Chapter 25. Plans
It was already November 10th, marking three months since The Battlefield of Heroes, the 5v5 beta version, was released.
Today, over 420,000 players received news that the full version of the game would launch tomorrow, allowing ten players to compete against each other.
The rankings would also be reset, and the first competition would be held. The top ten players in both teams and solo ranked—as some people would undoubtedly form teams for better synergy—will be rewarded with specific amounts of spirit stones based on their placement.
Michael didn't have to participate in the prize pool since the ten small and six medium-sized sects currently partnered took care of it.
Using The Battlefield of Heroes as an excuse, these 16 sects began a round of vigorous trading of cultivation resources between each other under the pretense of working together to improve the online platform capabilities.
As for the Secret Realm's creator, he couldn't care less about the political games these bigshots were playing since he was still only a slightly bigger ant in their eyes.
His only goal was to stay under the radar and slowly improve his cultivation and lifestyle.
These three months brought considerable changes to both him and his family.
[ Host: Michael Lewis
Age: 19
Lifespan: 120.9 years (92.3 original lifespan + 28.6 added lifespan through cultivation)
Cultivation: 5th Level of Qi Gathering (37%)
Spiritual Roots: Normal
Assets: 1 Spiritual Pouch (1 cubic meter), 85,350 spirit stones, 32 sets of Qi Gathering pills, and 8 bottles of Qi Recovery Powder. ]
First, his cultivation level finally increased, but with it, the monthly progress also decreased to 18%, mostly due to the larger amount of Qi Strands he needed to condense.
Nevertheless, in around three and a half months more, he would reach the 6th level of Qi Gathering, making him grin endlessly.
Secondly, his finances, which should've been 200,000 spirit stones higher, stood only around 85,000.
The reason behind this was Michael buying a big house for his parents and younger sibling. This house not only came with Tier 3 Qi Gathering and Defense arrays, but it was also near the spirit vein of the city, providing a qualitative increase in the Qi the cultivators could extract from the air.
After handing over the propriety deed to his father and enduring a thorough lecture from his mother, Michael finally convinced them to move there for Roderick's and their sakes.
Now, with all matters settled, he could whole-heartedly focus on his work and cultivation.
Today, he was meeting with the sect master for the first time in more than two months.
Seeing the gorgeous woman, even after interacting with her for this long, he still couldn't understand how she was this beautiful.
[You're here. Take a seat.](Helena)
"Greetings, sect master."
[Mhm. I've discussed it with the five great sects, and only two agreed to our proposal.](Helena)
"Does that mean..."
[Yes. Starting tomorrow, the online platforms will be connected. The Descending Mountain and the Lonesome Peaks agreed to invest. While the other three declined investing, they would still allow us to expand into their market for a cost.](Helena)
Hearing her words, Michael unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.
Great sects were organizations that had Ensoulment cultivators in their midst. They were powerhouses dominating capital-sized cities.
Mid-level sects such as the Bright Moon only handled regular metropolises, and smaller sects dealt with standard cities.
Therefore, not only did the status of a sect depend on their territorial development, but also on their peak combat strength.
For mid-level sects, even among the best, the most powerful cultivators were only at the late stages of the Nascent Soul realm.
Only someone hailed as a cultivation prodigy like sect master Helena could promote her sect to the standard of a mid-tier, even if her cultivation was only at the 3rd level of Nascent Soul.
Why? Because she was strong. Stupidly strong!
Strong enough to face against the mid and late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and emerge victorious.
Realizing something, Michael immediately whipped his bead back to the beauty, slightly startling her.
"Did the Descending Mountain..."
[Probably. Since your younger brother is a prodigy, they probably want to use this opportunity to hold tight to both of you. Don't worry about it, though. They won't act overboard. Oh, right! After discussing it with the other sect masters, we decided that we'll take care of the fees required to maintain the multiplayer 5v5 mode.
All you need to do is focus on improving the Secret Realm further.](Helena)
"Then, allow me to thank you, sect master. As for the future updates, they are already scheduled. New heroes will be released each couple of months or so, and we'll also hold events at that time."
