Chapter 1 Alarm

"Warning, warning, intruders detected in Sector F. Initiating automated defense system!"

Shi Feng hadn't even had time to celebrate when this loud announcement poured a bucket of cold water over him. He hadn't expected this.

As soon as he reached the exit of the passage, he found that the passages leading to other areas were all sealed off, preventing entry and exit. The water in the pool below began to rise. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the place was flooded.

Without thinking, Shi Feng took out a bottle of underwater breathing potion, drank it, which would allow a player to breathe underwater for 20 minutes, and then jumped directly into the pool, swimming deeper and deeper.

After swimming for more than ten minutes, Shi Feng finally saw a dim passage. However, the current there was rapid, making it difficult to approach. After spending a long time and drinking a second bottle of underwater breathing potion, he managed to climb to the entrance of the passage with great difficulty.

He was then swept away by the turbulent water, his body unable to move as he was carried down the passage. After being swept along for several minutes, Shi Feng was ejected from a tunnel along with the water, landing in a large pool again.

There were steps leading up the walls of the large pool. As long as he went up these steps, he could reach the core area.

Shi Feng swam to the steps, checked the time, and saw that it was almost 8 a.m. Finding the Titan's Heart was not something that could be done in a short time, so Shi Feng directly brought up the system interface and chose to log off.

The first thing he did every morning was to exercise, a habit that had been deeply ingrained in Shi Feng's bones.

However, his body felt noticeably different today compared to yesterday. He didn't feel stiff all over. On the contrary, he felt refreshed and indescribably relaxed. The C-grade nutrient potion he had drunk clearly had a good effect, gradually changing his physical qualities.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Shi Feng got up and started exercising, doing sit-ups, push-ups, and other muscle-strengthening exercises. After working out for more than an hour, Shi Feng didn't feel tired. Instead, his whole body felt warm and he was full of energy.

However, he didn't continue, but went downstairs to eat. Exercise wasn't just about pushing yourself to the limit; it had to be done in moderation. Overdoing it would have the opposite effect.

After a night of hard work, with the gold coins he sold and the money he earned from Bai Qingxue, he now had more than 200,000 credits in his bank account. One night's effort was equivalent to two months' salary for a senior executive in a large company. This was the power of God's Domain driving the virtual economy. In a year, it wouldn't be uncommon to become rich overnight in God's Domain.

Unfortunately, many companies hadn't realized this yet. By the time they did, they would be far behind the companies that had entered the game early.

After eating, Shi Feng went to the bank and withdrew 30,000 credits, preparing to pay off the virtual helmet, otherwise, if he kept putting it off and forgot about it, he would have to wait until the next day to handle it when he wanted to play God's Domain. Now was the initial sprint stage of the game. Falling behind by a day would make it difficult to catch up.

He could also call Hei Zi out for a stroll. Staying cooped up in the dormitory all the time would cause health problems.

In the early morning, there were few people on the university streets. Only some sports clubs were doing morning runs to warm up for their later training. Looking at these energetic college students, Shi Feng felt a sense of unreality, as if the ten years of war in God's Domain were just a fleeting dream.

Along the way, Shi Feng admired the university campus as he walked towards Hei Zi's dormitory, appreciating the scenery he hadn't paid attention to in his previous life.

As he approached Hei Zi's dormitory, Shi Feng heard laughter coming from inside.

"Hei Zi, you're doing too poorly, aren't you? Weren't you very confident that you could join Youying Studio before? I've been waiting for you in Youying Studio for several days, but I haven't seen you."

"Wu Yi, I've already said that I joined another studio, so I didn't go to the Youying assessment."

"I'm ignorant. Hei Zi, don't lie to me. Which other studio is there in the entire Jinhai University? What's its name? How many people are there? Who established it? Can you tell me? If the待遇 (dàiyù, compensation and benefits) are good, maybe I'll go too."

Hei Zi suddenly realized that Shi Feng hadn't told him the name of the studio. As for the number of people, there were exactly six, including him. It could be said that it was completely empty, with heavy debts.

"Hei Zi, stop being stubborn. I know you didn't pass Youying's assessment. If it really doesn't work out, let Brother Wu put in a good word for you. Brother Wu is now a formal member, so maybe you can become an outer member. At least you can keep playing God's Domain, and getting 2,000 credits a month shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget that the trial helmet only has a ten-day trial period. After that, you won't be able to play." A classmate in the same dormitory sneered.

"No way, what kind of studio is it that doesn't even have a formal virtual helmet? That's too pitiful." Wu Yi pretended to be surprised, then patted Hei Zi on the shoulder and sighed, "Youying has a formal helmet even for outer members, and formal members are equipped with advanced helmets worth 20,000. Your studio is too坑 (kēng, a pit, to swindle). Who opened it? I'll help you get justice."

"Why don't you follow me in the future? I guarantee you'll have a formal helmet. When I become a core member of Youying, I'll guarantee you'll live a good life. You have to know that Youying has been invested in by Young Master Lan with five million, and I heard that another two million has been invested now. Being able to enter Youying has a bright future."

"Wu Yi, I've said it, I won't go. I'm doing pretty well now." Hei Zi refused outright.

"Hei Zi, you have to know that there aren't many opportunities like this. Youying Studio is the best studio in Jinhai University. If it weren't for the fact that you've already reached level 5 and we're classmates, I wouldn't have come to you." Wu Yi said earnestly, "You keep saying you've joined another studio, but you should at least say the name. Is it fun to lie to old classmates like this?"

"What? Don't tell me this studio doesn't even have a name?"

"Even if it doesn't have a name, you should at least know who established it. These days, any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to open a studio. Don't be fooled. Youying Studio has a formal business license and contract guarantees, so at least it won't let you starve to death."

Wu Yi praised Youying a lot, as if joining Youying Studio meant that the future would be an elite in society, something to be envied.

However, Hei Zi had already seen through Youying and had no good feelings for them. He only blamed himself for being talkative and showing off that he had reached level 5, which resulted in Youying Studio finding out and sending Wu Yi, who was a classmate, to persuade him.

But how could he betray Shi Feng and join Youying? He owed all his current achievements to Shi Feng. Even if it was difficult now, he firmly believed that Shi Feng could lead him to success.

Players who could reach level 5 at this stage were all experts. For Youying Studio, which was currently lacking experts, Hei Zi was a great beauty, so they were naturally eager to pull him over and make him their own.

At this moment, Shi Feng opened the door and walked in.

"I am the Tom, Dick, or Harry who established the studio. Do you have any objections?" Shi Feng looked at the rugged and sturdy Wu Yi and said coldly.

ps: Thank you to Maple*Leaf~ for the 100 reward!