Swept and washed over by boundless light, heat, and surging seawater, Li Nuo's figure flickered slightly, and Witten was the same, his outline wavering.
Only after a good while, when the seawater had showered down and the ocean gradually settled, did their figures stabilize once more.
Standing in midair, Li Nuo was rather speechless. He had always thought Witten to be a composed, solemn man, never expecting him to harbor such a mischievous streak.
Fortunately, this underwater nuclear detonation seemed to have purged Witten of that eccentric impulse. Witten coughed twice and apologized to Li Nuo with an embarrassed expression. Li Nuo shook his head, indicating he did not mind. It was merely a virtual simulation, after all, and no one was hurt; experiencing the feeling of being swept away by a deluge was an interesting novelty in itself.
After a few more seconds, Witten's eyes lit up. "My personal interface received the detailed data from this test!"
He casually picked out several figures to share: "A twenty-three-kiloton nuclear warhead detonated twenty-seven meters underwater sent 2.0657 million tons of seawater and sediment into the sky, producing a base surge of 29.35 meters and a water column reaching a maximum height of 1,682 meters..."
Finishing his summary, he sighed with emotion. "If this were reality, who knows how much manpower and resources detonating such a nuclear warhead would have consumed, not to mention the appalling environmental fallout. Yet in the virtual world, detailed figures can be acquired in mere seconds!"
Li Nuo joked, "As long as the initial values and clear conditions are given, even the future could be predicted."
"Haha! That is our mathematicians' wild fantasy." Witten smiled knowingly.
Predicting the future was far too difficult, for the real world was filled with countless uncertain variables that human technology could never hope to fully grasp.
"We've experienced the Hall of Science. Next, let's head to the Trial Space," Li Nuo said. "We should complete the introductory lessons there first and claim our gift pack of techniques; otherwise, visiting the Martial Dao Tower and the Realm of the Mysterious Dao would be useless."
Witten nodded, and both tapped the "Trial Space" option on their personal interfaces.
The next instant, they arrived on a wide avenue. Ahead lay two doors carved with patterns—one depicting dragons and phoenixes dancing, the other showing a fist suppressing mountains and seas.
Li Nuo explained, "The one with the dragons and phoenixes is for Mysterious Dao instruction, and the other is for Martial Dao instruction. Choose a door, push it open, and you can begin your lessons."
"Can I choose both?"
"Of course. As long as you wish, cultivating both is entirely permitted. Personally, though, I suggest choosing just one, as human energy is limited."
"Li, which one did you choose?"
"The Mysterious Dao. Well, we Dongxia people have always harbored a longing to seek the Dao and pursue immortality. I've been fascinated by immortal cultivation for a long time," Li Nuo said. "Still, you can look inside both and make a comparison."
Witten nodded, stepped forward, and pushed open the door of the fist suppressing mountains and seas. Li Nuo entered with him. Although Li Nuo had chosen to cultivate the Mysterious Dao, the virtual world did not forbid anyone from listening to Martial Dao lessons; everything was left to personal discretion.
Past the door, the scene shifted. A colossal martial training ground appeared before them, arrayed with lock-shaped stone weights, wooden stakes, and various weapons. On an earthen platform in the center stood a burly, broad-shouldered middle-aged man.
Below the platform stood dozens of excited men and women.
*Beep, beep!*
Right then, a novice gift pack popped up on their personal interfaces. Witten tapped it open with curiosity. Instantly, a vast stream of information flooded his mind, encompassing knowledge of the human internal organs, meridians, and more, along with the stance work for the Spirit Tiger Demon Crane Stance.
Just as he roughly digested this technique, the middle-aged man on the earthen platform spoke in a resonant voice: "My surname is Xu. You may address me as Instructor Xu. Over the coming period, I will teach you to train your force, and use that force to temper your skin, sinews, and bones, thereby nourishing your qi and blood..."
