Training Room, Sweat, and the Virtual World 3

"Brother Peng, it's getting late. I should head back." Chen Mo glanced at his phone—it was almost eight. If he didn't leave soon, his parents would start worrying.

"Head back? What's the rush!" Zhao Peng waved his hand dismissively, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes. "You don't come here often. We've gotta have some real fun before you go! Come with me—I'll show you something awesome!"

With that, Zhao Peng grabbed Chen Mo and dragged him, without giving him a chance to refuse, toward a room on the other side of the second floor.

They walked down a corridor until Zhao Peng stopped in front of a door marked "Game Room" and pushed it open. The sight inside made Chen Mo's eyes light up—it was a spacious entertainment room filled with various gaming devices, but the most eye-catching were two futuristic white pods in the center.

Those were two semi-reclining game pods, made entirely of white composite material with smooth surfaces and sleek lines. Blue light strips wrapped around the sides of the pods, giving them a futuristic feel. At the head of each pod was a transparent window, through which one could vaguely see a comfortable seat and complex sensor equipment.

"Are those... Virtual Reality Game Pods?" Chen Mo was a bit surprised. In his past life, he'd used VR glasses, but immersive game pods like these—he'd only seen them in sci-fi movies.

"That's right! The latest 'Lingjing-7' model Virtual Reality Game Pods!" Zhao Peng patted the pod proudly. "There are only a few in the whole of Jiang City! Way better than those VR glasses—immersion level reaches over 50%!"

He paused to explain, "You know, over the past hundred-plus years, Psionic Particles have flooded Earth, and with the Antaya invasion, war forced technology to advance fast. Virtual reality tech was originally developed to simulate battlefield environments and train Martial Artists. Only later did it get commercialized into games. Now, VR games can not only simulate martial combat but also have exploration and adventure maps, and you can even experience different training environments in-game!"

Chen Mo's heart stirred at that. A VR game that could simulate martial combat? That was a godsend for improving practical combat experience! What he lacked most right now was real fighting opportunities. School sparring sessions were limited, but if he could repeatedly practice in a game, it would greatly benefit his strength.

"So? Wanna give it a try?" Zhao Peng noticed his curiosity and grinned. "I've been playing a game called Martial Era lately. It's got tons of Martial Artist versus Martial Artist modes and all kinds of dungeons—super fun!"

"Of course I do!" Chen Mo nodded without hesitation.

"Then let's go! I'll show you the ropes!" Zhao Peng excitedly pulled Chen Mo over to the game pod and pressed the start button. The pod's hatch slowly opened, revealing a soft black seat covered in tiny sensor nodes, with a lightweight sensor helmet at the headrest.

"Lie down, put on the helmet, and relax your body. The game will automatically scan your mental fluctuations and Qi and Blood data to match a character strength that suits you—won't be too hard, but not too easy either." Zhao Peng demonstrated as he explained.

Chen Mo followed the instructions and lay down in the game pod. The hatch closed gently, creating a sealed but not oppressive space. He put on the sensor helmet, and a slight coolness spread from the inside. Then, a gentle electronic voice sounded in his ear: "Scanning user information... Mental fluctuations stable, Qi and Blood Value 75.23 cal, matching character strength B rank... Loading game Martial Era..."

The next second, Chen Mo's vision blurred, and the pitch-black view instantly brightened. He found himself standing in an ancient-style square, surrounded by a bustling crowd of players in various Martial Arts Uniforms. In the distance were towering city walls and rolling mountain ranges. The sky was a clear blue with a few white clouds, and a breeze brushed his face—he could even feel a faint chill.

The immersion was no joke! It was leagues better than the VR devices from his past life, almost indistinguishable from reality!

"Brother Mo! Where are you?" Zhao Peng's voice came from nearby. Chen Mo turned to see a burly youth in a red tight-fitting outfit not far away—that was Zhao Peng's in-game character.

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching by the author—maybe it just changed names!

"I'm here!" Chen Mo tried speaking and found his voice transmitted directly to the other person. He looked down at his own character—a gray cloth outfit, a build similar to his real self, but with more agile movements.

"Come on! Let's hit the Novice Arena and try it out!" Zhao Peng grabbed him. "I'll teach you the basics. The martial combat in this game is super realistic—moves and force application are just like in real life, and you can even customize move combos. It's a blast!"

The two entered the arena and matched with a pair of novice players. As soon as the fight started, Chen Mo realized the game's combat lived up to its reputation—the character's movements were entirely controlled by mental strength and physical instinct. When he subconsciously executed a Body Tempering Fist technique, the game character immediately mirrored the action. The rhythm of Qi and Blood circulation and the Force Point of each move were almost identical to reality.

With the system's refined techniques and precise Qi and Blood control, Chen Mo was practically playing on a different level. His moves were fast and accurate, his force application clean and decisive, and with flexible dodging, he quickly pushed his opponent back.

Zhao Peng wasn't to be outdone either. His total Qi and Blood was high, giving his moves plenty of power. Though his control was slightly lacking, his abundant Qi and Blood kept him on top. The two worked well together and won the match in no time.

"Damn, Brother Mo! Your game talent is insane!" Zhao Peng's character excitedly slapped Chen Mo on the shoulder. "First time playing and you're this smooth—way better than I was back then!"

"It's mainly because the game's controls are so close to reality." Chen Mo was also a bit reluctant to stop. Fighting in the game carried no risk of real injury, and he could boldly try all kinds of move combinations—it was incredibly helpful for building practical experience.

Over the next hour or so, they played several more matches and even teamed up to clear a dungeon. Chen Mo got more and more into it. He found he could constantly optimize his moves, adjust the rhythm of his Qi and Blood circulation, and even attempt risky techniques he wouldn't dare use in real life. Zhao Peng was having a blast too. Their teamwork grew smoother, and they won match after match, laughter echoing both in the virtual world and from their real-life game pods.

It wasn't until the game prompted, "User's Qi and Blood consumption has reached the threshold. It is recommended to rest," that they reluctantly logged out.

The pod hatch opened slowly. Chen Mo took off the helmet, feeling mentally energized but not physically tired. In fact, thanks to the Qi and Blood circulation during the game, his meridians felt more open.

"So? Pretty awesome, right?" Zhao Peng climbed out of his pod too, a lingering grin on his face.

"Totally awesome!" Chen Mo praised sincerely. "This game is amazing—it helps so much with real combat!"

"Right?" Zhao Peng raised his chin proudly. "If you ever want to play again, just tell me! My game pods are online 24/7!"

Chen Mo checked the time—it was almost eight. He quickly said, "No, I really have to go. If I'm any later, my parents will worry."

"Alright, I won't keep you then." Zhao Peng knew he couldn't push it. "I'll have my driver take you back!"

"No need, no need. I'll just bike home—good exercise." Chen Mo hurriedly declined.

"No way! It's late—not safe!" Zhao Peng insisted. "My driver will take you. It's fast—half an hour to your place."

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