Chapter 138: Chapter 122: The Astonishing Yakro
Inside the underground confinement room of the Martial Arts Hall.
"Damn! Is this the Descent of High Martial? It’s completely different from the 2D screens I saw in videos. The ground texture and the sense of gravity are unbelievably real."
"I made it! I finally made it in! Now no one can stop me from excavating an underground city!"
"Is there any recruitment going on? I’m a rookie who can dig and punch, just provide food, lodging, and martial arts."
...
As soon as fifty newbies appeared, the entire underground confinement room felt like it had exploded. Either they were marveling at the realism of the Descent of High Martial, or they were seeking team formation and sponsorship, effortlessly presenting themselves like veterans, completely incomparable to the first batch of newcomers two or three seasons ago.
"Great! Both Elders, you’ve also made it in." Lu Fanchen looked at a man and a woman among the newcomers. The man appeared to be around thirty, like a giant bear, while the woman, much younger, had long reddish-brown hair, a shapely figure, and a wild aura likened to a fire elf.
These two were none other than the Saint-level existences from Mythical Paradise—Axe Saint Li Tianxing and Blade Saint Lin Xinyao, both veteran experts of Mythical Paradise, whose strength was no less than Celestial Might’s Zhao Hu.
"We got lucky, making it into the top fifty just before the excavation assessment deadline," remarked Li Tianxing, resembling a giant bear, "I do wonder what the game developers were thinking, making the test involve digging. Digging is one thing, testing the use of bodily strength and efficiency, but I can’t believe I ranked only 45th. I don’t understand how so many people in this game are good at digging."
"You did better than me, I almost didn’t make the list," Lin Xinyao said with a wry smile, "If the outside world knew two Saint-level experts like us performed like this, they’d die laughing."
"The two of you don’t need to mind this," Lu Fanchen explained with a smile, "From my investigation, ever since this game initiated the excavation test, many players have been endlessly researching how to improve their excavation efficiency, even studying muscle exertion to an astonishing degree. It’s already great that the two of you got on the list on your first try."
"What should we do next?" Lin Xinyao could only take it as consolation after hearing this, "We don’t have many people coming in. I’ve checked; there are only six of us. According to the information we received earlier, do we first dig to earn points and then quickly purchase martial arts to enhance ourselves?"
"No need, that’s too slow," Lu Fanchen shook his head, "I’ve already spent money to buy fifty thousand points. These points are enough for the six of us to steadily advance to Apprentice Level and master all basic martial arts. Once we reach Apprentice Level and have proficiency in all basic martial arts, we’ll rent a B2 Level weapon from the Martial Arts Hall and tackle the maze tunnel team instance. With our level, even at Apprentice Level, we should be able to wear down a Single-Horned Gold-devouring Rat."
"Although killing a Single-Horned Gold-devouring Rat earns points and contributions less efficiently than at Red Moon Mountain, that team instance hasn’t been cleared by any of the old teams yet. It’s a great opportunity for us to catch up. As long as we secure the first kill, I believe the rewards will be generous."
"Alright, we’ll follow your lead," Li Tianxing and Lin Xinyao nodded, agreeing with the plan.
Meanwhile, as the newbie players were making noise, their chatter woke up Yakro, who had been sleeping on the second floor.
"What’s going on here?"
Yakro stepped out of her room, noticing quite a few new members of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall on the training ground on the first floor.
These new members of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, without any guidance from instructors, were either learning the Breathing Technique or practicing martial arts. Their reckless dedication was beyond what she knew of the Martial Arts Academy Disciples’ craziness.
When these new members noticed her, they frequently greeted her and offered help, behaving so warmly like angels that she began to question if she had turned silly after these two or three days of sleep.
Although her time at the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was indeed the most comfortable period of her life.
No need to worry about sneak attacks, no need to fret over whether there would be food tomorrow and whether she’d go hungry, and no need to fear for her life at the sight of monsters in the wild.
Except for the somewhat inferior synthetic food, life at the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was so good that it made her a bit lazy and complacent.
"Did we wake you up?" Lin Qi asked apologetically as Yakro came out, "They just got here and are still excited. By tomorrow, they probably won’t disturb your rest."
"Hall Master Lin, have you returned because the results from Red Moon Mountain are in?" Yakro curiously asked.
The Great Ape Gang, spurred by the White Feather Gang, had already decided to target Red Moon Mountain. Yakro knew about Lin Qi’s plan to launch a night raid on the Great Ape Gang’s base camp, and the news had even spread to the Martial Arts Hall, with vagabonds working there discussing it.
Now that the night raid had succeeded and revenge from the Great Ape Gang was imminent, Lin Qi’s return could only mean that Red Moon Mountain’s affairs had concluded.
