CHAPTER 05

Night had already fallen when I finally relogged. Yet, since it was so close to the summer solstice in-game, I reckoned it would get a lot darker when the seasons changed. For a moment, I just marvelled at how the air felt somewhat colder, crispier, and easier to breathe.

Understandably, the numerous shops had closed for the night and the streets were significantly more desolate than before. Still, however, I spotted the occasional player frolicking around either alone or in smaller groups. Naturally, there were patrolling guards on night duty as well.

By now, I reckon the starting cities were positively brimming with new players as more and more people entered the game that was already being dubbed “the game of the century” by the media.

After strolling around the town aimlessly for a bit, I found myself returning to the raised platform where the recruitment would take place tomorrow. Above the platform, a small cloud of fireflies played in the moonlight.

“I guess this is as good a spot as any…” I thought to myself. Since the inns were all full, I hadn’t been able to procure room for the night.

“Not that I would’ve afforded it even if I found an inn with vacancies…” Which begged the question, how did other players accumulate money at this point in the game?

“Probably by doing odd jobs…” I remembered the notice board I had seen in Easton, and the numerous requests it had contained. “Or maybe by stealing.”

I also wouldn’t be surprised if some players had started looting already.

“Honestly, the game might be a bit too realistic.” Throwing new players into a strange world with nothing but ten copper coins to fend for themselves? No wonder I had found criticism and complaints online.

Squatting down, I folded my legs and sat down in a lotus position. In the real world, a position like this would be beyond uncomfortable. Yet, for some reason, my in-game avatar found it surprisingly comfortable.

Taking a deep breath, I let the cold, slightly damp, night air fill my lungs.

“Okay, empty your mind.” I followed the instructions I had read online. “Focus on your extremities and visualize your blood coursing through your veins…”

It was easier said than done, but I had plenty of time for trial and error.

Occasionally, as I focused entirely on my breathing, a random player would show up and ask me some inane question. At first, I didn't mind it, but after the seventh player asked me what I knew about tomorrow’s recruitment, I finally gave up and moved to the opposite side of the platform.

There, hidden from plain view, I resumed my efforts.

An hour quickly turned into two, and when I finally felt like I had accomplished something, the sound of rambunctious laughter jolted me out of my daze.

Just as I was about to release a frustrated yell of exasperation, a gratifying prompt appeared, compensating me for my efforts.

[“Through trial, error, substantial luck, and a smidgeon of talent, you were successful in harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit, at least temporarily. In doing so, you have unlocked the proficiency “Meditation”. You can check the progress of your proficiencies under the proficiency tab.”]

Immediately, I checked my updated proficiencies.

[Proficiencies]

[“Swordsmanship” - Beginner Lv.4]

[“Meditation” - Beginner Lv.1]

To call myself pleased would be an understatement. According to the posts I had read while eating dinner, only a tiny minority of the playerbase had reported being able to unlock this particular proficiency.

Naturally, as soon as I read about it, I knew that I had to have it. Meditation was the bread and butter of any cultivator worth their salt.

“If you’re not a demonic cultivator, I guess.” But I bet even a demonic cultivator would benefit by having the meditation proficiency; there was no downside, after all.

So far, I hadn’t been able to find any information online about whether players had found a way to join the demonic side - or if there even was one to begin with. However, since I had no intention of relying on despicable means, I wasn’t overly downhearted by my lack of findings.

Too excited to go to sleep or worse: logout, I stretched my neck to see what all the fuss was about.

On the opposite side of the platform, where I had initially tried to meditate, a party of players were gathered, talking jovially. From a glance, I quickly recognized the handsome player from earlier; not surprisingly, his party was joined by the two girls as well.

A part of me wanted to walk over and join them but, on second thought, an even bigger part wanted to develop my proficiencies. Thus, I stayed on my side of the platform, doing my best to pretend like I couldn’t overhear parts of their conversation.

“So his name is Percival.” A suitable name considering his chivalrous actions. Ultimately, however, I wasn’t interested in what they would do once they learnt how to fly.