As he spoke, he stripped off his upper garment, revealing knotted muscles. "Now, I shall instruct you in the Spirit Tiger Demon Crane Stance, guiding your force through the posture!"
With that, he sank slightly and began demonstrating the stance.
The crowd below, including Witten, followed suit, imitating his posture. Though their stances were unrefined at first, they soon assumed a passable form. Thanks to the direct transmission of information from the novice gift pack, everyone had essentially memorized the mechanics of the stance, though perfecting it and mastering its essence would require patient effort.
After thirty minutes of practice, Instructor Xu waved his hand. "Rest for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. We will continue shortly."
At his words, a chorus of relieved exhales rippled through the grounds. Witten rubbed his old limbs and said in astonishment, "At my age, I can actually endure such prolonged exercise?"
Li Nuo answered, "That is the virtual world's setting. Aside from retaining our original appearance, our physical condition is no different from that of a healthy young man."
Witten understood, then asked, "Li, does cultivating immortality also require holding stances like this?"
"No, it doesn't. The main requirement is learning to enter meditative tranquility, which is a formidable barrier," Li Nuo said, shaking his head. "Mo Qiu—he's the instructor for the Mysterious Dao—repeatedly guided us on how to settle our minds, yet many people still cannot calm their thoughts. If you cannot cross this threshold, you can forget about cultivating immortality. But once you do cross it, daily practice merely requires sitting in meditation to absorb spiritual qi without wearying the body."
Witten nodded slowly. "It seems the Mysterious Dao suits me better." Out in the real world, given his advanced years, practicing physical stances would likely shatter his old bones in short order.
"Let's go to the Mysterious Dao classroom, then."
With that, he and Li Nuo left the training ground and pushed open the door to the Mysterious Dao. Under Mo Qiu's guidance, Witten sat cross-legged, clearing his mind and calming his nature. Within a dozen minutes, he remarkably succeeded in entering meditative tranquility.
Yet this was hardly surprising. Scholars—especially those who reached the very pinnacle of their discipline—possessed an extraordinary capacity to endure solitude and maintain mental focus; without such temperament, they could never have achieved greatness. With such a mindset, entering tranquility swiftly was only natural.
"From this day forth, you and I are fellow Daoists—not only comrades in mathematics, but now fellow seekers of immortality," Li Nuo said with a smile.
Witten was likewise overjoyed, but then paused, looking at a notification on his personal interface. "The Trial Space's 'Late Han Yellow Turbans' and 'Five Directions Great Realm' have unlocked?"
Li Nuo explained, "They unlock automatically once you pass the basic instruction."
Witten realized what had happened. "Have you entered them yet?"
"Not yet. I only succeeded in entering meditative tranquility around noon today," Li Nuo suggested. "Shall we go together?"
"Together!" Witten agreed enthusiastically.
The two selected "Late Han Yellow Turbans" and chose the same arrival point.
*Whoosh!*
The next instant, they found themselves standing amidst a dense crowd. Glancing around in shock, they saw an open plain. Everyone around them wore yellow headbands and clutched spears, blades, shields, or pitchforks, arrayed in a ragged formation.
Across from their battle lines stood the grim, silent ranks of the Han army. A clash of arms seemed imminent.
"We've become part of the Yellow Turban Army!" Li Nuo, who happened to be standing on Witten's left, said in a hushed voice.
Witten gave a calm nod. While unfamiliar with Dongxia's history, he had briefly checked the general historical trajectory of the late Han dynasty and knew the Yellow Turbans were a massive peasant rebellion—and currently the Han Empire's greatest foe.
Now, he was one of their soldiers.
*Boom, boom, boom!*
Suddenly, thunderous war drums pounded behind them. The Yellow Turban soldiers immediately roared in frenzy: "The Blue Sky is dead, the Yellow Sky shall rise; in the year of Jiazi, there shall be great fortune under Heaven!"
Startled, Li Nuo and Witten instinctively opened their mouths, miming the chant.
