Chapter 22: The Terror of the Fourth Calamity, Dropped Cultivation Techniques

"Is there something wrong with the design of this NPC?"

"He is so huge. I feel like he could kill me with a single punch."

"Buddy, you don't need to feel it. He won't just kill you with one punch; he could melt you into a puddle."

"Do you have any idea what the 'Blood-Hand Butcher, Demon Lord Lu' actually represents?"

"What does that mean?"

"Isn't this NPC just the head constable of a small county? Does he have some background we don't know about?"

"To the guy above: you clearly haven't been checking the forums. Dig a little deeper, and you'll realize just how monstrous this NPC is."

"Let's put it this way: he’s a total cheater. A pure, walking hack."

"Stop going off on tangents. I just want to know, how tall is Lu Yuan exactly?"

"Over two meters."

"According to official government data, Lu Yuan is nine feet tall. In the Great Yong Dynasty, one foot is twenty-five centimeters, so Lu Yuan is two point two five meters tall. He’s about the same height as Yao Ming."

"Only two point two five? He doesn't look that tall. Why does he have such an overwhelming presence?"

"It’s his build. Look at his arms and thighs—the circumference! His forearm is thicker than my thigh. How could he not be imposing?"

"There’s no comparison without contrast. The game’s setting is a fictional ancient world where nutrition is scarce and people are generally around 1.6 to 1.7 meters tall. With his height of over two meters, how could he not be intimidating?"

"Am I the only one who cares about his looks?"

"He’s so massive, yet his face is as soft as a little puppy’s. I’m in love."

"If you're feeling itchy, go slap yourself with a slipper. Why are you acting like a nympho? A little puppy? He could punch your guts out, stuff you back into your own guts, and then use your guts to beat you until you’re stuffed full. He could even force-feed you."

"Damn, that’s disgusting. I’m eating durian over here!"

"Isn't that great? Full of flavor."

"Screw you."

"I don't care. This game claims to be the most realistic and free-roaming in history. It’s not like I can’t marry an NPC. With my charm, I don't believe I can't flirt my way into his heart."

"Haha, there aren't any top-tier 'puppy' types like him in real life, but they exist in the game. You think I’m going to let him go?"

"With a body like that, I’d be so satisfied."

...

"Achoo!"

"Hmm, a cold?"

Lu Yuan sneezed a few times for no apparent reason, assuming he’d caught a chill from not covering himself with a blanket last night.

"Chief Constable, Chief Constable! Urgent report!"

"Those 'Outlanders' have discovered the location of the Black Mountain Stronghold bandits. They’ve started fighting them and have already killed dozens of bandits."

"Wow, these Outlanders are fierce."

"They’re like gods of war, fighting with absolutely no regard for their own lives."

Shi Dawa stared at the battle report in his hands, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. The players were acting with incredible courage. Although they were weak individually, they were truly ferocious. Hundreds of them dared to charge thousands of bandits, and even a few dozen didn't hesitate to attack. They actually managed to trade their lives for dozens of bandits. It was truly impressive.

"They are immortal and indestructible, so of course they don't mind trading lives."

"You couldn't learn that if you tried." Lu Yuan’s tone was calm; he had expected this long ago.

"Haha, I was just saying. By the way, Chief, when do we start?"

"The Outlanders have confirmed the bandits' new route. Should we take the initiative and attack?"

Shi Dawa was itching for action, and he wasn't the only one; the other constables in Wangyou County were thinking the same thing.

"No, just watch. Your job is to hold the town. Leave the bandit suppression to the Outlanders."

Lu Yuan rejected Shi Dawa’s proposal. They were too weak to play hero. What was their cultivation level? What was the bandits'? How many men did they have, and how many did the bandits have? The entire force of Wangyou County only numbered about a hundred, while the bandits numbered in the thousands. Launching an offensive? That was just suicide. Did they really think they were reincarnated warlords capable of taking on a hundred men each? Didn't they know their own limits? You need real strength to act tough. Did they have it?

"It’s so boring."

"Dying is even more boring. Do you want to end up like Chief Constable Muma, lying in a coffin?"

"Never mind, never mind. I suddenly feel that boredom is actually quite nice. I don't want to end up in a coffin yet, hehe."

"Hehe your head. Stop grinning like an idiot." Lu Yuan scolded him.

"Chief, do you think the Outlanders can handle it?"

"They can."

"Why not?"

"Are the Black Mountain bandits gods? Is their internal energy and stamina infinite?"

"Do you know how many Outlanders signed up?"

"Over a hundred thousand."

"Over a hundred thousand immortal Outlanders. They could bury those Black Mountain bandits just by piling up their corpses. What do you have to worry about?"

You have to believe in the power of players. The "Fourth Disaster" wasn't a joke.

"Even if they’re immortal, don't they feel pain?"

"Being slashed a few times before dying must hurt, right?"

"It’s not like you’re the one feeling it, anyway."

"That’s true."

"Actually, the arrival of the Outlanders isn't all bad. They don't have high demands for pay. You can just post any quest, and even if there’s no reward, there are Outlanders willing to take it. It’s great."

"An inexhaustible supply of free labor."

Thinking about the players, Shi Dawa realized their existence wasn't entirely a bad thing.

"They are looking for other things; you wouldn't understand."

Lu Yuan didn't explain too clearly, but Shi Dawa was right about one thing: the players were indeed an inexhaustible supply of free labor. You only needed to place a little question mark over your head, and a crowd of players would come over to help you, not even requiring payment. They were nuclear-powered laborers.

...

"We got loot! We got loot!"

"First time getting loot, we’re rich!"

In a mountain forest less than twenty miles from Wangyou County, dozens of players had teamed up to ambush a lone, heavily wounded mini-boss. They fought with a "life for a life" mentality, and after losing dozens of their own, they finally exhausted the mini-boss known as the Eighth Leader to death.

The three remaining players rummaged through the body and actually found items: a worn-out blade, a secret manual, and thirty taels of silver.

*Black Wind Blade Technique (Yellow Grade): Created by the Taoist of the Black Wind and later passed down to the world, resulting in various versions and grades. This is the most common Yellow Grade version. Once mastered, the blade’s light follows like a storm.*

*Thunderbolt Blade (Damaged): Crafted by an unknown blacksmith. Average materials, average quality, decent sharpness, currently damaged.*

...

*Gugu: What do you think? It’s a Yellow Grade technique. Should we keep it for ourselves or sell it to a whale?*

*Flying Kick: Do we have any whales? What’s the market price for a Yellow Grade technique?*

*Gugu: Around ten thousand.*

*Gugu: A little less is also acceptable.*

*Flying Kick: +1.*

*LuoLuoLuo: I have no objections.*

*Nana’s Power: Is eight thousand okay? That’s all I have left of my monthly allowance. I won't need a cut of the other two items.*

*Flying Kick: Deal.*

The messages in the small group kept refreshing. Most of these dozens of people were wage earners; splitting a few hundred each wasn't bad.

The deal was struck, but just as they were heading back, three hidden arrows flew out from the darkness, instantly emptying their health bars.

"Damn, there’s a camper!"