And so, I meditated.

Without a timepiece, it was nearly impossible to tell how much time had elapsed when I exited my meditation. During my session, I had refrained from trying to create my own cultivation method.

My decision was based on multiple reasons, all of whom I thought were quite sensible. The foremost of which was that I had no clue what a good cultivation method constituted. Even if I did accidentally fumble upon a way to cultivate, who was to say I wouldn’t accidentally cripple myself by following it? At the very least, I needed to learn more about the ins and outs of cultivation before I branched off on my own.

Needless to say, I wondered more than once what kind of cultivation method Fishbones had created.

Stretching my legs, I checked my proficiencies.

“No level yet…” It wasn’t strange since I still struggled with finding that elusive feeling of detachment. Still, despite not seeing it on my proficiency tab, I felt like I had made some progress.

Lifting my arm, I smiled excitedly.

“Finally.” The arm I had used to defend myself with in the spar against Hou Wen had finally stopped hurting.

Although intriguing, meditating was nothing compared to the feeling I got from holding a sword in my hands.

Thus, after throwing a glance at the jovial group of players, which had not-unexpectedly grown since I last concentrated on them, I left to do some of Bishop’s Kendo Drills.

I couldn’t help but to smile at the name.

It took some time, but I eventually found an open, secluded space where I reckoned I could exercise in peace. Despite the fact that it was still nighttime, the sun was already rising in the horizon, providing me with some much needed lighting.

And so, with a heavy sword in my hands, I relaxed my shoulder.

“Let’s do this.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

…

[“Bishop’s Kendo Drills executed. Performance rating 36%.”]

[“Results: +1 Swordsmanship Lv. (Beginner 4 > 5); upper body strength, breathing, and endurance have improved marginally.”]

Naturally, I smiled a pleased smile as I read the results of my practice session. If the drills weren’t so staggeringly exhausting, I’d do nothing but grind the drills repeatedly all day.

“Not bad, kid.” A voice startled me from my rumination. Turning around, I saw a pair of town guards watching me attentively. “Though I don’t recognize the style, I can at least tell you’re improving.” The other guard nodded in agreement.

“Uhm, thanks?” I said in-between breaths, still covered in perspiration from the exercise.

“Don’t worry.” One of the guards smiled as he noticed my consternation. “We don’t mind you using the training grounds during nighttime, since you’re not exactly bothering anyone. But I suggest you don’t let the captain catch you. She's a stickler for protocol and, without being at least a trainee, you’re not actually permitted to be here.”

My eyebrows rose in response. Looking around the area, I couldn’t comprehend how I hadn’t noticed the fact that this was the guard’s training grounds before. In hindsight, it seemed obvious.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I apologized. “And don’t worry, I was just leaving anyway.”

“Oh, and get some sleep!” The other guard yelled at my retreating back. I turned around with a confused look on my face. “Believe me, you will want to be well rested for the sect recruitment later.”

Nodding slowly, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to take his word for it.

“I will, and thank you.”

The guard dismissed me with a wave.

After a short stroll, I was back at the platform, my sweaty clothes drawing an uncomfortable amount of attention from the expanding crowd.

Staring at the morning sun that was just beginning to peek over the town walls, I reckoned it was safe to presume I still had a couple of hours left until noon. Thus, before anyone could vie for my attention, I logged out to get some well-deserved sleep.

…

I was still feeling a bit dopey when the alarm on my phone began blaring, awaking me from my dreamless slumber. Nevertheless, realizing what was at stake, I forcefully pushed myself out of the tantalizing comfort of my bed.

After a quick visit to the restroom, despite feeling faintly morning sick, I forced some breakfast down my throat. With my morning routines taken care of, I felt a lot better.

Thus, after impulsively sending a text message to one of my old gaming buddies, I logged in to Cultivation Online.

When the darkness retreated, I opened my eyes only to discover I had spawned in the smack middle of a huddled crowd of players. The area, which had only held a group of players before, was now filled to the brim, with people stacked like sardines as far as the eye could see.

