Chapter 457: Following the Boss is Definitely Right

"A Tieba forum?" Fang Qi glanced at it, and indeed it was. "..."

Soon, another blue, square Tieba icon appeared on the desktop of every computer in the shops.

This was the third piece of basic software that didn't require any cost to activate, right after Penguin Communication and the Virtual Item Trading Network.

Since it was unlocked directly by the system, it appeared straight on the desktop, unlike *The Matrix*, which Fang Qi had drawn from the lottery and could decide when to roll out at his own discretion.

For the customers of the old shop, this posed no problem at all, but the customers of the new shop had only just come into contact with these things and still had no concept of what the internet was; many had entered the shop for the sole purpose of playing *The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3*, and even though a massive online game like *The Legend* hadn't been held back for three months like the single-player games in the new shop (the same would apply to future online games), the main focus of most players in the shop remained fixed on *Sword and Fairy 3*.

So they lacked an appropriate concept, and releasing *The Matrix* at this moment would likely leave them utterly bewildered.

Thus, Boss Fang held off on releasing *The Matrix* for the time being, waiting for a period of fermentation, at least until they began to form a grasp of concepts like virtual reality, computers, and machines.

Many new players would play on their own after entering the shop, contentedly discussing matters within their small circles, and while things like Penguin Communication and My Space existed, they didn't know what these things were used for, let alone that on the other side of the vastly distant Heavenly Abyss Ocean, a group of cultivators was also playing these games; even when they encountered difficulties in-game, they only discussed them within their immediate circles.

But the arrival of the Tieba forum changed things; at this moment, Boss Fang could be seen creating a Tieba named "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" within it.

Just then, Boss Fang noticed an avatar flashing on Penguin Communication.

Su Tianji: "(Husky looking dazed) How did I find another new thing?"

"Are you staring at it every single day?" Boss Fang's face was covered in black lines. "It literally just came out and you already saw it?"

"(Contempt) What is this for? I clicked in and there's nothing at all..."

Boss Fang: "..."

However, as the shop owner, he was essentially the only one who knew how to use this thing.

Before long, Boss Fang executed a series of operations: "Click back in and take another look."

Su Tianji clicked into the "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" bar, and sure enough, she saw two new posts inside:

[Discussion] On the Feasibility of Fusing the Five Elements Spells

[Guide] Methods for Obtaining the Phantasmal Realm Crystal

"The Phantasmal Realm Crystal?!" In the Jiuhua City shop, Su Tianji was holding a milk tea cup, her eyes bulging wide; after a long pause, she let out a cry of surprise, "The owner published the method to get the Phantasmal Realm Crystal!"

Unlike the original game, a treasure capable of granting immunity to Chong Lou's spells wasn't something one could just pick up in passing, let alone gather in abundance.

The Tieba forum differed from group chats; it lacked a restricted "circle," allowing anyone to discuss what they wanted, and it quickly drew a large crowd of people replying below, with newcomers asking questions in the forum while new guide posts or discussion threads emerged, keeping things lively even during breaks from the single-player game.

"The Legend of Sword and Fairy Exchange and Discussion Group" recruiting newbies! Penguin Group Number XXXX...

A few days later, such a post quickly appeared in the "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" bar.

And by this time, Boss Fang took a glance at the activation count for *Sword and Fairy 3*—it had already broken three thousand.

"I'm fighting Chong Lou too!" Nalan Mingxue suddenly sent a screenshot in the group, showing that her character was already on the way to the New Immortal Realm.

"How are you all playing so fast?" Wang Xie froze the moment he opened the chat group.

"How are you so fast?" A smurf account with the ID Black Flood Dragon City Lord Huangfu Tao, sporting a Li Xiaoyao avatar, popped up. "I play eight hours a day and I've only just reached the Evil Sword Immortal. By the way, the Evil Sword Immortal is so strong..."

"Post a guide after you finish (Laughs out loud)."

Boss Fang: "Perhaps this is what they call a final farewell."

Song Qingfeng: "(Cold sweat) There's no reply anymore, she's probably started fighting."

