Chapter 19: Battle System Activated!

“This is actually a game?”
“How could this possibly be a game?”
Zhang Qingwei looked around the room, her eyes filled with confusion and astonishment. The shock in her heart was beyond words.
It was real!
Incredibly real!
Whether it was the penetrating chill in the room or the tactile feedback beneath her feet, this virtual engine technology was unlike anything she had ever seen—even after playing hundreds of immersive virtual reality games focused on all five senses.
“Qingwei, are you alright?”
Luo Wuzhang approached Zhang Qingwei, who looked almost deranged, hopping about and stomping on the floor intermittently. She waved her hand in front of Qingwei’s face, puzzled.
Having seen many trials and tribulations, Zhang Qingwei’s pilgrimage had hardened her. It was hard to imagine someone going mad just from entering a game, even if “Martial Awakening” was a fully virtual reality game. This reaction was unprecedented.
“I’m fine,” Zhang Qingwei stopped moving, shook her head, and looked at Luo Wuzhang with excitement. “Wuzhang! I can think now, I can think now!”
“Yeah, I see that,” Luo Wuzhang nodded.
Who wouldn’t notice this?
“Is she crazy?”
“Maybe. After all, it’s so hard to get into this game. I don’t even dare tell my dorm mates, afraid they’d do something crazy late at night.”
“True. After I got access, I didn’t even dare speak loudly in the dorm.”
The two young men nearby, one with a stern muscular build doing deep squats, the other a thin youth rubbing his feet on the floor, also stopped and stared at Zhang Qingwei in surprise. They hadn’t expected anyone to be more excited than them about entering Martial Awakening.
“Hello, brothers, my name is Ragnarok,” Ragnarok said eagerly to the muscular and thin youths. “You mentioned dorms? Are you both college students too?”
With only ten spots available in Martial Awakening, meeting kindred spirits was rare.
“Yes! I’m a part-time college student and a reserve player for the Blue Orchid Team. Call me the Outland Gunner.” The muscular youth nodded, introducing himself.
“What a coincidence! I’m also a part-time college student and a full member of the Imperial City Team. You can call me One-Shot Overlord.” The thin youth glanced at the muscular one with surprise, glad to find like-minded players.
“Blue Orchid reserve and Imperial City full member—professional players these days are really competitive,” Fang Zhen observed the two young pros, both barely in their twenties and still attending college. Suddenly, he felt himself falling behind in this era.

The Blue Orchid Team on Mecha Continent was a regular in the national league, consistently ranking in the top four. Their most famous figure was the Blood Flame Gun Maiden Chen Ya, ranked third nationwide, and their recruitment of newcomers was notoriously strict.
Meanwhile, the Imperial City Team was a consistent top-eight contender in the national league of Mecha Continent. To become a full member there meant undeniable skill and technique.
“Brother Zhen, I owe getting into Martial Awakening this time to you. I used to watch your livestreams all the time—I practically grew up watching you,” Outland Gunner said excitedly, stepping before Fang Zhen. “From now on, little brother will stick with you.”
“Same here. If I didn’t watch your streams every day, I wouldn’t have found this game,” One-Shot Overlord said, feeling like he had found a new family.
“Great! With two brothers helping, we’ll grow strong in Martial Awakening!” Fang Zhen was suddenly enlightened and overjoyed.
He was desperately short of manpower. Though he had discovered an energy-rich zone, he lacked the power to develop it. With two more people assisting, the hundred-square-meter energy zone would be quickly expanded.
It was exhausting digging alone every night with no motivation.
After introductions among the group in the basement, someone descended the stairs, bringing the room to a hush. Everyone’s gaze fixed on the newcomer, especially the fresh recruits, their eyes full of curiosity.
“This person looks so real!”
“They’re practically indistinguishable from reality!”
The newcomers, having just learned from their exchanges, knew the NPC before them was the highest authority overseeing the players. Disobedience or misbehavior could have severe consequences.
“Newcomers! Welcome to the Obsidian Martial Hall. I am your hallmaster, Lord Lin Qi. As per the rules, if you wish to become honorable disciples of this hall, you must prove yourselves.”
Lin Qi scanned the eager faces of the newcomers, pleased despite the system’s harsh assessments. Although no one had passed the test, seven players had been forcibly admitted, all young and strong—perfect for labor.
He then pointed to a table nearby.
“On that table is a registration book. Write down your name and age, then choose your beloved small shovel. Upon exiting, turn right toward the small storage and begin your twelve-hour mission to develop the energy zones.”
“The one who develops the most energy zones within the time limit may choose one of these two treasured martial arts manuals to learn. The runner-up may choose the other. I look forward to your performance.”
With that, Lin Qi pulled out two manuals from his pocket, each divided into two volumes: the Shattered Stone Fist and the Leopard Shadow Step.
The reason for the division was that these martial arts could only be split into two parts; otherwise, Lin Qi would have liked to divide them into nine parts and eighteen volumes.
Apprentice-level martial arts typically have two stages. The Shattered Stone Fist is divided into the Pile-Smashing and Stone-Smashing stages, while the Leopard Shadow Step has the Wind-Chasing and Shadow-Hunting stages.
Each stage surpasses the previous in explosive power but also in difficulty.
Lin Qi’s willingness to offer two manuals as rewards for the newcomers’ development efforts was notable.
One reason was to prevent newbies from exploiting bugs to farm resources; competition ensured efficiency.
Another was to promote these martial arts so all players could learn and advance quickly.
Martial arts, once learned by a player, were available to all others, differing only in the timing of their acquisition. Unlike the martial world, where improper practice without guidance could ruin a person, players had no such worry—only the inconvenience of dying more times.
“Wow!”
“Is this the beginning of the combat profession system?”
“I knew bringing in so many newcomers at once would mean big changes. Didn’t expect the developers to pull this move.”
Everyone present stared wide-eyed at the two manuals in Lin Qi’s hands, especially Fang Zhen, Luo Wuzhang, and Ragnarok, who had arrived just days earlier; their eyes nearly glued to the manuals.
Though the underground sandbox gameplay was good, in the fully immersive Martial Awakening, who didn’t want to experience the feeling of being a superhuman?
Especially since the three had witnessed the battles of Qin Mu and Hou Fei—two monsters clashing like titans.
Viewers watching the live broadcast outside erupted in excitement.
“Oh my God! This is so unfair! Why are they already becoming superhumans while we can’t even get into the game?”
“No, brother, we can’t even pass the test to enter. We can only watch quietly.”
“I heard some pro boosters say it only takes a 98 score. I’ll pay 20,000 as long as they can pass!”
“Do you mean that booster? I seriously doubt he has the stamina to make that much.”
As the chat heated up, more players tried again to pass the test, especially those who loved combat.
Previously, many thought the battles between Qin Mu and Hou Fei were staged by the developers—after all, players entered Martial Awakening only to dig and occasionally practice the Astonishing Breath Technique.
But now, seeing the two manuals in Lin Qi’s hands made everyone realize those cinematic fights were real—players truly could fight like that.