Another World (1)

Black's voice emanated from within the pod: "This is my secondary carrier, made of Nano Liquid Metal. To avoid drawing attention, I've shaped it into a ring. Shortly, I'll begin data transmission, existing as a digital lifeform on this ring. Once you obtain a light brain, press this ring against its chip end, and I'll complete the data connection automatically. When the ring disappears, you can wear the light brain."

"And if the ring disappears, what about you?" Mu Fan asked, meaning how he'd bring Black back.

The voice immediately gave its answer: "I am an intelligent lifeform. When connected to the network, I'll exist digitally across all networks, making the current carrier unnecessary. But after I finish secondary data organization in the network, I'll inform you of some uses. Some components from the current carrier will be useful to you. So, please keep the current carrier safe."

"Mm, I understand. Alright, I'll bring you along tomorrow."

"Then I'll begin data transmission shortly. Once the green projection appears, you can pick it up."

"Mm."

Soon, blue lights lit up along the mechanical arm one by one, and after a few seconds, a green projection emerged from above—still a smiling face.

"Mu Fan, I am Black. This is the reserved projection data. The carrier now only has basic functions; without my activation, it won't serve any other purpose. Keep it safe. When I access the network, my emotional simulation will improve. So, this is the last time you'll see me in my nascent form. Mu Fan, goodbye."

The green light screen shut down, and the mechanical arm turned pitch black, leaving only a ring lying there alone.

Mu Fan picked up the ring, slipped it on, stood up, and used the scrap to bury Black's pod again. This time, though, he dug a deep pit. Out in this wilderness, no one would notice a parallel universe's creation hidden beneath the ground.

Looking at the plain ring on his finger, the silent night without Black's voice left only the occasional crackle of the campfire and his own breathing. Accompanied by the bone-chilling cold, Mu Fan wrapped himself in the tattered blanket and soon drifted into sleep.

Just after the last darkness before dawn, Mu Fan got up and set off. Still running at an extremely fast pace, unnoticed, he breathed in the icy, refreshing air of the outskirts, feeling unusually comfortable. Before long, he reached the martial arts hall's entrance.

Starfall Martial Arts Hall had opened early. Four black-suited men stood at the door, but Man Kun wasn't among them—likely a shift rotation. Mu Fan paid them no mind, showed his ID card, and entered the hall.

"Ugh, I'm so hungry!~~"

"Huh? The hall provides breakfast, right!"

Mu Fan was rubbing his stomach, feeling a pang of hunger, when he suddenly remembered Man Kun mentioning yesterday that the hall offered breakfast. So he headed to Cafeteria 3. Sure enough, some staff were already there, but none of the familiar sparring partners—he was the earliest. At the counter, it wasn't yesterday's White Hat.

"Nutritional Meal!"

"How many boxes?"

"Ten boxes."

"Oh, here you go... Wait, are you kidding me? Ten boxes? You're eating ten boxes of energy meals for breakfast?" That worker was stunned too. This was breakfast—compressed energy meals—enough for at least five strong men.

"Give it to him. You weren't here yesterday, so you don't know." White Hat appeared again, likely noticing the commotion from the back and rushing over to nudge his colleague.

"Here, take it."

"Thanks!" Under the man's wide-eyed stare, Mu Fan carried the boxes back to his seat.

Soon, under the same group's dumbfounded gaze, he polished off the stack of boxed meals. Patting his belly with satisfaction, Mu Fan walked out of Cafeteria 3 amid everyone's respectful stares.

"When's Fatty coming today?"

"Mu Fan, so early."

"Good morning, Mr. Man Kun!" Mu Fan looked up and saw Man Kun arriving.

Man Kun appreciated this unassuming young man. "So early today? It's not even your assembly time yet. Diligent, huh."

"No trouble. I always wake up early. Am I still waiting for the assembly time for today's arrangements?"

"Oh, right, you reminded me. Yesterday's VIP client you sparred with has booked Training Room 4 on the third floor for two weeks. That's the Young Master of the Fowen Conglomerate—rare for him to visit our District 22. He thinks highly of you, kid. Work hard. They specifically noted you also have VIP room access. You don't need to attend assembly today. For these two weeks, take care of our hall's distinguished guest."

