Tiger Soul Research Institute. Training Room.
After a morning of practicing Fist Momentum, Feng Qi took a shower, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and sat down at the data control console in the corner of the training room. Waking up the screen, he logged into the Star City Academy Forum.
In recent days, the super virtual game "Dawn" had officially launched within Star City Academy, and he wanted to check the players' feedback. Entering his account credentials and clicking confirm, the page loaded, revealing the academy's discussion forum filled with numerous threads.
As expected, almost all discussions revolved around "Dawn."
[Who's in the all-nighter grind squad? We need a battlefield medic, not a warrior. Combat rating must be at least Bronze-3. Get in now, we're not sleeping until we hit Silver!]
[Can someone tell me who that idiot named "Beize" is in real life? I've been matched with him three times in a row, and he keeps dragging me down! I was about to rank up to Bronze, but he screwed me over again! I need a real-life duel with this guy!]
[This game is amazing! I'm completely hooked! The only downside is the lack of a pain suppression function—I keep wincing in pain! But stealing the enemy's base feels so satisfying!]
[When will "Dawn" expand to other academies? It's time for Star City Academy to unite and dominate the competition! Also, why isn't the Dungeon Mode available yet? When is it getting unlocked?]
[People who play tactical strategies are evil! We were about to win, but the enemy stole our base at the last second. I could feel my heart, lungs, and liver hurting! When will I finally reach Silver?!]
Reading through the posts, a smile appeared on Feng Qi's face. The feedback confirmed that the initial test run of "Dawn" was a success.
This outcome wasn't surprising. After all, the game had undergone countless improvements across multiple timelines.
The earliest version of the super virtual game was designed more for entertainment than combat training, emphasizing social interaction over practical experience.
Because of that, the original super virtual game created the wealthiest individual in human history.
However, after the Crimson Research Institute took over the project, they transformed it into a serious training platform to address deficiencies in combat training and safety.
Additional features such as domain field dungeons and experimental bases were later integrated to advance multiple disciplines within human civilization.
Thus, this game was no longer just a game—it carried a far greater mission.
Through improvements made across various timelines, "Dawn" had already far surpassed its original version in history.
Everything from realism to the combat matchmaking system had been refined and optimized.
The entertainment aspect was sacrificed, but the game's combat training efficiency was vastly improved.
Currently, the Crimson Research Institute had two ultimate trump cards that could greatly impact human civilization.
The first trump card was "Flesh Sacrifice."
This technique was practically a god-tier foundation for cultivation, capable of significantly enhancing the growth potential of one's bloodline.
Back when Old Mist first encountered the Flesh Sacrifice trajectory on the Miracle Bloodstone, his original intent was to use it to strengthen his tribe.
But after discovering the sacrificial properties hidden within it, his perspective changed.
For someone like Old Mist to place such high value on it, it was clear how powerful this technique truly was.
Currently, Wang Jinsheng was still at the Crimson Research Institute, working on deciphering the potential hidden risks of "Flesh Sacrifice." If successful, this technique would revolutionize cultivation studies and drive tremendous progress.
Furthermore, once its flaws were fully addressed, new techniques could even be developed based on its foundation.
But why wasn't "Flesh Sacrifice" being promoted in this battle timeline to strengthen warriors?
The reason was simple.
The Miracle Bloodstone that Old Mist obtained had been an incomplete fragment, and there were other forces that possessed additional fragments.
There was no guarantee that other domain forces wouldn't also comprehend the same insights that Old Mist did and develop something akin to the Flesh Cauldron Ritual.
That was a major potential threat.
With history constantly shifting, anything was possible.
Thus, before resolving the hidden risks within "Flesh Sacrifice," this technique remained a potential trump card—one that couldn't be openly used yet.
Otherwise, it could result in an unimaginable catastrophe.
The failure of the virtual game timeline had led to Star City's destruction, but a failed Flesh Sacrifice experiment could lead to the extinction of humanity.