Just then, rumbling drums also echoed from the Han army's grand formation. Banners of various colors fluttered, and tens of thousands of Han soldiers roared in unison: "Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!"
The sound surged like a tidal wave, piercing the clouds!
"Forward!" Within the Yellow Turban formation, command flags waved, and the unit containing Li Nuo and Witten began inching forward under their platoon leader's shout.
*Hiss...*
Trapped in the ranks, neither dared turn his head, only exchanging glances out of the corners of their eyes, their expressions filled with solemn dread and trepidation.
They were two modern scholars who had never even been in a physical fight, rarely even exchanging curses. Suddenly thrust into a position where they had to take up weapons and kill alongside an army—wasn't this demanding a bit much?
This Trial Space was far too hardcore!
Yet now that they were here...
Swallowing hard several times, Li Nuo shot Witten a look implying they should back each other up. He took a deep breath, gripped his spear tightly, and marched steadily forward with the bulk of the troops.
Witten pursed his lips and grasped his pitchfork firmly, nervous yet feeling an unexpected surge of adrenaline.
"Halt!"
After marching several dozen paces, the platoon leader shouted, and the soldiers hurriedly halted, swiftly reforming their lines.
"Advance!"
"Halt!"
After repeating this twice more, the Yellow Turbans and the Han army drew near, separated by merely dozens of paces. Standing in the third rank, Li Nuo could practically make out the faces of the foremost Han soldiers. His heart pounded wildly, his breathing turning ragged.
"Loose!"
*Twang, twang, twang!*
Shouts rang from the opposing Han formation. Hundreds of arrows swarmed forth like locusts, plunging from the sky into the Yellow Turban ranks.
"Ugh!"
"Ah! My eye!"
"Hold the line! Don't break formation!"
Within Li Nuo's sight alone, over a dozen Yellow Turban soldiers were struck by arrows, crying out in agony.
*This is completely lopsided! They have countless arrows and shields, while we have nothing!* Breathing heavily, he could not stop the frantic thought from flashing through his mind.
"Kill!"
Accompanied by a second volley of arrows, the two armies finally collided. In merely a few breaths, the two soldiers in front of Li Nuo were cut down by the Han troops.
"Heh!" A one-eared Han soldier covered in blood pulled his blade from a Yellow Turban soldier's belly and sneered maliciously at Li Nuo. He could tell this man had never killed anyone before; even the hands gripping the spear were trembling slightly.
"Die!" The one-eared soldier stepped forward with a thunderous roar, raising his blade high and bringing it down with all his might.
Swept up by the terrifying madness of the battlefield, Li Nuo thrust his spear with frantic desperation born of fear and adrenaline. Yet the one-eared soldier dodged lithely, slashing his blade diagonally across Li Nuo's left arm.
The arm was not severed, but blood sprayed instantly. The searing pain turned Li Nuo's face pale, sending him stumbling backward.
*Squelch!*
At that moment, a cry of pain exploded beside him. Li Nuo glanced over instinctively, only to see Witten run through the heart by an enemy blade, collapsing weakly to the ground, though not yet drawing his final breath.
*So this is what dying feels like...*
Lying in the bloody mud, Witten opened his mouth like a suffocating fish, dark blood gushing past his lips. He gave Li Nuo one last look, as if saying he could no longer provide any backup.
*Whoosh...*
He closed his eyes, dead.
"Ahhh!"
At that sight, blood rushed to Li Nuo's head. With a furious roar, he thrust his spear wildly at the Han soldiers. His sheer frenzy actually startled several surrounding Han troops into backing away, until an armored Han squad leader charged straight forward and hooked Li Nuo through the throat with a halberd.
"Fuck!"
The usually refined scholar could not help but spit out a curse the moment the halberd's curved blade tore through his throat. He collapsed limply to the ground. Seeing that his eyes had not yet closed, another Han soldier stepped up and drove a blade into him to finish the job.
"You..."
