"Brother Peng, it's getting late. I should head home." Chen Mo checked his phone. It was almost eight, and if he didn't leave soon, his parents would start worrying.
"Go home? What's the rush?" Zhao Peng waved him off at once, a sly glint in his eyes. "You hardly ever come over. You have to enjoy yourself before you leave! Come on, I'll show you something cool!"
With that, Zhao Peng grabbed Chen Mo and, without giving him a chance to object, led him toward a room on the other side of the second floor.
They went down a hallway, and Zhao Peng stopped in front of a door marked "Entertainment Room." He pushed it open. The sight inside made Chen Mo's eyes light up. It was a spacious room filled with all kinds of gaming equipment, but the most striking items were the two futuristic-looking white pods in the middle.
They were half-reclined game pods made entirely of white composite material, with smooth surfaces and sleek lines. Blue bands of light encircled their sides, giving them a distinctly futuristic look. Each pod had a transparent viewing window near the head, through which Chen Mo could just make out a comfortable seat and a complex array of sensors.
"Are those... virtual reality game pods?" Chen Mo asked in surprise. He'd played VR games with a headset in his previous life, but he'd only seen immersive game pods like these in science-fiction movies.
"That's right! They're the latest Lingjing-7 Virtual Reality Game Pods!" Zhao Peng said proudly, patting one of the pods. "There are only a few in the whole city of Jiang! They're way better than those VR headsets. The immersion level can top fifty percent!"
He paused, then explained, "You know how psionic particles have filled the Earth for more than a hundred years, and the Antaya invasion forced technology to advance through war. Virtual reality technology, especially, was originally developed to simulate battlefields and train Martial Artists. It was only later that it was adapted for civilian use and turned into games. Modern virtual reality games can simulate Martial Arts battles, but they also have all kinds of exploration and adventure maps. You can even experience different training environments in the game!"
Chen Mo felt his interest stir. A virtual reality game that could simulate Martial Arts battles? It was a huge opportunity to improve his combat experience! What he lacked most right now was actual fighting experience. The Martial Arts sparring sessions at school were limited, after all. If he could spar repeatedly in a game, it would definitely do wonders for his skills.
"What do you think? Want to give it a try?" Zhao Peng saw his curiosity and asked with a grin. "I've been playing a game called Martial Era lately. It has all kinds of Martial Artist battle modes and dungeons. It's a blast!"
"Of course!" Chen Mo nodded without hesitation.
"Then let's go! I'll show you how it works!" Zhao Peng excitedly led Chen Mo to a game pod and pressed the start button. The hatch slid open slowly, revealing a soft black seat covered with tiny sensor contacts, along with a lightweight sensor helmet near the headrest.
"Just lie down, put on the helmet, and relax. The game will automatically scan your mental waves and Qi and Blood data, then match you with a character of the right strength. It won't be so hard that you can't handle it, or so easy that it's boring." Zhao Peng demonstrated as he explained.
Chen Mo followed his instructions and lay down in the game pod. The hatch closed slowly, creating an enclosed space that didn't feel claustrophobic. He put on the sensor helmet. A faint coolness brushed the inside of it, and then a gentle electronic voice sounded by his ear: "Scanning user information... Mental waves stable. Qi and Blood Value: 75.23 calories. Matching character strength: B rank... Loading game Martial Era..."
The next moment, Chen Mo's vision blurred. The darkness around him instantly brightened, and he found himself standing in a quaint, old-fashioned plaza. The area was crowded with people, and players dressed in all kinds of Martial Arts uniforms passed by in every direction. In the distance stood towering city walls and a range of mountains. The sky was a deep blue, dotted with a few white clouds. A breeze brushed his cheek, and he could even feel its faint chill.
The immersion really lived up to the hype! It was leagues beyond the VR equipment from his previous life, almost indistinguishable from reality!
"Brother Mo! Where are you?" Zhao Peng's voice came from beside him. Chen Mo turned and saw a stocky boy in a red martial outfit standing not far away. It was Zhao Peng's character in the game.
"I'm over here!" Chen Mo tried speaking and found that his voice carried straight to Zhao Peng. He looked down at his character. He wore a gray cloth outfit, and his build was about the same as in real life, but his movements felt more agile.
"Come on! Let's try the Novice Arena first!" Zhao Peng grabbed his arm. "I'll help you get used to the controls. The Martial Arts battles in this game are incredibly realistic. The moves and force application are very similar to real life, and you can even customize combinations. It's a lot of fun!"
They entered the arena and were matched against two novice players. As soon as the battle began, Chen Mo realized the game's reputation was well deserved. The character's movements were controlled entirely by mental strength and physical instinct. He instinctively used the Body Tempering Fist, and his in-game character immediately mirrored his movements. The rhythm of his Qi and Blood circulation and the Force Points of his attacks were almost identical to real life.
With the practiced techniques and precise Qi and Blood control granted by his system, Chen Mo completely outclassed his opponents in the game. His moves were fast and accurate, his strikes clean and decisive, and his dodges nimble. Before long, his opponents were on the back foot.
Zhao Peng wasn't about to be outdone. His total Qi and Blood was higher, and his attacks packed a punch. His control was a little rougher, but his abundant Qi and Blood gave him the advantage. The two worked together seamlessly and won the match in no time.
"Damn, Brother Mo! You've got insane talent for this game!" Zhao Peng's character excitedly patted Chen Mo on the shoulder. "This is your first time playing, and you're already this good! You're way better than I was when I started!"
"This game's controls are just so close to reality." Chen Mo still felt reluctant to stop. Fighting in the game came with no risk of getting hurt, and he could boldly test out all kinds of move combinations. It was an enormous help in building combat experience.
Over the next hour or so, they played several more matches and teamed up to clear a dungeon. The longer Chen Mo played, the more absorbed he became. He found that he could keep refining his techniques and adjusting the rhythm of his Qi and Blood circulation in the game. He could even try risky moves he wouldn't dare use in real life. Zhao Peng was having a great time too. The two became more and more in sync, winning one match after another, their laughter echoing through both the virtual world and the game pods in the real one.
They only quit when the game warned them, "User Qi and Blood depletion has reached the threshold. Rest is recommended."
The hatch slid open slowly. Chen Mo took off the helmet, his mind buzzing with excitement, but his body wasn't tired. If anything, the circulation of his Qi and Blood in the game had left his meridians feeling even smoother.
"How was that? Pretty awesome, huh?" Zhao Peng climbed out of his game pod too, grinning as if he still couldn't get enough.
"It was incredible!" Chen Mo praised it sincerely. "The game's so much fun, and it's such a huge help with actual combat!"
"You bet!" Zhao Peng said smugly, lifting his chin. "If you ever want to come play, just let me know! The game pods at my house are always online!"
When Chen Mo checked the time, it was almost eight. He hurriedly said, "I really have to go now. My parents will start worrying if I get back any later."
"Okay, I won't keep you, then." Zhao Peng knew better than to keep him out too late. "I'll have the driver take you home!"
"No, no need. I can ride my bike home. It'll be good exercise." Chen Mo quickly declined.
"How can you do that? It's late, and it's not safe!" Zhao Peng insisted. "Our driver can take you. It'll be quick—half an hour, tops."
Before you continue