"Mm."

"Your permissions have been reset. If there's nothing else, head over. I need to report other matters to the Boss."

"Alright, Mr. Man Kun."

After changing clothes, Mu Fan swiped his ID card and pressed the button for the Suspension Elevator to the third floor.

Sure enough, this was the exclusive area for Advanced VIP guests—a symbol of status. Two tall, attractive hostesses stood at the Suspension Elevator entrance, but they didn't spare Mu Fan a glance when he stepped out. Clearly, a sparring partner wasn't worth their attention. Here, catching the eye of some wealthy patron would be a ticket to the top.

Mu Fan didn't dwell on it. Stepping onto the plush carpet, he headed for Training Room 4.

"Beep, identification valid. Sparring partner—Mu Fan, please enter." A female voice sounded again, but this time it was clearly recorded. Even the logistics for high-end guests were different. The dark blue alloy door, thicker and more intricate than the second floor's, retracted from the center to both sides, closing again after Mu Fan entered.

Big, really big! The third-floor training room was twice the size of the second floor's, and even a lounge was as large as the first floor's Training Field. From the decor of each functional room to the antique vase on the coffee table, everything screamed uniqueness.

"It's just 8 o'clock now. Fatty hasn't come yet. Let's check out the equipment room." Following yesterday's habit, Mu Fan found the one-handed long-handled strength training hammer in the same spot.

One plate, uh, 100 kg. Over there were 150 and 200. Soon, Mu Fan threaded a giant metal block onto the alloy handle—200, 200, 200... If you counted carefully, you'd see seven weight plates marked 200 kg on that over-two-meter-long alloy handle! The hammerhead was at the top, and Mu Fan's hands were at the other end!!

The muscles in Mu Fan's arms bulged with veins. "Hey!~~ Hoo, hey!" The heavy training hammer swung up diagonally and slammed down, over and over. The massive weight's wind pressed the air across the floor, and the young man's eyes burned with a thirst for strength and a vision of the future!

Fifteen minutes passed. Mu Fan's arms showed no sign of wavering, his rhythm unchanged. Sweat had already streamed down his back.

Half an hour passed. Mu Fan was drenched, his training suit soaked and clinging to his back. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the hammerhead. Can't stop! Persist!! The hammer wobbled slightly, but the rhythm didn't slow at all.

"Beep, identification valid. Distinguished guest—Harry, please enter." A pleasant female voice rang out.

"Yeah, that's right. Young Master Harry is doing your hall a favor—you should be honored. Where's Mu Fan? Big Bro is serious this time. I've brought the light brain too. Hey, this room's nice—finally fitting for Big Bro's status, hahahaha." Fatty's bone-deep, smug laughter and muttering echoed.

"Thud!" A dull sound came from the training room to Fatty's right, and he felt the floor shake beneath him.

"What the hell! Who's there!" Fatty's neck tensed, and his legs went a bit weak.

"It's me, Mu Fan." The voice came from inside the equipment room, clearly breathless.

"So hardworking, huh? You're here even earlier than me. Let me see what you're up to." Hearing it was Mu Fan, Fatty relaxed, walked over, pushed the door open, and then...

"Master!!~~~~~~" A long howl rang out as the fatty dropped to his knees like a mountain collapsing, staring straight at that meter-thick metal block with wide eyes.

"What are you doing? Didn't I say to call me Mu Fan?" Mu Fan panted heavily, gripping the hammer handle as he stood there.

"I'm hallucinating. Don't mind me, let me be quiet for a bit." The fatty looked at the ring of sweat already pooled around Mu Fan's feet and that heavy metal weight block, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"Stop joking around. I came early, and the martial arts hall said I had permission to come in first, so I just started training since I had nothing else to do." Mu Fan wiped his face and let out a "heh."

The fatty nodded like a robot, thinking to himself, You're the one joking around. Your fatty big bro here has read plenty—are you even a Federation human? How is this thing something a person can lift?

"Oh right, I brought your optical brain over. Don't you want to come take a look?"

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PS: Thanks to book friend Lian Yuanyuan Hong for the generous tip.