"They're here! The strongest sect in the special dungeon, Qingyun Sect, has arrived."
"Haha, as long as I join the Qingyun Sect and obtain the cultivation techniques, I'll be incredibly awesome."
"You think you can join? If anyone's going to join, it'll be me. Forget about it."
Xiao Yicai and his three junior brothers stopped above tens of thousands of people. Xiao Yicai looked down at the noise and gestured with his hands, "Quiet."
As Xiao Yicai's words echoed throughout the open space, everyone fell silent and looked at Xiao Yicai floating in the sky.
Seeing that the scene had quieted down, Xiao Yicai continued, "Today, my Qingyun Sect is opening its gates to recruit disciples. However, our Qingyun Sect does not accept just anyone."
Xiao Yicai suddenly pointed to Qingyun Mountain and said, "Qingyun Mountain, only if you can climb Qingyun Mountain will you be qualified to join the Qingyun Sect."
"You may arrive before sunset. If you do not arrive after sunset, you shall return to where you came from. Now, set off!"
After Xiao Yicai finished speaking, he flew away with his three junior brothers. Tens of thousands of people looked at each other in bewilderment. However, the thousands of "players" did not hesitate at all and immediately began to climb the mountain.
"Oh, Dad, I don't want to go anymore. We have to climb a mountain. I can't even see the top of Qingyun Mountain. How can we possibly make it to the top before sunset?"
The plump rich man was overjoyed and said, "Daughter, I'm not going, I'm not going. What's the point of cultivating immortality? I can't bear to see you leave. Come on, come on, let's go home, let's go home."
"Hmph, it's just climbing mountains. Even if I fall and am smashed to pieces, I will still join the Qingyun Sect."
Amidst the myriad of human experiences, of the tens of thousands of young men and women, nearly half turned back home, leaving only a little over five thousand determined to begin their ascent.
"Senior Brother, our Qingyun Mountain is ten thousand feet high. How could they possibly climb to the top before sunset?"
"Yes, senior brother, if that's the case, then we won't be able to recruit any disciples at all."
Xiao Yicai: "Hehe, what we at Qingyun Sect test when accepting disciples is their mentality and mindset. If they really manage to climb up before sunset, that would be even better."
"Anyone who continues climbing at sunset will make it through. Knowing it's impossible but still persisting is a kind of strength, a kind of talent."
"Oh, senior brother, I understand."
+2
Liu Xiong: "Everyone stay close to us, no one is allowed to fall behind. Tens of thousands of meters in altitude is no problem for us at all. Qingyun Sect, we're entering meditation."
"Roar! Roar! Roar!" A thousand people roared in unison, their voices deafening.
"Wow, look at that group of people, are they soldiers? Their spirit and momentum are really strong."
"Maybe. Never mind, let's hurry up and start climbing. I've put all my attribute points into strength, and I don't have enough stamina. It'll be tough climbing up there."
"Haha, I'm fine. With balanced stat allocation, this mountain is no problem for me."
"Get lost, no, don't get lost. When I'm too tired, carry me upstairs. That way, I can set up my sister with you, how about that?"
"Ah, brother-in-law, hurry up, I'll carry you on my back. Save your energy. Don't worry, with me here, you'll definitely be able to join the Qingyun Sect."
For 95% of the "players," climbing this mountain was a piece of cake, after all, they had already trained.
However, the local figures are not so powerful; they are mostly rich young masters or commoners hoping to change their fate through cultivation.
As time went on, the first tier appeared, and at the very front were the thousand "players" led by Liu Xiong.
Chapter 180 A Small Character (Please subscribe, vote for monthly tickets, and recommend!)
The second tier consisted of the remaining "players," trailing behind Liu Xiong's team.
The third tier consists of the native inhabitants of Jade Dynasty, most of whom are skilled in martial arts and physically strong.
The fourth tier consisted of some physically weak rich young men, some young ladies from wealthy families, and women from ordinary families.
"Oh no, there's something I forgot to mention." Xiao Yicai left his junior brothers behind and flew towards the climbers.
Xiao Yicai flew over alone and said, "By the way, if you want to give up, just shout it out, and our Qingyun Sect will send you down the mountain."
Upon hearing this, the group of climbers paused for a moment, then continued their ascent.
After saying that, Xiao Yicai reunited with his junior brothers. One of the junior brothers, who had an ordinary appearance, said, "Senior Brother, there are nearly 10,000 people here. More than 80% of them must have given up."
"How can the four of us possibly take care of so many people?"
The chubby junior brother chimed in, "That's right, even if we're exhausted, we might not be able to take care of more than a few people."
+1
Xiao Yicai: "What's the rush? This is just the beginning, and all six of our senior uncles will be sending disciples to help. They should be here soon."
"Look, here they come, a hundred or so people, isn't that enough?"
Upon hearing this, the chubby junior brother looked over and, sure enough, hundreds of disciples were flying towards them all at once: "Enough, enough, hehe."
At this moment, Qi Hao, leading a large group of disciples, flew to Xiao Yicai's side, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother. Senior Brother, everyone is in place. Is there anything you need?"
The Qingyun Sect disciples cupped their hands and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother."
Xiao Yicai: "We're all from the same sect, no need to be so polite. It's nothing, just take these mortals down the mountain if they say they want to give up."
"If their lives are in danger, we can go and rescue them."
The disciples of Qingyun Sect replied in unison, "Yes, Senior Brother."
Subsequently, more than one hundred Qingyun Sect disciples dispersed to various locations, ready to provide rescue or escort those who gave up the challenge down the mountain at any time.
