I, the public enemy

Chapter 10: Cairn

The game [Virtual Realm] has nothing to do with any real-world cultivation level; it relies entirely on the stealth-based virtual reality [Super Dream Helmet] for gameplay.

There are cases in the makeshift hospital where ordinary people are super experts in the virtual world. What is needed is on-the-spot reaction, combat understanding, or rather, understanding of immortal armor and remote intelligent puppets.

Wang Qing's motivation for building up his power base was largely due to this reason; even ordinary people inside the makeshift hospital should not be underestimated.

The Immortal Armor contains a spiritual energy reactor. Being a cultivator is merely icing on the cake. The powerful armor, even if worn by a mortal, can be used to suppress a cultivator and beat them to the ground, provided that the armor has a rank suppression system and a complete shock absorption device.

Game masters in the [Virtual World] are highly sought after by these weapon development companies. Artificial intelligence (AI) can never compare to real thinking because AI can be overwritten and altered, and only trusts binary instructions.

Only genuine thinking can lead to "arbitrary" doubt and tolerance to various types of inducement.

Therefore, Wang Qing is perfectly capable of going to fight.

After careful consideration, he still felt it was inappropriate. Not only was the original owner not a gamer, but he was even less so now, and he didn't know how to play in the virtual world at all.

It's unrealistic to expect to win a competition after just one day of training.

None of the students in Class 3, number 60, responded to the homeroom teacher's invitation. Calling it a friendly match was too lenient; every year they fought like their lives depended on it, with the loser getting the dust and being severely humiliated. The unspoken rule was that Mercury Heavy Industries' investment ratio in each university was determined by the underlying rules.

Those who can participate in friendly matches are people who can reach high ranks in the game's ladder. They have sacrificed their training time to play the game. Ordinary people will be comboed and controlled to death as soon as they enter.

Instead of wasting time on that, you'd be better off preparing for the college entrance exam.

Liu Ziwen, on the other hand, was originally a master of the [Virtual Realm].

"Teacher, my family owns an internet cafe and I'm very good at games. I'd like to ask for leave together with Wang Qing to prepare for tomorrow's friendly match."

Liu Ziwen stood up, with an air of self-assurance, as if he were the only one capable of it all, ready to dominate, hunt, and climb alone.

Wang Qing couldn't understand the logic of minors at all, but since he was still allowed to attend today's class, he would continue to investigate the matter of the demonic path after leaving school.

The reason why Wang Qing cares about his student status.

This is because the conditions for crossing multiple floors within the makeshift hospital are extremely stringent, and unless absolutely necessary, it completely restricts people from traveling or relocating to other floors.

Aside from a very few exceptional cases, there are only three ways for ordinary people to reach other levels.

The first option is to successfully establish a foundation at a reputable university and pass the thesis examination, after which one can proceed to other levels of graduate studies.

Secondly, there are dispatched workers, like Wang Qing's parents. However, even those dispatched to other levels live in closed, high-pressure controlled areas, with a level of severity comparable to prisons and military camps. When these workers return, they know nothing about the level to which they were dispatched.

Thirdly, life is precious, love is more precious, but freedom is the most valuable of all. Everything will be better once you reach a higher level. Although the terrifying forces of the demonic path have been completely suppressed by the Heavenly Court, they still exist, causing irreversible damage to the structure of the enemy's cells, and some extremely secretive passages lead to the upper levels. Daring opportunists run smuggling businesses, handling not only transportation but also obtaining identities upon arrival; the cost of a single smuggling spot is astronomical, even for highly paid individuals.

Occasionally, news reports of executions for illegal immigrants from lower levels can be seen on the 21st floor.

Wang Qing searched through all the news articles but could only find information about stowaways on the 20th and 19th floors. He had never seen anyone on the 1st to 18th floors.

The makeshift hospital has a huge information barrier, and the history that has been made public, as well as whether it is really 81 floors, have left people with a thirst for knowledge in doubt.

The saying that "those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly" is completely wrong.

Wang Qing could certainly slaughter everyone on the spot, massacring the entire 21-story makeshift hospital to quickly restore his cultivation, but the balance of yin and yang, and the middle way, are essential.

To resolve the dispute, one must enter into the conflict. Without understanding the underlying principles, it is difficult to sever the root cause. Observe the changes, and you will see the truth.

When the first authority was established.

Everyone is already involved.

Only by delving into this situation can we break the deadlock, reach the end of the mystery, and set things right.

