Qiao Liang quickly restarted the game and headed to the ruined temple. After dying a few times, he managed to obtain the Pudu weapon successfully. Qiao Liang looked at the shining staff in his hand and felt extremely at ease.
"There really is a hidden weapon!
"You can only obtain it after dying six times. Who would think of this?
"After all, the monk was too weak. He was even weaker than the monsters at the mass grave. If not for the players in the group chat who liked to walk around without any defensive equipment, I would definitely not be able to test that out on my own.
"Is this weapon an upgraded version of the staff?
"What the f*ck! What kind of damage was that?!"
Qiao Liang tried using this shining stick to attack a monster soldier with a rather high health level. With just one blow, the monster was wounded; and it collapsed onto the ground!
After two blows, the monster's health bar was instantly empty!
Qiao Liang remembered clearly that he needed at least four or five blows to kill that monster using other weapons. After all, he was already at the second setting in the game; and the stats of the monsters there were higher than before.
That meant that if he used this staff to fight weaker monsters, the effects would be even better. He might even be able to kill the monsters with just one blow!
The only pity was that the weapon did not possess any special attack skills. Its attack skill was similar to the original staff and could only deal heavy damage. Although the damage was high, it was not fanciful at all.
Qiao Liang originally thought that Pudu's attack skill would be something similar to dealing AOE damage when the character raised the staff in the air and shone divine Buddha light on surrounding enemies. However, there was none of that.
From this perspective, Pudu's extravagance could not even be compared to the mourning stick dropped after defeating the Black and White Impermanence.
After all, the mourning stick was the reward for defeating the Black and White Impermanence. New players did not even have a chance to obtain it easily.
However, even the mourning stick was not as effective as Pudu in fights. That was because Pudu's basic attack damage was higher than that of the mourning stick.
After using Pudu to fight a few more monsters, Qiao Liang realized that the weapon was almost invincible!
Although Pudu's basic attack move was not easy to use, it could be used with leap attacks and sprint attacks, just like other weapons. That greatly increased the attack speed of the weapon. In the hands of experienced players like Qiao Liang, the weapon was almost like a bug. It has a long attacking distance and high attack speed. Moreover, it had insane damage and possessed strong endurance-decreasing effects. That caused the monsters to freeze on the ground with just one blow.
Those monsters that used short knives and daggers could not even go near the player. They would fall onto the ground because of the staff's attack from a distance away. It was a one-sided abuse.
As for the monsters that carried hay forksalthough their weapon attacking distance was similar to the player, their offenses could be dodged easily. After dodging the monsters' attack, it was once again a one-sided abuse.
The player did not even need to possess any fancy skills. The fight could end even if the player simply used Pudu to attack repeatedly.
Looking at the powerful weapon in his hand, Qiao Liang was at a loss.
"If I knew that there was such a strong weapon, why would I f*cking need to suffer all the torture in the game?
Qiao Liang recalled his arduous journey at the start of the game. He inched forward in the game with such a terrible weapon and had to be careful every time he faced a small monster as he could be instantly killed by them.
What about now?
He could easily defeat all those monsters that used to dominate over him!
He looked at the fan chat group again. It was chaotic inside.
"F*ck! I got that weapon, too! As long as you sprinted forward without caring about anything else, you will receive the weapon once you die near the monk!"
"This weapon is invincible. Isn't it so easy to torture those monsters?"
"This is way too impressive. Is this a kind of official hack?"
"Quick! The guy who discovered this should post it on the forum quickly! You are definitely the first person who discovered this hidden weapon!"
"F*ck. I have already killed the old monk. What can I do now? I have already used the Buddha beads."
"Restart the game. It doesn't take much time."
"I announce that Pudu is officially the strongest weapon ever! Nothing can be compared to it!"
There were already people posting about the hidden weapon on the forum. This was definitely a huge discovery!
Many design teams would usually create hidden story plots, hidden weapons, Easter eggs, and other surprises in the game because of various reasons. A large part of it was to bring surprises to the players or to add on to the existing world view and story plots in the game.
Amongst the various types of surprise elements, hidden weapons were definitely the most discussed topic.
That was because most surprise elements would not affect the gameplay within the game. It was also not difficult to discover them. As long as there were sufficient players, those surprise elements would be quickly discovered.
However, Pudu was different. It was a hidden weapon that had insane stats. It changed the players' gaming experience entirely!
Moreover, the weapon was very well-hidden. That attracted even more discussion about it.
Very soon, the post went viral on the forum. Players all reposted it and news spread in no time!
Meanwhile, Pei Qian was staring at the refund rate of the game. He was rooting for the fake reviewers that he had just paid for.
One of the posts gained his liking. He had almost wanted to give that fake reviewer extra money for the post.
The title of the post was: Do Not Fall for the Developer's Trap. You Must Opt for a Refund!
"The design team had a deep understanding of what the players think. They lengthened the refund allowance period intentionally. On the surface, it seems as though they are righteous; but in reality, this is a complete scam!
"Extending the refund allowance period naturally results in the gaming duration for many players to extend as well. That was in a way forcing you to familiarize yourself with the torturous experience in the game!
"When the game reaches its refund allowance period, there will be a few sentences in the notice to disgust you… and the epitaph that always reappears… the purpose of all of that was to use reverse psychology on the players!
"Once you fall for the reverse psychology, you will fall for their trap! If you do not want to refund the game, you have fallen for the design team's trap!
"Think about it. Because of the moment of impulse, you will waste a hundred yuan. Why would you want to do that? You can use that one hundred yuan for something else. Why do you want to pay for a torturous gaming experience?
"Therefore, I urge all of you to refund firmly. Do not be blinded by the design team!"
Pei Qian absolutely loved the post when he saw it.
It was so awesome!
This fellow over there, do you want to give me your contact number? I think that you are very talented. Being a fake reviewer is simply a waste of your talent! Pei Qian thought.
The post was a much-needed shot in the arm for Pei Qian!
Although there was a lot of debate in the comments section of the post and some people were scolding the post creator, it was apparent that this post went viral. It helped to contribute many refunds for Pei Qian.
That was not the only post condemning the game. Many fake reviewers were talking about the game on Weibo, various forums, and some gaming group chats. They were all urging the players to refund the game quickly and were emphasizing that there was no point in suffering in the game.
Pei Qian could only exclaim that his money was well-spent!
