The ancients said: “If you wish to see a thousand miles, climb one more floor!” That’s absolutely true, but since there was no higher floor to climb, Eric Ford couldn’t see any farther, and thus failed to find the square.

“I still can’t see the square!”

“Of course, the square is behind you. You have to turn around to see it!”

“Ugh, why do I feel like I’ve gotten dumber in the game!”

“Hehe, I can tell you’re not a regular gamer. Actually, games nowadays are just like real life—however you act in real life, you should act the same in the game. People like you always forget basic common sense as soon as you enter a game!” the stranger said with a smile.

Eric Ford turned around, and the stranger was standing right behind him. Behind the stranger were several streets, and beyond those streets, sure enough, was a bustling square full of people.

Only then did Eric Ford take a good look at the stranger. He was dressed differently from most people: his long hair was tied back with a headscarf, his clothes looked like a modified version of workwear, and he wore a sword slung diagonally at his waist. At a glance, the sword was clearly of higher quality than those carried by the female warriors, because his sword had a scabbard.

“From the way you talk, I can tell you’re an expert. So, hurry up and teach me what I should do now!”

“Don’t you have any friends? Didn’t you come to play with friends?”

“I do, but they went to the internet café first, and I couldn’t find them!”

“You can still contact them in the game!”

“How?”

“Just like using QQ—search for their names and add them as friends!”

“I just started playing today, and we haven’t even had a chance to ask each other’s names yet!”

“Ugh, what’s your name? I’ll add you as a friend. If you have any questions, just ask me anytime!”

“Thanks a lot! My name is Eric Ford!”

The system immediately prompted: Jack Armstrong has added you as a friend. At the same time, Jack Armstrong’s voice sounded in his ear: “Alright, I’ve added you! You add me too!”

After adding each other as friends, Eric Ford asked, “So now I can contact you anytime?”

“Yeah, this kind of contact is like texting in real life, but it’s not like a phone call!”

“Of course. So what should I do now?”

“Level up, of course! You can’t survive in the game without leveling up!”

“Where do I go to level up?”

“You newbies can start leveling up as soon as you leave the city gates. There are plenty of things to fight by the roadside and in the woods.”

“What’s the highest level in this game?”

“There’s no highest—only higher!”

“What level are you?”

“I’m level 60 now!”

“Is that high?”

“Well, let’s just say it’s not low. But in this game, level isn’t everything—martial arts and equipment are more important. Level is mainly for getting better equipment and martial arts.”

“What clothes are you wearing, what weapon do you use, and what martial arts have you learned?”

“Oh, I’m wearing a ‘Ranger’s Robe,’ which is exclusive for swordsmen. My sword is called the ‘Seven Absolute Whirlwind Sword.’ As for martial arts, I originally apprenticed under the Wudang Sect, but now I’ve graduated and am wandering the martial world. The move I used to bring you up here just now was our Wudang’s famous lightness skill, ‘Cloud Ladder Vault.’ There are lots of other martial arts, mental techniques, and internal skills—too many to list, and you wouldn’t remember them all anyway, and I’m too lazy to explain in detail!”

“True, my question was probably too broad. What are you doing now?”

“I’m waiting for someone!”

“Oh, then I won’t bother you. I’ll get going, you keep waiting! I’m off to train!”

“Alright, I’ll send you down!”

Jack Armstrong dragged Eric Ford with a few leaps and landed on a street. “Just follow this road out the city gate. That area is perfect for newbies to train. Once you reach level ten, you can join a sect and learn sect martial arts. If you have time, check out the website—lots of people share tips on how to play!”

As he spoke, he pulled out a small knife from his chest. “Here, take this knife. I used it for leveling up as a newbie and never wanted to throw it away. It’s a throwing knife, a type of hidden weapon, perfect for newbies to train with. You can attack from a distance, so it’s less dangerous.”

“But if I throw it, won’t it be gone?”

“Haha, usually that’s the case, but this one never runs out. In the game, it’s called auto-replenish. After all, it’s still a game! Some things just don’t follow real-world logic!”

“Oh, thank you so much! I’m off, goodbye!”

“Hehe, no need to thank me. I’m not usually this helpful, but I’m in a great mood today. Goodbye!” With that, he disappeared with a few more leaps.

Chapter 6: Bullfighting

Eric Ford stuffed the small knife into his chest and ran toward the city gate.

Outside the city gate, the scenery was completely different from inside. There were mountains in the distance, trees ahead, a road underfoot, and the sound of a river in his ears. The only thing the same was the number of people—still so many. But this time, everyone was dressed identically, all in Axe Gang outfits. Of course, a few people weren’t holding axes, proving that there are always a few cranes among the chickens!

There were more people than monsters—how was he supposed to fight? Eric Ford dove into a large patch of woods by the roadside and walked deeper in.

As he walked, he took out the throwing knife that Jack Armstrong had given him to examine: Attack 10–19, Accuracy 10, Speed 40, Level requirement 0, Auto-replenish quantity.