Virtual Space, The Illusory Sea Pearl's Wonderful Use

"Simulated Slaughter Space should be something I can use right now, shouldn't it? Why can't I use same-realm advancement?"

Lin Ran tried asking the system.

In truth, he understood that the difference between the two methods of advancement was obvious. Transaction advancement meant trading with others, while same-realm advancement meant borrowing from the future and reversing cause and effect.

But the system's description stated that same-realm advancement could advance anything usable at his current realm, so he wanted to see whether he could change the advancement method of the Simulated Slaughter Space.

After he asked, the System Panel froze for a moment before displaying a new change.

[Simulated Combat Space (Same-Realm Advancement): A function developed based on the illusion capabilities of the Super Divine Artifact Illusory Sea Pearl. Its effects are similar to the Simulated Slaughter Space, but simulated targets require a certain amount of data support.]

[Task Generated: Fight one thousand soul masters and use the Illusory Sea Pearl to gather their combat data (at least ten people from every realm). Reach the Spirit Abyss Realm in Mental Power. (Time limit: ten years)]

As he looked at the refreshed item, Lin Ran's eyes lit up.

So the Illusory Sea Pearl could be used this way too?

Lin Ran could roughly guess that the Simulated Slaughter Space most likely came from the Virtual Universe of the Swallowed Star World.

Since the Illusory Sea Pearl possessed similar capabilities, could he one day develop functions similar to the Virtual Universe with the Illusory Sea Pearl as its core?

It seemed the abilities of this Super Divine Artifact were far from as simple as its description suggested.

As for the first requirement of the system task, it was not particularly difficult. The system had not required him to win, after all. Even if he fought once a day, he would only need three years to complete it.

The only slightly troublesome part was that he had to fight ten Titled Douluo as well.

And the Body Sect, including Du Busi, currently had only seven Titled Douluo in total.

Lin Ran considered it for a moment and decided it was not much of a problem.

After he had taught the Marrow Cleansing Scripture to several elders and stewards, a few of them had already shown signs of breaking through. They would presumably become Titled Douluo within a few years.

Even if they failed to break through, he could go to the Heaven Dou Empire. With his teacher keeping watch nearby, those consecrated soul masters of the Heaven Dou Empire probably would not refuse, would they?

The troublesome part was the task's second requirement: his Mental Power had to reach the Spirit Abyss Realm.

Lin Ran remembered that the Spirit Abyss Realm was one of the realms of soul masters' Mental Power in Douluo III.

In the future, soul masters' Mental Power would have six realms: Spirit Origin, Spirit Insight, Spirit Sea, Spirit Abyss, Spirit Domain, and Divine Origin.

Mental Power at the Spirit Abyss Realm was called the tangible yet immaterial realm during the era of Douluo II. Once one's Mental Power reached this level, one could already fuse with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Most Titled Douluo possessed Mental Power at this level.

Reaching this realm was no simple matter. Huo Yuhao had possessed the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, the origin of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, yet only reached this realm while he was a Soul King.

But him—

After comparing himself, Lin Ran realized that he was not much worse off. He possessed a Cultivation Method dedicated to cultivating Mental Power, a Super Divine Artifact related to Mental Power, and could also advance a head soul bone over a hundred thousand years old. He would have immortal herbs as well.

By that calculation, he should be able to reach the Spirit Abyss Realm before becoming a Soul King.

With that thought, Lin Ran decisively advanced it.

[Advancement successful.]

Following the system prompt, a vague realization surged into Lin Ran's heart.

Deep within his soul, the Illusory Sea Pearl gave off a soft glow. Its seven-colored radiance shifted as though a miniature illusory world were evolving within it.

A moment later, the Illusory Sea Pearl returned to calm, while Lin Ran gained a deeper understanding of it and greater control over it.

The Simulated Combat Space was not something only he could use. As long as someone was within the range of his perception, it could pull anyone into this combat space.

