Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 9: Welcoming New Players
In a dark room, Qi Wub was screening player information one by one.
He had an excellent memory and was very fast at reviewing information. In less than half a morning, he had already selected all the new players.
The Blue Star Will watched Qi Wub with cold eyes. After much thought, it still felt that this was not right. It said in a flat tone:
“I believe we should still keep some ordinary players, otherwise no one will continue to play this ‘game’.”
“No,” Qi Wub shook his head and said in a low voice,
“For those who are unaware, this is a game that transcends eras, with 100% sensory experience, almost equivalent to traversing to another world. This is an irreplaceable attraction. Coupled with the limited slots, players who get to play the game will also develop a sense of superiority, not to mention that they can also earn money through this hit game. Human vanity and greed are boundless.”
“This is the motivation for players to continue playing. Even if those ‘couch potato’ players are kicked out, countless people will still want to flood into this game.”
“Is this your understanding of the game?”
“That’s right.” Qi Wub turned around, his hollow eyes fixed on the Blue Star Will.
“Although I haven’t played many games, I can understand the psychology of many players. Playing games is about showing off, experiencing feelings that cannot be experienced in reality, and making money.”
“I see, I understand now.”
Qi Wub was silent for a moment, then turned back to continue screening player information. Suddenly, he remembered something else:
“Why don’t you control the players under the Lord of Eagle Territory on the Cain Continent? If they can’t get on the game, half of your problem will be solved.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but I cannot.” The Blue Star Will’s tone was cold and without inflection, but Qi Wub could still detect a trace of helplessness and resentment.
“When we were making the login device, we used the Godhead of a lower god from Cain. This was unavoidable. We had to use the rules and power of that world as the foundation to build the ‘server’.”
“A Godhead is a very magical item. Its divine power is always connected, even if it’s broken in half. This results in the ‘server’ also being connected.”
“When recruiting players, each player occupies a portion of the power that I analyze. They are evenly distributed in the ‘server’, dividing my analyzed divine power.”
“If a part of them suddenly disconnects or there’s an anomaly, it will cause an uproar in the divine power within the entire Godhead, eventually crashing the entire ‘server’.”
“This is why I recruit players bit by bit, because the divine power is too volatile, and I cannot use the parts I haven’t fully analyzed at will.”
“Not to mention, half of the server is already in Cain’s hands, and my influence is only half of what it was.”
“Connected servers? If one crashes, the whole thing crashes. No wonder.” Qi Wub had been puzzled by this question for a long time, and the complex relationships were finally revealed.
But it didn’t matter. Whether there were five thousand more or five thousand fewer players under the Lord of Eagle Territory made no difference to him.
“One last thing, I want my Novice Village and resurrection point to be in the Abyss Plane.”
“The Abyss? Are you crazy? Do you know what kind of place the Abyss is?”
“Many people have called me crazy, you’re not the first,” Qi Wub said calmly, his eyes lowered.
“I know survival in the Abyss Plane is very difficult, but it’s also the fastest place to improve my strength, and I won’t be specifically targeted by the Lord of Eagle Territory.”
“This time, almost all players are high-level players. If they can’t even survive or get stronger in the Abyss, then they don’t deserve to be high-level players. If we fail even at this point, I think you’ll have to find someone else.”
“Oh, and for safety’s sake, please teleport us to an area with lower-level demons.”
***
Not long after Qi Wub and the Blue Star Will reached an agreement, the remaining players in Dawn Town discovered that their resurrection points had suddenly disappeared.
At the same time, on the first level of the Abyss Plane, in the territory of the Demon Lord Felton.
Qi Wub calmly walked out of the resurrection point. Behind him, new players continuously entered the game, appearing in a flash of light. These players were different from the ones in Dawn Town.
Although their faces carried surprise and curiosity, they were clearly more composed. Soon, they formed groups of two or three and began to explore their surroundings. Some had even quickly fashioned a wooden spear.
