How to Cultivate a Game

Nee Chen was embarrassed. "Ugh... Please don't tell him..." He felt slightly guilty about going back from the Game Master's warnings.  "This was making me an ungrateful brat, but I really need this. I wanted to see what a 4th stage was like."

Xang Ya was convinced. "I wouldn't snitch. Just include me on the line-up."

If it was a learning opportunity they wanted, with Xiang Ya, it wouldn't definitely be a waste of time. However, Bi Yuan had that disagreeing look on her face as she made a disgruntled 'kyu~wuuuu…' complaining if anyone wanted to ask her opinion.

"U-uumm, Senior Yuan, what do you think?"

"Kyu."

In the end, though, Bi Yuan still agreed. After all, she already had a 4th stage beast in mind. The trio of Nee Chen, Xiang Ya, and Bi Yuan had formed a party.

~~~

Green scales, monstrous jaws, and an impressive mass. The Crocodilian had lived under the narrow creek of Desolate Mountain for decades.

It might not look like it, but it was quite spacious under the creek. Like a caved underbelly, the Crocodilian was able to comfortably fit its bulk in the shallow waters as it relaxed under the shade of the crags below.

There was a reason why the Crocodilian liked this particular creek very much. It was because of the rich qi that was emanating deep under. The Crocodilian suspected there to be a Dragon Vein just under him. There were also reasons to believe that it might not be any Dragon Vein but was actually a World Nexus.

Compared to other beasts, the Crocodilian was not ignorant of the common knowledge cultivators shared. For decades, it had learned about the cultivation world as it lurked and victimized unknowing weaklings.

"Kehehe~" The Crocodilian's creepy laugh echoed from the creek. "Fifth Stage... I was almost there, and a little bit more."

Connected to the creek was the river which came from the Desolate Mountain Ranges. Meanwhile, on the other end of the creek, there was the Clear Water Lake which was considered among the top ten most visited lakes in the cultivation world. The Crocodilian had been preying on the lake for a long time, but it had been four decades since then. Currently, the Crocodilian is in an important phase of its evolution which opened its opportunity for taking a shot at the 5th stage.

It had been a long time since the Crocodilian went to the lake and played. It would be fun to go there and torture some weaklings. But the thought only lasted for a moment as it was closely approaching the 5th stage. It didn't want to risk it, so it calmed its impatience and proceeded on its cultivation.

"5th stage… Soul Recognition realm." The Crocodilian whispered to itself, enthusiasm leaking from its reptilian heart.

For a beast, reaching the 4th stage could be considered a major turning point. It was because only by reaching the 4th stage, could a beast learn human speech and actively interact with human civilization.

However, reaching the 5th stage was a different matter. It was the real deal. It was because only through the 5th stage could a beast most likely achieve humanization. It was a heaven-defying opportunity, a milestone many beasts fantasized about but only few could achieve.

The Crocodilian meditated, diving deep into its consciousness. From its Dantian, the Crocodilian entered its inner world.

~~~

Bi Yuan led her party to meet a certain crocodile. Of course, it was not with good intentions.

Arriving at the creek, the party witnessed the enormity of a beast at the 4th stage. It was like a school bus, not that the three players had actually seen one.

"Phew~ that was big." Nee Chen involuntarily hooted. It was not just big but also menacing. "Look at those claws, jaws, and spiky hide." He whistled sharply, excitement too evident in his eyes.

"Tell me, Brother Chen. Do you have any personal reason for wanting to test a 4th stage's strength? We didn't come here to sightsee, right?"

At Xiang Ya's inquiry, "As if you don't know," Nee Chen answered half-heartedly.

"It's as you have guessed. It was because of our village's annihilation." Nee Chen's grim look belies the cheerful playfulness he had a while ago. "It was as I said. I wanted to see what a 4th stage was like. The cultivator responsible for our village's annihilation was at the 4th stage."

Maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part, but Nee Chen wanted to travel already and hunt for the Bones Devouring Sect. With his abilities as a player, he could methodologically hunt for those wicked cultivators fearlessly, and while at it, farm for Exp points.

4th stage, Spirit Mystery realm… the very aggressor's strength responsible for their village's destruction… Nee Chen wanted to know exactly how much would he fare against a 4th stage cultivator. Theoretically, he should be able to escape a 3rd stage cultivator given that they would not know Sword Flight.

The Bones Devouring Sect wouldn't definitely lack 3rd stage practitioners, but the real problem was the 4th stage practitioners.

There was a cold look in Nee Chen's eyes of wanting murder and violence. He was not blinded by vengeance as clearly, unmistakable rationality had pervaded his thoughts considering the measures he would go through just to secure his path to vengeance.

The Game Master did tell him to meet him once he was no longer blinded by vengeance. At that time when his village was destroyed, he was filled with grief. When the demonic cultivator was gone, anger surged from within. It almost blinded him with vengeance. The only reason he was able to remain sane was because of a sense of responsibility... for Xiang Ya and Lu Gao.

When it came to vengeance, Nee Chen saw this more as a responsibility rather than a way to cope with grief, unlike Xiang Ya who was secretly hiding her hurt. Xiang Ya as sensitive as she was recognized the chaotic emotions silently brewing in Nee Chen's heart. however, she didn't know there was an 'existing order' to this chaos.

Xiang Ya frowned, reflecting on her own dark emotions.

Eyeing the Crocodilian just below the creek, the party readied themselves for a kamikaze strike.

When.

"Stop," Nee Chen signaled for them to stop "There was something peculiar about this."

If there was something that Nee Chen learned in his life, it was that he should trust his hunch more especially if it involved a life-and-death situation. Though he could be considered somewhat undying, his sixth sense was still as sharp as ever.

Inferring to the gathering qi being sucked in by the Crocodilian, Nee Chen realized... "The beast was attempting a breakthrough to the 5th stage!" He gasped both in amazement and excitement, this could be an opportunity.

Though his voice was loud, the Crocodilian didn't hear any of it. This could only be the state of invulnerability before the breakthrough.

Bi Yuan's cultivation was above Nee Chen's, but the former wasn't able to realize what the Crocodilian was attempting to do. Truthfully, Bi Yuan's senses were not as sharp as Nee Chen's, but there was this kind of attitude from Bi Yuan that made her insensitive. It was because Bi Yuan was the type who didn't like to reason— she was naïve and didn't care about what others wanted or didn't want.

That was why.

Without even heeding Nee Chen's words, the little bunny attacked.

"W-wait!" Nee Chen panickedly called to the too-eager bunny. "Damn it! Xiang Ya, stay on your toes."

"Kyuuu~ KYU!" | 'I came for an interesting learning experience, just give it to me you dumb croc!'

SAAAAAACRED ASH! The little bunny screamed in her mind as she unleashed her best move. White light perfused her being as she dramatically leaped into the air.