Some fake reviewers, however, went down the wrong path and started complimenting Repent and be Saved. That created some trouble for Pei Qian. Despite so, the general direction of things was in his favor!
The refund rate did not increase drastically. From the looks of things, it was almost impossible to achieve a 35% refund rate.
However, a stable refund rate was good news to him!
As various information about Repent and be Saved spread online, new players knew that this game was simply torture. They were psychologically prepared for the game. That resulted in a decline in the number of refunds.
However, with the continuous efforts of the fake reviewers, the refund rate became stable. That was obviously good news!
Pei Qian did not expect the apps store to take down the game anymore. He had waited for such a long time, and yet he did not even receive a warning. That meant that the apps store was adamant about keeping the game.
Anyways, one more refund meant that he was earning a few dozen dollars less. What he was doing was simply an act of beneficence!
"Huh? This is strange.
"Why is the refund rate dropping once again in the past hour? Are the fake reviewers not doing their job? I need to pay them more?"
Pei Qian was a little puzzled. He had just paid the fake reviewers not long ago.
He went to the various big forums to check if there were any twists in the public's opinions.
However, once he entered one of the forums, he surprisingly found a viral post.
"I Found a Hidden Weapon in the Game! Pudu is Simply Invincible!"
"Holy f*ck????"
Pei Qian felt that his blood was flowing in the wrong direction. He almost had a heart attack.
What the hell?
He clicked on the post hurriedly to have a look.
The general content of the post was very simple. The creator described the process where he discovered Pudu. He was a player with terrible skills. He wanted to test if he could enter a Buddha statue transportation point by running around the map. However, he entered the ruined temple by accident and was killed by the old monk many times.
The post also included a detailed explanation of how to obtain the weapon, a screenshot of Pudu, and the strength of the weapon.
There were already more than a few thousand comments below the post!
"Holy sh*t! This is actually real! There really is a hidden weapon in the game!"
"I got it, too! Thank you, post creator! You are such a great person!"
"This weapon is like an official hack in the game. It is way too invincible!"
"I managed to kill a monster with just one blow despite how terrible my skills are?"
"This seems to have become a game that we can just kill mindlessly!"
"Hahaha! This weapon gave me a reason to persevere in the game. I originally wanted to refund, but now I can clear the stages!"
"This weapon is evidently overpowering the game! How is the game still balanced?" "Why is there a need for the game to be balanced? The producers know how we are suffering, and they deliberately hid a powerful hidden weapon in the game to allow those players with terrible skills to continue with the game."
"Is this a sign that the design team is showing mercy to us?"
"The designers are indeed great Samaritans. I used to insult their mothers in the past. I'm sorry! What I did was wrong!"
The post was full of joy and happiness. It was as though they were celebrating the new year!
Not only that, but many players went creative on the hidden weapon such as creating emoji packs.
Someone took a screenshot of the in-game battle scene: The protagonist waved the Pudu weapon in the air and managed to kill three monsters clustered together with one blow. There was a sentence at the bottom of the picture: I shall 'Pudu' you!
There were also other emoji packs such as memes about The Invincible Pudu', 'The Pudu Warning', 'The Other Party does not Want to Talk to you and so 'Pudu-ed' You', and 'Do not Talk to Me about the Spirit-Conjuring Flags or Mourning Sticks. I only F*cking Use Pudu. Smash It, Task Completed'…
Pei Qian slapped his forehead.
Holy sh*t! The lame netizens created those memes so quickly!He looked at the time when the post was created. It had only been three hours, and yet those lame netizens had produced so many emoji packs!
Wait! The issue now was not about the emoji packs!
Pei Qian instantly understood why the refund rate of the game dropped dramatically! More and more people now knew about the official shortcut to clear the stages!
In the past, many players did not have a way to deal with elite monsters. They could only die again and again. That would deal a huge blow to their confidence, and many could only opt for a refund.
However, with Pudu, they found a way to survive the game!
As long as they survived the early stages of the game and obtained the Pudu at the old monk's ruined temple, the difficulty of the game would drop drastically. They could enjoy the game once again!
"Oh, no! Something terrible happened!"
Pei Qian felt that his hands and feet turned cold. His world was falling apart!
Chapter 281 Everything Was Under Boss Pei's Control!
"What is going on? This doesn't make sense!
"I hid it so well. How could they find it?
"Why is there such an idle player who would run around and try to open the Buddha statues? Why did he die six times at the ruined temple coincidentally?
"What the f*ck…?"
Pei Qian felt a little dizzy.
That was so hard to accept!
He was still in disbelief about how that player found Pudu. He felt that there was a conspiracy behind that.
However, the truth was right in front of his eyes; and he could only believe what he saw.
Anyways, the discovery of Pudu gave a light of hope to those players with terrible skills. Many of those originally considering a refund for the game decided not to do so after the discovery! Even the public opinion took a turn! Previously, many fake reviewers attacked the game on the grounds of the game's difficulty.
The game was too difficult. Playing it was equivalent to tormenting oneself. The design team created the high difficulty to disgust the players. Therefore, the game was rubbish. Everyone should quickly opt for a refund.
However, that opinion was soon torn down by itself!
The design team was not deliberately disgusting the players. After all, didn't they make a weapon especially for those players with terrible skills?
As long as they obtained the Pudu, the difficulty level of the game would drop drastically. Therefore, those players with terrible skills naturally had no reason to opt for a refund!
What they did made the design team appear to be very considerate to the players. It appeared as though they were sympathetic!
Pei Qian felt a little dizzy. What should he do now?
The problem was not only with the huge drop in the refund rate. Once the players with terrible skills persevered through the game and news about the weapon spread…
Pei Qian was sure that even those with terrible skills could pass the six realms of rebirth and existence with the Pudu. After all, he was also one of them.
"No. I have to quickly think of a solution…" Pei Qian could not sit around and do nothing. He thought for a while and decided to ask the fake reviewers for help!
Of course, what he would be doing this time would definitely be different from the previous two times.
Shenzhen…
Hu Xiao was killing the monsters happily using the Pudu. "Who told you to kill me back then?! "I'll let you experience how the Pudu feels like!
"Are you a f*cking elite monster? Get down on the floor!"
Hu Xiao was enjoying the game.
After obtaining the Pudu, he finally had a smooth gaming experience in the game!
