Absolute Death Game

Xiao Buli shook hands with Wu Tao, but asked somewhat unusually, "Can you really perform the Plum Blossom Point Pressing Skills?"

"Well, that, hehe, I can't just reveal that willy-nilly," Wu Tao said with a mysteriously sly grin. Xiao Buli didn't press further, but despite Wu Tao's silence, he didn't believe he wouldn't be able to find out for himself.

"What about Liu Xing, then? I feel like he may already know the secret?"

Zhang Yaoyang shook his head, "Liu Xing is too emotional; it's better if he doesn't know about our business for now. If in the future we need to act, we'll inform him when the time comes."

"So when do you plan to act?"

Zhang Yaoyang thought for a moment, "There's no specific time yet, but there are two criteria we can use to decide: one is when we have enough strength to contend with the company; the other is when time no longer allows us to delay. The emergence of either situation will signal our move to action. Any more questions?"

Xiao Buli shook his head; he had asked everything he wanted to.

Zhang Yaoyang continued, "Then, if you want to communicate anything with us in the future, come to this restroom. The entire company is riddled with surveillance cameras and listening devices, but Old Bai tampered with the ones here, so it's the only safe place."

Xiao Buli nodded, not knowing how they had managed it, but it put his mind at ease.

Zhang Yaoyang gave further instructions about confidentiality and then said, "You should go out now, any longer and it will raise suspicion."

Xiao Buli nodded, "What about you guys? How will you go back?"

Zhang Yaoyang smiled, "We have our ways."

Xiao Buli didn't say anything more. Although the others weren't from any Mage Professions, they were veterans and certainly had some special abilities. He didn't need to worry about them.

Back in his room, Xiao Buli lay down on his bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. The thought that there were many others like him around brought additional hope to his heart, at least he wasn't fighting alone anymore, he thought.

The next morning, he got up late again and went to the computer room. When he crossed paths with the same people from yesterday, they all nodded to each other without saying a word.

After logging into the game and powering up his computer, Xiao Buli checked his Experience Points, which were already over thirty thousand, meaning he didn't need to grind for a while. And since his Gale Sword Skills had already reached LV10, his next step should be to earn the title of Sword Master. But before that, there was something else he needed to confirm.

The incident last night with Wu Tao poking him had lingered in his mind. From his experience with gaming, he knew it was crucial to learn from setbacks, to understand what happened to avoid future mistakes. He was aware that in the game, it wasn't just about knowing one's own skills when engaging in PvP, but also having an understanding of other professions.

As the saying goes, knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. Therefore, upon logging in, he went straight to the Si Hai Martial Arts Hall to check the available skills.

The core skill for the Qigong Master, Fighter, and Martial Monk professions is 'Internal Energy,' just like how 'Taoist Heart' is for the Taoist profession. The level of Internal Energy also determines the height of the skills Qigong Masters can learn.

Similar to the Taoist Heart, Internal Energy cannot be upgraded through combat experience. Instead, it's enhanced through the practice of Internal Cultivation Methods. The most basic practice is to reach LV10 in basic cultivation, which increases the internal power value cap by 100 points.

Elevating any Internal Cultivation Methods to LV10 improves Internal Energy by one level and increases the internal power value by another 100 points, meaning a Level 10 Internal Energy Qigong Master could possess 1000 points of Internal Energy.

Of course, due to different focal points, both Fighters and Martial Monks have a lower cap on Internal Energy levels.

After a brief search through the list, he found what he was looking for.

Vein-Sealing Finger (Finger Skills): With profound Internal Energy, it cuts off the target's meridians, paralyzing them for 60 seconds. Any form of attack may break this state, consuming 20 points of Internal Energy. Requirements: Internal Energy LV3, Basic Finger Skills LV5.

Armor-Piercing Force (Special Skills): Activation lets you enter a state where your Internal Cultivation Methods bypass the target's Armor and Protection, directly affecting their body, though using this skill will double the consumption of Internal Energy. Requirements: Internal Energy LV4.

This was probably the skill Wu Tao used yesterday. As for why he cried out "Plum Blossom Point Pressing Skills," Xiao Buli guessed that Wu Tao might need to employ a form of self-hypnosis as he did, to use the skills in the game. Of course, there's another explanation – it was purely for show.

Having clarified the things he wanted to understand, Xiao Buli was about to leave when an NPC named Yan Beifei approached him suddenly.

Yan Beifei: "Brother, could it be that you've come to learn the Internal Cultivation Methods?"

Xiao Buli said, "Of course not, I was just looking casually. Inner Cultivation Methods are really profound, and I'm afraid I don't have that much time to cultivate."

The reason Xiao Buli said this was, naturally, because core skills couldn't be leveled up with battle experience, and Internal Energy was no exception. To learn and improve it, one must cultivate Internal Cultivation Techniques for a long period. Although it may not be as troublesome as cultivating the Taoist Heart, it was estimated to be not easy either.

He simply did not have the time to fuss over it.