[You're planning to finally do it?](Helena)
"Yes. The Battle Pass is finally at a point where it can be released at any time. After Mildred received her upgrade, everything became much easier.
Now, I can probably start focusing on a new project."
[Don't be in such a hurry. First, you need to make sure there are no problems with the multiplayer version. It would be a huge embarrassment if we fail after managing to convince two great sects to invest.](Helena)
"Rest assured, sect master. Mildred is monitoring the situation 24/7."
Actually, the sect master was overthinking it.
While Michael indeed was planning to work on his second game, it would be in the next couple of months or so.
There were still things that needed to be done, and he also wanted to focus on his cultivation.
That's why he planned to release the Battle Pass Krakken into the wild.
His mind was still on that Tier 4 Heavens' Breath, which could further enhance his spiritual roots and overall constitution, but his body was too weak to endure its medicinal effects.
Therefore, his plan changed slightly. He would dual cultivate both Qi and Body!
Most cultivators shy away from this option since it's incredibly costly, but in his case, once he begins shearing the players, he would have more than enough!
[Oh, right. Given that the platforms were connected, starting tomorrow, your Secret Realm can be sold in about fifteen new cities. Their total population should be about 950,000, so you have a chance of reaching one million sold units.
If that happens, the World Cultivation Alliance will probably take action and offer to lace your Secret Realm on the world stage.](Helena)
"Distant water can't put out a near fire, sect master. For now, it's best if I focus on improving the game to the highest standard. It also depends on how well the competitions are received."
[That's true. Well, for the competition, starting tomorrow, the ranking contest will last until December 11th. Then, based on the two solo and team categories, we'll provide rewards accordingly toward the end of the year.
For solo players, it is simple. The ones with the higher points on the leaderboards will get rewarded.
The teams will have to compete in a three-week tournament, which will crown the final victors.](Helena)
Hearing how the entire event will be streamed and mediatized, Michael was finally relieved. Professionals were professionals, after all.
In sect master Helena's hands, he had no doubts that she would make the most of this event. Not only would his game popularity grow, but Riverside City would also profit immensely from the publicity.
Returning to his apartment, Michael decided to take a two-month break. He would interfere with the game only if things became critical and instead focus wholly on cultivating his Qi and body.
After reviewing the plan with Mildred one more time, he exited the virtual space and went to the lobby to receive his package.
He had spent 15,000 spirit stones ordering enough resources to improve his Body Refinement realm to Soul Forming.
In fact, Body Refinement wasn't difficult... as long as you had the spirit stones, that is.
With the resources available on the market, if one spent enough, they could bathe daily in precious elixirs, refining themselves in the Mortal Flesh realm.
As the first realm of Body Refinement, a cultivator would slowly soak in precious medicine, improving and strengthening their skin.
Most woman cultivators cultivate to the Soul Forming realm for the simple beautification effect Body Refinement has.
However, one doesn't just become prettier in doing so; their defense also improves considerably. At the same Qi Gathering realm, in a bare-handed fight, the cultivator with the higher Body Refinement realm wins in 99% of the cases.
Carrying his package back to his room, he took out the 13 portions. Twelve were marked with a blue strip, signifying the twelve levels of the Mortal Flesh realm, while the last one had a red strip, to be used only when one was ready to breakthrough to the 1st level of Soul Forming.
Muffled groans could be heard from the bathroom as Michael fully submerged his body in the bathtub, allowing his skin to be tempered by the medicine.
The green water returned to its normal transparent color after three hours, in which the poor cultivator had to raise his head every couple of minutes out of the water to breathe.
Using a towel to dry himself, he cursed while feeling his skin ache all over.
"Motherfucker! Next time I'll get a fucking plastic straw to breathe through. The constant temperature change on my face made it horrible to endure!"
Fortunately, his pain was all worth it.