Hu Xiao was very easily satisfied. He did not rush to fight the monsters at the later stages of the game. He killed the small monsters that tormented him earlier repeatedly and collected the three immortal souls and seven mortal forms for upgrading.
He could actually find joy in the game despite how terrible his skills were. He had not expected that.
After playing for a while, Hu Xiao closed the game. He was satisfied with the gaming experience. He wanted to open the forum to check for any new discussions regarding Repent and be Saved.
He found that he liked to read the Repent and be Saved forum more and more. He found it to be very interesting!
Not only was it interesting to see the players bickering with one another in the forum, but there would also be some players searching for hidden content in the games. That was very interesting
For example, the information in the forum regarding the hidden weapon Pudu was shared by one of the players.
ds
While he was looking through the forum, Shaohu Reviews received another message from Hardcore Reviews.
"Get more fake reviewers."
Hu Xiao's eyes lit up. He replied hurriedly, "Okay, no problem!"
This was the third time this guy paid for fake reviewers. He was straight to the point, and he made his payment quickly.
Although Hu Xiao spent a hundred yuan and purchased the game with his own money, the misunderstanding was cleared.
Hardcore Reviews typed, "The request this time is slightly different from the previous two times. I found that the discussion recently is very one-sided. I need you to think of a way to create more debate regarding the game. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
Hu Xiao replied swiftly, "Yes. No problem!"
Pei Qian heaved a sigh of relief. Luckily, the fake reviewers were very professional. They would just do as he asked without questioning him.
Recently, the discussions regarding Repent and be Saved has indeed been one-sided.
After the discovery of Pudu, players with terrible skills had fewer complaints about the game. That resulted in a decrease in debates regarding the game.
The fake reviewers who criticized the game lost their 'weapon' in the public opinion battle. Many of them chose to switch to the other side. To complete their task, many of them chose to praise everything about the game mindlessly.
If that situation continued, the reputation of the game would quickly be turned around.
Therefore, the most important thing now was to ensure that everyone was arguing with one another. Those fake reviewers who criticized the game must not give up. If they gave up, Boss Pei would not be far from giving up as well!
This time, Pei Qian managed to trick the system perfectly once again.
If his request was to let the fake reviewers criticize Repent and be Saved, that would not be feasible. The system would not allow that to happen. However, if his request was to create more debate about Repent and be Saved, there would not be any problems.
After all, in the system's perspective, that was considered buying popularity for the game, wasn't it?
Currently, those praising Repent and be Saved were gaining the upper hand. That request would now refer to supporting the haters.
The plan was feasible! The fake reviewers had to criticize the game with everything that they had! Pei Qian wanted everyone to opt for a refund because of that!
Pei Qian refreshed the forum page and Weibo as he waited for the fake reviewers to take action.
On the other side, Hu Xiao agreed to take the job readily. However, after he disseminated the tasks in the group chat, he faced some problems.
The customer's request was to make sure that the public opinion about Repent and be Saved was not one-sided. The customer wanted them to create more debates regarding the game.
However, the current situation was that the haters were struggling to maintain their presence. That meant that the customer's request was for the fake reviewers to help the haters to gain more influence. That would then stabilize the situation again!
However, how were they going to do that?
The main point that the haters emphasized previously was the difficulty level of the game. However, after the appearance of Pudu, that problem no longer existed. It would be too obvious if they were to throw shade mindlessly, wouldn't it? Furthermore, the results would not be satisfactory in that case.
Hu Xiao stated the request in the group chat and asked the professional fake reviewers to find a solution.
As the saying went, rewards allure men to brave dangers. As long as he paid them enough money, there would definitely be someone who managed to find a reason to criticize the game. Once the fake reviewers heard that there was money for the task, they started racking their brains to find reasons to criticize the game.
"How about we criticize the game for misinterpreting traditional cultures?"
"Or perhaps we can criticize the game's story plot for being too simple?"
"We can criticize it for buying fake reviews!"
Everyone had a different idea, and yet they did not manage to come up with a good plan. Those ideas were way too boring. They were only criticizing the game mindlessly! Of course, they could also choose to criticize the game mindlessly. However, if they do that, they would not be able to create enough debates regarding the game. They might not be able to achieve the customer's request. In other words—by doing so, they were achieving half the impact with twice the effort. They could be wasting their energy on that.
If the game itself had quality problems, there was a lot they could criticize. For example, they could label the game as a low-quality production, or that the game was cheating the consumers, or that the game was making use of the gamers' vision for domestically-produced games.
However, there were no problems with the quality of the game. It was very well-produced!
If they used those reasons, they would not be able to convince the public and might even result in a reverse effect. Doing so might persuade more people to support Repent and be Saved.
Moreover, many fake reviewers did not have in-depth knowledge about the game. They chose to ask for a refund after playing for a few minutes and realizing that their computer configurations were not enough to run the game smoothly. How could they find a more advanced reason to criticize the game?
Therefore, after a long discussion, no one could think of a good idea to proceed with.
The situation became stagnant.
In the end, Hu Xiao had no choice but to type, "Do not worry, guys. Let's post a few mindless criticizing posts first to maintain the popularity of the debate. The others could take the time to find a more advanced reason to criticize the game in the meanwhile.
"We are professional fake reviewers. We must give it our all and complete the task that our customer assigned to us!
"This is a long-term task. Everyone can check the forums and read the content that other players posted. Once you discover anything, remember to report about it in this group chat immediately!'
October 6th…
Tengda Network Technology Co., Ltd…
Li Yada looked at the sales records of the game and the game's reputation amongst the players on the forums and on the internet. Her eyes underneath the thick-framed glasses creased into the shape of two crescent moons.
As expected, everything was under Boss Pei's control!
She was initially worried that the app store would take down Repent and be Saved, and yet it turned out that she was worrying unnecessarily.
During this period, the company did not send them a warning letter and did not even take down the home page recommendation spot that the game had. Their stance was apparent. They were supporting Tengda all the way!
Moreover, everything was going as Boss Pei had expected. Things were taking a turn for the better.
Li Yada knew of Pudu's existence from the start. She was initially worried that the weapon was too deeply hidden and that it would not be discovered by the players months into the game.
In the end, the players had discovered it within one week!
On one hand, it showed that the capabilities of the players were unimaginable. On the other hand, it also proved that Boss Pei's ability to understand the players' thoughts and behaviors was top-notch.
