Why the bug I wrote became a core gameplay mechanic?!
Chapter 640 - 623: Promotion Path

Chapter 640: Chapter 623: Promotion Path

The next day.

Chen Tingquan continued to log into "Reverse Heaven".

The first day’s gaming experience was, at best, mediocre. There wasn’t anything particularly exciting, but the unique feature of consuming elixir pills for cultivation was initially showcased.

Logging in on the second day was more of a habitual action.

"Let’s see how much I can improve today.

"Sigh, I also wonder when I can hunt demon beasts myself to make some cash."

After logging in, he first completed today’s cultivation tasks.

Popping pills, meditating, and completing sect tasks... Once familiar with these things, they don’t actually require much time, and they can be finished in a dozen minutes.

If most of these tasks are left to the system, daily basic cultivation time can even be compressed to around five minutes.

This is quite friendly to casual players.

Of course, if you want to enjoy the highest cultivation multiplier in the game, then you still need to log in for at least 2 hours a day.

It all depends on whether the player wants to play seriously or casually.

After completing cultivation, Chen Tingquan saw a streak of light flash over his character’s head, simultaneously, his realm improved, advancing to: Qi Refining Second Level.

"Hmm? The leveling speed is quite fast."

This cultivation speed surprised Chen Tingquan a bit, because when he logged off yesterday, there was still more than half a progress bar before reaching Qi Refining Second Level.

It’s obvious that "Reverse Heaven" has an offline cultivation mechanism, where the character diligently cultivates even when the player is offline.

Additionally, after logging in today, using high multiplier cultivation time and special sect task rewards, he instantly broke through to Qi Refining Second Level.

All of the character’s attributes enhanced across the board.

Just then, the dual-opening master, the Alchemist qian, appeared before Chen Tingquan once more.

"You’ve broken through so quickly?

"Good, your master indeed didn’t misjudge you, you truly are a good seed for cultivation!

"Your grasp of the Nine Dragon Training Method is indeed stronger than your peers; your master is very pleased!

"Since that’s the case, I should introduce you to the Henggang Sect’s promotion plan."

Chen Tingquan couldn’t help but feel spirited: "Oh? There’s actually a new feature unlocked?"

Clearly, the content he experienced before was only part of the newbie guide.

Before reaching Qi Refining Second Level, players hadn’t even stepped past the threshold of cultivation, so no matter how much cultivation was done, it could only be considered small-time fuss.

During the newbie guide phase, players would rarely encounter many networked gameplay features, just like Chen Tingquan on this seemingly insignificant Henggang Sect hill, mostly encountering mystical NPC brothers, rarely meeting actual players.

One can only meet other players upon entering the Barbaric World.

But clearly, as a highly social network game, "Reverse Heaven" gradually unlocks various social gameplay features once players achieve Qi Refining Second Level.

In the storyline, the Alchemist qian began introducing.

"Like all major sects, the Henggang Sect adopts a four-tier structure. That is, Headquarters - Senior Branch - Intermediate Branch - Basic Branch.

"The branch you’re currently in is the Basic Branch, where all poor disciples descending from the mountain start, and your master observes your aptitude, deciding whether you can advance to the Intermediate Branch.

"Remember, whether you can advance to the Intermediate Branch doesn’t entirely depend on your current realm but on your cultivation speed.

"If cultivation speed is too slow, even barely succeeding in Foundation Establishment won’t get you into the Intermediate Branch; conversely, if cultivation speed is fast, even at just Qi Refining Second Level or Third Level, you can enter the Intermediate Branch for better resources.

"You now qualify to enter the Henggang Sect’s Intermediate Branch, Songyang Third Middle School!"

Chen Tingquan’s mouth twitched slightly, struggling not to burst into laughter.

What the hell is Songyang Third Middle School!

He knew it should be the abbreviation for the Henggang Sect - Songyang Region’s third Intermediate Branch, yet it increasingly felt like "Henggang Middle School Simulator"!

And the current location, shouldn’t it be called Songyang Third Middle School? If advancing further, should it be called Songyang Third High?

Although naming branches is entirely your freedom, this is a bit too much...

The Alchemist qian continued speaking: "Actually, other major sects also recruit outstanding talents in various regions, competing with our Henggang Sect for resources.

"However, the stronger the sect, such as Erosion Spirit Heavenly Palace, Jiuxiao Yunque, etc., the fewer branches they open, and the harder it is to enter.

"For poor disciples, entering such places is almost impossible.

"Your aptitude is good, managing to reach Qi Refining Second Level in such a short time, you can already be promoted to Songyang Third Middle School.

"But remember, in Songyang Third Middle School, it’s mostly geniuses promoted from various basic branches like yours, so competition is very fierce.

"There, rankings and competitions are held regularly; achieving good rankings will earn extra cultivation resources. Otherwise, if you constantly fall behind, you will be eliminated and forced to return here, unable to enjoy the extra resources of the Third Middle School.

