chapter 8

Chen Luo pondered for a while. Selling more test qualifications was fine, but he had to be careful.

After hesitating, he said, "I can't make the decision; I'm just an errand runner." He paused, then continued, "But I can pass on your request. If they agree, I'll contact you."

Zhang Lesheng, thinking he understood the situation, said, "Understood, everything should be cautious in case your company finds out..."

Chen Luo coughed, "I'll let you know. Goodbye."

"Please leave a contact number, so I can find you," Zhang Lesheng insisted.

"I know your address and number. I'll contact you if the transaction is approved."

Zhang Lesheng didn't expect Chen Luo to be so cautious but had to accept it. He couldn't force Chen Luo to give a contact number.

"Please inform me regardless of the decision," Zhang Lesheng pleaded, looking at Chen Luo eagerly.

Chen Luo, feeling uneasy under his intense gaze, nodded quickly, put the money in his bag, and left the internet cafe.

The next day, Chen Luo completed transactions with four more buyers across Jiangcheng. Like Zhang Lesheng, they all wanted more test qualifications after confirming the accounts worked.

Chen Luo gave the same response to all: he'd ask for instructions. Some buyers even offered him 10,000 yuan just to make a call for them. However, Chen Luo declined, explaining he didn't know the contact information of the person he dealt with.

One buyer, unsatisfied, had someone follow Chen Luo, but with his heightened senses, Chen Luo quickly noticed and lost the tail. He blacklisted the person, ensuring no further dealings with them.

Chen Luo deposited the 250,000 yuan into his bank account and returned home. Before entering the Western Fantasy World, he checked the forum, which was buzzing.

A post titled "Surprised! I learned to swim in the game, but even in the real world!" caught his attention. It detailed how a player, "A Little Sparrow," learned to swim in the game due to a life-threatening situation and found the skill transferred to real life.

The post speculated that skills learned in the game could transfer to reality, emphasizing the game's potential impact on real-world abilities. It also noted the game's time dilation—one day in real life equaled a hundred years in the game—suggesting this could revolutionize training and skill acquisition.

Chen Luo realized this discovery would attract significant attention, especially from national authorities. He was relieved he hadn't exposed any personal information during his transactions.

The post by "A Little Sparrow" had nearly ten thousand replies, indicating the rapidly growing interest and potential issues the game would face.

[Simba: Great, if what the landlord said is true, then the game will likely become a training ground in the future!]

[I'm so beautiful that I can't die: I can already foresee the emergence of countless geniuses in painting, sports, calligraphy...]

[Neiku Meichuan: Then this game must not be open to foreigners, exclusive to our Chinese people, making everyone in our country a genius in the future!]

[Brother Hu brother: Hehe, not sure if it's true, but you guys are obsessed. Why wasn't I selected for the test? Can I pay for the first test qualification?]

[Legend of the Women Sufferers Alliance: Count me in too!]

[Hua Luo: I only care about when the third test is! I used my family's IDs to apply, hoping to get selected!]

[Invite you to provoke you: @Hua Luo, why do you want a third test?]

[Ye is very disappointed with you: Please open beta soon! I'm happy to spend money!]

[Han Feizi: I can prove what the landlord said is true!]

[League of the Women's Worries Alliance: @Han Feizi, wow, the Han Emperor himself is here!]

[Mei Chuan Neiku: @Han Feizi, do you know how many people want to criticize you here?]

[It's all Sabie playing Yasuo: @Han Feizi, bring me a long knife, I want to destroy the emperor!]

Han Fei's appearance on the forum caused a stir among the players. He sighed at home, still adjusting to the real world after spending a long time in the game. Though only a day had passed, he felt like a stranger in his own world.

In the game, he lived almost a hundred years as the monarch of the Da Xia Dynasty. This experience impacted him more than his real-life 26 years. His demeanor and mindset had matured, giving him a wise, detached perspective.

"No, I need to readjust to the modern world and shed the influence of the game world, or I risk schizophrenia," Han Fei thought. He decided to take a break, shower, and head out. But as he prepared to leave, the doorbell rang.

The impatient fat landlord stood at the door, complaining about the missed rent payment. Han Fei, preoccupied with the game, had forgotten about it. The landlord's aggressive attitude triggered Han Fei's in-game authority aura, intimidating the landlord into retreating.

Realizing the game's influence on him, Han Fei decided to stay in, opened the game forum, and saw a popular post by "A Little Sparrow." He responded, "I, Emperor Han, make money!"

The forum went wild, with many players engaging with his in-game persona. Han Fei wasn't angry, enjoying the attention. He noticed a live broadcast by "Women are wolves," who had obtained the longevity blood Han Fei couldn't get.

Entering the broadcast, he saw the player being chased for four years in-game time. Curious about the current ruler of his empire, Han Fei was reminded of the game's second captivating aspect: its realism. Relationships and experiences in the game felt as real as those in life, making him invested in his virtual empire's fate.