Why did Boss Pei create a hidden weapon? He definitely wanted the players to find it.
The players did not let Boss Pei down. They managed to find it very quickly. That proved that Boss Pei and the players' minds were on the same frequency! Moreover, after the discovery of Pudu, the game's reputation took a drastic turn as well. The refund rate declined dramatically Everything was getting better!
What was even more miraculous was that many players on the forum were behaving in a completely different way as before. There were almost no complaints about the game's difficulty anymore!
Li Yada knew clearly that even with the Pudu, the game was still much tougher than other games in the market, especially so for ordinary players and those with terrible gaming skills.
The only change was that the difficulty level dropped from the 'hell' level to the 'difficult' level.
However, the players were not complaining about that!
A reason was because of Boss Pei's precise understanding of players' mindset.
They started off with an extremely high difficulty level and tormented the players with it. When the players were almost giving up, they allowed the players to discover the Pudu. That decreased the difficulty of the game drastically.
The sudden drop in difficulty level would bring huge happiness to the players. Therefore, even if the game was still considerably difficult, the gaming experience for the players experienced a drastic improvement. Even those with terrible skills could continue playing the game!
There was still a considerable level of difficulty and challenge with the game. However, the players were not as impulsive as they were before and did not threaten to get a refund anymore. It was simply a perfect solution to both Tengda and the players!
Li Yada could not help but feel a little sentimental. So that was how Lu Mingliang felt.
He was merely relying on Boss Pei for the victory!
Boss Pei was extremely gifted and had everything well in hand. Every simple change that he made would be finishing touches on the game. The employees were extremely blessed to have him around.
It was almost ascertained that the game would achieve success. Li Yada was very delighted about that.
"I need to keep up the good work. I can start planning the updates for the new versions now!" Li Yada pushed her thick-framed glasses upwards and buried herself into her work once again.
Chapter 282 Hurry Up and Arrange For What Happens Afterward
In the office, Pei Qian was feeling very worried and restless.
"What are the fake reviewers doing?!
"There are no effects at all. If this continues, public opinion would become completely one-sided!"
After Pei Qian arranged for the fake reviewers yesterday, he had been paying attention to the discussions on the forums and Weibo. A day had almost passed, and yet nothing had happened-other than the few posts that mindlessly criticized the game!
Those mindless criticisms did not stir up the emotions of the netizens. No one bothered about them, and those posts were quickly buried under other newer posts. Moreover, the memes about Pudu were going viral. Even those not playing the game were using those memes!
That was especially so for the emoji packs such as the 'I shall 'Pudu' you' emojis. They were very popular in Weibo, gamer chat groups, and forums. The players loved those memes.
Once the memes become popular, many people would ask what game the memes originated from. Then, more people would be willing to try out the game! The most frustrating thing was that many players with bad intentions were convincing others to play the game. "This game is called 'Repent and be Saved'. It is a very satisfying hack-and-slash game and is a great way to relieve stress. It is very suitable for night owls. You must try out the game!"
There were many similar comments.
Pei Qian only had one sentence for such people—you guys are inhumane!
Many people were surprisingly doing that even though their actions harmed other players and Boss Pei, and they did not benefit from it at all. Moral degeneration in the world was getting worse day by day, and people had changed!
However, the only thing that Pei Qian could do was to wait in distress. He had no other solutions.
Pei Qian could understand the plight of the fake reviewers. After all, things were at that predicament; it was hard for the fake reviewers to find a critical reason to hate on the game.
After all, Pei Qian himself could not think of a good reason to use as well, not to say those fake reviewers who did not have a deep understanding of the game.
The trump card that they were previously using was regarding the game's difficulty. However, that card was now useless.
"Forget it. I shall arrange for what happens afterward."
Pei Qian started thinking about how many Fish-Catching Internet Cafes and Upwind Courier stations he needed to open up to offset the profit that he made.
He had three weeks to the settlement, but in reality, Pei Qian only had two weeks to do something about the situation.
No matter what, he needed to speed up.
Pei Qian gave Zhang Yuan a call immediately.
"How is the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe at Huanyu Tianjie doing?"
Zhang Yuan replied, "Umm… Boss Pei, we are currently still suffering a loss." "What about the computer occupancy ratio?"
Zhang Yuan replied, "About thirty to forty percent. However, rest assured, Boss Pei. I believe that things were about to take a turn for the better soon!"
The corners of Pei Qian's mouth twitched involuntarily when he heard the words 'take a turn for the better'.
However…
Thirty to forty percent? That sounds okay! It was within the ratio whereby they would suffer a loss.
Then again, Pei Qian did not expect the computer occupancy ratio to reach thirty to forty percent at that location.
Maybe it was because Huanyu Tianjie was more prosperous. Therefore, more people were choosing to surf the internet there?
Yup. It was highly possible. After all, the cafe was located in the biggest shopping mall in Jingzhou City. It was only natural for that to be a high human traffic flow.
If he opened a few more cafes there, the situation would take a turn for the worse, wouldn't it?
Time was running, and Pei Qian made a decision quickly. "I'll give you the money to open two, no, three more Fish-Catching Internet Cafes! I want them to be located in big shopping malls, just like the Huanyu Tianjie branch. Do you understand?
"I'll give you two weeks. Make sure that the three stores are officially open for business in two weeks! You must open them in time, not even one day later. Can you do it?"
Bloody Battle Song: The Powerful Version had been profiting. The amount the game was earning was quite significant. Pei Qian was facing a lot of pressure, and he needed to spend more money. He must do so quickly. Zhang Yuan was momentarily stunned. He answered in a firm tone, "Rest assured, Boss Pei. I'll make sure that the task is completed!"
After Zhang Yuan hung up the phone, he looked at the customers who were playing Repent and be Saved in the internet cafe and was feeling sentimental.
Boss Pei really had everything in hand. He had not come to the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe for a long time. How did he know that business here was booming?
Did Boss predict that the release of Repent and be Saved would bring customers to the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe because of the high computer configurations the game needed?
He recalled the time when the internet cafe opened. Business was bad, and the computer occupancy ratio was only around ten percent. Most computers were unoccupied.
However, slowly, more customers came to the store. Many of them played Repent and be Saved, and some played other large-scale games. However, the similarity was that all the games they played required high computer configurations.
