Chapter 5: This Game Is Toxic

In a small storage room lit by a single swaying lamp, three players—two men and one woman—were working feverishly to excavate a dark underground pit.

The two men took turns shoveling dirt, while the woman hauled the excavated earth to the surface. Rotating every ten minutes, they maintained maximum efficiency without a pause, moving with the rhythmic precision of emotionless robots.

"This game is incredible," Twilight of the Gods remarked while digging, completely won over by the technical prowess of *Arrival of High Martial Arts*. "It’s truly 100% virtual. The soil isn't just mixed with rocks of varying sizes; even the hardness changes with every shovel strike. Every stroke feels like a new experience."

"I have no idea how the developers pulled this off," Fang Zhen added, nodding in agreement. "To experience something like this for only 4,999 is an absolute steal!"

"It's true," Fang Zhen continued. "Even though the start is a bit tough, the level of freedom is unmatched. I thought this was just an RPG, but the fact that we can dig tunnels... I wonder if we can keep going deeper. If we can, this game is legendary."

"I don't know," Twilight of the Gods said, shaking his head, his eyes filled with anticipation. "We don't have enough data, and the world-building is still a mystery. But if this game really allows for infinite subterranean expansion, it would be a miracle. Given enough time, I’m going to build an entire underground city."

"Do you two feel anything?" Wu Shang suddenly interrupted, her expression somber. "I didn't notice it when we started, but for some reason, I’m feeling a faint, stinging sensation all over my body."

Twilight of the Gods looked at her, confused. "A stinging sensation all over? I don't feel anything. Is there something wrong with this storage room?"

Fang Zhen, upon hearing this, recognized the situation. He looked at Wu Shang with a hint of admiration, acknowledging that the Vice President of the Heavenly Might guild was indeed a cut above the average player. "I know what this is," he said.

"Is there actually something wrong with this room?" Twilight of the Gods asked, pushing up his imaginary glasses. "What's going on, Brother Zhen?"

Fang Zhen paused, then smiled. "It's not a huge issue. The place is just toxic."

"Toxic?" Twilight of the Gods was speechless. How could being poisoned not be a big issue? They were in the middle of a challenge quest!

"No wonder," Wu Shang said, her expression relaxing. "I was wondering why it felt difficult to mobilize my body's energy. So it’s poison."

"Hey, you two," Twilight of the Gods said, looking at his calm companions, "we’re on a challenge quest. If we die, we have to start all over again!"

"Don't worry about that," Fang Zhen explained. "The poison isn't strong enough to kill us within the time limit of the quest."

"Exactly," Wu Shang nodded. "This game is incredibly realistic. It replicates my body control perfectly. I can't purge the toxins, but I can slow their spread. I can easily hold out for half a day."

Fang Zhen and Twilight of the Gods stared at her as if she were a monster. Slowing the spread of toxins within one's own body—was that even a human feat?

Their conversation was overheard by Lin Qi, who had come to supervise the work. He pulled out his small notebook and flipped to Wu Shang’s entry.

*Player: Wu Shang. Age: 18 (self-proclaimed). Physical stats: 99kg of force, 9.8m/s speed.*

After players entered the High Martial Arts world, the system conducted basic physical assessments. Wu Shang’s stats were a hair’s breadth away from a quasi-apprentice level—comparable to a middle schooler in this world. Her martial talent was terrifying.

In this world, people trained from childhood and consumed blood-strengthening supplements. For Wu Shang to reach this level without any local resources was remarkable. This was why Lin Qi had decided to use the "Fitness Breathing Technique" as a reward; he needed to cultivate her as a core asset for the Obsidian Martial Hall.

Two hours later, the trio arrived at the training hall, brimming with excitement.

"Master, we have finished," they reported in unison, prepared to exploit the game’s mechanics.

Lin Qi didn't look up from his desk immediately. After a long moment, he replied calmly, "You have done well and proven your potential. From this moment on, you are official disciples of the Obsidian Martial Hall. Take these three copies of the *Spirit-Startling Breathing Technique*. I hope they help your future."

He placed three freshly copied booklets on the table. The trio grabbed them, ecstatic.

*We beat the system! This NPC isn't very smart!*

They immediately began reading, eager to see how powerful this "treasured technique" was.

*Spirit-Startling Breathing Technique (Volume 1): A top-tier training method for martial apprentices. Divided into three volumes. Uses specific breathing rhythms to stimulate cells and break physical limits... (Exchange cost: 1 Martial Hall Point. Volume 2: 10,000 points. Volume 3: 50,000 points.)*

The three players froze. They had spent two hours, risked poisoning, and used exploits just to get a manual that cost a single point? Was there any difference between this and giving one to everyone?

"Since you are now official disciples, you may accept daily exploration and farming tasks," Lin Qi said, his voice as flat as ever. "Exploration tasks grant one point per square meter of energy-rich land cleared, and you gain priority planting rights. Farming tasks require five points for a single seed of Blood Essence Rice. Every ten grams of harvested rice rewards twenty points. Land rental is one point per square meter for ten days."

He smiled inwardly. Trying to outsmart the game designer? If he couldn't trim these little leeks until they were bald, he would have failed his job.