[ Host: Michael Lewis
Age: 19
Lifespan: 120.9 years (92.3 original lifespan + 28.6 added lifespan through cultivation)
Qi Cultivation: 5th Level of Qi Gathering (37%)
Body Refinement: 1st Level of Mortal Flesh (2%)
Spiritual Roots: Normal
Assets: 1 Spiritual Pouch (1 cubic meter), 70,350 spirit stones, 12 sets of Body Refinement Medicine, 13 sets of Qi Gathering pills, and 6 bottles of Qi Recovery Powder. ]
Seeing the newly added Body Refinement row and the previous 'Cultivation' change to Qi Cultivation, Michael nodded happily and then stepped inside the cultivation room.
After activating the Qi Gathering array, he prepared to work even harder!
------Scene Break------
It was November 18th, and over 23,000 people tuned in to Beatrice's livestream, watching as she partied with a group of her friends.
Playing on the Radian's side using her staple hero, Marci, the viewers could only laugh while listening to her complaints.
[Henry! Could you, PLEASE, come gank top!? Their carry is free-farming, and we can't threaten it!](Beatrice)
[Since their mid-here hasn't left, I can't either! Wait until the first power rune spawns, and I'll try to rotate using it! Fuck! Toxic bastard picking Huskar! Watch how I beat the shit out of you!](Henry)
[Bia, I need a bit more Qi to reach the 4th level of Qi Gathering and unlock my second ability. Once I do, I'll take the Gate and attack from behind!](?)
[Thank you, Milena! It's still you who cares the most for me!](Beatrice)
[This bitch! I play as support with you, and you compliment others!? Do you believe I'll leave you to solo this lane!?](?)
[*Cough* *Cough* Andrea... I'm sorry, honey! Fuck! Charge that bastard! He stepped too close to our creeps! Charge, charge!](Beatrice)
Moments later, the A.I.'s voice echoed through the island.
[ FIRST BLOOD! ]
Excited, the top-lane duo chased after the remaining support hero, Lion, securing a double kill for Beatrice.
The viewers sent their respects in chat, praising the beauty while mocking the dead opponent controlling Slark.
[Bia, what's the enemy's item status like?](?)
[Huh? Wait a second, big sis Melinda, he just returned to the lane. Andrea, can you use an Identification Bead?](Beatrice)
[On it.](Andrea)
To make it more realistic, Michael prevented the players from seeing the enemy's inventory at all times.
Instead, they could buy Identification Beads, consumables that can be used only once on a single target.
They were only priced at 50 gold coins, so the supports could spend some of their hard-earned cash to ensure the core heroes wouldn't get caught off guard.
[Power Threads, a Magic Wand, some regeneration consumables, and a Blade of Alacrity.](Andrea)
[That's good! I have just finished buying the Dragon Lance, meaning I am ahead. Let's put some more pressure bottom, Henry.](Melinda)
[There's a Haste power rune bottom! I'm taking it and making my way over!](Henry)
Making his way east, Henry grabbed the Haste rune, and his movement speed increased to the level of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.
Controlling the template of the jolly Storm Spirit, the 7th level Qi Gathering mid-player prepared to rain down destruction upon his enemies.
Since the mid-lane consisted of a one-versus-one matchup, players gained considerably more experience than the other two lanes, where players were locked in a two-versus-two contest.
With his mastery over last hitting and denying, Henry reached this cultivation base much faster than his opponent, who was still halfway through the 6th level.
On the bottom lane, Melinda and Milena had only reached the 5th level, and so had their opponents.
Making use of his superior mobility, Henry blocked his two enemies using his Static Remnant skill and then pulled the one who was trying to escape using the Electric Vortex.
Milena immediately acted as well, using her Crystal Maiden template to encase the same hero Henry used the controlling ability on in ice, then infusing a large portion of her Qi into a snowflake, which exploded in the space between the two enemies, damaging both them and Henry.
While this friendly fire hurt a bit, it was a necessary sacrifice, as Melinda and Henry claimed one kill each, increasing their advantage over the Dire team.