Chapter 177: Internal Test, Activate!

"My lord, do we really not need to appear in any promotional short video this time?"

Sitting on the long wooden bench in the pavilion, Ji Ming leaned forward to glance at the pitch‑black rock‑wall ceiling.

"Everyone should save their energy; in a moment over a thousand players will probably log in simultaneously, and then there will be a thousand hopping frogs, a thousand noisy crows, and a thousand arrogant geese."

The closed beta only has a hundred people, and it's the real‑world debut of Code·Yangyue, so Ji Ming naturally needs a high‑quality opening to capture attention.

But for now…

Even if he misspells a single character in the beginner guide, some players will suspect it's an official Easter egg with hidden meaning.

What? You don't think so?

—Good kid, just pick one of these hats and wear it!

So Ji Ming cut the Production Team members' showcase, and moved the internal test players' spawn point from the Sanctuary to the Training Ground; after all, it's spacious enough for them to set up.

He glanced down at the time, yawned, and stood up.

"Alright, the server opens in a minute; you go take care of things first."

"Got it."

Watching the angel disappear into the dungeon's darkness, standing at the edge of the wide plaza, Ji Ming began a silent countdown.

The little boss's sense of timing was precise; as soon as ten p. m. struck, dazzling beams of light surrounded him.

His prediction proved spot‑on: the Training Ground, which had just been quiet and even eerie, turned the next second into a raucous marketplace.

Looking around, the scene was even more bizarre.

There was a big‑clawed creature pouting at the camera, whose past life was either a crab or a shrimp.

"Thanks to Brother Yi's account! Bao~bao~ has already entered the game~"

A burly man, face flushed red, launched an all‑out attack on his own belt without a word.

"Damn, can the gritty world ever get better! Why can't we shed the bitter tea seed in the closed beta!"

A gray werewolf clutching its own tail, sobbing as if it would die of happiness the next second.

"Heaven and earth, I've worn beast armor half my life, and today I finally achieved the true result!"

Someone who chose a kobold was shrieking at their own tiny hands.

"Ah! How can there be a 【1,1,1,1】 that defies the heavens in four dimensions?"

One person covered their face with a collar, perhaps embarrassed and fleeing everywhere.

"It's not me, I'm not, you've got the wrong person, I'm not Lin Xiao!"

More players were already curiously exploring the surroundings, or harassing the celebrity players and top streamers.

Standing amid the chaotic crowd, Ji Ming remained expressionless, only hearing their clamor.

Taking advantage that his obvious level‑8 "big shot" status as a closed‑beta player hadn't been noticed, he hurried toward the Player Arena.

Under the fourth pillar from the left, a nervous figure was standing, looking around.

Ji Ming initially intended to go over and greet them, but then a malicious scheme formed in his mind.

Heh, you're threatening me…

He weaved through the crowd, evading Bai Yesheng's gaze, snaking around to her back and leaning close to her ear.

"You forgot to wear your headset."

"Ah!"

Bai Yesheng let out a startled scream, leapt three steps, and babbled incoherently.

"I didn't, I didn't, I absolutely didn't watch any…"

…

"Bro, what does that step back mean?"

Ji Ming pretended not to hear and began dragging the "internal test beginner guide" function in the system.

Because the player count was too high for linear guidance, he consulted many competitor examples while trying to devise a new approach.

Finally inspired by the scenic map, he decided to base the closed‑beta guide around the game map.

The direction and amount of displayed information depended entirely on each player's preferences, offering extreme freedom, akin to an open‑world game.

"Where would you like to visit first? I recommend heading to the Forge Workshop; the closed‑beta exchange point is also inherited there, so we can…"

Then someone gave a hard pat on the shoulder.

"Hey, what's up, you've learned a death‑feign in just seven days of not seeing each other, right?"

Bai Yesheng scoffed and took a few steps closer.

"How about this: you respectfully call me 'Dad', and I'll secretly give you what I've collected these past two days."

"…I'll call you 'Mom'!"

"Fine then."

"Get lost!"

Different players have different playstyles, so countless blue dots, after initial surprise and excitement, have already moved toward the guide's directions that interest them.

