Chapter Thirty-Seven: Virtual Duel

When the burns had just occurred, it wasn't too bad, but the stinging pain that followed was truly hard to endure and exceedingly inconvenient. Luo Chen could only use a towel to wipe himself down instead of bathing, and it was impossible for him to go to the Thunderclap Waterfall to cultivate. Nevertheless, he made the most of his time and performed the second session of breathing exercises for the day.

As spiritual energy entered his body with each breath, the usual warmth he sensed unexpectedly turned into coolness, trickling through his body and soothing the fiery, unbearable pain on his skin. By the end of his breathing exercise, the pain had lessened considerably. He touched the red patch where the blazing palm had struck him, and found it had begun to harden—a sign that a scab was forming.

“Nico?”

“Good evening, Master. Did you call for me?”

“Yes. Why did this breathing exercise feel so different this time? The spiritual energy felt refreshing and cool. And what’s happening with my injured skin?”

“It’s because I modified the Aura Technique to suit your constitution, Master. It also promotes regeneration of necrotic cells to some extent, meaning your self-healing ability is stronger than that of ordinary people. Your injury is a first-degree minor burn. With one more breathing session and about ten hours of rest, you should recover almost completely.”

Luo Chen was overjoyed. Though the injury wasn’t serious, it could still affect his cultivation. The sooner it healed, the better.

“By the way, Master,” Nico added, “your combat experience is severely lacking. Your awareness and reaction are insufficient, and you’re troubled by the difficulty of finding worthy opponents. I suggest you try virtual combat.”

“Virtual combat?” Luo Chen asked in surprise, “What is that?”

“It’s a program invented by the Doctor to train super soldiers, simulating real combat scenarios. Would you like to experience it firsthand, Master?”

Luo Chen’s interest was piqued. “Yes, I’d like to try it.”

“Alright, but first you need to enter a deep sleep state. I’ll hypnotize your brain; you’ll soon fall asleep. Is there anything else you need to do before that?”

“No, let’s begin!”

“Very well.” No sooner had Nico finished speaking than Luo Chen felt drowsiness wash over him, his eyelids growing so heavy they could barely stay open. He quickly drifted off, and at the same time, his consciousness shifted suddenly into the mental space where he had previously “met” Nico.

When Luo Chen “saw” the surroundings clearly, he was astonished to find that, in the pitch-black, chaotic void, there was now a girl.

A girl so beautiful it defied belief. Her face was pure and lovely beyond compare, her features exquisitely flawless. Behind her sprouted a pair of pristine white wings, and she floated barefoot in the air, like an angel descended from heaven.

Luo Chen stared for a moment before regaining his wits. “You are…”

“Master, don’t you recognize me?” The girl smiled as she landed before Luo Chen. “I’m Nico!”

That sweet, clear voice was unforgettable after hearing it once; it was indeed Nico. Yet Luo Chen exclaimed, “Nico, why do you look like this?”

Nico stuck out her tongue playfully. “Master, this is my true form. Last time, our mental worlds hadn’t fully synchronized, so you couldn’t ‘see’ me and couldn’t access the virtual realm.”

Luo Chen marveled, “So this is the virtual realm? It’s truly astonishing!”

The girl before him was so vivid, so real, that she was indistinguishable from an actual person. Luo Chen wanted to reach out and touch her, to see if she was as real as she appeared, but felt it would be too abrupt. So he asked, “Nico, are you just an image in my mind?”

“Not merely an image,” Nico said, reaching out to take Luo Chen’s hand.

Soft, smooth, and even warm—that was what Luo Chen felt. It was no different from touching a real person. Though it was virtual, there was nothing he could perceive as false.

It was Luo Chen’s first time holding a girl’s hand, even if only in a dream, and his heart couldn’t help but race.

“Master, your emotional fluctuations have increased. Is this…” Nico looked puzzled.

Luo Chen thought to himself that Dr. Gates hadn’t programmed Nico with any knowledge of male physiology. Facing such a beautiful girl, who wouldn’t have thoughts? Especially someone like Luo Chen, inexperienced and shy.

Steady yourself, Luo Chen, steady yourself! He forced his emotions under control and said, “Nico, it’s nothing strange. I was just marveling at Dr. Gates’s genius—he managed to create someone as real as you. It’s unbelievable! So, what about this virtual combat you mentioned?”

“Please wait a moment, Master. I’ll let you experience it right away.” Nico released Luo Chen’s hand, waved her hand in the air like a magician, and suddenly the darkness was pierced by moonlight, changing the surroundings. Luo Chen was amazed to find himself standing in a trial arena.

Yes, it was indeed the academy’s trial arena, and the ground beneath his feet was solid.

“This… this is…”

Nico explained, “This is a simulated scenario, generated in your mind based on the data I’ve gathered. Oh, Master, your opponent has arrived.”

A woman appeared without warning in the arena. She had fiery red hair and astonishingly long, beautiful legs. Who else could it be but Joanna?

Luo Chen was even more taken aback. “Joanna, how are you here?”

Joanna glared coldly at Luo Chen, saying nothing.

Nico said, “She isn’t Joanna, but a virtual character I created from the data I collected. Though she looks realistic, she’s just an illusion generated in your mind. She has no independent thought, but the program gives her a certain degree of intelligence.”

Hearing Nico’s explanation, Luo Chen still found it hard to believe, for this “Joanna” was so lifelike that her appearance, figure, and aura were all identical to the Flaming Rose herself.

Nico continued, “The virtual combat scenario and opponent are ready, Master. You may begin.”

Luo Chen, curious and eager to try this novel experience, nodded immediately. “Alright!”

He raised his fist and, following the Aura Technique, infused it with spiritual energy. Instantly, his fist was enveloped by a faint aura, and the Diamond Fist worked even in this virtual realm.

Joanna said nothing, turning her palm over, her hand blazing red—it was the Scorching Flame Palm.

[Only about a thousand popularity points away from the brothers behind! At any moment, I could get blasted by the thieves—if I keep getting blasted, I’ll be as miserable as Luo Chen being dominated by Joanna! My fragile soul and backside can’t withstand such intense punishment! Brothers, let’s push the thief up! The thief is updating three chapters daily this week, and next week might keep up this pace—pretty impressive, right?!]