An hour later...

Nalan Mingxue: "(Husky looking pitiful) I got suspended and thrashed..."

Jiang Xiaoyuan: "Pats head, I haven't even reached that part yet (Grins)."

Boss Fang sent a picture of a hand patting a husky's head: "Patting head."

Song Qingfeng: "Brother Lou is still too strong... I reckon tomorrow will be a lost cause for me too."

The black-robed Taoist Zhou Mo, using a Chong Lou avatar, said: "He is the Demon Respect after all."

...

Unlike when the Half City shop opened, where most of the interactions between Half City and Jiuhua City were forged through fighting, the current main game in the shop was *Sword and Fairy 3*, so the atmosphere was considerably more harmonious than it had been during the Half City days.

The smell of gunpowder between the two sides had diminished, and the cultivators communicated through chat groups and forums, which felt much more like—discussing the Dao while seated.

Even while sitting before computer screens separated by a hundred thousand miles, these cultivators could kill each other and steal monsters over a single disagreement, or they could order a cup of milk tea and discuss a game skill for the better part of a day; inside the shop and outside the shop, it felt different yet retained a sense of familiarity.

...

Finally, on this day, Boss Fang added a new movie to the small blackboard: *The Matrix*.

The climate in Lingzhou was considerably milder than that of the Deserted Sea Realm, and even compared to Jiuhua City, it seemed much gentler; spring had already been underway for some time now, and even though the Primordial Origin City was built upon a spiritual mountain, it didn't feel cold, though a certain great demon was still staying in the coldest place, Half City.

"Achoo! When on earth is that damn Old Demon Fang going to take this Venerable One to the new shop!"

Boss Fang indicated he had absolutely no intention of doing so.

When the disciples of the Heaven-Expanding Academy came to the shop depended entirely on the lecture times of the elders.

The elders of the Heaven-Expanding Academy didn't give lectures every day; for these geniuses, personal cultivation was the core focus, as the saying goes, "The master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual," so the disciples of the Heaven-Expanding Academy usually found themselves with quite an abundance of free time.

Some even went out for experiential training and expeditions, potentially disappearing for long stretches of time.

"Sister Lanruo, I can handle this." Li Lanruo could be seen expertly brewing instant noodles and milk tea, serving them to a few close classmates along the way.

As the most talented member of the Li family and one of the few remaining survivors, Elder Li Wuya and little Qin'er naturally hoped she would cultivate diligently, but since she came to the shop every day anyway, lending a hand was just a matter of convenience.

"Owner, why isn't the featured attraction today *The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3*?" As Li Lanruo passed the counter, she noticed with surprise that the first line on the small blackboard had changed to a movie with the strange name *The Matrix*.

She knew what a movie was, having watched *Shushan* under Jiang Xiaoyue's recommendation.

Zong Wu's arrival time at the shop depended on whether he was burdened with many affairs today; since he hadn't been seen yet, he was clearly somewhat busy today.

However, someone who wasn't busy had already entered the shop at this time: "Master, slow down."

Wang Xie could be seen supporting the old academy director, Gu Tingyun, as they walked in.

Gu Tingyun had stepped down long ago, living an age akin to enjoying his remaining years, and his only business was teaching his disciple.

The only thing Wang Xie had to be busy with now was probably learning the *Cave Heaven Mirror*.

But with his master running off to play games, what kind of learning was that.

So these two had become the earliest to arrive almost every day, save for the occasional slight delay.

"What are they crowding around the counter for?" Gu Tingyun narrowed his old eyes.

Only to hear Jiang Xiaoyue's crisp voice say: "Owner, are you going to watch this Matrix thing?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I watch it?"

"Then I'll join too!" Following the owner was never wrong anyway.

"The Matrix?" Wang Xie and Gu Tingyun exchanged a look. "What is this now?"

.

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PS: I can't add extra chapters these two days, so it can only be two chapters a day, saving up a few chapters for a big release on the 11th during the major recommendation push, as there are no drafts left, I hope everyone understands.