As time progressed, there were more and more customers in the store. The recent computer occupancy ratio increased to about thirty to forty percent.
It seemed like Boss Pei knew that business was improving. Therefore, he decided to continue investing money in internet cafes and take advantage of the good business!
Yes, that must be the case!
Zhang Yuan immediately contacted other shopping malls and searched for suitable locations to open more internet cafes.
After hanging up the call, Pei Qian called Lu Mingliang. He asked Lu Mingliang to open a hundred more Upwind Courier stations.
Needless to say, a hundred courier stations were an ideal number. Even though opening courier stations did not cost much at the early stages, significant time was needed to rent working space, purchase logistic shelves, hire employees, and more.
Pei Qian merely asked Lu Mingliang to work towards the goal of opening a hundred Upwind Courier stations. The more courier stations he opened, the merrier it was. He just wanted Lu Mingliang to open as many as he could.
As long as the settlement was not affected, everything was fine to Pei Qian. After making those arrangements, Pei Qian heaved a sigh of relief. Even if Repent and be Saved became viral and earned him a lot of money, it was not the end for Pei Qian.
Even if it was the end, he could at least salvage something.
Pei Qian slumped on the chair, and an air of melancholy surrounded him. Despite feeling melancholy, life must go on.
Pei Qian opened the forum and refreshed the page without harboring much hope. All of a sudden, he saw a post that made his eyes lit up.
"Huh? Are the fake reviewers finally doing their job?
"The money spent was worthwhile!"
While Boss Pei was busy making the calls, the fake reviewers were also busy working. Although hopes for a comeback were narrow, everyone did not give up. Many fake reviewers were still working hard. Some of them even missed the refund allowance period because they were too engrossed in their work.
However, even though they made huge progress in the game, they still could not find any good ideas to criticize the game.
Suddenly, a message in the chat group captured everyone's attention.
"Guys, look at this post! It says that Pudu can only be used to fight specific monsters. It can only be used for the six realms of rebirth and existence ending. If we were to use it to fight enemies in the lowest level of hell or in Yama's palace, the damage of the weapon would be greatly reduced! Do you think we can make an issue out of this?"
Hu Xiao was stunned. He opened the post hurriedly to check it out.
He paid extra attention to all the posts regarding Pudu as he hoped to clear the stages using Pudu as well!
It had been six days since the release of the game. Pudu was discovered two days ago, and it went viral yesterday.
Many talented gamers were almost at the last few stages of the game. Some players that used Pudu had also reached the last few stages.
According to the settings of the game, Pudu could only be used to clear the six realms of rebirth and existence ending. If it was used in the lowest level of hell or in Yama's palace, the damage of the weapon would be no different from other ordinary weapons.
Therefore, players using the Pudu would discover the problems with the weapon once they cleared the Road to the Underworld and the Three-Life Stone and reached the stage where they would choose the different endings. However, what was there to criticize regarding that? Hu Xiao was slightly confused.
Many people in the group chat raised the question as well.
"What are we going to make out of this?"
"This is just a normal game setting, isn't it?"
"No, I think this is a Trojan horse that the game company is using! It was meant to disgust the players! "They give us a weapon that could only be used to fight certain monsters. They are tricking us into thinking that the game is easy. However, after five hours, when the refund allowance period was over; the players would then discover that they would continue being tormented at the later stages of the
game!
"Therefore, this is a scam that prevents players from opting for a refund! The crux of the game remains unchanged. Its sole purpose is still to disgust the players!"
"What the hell?"
"This reason does not suffice, but it seems much better than those mindless critiques that we were using before."
"I think what he says makes sense! Is the game company trying to disgust the players deliberately? Why would they choose to design the hidden weapon such that it can only fight specific monsters? Why did they not allow us to use the weapon for everything?"
"That's right! I don't care about this anymore. I think we should stir some debate using this piece of information. We cannot do nothing after accepting the customer's money!"
Very soon, a trending post appeared on the forum:
"Pudu is a Scam! The Design Team Harbors Bad Intentions. Do not Fall for Their Trap!"
"Everyone knows that Pudu is very useful in the early stages of the game. Fighting the monsters was as easy as chopping vegetables. However, when you reach the later stages, the weapon is completely ineffective in fighting certain monsters. It becomes no different from an ordinary weapon! "Many people also discovered that this weapon cannot be upgraded.
"This is where the game company's deviousness shows. They trick us into playing the game with this weapon. When the refund allowance period ends, it will be too late for us to regret it!
"I think that the designer is a psychopath. He or she designed the game just to torment the players. Do not fall into the company's trap!
"Players who do not want to be tormented must avoid playing the game at all cost. If you have purchased the game, seek a refund quickly! Do not be tricked by the Pudu!"
Once the message was posted, the fake reviewers started springing into action!
Some were tasked to reply to the post while others were tasked to forward the post. Very soon, the popularity of the post soared.
Of course, the nature of this post was also trying to criticize the game mindlessly. Therefore, it did not speak to the players.
Nevertheless, with the efforts of the fake reviewers, the posts achieved some impact.
Many netizens who originally thought of playing the game because of the Pudu weapon changed their minds.
If Pudu could only be used at the early stages of the game and they had to suffer for most parts of the game, wouldn't that be worse?
They had their fill of fun at the beginning, but they had to pay back for the stages that they cleared easily with the weapon at the later stages of the game. That discouraged many players from playing the game.
Pei Qian finally showed a smile.
The fake reviewers did a great job! My money was not wasted! They had actually found that reason to criticize the game mindlessly. That was not easy for them!
Pei Qian had the urge to pay the fake reviewers more for what they did.
Although the effects of the mindless criticism were not very impactful, it pointed out the fact that Pudu could only be used to fight certain monsters. That would definitely discourage many players with bad gaming skills from playing the game.
Even if it only managed to stop one of those people from playing the game, its achievement was still notable!
Pei Qian could not help but exclaim that the money spent on the fake reviews was indeed worthwhile!
Chapter 283 Rest Assured, Boss Pei. I'm Here for You!
In Beijing…
Qiao Liang was filled with indignation when he saw the debate regarding Repent and be Saved on the internet.
Why are they misinterpreting Boss Pei's intentions? This is a slander! An absolute and complete slander!
It was obvious that those mindless haters were fake reviewers. Who paid for the fake reviews? It must be those evil competitors!
