Chapter 579: Unexpectedly It is "Resident Evil 2"?

No matter the nature of martial arts or combat techniques, the foundation remains utterly indispensable.

Swordsmanship powerful enough to cleave mountains and sever rivers still evolves from the most basic hack and slash.

Those paragons who illuminated the entire continent could not escape this very step in their youth.

Only upon a solid foundation can towering towers be erected.

So if you see someone facing a dragon, striking it down with a rusted iron sword, or someone dealing with fully armored warriors effortlessly with bare hands, do not be surprised.

For they are the true masters.

"If you have confidence in your own strength, even a randomly plucked branch can become the finest weapon in the world."

Thus, no matter where they are, in which kingdom, no matter what power they utilize, or how extraordinary their talent may be, they invariably hold this point in absolute reverence.

Even on this continent rumored to harbor gods, it is no exception, and perhaps even more pronounced than what Fang Qi had ever witnessed before.

If the kingdoms great and small, laid out like gems amidst a galaxy of stars, were akin to a magnificent garment draped over the continent, then the Morning Light Empire—with its surging Azure River and the dense mists of its life-giving springs—was perhaps the most beautiful pearl upon that raiment.

Likewise, this beautiful and fertile realm enjoyed the illustrious reputation of being the "Kingdom of Techniques."

They were the group that emphasized foundations above all else; of course, this did not mean others neglected it, but rather that they tended to expend far more effort in this regard than warriors and mages from other lands.

They possessed remarkably complete martial cultivation realms and spell realms, which were not merely meant for novice cultivators and mages, for even some masters, or outsiders drawn by reputation from other kingdoms, would suppress their cultivation to undergo highly specialized training.

Perhaps before arriving here, many entertained the illusion that foundational cultivation realms were but transitional tools for absolute beginners, to be gradually discarded once one's cultivation reached profound heights.

Yet any outsider who truly came here to cultivate would swiftly alter that perception.

They welcomed warriors and mages from all corners of the earth, and with a stroke of luck, one might even glimpse the legendary elves within this realm.

And these cultivation realms were the crowning treasures of this city nestled along the banks of the Azure River.

Even when merely passing by, one could hear warriors gathered in small groups, debating the nuances of combat techniques.

They relied on these skills to contend with dangerous magical beasts, hunting for prime pelts and even higher-grade beast crystals, a trade by which many seemed to make their living.

These places were not open around the clock; once night fell, even the most obsessed warriors and mages seemed unwilling to disturb the quietude and tranquility of the city.

Within the city, which bore a somewhat ancient European architectural style, the cobblestone streets surged with crowds from every corner of the world, serving perhaps as the truest portrayal of this place.

These cultivation realms belonged to the Alchemist Guild, a venue that had always drawn the greatest influx of people.

A few blonde or brown-haired young men and women had just finished their cultivation at this moment, wiping the sweat from their brows, as a freckle-faced, somewhat youthful-looking young man spoke with soaring spirits: "Did you know? I just defeated a gray wolf, a rank-two magical beast, all by myself in the cultivation realm! That was a rank-two magical beast!"

"It looks like my grades for this academic year will definitely be excellent or above, and I feel I'm already ready to go adventuring in the Dusk Forest!" he said with some excitement, these youths clearly harboring a deep fascination for the unknown and the novel.

And regarding the Dusk Forest, whenever they heard tales of mercenaries returning fully laden with pelts of magical beasts, various alchemical herbs, and rare minerals on their backs, they could not help but look on with great yearning.

"The gray wolves in the Dusk Forest appear in packs; if you run into them, don't go wetting your pants in terror!" another brown-haired youth teased with a chuckle.

"Exactly, it's said that last time several seniors secretly slipped into the Dusk Forest and encountered dozens at once. If they hadn't run into a passing mercenary group, not a single one might have escaped back!"

"Is it really that terrifying..."

...

Glancing through the shop door, Fang Qi could occasionally spot a few Easterners with black hair and black eyes among the crowd. It was said they came from a distant land in the East, another kingdom, which, of course, was roughly the same pretext Fang Qi used now.

The sleek, brand-new storefront was not large, housing only about a hundred machines in total, yet it exuded cleanliness and serenity. Opposite the shop was a circular intersection, a highly favorable location indeed; looking out diagonally, one could see the woven tapestry of the crowd and a large flowerbed in the center, sculpted with a tall man holding a longsword high.

What caught him somewhat by surprise, however, was that after opening the shop, the rewarded game turned out to be—Resident Evil 2.

The power of the masses was vast, and to build a network spanning across the world, one naturally could not rest satisfied with only a few high-ranked warriors and great figures knowing of it.

Irrigating the flowers at the grassroots level was equally important.

Yes, irrigation—Boss Fang felt this word was rather fitting.

This time was entirely different from his previous store openings; aside from the newly released game, the new shop possessed absolutely none of the online games or television dramas of the past, leaving behind solely the movie Resident Evil 2.

Coupled with the game, it meant that these were the only offerings within the store.

"Origins Internet Club...? What a strange name..."

"Look, when did a new shop open up here?!" Generally speaking, many people wouldn't spare a second glance at such an incomprehensible establishment.

But these youth, brimming with curiosity, were different; inquisitiveness drove them to step inside and find out.

Several youths who had just emerged from the cultivation realm pushed open the door and entered the shop, greeted by a bizarre aura entirely distinct from other establishments. Even if the floral arrangements and layout inside appeared perfectly harmonious with the style of the city, those square, magic-item-like objects provided a starkly contrasting visual experience.

Upon the counter inside the shop hung the certification from the Alchemist Guild alongside a business license, making it appear exceedingly legitimate.

On the small blackboard inside the shop, it read: "Resident Evil 2 Cultivation Realm, 10 Magic Crystals to activate; Resident Evil 2 Movie, 8 Magic Crystals to activate."

Beneath that were the prices for items resembling Iced Black Tea and Cola.

"Flat rate of 2 Magic Crystals per hour for computer use in-store."

"???"

"Resident Evil Cultivation Realm?!" Several of them stood there completely bewildered.

What kind of cultivation realm was this?!

We just came out of the Alchemist Guild's Dusk Forest manual and even killed a gray wolf, don't you go deceiving me! What on earth is this thing of yours?!.

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Seeing people constantly asking when Resident Evil 2 would come out, it is out now, so the Resident Evil fans can be satisfied.

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