How to Cultivate a Game

Lu Gao woke up with dark bags under his eyes. The Desolate Mountain Range had lots of caves for him to sleep in, but each and every one of them wasn't in any way comfortable to sleep in.

But that was not really the reason why he was suffering from his lack of sleep.

[Become a Mage!

Meditate for 8 hours, which can be accumulated for days 0/8 hours

Rewards: Mage Class. Mage Arts. Increase Maximum Level Cap.]

It was because of his damn class advancement quest! It was torturing him!

"Awww! FUCK! If this continued, I would have to change my class advancement!"

For a kid like him, meditation was way beyond his capabilities. Was it like sleeping? Breathing? Thinking? Just exactly what? Lu Gao could not even stay still for a minute!

"Was this it? Should I do Warrior or Rogue instead?"

But.

Lu Gao was too reluctant to give up Mage. He could feel it. The class was calling him.

[Mage— a class that specialized in combative martial spells. Arts: Force|Bind]

Taking a class, choosing a path, and losing your virginity was a once in a lifetime. This class advancement right now once steps were made, returning would be impossible. Lu Gao at least knew this instinctively. He had no patience to read the tutorial booklet, but his instincts were right nevertheless.

"Oooh shit, what should I do?"

At that moment, Lu Gao could only think of extreme measures. To achieve calm and emptiness, Lu Gao used his creativity to interpret the act of meditation itself.

"Hmmm... I might have a workaround for this, I hoped this works..."

Lu Gao walked onto a cliff, not caring for his own life... and he jumped.

~~~

"What are you doing??"

"Game Master, could you help me achieve a near-death experience?"

"..."

I would not know what to say anymore. Lately, my players were becoming crazier by the day. You brat! You want me to put you into a near-death state!? Have you no pity on this old man? Did you know the degree of psychological burden that would leave me?

Lu Gao's too-eager eyes were not helping at all. "Please, Game Master... It would be a valuable learning experience..."

A valuable learning experience? What the f-ing fuck? I was busy with my puppet creation. Would these folks please don't cause trouble for me? I was only one person, and I swear, I'd fix the damn respawning system ASAP after I was done with my Mindless Monk.

I gave Lu Gao my empty dead-eye stare.

"Get out."

I calmly ushered Lu Gao out afraid that I might really put him into a near-death state.

~~~

After completing her babysitting duties, Bi Yuan could now hunt for herself!

Hunting solo had been Bi Yuan's style for a long time. But now she had companions, it wouldn't her for her to them up with someone.

As long as it was not babysitting, and was a comprehensive lineup of equivalent power levels, Bi Yuan was confident of gaining progress with no need to concern herself with exp leeches.

And the perfect partner for her... was none other than Nee Chen.

Partying with Nee Chen, they searched for stronger enemies within the Butterberry forest. Even beasts in the 3rd stage could not stand up to Bi Yuan and Nee Chen's combined might.

Defeating enemies even with the difference in tier was a commendable feat only few could boast. Bi Yuan and Nee Chen weren't doing it for fame though, but for Exp points.

[Name: Bi Yuan (Little Bunny) | Class: Paladin | Level 27 (2nd stage—Mind Enlightenment)]

[Name: Nee Chen (Humble Blade) | Class: Warrior | Level 20 (1st stage—Martial Tempering)]

They were getting stronger at a steady pace. Now at level 20, Nee Chen only needed to max his Exp in his current level to be eligible for major ranking up which would increase his skill slot. With Bi Yuan's support, Nee Chen could even deal with 2nd stage beasts alone if the situation allowed it, thus hastening Nee Chen's leveling up.

Ping!

In no time at all, Nee Chen reached the minimum requirement for his next major rank-up.

[Become a 2nd Stage Mind Enlightenment Warrior!

Slay a Martial Tempering realm enemy 0/5

Rewards: Skill Points. Increased Maximum Level Cap]

Reaching the peak of 1st stage, Nee Chen sweetly took his time to satisfy his rank-up. But there was something else going on in Nee Chen's mind. It was his personal curiosity… and maybe a bit of a warrior's spirit inside him was egging him to do it… but Nee Chen only meant well despite the consequences.

Nee Chen puts his Rank-Up Quest aside in the meantime. He approached Bi Yuan to confer with something.

~~~

"Senior, what do you think?"

"Kyu?"

The little bunny tilted her head, unaware of what the human was up to.

Lately, Nee Chen and Bi Yuan have been establishing an outlandish link as they go through thick and thin slaying all manners of beasts.

It was a strange yet logical connection as if Nee Chen could telepathically understand what Bi Yuan meant by her succinct and incomprehensible chirping.

"You knew that… the thing I kept on talking about? I felt that it would be an interesting learning experience. So what do you say? Let's go and try fighting a 4th stage?"

"K-kk-kyuu-KYUUUUU!?"

The little bunny's surprise was quite evident with its kyu-kyu-kyu and chirping. Nee Chen didn't exactly remember if bunnies even chirp, finding Bi Yuan a very exotic creature. Still, Bi Yuan's reaction was reasonable. The Game Master had emphasized the side-effects of becoming his players and the resurrections.

The Game Master did tell them he would fix it, but that was the exact reason Nee Chen decided to be reckless and try fighting a 4th stage. Once the 'resurrection' was fixed, chances were Nee Chen would not be able to abuse this respawning system cost-free in the future! His way of thinking was taking advantage of the Game Master's kindness, but he had to do this!

"If you were going to do something exciting, let me join in the fun."

Suddenly intruding on their conversation was Xiang Ya's voice.

It had been awkward between Nee Chen and Xiang Ya lately. The two of them were just too busy getting stronger. But that was not really it either. Since the annihilation of their village, Nee Chen and Xiang Ya have not been seeing each other lately. There was this subtle aversion that came from the fear of opening old wounds.

Though their relationship with Lu Gao was still the same even with all that happened, it was very different for the two who used to be just ordinary teens.

Nee Chen who knew how to farm and carve, a budding man who had a crush on Xiang Ya, was now wielding a sword to become a swordsman.

Xiang Ya who only knew the roof above her grandfather's house, a budding woman who dreamt of the future, was now cultivating in desire for strength.

What the two only had in common was they were both revengers out for blood.

"But Xiang Ya? Would you be fine?"

"Come on. As if death was the end for us."

"But."

"Also, I am now at the 1st stage, level 11 Cleric! With this class, I wouldn't even need to overly expose myself. I could also improve our survivability." Xiang Ya watched Nee Chen's expression carefully. "If you don't include me, I would snitch on the Game Master about this suicidal venture."