Feng Qi still wanted to witness how "Dawn" would affect the future, and he wasn't about to watch human civilization perish again.
The second ultimate weapon of the Crimson Research Institute was the newly launched "super virtual game."
The concept of the Metaverse had already existed before the Great Cataclysm.
But back then, it had been pure hype, with no actual technology capable of realizing it.
Essentially, the super virtual game was the true realization of the Metaverse.
In Feng Qi's and the Crimson Research Institute's vision, "Dawn" would eventually be rolled out across all of human society.
At that point, it would become a platform for ordinary people to grow alongside geniuses, allowing everyone to train in a virtual environment.
Perhaps this game would even uncover talents that might have otherwise been lost to history.
This wasn't just wishful thinking.
In the real world, resources were limited, particularly in fields like alchemy, which consumed an enormous amount of resources.
These were costs that ordinary people simply couldn't afford. But in the super virtual game environment, everyone could conduct tests using simulated spiritual plants, with expenses limited to nutrient fluid and electricity. This drastically reduced the resource consumption required for talent development while opening up a new career path for ordinary individuals in resource-intensive professions.
This was precisely why Feng Qi and the Crimson Research Institute had always viewed the super virtual game as a game-changer for the future. However, in this battle timeline, the preparations for promoting the game were insufficient, and the internal threats within human society had yet to be eliminated. As a result, the super virtual game was restricted in this timeline and could not fulfill its intended historical mission.
But Feng Qi had already considered this when deciding to launch the game. He had even factored in the potential crises that might arise. His next step was to expand "Dawn" across the major academies of Star City and simultaneously introduce it to the military and the domain combat squads stationed within Star City.
He aimed to establish a virtual training ground within the city that would rapidly enhance the combat effectiveness of the military, academies, and combat squads, preparing them for the upcoming war.
Of course, Feng Qi was aware that this plan carried many uncertainties.
For example, were there still undiscovered domain infiltrators hidden within Star City? If so, would they leak information about the super virtual game? But investigating these threats was precisely the mission of this battle timeline.
To lure out the hidden enemies, bait was necessary.
And the super virtual game might just be the perfect lure to expose the concealed domain forces.
The risk was high, but without sacrifices, the true enemy could never be drawn out.
Feng Qi stood up, walked over to the jade statue, and sat down in a meditation posture, deepening his spiritual connection to strengthen his control over his innate abilities.
In this battle timeline, one's personal strength was just as crucial.
Stability was only temporary—eventually, brutal slaughter was inevitable.
Feng Qi had realized that when he no longer feared death, his cultivation state became incredibly powerful.
This was especially beneficial for his training in Fist Momentum.
The essence of Fist Momentum was unstoppable advance, and this philosophy aligned perfectly with his own mindset.
Just like in this sacrifice timeline, once he threw a punch, there was no turning back—even if there were mountains of blades and seas of fire ahead, he would either break through or die trying.
To fight without hesitation, to embrace death if necessary—that was true invincibility.
Starlight Academy. Conference Room.
"Elder Liang, I oppose your proposal! If we at Starlight Academy want to improve our ranking, we should allocate more resources to the students' cultivation training. Even if you proposed enhancing dietary quality, I wouldn't object. But spending resources on a virtual game is completely meaningless! I strongly oppose the purchase!"
The speaker was a burly man with scarred features that gave him a fierce and intimidating look.
He had no reservations about rejecting Elder Liang's suggestion to purchase high-end virtual training pods.
He continued in a firm voice, "I understand that you want to raise Starlight Academy's ranking to secure more resources for the students. But if we want to improve, we must be practical. Our academy's total resource allocation isn't even one-fifth of Star City Academy's. Now, you're suggesting spending even more on high-end virtual game pods. If this investment fails, both Starlight Academy and our students will suffer."
Elder Liang chuckled and replied, "Guo, have you even tried this super virtual game? How can you be so sure that it won't significantly improve Starlight Academy's overall strength?"
