A lively atmosphere greeted Luo Si the minute she stepped out of the crossed wall. Her headache had hardly lightly lessened over night. With both, healing and rest, failed, it could only be endured for now. Seeing new changes happening inside the cage made her put her worries aside. Apart from the usual training groups, players had found a new activity besides sweating and supporting slavery.
It was more accurate to call it a 'passitivity' rather than an activity, though. Less than a dozen of circles, of sitting inmates, had formed. But they were not trying to imitate Luo Si's meditation, since they were listening in awe to the talking individual standing inside the circles.
'Have religions taken root inside here this fast?' Was her first thought. It was quickly dismissed after she listened in on one preacher herself.
It turned out that 4 more people had taken a step onto the path of cultivation in her absent.
The people who came back from outside the cage brought news about what was going on outside the mausoleum.
The fights with natives, experiencing unbelievable attacks formed after using the worldly energy and the visit to a building filled with many cultivation books. They could only enthus about it however. Being were blocked by the bouncer that was the biggest insight at the moment. "You can enter after reaching the second stage."
They also shared information about the different strength levels one could reach. They recapitulated their teachings that they were at the very beginning of cultivation. It was called the Martial Realm. More specifically said, they were at the first level of the martial learner stage. The starting point of every cultivator. This information required more fines to be understood. The Martial Realm was divided into 3 sub-realms. Martial Learner, Martial Artist, and Martial Master and each level was further distinguished into 3 stages.
The cultivators were in a state of euphoria as they described witnessing the might of a martial artist. The 'NPC' had demonstrated his might by kicking away a big rock that should have weighted at least 300 kg. The audience could not believe their ears as that must have most certainly been an enticement of the developers. The eyewitnesses however, swore that what they said was nothing but the truth, intoxicating the others.
They also about upcoming events. Such as that there will be a tournament in 3 weeks. Sadly, they had to reach the 2nd Martial Learner stage first in order to participate. And that the entrance fee was 50 silver, which was converted; 50000 copper. Those who had formed contracts had pale faces, recalling that their payment was only 200 copper.
"AHHH." A screaming Latino looking man fell out of the wall. He looked scared as he balled himself together, mumbling inaudible Portuguese cussing's one after another. Another swarm gathered around, in accordance to the fact that some recognized him. Compared to the other story-teller-circles however, it looked rather reversed. While the one gathered around was sulkily sitting down, the players were somewhat consoling him, but kept an armlength distance to not be affected by his misfortune.
The Brazilian man had awakened together with a European girl, but they split up into different directions after exiting the cage.
The strongly tanned girl went to the camp, while the man ran towards the wilderness. Many were jealous, crying about the many treasures outside that would be monopolized by him.
To their big surprise, the man returned back from the wall after having left the cage for only 5 minutes. The Brazilian man did not know whether to laugh or cry, as he had lost all progress and was no longer different from the rest.
"What happened?" a curios boy asked.
The man weakly said that he was killed by a big blue savage ape that was inhumanly strong and fast.
The group that listened to his story got pale faces. Everybody decided for themselves to first go to the camp to become stronger before entering the dangerous wildlife.
A girl came in from the wall and said." Those who can exit the cage, better not leave the village. Someone got killed after entering the wilderness."
The Brazilian cried even louder hearing the late warning.
The first sunrays appeared on the horizon. When Hong Luo Si was about to enter the martial camp, Hantian's aged voice, suddenly, resounded in her head. "Come."
The uncle and tomboy stood in front of the tent. "Luo Si, your timing is great. You see, it is very embarrassing for me to accompany my nephew to the martial camp. Since you are a bit younger and going to attend the camp either way, why don't you take care of the child?"
Hantian overflew the introductions and transmitted his supervision directly onto the new servant.
Wuying expressed his own opinion, hearing his uncle's words. "Hmph, I don't need no babysitter. Everybody around me attends my needs anyways. Besides, she is so weak and poor. She doesn't even have an inch of status. Look at her, she is dirty all over."
Even though Luo Si did not feel at her best, on the outside her body was actually very clean, since she had just taken a shower and water dive. Her clothes were dirty thou, since she had no time to change or wash them.
Luo Si and Hantian rolled their eyes and the latter replied. "And what if she accompanies you as your servant?"
