Know Your Role

Peng Hui made his way to the restaurant after he had played 'Samsara' for a few hours to meet some friends. He had gain some fame among the pavilion regulars as the author of field guides on the monsters that appeared in Monster Slayer. These guides gave in depth descriptions of the monsters' behavior patterns, attack patterns, weaknesses, and more, and new players often went to his guides on Sanctum for advice.

As Peng Hui entered a private room, there were four others: three men, and a woman already inside.

"Forgive me for my tardiness", he said to the four, "Brothers Mei, Zhao, and Feng, as well as Sister Gao, did you wait long or have you ordered already?"

"We already sent our orders in", Feng Yiming answered as he handed Peng Hui a thin slate like artifact, "But recently the restaurant started using these fascinating items so you don't need to call for a server."

"What caused your delay today, Brother Peng?", Gao Meiyu inquired as he started making his meal selection.

"I was trying out the new experience called 'Samsara'", Peng Hui replied, "Had I eaten this morning, I'd probably still be trying it out."

"I saw the scrolls advertising that", Mei Zhen stated, "I was going to try after we eat, so I'll take this opportunity to hear your opinion now."

"Of course, Brother Mei", Peng Hui agreed as he finalized his decision, and confirm his order, "Though it's not obvious as first the game has two modes, and they are both equally interesting. I can tell you're about to ask, so I'll just speak about it now. The first mode is to play as yourself the same way that you did in Fairy and Sword. The second mode is to play as a blank soul."

The other four showed confusion on their face, so Peng Hui continued before they could ask, "As a blank soul you can have your starting abilities randomly assigned to you, or you can select them yourself."

"Wouldn't that cause your cultivation to deviate if you tried to comprehend concepts that you lack affinity for?" Wang Zheng joined the conversation.

"Naturally I had this worry", Peng Hui responded, "But so far everything made by Owner Fang has been beneficial, so I decided to keep trusting his reputation. I don't know how, but I was able to wield the elements safely."

The faces of everyone relaxed some after hearing that Peng Hui had no issues with this strange phenomenon.

"As I was saying", Peng Hui continued his explanation, "No matter how you decide to proceed, both modes are the same in how they play but different in how you advance. If you play as yourself, you fight in combat using your current abilities. As you fight, the skills and abilities grow based on how often you use them. When you start as a blank soul, you only can learn new abilities by discovering manuals and investing merit into the abilities you wish to develop."

Gao Meiyu wrinkled her nose, "This blank soul mode doesn't sound good at all, why would want to learn this way?"

"It's true that this mode might not be fun for everyone", Peng Hui smiled, "So let me tell you about what made me interested in it. As you play, your character advances in realm much like you do now. Eventually, your character will reach the point where you can breakthrough to the next realm and when that happens, all your experience will be factored and a list will be revealed. This list is a collection of suggestions you can follow based off of your previous experiences."

"I don't quite understand, Brother Peng", Feng Yiming brow wrinkled as he frowned.

"Perhaps it would be better to give an example", Peng Hui told the group, "My first character follows my own Dao, and after playing this morning I was able to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm. Obviously, the process of breaking through in the game isn't the same as doing it myself. That being said, it presented my with opportunities I was unaware of. When you breakthrough in the game, it will present you with several option of how you walk the path of the Dao in the future. My spirit roots are mainly water, earth, and wood, and when my character went to ascend his realm several options were available but I'll name two for now. The first was called 'Calligrapher', was noted for it's ability to damage opponents and support allies, and impressed me greatly."

Peng Hui took out his Tianmu, and a moment later a projection of his character appeared. While looking identical to Peng Hui, the biggest differences was the giant ink brush that was being carried, scrolls tucked into a pouch, and talismans being held in the free hand.

"This looks strange, but pleasant to the eyes at the same time", Mei Zhen.

"Wouldn't you be overwhelmed by your enemies?", Wang Heng inquired.

Laughing, Peng Hui replied, "The is possible if I were to face everything head on, but with the combination of the brush, talismans, and scrolls, I can display great combat prowess."

By now, everyone had been served their meal, but Peng Hui went on, "Another path laid out of in front of me was the Dao of paper. I know this sounds strange, but look at this."

Peng Hui looked his Tianmu, and the image changed from the man holding a giant brush to one holding a sword while surrounded by scrolls that were rolled out.

"Paper? Brother Peng, is this a viable path?", Gao Meiyu looked doubtful.

"While the Virtous One of Paper might sound weak, I can assure Sister Gao that it's the opposite", Peng Hui answered confidently, "I should mention another strange occurrence of this game is that when it presents these paths to you, it also suggests where you would be the most effective. Calligrapher works when there is distance between you and your opponent, but not too much distance while Virtous One of Paper executes most effectively facing your enemy directly. Luckily in Samsara, you given items that will erase your decisions made and you can travel a different path. That being said, those opportunities are few so don't squander them."

"Brother Peng, this experience sounds divine", Mei Zhen grew excited, "Let's head there now."

"Brother Mei is wise", Peng Hui said as he looked around. Everyone had finished their own meal quickly, just as he had.

"I should mention another good point of Samsara, if you have other cultivators on your list of friends or know other cultivators' identification, you invite them to experience the game together", Peng Hui said.

Excited, the group quickly paid for their meal using their spirit cards using the same slate they ordered their meal from, and made their way to the cultivation hall with haste.

Mei Lihua exited the cultivation artifact unwilling after several days of playing Samsara. The last few days had been eye opening and mind boggling as she had been exploring the expansive skills tree of the game. She had also broken through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm thanks to the enlightenment she gained while playing, but she had regretted this. If she could have held back the breakthrough, she would have as it wasted time she could have used to continue playing and there was one more reason. As a late stage Nascent Soul realm cultivator, her sect would recall her back in the hopes that she could take the last step.

