Chapter 3 Entering the Game for the First Time

  While tidying up the helmet, I suddenly heard a sobbing sound behind me. Turning around, I saw my old mom with tears in her eyes like pear blossoms in the rain.

  I rushed over and grabbed my mom's shoulder: "Mom, do you feel sad that your son has fallen to the point of playing games? If you think it's not good for me to play games, I won't play anymore."

  Mom lifted her dim eyes and sobbed twice: "Son, Mom is happy. Tao Yuanming lived in seclusion at home, touring mountains and rivers every day; my son lives in seclusion at home, just like a lonely and desolate rich man's walking dog. If this continues, my son will get depression! The people in the game are also real people who go in, so my son won't be lonely when he goes in. Will you promise Mom to find a daughter-in-law for your mom in the game?

  I'm so moved that I can no longer describe it with literary language, enduring the hardship and trying not to cry, but still tears and sobs come together. A thousand words and phrases ultimately boil down to one sentence: "Mom, don't worry, son will definitely catch the most beautiful girl in the Three Kingdoms era."

  Mom was already in tears of joy, and now she burst out laughing: "I knew it, my son is definitely the best. You go ahead and play, Mom won't bother you anymore. Talking to Mom too much will create a generation gap with those little girls."

  I was suddenly dizzy, and my mom really had imagination.

  By the time I came to myself, my mother had already gone to their room to change clothes and was preparing to go out to buy vegetables.

  The open beta is scheduled for 8am. It's said to be a humanized design. This game was developed with an important function of catering to people like me who are idle in society. The higher-ups care deeply about our survival and, for the sake of our mental health, specially allowed us to enter the game world while others go to work. This way, we can have a sense of going to work every day just like everyone else.

  It is said that this design comes from a certain online game. The plot is that when human development reaches a certain point, the situation where machines replace humans becomes more and more common all over the world, people fall into depression because they have no work, so the government develops a large number of network games to let people find a sense of success in the game.

  This book talks about things in the distant future. But fortunately, it was seen by a certain leader and introduced to other leaders. Finally, a very influential leader spoke when inspecting the game industry, saying that this book has great significance for solving the psychological health problems of the currently small but highly influential unemployed population. Of course, this leader also pointed out that our world has already appeared "fourth industry" due to the emergence of online games, that is, industries that produce online, use online, and circulate online.

  As a result, the first brain game was born against the background of the premier's speech. In addition to greatly enriching the business philosophy of the game operation industry with the discussion of "the fourth industry", humanized design became a very important focus.

  I looked at the clock, 7:45. I didn't hesitate any longer, turned on the power, connected to the server, and when the system prompted that it was ready to wear the helmet, I lay down in the nutrient warehouse and put it on. I had also seen some online games before, knowing that some players who entered the game first would have privileges, although I prefer self-reliance, but I didn't want to give up such an opportunity either.

  I soon entered a state of light sleep, and my brain waves successfully connected to the network at 7:55. A huge electronic screen appeared in front of me, with some sponsors' advertisements scrolling on it. At the bottom of the screen, there was a line of text that read: "Three Kingdoms Era Brain Network Game Public Test Countdown 5 Minutes."

  I sat quietly, watching the countdown screen like I was waiting for a movie to start. This kind of wait didn't mean anything to me. After all, I had already waited two long years in the passage of time, so any other wait was nothing by comparison.

  Seven fifty-nine, the countdown screen started a five-second countdown. I watched those numbers change from 55 all the way to 10 and finally enter the ten-second countdown.

  At this moment, I seemed to hear the sound of countless people counting down with the screen in the vast brain network world. This also gave me a countdown impulse, and I unconsciously followed the numbers on the screen to count down.

  As soon as the voice finished counting "1", the screen suddenly disappeared, and I felt like I was flying up, entering a wonderful space. Countless NPCs flashed by me, mixed with Yang Hongji's singing of the theme song of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", constantly flying towards the wider and wider space in front of my eyes.

  Five minutes later, the music ended and I stopped in a vast wilderness. The Yellow River and Yangtze River flowed from my front and back respectively, showing off their majestic momentum, with mountains overlapping each other, blue sky and green grass, truly a refreshing scene.

  I feel that I have come to this world for nothing. It is only in such a world that one can truly appreciate the literature of the past, and gain a deeper understanding and more feelings, and thus achieve a qualitative breakthrough.

