Sparring

Xu Wuyi looked at that line of text and fell silent for a few seconds. Recently advanced to Tier Three—in other words, within the last fifty years. Born and raised at headquarters.

He was not sure exactly how old the other man was, but judging by his tone, he was probably not the quiet, well-behaved sort. He had taken the initiative to suggest a spar. His wording was not offensive, and even carried a touch of enthusiasm, but he had used "while I'm at it" rather casually.

He asked Zero Seven, "Do members at Star Alliance Headquarters spar often?"

"Often," Zero Seven said. "Virtual combat between Tier Three members is one of the most common forms of interaction at headquarters. Its virtual network supports full sensory simulation. Damage and pain feedback are identical to real combat, but cause no permanent injury. More than sixty percent of Tier Three members engage in virtual combat at least once a month."

"Accept his request."

"Confirmation sent. His residence is approximately two hundred kilometers from yours. Using conventional transportation, he should arrive at your residence in about half an hour."

Xu Wuyi murmured an acknowledgment and stood up beneath the oak. He rolled his shoulders. His bones made no sound, not even the faintest friction.

His body now operated with excessive precision. His bones no longer collided or rubbed against one another, and every movement felt as though it were wrapped in an extremely thin, smooth medium.

He paced across the grass, keeping within about twenty meters of the oak. His inner heaven and earth operated quietly inside him, golden light flowing slowly between his organs.

He lowered his head and looked at his fists. The skin across his knuckles was smooth, the lines of his palms distinct. They looked no different from any