【Anyone (closed‑beta big shot) willing to guide? Little brother also wants to feel the thrill of bursting protection without grinding.】

【Gunblade folks, explore freely first; three hours later at 1 a. m., meet at Dog Village for monster‑hunting!】

【@Gun Soldier No Weapon @LostOne, I'm in the arena, want to see a big shot solo, please please QWQ】

【Dog official, when will players finally be allowed to shed the bitter tea seed? This is so unrealistic!】

【Please, players, be friendly, stop harassing our production team's celebrity guests, thank you for cooperating】

Ji Ming and Bai Yesheng pushed through the bustling crowd, heading eastward.

In the earlier trailer, JiMiYin had overhauled the entire dungeon's terrain, deleting and replacing almost all ruins and wastelands.

Consequently, the kobold traps had vanished, replaced by a vast field of glowing grass and winding stone pathways.

But soon, the relatively gentle terrain was raised, and after the thriving berry forest, a mine cave appeared on the mid‑mountain slope.

Next to the mine cave stood a tall building built against the mountain, surrounded by sturdy brick walls, looking quite reliable.

All of this relied on Master Wei Er Mo's professional ability; in one go he forged a series of large‑scale production tools such as brick furnaces and forging furnaces.

However, because they moved relatively quickly, no other players have arrived here yet.

Just a few steps away, you can see two youths standing beside the gate of the wall.

They wore stern faces, looking like "Whoa, I'm so professional!," and they are Charlie and Bei Li, who are responsible for maintaining local safety.

When they saw Ji Ming, they instinctively wanted to shout, but after seeing the huge 【I am a player!!!】 banner over his head, they quickly lowered their voices.

"Hello, Pioneers, this is the Forge Workshop. How can we help you?"

"Um…"

Damn, this line feels even more awkward than before!

Helplessly, Ji Ming could only grit his teeth.

"Ah, right, we'd like to inquire about the current functions of the Forge Workshop, such as whether we can purchase some weapons for use."

"Of course. Master Wei Er Mo is in the blacksmith shop on the right; you can approach him for anything you need."

Passing through the gate into the courtyard, Bai Yesheng's expression turned odd.

"Hey, why does it seem like he knows you?"

"Probably because… I took part in an experiment testing NPC intelligent interaction functions."

Making up a reason on the spot, Ji Ming walked into the blacksmith shop with its doors flung open.

A warm gust of hot air hit his nose, mingling the smells of iron rust, metal, fuel, and sweat.

Since being trained by Wei Er Mo's troops, Mo Dun automatically gained the deputy role; now he was busy tending the furnace, his leather apron smeared with coal ash.

Wei Er Mo wasn't idle either; he stood nearby, repeatedly swinging an absurdly massive forging hammer, pounding a billet on the iron anvil.

"Hello, Master Wei Er Mo."

As long as a player keeps looking, a name hovers over a friendly NPC's head, so Ji Ming walked straight up and greeted him.

"May I purchase some relatively high‑quality weapons here?"

Wei Er Mo lifted his head; his short stature and thick beard gave his expression a certain seriousness.

He was still sharp as old ginger; his performance had no flaw, he scrutinized the two and then nodded.

"Of course!"

He said slowly.

"I can enchant the forged weapons, but it requires special materials and techniques, so the price won't be cheap."

"The server just opened and you can already buy enchanted weapons directly? That fast?"

Bai Yesheng had thought, given the Great Holy Seat's tendencies, that high‑level gear would be delayed until later stages to unlock.

"After all, everything now requires exchange points, which already extends the cultivation time itself."

"With many participants in the closed beta, more issues arise, so Ji Ming removed free services in many places, further increasing the value and frequency of 'exchange points' usage."

"Tsk, they say game designers are farm owners and players are donkeys chasing carrots—so true!"

After a snide comment, Bai Yesheng opened the product list beside her.

Her hopeful gaze gradually faded; she stared silently for a long time, then tossed it in front of Ji Ming.

"Don't tell me this is also one of your settings!"

"Steamed bun, you don't help…"

Ji Ming thought she was complaining about the price, but after a glance he was left speechless.