  At this time, a sweet female voice echoed in the wilderness: "Welcome to the public beta of the Three Kingdoms Era smart brain game. Dear player, you can create a character for yourself in the game now. Are you ready?"

  My mood is great at this moment, and the voice sounds very pleasant, so I replied: "I'm ready."

  "That sweet voice said: 'According to the analysis of the intelligent brain on the player, the player is a male player. Please give yourself a name in the game.'"

  I thought to myself, a great man living in the world, why must he hide his head and show his tail. So I answered: "Zhang Haogu, longbow Zhang, good woman, ten mouths ancient."

  Sweet female voice repeated: "Bow long Zhang, good woman, ten mouth Gu, Zhang good ancient. Thank you."

  I was wondering why the sweet female voice had stopped speaking, when I heard a thick male voice: "System message: Due to player Zhang Haogu being the first to use the surname 'Zhang', the system rewards the player with 10 points of wisdom, 10 points of charm, 10 points of luck and 10 points of root bone. This reward is bound and will not disappear or decrease with the player's death."

  I've also read martial arts novels and played some online games, so I naturally know what attributes like "insight", "charm", "luck" and "root bone" mean. The game had just started, and although 10 points was a bit low, it should be considered quite lucky. Who would have thought that someone as unlucky as me would encounter such good fortune in the game?

  Just as he was thinking this, the thick male voice suddenly sounded again: "System message: Due to player Zhang Haogu being the first to use the surname 'Zhang', the system rewards the player with 100 points of morality, reputation, knowledge, insight, ability, temperament, politics, economy, technology and literature."

  This time I'm a bit speechless. This string of 100 points covers such a wide range, and it's bound to affect many other attributes as well. I really didn't expect that using my real name unintentionally would have such benefits. If I had taken some fancy name like "Romantic Swordsman" or "Flower Guardian", I probably wouldn't have gotten this good fortune.

  Just as I was bewildered, that thick male voice sounded again: "System prompt: Due to player Zhang Haogu being the first player to use the surname 'Zhang', the system rewards this player with a 100% increase in affinity and friendliness with all NPCs with the surname 'Zhang' in the game."

  My god! I didn't expect such a good thing, what's the concept? From now on, super warriors like Zhang Fei, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Huo will be my buddies? Can't I just practice whatever divine skill I want to practice? I started thinking about whether to make Zhang Fei or Zhang Liao my younger brother.

  At this time, a female voice said: "Please select a facial image for player Zhang Haogu."

  A turntable appeared in front of me, with various facial images processed from my original face on it. I thought that since one's name and surname cannot be changed, there is no need to disguise oneself either. Otherwise, if I were to meet a girl online and she saw me as two different people in reality, it wouldn't be beautiful. Based on my memory of my own appearance, I chose the one that looked most similar to myself.

  "System message: As player Zhang Haogu is the first player to enter the game using his real face, the system rewards this player with 100,000 gold coins."

  I suddenly had a feeling of wanting to jump off the building. Whether in the game or in reality, this is truly my first pot of gold. I didn't expect that before even officially entering the game, I achieved one of my most embarrassing dreams.

  Thank the Central Committee, thank Chairman Mao, thank the great people, thank the game merchants, and thank all the gods of past dynasties. You have been too good to me, Zhang Haogu.

  At this time, the sweet and lovely female voice said: "Please have player Zhang Haogu choose his own attribute potential distribution."

  I looked at the allocation panel that appeared, which had all my combat attributes, campaign attributes, domestic affairs attributes, life skills attributes, and special attributes. Currently, all attributes are 0, with 100 attribute potential points available for distribution.

  Take a look at the combat attribute panel, which is similar to other games. Take a look at the campaign attribute panel and the internal affairs attribute panel, which are not much different from other Three Kingdoms games. The life skill attributes also don't seem to have any differences. Finally, I saw the special attribute panel, and its contents attracted me.

  The attributes that can be added with potential points in the special panel are: Seeking Knowledge, Thinking, Discovery, Creation, Eloquence, Arithmetic, and Language. I know this is definitely more critical. Most likely need to use it for special tasks. Regardless of three seven twenty one, I'll add 10 points to each item first.

  I added it up and took a look, still 0. I was shocked and muttered to myself: "Can't be that I just came in and encountered a bug?"

  "It's not a bug, you've just added potential points that will be useful in future games."