Chapter Thirty-Eight: Perfect Slumber

A fragrant breeze swept in as Joanna, agile and deft, slipped forward, evading the Vajra Fist and landing a scorching Flame Palm squarely on Luo Chen’s body. The pain, akin to being seared by a red-hot iron, surged again, and Luo Chen realized that the simulated battle recreated not just sight, sound, touch, and smell—but even pain itself.

Nicole spoke from the side, “Master, rest assured. The neural impulses you’re feeling were collected when you were struck today and are now being reproduced. Even if you’re attacked by the simulated Joanna, you won’t actually be harmed.”

Joanna’s palms struck again and again, her offensive as fierce as the real thing. Luo Chen took another beating—not in reality, but the pain was nonetheless unpleasant. Yet he was exhilarated; Joanna’s moves were indistinguishable from the genuine article. This meant he could always find a worthy opponent.

Only when Luo Chen could no longer muster the Vajra Fist did Joanna finally relent. Nicole said, “Master, the simulated psychic energy based on your real abilities has been depleted in battle. Do you wish to recover and fight again?”

“Wait a moment!” Luo Chen replied. “Nicole, can fighting in the virtual simulation actually strengthen me?”

Nicole immediately denied it. “No, because everything here is an illusion generated by direct stimulation of the brain. In reality, your body and muscles aren’t truly exercised. However, it does increase your combat experience and helps with your reflexes.”

“Oh, I see.” Luo Chen nodded. “Nicole, the Flame Palm you simulated seems limited to the few moves Joanna used in our previous battle. Can you simulate more techniques?”

“No. The abilities of the simulated character are based on the data I’ve collected. If you want her repertoire to be broader, I need to gather more data during your real fights.”

“Alright, during our next training session, keep collecting combat data.”

“Yes, Master.”

Luo Chen thought for a moment and asked, “Nicole, I’m engaging in mental activity within the virtual environment. Will I be sleep-deprived in the morning?”

“No. The mental energy consumed during deep sleep is far less than under normal conditions. In fact, humans only need four hours of complete unconscious sleep each day to be fully rested.”

“Complete unconscious sleep?”

“That means shutting down all senses, subconscious, sixth sense, dreams, and any distractions usually unavoidable during ordinary sleep. Complete unconscious sleep is the purest and most efficient form.”

“Not even dreams?” Luo Chen marveled. “That’s not something I can control, is it?”

“That’s correct. Normally humans can’t achieve this, but I can emit hypnotic pulses to induce a state of complete unconscious sleep. This is one of the great achievements the Doctor made in bioengineering. He believed that too much of humanity’s limited lifespan is wasted on sleep. Sadly, before he could benefit the world, tragedy struck…”

Nicole’s voice grew somber. Luo Chen mused that Dr. Gates was truly a rare genius—biological AI, virtual combat, and complete unconscious sleep. Had he not died unjustly, perhaps humanity would have already conquered the monsters and restored its glory.

But these were only speculations. No matter how brilliant, a person cannot escape fate’s caprice. Luo Chen sighed, then resumed his virtual battles in the dreamscape. There were still five hours before dawn when he would practice the Aura Technique, and with four hours devoted to complete unconscious sleep, he had another hour to make use of. Luo Chen would not let it go to waste.

Just as Nicole had said, when Luo Chen finished his simulated battle and entered complete unconscious sleep, he didn’t dream at all—not even the passage of time registered. He closed his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, awoke. He checked the clock; it was already dawn.

It was the sweetest sleep. Luo Chen rose refreshed, feeling nothing like someone who had rested for only four hours. It was as if he had slept the entire night.

The regenerative abilities of the new humans far surpassed those of the old. Coupled with the restorative effects of the variant Aura Technique, Luo Chen performed another breathing exercise, and the burned skin peeled away in a thin layer, revealing new, tender skin beneath, unmarred by any scars. The stinging pain was gone.

Thursday evening, nearing nine o’clock, Elijie and Joanna left the dormitory as usual, heading toward the training grounds.

On the way, Joanna laughed, “Lily, there’s no need to go today. I guarantee that kid won’t show up—he’s so afraid of dying. Last time, he only stuck it out for pride’s sake. I doubt he’ll ever dare accept our guidance again.”

Elijie complained, “You’re one to talk. If that’s true, how am I supposed to explain things to Mentor Andrew?”

“What’s there to explain?” Joanna shrugged. “I’ll just tell the mentor the kid couldn’t take even a bit of hardship and chose to quit the extracurricular training. The mentor won’t blame us.”

Elijie sighed, “Oh, Joanna, this is exactly why none of the male students dare approach you. If you keep this up, you’ll never find anyone to marry!”

Joanna was unfazed. “That’s fine. Worst case, I’ll spend my life as a free and spirited warrior woman. That’s all the rage now.”

“They call that a leftover woman…”

As they spoke, they arrived at the training grounds. From afar, they spotted Luo Chen’s silhouette. Joanna was surprised, “That kid’s actually got guts—he came after all. Looks like he hasn’t suffered enough!”

Seeing Joanna eager for action, on the verge of transforming into a dominatrix, Elijie cautioned, “Joanna, don’t forget what you promised me!”

Joanna pouted, “Fine, I promise not to torment him anymore, alright? I get it—you must have given him your word, guaranteeing I wouldn’t give him ‘special’ training. That’s the only reason he dared show up, isn’t it?”

Elijie was speechless. “Alright, think whatever you like.”

The next two hours passed in extracurricular training. As they finished, Joanna assumed she’d spend another evening idly, but Luo Chen spoke up, “Joanna, I have a bold request.”

Joanna yawned lazily, “Just say it—don’t beat around the bush.”

“Could you continue to be my sparring partner?” Luo Chen’s words made Joanna pause. “What did you say?”

Luo Chen repeated himself, “Joanna, could you be my sparring partner?”

Oh my god! Did I hear correctly?

Joanna could hardly believe her ears. Luo Chen was actually asking her to spar with him—did he think he needed a beating to feel satisfied?

No, he must be putting on a brave face before Elijie, trying to appear courageous and change his image in her eyes. Joanna quickly formed a hypothesis about Luo Chen’s intentions—her own idea of a reasonable explanation.

Yes, that must be it!

[By now, my brothers must have finished their delicious lunches. Poor Thief has been writing since morning—no lunch, not even breakfast, just a few potato chips that wouldn’t fill a mouse, and they cost a fortune. But if you could toss a couple of recommendation votes my way, Thief could keep writing till evening without going hungry~~~]