Chapter 25: [Yang Jian] (Please keep reading)

"Although virtual reality technology has made breakthroughs, allowing people to enter virtual worlds,"

"The technological requirements are too high, making it impossible to shrink it into small devices for the time being."

"The cost of each virtual pod is extremely expensive; the price of a single pod is at least ten million Xia Country Yuan!"

Guo Heng stated the price calmly.

"Ten million?" Jiang Tao gasped, exchanging a look with Lin Qi.

Lin Qi was secretly shocked. In all his lives, from childhood to the present, he had never seen so much money as ten million Xia Country Yuan.

"An average family simply cannot afford it; they can only come to a martial arts hall to use them."

"The martial arts halls purchase virtual pods and charge certain fees to recoup their costs."

"The stronger the martial arts hall, the more virtual pods they can possess; ordinary halls simply cannot afford to buy them."

"And as the number one power in Xia Country, the Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall possesses a full one hundred virtual pods in our Tianhai City."

"Furthermore, new virtual pods are added every year."

Touching the metal cubic pillar, Jiang Tao said in shock, "One hundred pods... that must be at least a billion."

Hearing the long string of numbers, Lin Qi's heart had already gone numb.

"In the entire Tianhai City, besides our Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall, only the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall and the Chongming Martial Arts Hall can rival us."

"The strength of the three top martial arts halls in Xia Country is roughly similar." Guo Heng continued, stroking the cubic pillar, "By the way, you two should come and experience it as well."

"Scan the QR code on the stand, download the app to register, and then pay to start using it."

"Beep!"

"The fee is 500 yuan per hour!"

Jiang Tao was the first to scan and register. When he saw the price, his expression changed.

Looking at the rows of virtual pods, Lin Qi had the illusion of being back in the internet cafes of his previous life. Everything was so similar, except that the price of the virtual pods was truly expensive.

"That is the current price!"

"In the future, technology may improve, and virtual pods might evolve into virtual helmets or glasses, and the price will drop."

"You should hurry up and experience it," Guo Heng reminded them.

The originally silver-white egg-shaped shell opened, revealing a seat that reclined at a 125-degree angle. A blue metal helmet was installed at the head position, with various metal plates reflecting the light.

"Once you start, an intelligent AI will guide you through the novice stage. That's it for me; I'm going to start today's matchmaking."

After saying this, Guo Heng skillfully opened a nearby virtual pod and sat inside.

"Brother Qi, I'm going to experience it first."

Jiang Tao could no longer wait and sat into the virtual pod, the pod door slowly closing.

Scanning the code, registering, paying, and opening the virtual pod—it was all done in one smooth motion.

After finishing, Lin Qi also sat into a virtual pod, reclining with his head inside the helmet. The interior was cool, and as the door closed, he fell into darkness.

He also subconsciously closed his eyes.

*Boom!*

It felt as if time had passed, when suddenly his body jolted. His scalp felt numb, goosebumps rose all over his body, and his consciousness began to immerse.

He snapped his eyes open.

He looked around, and everything in his vision had changed. He was situated amidst a phantom starry sky, with starlight flickering all around him.

"Mr. Lin Qi, welcome to the Red Realm!"

In front of Lin Qi, a beautiful woman appeared, wearing a red tight-fitting combat suit and a ponytail.

"I am the intelligent AI of the Red Realm—Xiao Hong. I can help you understand all the functions of the Red Realm."

"Intelligent AI—Xiao Hong?"

Lin Qi looked at the woman; her every smile and expression felt incredibly real.

Looking at his own body, his clothes had been replaced by a black tight-fitting combat suit. He clenched his fists, and strength surged through him, exactly as it did in reality.

He stepped onto the ground and felt the recoil that only comes from stepping on solid earth.

"The Red Realm is a virtual space researched and developed by the Chiqiong Martial Arts Hall in collaboration with Xia Country's top scientists."

"It scans your physical body to achieve more than 90% simulation of reality," the woman in red continued to introduce.

"In the Red Realm, there are functions such as gaming, competition, social networking, and more!"

"If you are unsatisfied with the clothes you are wearing, you can change them."

"Currently, you are in your personal space. You can view information, add friends, or enter the combat function through the panel!"

"Can I view my own information?" Lin Qi inquired.

"Of course!"

With a wave of the red-clad woman's hand, a blue panel appeared in front of Lin Qi, looking quite similar to his own interface.

【Name: Lin Qi】 【Age: 17】 【Phone Number:...】 【...】

These were all the details Lin Qi had filled in during registration. Below that was a clothing change function; he was satisfied with his current outfit, so he did not change it.

"Can I change my nickname?"

"Yes, you can!" Xiao Hong replied with a smile.

Lin Qi nodded. His habit was to use nicknames rather than his real name when using software.

He immediately proceeded to change his real name, and he already had an idea for a nickname.

【Lin Qi】→【Yang Jian】 【Modify nickname? Yes/No】

Lin Qi clicked "Yes." The system displayed that the name change was successful and that there were no duplicate names. Thus, his online nickname was officially changed to "Yang Jian."

"Hello, can you give me a detailed introduction to the Arena function?"

"No problem!" the woman in red explained with a smile.

"The Arena is divided into Human-Machine mode and Matchmaking mode."

"Every martial artist who enters the Arena must pass the Human-Machine test before they can unlock the Matchmaking mechanism to compete against other martial artists."

"Understood!"

Lin Qi nodded, feeling that it was similar to the games he played in his previous life.

"Very well, Mr. Yang Jian. If you have any questions, you can summon me at any time for answers."

"Alright!"

The woman in red dissolved into nothingness. In the personal space, only Lin Qi remained.

He clicked on the Arena function on the panel and selected 【Human-Machine Test】.

*Beep!*

In the next second, the space shifted, as if an invisible giant hand had moved Lin Qi to another area.

Lin Qi's surroundings changed, and he appeared in a massive circular arena, spanning over a thousand square meters, with a hard white ground.

The surrounding area was filled with spectator seats, though they were all empty for now.

"You have entered the Human-Machine Test. Since this is your first time initiating a Human-Machine Test,"

"You have ten minutes to move around!"

"Please select a weapon!"

The panel switched, and various types of weapons appeared before him.

Lin Qi chose a black long spear. The tip of the spear glinted with a cold light; it was already sharpened and capable of drawing blood.

*Hum~*

Lin Qi flicked the spear with his hand, and the shaft vibrated slightly, emitting a humming sound.

It was a fine steel spear, hard in texture and resilient, and not cheap.

*Swish, swish~~*

In an instant, Lin Qi began to wield the spear, performing the "Mountain-Crushing Spear Technique."

"Crushing Thrust, Swirling Break, Sky Leap, Horizontal Block~"

The spear pierced through the air, bringing with it a whistling wind, exactly like in reality.

"I'm not even tired!"

After performing the spear technique several times in succession, Lin Qi was surprised to find that he didn't feel tired at all.

"Is it because it's virtual that it doesn't consume physical stamina?"

【Time is up. Test begins!】

"Whoosh~"

An electronic female voice rang out in the air. In the next moment, not far from Lin Qi, a tall man wearing a mask and a white combat suit materialized.

He held a silver long spear, ready to attack at any moment.

【Human-Machine Test: Eliminate the Tester!】 【3, 2, 1...】 【Begin!】

The electronic female voice in the air announced the start of the test.

*Swoosh~*

In the next instant, the tester wielded his spear and charged forward with extremely fast steps.

"It's starting!"

"My very first real combat!"

Lin Qi also wielded his spear, planted a foot on the ground, exerted force through his legs, and charged forward instantly.

His first battle was about to erupt.

...

(End of Chapter)