"Although there has been a breakthrough in virtual reality technology, allowing people to enter the Virtual World, the technology required is too advanced and cannot yet be scaled down into smaller devices."

"The manufacturing cost of each Virtual Cabin is extremely high. A single unit costs at least tens of millions of Xia Country Coins!"

Guo Heng stated the price calmly.

"Tens of millions?" Jiangtao gasped, exchanging a look with Lin Qi.

Lin Qi was secretly stunned. Tens of millions of Xia Country Coins... ’In both my past life and this one, I’ve never seen so much money.’

"An ordinary family could never afford one, so they can only come to a Martial Arts Dojo to use them."

"The dojos purchase the Virtual Cabins and charge a fee to recoup the cost."

"And the more powerful the Martial Arts Dojo, the more Virtual Cabins it can own. Ordinary dojos can’t even buy them."

"And the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, as the number one power in the Xia Country, has a full one hundred Virtual Cabins right here in Celestial Sea City."

"And they add new ones every year."

Jiangtao touched the metallic pillar, saying in shock:

"One hundred units... that’s at least a billion!"

Hearing such a large number, Lin Qi felt numb.

"In all of Celestial Sea City, besides our Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, only the Obsidian Martial Arts Dojo and the Chongming Martial Arts Dojo can compare to us."

"The three top-level Martial Arts Dojos in the Xia Country are all relatively close in strength," Guo Heng continued, stroking the pillar.

"Right, you two should try it out."

"Scan the QR code on the console, download the app to register, and then pay to begin."

BEEP!

"The fee is 500 per hour!"

Jiangtao was the first to scan and register. His expression changed when he saw the price.

Looking at the rows of Virtual Cabins, Lin Qi felt a strange sense of déjà vu. ’It’s just like the internet cafes from my past life,’ he thought. ’Everything is so similar, except the price... the price is insane.’

"That’s just the price for now!"

"In the future, the technology might improve, and the Virtual Cabins could evolve into virtual helmets or glasses, and the price will come down."

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

The silvery-white egg-like shell opened, revealing a seat reclined at a comfortable 125-degree angle. A blue metal helmet was installed at the head position, with several metallic plates that reflected the light.

"After you start, an intelligent AI will guide you through the basics. Anyway, I’m off to start my matchmaking for the day."

After saying this, Guo Heng opened a nearby Virtual Cabin with practiced ease and sat down inside.

"Brother Qi, I’m going in to try it out."

Jiangtao, unable to wait any longer, sat down in the Virtual Cabin. The door slowly closed.

Scan the code, register, pay, open the Virtual Cabin—Lin Qi did it all in one smooth sequence.

After completing the process, Lin Qi also sat inside a Virtual Cabin. He reclined, placed his head inside the helmet, and felt a cool sensation as the door closed, plunging him into darkness.

He subconsciously closed his eyes.

BOOM!

A moment seemed to pass, and then his body suddenly jolted. A tingling sensation ran across his scalp, goosebumps covered his skin, and his consciousness began to submerge.

He snapped his eyes open.

He looked around. His entire perception had changed. He was in an illusory, star-filled void, surrounded by twinkling starlight.

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

A beautiful woman in a tight red Combat Suit with her hair in a ponytail appeared before Lin Qi.

"I am the Red Realm’s intelligent AI—Little Red. I can help you understand all of the Red Realm’s functions."

’An intelligent AI... Little Red?’

Lin Qi watched the woman; her every frown and smile felt incredibly real.

He looked down at his own body. His clothes had been replaced by a black, tight-fitting Combat Suit. When he clenched his fist, he felt a surge of power, exactly the same as in reality.

He stepped onto the ground beneath him and felt the same resistant force he would from stepping on solid earth.

"The Red Realm is a Virtual Space developed by the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo in collaboration with the Xia Country’s top-level scientists."

"It scans your physical body to achieve a simulation with over 90% accuracy to reality," the woman in the Red Robe continued.

"In the Red Realm, there are functions for gaming, competition, socializing... and more!"

"If you are not satisfied with your clothes, you can change them."

"You are currently in your own personal space. You can use the panel to view information, add friends, or enter the combat functions!"

"Can I view my own information?"

Lin Qi asked.

"Of course, no problem!"

The woman in the Red Robe waved her hand, and a blue panel appeared in front of Lin Qi, looking quite similar to his own personal panel.

[Name: Lin Qi]

[Age: 17]

[Phone Number: ...]

[...]

It was all the information Lin Qi had entered during registration. Below that was a "Change Clothes" function, but he was satisfied with his current outfit and didn’t change it.

"Can I change my nickname?"

"You can!" Little Red answered with a smile.

Lin Qi nodded. He had a habit of using nicknames instead of his real name when using software.

He immediately went to change his real name, and he already had a nickname in mind.

[Lin Qi] → [Yang Jian]

[Change nickname? Yes/No]

Lin Qi clicked "Yes." A message appeared indicating the change was successful and the name was not taken. 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 the Red Robe explained with a smile.

"The arena is divided into AI and matchmaking modes."

"Every Martial Artist who enters the arena must first pass the AI test to unlock the matchmaking mode and compete against other Martial Artists."

"Understood!"

Lin Qi nodded. ’It feels just like the games I played in my past life.’

"Alright, Mr. Yang Jian, you can summon me at any time if you have questions."

"Okay!"

The woman in the Red Robe faded into the Void, leaving Lin Qi alone in his personal space.

He clicked the arena function on the panel and selected [AI Test].

BEEP!

The next second, the space around him shifted, as if a pair of invisible, giant hands had moved him to another area.

Lin Qi’s surroundings changed, and he found himself on a huge, circular arena, well over a thousand square meters in size. The ground was made of hard, white stone.

The arena was surrounded by spectator seats, but they were all empty for now.

"You have entered the AI test. As this is your first time..."

"You have ten minutes to warm up!"

"Please select your weapon!"

The panel switched, and a wide variety of weapons appeared before him.

Lin Qi chose a black Long Spear. Its tip glinted with a cold light; this was a weapon that had been sharpened and could draw blood.

HUMMM~

Lin Qi flicked the shaft of the Long Spear with his finger. The weapon vibrated slightly, letting out a humming sound.

It was a refined steel Long Spear—hard, yet flexible. ’Not a cheap one,’ he noted.

SWISH SWISH~~

In an instant, Lin Qi began to wield the Long Spear, executing the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique.

"Beng Ci, Vortex Break, Sky Jumping, Horizontal Block~"

The Long Spear cut through the air, creating a whistling wind, just like in reality.

’I’m not even tired!’

After executing the Spear Technique several times in a row, Lin Qi was amazed to find that he didn’t feel tired at all.

’Is it because this is virtual that it doesn’t consume stamina?’

[Time is up. The test will now begin!]

WHOOSH~

A female electronic voice echoed from the air. 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.

[AI Test: Kill the tester!]

[3, 2, 1...]

[Begin!]

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

WHOOSH~

In the next instant, the tester brandished his Long Spear and charged forward with incredibly fast steps.

’It’s starting!’

’My first real fight!’

Lin Qi also brandished his Long Spear. Stomping a foot on the ground, he unleashed the power in his legs and charged out in an instant.

His first battle was about to begin.

...