They were not dedicated to producing games. They were envious of the good reputation and high sales volume of Tengda's games. They hated the fact that they could not earn money easily after Tengda appeared in the market. Therefore, they decided to use these ulterior measures to tarnish Tengda's reputation.
That was utterly despicable!
Qiao Liang wished that he could step up and produce a video to uncover the evil intentions that the fake reviewers had and protect the reputation of this rare well-produced game.
wa
However, the fortunate thing was that there was only one day before his meeting with Boss Pei.
Tomorrow, Teacher Qiao would officially step back in the spotlight and teach those fake reviewers and haters a lesson!
Qiao Liang checked the clips on his computer and the synopsis that he had written.
According to his plan, he would finish the newest episode of Products of the Gods today, in which he would talk about the interesting factors regarding Repent and be Saved. After that, he would make a video regarding the game and provide a game walkthrough to the viewers.
It seemed reasonable that the game deserved dozens of videos.
He could make it into a video series to show off his achievements after the torture that he had been through. He could flaunt his skills in the video and satisfy his fans who had been waiting eagerly for his uploads
Products of the Gods, followed by a string of related videos
Perfect!
When he thought about that, Qiao Liang started making his videos.
The second episode of the 'Products of the Gods' series: Repent and be Saved, a Hardcore Game that Tortures the Players!
The clips for the video had already been filmed, and the synopsis was almost completed. He was left with the editing and voiceover before he could upload the video.
The content of the video was not centered on the difficulty of the game. There were already many debates about the game's difficulty level on the internet.
In Qiao Liang's opinion, the main factor that the fake reviewers and haters critiqued was the game's difficulty. Although what they did was utterly evil, he would be falling into their trap if he overemphasized it.
The motive of the fake reviewers was to highlight the difficulty level of the game. They wanted to demonize the game's difficulty and, in turn, discourage netizens who were unconfident about their gaming skills from playing the game. If he emphasized that too much, it would only allow the notion that 'the game is hard to sink into the minds of his viewers. That would deviate from his original intention of promoting the game to ordinary netizens.
Therefore, the difficulty level of the game was a natural barrier that prevented netizens from trying out the game. It was also the main battle scene for fake reviewers and haters.
If he wanted to defeat the haters and fake reviewers, he needed to attack that opinion from a higher perspective. He needed to explain the reason and purpose behind the high difficulty level of the game!
After experiencing the long torture that Qiao Liang had suffered, he had found new reasoning in the process. The spiritual core of the game! He could link the game's difficulty level with its spiritual core. That was the deeper meaning that the game was trying to bring to the players!
Qiao Liang referenced a few sentences that he found on Zhongdian Chinese Network. He noted down some of his thoughts when he played the game and included that in his synopsis. After completing that, Qiao Liang had finally finished writing the content for that episode of the series.
He read through it a few times. Satisfied with what he read, Qiao Liang nodded his head.
Afterward, he opened the video editing app.
"Rest assured, Boss Pei. I'm here for you!"
October 7th… Pei Qian was scrolling through the webpage and checking the statistics for Repent and be Saved.
After the commotion previously, there was finally peace in the forum.
im
.
After all, a week had gone by; and those interested in the game had decided to buy the game while those who regretted their purchase had received their refund. Some talented gamers had even cleared all the stages.
At this point in time, ordinary issues were not enough to stir up an intense debate.
There was a golden phase for the transmission of every game. Pei Qian believed that as long as he survived that golden phase, his life would be much easier afterward.
From the looks of things currently, the discussion about the game's difficulty on the internet had its effects. The increase in sales volume for the later few days had evidently slowed down.
After all, the current market environment did not embrace high difficulty games as many players lacked the necessary skills.
Once the impression that a game was hard was imprinted on the minds of everyonealthough that would not affect the reputation of the game, its sales volume would still suffer.
Many players might not admit that they have bad skills. However, in reality, once they hear that the game was torturous; they would vote with their feet and choose not to purchase the game.
2 was neve
After all, there was never a similar souls-like game in the domestic games market. Players' habits had not been developed. The players who enjoyed tormenting themselves in the game were the minority.
Pudu's existence greatly improved that situation. Pei Qian felt that the current situation was still acceptable.
Despite this, he could not let his guard down.
Teacher Qiao had not uploaded his video! As long as that dude's video was not uploaded, Pei Qian would not be at ease.
Pei Qian was mentally prepared for Teacher Qiao's new video.
He felt that Teacher Qiao would most likely post a detailed game walkthrough. He would talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the various weapons, give a tutorial on how to defeat every boss, and have other related content.
After all, as compared to other UP Masters, Teacher Qiao had the biggest advantage. He needed the least effort to produce the video.
That kind of video would not affect Pei Qian too much.
Even if Teacher Qiao did not post about that, other talented gamers who cleared all the stages would definitely do so. That was unavoidable.
Such videos were very helpful to players who purchased the game but were stuck in one of the stages or to cloud players who would just watch the video and pretended that it was them who had cleared the stages.
However, it would not stimulate the sales volume of the game.
Pei Qian had thought about that thoroughly when he invited Teacher Qiao over to try out the game. It should not pose a huge risk to him.
As long as the 'fortress' regarding the game's difficulty was not demolished, there was nothing for Pei Qian to worry about.
After refreshing Aili Island's webpage once again, Pei Qian decided to take a rest and watch a drama series.
However, a new video suddenly appeared on the updates section of Aili Island.
The second episode of the 'Products of the Gods' series: Repent and be Saved, a Hardcore Game that Tortures the Players!
Pei Qian was confused. "?"
He clicked on it quickly.
There were some words in the description section: Many players gave up on the game because of its difficulty level. That is really disappointing. In my opinion, this was not a game that turned away players with bad skills. Contrary to that, only players with bad skills can truly understand the value of this game!
Pei Qian's mind was filled with question marks.
What the hell? Only players with bad skills can truly understand the value of this game? What sh*t are you talking about!
Be careful of your words. You would be held responsible if the players' understanding of the game deviated!
Pei Qian was instantly flustered. He checked out the video hurriedly.
"Hey, y'all. I am still your Teacher Qiao.
"Actually, when the game Repent and be Saved was first released, players had been urging me to make a video about it.
"However, I have only uploaded the video today.
