Chapter 9 (1/2)
Eight days later.
Home base of JC Kings.
The daily team training went on as usual. During noontime break, Zhao Mengwei browsed through the various forums and message boards of several mainstream games on his phone.
However, he couldn’t find any news about Sacred Souls on any chatroom, boards or even Weibo.
On the other hand, there were a few players who posted threads on the forums that read ‘Just played a game comparable to real-life called Sacred Souls!’
However, most replies to the post were conveying doubt.
After all, it was claiming that Sacred Souls delivers a hundred percent genuine experience for all senses apart from pain, with the texture of clothing detailed to the tiniest thread.
Present standards VR games would never reach such level, and as such the other players thought that the Sacred Souls post were merely boasting.
Soon, the thread itself sunk to rock-bottom on ratings and visibility.
If Zhao Mingwei had not played Sacred Souls himself, he would have thought that the post was some nonsense.
After all, it was too unique a game—too far beyond the ordinary.
All it took was clicking on the login button on his phone, and the game would run a hypnosis without the use of VR headgears.
In fact, Zhao Mingwei had tried to play Sacred Souls overnight. The next day, not only did he not lack vitality, he was full of it instead.
From the login method of the game alone, Zhao Mengwei was sure that it wasn’t something humanmade.
Could it have been aliens?
That being said, the number of players in the server is pathetically few—Zhao Mingwei had played eight days but only made two friends: NoUpdatesToday and Free Milk.
It appears that Sacred Souls was not being given any publicity either, nor did Zhao Mingwei know how to download it. It was as if the game chose him and not the opposite.
“Smiley, do you think that game is real?”
Lin Xi asked him with a mysterious tone, suddenly appearing out of nowhere with a lunchbox in hand.
“Definitely fake.” Zhao Mingwei replied straightaway without thinking—the JC Kings management enforces tight discipline on their players. He was allowed to play some mobile or computer games, but would receive a verbal warning if he joins the club of another major VR game.
That was also why Zhao Mingwei had a strained relationship with the management. Regretfully, he signed the enslaving contract during his young and naive days, and for the two more years he could only exist as ‘Giggle’, star of JC Kings.
“I think it’s real.” Lin Xi said, chewing on a mouthful of rice. “There are special discussions on the game forum posts, and it was actually quite fun.”
“Fun? You… played it?”
Zhao Mingwei realized then that Lin Xi was not just there to gossip about the game, but to goddamn show off that he has a Sacred Souls account or login rights!
“Of course I did. It’s just that I don’t know how to stream or use screencaps for the game, so I can’t prove it.” Lin Xi appeared rather unconcerned since his own contract with the club was more relaxed.
“Meet up tonight?” Zhao Mingwei whispered.
“No way… you too, Smiley? Alright! Lionheart City, tonight!”
Having been friends for years, both Lin Xi and Zhao Mingwei understood each other, and the former quickly returned to his seat after downing another few mouthfuls of his lunch.
***
Three in the morning, Lionheart City—a location in Sacred Souls.
A time when professional players should be resting.
Jiang Qiao was doing stretches at the Temple of Revival in the city.
After all, character growth in Sacred Souls would be fed into the player’s body in real life.
The most obvious proof was that Jiang Qiao had no more neck or back pains after working through the night. As such, little exercises were a must to better maintain his body.