Li Nuo glared at the soldier, as if trying to carve the man's features into his memory.
The Han soldier paid him no heed, charging back into the Yellow Turban ranks to continue the slaughter.
*Gasp... wheeze...*
As blood poured out, Li Nuo felt all strength abandon his body. Exhaling one final, ragged breath, he died.
Following his death, his vision spun, and he found himself in a blank white space. Beside him, Witten was staring at him with wide eyes.
The two looked at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over.
"Haha... I—I'm definitely not cut out to be a soldier. I'm much better suited to scientific research," Witten wheezed through his laughter.
Li Nuo smiled faintly. "I suppose I am the same. Still, I want to try that trial again."
Witten nodded. "Me too."
Both had been slaughtered the moment they set foot on the battlefield, failing to claim a single kill and losing their lives instead. How could they accept that?
Even research scientists had their pride and temper!
"Again!"
***
Ever since Huang Tian had manifested before the public on June 7 and unveiled the Second World, the transformations sweeping Blue Star had grown more dramatic with each passing day. A frenzy of cultivation had erupted across the globe, alongside astonishing technological progress.
This was primarily thanks to the technologies Huang Tian had brought back from the Nightmare World. Upon discovering these advancements, Blue Star's researchers treated them like priceless treasures, promptly spending contribution points to redeem them for in-depth study.
To earn the contribution points necessary for redemption, researchers and their respective nations had no choice but to bring forward many closely guarded, proprietary technologies.
Once uploaded to the virtual world, these proprietary technologies were swiftly redeemed by researchers from other nations, who in turn had to upload their own key technologies to afford them.
Thus, a grand exchange and collaboration of global technology was compelled into being within the virtual world. Across Blue Star, technologies in every field leaped forward: aerospace, electronic information, agriculture, energy conservation, biotechnology, new materials... Combined with the introduction of psionic energy and the superior research environment of the virtual world, technological progress advanced by leaps and bounds.
Naturally, these fruits of research were effortlessly absorbed and integrated by Huang Tian as well.
*A rather handsome harvest... Furthermore, now that I have Xiao Zheng, I won't have to divide my attention to constantly monitor the virtual world.*
Within the virtual space, Huang Tian raised his hand. A small orb of light, which he had named the "Brain of Justice," hovered above his palm. This creation could be described as artificial intelligence, or perhaps an artifact spirit.
Those in the Soul Void Realm of the Five Directions Realm could forge divine armaments endowed with rudimentary sentience, and Huang Tian was naturally capable of doing so now.
The Brain of Justice was a masterpiece he had spent over a month crafting, combining artifact refinement techniques with Blue Star's information technology. A strong artificial intelligence, it could not only assist him in managing the virtual world, but also monitor the entire real world at any moment.
"Go!" Huang Tian gave it a toss, and the small orb melted into the fabric of the virtual world, becoming omnipresent and responsive everywhere.
*Whoosh!*
Closing and reopening his eyes, Huang Tian withdrew from the mental world and reappeared in his residence at Yandong Garden. Pouring a cup of warm water, he walked over to the window and sipped slowly. Outside, several elderly people on the road were chatting.
"We've truly lived to see a wonderful era. I thought I'd be lying in a coffin within a few years, but now I might get to live another ten or twenty."
"You know Old Zhao, right? He had pancreatic cancer, and the doctors said he wouldn't last a few months. But I hear he succeeded in drawing qi, and his condition has been brought under control. His entire family wept tears of joy!"
"The news says several genetic research institutes are developing a gene perfection serum to eradicate hereditary defect diseases once and for all."
"Tsk, tsk, living a long life really is a blessing. If I hadn't made it to this age, how could I have witnessed such a brand-new era?"
Listening to the conversation, Huang Tian smiled. He habitually turned on his consciousness switch, then froze slightly.
A brilliant golden voice line was traversing the endless void, reaching toward him.
"A new world!"
Chapter 183