The Novice Village was located on a cliff, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. A blood moon hung in the scarlet sky, the air reeked of sulfur, and ruins were everywhere, with no sign of life. Below the cliff was a tribe of Imps (level 0-10). These lowest-level beings in the devil dimension did not notice that thousands of humans had suddenly appeared above their heads.
Qi Wub brought up the system, made from Ye Hao’s soul, and issued the first command as the leader of the invaders to the players:
“All players have triggered an attack mission: Attack the Imp Tribe.”
“Reward: Experience Points, Magic Materials.”
“Note: Elite players, please strive to complete the mission. At the end of each month, the top 100 players in contribution will be rewarded, and the bottom 100 players will be punished. Punishments will not be limited to reduced benefits or revocation of mission rewards. Passive play will result in the forfeiture of game qualifications, and equipment levels will not be reset, but replaced by players who enter the game later.”
Just as he had told the Blue Star Will. He was not afraid that such a high-pressure policy would drive players away. A continental world was already an excellent attraction, with countless players scrambling to get in every day. They were not just playing the game, but many were also trying to make money, and this world was not short of dedicated players. Moreover, his high-pressure policy would not last forever; it would only stop after he had selected the most elite among these players.
***
Meanwhile, in the gladiatorial arena outside Winter City. Xi Wei also welcomed his five thousand new players. To help these new players quickly integrate into the environment, he had called over the old players before the new ones arrived and given them a mission.
“Ding! Game update complete.”
“Update Content 1: The new version will welcome five thousand new companions.”
“Update Content 2: The new profession Venom Dragon has been unlocked. Players who have not yet changed classes can inquire about the class change conditions at the Venom Dragon’s Lair.”
“Update Content 3: Welfare Mission – Harmonious Mentorship: All old players’ teams will gain 20% more experience when a new player is present (Mission pickup location: Winter City Outer Arena).”
Leisurely Moment was somewhat pleased to see the game update. He had always regretted the small number of players in Winter City and was surprised to suddenly have five thousand more. What did old players like to do most? Of course, it was to show off in front of new players wearing dazzling equipment.
With this thought, he skillfully put on his glowing, finely crafted armor. He then took out the only Master-grade long sword among the players from his backpack. The sword was silver all over and had a crystalline texture, said to be made of jade and mithril. The sword was not made by him; he had obtained it from an equipment lottery ticket. Speaking of which, the drop rate for these equipment lottery tickets was incredibly low, with no guaranteed drops. Many players spent tens of draws and only received a pile of ordinary materials, with only a few receiving Fine Grade equipment.
After putting on his full armor and fastening the buckles on his Knight Boots, Leisurely Moment summoned the game system and looked in the mirror. His reflection was dazzling, the equipment clearly indicating a top-tier player. Good, this was the feeling, absolutely cool! After admiring himself, he left the room with satisfaction.
The civilian housing area of Winter City had changed dramatically. The well-connected alleys were lined with neat brick and cement houses, decorated with wooden planks and plants on the outside, making them look not only orderly but also aesthetically pleasing. This was thanks to Nobody Does Human Things and Nina researching cement, which allowed players and the townsfolk of Winter City to live more comfortably.
As Leisurely Moment walked onto the main road, many players noticed his shining armor. “Yo~ Leisurely, the European Emperor, are you going to take on a new mission? You’re dressed quite handsomely~”
“Good morning, Master Leisurely. Can I touch your sword again?”
“Master, are you short of a leg to attach to? See if I’m suitable for your leg?”
Facing the enthusiastic players, Leisurely Moment straightened his chest and greeted them with a smile, “Hello, hello, dressing up makes one feel spirited, hahaha…”
“Don’t touch the sword; you’ve already made it worn-out by touching it. Go and touch your own little sword.”
“I don’t even need to wear wool pants in winter, so you better not come, hehe…”
“…”
Exchanging pleasantries as they walked, the majestic gladiatorial arena appeared before Leisurely Moment. More and more old players wearing ornate equipment surrounded him.