He paused before continuing, "Besides, do you think we can just buy it whenever we want? Even if we wanted to make a purchase, we'd have to wait in line. As far as I know, only after Star City Academy reaches a 30% allocation quota will other academies like Starlight Academy even get a chance to buy in. Future allocations will have to be earned through inter-academy virtual combat tournaments. You're oversimplifying things."
Hearing this, Guo, the burly man, opened his mouth as if to argue but ultimately shook his head and sighed.
"Star City Academy has enough resources to experiment however they like," he said. "Even if they waste some, it won't matter. But we don't have that luxury. Buying these virtual pods might not bring us the results we expect. That would be a huge waste of educational resources. I suggest we observe Star City Academy's experience first before making a decision."
Sitting at the head of the table, Elder Liang sighed.
"Guo, I understand what you're thinking. You believe that Star City Academy can afford to waste resources, but we can't. However, I personally went to Star City Academy and tested this super virtual game. And I can tell you with absolute certainty—this game will completely resolve the safety issues in combat training and will greatly enhance our academy's overall strength!"
His gaze swept across the hesitant senior faculty members in the room. After a brief pause, he added, "Let's do this. I'll take you all on a trip to Star City Academy so you can experience it firsthand. Then, we'll vote on whether Starlight Academy should purchase high-end virtual training pods. What do you say?"
"Fine." Guo nodded without hesitation.
"Then let's go now. Guo, arrange the transportation. I'll contact Elder Bai. Meeting adjourned!"
The faculty members stood up one after another, turning toward the academy's flag at the front of the room to salute before dispersing.
A few hours later, Star City Academy.
A large bus passed through security and entered Star City Academy, following the lakeside road towards the gymnasium. Moments later, the bus came to a stop in front of the academy's virtual training facility, now referred to as the "Virtual Hall." Elder Liang led a group of Starlight Academy's senior faculty off the bus.
This wasn't their first visit to Star City Academy. Every year, Star City's inter-academy exchange conference was held here. They had always been proud of this institution, filled with history and cultural significance. It was one of the city's pride and symbols. At the same time, Star City Academy had always been the benchmark that Starlight Academy was striving to surpass.
After a brief wait, a familiar figure appeared in the distance—Bai Fusheng.
"Old Liang, what kind of trouble are you stirring up this time?" Bai Fusheng greeted with a smile as he approached.
"You already know the answer, stop pretending. Just take us inside to try it out." Elder Liang rolled his eyes.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bai Fusheng led Elder Liang and the Starlight Academy faculty up the marble steps to the Virtual Hall. At this moment, a long queue had already formed outside the facility.
Currently, there were 5,000 virtual training pods installed in the Virtual Hall, but that was far from enough to accommodate all students and faculty members of Star City Academy. The facility operated 24/7, yet it still couldn't keep up with demand.
With nutrient fluid supporting extended usage, many students had been playing continuously for 24 hours, making those who hadn't yet experienced "Dawn" itch with anticipation. However, with limited virtual pods available, everyone had to wait in line for their turn.
After leading Elder Liang's group inside, Bai Fusheng took them to Teacher Room No. 3, a dedicated space exclusively for instructors. Inside, all the virtual training pods were currently in use.
Bai Fusheng walked over to a control panel in the corner of the room and pressed the "Wake Up" function.
This feature was primarily designed for emergency situations. In cases like fires or other unexpected incidents, the emergency wake-up function would force all users—students and faculty alike—to immediately exit the game.
A few minutes later, the pod covers lifted simultaneously, and the instructors inside slowly sat up, their expressions puzzled. Clearly, they had no idea what had happened.
Bai Fusheng clapped his hands to grab their attention before speaking. "Alright, clear out for now. The teachers from Starlight Academy are here to test the system. Let's give them some space."
The instructors inside the pods sighed in frustration. Some grumbled quietly about being forced out mid-game, but no one dared to go against Bai Fusheng. Begrudgingly, they got out of their pods and left.
Once the room was cleared, Bai Fusheng turned to Elder Liang. "Go ahead and let them try it out. Every function is available now, except for the dungeon mode."