"Alright, but the members of the Virtual Realm Games Club are the main participants in tomorrow's friendly match. I can try to get you two a spot in tomorrow's match, most likely as alternates."

What the homeroom teacher didn't finish saying was that the alternates would most likely also get in, because Yuangao High School is a comprehensive high school, and compared to schools that specialize in supporting psionic industry subjects, it is relatively weak, and it is in the middle position every year. If the club members get through the rounds tomorrow, that will be fine, but if they get crushed, then it will be the turn of these two.

"no problem."

Liu Ziwen is extremely confident in his skills.

The two men came from different backgrounds. Liu Ziwen's family was a level above Wang Qing's, but not by much. The reason he brought Wang Qing along was because this guy's progress was truly astonishing, and a promising talent like him naturally needed to be won over.

After getting the leave slip approved in the homeroom teacher's office.

The two left the school.

The cold, harsh light on the street was permeated with a oppressive dampness.

Artificial rain had just been brought in, and the air was chillingly cold. Fog obscured the faces of some of the half-demon vendors on the food street outside the school, making them somewhat indistinct.

"I'll say goodbye here. I'm leaving."

Wang Qing was about to scan a shared bicycle. When he first arrived here a week ago, public transportation in Gray Core City was quite congested, so riding a bicycle was more convenient. He learned how to operate it in half a minute after getting on.

There was a private deal going on tonight. Since I don't really understand the underworld dynamics in the makeshift hospitals, something definitely went wrong tonight.

"Where to? Let's go to an internet cafe and play Virtual World, or I'll just beat you up. But don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

Liu Ziwen blocked the bicycle's barcode plate with his hand.

"I don't really understand ACG, please leave me alone. I just want to rest for a day. People in the world of anime and manga are the kindest people."

Wang Qing spoke in a very serious tone.

"Don't say such idiotic things with such a calm expression!"

Liu Ziwen was furious. This was the first time he had met such an arrogant brat. He was so... so annoying! "It's supposed to be a friendly match, but the school has its own scholarships. Last year, I did pretty well and the school gave me three thousand yuan. If I can get first place, I estimate I'll get ten thousand yuan."

"goodbye."

Wang Qing has successfully scanned the code and boarded the bicycle.

"I don't think you understand anything. The first place winner of the annual friendly competition will even get a letter of recommendation from Mercury Heavy Industries when they go to university. I heard that two years ago, someone with exceptional talent was directly accepted as a disciple by one of their company's senior executives. He has a bright future ahead of him."

Liu Ziwen said that this is the real problem. Even if you get into university, there is no guarantee of a bright future. The graduation rate for Foundation Establishment cultivators is consistently below 9%. In the end, you still have to find a job. If you are good at playing games, you can rise to the top in one step.

"disciple?"

Wang Qing was somewhat surprised, not expecting such simple and genuine relationships to exist within the makeshift hospital.

"Just like in the movies, you have to burn incense and kowtow to acknowledge a master. So many people want to kneel but don't even have the chance."

Liu Ziwen really wanted to kneel, but that didn't mean he was surrendering. He was still obsessed with the madman's path, just enduring it. "Once I've mastered it, I'll kill all these old bastards."

Wang Qing stopped his bicycle.

Even a rough man like Yuan Jingang understands that making money does not depend on personal talent, but on one's niche in the market value chain.

To maximize profits, one must be at the source of the value chain.

For example, the intellectual property rights of the techniques used in makeshift hospitals are one source of the value chain.

Wang Qing was worried about not having a way to make this money. Mercury Heavy Industry, perhaps he could control it as a puppet, find an agency to release the cultivation technique, and then seize the main profits.

If one can enter Mercury Heavy Industries and take on a disciple, one will have connections in both the righteous and the evil worlds. However, this is not the darkest or the most righteous path. One must have people infiltrated into both the demonic forces and the Heavenly Court Council to ensure reliability and gradually erode the power at the top.

Reaching the true source of the value chain.

"There are still feudal remnants. The makeshift hospital isn't very positive. I need to keep a close eye on you."

Wang Qing pondered for a moment.

"No, bro, can you speak normally? I don't understand what you're trying to say at all!"

Liu Ziwen was about to cry.

"All evil will be brought to justice. Void Realm, activate!"

As Wang Qing spoke, all that was missing was the background music of a sunset and crashing waves.

Liu Ziwen almost flew backwards. Those less addicted to the internet wouldn't understand what he was saying at all; it was too cheesy for a loser.