"Was it because I was standing you up? No, no, no! It was the complete opposite actually. About a month ago, when the game was still in its development stages, I received an invitation from Tengda to try out the game.
"The reason why I am only uploading this video today is that I promised the design team that I will only reveal what I know about the game a week after the release of the game. This video was originally supposed to help y'all experience the deeper intentions of the game with your hearts.
"However, I did not expect that everyone's attention was on the difficulty level of the game and neglected the deeper intentions of the game. I must say that this is a very disappointing observation.
"What I'm trying to say is that the game's difficulty was supposed to help to convey the meanings behind the game.
"This is not an ordinary work, but instead a masterpiece in terms of its gaming experience. It surpasses all other high-quality games.
"My dear audience daddies, hear me out!"
After watching the opening introduction, Pei Qian was dumbfounded.
Holy f*ck? Teacher Qiao was not taking the usual route!
Pei Qian had originally thought that Teacher Qiao's video would focus on the game's difficulty. He thought that Teacher Qiao would make a walkthrough about the game and focus more on the game's combat system and details.
However, that was not the case!
It seemed that Teacher Qiao did not plan to talk about the game's difficulty but instead talk about the game from its spiritual core. He oversold the merits of the game and claimed that it is a masterpiece in terms of its gaming experience?
Pei Qian was puzzled.
A masterpiece in terms of its gaming experience? Was he still talking about Repent and be Saved? How did that game have any form of gaming experience?
The game setting was terrible. The moment players enter the game, they would immediately be tortured by the monsters. How was there any gaming experience?
Completely puzzled, Pei Qian decided to continue watching the video.
"Please take note, guys, the following analysis of the story plot came from three sources.
"First, the details in the game that I have observed when clearing the stages in the game.
"Second, the story settings in the official novel Repent and be Saved that was published on Zhongdian Chinese Network.
"Third, my thoughts after the continuous suffering that I went through and improvements that I have achieved through the game.
"Among the three sources, I would like to point out that the content in official novel Repent and be Saved published on Zhongdian Chinese Network was more elaborate than in the game itself. I had many questions regarding the game, and I found the answers to them in the novel. If you are interested in these, feel free to check out this novel.
"The link is in the pinned comment. You can use that to access the novel."
Pei Qian shivered.
Why did he mention Zhongdian Chinese Network?
Pei Qian knew that the official novel for Repent and be Saved was published on Zhongdian Chinese Network.
However, wasn't the novel generally hated upon?
Pei Qian once looked at the comments section of the novel. It was a ruckus. Everyone scolded the novel differently. He had absolutely no idea how Ma Yiqun and the others withstood the pressure and kept the novel at the homepage of the website.
Pei Qian felt that not only did the novel not contribute to the human traffic flow on the website, but it had also discouraged many readers from using the website. Netizens might think that Zhongdian Chinese Network was a horrible website that was corrupted and only recommended trashy books.
From that perspective, the achievements of the novel were commendable. Therefore, Pei Qian did not care about that matter.
However, all of a sudden, Teacher Qiao had eyed the novel. What was happening?
Pei Qian felt that he was on tenterhooks. He continued watching the rest of the video.
Chapter 284 A Game that Breaks the Fourth Wall!
"As for the game's difficulty, many people have already summarized it quite well.
"This is an extremely difficult, hardcore game. Most ordinary gamers would take a long time to get used to it, and they would suffer in the process. As for gamers who like to be challenged, conquering this game would give them a unique sense of satisfaction.
"Yet, do you think that's all there is to the?game?
"Do you really think that the game was created especially for the minority, god-like players? Do you think developers would give up on lousy players who form the majority? "If so, you're absolutely wrong!"
"The officials had left ordinary gamers an alternative path. That's through the special, divine weapon, the Pudu!
"Many people might feel confused. One can only obtain this hidden weapon after dying at the hands of the old monk six times. How did the developers expect players to find it?
"Pure luck?
"No, no, no! That's not the case!
"The officials have left clues behind on purpose, in the hopes that gamers with bad technique but would become invested in the game's plot would discover the weapon!
"Everyone would have realized that the old monk plays a huge role in Repent and be Saved's official novel.
"This old monk was portrayed as a strong, elite monster in the original plot. Yet, he turned out to be even weaker than the small monsters in the game.
"Why is that?
"It's obvious that the officials had left this clue behind on purpose. Curiosity would drive gamers to study this old monk closely. After the monk kills the player six times, he would recover his sanity and give the awesome Pudu to the player.
"This way, even lousy players would get a weapon that would help them complete the game.
"The game provides a platform for professional players to display their elite skills and for less-skilled players to skip the fighting. Thus, Repent and be Saved is a game for everyone and not only for the minority!"
Pei Qian felt beads of cold sweat dripping down his back.
It was no wonder that the weapon was discovered so quickly! It was hidden in the official novel!
Repent and be Saved's content closely followed the official novel. That was why the old monk was made into an elite monster. Yet, in order to hide the Pudu well, Pei Qian purposely weakened the old monk. He thought that it would greatly reduce the chances of players being killed at the hands of the old monk and consequently finding the Pudu.
However, he forgot about the official novel after changing the old monk's statistics!
Pei Qian could not be blamed; he would never have expected something like that!
He finally understood how the Pudu was discovered. Pei Qian rubbed his own chest and continued reading.
"Yet, do you think that's all there is to the?game?
"Do you think that there's nothing more to the game other than ordinary and god-like players being allowed to use different weapons?
"If so, you're absolutely wrong!"
Reading Teacher Qiao's transition made Pei Qian feel an oncoming heart attack.
Why was it absolutely wrong?! The fact that your video has gone this far shows that you have massively overthought everything! I didn't even plan for gamers to find the Pudu! Are you going to continue to misunderstand me?!
Teacher Qiao's unique voice continued to narrate in the video.
"Everyone has discovered that the Pudu is a weapon that allows one to progress quickly through the game. It can kill certain monsters but not all enemies in the game. Many people castigated the officials for doing this on purpose just to disgust players.
"They're wrong.
"The officials did this on purpose but not to disgust players. There's a deeper meaning!
"I conducted some detailed tests. The Pudu can only be used to reach the ending involving the six realms of rebirth and existence in the first round. More accurately put, it can only defeat monsters that are related to the old monk's storyline!
"Why did the officials do this?