"Yes, the Great Ape Gang is no more," Lin Qi nodded.
Now, although the Great Ape Gang has been eliminated, except for some well-informed forces, the ordinary vagabonds in Chasing Light City have not received the news so quickly. After all, the vagabonds who watched the battle at Red Moon Mountain before were those who have always been active in the wild, not the vagabonds residing in Chasing Light City. The vagabonds in the Abandoned Area can only wait for the major gangs to spread the news.
"The Great Ape Gang is gone?" Yakro was dumbfounded after hearing this.
She didn’t think Lin Qi had any reason to lie to her, but at the same time, she couldn’t believe that the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall could oppose the Great Ape Gang. After all, the Great Ape Gang was an old and formidable force in the wild outside Chasing Light City, its foundation unimaginable and certainly not something the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s few people could confront.
"This is no longer a secret. It’s estimated that by tomorrow morning, this news will spread across Chasing Light City." Lin Qi looked at the stunned Yakro and smiled.
"Is it really gone?" Yakro looked at Lin Qi’s certain tone, and although she found it hard to believe, Lin Qi’s relaxed expression couldn’t be faked. After hesitating for a while, she earnestly said, "Hall Master Lin, I wonder if I can work here?"
"Work? You?" Lin Qi looked at Yakro, who suddenly spoke up, and couldn’t help but scrutinize Yakro, whose hands were already crippled.
Although Yakro had indeed provided him with very important information that helped him a lot, it wasn’t that he was being harsh. He didn’t think Yakro, with her crippled hands, could do any work at the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
"My hands are crippled, but I have other specialties." Yakro said defiantly, seeing Lin Qi evaluating her.
"Specialties? What kind of specialties?" Lin Qi looked at Yakro again. In terms of appearance, there was nothing to criticize; she was definitely a beauty among the Three-Eyed Race and an exceptional one by human aesthetic standards as well. But in the harsh world of High Martial, it didn’t count as any kind of specialty, especially when both hands were crippled.
"I’m not talking about what you’re thinking of." Yakro said, her fair face gaining a hint of red as she saw Lin Qi glance at her again, "I used to be a Pharmacist. I can make many basic potions."
"You’re a Pharmacist?" Lin Qi looked at Yakro with some surprise, "Weren’t you a Wanderer who liked to plunder?"
In the world of High Martial, a Pharmacist is an even more sought-after profession than a Mechanician. Various enterprises in the suburbs of Chasing Light City are willing to pay high salaries for them. Even mid-level members of suburban gangs would be envious of their treatment.
It’s hard to imagine Yakro being a Pharmacist, not knowing how to enjoy a good life, and actually learning from others to rob and seek thrills.
"Do you think I wanted to be a Wanderer?" Yakro said helplessly, seeing Lin Qi’s disbelief, "I had no choice but to roam the major cities."
"No choice? In major cities, the status of a Pharmacist should be high, right? Even if you can’t make it in one city, you can go to another one." Lin Qi said, puzzled.
The profession of Pharmacist, even if it’s just a certified basic level, can make potions helpful to Martial Artists. So, their status in major cities is very high, and they’re warmly welcomed by major forces. They don’t have to worry about not having a place to stay.
"But what if a major force finds out that I have mastered a unique elixir?" Yakro asked.
"A unique elixir? Something you researched yourself?" Lin Qi was instantly shocked.
Any unique elixir useful to Martial Artists represents massive wealth. Any major force knowing this would certainly try to get it into their hands and even keep the secret forever.
In this situation, a Pharmacist without strength and deep background will indeed find it difficult to survive. Even if they flee to other cities, the major force aware of this secret will certainly find ways to obtain the unique elixir’s recipe and then eliminate others who know how to make it.
"Yes, something I stumbled upon in my research." Yakro nodded.
"Can you tell me more?" Lin Qi asked curiously, "Of course, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you."
"I’ve already ended up like this. There’s nothing I can’t say." Yakro didn’t hesitate, saying slowly, "I discovered a Frenzy Potion that can slightly enhance the physique in a short period. The enhancement is around 20%, lasting about five minutes. After five minutes, the body will fall into a state of weakness, and it will take several hours to recover."
"Enhancement by 20%? Are you not joking?" Lin Qi felt like Yakro was joking.
Normally, a potion that can increase power by 10% for those below Martial Artists is considered a treasure that suburban pharmacies can’t even grab fast enough.
As for a potion that can enhance physique by 20%, which means both strength and speed will be increased by around 20%, it’s unheard of. If someone could get such a potion, it would undoubtedly be a lifesaver in the wild.
"So, Hall Master Lin, after hearing about this potion, do you dare to take me in?" Yakro teased, looking at Lin Qi, who was surprised.