Wuying though for a moment and an evil smile appeared on his face that vanished the next second. He innocently smiled at his uncle. "Okay uncle. If you say so."
He walked to the martial camp, followed by Luo Si in a nonattentive way.
Fighting shouts could be heard.
'Hah' 'Hya' Pa* Cut* 'Argh'
Hundreds of young people and kids, the age ranging from 12 to 25, were present. The age was split between two groups. The native martial practitioners were much younger than the players as they were usually between 12 and 16. The awakened inmates however were as of now around their twenties. Unexpectingly, one was even younger than Luo Si.
One would think that this was disadvantageous and unfair. And it was true, for the players. While many of the natives where already in the middle stage of the Martial Learner realm, none of the players had experienced a second breakthrough.
They had already been informed about this matter. When one leveled up, there would be another round of poppings, just like the first time.
One would now think that the players would only have to fear the kids' special moves, but in reality, their normal body strength was also worlds apart.
Many had been deceived by Kushan's wind vein, believing they had already gained extraordinary strength. It turned out that entering the path of cultivation and attained the first stage of the martial learner realm, their natural body strength was no different from a normal person, having a strength of 50 kg.
When one reached the second stage however, their power tripled and they would be able to executed punches weighting 150kg. The weight of 2 adult.
As for the dozens of teenagers that had broken through to the 3 and last level of martial learner, they had an unbelievable might of 250kg hidden inside their flesh, the martial techniques left aside. And one would only grow stronger as they ascended to higher stages.
The fact that it was an increasement in a hundred kilo instead of doubling, bugged some. But nobody complained since it was a hughe increasement nonetheless.
This flabbergasting strength made many people dream about having that strength outside the game. Looking like a normal student, yet able to counter Mr. Galactic. As for whether that was possible or not, nobody beside Hong Luo Si knew the answer.
The gangs were invisibly separated, since the earthlings feared the kids learned martial skills. The children, on the other hand, had already clashed with the players dirty cunningness.
"Look, young lord Wuying is back." Girls screamingly rushed towards him, flattering him with compliments and flirting with him.
The players , too, scooped over. From the natives reaction they could tell that this boy was something of an important figure. Even though, his looks were barely in the upper quarter, there were clearly more attractive people present. They were much more taken aback by Luo Si, walking behind him as if he was just another passerby. She was unfazed by the wave of children rushing towards her protégé.
"Why is she the only one having fortunes encounter? What about us?" The players immediatly got angry. It had not been to long ago when the named cheater had capitalized a big fish right in front of their eyes.
A girl, harassingly close to Wuying took notice of Luo Si as well and curiously asked. "Wuying, don't tell us you prefer older woman, look at her white hair strains. She might as well be your mother."
Wuying was arrogantly proud and in his element. "Hehe, don't worry ladies. Papa's got a new toy for you all. My uncle got me this dirty servant. Since you all know that value quality very highly, I also want my servants to be excellent in their duties. So, I though how about I let the many of you test her quality. The one who can knock her unconscious gets 1 gold coin. "
Luo Si suspected something like this to happen. The brat was out for revenge. She had previously denied kowtowing to him and he was now getting back at her.
It might be a stupid reason in modern society, but here, face was something naturally to give to highranking people.
She smiled in her mind, being actually thankful to Wuying. 'This makes things much easier.' Having experienced death a handful of times, some knowledge was never forgotten.
The martial learner stage was also known as the body quenching stage, where one had to harden his body to withstand the almighty attacks. Many believed that if they trained hard enough, they would gain this strength over time and dedication while fighting to their heart's content.
Well in Luo Si eyes, that was only partly right. It was a phenomenon detected by the bullied. They would, statistically speaking, ascend faster in the lower stages than the bullies. The reason was simply because their body received many attacks. The qi embedded in these attacks would harden their body as they were beaten up.
Crazy but logical. So, did this suggest that one should just take all the beating one could get. Well technically yes, but actually no.
Savage gazes landed on Luo Si. There was no pity in the practitioners' eyes as Wuying's order sounded like god's prayer in their ears.
The crowd dashed at Luo Si, while she looked back with a casual smile, finally having found something to distract her from the headache she was carrying around.
"Hah. Now you will witness my might and pay for not bowing to me, the great Wuying." Wuying laughed maniacally.
'Yes, come and entertain this one.'