Chapter 4: Exploiting the Glitch

“Could it be that I overdid it?” Fang Zhen looked down at the shovel on the ground, initially confused, then filled with regret.

“My mouth just can’t keep quiet!”

Despite having gone through two thousand squats before and gaining some sense of it, he never expected the NPC to be so intelligent, completely unpredictable and breaking all the usual patterns. Now he had to start building experience all over again.

However, Lin Qi paid no attention to what Fang Zhen was thinking; his gaze swept directly to the two standing nearby.

“Your names and ages?”

“Ragnarök, 19,000 years old this year.”

“Wu Chang, 18 years old.”

“Hmm, I appreciate your honesty. Welcome to the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy. I am Lin Qi, the head of this academy. According to the rules, if you want to become honorable disciples here, you must prove yourselves. Now, you may go over there and choose a shovel you like. After that, turn right upon exiting and head to the small warehouse. You have two hours and twenty minutes to dig a ten cubic meter space five meters underground.”

Lin Qi nodded and jotted down their details in a small notebook.

As Lin Qi recorded their information, Fang Zhen, who was just about to leave the room, suddenly stopped, staring in astonishment at Ragnarök and Wu Chang, his mouth agape as if he had discovered a new world.

“Is it possible to play this way?” Fang Zhen looked at Lin Qi, who was taking notes seriously, feeling as if his intelligence was being challenged.

Both Ragnarök and Wu Chang had clearly fabricated their ages, yet the intelligent NPC not only believed them but even rewarded them, allowing them to choose their preferred shovels to improve digging efficiency significantly.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you something,” Lin Qi said, pausing as the three headed toward the small warehouse. “You are the first batch of disciples recruited by the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy and the future inheritors of its renewed glory. Therefore, the first person to complete the proof will receive the academy’s treasured artifact—the Astonishing Breath Technique—which will help you achieve greater success on the martial path!”

What a joke! Who would fall for that?

As Lin Qi finished speaking, the usually quiet corridor grew even more silent.

---

“A treasured artifact? Could it be that we triggered a special event?” Fang Zhen’s breathing quickened upon hearing this.

A treasured artifact!

Just hearing that made it clear it wasn’t something ordinary. If obtained, it would certainly give them an edge when high-level martial arts descend.

“Based on my years of gaming experience, we must have triggered a special event,” Ragnarök adjusted his non-existent glasses and analyzed calmly. “But the chances of us completing it are pretty slim.”

“What do you mean by slim chances?” Wu Chang raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it just the three of us competing?”

“That’s where you’re mistaken. I say it’s impossible to complete because this game is made too realistically. Ever since I entered, I’ve been observing everything—the physical sensations, even the dust on the ground visible to the naked eye—there are no flaws or bugs. If it weren’t for you two, I’d almost suspect I’ve time-traveled. Given our ordinary physical conditions, there’s no way we could dig out a ten cubic meter space five meters underground in just two hours and twenty minutes. Even if we had five or six hours, it would still be impossible.”

“So does that mean we have no chance of getting the Astonishing Breath Technique?” Wu Chang said regretfully.

“No! We do have a chance!” Ragnarök said confidently.

“What chance?” Fang Zhen perked up.

Digging such a large space underground in two hours and twenty minutes was obviously unrealistic—unless they were given double the time or their physical abilities were drastically enhanced.

But neither was possible, especially the second. They hadn’t found any way to improve their physical condition yet, and the only method required completing this very task first—a paradox.

“We join forces!” Ragnarök glanced back at Lin Qi and smiled faintly. “This NPC is incredibly dumb, only following the set program. I said I’m 19,000 years old, and he believed me without question—that proves my point.”

“Join forces? How?” Fang Zhen asked curiously. “The NPC said each of us must dig out ten cubic meters.”

Ragnarök shook his index finger and pushed up his imaginary glasses. “It says each of us must dig ten cubic meters, but how does it really define ‘each’? I mentioned before, this game is very realistic. What if the three of us dig together, each taking a turn, all in the same spot?”

“With our combined effort, we can definitely dig out ten cubic meters in two hours and twenty minutes. As for the Astonishing Breath Technique, it’s even simpler. I already said this game is realistic—whoever obtains it can teach it to others. That way, we all can learn it.”

“Damn! I’ve never been so impressed by anyone in my life. Brother, you’re the first!” Fang Zhen was stunned, as if a new world had opened before him. He never imagined a fully virtual game could be played this way.

---

“All right! Let’s team up!” Wu Chang nodded and glanced at Ragnarök. “By the way, let’s get acquainted. I’m Wu Chang, vice president of the Tianwei Guild in the martial arts game ‘Pilgrimage.’ If you’re interested in joining a guild, you can come to Tianwei. I guarantee you’ll get at least a core member’s status.”

“The Tianwei Guild of Pilgrimage?” Fang Zhen was shocked upon hearing Wu Chang’s introduction, his eyes full of disbelief.

In this era dominated by virtual games, the martial arts masterpiece ‘Pilgrimage’ was a global sensation with a daily online population reaching one billion. Even a second or third-tier guild in Pilgrimage was worth over a billion dollars and had more than fifty thousand members.

Top-tier guilds were valued at hundreds of billions, boasting memberships in the millions, rivaling some world-class corporations. Among the five major guilds in Pilgrimage, Tianwei was one of them.

The core member benefits in Tianwei were second to none, rivaling the top professional players on the Mecha Continent.

“So you’re Sister Wu! Nice to meet you. If I ever want to join a guild, Tianwei will be my first choice,” Ragnarök said, surprised and looking at Wu Chang with newfound respect. His opinion of the game High Martial Arts Arrival had just improved significantly.

Pilgrimage was the emperor among virtual games, and its Tianwei guild’s vice president wasn’t focused on managing the guild but had come to this new game, even planning to recruit members here. This showed how optimistic Tianwei was about High Martial Arts Arrival’s future.

As Fang Zhen, Ragnarök, and Wu Chang exchanged words, the viewers in the livestream room were left speechless.

“A team-up bug! They’re going to gang up and farm these NPC noobs!”

“Brother Ragnarök! Please accept my kneecaps.”

“Amazing! I’ve never known games could be played like this!”

“Hurry! Someone let me in—I want to farm those NPCs too!”

While the crowd was caught up in their frenzy of admiration and discussion, Fang Zhen, Ragnarök, and Wu Chang arrived at the small warehouse and began digging. Each took turns with a shovel, working with endless joy and growing strength.