"In the entire Songyang Region, besides the Henggang Sect having an Intermediate Branch, there are two other sect branches worth noting, namely the Blood Demon Palace and Qingming Medicine Furnace.

"Sect competitions are frequent too, so you must do your best and avoid bringing disgrace to the Henggang Sect!

"Additionally, there’s a branch of the Great Sect: the Wuxiang Pill Alliance Songyang Branch!

"If you work hard enough, you might have the opportunity to join the Wuxiang Pill Alliance Songyang Branch, and when that happens, even as a Henggang Sect mentor, I would be proud of you..."

Several dialogue options appeared on the screen, some of which addressed Chen Tingquan’s confusion.

There’s no denying that the Alchemist qian’s words were quite informative.

Chen Tingquan roughly grasped it: isn’t this just like high school!

In the entire Songyang Region, the Henggang Sect has a third Intermediate Branch; Blood Demon Palace and Qingming Medicine Furnace each have a branch too, meaning Songyang Region has three schools competing with each other.

As for what these Blood Demon Palace and Qingming Medicine Furnace sects are?

They should be ordinary sects self-proclaimed as "Great Sects" like the Henggang Sect, but can’t compare to truly Great Sects like Erosion Spirit Heavenly Palace.

These three sects in the Songyang Region competing can be understood as three high schools competing for students, enhancing their advancement rates.

But here comes the question.

Chen Tingquan clicked the screen option and asked, "Master, am I not a disciple of the Henggang Sect? Why would you hope for me to join the Wuxiang Pill Alliance?

"Moreover, to join the Wuxiang Pill Alliance, don’t I need to repay the Cultivation Loan with the Henggang Sect first?"

Chen Tingquan had previously understood that players can transfer sects, but to move from a regular sect to one of the Six Major Sects, they must first repay the Cultivation Loan with the small sect and also pay an additional 500 middle-grade spirit stones.

middle-grade spirit stones!

That’s 500 bucks.

So Chen Tingquan didn’t plan to transfer, deciding to stay with the Henggang Sect for leisurely cultivation and slowly amassing funds.

But according to the Alchemist qian, wasn’t there more than one way to get into the Six Major Sects?

The Alchemist qian chuckled and explained, "Student, there’s something you may not know.

"Paying back all spirit stones in the cultivation agreement signed with the Henggang Sect, plus an additional 500 middle-grade spirit stones, is indeed necessary to join the Six Major Sects.

"But that’s the rule for forcibly joining the Six Major Sects; it even has a specific name, known as the ’Sect Change Fee’.

"If you perform excellently and win in sect competitions, catching the Six Major Sects’ attention, then the Six Major Sects will directly sign an agreement with the Henggang Sect for negotiation, and you don’t need to spend spirit stones."

Chen Tingquan came to a realization: "Oh... Got it.

"It’s like the difference between transferring students and top-pick students! If you explained it this way, I would’ve understood!"

For regular players wanting to join a Great Sect, besides being called a ’Sect Change Fee’, it might be more fittingly called a ’School Selection Fee’.

It’s when the character cultivated by a player isn’t outstanding enough that cash is required to enter a Great Sect.

You’d need to repay the Cultivation Loan to pay off your dues and still fork out additional money to bribe the two sects.

But the situation the Alchemist qian describes is different.

If the character cultivated by a player is excellent enough, a Great Sect will recruit the top-pick students.

There is also competition among the Six Major Sects, requiring stronger disciples to enhance their sect strength.

However, these Great Sects won’t cast a wide net. Where do their good seedlings come from?

Very simply, they cherry-pick from sects like Henggang Sect.

Taking the Songyang Region as an example, competitions among the Henggang Sect, Blood Demon Palace, and Qingming Medicine Furnace branches will always bring out some good seedlings, and the sole Great Sect in the area, the Wuxiang Pill Alliance, will notice these seedlings and negotiate to bring them over.

Will the Henggang Sect allow its cultivated excellent disciples to flow out?

They actually will.

Because it’s essentially a win-win-win situation.

For a Great Sect like the Wuxiang Pill Alliance, they get excellent seedlings worth cultivating;

For excellent disciples, there is an opportunity to advance in a Great Sect, with better prospects for future development;

And for the Henggang Sect, if the Wuxiang Pill Alliance wants people, they can demand a high amount due to the cultivation agreements signed with the disciples, raking in a good amount.

The fundamental reason is that the Six Major Sects are on a tier much higher than ordinary sects like the Henggang Sect, meaning there isn’t actually any competitive relationship between them.

This forms a humorous yet very reasonable promotion structure upon reflection.

Chen Tingquan pondered for a moment: "I see.

"Then it seems I should work a little harder; if joining the Six Major Sects through this route, wouldn’t that directly save me a 648?"

Suddenly feeling more inspired to make an effort in cultivation!