Nevertheless, despite the crowdedness, my surroundings were suspiciously quiet, with only the occasional whisper reaching my ears. And after taking a brief look around, it wasn’t difficult to ascertain why.

Two cultivators were talking privately with each other on the middle of the raised platform, which otherwise remained empty. Like the cultivator I had seen yesterday, the two cultivators wore white, daoist robes with intricate black patterns embellished on them. Their robes were obviously a homage to the white tiger, but still managed to look refined and elegant.

Although I had missed what had happened, based on the heavy atmosphere bearing down on the crowd, I reckoned the two cultivators were responsible for the peacefulness.

After nearly fifteen minutes of just standing still, waiting, one of the cultivators nodded to the other.

With a loud, harsh clap, he promptly seized the crowd’s scattered attention. Yet, before the cultivator could start, he was rudely interrupted.

“Finally!” A random player shouted in indignation. Moreover, his exclamation aroused more than one murmur of “yeah” from the more disgruntled players in the crowd. I opted to stay quiet, like the majority of the crowd did.

Although I couldn't find the person who was responsible for the interruption, the brief expression of irritation on the cultivator’s face promised revenge.

“Since there are a lot more aspirants than usual today.” The cultivator spoke slowly but confidently. “We’ve decided to hold the recruitment twice: one will start now and the second one will take place an hour after noon.”

When none protested, the cultivator continued.

“The White Tiger Sect is one out of five 4th rank sects governing the eastern continent.” The cultivator announced proudly. “So even if you aren’t talented enough to join the White Tiger sect, I’m sure one of our subsidiary sects will have you.”

I doubted anyone missed the hint of ridicule in the cultivator’s voice as he talked about the subsidiary sects. He didn’t exactly hide his contempt for the lesser sects.

“Of course, there’s a hierarchy.” I sighed, anticipating the amount of controversy this would produce.

“I’ll repeat that again.” The cultivator slowly looked around the crowd, his eyes seemingly stopping a little whenever they swept over one of the disgruntled players from earlier. “The White Tiger Sect is no place for garbage.”

Some people muttered quietly in response, but no one spoke up.

“Fortunately, Inner Disciple Xiang and I brought two aptitude crystals with us. Touch the crystal, and we’ll know whether you have the aptitude to join the White Tiger Sect as an outer disciple or not.” The cultivator sighed loudly, as if all of this was just a tiresome chore he’d been forced to do.

“If you’re accepted, wait over there.” The cultivator gestured carelessly at a part of the raised platform with his sleeve. “If you aren’t accepted…” The cultivator’s eyes hardened. “You are to remove yourself from the recruitment platform immediately. Any retardation will be dealt with promptly.”

For a second, a deafening silence blanketed the area.

“Now, form a line of two, starting at the bottom of the stairs.”

My eyes widened. As luck would have it, I was already standing in the general vicinity of the platform’s stairs; after a quick squeeze, I had guaranteed myself a place in line.

Next to me stood a young boy with an excited grin on his face. The shorter boy reminded me of Atom, although his hair matched Dark’s.

Glancing backwards at the chaotic line behind me, I saw neither a hint of Atom nor his older brother.

“They are both online, so if they made it, they should be around here somewhere…” Thankfully, since the recruitment was about to begin, all I had to do was wait for them to appear.

After nearly five minutes of shouting, cussing, and scrambling, the semblance of a line was formed starting at the platform ahead of me before slithering all the way to the crab cake shop where a curious-looking, old grandma leaned over a counter, observing the event.

Although she didn’t seem to see me, she did wave to a couple of the teenagers standing in line behind me.

Two pairs waited in front of me, surprisingly including Lilac, the other woman from earlier, Percival, and a stranger who looked somewhat familiar.

“Probably another member of their group.”

Then, with another grating clap that defied expectations, the white-robed cultivator, whose name I had yet to learn, spoke loudly.

“Let’s start.”

…