eastern outskirts.
A large number of heavy transport vehicles, numbering over fifty, filled the abandoned roads. The gathered martial artists awed the passing vagabonds.
While martial artists are rare even in city outskirts, more than five hundred gathered here. Fifty wore uniform B4-level battle armors as members of the City Defense Corps, each no weaker than a middle-tier martial artist. The team leaders were uniformly high-tier martial artists.
The fifty martial artists from the City Defense Corps stood in a row, making the martial artists from various city outskirts factions and stray martial artists shiver with awe.
"To transport supplies to just one frontline outpost, the City Defense Corps sent over fifty middle-tier martial artists. This is the strength of the Defense Corps?"
"With such strength, it’s no wonder why many university graduates aspire to join the Defense Corps every year. Unfortunately, the restrictions are overwhelming. Typically, they can’t live freely; they’re either patrolling the wilderness border areas a few hundred kilometers from the city or stationed at discovered medium energy and B-level metal ore veins. They rarely have time in the city for rest. If not, I would’ve joined back then and probably be a team leader by now."
The martial artists from various factions admired the formidable City Defense Corps, eager to join, surprised by its martial prowess.
Amidst the quiet chatter, a flying armored transport vehicle appeared, closing a thousand meters in under two seconds, hovering above the transport convoy.
The flying armored transport vehicle hadn’t even landed when a figure dropped from a hundred meters above, striking the broken concrete pavement, forming a pit over two meters in radius.
The sudden appearance drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
"Bone Forging Realm martial artist!"
"This person is a Bone Forging Realm martial artist!"
"The City Defense Corps sent a Bone Forging Realm martial artist to escort the transport?"
The crowd looked at the over three-meter tall, muscle-bulging Half-Scale Race man, each step shaking the earth like moving heavy machinery, their jaws dropping.
"I am Bailuo, the leader of this transport convoy. I don’t care what faction you’re from; under my command, you must obey. Disobedience will be severely punished. If you have no objections, board the vehicles quickly and prepare for departure," commanded the Half-Scale Race man, scanning the martial artists with authority.
Startled, martial artists from all factions swiftly complied, not daring to delay.
"The strength of the City Defense Corps is indeed formidable, sending even a Bone Forging Realm figure for this mission." Meng Wei looked at Bailuo, filled with regret. "It’s a pity I was too proud back then, thinking I’d make my mark as a martial artist, rejecting their invitation. Now I’m still an initial-tier martial artist, while those who joined are likely high-tier by now."
"No worries, joining our Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall now isn’t too late. Let’s board," Lin Qi smiled as he proceeded onto the vehicle.