Yan Beifei said, "There actually is a shortcut. Frankly speaking, ten years ago I learned a set of Internal Cultivation Methods called the Flower Shifting Great Technique. After maxing out this cultivation method, it won't directly increase my Internal Energy but I can transmit it to someone else.

The person who receives the transmission can improve their Internal Energy, and compared to normal Internal Cultivation Methods, the Internal Energy increase by the Flower Shifting Great Technique is twice as much. If you are willing to offer ten Gold Coins, I'm willing to pass on to you the ten levels of the Flower Shifting Great Technique that I've already cultivated."

But is there really such a good thing? Xiao Buli thought carefully and realized it wasn't so wonderful. Even if one were to directly learn the basic Inner Strength, it would only cost some extra time. If it weren't for the pressing urgency of time, it really wouldn't be worth it to waste ten Gold Coins just to save that bit of time.

However, Xiao Buli felt that it might be worth learning now for emergency use.

Still, he hesitated. The promise of Inner Strength with an upper limit increased by 100 points was so miraculous—how come he had never heard of it before?

"Your set of Inner Cultivation Methods doesn't have any side effects, does it?"

Yan Beifei replied, "Because of the unique nature of the Flower Shifting Great Technique, once you have received this method, you will not be able to learn any other Internal Cultivation Methods. Of course, you can forget this technique and then learn other Internal Cultivation Methods."

Xiao Buli thought to himself that no wonder this thing was a complete chicken rib for those who had time to slowly cultivate their Inner Cultivation Methods; however, it was somewhat valuable for him. He didn't have much time to cultivate Inner Cultivation Methods, and learning it was not bad after all.

If it didn't work out, he could just delete this skill in the future if he wanted to learn other Internal Cultivation Methods.

For the upcoming trial in a month—throw caution to the wind!

Xiao Buli countered, "If it's five Gold Coins, I'll do it."

Yan Beifei replied, "Deal. So when shall we start the transmission?"

System prompt: Yan Beifei wants to transmit the Flower Shifting Great Technique to you. Do you accept? Yes/No.

Biting the bullet, Xiao Buli chose "Yes," paid five Gold Coins, and Yan Beifei brought him to an enclosed space in the back of the Martial Arts Hall. Yan Beifei told Xiao Buli to sit cross-legged, then he sat down behind Xiao Buli, and with a pat of his palms on Xiao Buli's back and the sound of a strange whoosh, Xiao Buli found a new white Energy Bar appearing below his Mana Bar.

Clicking with the mouse, it showed an internal power value of 200 points.

System prompt: You have received the transmission of the Flower Shifting Great Technique, unlocking a temporary Internal Energy System. At present, your Internal Energy level is LV1; you can now learn and use skills that require Internal Energy.

Upon opening the Skill Bar, indeed there were two new skills.

Flower Shifting Great Technique MAX (Alien True Qi): Grants you the ability to use Internal Energy.

Internal Energy LV1 (Cannot be upgraded): After long-term research on the inhalation within meridians, you've mastered a brand-new form of energy called Internal Energy. Due to a special issue with your Internal Energy, it cannot be upgraded through any means at the moment.

Xiao Buli once again arrived outside the Martial Arts Hall. Although he only had LV1 Internal Energy, it was enough for him to learn and use some skills that required Internal Energy. Although he couldn't learn those powerful skills, he could still learn some of the more basic skills.

Xiao Buli directly ignored those primarily offensive skills, which were completely chicken ribs to him. He set his sights directly on the Qinggong skills. This was what he needed.

Leaping from Dry Land: Leap high into the air, reaching an extremely high point, consuming 10 points of internal power value, learning requires Internal Energy LV1 (The effects of this skill will improve with the level of Internal Energy).

Cloud Ascension Leap: Leap high into the air, reaching an extremely high place, and when the momentum ends, you can still step upward, requires Leaping from Dry Land, Internal Energy LV1. (The effects of this skill will improve with the level of Internal Energy).

Flying on Grass: Increases your speed by thirty percent and reduces your weight by thirty percent, lasting for 30 seconds, consuming 30 Internal Energy, learning requires Internal Energy LV1. (The effects of this skill will improve with the level of Internal Energy).

Internal Energy Infusion: Infuse your weapon with Internal Energy, increasing its power and providing extra attack strength. Every level of your Internal Energy can give you an additional 10 points of attack power and in this state, your Internal Energy will continue to be consumed. (The effects of this skill will improve with the level of Internal Energy).

Xiao Buli was speechless upon seeing this situation; the trouble with Internal Strength skills was the absence of skill levels, and their strength was entirely dependent on Internal Energy. With only one level of Internal Energy, it was plain that the power wouldn't amount to much. But having already spent the money, he decided to learn all the skills available for Internal Energy LV1 in one go.

Thinking this, he spent another five Gold Coins to learn these four skills that could be learned with just one level of Internal Energy.

Looking at the Gold Coins in his bag, having spent most of them in just a few days, Xiao Buli genuinely felt the sting. What he needed to do next was to go and obtain the title of Swordsmanship Master. Thinking this, Xiao Buli walked out of Si Hai Martial Arts Hall. (To be continued.

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