In the world, Mei Lihua knew that the Void Refinement realm was the strongest realm but it came with a choice. If one's prospects were terminated, the cultivator would lead their sect as a top grade sect. If the cultivator in question felt they could continue to walk their Dao, they would have to leave the blue star to search for opportunities. Once Void Refinement was complete, cultivators could safely travel the space outside the world but what worried Mei Lihua was two things: the first thing was that other first grade sects on the blue star might block her path of cultivation in fear, while the second fear was that even if she broke through to the next realm she had never heard heard of the fate of those who left to seek opportunities.

It didn't take long to check out of the villa she had stayed in for the last several days, and she quickly made her way back to Tianbao to relieve the cultivator who was responsible for overseeing the city.

As Mei Lihua entered the inner area of Tianbao, she saw Protector Shui Yan.

"Sister Shui, I am here to start my watch for the day", Mei Lihua bowed to the Nascent soul of the Crimson Tide sect.

Returning her greeting, Shui Yan smiled, "I can only imagine that Sister Mei enjoyed the uninterrupted days to experience the new realm at the Heaven & Earth pavilion."

"If only we weren't required to watch the border", Mei Lihua sighed, "I could spend even more time exploring Samsara. After speaking with Owner Fang, I was pleased to find out that this was only the first act of six overall acts with each act a journey through a different realm of the wheel of reincarnation."

"This is very good news", Shui Yan expressed her thoughts, "I should mention now before I forget, but a messenger from the Verdant Soul pavilion arrived not too long ago."

Mei Lihua clicked her tongue, "News travels fast, I was hoping to have more time before this."

Mei Lihua gave a quick hand salute to Shui Yan and as the former traveler towards the pavilion with haste, she went to her personal residence. As she entered, a disciple bowed to her, "Protector Mei, a visitor from the sect has arrived."

"I'm aware", Mei Lihua responded, "Bring out the tea leaves I recently bought from the pavilion, and I will meet the messenger in the main hall."

"As you command, Protector Mei", the disciple replied before flying off.

Mei Lihua returned to her courtyard to freshen up before moving the main hall of the Verdant Soul pavilion. As she entered, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who was waiting immediately turned to her direction, and bowed.

"Please sit", Mei Lihua offered a chair to the woman.

The woman complied and waited for Mei Lihua to sit so she could speak.

"What brings you to Tianbao?", Mei Lihua asked already knowing the answer.

"Protector Mei, as you are already aware, the position of protector is assigned to a cultivator for fifty years. This is your final year, and I was sent to remind the protector that your replacement will arrive at the end of the season."

"I don't suppose you could return to the sect and express my willingness to serve another fifty year term?", Mei Lihua asked.

"I'm sorry, Protector Mei", the woman replied, "I was told when I left that the leaders of the sect wish to personally congratulate you on your recent achievements."

Mei Lihua sighed because she knew it was impossible to hide her breakthrough from her sect.

"I was making a jest", Mei Lihua responded, "I suppose I'll have to fulfill my duty, and train my replacement before heading back."

"The protector is wise", the woman smiled.

As Mei Lihua sat there, she could only contemplate what she could do to prevent her separation from the Heaven & Earth pavilion.

Fang Shi was sitting in the dining room as he savored the meal delivered to him. Over the last few days, he had the pleasure of quickly making his rounds before returning to his personal cultivation pod to dive into Samsara. Even though some of his spirit roots were of low quality, the fact that he had spirit roots of every element had opened nearly infinite Daos for his character in Samsara to walk.

In his past life, Fang Shi had enjoyed his time playing games like this, such as Diablo and Path of Exile. It certainly had been a strange feeling to battle through the first act in the first person view instead of the overhead third person view, but the knowledge that he was playing an action role playing game comforted him.

The character Fang Shi was controlling currently was a body cultivator with a specialization in water element. Not only would his fist or kicks cause severe damage, but he could focus jets of water into his attacks that were as powerful as the machines in his past life that cut steel using high pressure water.

Fang Shi made his way to the first challenge that all players would battle, The butcher. Unlike the memories of his past life, this butcher was very different than he remembered. In Diablo, the butcher was a large demon holding a large cleaver that attacked anything living eventually hanging his victims up like cows. In Samsara, the butcher was a monk who also held a large knife. The monk would peacefully approach the players reciting scriptures, or speaking a famous saying, "I sense much karm surrounding you. Put down the butcher's knife and become Buddha."

Fang Shi was surprised when he battled against the bosses and the named creatures that randomly attacked him. In his last life, enemies like this had certain resistances, attack patterns, and strategies, but in Samsara battles were more extensive. He could only imagine that his customers were suffering more than what he was since he knew what to expect, but they were unaware.

After defeating the butcher again, Fang Shi collected the spoils of battle but he noticed that the runes he was familiar with didn't seem to appear in this game. He guessed that modifying an action role playing game from a western perspective to an eastern one had caused things to change somewhat. So far, he had seen items drop of rare, unique, and legendary quality but he hadn't found socketed items yet which only seem to support the idea that runes had been remove from this game. When Fang Shi considered this it made sense, unlike weapons made in western fantasy, items refined using eastern methods wouldn't have runes carved in them. Feng Shui would be used to determine the paths qi use to flow through a refined item, and arrays would be inscribed. If Samsara still shared something with the game that inspired it, Fang Shi thought that soon these arrays would appear to be inscribed Into weapons that were the equivalent of socketed weapons.

Just as Fang Shi was about to exit with the current character he was playing with to switch to his first character, he heard several notifications in his mind. It took him to remember that he had two tasks in progress, and these sounds indicated that both had been completed.