Hearing this, Elder Liang nodded. He then turned to Starlight Academy's senior faculty and began explaining how to use the virtual training pods. After finishing the explanation, the faculty members split into male and female sections to change into the proper gear.
Once everything was ready, the senior faculty members of Starlight Academy each got into their respective virtual pods.
Even before stepping into the pods, they were already partially convinced by Elder Liang's words. It was clear from the enthusiasm of Star City Academy's students that this game was well-received.
And Star City Academy would never allow a purely entertainment-based game to be incorporated into its curriculum. If this super virtual game was truly capable of enhancing combat training, the answer was obvious.
However, without firsthand experience, they couldn't make a final judgment.
At the very least, their resistance to purchasing the system had lessened.
Curious, they each lay down inside the pods and pressed the "Start" button.
Immediately, a fresh batch of nutrient fluid was released, enveloping their bodies. The semi-transparent blue pod covers slowly descended, and their vision was gradually consumed by darkness.
In the next instant, it felt like an explosion of starlight—countless points of light appeared before their eyes.
The entrance sequence of "Dawn" alone shocked them.
The immersive experience was overwhelming, as if they had been transported to the depths of the universe, surrounded by countless stars.
Then came the character creation, followed by the tutorial phase.
Once the tutorial ended, what unfolded before the faculty members of Starlight Academy was a thriving, futuristic metropolis.
They stood in the center of a grand marble-paved plaza.
In front of them was a musical fountain, constantly shifting its water flow into mesmerizing patterns.
To their right stood ten golden statues—representing the top-ranked warriors in the current PvP leaderboard.
In the distance, towering skyscrapers loomed, their glass surfaces reflecting the artificial sun.
Above, massive black-winged birds and strange demonic beasts soared across the sky.
Everything felt so incredibly real, as if they had been transported into a world where technology and demons coexisted.
For a moment, it truly felt like they had traveled to another dimension.
The plaza was bustling with Star City Academy students, all moving about with floating usernames above their heads.
Some were casually chatting, while others were loudly calling for teammates.
"Looking for a healer for Iron Rank PvP! Five-win streak squad! No weaklings, or you'll be waiting for me at the school gates IRL!"
"Pushing for Gold Rank! Need two frontline tank warriors! Must follow orders!"
"Where are my Second Class bros? Get in the game! It's time to show those punks from Class Five who's boss! IRL, I go easy on you, but in the game, I'll smash your heads in!"
"10v10 Team Ranked Match—Need one strong player! My friend went to lunch and now he's stuck in the queue. Hurry up, we need a carry!"
Hearing the shouts and excitement echoing around them, the senior faculty members of Starlight Academy finally understood what Elder Liang had been saying.
The realism of this virtual world truly allowed for simulated combat training that felt indistinguishable from reality.
Even Guo Quan, who had been the strongest opponent against purchasing the virtual training pods, found his previous conviction wavering as he scanned his surroundings.
"Why don't we try a combat match to see how it actually works?" someone suggested.
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.
They were already eager to test out the core mechanics of this super virtual game.
Guo Quan quickly created a private room, added the other faculty members as friends, and gathered everyone into the matchmaking lobby.
Since there were 26 people, they had no choice but to queue for a 30v30 team battle.
"Let's go easy on them," Guo Quan reminded the group. "These are all students, after all. There's no need to take this too seriously."
The others nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Dawn's virtual city plaza, a group of bald men stood, gazing around in astonishment. Their eyes were filled with undisguised shock at the realism of their surroundings.
The man at the front had eight ring scars on his head, a towering and muscular build, and every breath he took made his muscles seem ready to burst.
He let out a sigh of admiration. "Damn... so this is the virtual game Xiao Qi was talking about? This is way too realistic!"
"Boss, why don't we test out the combat mechanics?" one of the bald men beside him asked, eyes filled with excitement.
Hearing this, Zong Ming, the current leader of the Prajna Domain Combat Squad, immediately nodded.