Of course, others would not be able to use it without paying a price. They would consume some Mental Power, which the Illusory Sea Pearl would absorb. It could then purify that Mental Power into the purest Spiritual Origin for him to absorb.

Lin Ran blinked. Why did this function seem a little like the abilities of an Evil Soul Master?

Could he use the Illusory Sea Pearl to absorb Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual Origin?

Lin Ran noted down the thought and decided to try it someday.

Unable to wait any longer, Lin Ran immediately entered the virtual combat space. He only felt his consciousness sink, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already standing in a blank expanse.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Ran began setting his opponent.

"Combat environment: Soul Fighting Arena. Opponents: Tang San and Xiao Wu at the Soul Ancestor realm."

Very soon, the space around Lin Ran changed, and a young man and a young woman appeared before him.

Lin Ran sized up the two of them.

The young man had black hair and an ordinary appearance. The girl, on the other hand, was delicate and cute, with long, jade-like legs.

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Seemingly noticing his gaze, Tang San's face darkened as he used his signature skill.

Lin Ran had happened to want to test the functions of this combat space.

Without hesitation, two black soul rings beneath his feet lit up, and his aura erupted like an awakening volcano.

With a crack, the Blue Silver Grass was torn apart, unable to hinder Lin Ran in the slightest.

When Tang San saw Lin Ran's two black soul rings, his pupils contracted. "How is that possible?"

Lin Ran watched Tang San's changing expression with great interest.

He had not expected this combat space to be so realistic. It could even simulate the characters' feelings and emotions.

Blood Phoenix Wings spread behind him, and he turned into a bolt of lightning as he pounced toward Tang San.

At that moment, Xiao Wu's third soul ring lit up. She teleported in front of Lin Ran, and then her first soul ring lit up as her legs wrapped around him.

Lin Ran moved like lightning, directly grabbing Xiao Wu by the ankle before violently swinging her toward Tang San.

Xiao Wu let out a string of miserable cries, leaving Tang San no choice but to catch her with Blue Silver Grass.

However, Lin Ran kicked off the ground. With a crack, a fissure split open across the stone floor. He shot forward like lightning, arriving beside Tang San almost at the same time as Xiao Wu.

Tang San's expression changed. His second soul ring lit up, and strands of Blue Silver Grass sprouted from Lin Ran's body, coiling toward him.

Parasitism, Binding.

Yet those Blue Silver Grass vines posed no obstacle whatsoever to Lin Ran. As he moved, the Blue Silver Grass simply snapped apart.

Lin Ran threw a punch at Tang San.

Tang San could only cross his arms and take it head-on.

"Crack." Tang San was sent flying, the bones in both arms fractured. Lin Ran kicked off the ground again, sticking to him like a shadow as he threw another punch in midair.

Bang!

Tang San dissolved into a streak of light.

Lin Ran was stunned. Was the simulated Tang San really this weak? It felt just as easy as fighting Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi.

"I'll kill you!"

Just as Lin Ran began to wonder whether the simulation space's constructs were a little too weak, Xiao Wu's furious voice came from behind him.

Lin Ran raised an eyebrow, suddenly thinking of another question.

"Pause."

Lin Ran gave the command, and Xiao Wu immediately froze in place without moving.

Lin Ran then said to Xiao Wu, "Take off your clothes."

Xiao Wu's face was full of shame and anger, yet her movements were extremely precise as she removed her outer garment, revealing large swathes of fair skin. Just as she was about to continue, Lin Ran hurriedly called for a pause.

Looking at Xiao Wu, who was exposed and glaring at him in shame and fury, Lin Ran's mouth twitched.

He no longer had any doubts about the realism of the virtual space.

This virtual battle space could simulate even emotional reactions so realistically. It seemed it could even simulate another kind of battle, so simulating a mere Tang San should be no problem.

Well, Lin Ran admitted that he had wronged the system. The system had done a good job.