"According to the results of my tests, the game currently has three main endings. The first is the 'malicious spirit ending', where you end up in Yama's palace, kill Yama and his magistrates, and become a malicious spirit. The second is the 'rebirth ending', where you enter the six realms of rebirth and existence and get reborn. The third is the 'sacrificial ending', where you go to hell and kill the crazed ruler, sacrificing yourself to suppress all the grievous souls.
"Of course, what each player does at checkpoints like the Three-Life Stone and Bridge of Forgetfulness could result in different types of endings. "However, broadly speaking, these are the three main endings. Yet, apart from this, there is one additional hidden ending.
"That's the 'repent and be saved ending'!"
At this point, Pei Qian felt light-headed.
I was the one who decided on the first three endings; that's fine.
But what the hell is a 'repent and be saved ending'?! How come I didn't even know that such an ending existed in the game?! Was Teacher Qiao making this up?!
From that point, Teacher Qiao's voice became increasingly impassioned.
"This ending is not in the game but outside it.
"'There is no end to the bitterness; repent and be saved.' That line's original meaning is good, but it's continually used in the game to persuade players to give up!
"All of you would have known that you were at the beginning of a journey of unlimited torture when you started the game. Once you fight their way out of the village, you would arrive in the town. After leaving the town, you would walk through the gate to the netherworld and arrive at the Road to the Underworld and then the Bridge of Forgetfulness… lastly, you would arrive at Yama's palace and hell.
"The further you progress, the stronger the monsters would become!
"The journey through the game feels like an endless sea of bitterness. Your hearts would keep saying 'repent and be saved', 'turn around', and 'there's no point in fighting anymore'!
"The officials use various ways and meanslike the epitaph and the reminder about the end of the refund allowance period—to invoke these thoughts inside you.
"If you listen to your heart and give up on the game, then congratulations. You've achieved the 'repent and be saved ending'.
"You've given up. You're free. It's like leaving the sea of bitterness.
"However, what will become of your character in the game?
"It looks like he has repented and been saved, but in fact, he has lost the opportunity to change the world forever. He would be no different from the wandering monsters on the Road to the Underworld, who have lost their three immortal souls and seven mortal forms; he would be forced to remain in the bitterness for the rest of eternity.
"Do you feel like the fourth wall has been broken?
"That's right. The protagonist in the game is suffering, and as are you. Each time he dies, you feel it. If you give up, you may think that you've escaped the bitterness; but you've also lost the opportunity to change the world forever.
"Do you understand why the game is so immersive?
"Yet, do you think that's all to the game? "Do you really think that's the end? "If so, you're absolutely wrong!" Pei Qian could not help but rest his head in his hands, feeling like he was on the brink of collapse. He could not imagine what Teacher Qiao would say next. He tried extremely hard, but his imagination had limits.
"I mentioned before that the Pudu allows one to progress quickly through the game, but it can only get you to the 'rebirth ending'. However, this 'rebirth ending' is a fake ending through and through!
"In this ending, the protagonist thinks that he has escaped a helpless world. Yet, in actual fact, he is only going through the same rebirth cycle. "This is the evidence: in the newbie village, there is a dying old man whom the protagonist is forced to kill so he can follow his soul to the Road to the Underworld.
спе
"However, if a player reaches the six realms of rebirth and existence and restarts the game, he would find that the old man would be holding the same weapon and wearing the same clothes as the protagonist. In fact, this old man is the protagonist himself!
"Take note, everyone! Even if you don't have the Pudu, gamers can still achieve the 'rebirth ending'. It just means you would fight more monsters and have a harder time.
"The Pudu was a weapon created especially for the 'rebirth ending'. Not only can you skip a portion of the gameplay with the weapon, but you can also easily defeat the monsters and boss related to that ending.
"In order to obtain the Pudu, the player has to die six times. That represents going through the six realms of rebirth and existence and achieving enlightenment at the seventh try. That's the beginning of a new life.
"Everything looks like a coincidence; it's all perfect, isn't it? "Some players might think that since the Pudu allows them to skip through a portion of the gameplay, it reduces their suffering and brings them bliss. Compared to the original 'rebirth ending', this ending might even make players happier.
"However, these players would be lying to themselves.
"Players would only achieve the true ending if they put down the Pudu, endure the suffering with their own skills, and fight the boss in hell. Only that would put a real end to the mortal world's suffering.
"Does everyone understand me at this point?
"Repent and be Saved was made so difficult to completely break the fourth wall! The high difficulty allows the player to be at one with the protagonist in the game!
"If you gave up in the face of difficulty and chose to refund the game, you achieved the 'repent and be saved ending'. The protagonist gives up on himself and submits himself to endless suffering.
"If you progress quickly through the game using the Pudu and only fight the easy bosses, you achieve the 'rebirth ending'. However, you would just be lying to yourself and others; the protagonist in the game doesn't actually escape the rebirth cycle.
"Only by putting down the Pudu, enduring the suffering together with the protagonist in the game, and constantly training yourself to become stronger would you be able to achieve the true ending. Only then would the protagonist have really saved the world. "That's why I say this game is more suited for lousy players.
"God-like players would not be able to empathize with the protagonist as he struggles internally while being stuck in the mortal world. Of course, the fourth wall would not be broken for them. They would not suffer in the same way. "On the other hand, only lousy players would have to put in blood, sweat, and tears to progress through the game bit by bit. When they finally complete it, only they would feel the joy of attaining Nirvana and enlightenment! Only they can truly understand the world and the meaning behind the game!
"Many people say that this game is difficult and repulsive. I want to say, that is indeed true. "This game is extremely difficult. However, it's precisely because of this that you would feel a sense of achievement after completing?it!
"Nobody would notice a small molehill. However, countless mountain-climbers would want to conquer Mt. Everest.
"Thus, I hope that the people who gave up on the game would purchase it again and give it another shot. To those who have already purchased the game, don't try to refund it the moment you meet with some difficulties.
"Emerge victorious over yourself. You will feel a sense of achievement that no other game would be able to invoke in you.
"Finishing this true product of the Gods; don't leave behind any regrets in the game!"
Coupled with the extremely appropriate background music, Teacher Qiao's impassioned voice would make his audience feel passionate and eager to rush headfirst into battle.
However, both of Pei Qian's hands grew cold. He felt the blood solidify in his veins.
"This is so sad…" Pei Qian looked up in anguish, feeling utterly speechless.