C7 7

Did you gain any experience?

There was a pause, as if he were checking his stats, before he nodded: "Yes, one point of experience, but it's gray."

"Just one point? Is that all?" someone murmured in disbelief.

"Gray?" Shadow of Wind glanced at his own experience bar, which sadly read zero, and asked in confusion, "What does that mean?"

"See this statue? Can you choose to purify it?" Running towards the sunset, it suddenly dawned on him about the options he had during healing, and he quickly alerted the others.

Silence fell again, and then the player nodded vigorously: "I get it now. The experience points need to be purified here before they can be used. They're for healing, reviving, and more uses will come in the future."

In a hidden spot, unseen by the others, Faang Qiubai was quite pleased, feeling the energy slowly accumulating. The players believed that slaying a monster yielded one experience point, the essence of darkness, unaware that they were only seeing what Faang Qiubai allowed them to. In truth, they were receiving just a tenth of the actual value; Qiubai was secretly storing the other nine-tenths.

For Faang Qiubai, the news was mostly good. For instance, the dozen players outside the village were faring much better than Shadow of Wind and his group. Proceeding with caution, they managed to kill one isolated monster after another, generating a significant energy income for Qiubai. At this pace, he could summon another batch of players in less than a day.

However, Faang Qiubai wasn't rushing to do so. He had identified several issues that needed addressing. Instead of simply boosting the player count, it was wiser to refine the game's worldview. Strategic development promised the greatest returns.

Leaving Faang Qiubai's plans aside, the players were regrouping, gearing up to take on the monsters once more. Having lost their weapons, they resorted to using whatever they could find—tree limbs, bricks. Those who hadn't found anything better in the village had stopped their search and set off on their journey of exploration.

As the hundred players lost themselves in the game, the buzz on the forums reached a fever pitch. Even without any leaked in-game screenshots, over twenty posts from verified first-test players had surfaced, each prominently featured at the top of the homepage for all to see.

The buzz was about twenty-some posts, but three in particular stood out because they were made by individuals well-known among the gaming community. One was Shadow of Wind, the deputy leader of a major guild, whose reputation was naturally solid.

The second was a player named Shen Wanjin, a name familiar to anyone who's invested in pay-to-win games. He's left his mark on every game he's played, earning a reputation as a renowned game merchant.

Then there's Wandering Soul. While not a household name in gaming circles, he's infamous for his scathing critiques in the game review world. He's taken games like FF14 4.0 and WOW 7.0 to task with well-reasoned rants that even die-hard fans couldn't help but respect for their blunt honesty.

Wandering Soul's latest post was straightforward, offering a brief overview of the game's setting and opening before launching into effusive praise. "When it comes to this game, there's only one word that fits in my heart: 'epic'!" he exclaimed. "When they say 100% lifelike, they mean it. The freedom of control makes it feel less like a game and more like stepping into another world. Thank goodness for the ability to see stats, exit the game, and adjust pain levels, or I'd be too scared to even play."

"Facing death in-game was genuinely terrifying. I worried I might actually die, but thankfully, I respawned the next second—and for free! This game is, without a doubt, the best out there. It's hardcore to the core; I mean, where else do you have to pick up bricks for weapons and face certain item drops when monsters kill you?"

"I'm convinced this game will be a hit, and I stake my years-long reputation on the truth of every word I say. But enough talk—I'm eager to dive back in. As for what happens next... I'll leave that for other players to write!"

Wandering Soul's post soared to the top with numerous replies. Skeptics existed, but his longstanding credibility meant believers were in the majority. "Is this really Wandering Soul, or an imposter?" some asked. "Could he have been paid off?" scoffed others. "Get real, no amount of money could sway someone who's unbuyable by even the most intense fandom."

"100% real freedom? Hard to believe, but... why wasn't I chosen for the first batch of players?!" lamented another. "I'm desperate to play; who can hook me up with an account? (Whispering: I'm willing to 'warm the bed' for it.)" "Ever heard of an electric blanket?" quipped another. "I'm versatile—cute or fierce, male or female. Just give me an account, and I'll meet any of your needs."

"The person upstairs."

While Faang Qiubai kept tabs on the in-game player activity, he also scrolled through forum posts, amused by the antics of the netizens. It was undeniable that these playful users brought a good dose of humor wherever they roamed, lightening the mood for anyone reading the threads.

Back in the game, Shadow of Wind and his companions returned to their previous fatal encounter site. The sight of the enormous crater had them clicking their tongues in awe of the self-destruct's might. The coal stove, once intended as a weapon but never successfully wielded, was now a shattered relic flung over ten meters away. However, it was the strand of black mist hovering in the center of the pit that caught their attention.

"Could that be experience points?"

"You know, I've been meaning to ask—don't Creepers explode without dropping experience?"

"This is your world, not mine... What a mouthful. Let's rethink this. It only resembles a Creeper because, after all, we're not in the same game."

"That makes sense!"

"That makes sense!"

Witnessing my own impressive reflection and the earnest expression as I sprinted towards the sunset, Shadow of Wind covered his face, feeling a bit defeated. "This game doesn't even have a party system. How is experience divided? Should I give it a try?"

"It's just one monster. No big deal."

The others had no objections, so Shadow of Wind leaped into the pit. As he approached the black mist, it stirred to life and darted towards him. Mid-flight, it split into three, swiftly assimilating into each of them.

"0.3?"

"Same here, 0.3."

"I got 0.4!" Shadow of Wind glanced at his experience bar, somewhat exasperated. "One point of experience per monster is one thing, but shared among all witnesses?"

I'm really so handsome! He laughed and speculated, "Perhaps it's designed this way to facilitate mentoring newcomers in the future, or to simulate reality more closely. Hence, no party system and shared experience seems quite normal."

"You're right. If only we could find another Creeper." Shadow of Wind appreciated the game mechanic and decided not to fuss over it any further.

"That guy self-destructs way too fast; he's tough to take down, huh?" Running Towards the Sunset expressed his concern as they sprinted. "We'd be better off hunting some zombies or something like that."

"No, what I'm saying is, if we come across a Creeper, just have Running Towards the Sunset circle around to lure some mobs over, and then... well, you get the picture."

I'm so cool! I tucked in my neck and glanced over at Running Towards the Sunset, only to catch a glimpse of their utterly bewildered expression.

"That's a solid plan."

"Hey! What's so great about it?"