"Alright, let's give it a try. But remember, most of the current players are students from Star City Academy. Don't go overboard—we're not here to bully them."
Hearing his words, the core squad members of the Prajna Domain Combat Squad all grinned mischievously.
Their squad had received an early allocation of 23 virtual training pods, and out of curiosity, Zong Ming had decided to bring his core team to personally test the game.
What they hadn't expected was how mind-blowing the experience would be.
Following the tutorial, Zong Ming created a match room, then selected the 30v30 team battle mode.
After a brief waiting period, the system displayed a notification: Match Found.
A golden banner with the emblem of Dawn unfurled in front of them.
By sheer coincidence, Starlight Academy's senior faculty had been matched against the Prajna Domain Combat Squad's core team.
In terms of combat capability, Starlight Academy's senior faculty weren't weak.
Most of them had firsthand battlefield experience, but compared to the elite warriors of the Prajna Domain Combat Squad, they were on a completely different level.
The faculty members of Starlight Academy were more theory-oriented, while the Prajna Domain Combat Squad was purely built on real-world combat experience.
Especially Zong Ming, whose battlefield-honed leadership far surpassed anything the Starlight Academy faculty could match.
As the game started, both sides took a moment to familiarize themselves with the mechanics.
At first, the faculty members planned to take things lightly.
But they soon realized something was wrong.
Even though they outnumbered the enemy, they were still at a clear disadvantage.
Finally, out of desperation, Guo Quan decided to launch a sneak attack on the enemy's base in a last-ditch effort.
But waiting for them were ten well-prepared Prajna Squad members.
Even though they had twice the numbers, the faculty members were completely crushed and forced to respawn back at their own base.
After repeated struggles, they couldn't turn the tide—and were ultimately defeated.
It was a one-sided massacre.
The faculty members of Starlight Academy felt utterly humiliated and frustrated.
Once the match ended, unwilling to accept defeat, they immediately queued for a rematch.
Just as they were about to start, the virtual pods' covers slowly lifted, forcing them to log out.
Inside the control room, Bai Fusheng, who had been watching the entire match, burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Elder Liang's face darkened in frustration.
"That first match was just a warm-up. I didn't pick the right abilities. Let's go again," Guo Quan insisted.
"Brother, give it up. The gap in skill is too wide," a teacher from Star City Academy beside him said, chuckling. "We were watching from an overhead spectator view—even if you played another match, you'd still lose. And besides, it's time for us to have a turn in the game."
With no choice, Guo Quan and the others reluctantly exited the virtual pods.
After chatting for a while, Elder Liang led Guo Quan and the others out of the Virtual Hall and back onto their bus.
As soon as Guo Quan got on board, the man who had been most opposed to purchasing the virtual training pods turned to Elder Liang and said, "Elder Liang, I approve the purchase. When can we expect the virtual pods to be delivered to Starlight Academy?"
"You think we can just buy them and have them delivered?" Elder Liang scoffed. "I already told you, there's a waiting list. It'll take time for our turn to come."
"Seriously? That complicated?" Guo Quan frowned. "Which company is producing these virtual pods? Can't we pull some strings to speed up the process?"
Elder Liang rolled his eyes. "If I could do that, I would have already."
"As far as I know, once Star City Academy reaches a 30% allocation quota, other academies like Starlight Academy and the rest will finally get their turn. But that's just the first step."
"Once all academies have reached 30% allocation, the only way to get additional virtual training pods will be to compete in the upcoming Virtual Combat Tournament. The higher our academy ranks, the more virtual pods we can secure."
Hearing this, Guo Quan couldn't help but complain.
"Doesn't that mean the academies that get virtual pods first will have a massive advantage? They can start combat training early, while those that get them later are stuck at a disadvantage?"
"Exactly," Elder Liang sighed. "Now you understand why I'm in such a hurry."
Hearing this, the senior faculty members of Starlight Academy suddenly felt a strong sense of urgency.
After personally experiencing the game, they now fully grasped its significance.