Chapter 185: Sending Zhan Sheng to the Taixue Sect
Zhan Sheng had been running back and forth in Wang’an County for the past few days.
Because her cultivation was low, she was still taking on quests to skin demon beasts.
The last demon beast invasion had left Wang’an County with a massive pile of carcasses, and the stench was unbearable all day long.
The players still in Wang’an County worked almost day and night processing these demon beast carcasses.
They would strip out the important spirit materials and burn the rest.
Her past few days in the game had made Zhan Sheng marvel time and again at how frighteningly real this game world was.
If not for the chat channels and virtual screens in front of her, no one would likely mistake this for a virtual game world.
’This is clearly real.’
Zhan Sheng had always been a person with immense self-control. To achieve a goal, she could patiently and repeatedly study and practice until she succeeded.
She used to have a little niece who loved video games so much she would stay up all night playing.
Back then, Zhan Sheng thought her niece had no self-control. ’Even if you love something, there should be a limit. How could she completely ignore her biological clock and even neglect her health for a game?’
Now, having rested for only a few hours in the last three days and barely logging off except for basic necessities, Zhan Sheng felt as if that old thought had come back like a boomerang and smacked her right in the face.
’It’s just a game.’
’She didn’t even know how long she had to live. If she didn’t play now, she might not get another chance.’
She had become so engrossed in it lately that she barely paid attention to news from the outside world.
"Zhan Sheng."
Someone suddenly called out to her. She looked up and saw it was a new player who had joined at the same time as her.
"News just came out today. The expert Xue Yao is leading a team to First Mountain to hunt demon beasts. You wanna go?"
Zhan Sheng was a little surprised. "As a group?"
"Yeah. With the expert Xue Yao leading, our chances are much better. He’s mainly going to find some materials, and helping us is secondary."
Zhan Sheng thought for a moment, then shook her head. "You guys go ahead. I plan to stay here for another two days."
’There were still a few things she needed to figure out.’
The new player nodded. "Alright."
Zhan Sheng watched him leave, then went to the place in Wang’an County where the Sect was purchasing carcass materials.
She handed over a batch of freshly stripped spirit materials from demon beasts, and a system notification told her she had gained 18 points.
These kinds of quests were basically free points, and the fact she had skinned so many in just one hour online was a sign of her exceptional talent.
Currently, all the Sect’s materials were collected centrally and then sold by designated players. The player in charge of purchasing saw Zhan Sheng turn in 18 demon beast spirit materials and remarked with some emotion, "I remember you were just here an hour ago, right? You dismantle them so fast. For a new player, you have so much Spiritual Energy. Your Spirit Root must be really strong."
Without a Magic Treasure, you had to use Spiritual Energy to break down demon beast carcasses. The player handling acquisitions had never seen anyone else with Zhan Sheng’s speed.
Most players were considered good if they could process just a few in an hour.
Many others were also slowed down by the psychological toll of the demon beasts’ disgusting appearances.
Zhan Sheng just smiled without saying anything.
Seeing that she didn’t answer, the player figured Zhan Sheng probably didn’t want to say. Although Spirit Roots weren’t really a secret among players, some people just liked to maintain an air of mystery.
It was best not to press the issue if she didn’t want to talk about it.
Not far from the acquisition stall was a newly built tavern.
This area was designated as a commercial street, but for now, aside from the tavern, nothing else was officially open.
As Zhan Sheng was passing by, someone from the floor above suddenly called out to her, "Young friend, come on up, come on up."
Zhan Sheng looked up and saw a slightly drunk Cultivator.
He looked a bit disheveled, but it complemented his drunken appearance, creating an indescribable air of carefree nonchalance.
Zhan Sheng knew who he was.
Zhai Xiaotian, a somewhat mysterious Cultivator in Wang’an County.
Not only could he come and go from Liu Xian City as he pleased, but he could also smuggle Cultivators from the Longevity Sect.
’This was clearly no simple character.’
The players all knew Zhai Xiaotian was someone special. He loved to drink and would occasionally chat with them, his attitude always amicable.
Of course, the players knew better than to run their mouths in front of Zhai Xiaotian.
Zhan Sheng found it strange, as she had never spoken to Zhai Xiaotian before.
Zhai Xiaotian rarely initiated contact with players.
After hesitating for only a second, Zhan Sheng went up into the tavern.
Upon seeing Zhai Xiaotian, she said, "Senior, did you need me for something?"
Zhai Xiaotian pointed to the seat across from him. "Sit."
On the table where he pointed sat a pot of Spiritual Wine. He had another one in front of himself, so it looked like this one had been prepared especially for Zhan Sheng.
Zhan Sheng didn’t refuse and walked over to sit down.
Zhai Xiaotian gestured to the wine. "It’s for you."
Zhan Sheng didn’t stand on ceremony, picking up the cup and pouring herself a drink.
She smiled as she asked, "What can I do for you, Senior?"
In her real life, she didn’t drink, because alcohol would dull her thoughts and affect her performance.
But in the game, such a delicious Spiritual Wine wouldn’t affect her in reality. Zhan Sheng was happy to experience this completely different way of living.
She had just poured the wine into her cup when Zhai Xiaotian suddenly spoke. "Before joining the Longevity Sect, you’d never been in any other Sect?"
Zhan Sheng’s movements paused for a moment. Then, she answered calmly, "That’s right. I hadn’t discovered my talent until recently."
This was the standard story all the players used.
While it was rare these days for someone with a Spirit Root to go undiscovered, it wasn’t unheard of.
They just all happened to be concentrated in the Longevity Sect—’but who cares? It’s not like anyone is looking into it right now.’
At the very least, the people from the Feique Sect had a tacit understanding not to ask where the Longevity Sect had gotten so many disciples from.
And the common folk of Wang’an County were even less likely to ask.
Zhai Xiaotian just chuckled lightly.
Then he asked, "Do you know which sects dominate the Yunzhou Continent?"
Zhan Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly. She replied, "This junior knows a little. The Li Yun Sect leads in Beast Taming, the Xue Cang Sect in Artifact Refining, and the Spirit God Sect in alchemy. Then there’s our Ten Thousand Immortals Sect and the neighboring Tianyang Sect, standing as two major powers."
These were the five super-sects of the Yunzhou Continent.
Beneath them were quite a few Major Sects, like the Sea View Sect.
And small sects like the Feique Sect were simply innumerable.
Zhai Xiaotian suddenly smiled and said, "Under the Li Yun Sect, there is a Major Sect called the Taixue Sect, a Beast Taming Sect second only to the Li Yun Sect itself. The Taixue Sect will be holding its new disciple entrance examination soon. I have an old acquaintance with an elder in the Taixue Sect. You can use my Token to enter the Taixue Sect."
Zhan Sheng: "..."
System: "Holy crap, a deal this good actually exists?"
"..."
Zhan Sheng’s brow twitched. "Senior, what you’re saying... This junior is just a disciple from a small sect. How could I possibly enter a Major Sect like the Taixue Sect?"
But Zhai Xiaotian replied, "With your talent, staying here is a complete waste. Your Sect Master is fooling around, but are you going to follow her and gamble with your own destiny?"
Zhan Sheng: "..."
System: "Now that’s just slander! The Sect Master has her own troubles, you know!"