Although the ordinary weapons below are perfectly normal, the enchanted weapons hanging above are somewhat…

【Super Invincible Sky‑Cleansing Axe】

【Enchanted·Shine: The beast‑pattern eyes emit red light when swung】

【Price: 114 exchange points】

【Rainbow Flash Thunder Hammer】

【Enchanted·Color: The hammer's color changes with the surrounding temperature】

【Price: 514 exchange points】

【Shining Radiant Three Realms Shield】

【Enchanted·Resonance: The shield makes an especially loud sound when struck】

【Price: 810 exchange points】

Ji Ming steadied himself, examined five or six enchanted weapons, and almost lost his composure.

"Uncle, the skills this system gives are odd, but if used correctly they're all divine techniques."

"This thing is not only three points more abstract, I can't even see any applicable scope at first glance."

He could only cough lightly and speak cautiously.

"Master, although these enchantments are all… marvelous, I'd like some simpler weapons."

Bai Yesheng asked as well.

"Yes, for example, just casually add durability, sharpness, that sort of thing…"

But Wei Er Mo didn't even lift his head, and let out a cold snort.

"Young man, forging is a matter that heavily depends on inspiration; only when you are free and the hammer moves with your heart can you create true works of art!"

The forging hammer in his hand struck with increasing force, purple mana flowing between his fingers and the glowing refined iron, gradually imprinting a circuit.

"For instance, the enchanted weapon I'm forging now—until it's finished, even I don't know what form it will take or what enchantment it will have; only then can I fully unleash my inspiration!"

Bai Yesheng was completely numb and whispered into Ji Ming's ear.

"What kind of mindset or feeling did your designer have to create such an awkward character?"

"…I didn't make it!"

Ji Ming could only shake his head; how could he possibly know? Clearly something made by such a professional‑looking fellow could be this abstract.

However, Wei Er Mo's theory, though bizarre, does yield very high work efficiency.

With the naked eye the magical runes gradually closed into a loop, and after a brilliant flash from start to finish an enchantment was formed.

His movements were skilled and powerful, as if each step had been precisely calculated in his mind.

So judging by the shape of this blank, it seems he intends to forge a single‑handed sword or blade…

Ji Ming was still pondering when he saw Wei Er Mo's expression change; he grabbed the iron rod and dropped it into the adjacent pool.

The clash of hot and cold water produced a loud "psh" sound, and the scorching refined iron gradually cooled and solidified, revealing a rather beautiful pattern.

Then he retrieved the iron rod from the water and placed it on a nearby table.

He let out a long sigh of relief.

That means…

Done?

Ji Ming's eyes widened.

"Master, have you finished forging?"

"Only by following one's own heart can a perfect work be created; the old fellow knows this in his heart!"

Wei Er Mo's words were decisive, yet looking at this square yet slightly curved iron rod he still scratched his head.

"Wait, why can't I recognize what kind of weapon this is?"

Bai Yesheng extended a finger and measured the curvature of the iron rod in the air.

"I think… this should be a ji, right?"

Whatout, a dwarf from a fantasy world, forged a ji from Huaxia's traditional weapons?

Who knew Wei Er Mo actually smacked his forehead.

"Right, a ji, a ji! I will call it the Ancient Barbaric Sacred Ji!"

Ji Ming didn't want to argue over these trivialities, and simply blinked.

These past few days he retested the function of Saint's Judgment, discovering that only when using the laser does it cause eye side effects, while True Sight and X‑ray have none.

Thus, looking at this bizarre weapon, he could only laugh and cry as he identified its enchantment.

Enchantment·Lockpicking: It can smash open any mechanical lock that lacks magical involvement.

For players in the dungeon, this function is essentially useless.

Because dungeons have no traditional locks, the underground plains lack the technology to develop such devices, and the area partitions on the Great Holy Seat are set by the small boss with immutable rule restrictions.

Besides, this is an Order‑side game; how could we allow players to become thieves? That would be tasteless.

So…

This thief can only be my mouthpiece!

Then he immediately asked.

"Master, what would be the approximate price of such a weapon in exchange points?"

"Hmm? If based on the original price, it should be 1919 exchange points, but considering you're the first pioneer to arrive here and you kept me company, I can give you a discount!"

A few cunning glints flashed in the dwarf's eyes.

"Fifty exchange points, how about that?"

Ji Ming was stunned for a moment.

Weren't dwarves supposed to be honest?