War God Palace

With Jia Yi leading the way, Xue Xi arrived at a certification room. Though it was past three in the morning, many staff members were still coming and going. She followed Jia Yi to a testing area, where an examiner in a black combat suit was waiting.

Seeing them arrive, the examiner straightened up and raised his hand to his temple in a crisp salute. "Sir, the certification procedure is ready. The War God Palace's representative will be here shortly!"

Jia Yi nodded. "Then let's get started. The War God Palace representative can extract the video footage when they arrive."

The examiner activated the testing area. The alloy punching target looked sturdier than the one Xue Xi owned. She walked up to it, interlaced her fingers, and gave them a firm crack. Not a sound came out.

Holding her breath, Xue Xi clenched her right fist. The next instant, her fist whooshed through the air and slammed into the center of the target. The alloy target gave a dull thud, and the number "353000kg" stood out on the display. The examiner beside her immediately looked at Xue Xi with shock and awe.

Seeing the result, Jia Yi burst into laughter. "Excellent! Excellent! Xue Xi, your punching power has already surpassed the High-Level War God threshold. You're every bit as strong as an Invincible War God! Huaxia has gained another powerhouse! Let's test your speed next."

A little while later, Xue Xi sat on a sofa with her Martial Artist certificate and a War God Palace Virtual Helmet. She turned the helmet over and over in her hands, inspecting every inch. So this was the legendary Virtual Helmet. It looked pretty much like a motorcycle helmet.

Watching Xue Xi act like a curious child, Jia Yi pulled out a helmet of his own. "Come on, Xue Xi. I'll show you around the War God Palace. You can use it to hold events at your restaurant and post announcements, too. Then you won't have to keep carrying around that handwritten menu of yours, scribbling all over it."

"What do you mean? I just think handwritten menus have more character!" she protested with a pout. Then she copied Jia Yi and put on the deep-blue helmet. Closing her eyes, she pressed the button on top. A swirling tunnel made of countless lines appeared before her, and a flash of blinding white light made her squeeze her eyes shut.

As the light faded, she found herself in a spacious private room, with the starry cosmos visible outside.

Xue Xi curiously touched her arm. It was soft and smooth, with a springy feel. She also took in the faint floral fragrance in the room. "Wow, this is the virtual world? It's amazing! Even the War God Palace's relatively low-level virtual space feels so real. I wonder what the vast Virtual Universe must be like."

In the War God Palace's virtual space, Xue Xi wore a pure-white dress. Her shoulder-length hair did little to hide the pale back revealed by its strappy design, and she handled the three-centimeter heels with ease. After briefly looking through the guide, she received a message from Jia Yi and left the room.

After passing through a small corridor, she came upon a vast circular plaza. Jia Yi, dressed formally, stood at the exit. "Good evening, Councilor Jia," the passing War Gods greeted him one after another. Jia Yi didn't put on airs; he smiled and returned each greeting.

When he saw Xue Xi approaching in her white dress, a flash of admiration crossed Jia Yi's eyes. He thought regretfully, My son is already married, and my grandson is only three. Otherwise, I could have gotten to know this girl and built a closer relationship.

Shaking his head, he smiled and walked up to her. "All dressed up, you're quite the charmer, little girl. When we enter the plaza, the War God Palace will hold a welcoming ceremony for you. It's a tradition for every new member. Don't be too surprised. Come on."

Xue Xi nodded and stepped into the War God Palace's first-floor lobby. The lights suddenly dimmed, and rousing music rang out. Everyone present was startled, then quickly caught on. With amused expressions, they turned to look toward the spot where the lights were gathering.

A voice from somewhere boomed like thunder. "The War God Palace welcomes a new War God. Her name is... Xue Xi!"

A line of text slowly appeared on the three-dimensional holographic stele in the center of the War God Palace:

[Name: Xue Xi

Nationality: Huaxia

Level: High-Level War God]

"The total number of War Gods in human society has increased by one, reaching 3,513!" As the voice fell silent, the music softened and the lights gradually brightened. The crowd's attention, however, remained fixed on Xue Xi.

"Isn't she the owner of that popular Cat Ear Restaurant? I had no idea she was so young, or that she'd already reached such a terrifying level of strength. The young really are formidable!"

"Do you think she eats higher-grade Crab Roe Soup Dumplings every day? I ate the second-grade ones for a few meals and only just broke through to the mid-level War God stage. How old is she, anyway? It feels like the food she makes is even more incredible than Spirit of Vegetation!"

"Looks like I'll have to visit Cat Ear Restaurant more often. Maybe I'll break through to Councilor Level one day!"

Every War God present was well informed, and they all discussed her excitedly. Some were good at networking and immediately tried to strike up a relationship with Xue Xi. After turning down several dinner invitations from War Gods, she tugged Jia Yi over to a seat with fewer people. Honestly, she wasn't very good at handling this sort of situation.