As time went by, it was noon, and the first group of a thousand people had left everyone else far behind. However, five people still fell off the cliff.
They were rescued by disciples of the Qingyun Sect and then sent down the mountain. The five of them sat on the muddy ground, on the verge of tears, saying, "It's over, the guards definitely won't be able to get in."
One by one, the five thousand local participants have either left or given up, leaving only about three hundred people still persevering.
As for the more than three thousand "players," less than one hundred were eliminated in total; they were all people who accidentally slipped and fell.
Meanwhile, on the official forum of the virtual game Infinite World in another world, the Mingyu Empire.
One post was highlighted and pinned by the administrator, and it has received hundreds of thousands of replies, and the number is still increasing.
"Haha, poor OP, you were the first to fall off the cliff and lost your chance to join the Qingyun Sect."
"Yes, but since you actually want to climb up there, I'm afraid even if you do, the Qingyun Sect won't accept you."
"Sigh, if only I had been born near Qingyun Sect. I went to Fenxiang Valley to be born, but Fenxiang Valley only accepted a hundred people. I was too late to get in."
"I was even more unlucky. I went to the Ghost King Sect, but who knew that dozens of us would be captured and studied by the Ghost King Sect. Anyway, I just committed suicide."
"Upstairs, I really regret not committing suicide. I was tortured for several hours before I died. During that time, I was told that I was in a special map and couldn't log off, so I couldn't even commit suicide."
"Haha, you guys are really unlucky. I'm very lucky. I was born near the Blood Refining Hall and was preparing to join it. When I ran in, I found that the Blood Refining Hall boss, Boss Nian, was dead."
There wasn't a single living person inside. I ransacked the entire Blood Refining Hall, leaving it completely clean, haha.
"Upstairs is the king of bargain hunting, confirmed."
+1
+n
On the open ground at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, there were still hundreds of people, including accompanying parents, those who had given up the challenge, and those who had fallen and been rescued by Qingyun Sect disciples.
Of course, Wan Zhongshan, the strongest in the infinite world, was also among them. However, Wan Zhongshan did not follow the main group up the mountain; he planned to quietly go to Qingyun Sect.
Wan Zhongshan walked up to his five dejected subordinates and said expressionlessly, "Useless, truly useless. You can't even climb a mountain. What use are you?"
"Ah, sir, we, we, please give us another chance." The five men pleaded with Wan Zhongshan in a panic.
"Hmph, trash doesn't need a chance. You all, log off now, pack your things and get out of here. The guards don't need trash."
"Sir, sir, please, give us another chance. Waaah!" The five men knelt down, weeping bitterly.
Wan Zhongshan said indifferently, "As expected of a piece of trash, you're even shedding tears. Don't you men feel ashamed? Get out, or you can stay and feed His Majesty's beasts!"
Wan Zhongshan passed the five people, then entered the forest and headed towards Qingyun Mountain, where he disappeared.
After a long pause, the five of them wiped away their tears and logged off together within the Mingyu Empire.
In a huge military camp, thousands of virtual gaming pods are placed inside, each containing a living person.
Suddenly, the covers of five of the game pods opened automatically, a cloud of white mist billowed out, and the five bewildered people emerged from inside.
The five men then exchanged glances, remained silent, and without saying a word, packed their belongings and left the barracks.
Liu Shui parted ways with the four people and walked home alone. He took a public airship to the foot of a mountain and then began to hike.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Liu Shui returned to his small mountain village.
Although the Mingyu Empire's home planet, Tianlan Star, is an extremely developed country, every country has some dilapidated little places.
Liu Shui's hometown, Liu Family Village, is one of them. There are only a dozen or so households in the village, and there are no young people. They are all elderly people waiting to die.
"Squeak!" Liu Shui pushed open his old, dilapidated door and went inside.
"Mom and Dad, I'm back. It's been ten years, ten years, sob sob sob." Liu Shui's usually strong face broke down in tears when she saw her parents' portraits.
"Mom and Dad, I spent so long finally joining the guard team, but, but that damned Liu Xiong actually knocked me off a cliff."
"Liu Xiong is the one who prevented me from joining the Qingyun Sect and even kicked me out of the guard team."
"Liu Xiong is the son of Aunt Liu from across the street. I used to play with him a lot when we were kids, but I never expected him to treat me like this."
Chapter 181 Liu Shui and Zhou Hong (Please subscribe, recommend, and vote for monthly tickets)
"When I learned that Liu Xiong was our superior, I went to him to try and get close to him, but he pretended not to know me and still kicked me out."
"His words when he kicked me off the cliff are still echoing in my ears: 'Keep your mouth shut, or I'll make you wish you were dead.'"
Liu Shui joined the guard team for a reason: revenge—revenge against Wang Batian, a legendary figure in the Mingyu Empire.
Liu Shui also has a very beautiful and lovely younger sister. Ten years ago, Liu Shui was a thirteen-year-old boy, and his sister was twelve years old.
That day, her father was resting at home because of a fall, and her mother and sister were taking care of him. Liu Shui went up the mountain alone to collect herbs to treat her father's injury.
Liu Shui, his face covered in grime, walked into the village. His house was the second one at the village entrance.
Just as he was about to go home, the door to Lin Qing's house suddenly opened, and a person walked out. That person was Wang Batian, the legendary figure he admired immensely.
Liu Shui was extremely excited and wanted to run over, but suddenly his legs went weak and he couldn't speak because of his excitement.
Wang Batian naturally noticed Liu Shui's incredibly excited eyes, but he ignored it. Everyone on Tianlan Star knew him; he was just a child.