Ultragene Warlord

Chapter 1384: A Virtual Reality

Zhang Lie asked, "A realm that lies between the real and the illusory?"

"You can think of it that way, but it's not fully accurate. I'm not too sure about the details myself—after all, it's technology that the Milky Way doesn't possess. It uses a so-called 'real projection' technique in which all damage taken will be directly reflected on one's soul. Dying in that space will cause significant mental trauma, the sort that takes years to recover from."

The hunters nodded with superficial understanding.

Bu Wentian continued, "Furthermore, a portion of the benefits you obtain in that world can be directly transferred to reality."

Zhang Lie asked, "You can transfer the items in-game, I mean, in this special dimension, back to reality?"

Bu Wentian shook his head. "Nothing so fantastic. Only a portion of your strength, not mentally, but related to your corporeal body."

Sun Xiaowu scratched his head. "I'm getting confused with all this terminology. Why don't you provide an example?"

Bu Wentian continued, "For example, the rewards for the top ten places in the Cup..."

Zhang Lie asked, "Are there other rewards beyond the flower of universal life?"

"Indeed. In addition to that flower, the top ten participants will obtain a chance at genetic expansion."

"What's that?"

Bu Wentian hummed for a moment. "It's much like the limit-breaking potions you developed in the Milky Way."

Zhang Lie gaped. "Something that can increase the number of gene fragments you possess?"

Bu Wentian smiled mysteriously. "You'll know once you experience it."

Zhang Lie grumbled, "Elder, won't you give us any useful information at all?"

Bu Wentian shrugged. "I don't know either. As you know, I was defeated in the qualifiers, and all I know is what I've heard from the sidelines, things like 'if you can expand your genes, you'll stand at the peak of the manifold galaxies'. Indeed, all those who experience this procedure, as long as they don't perish, have become paragons of their kind, leaders of their race. I'm not fully aware of the details of this genetic expansion, and I'm guessing that it's like your limit-breaking potions."

The hunters were speechless. Bu Wentian had pretended to be a wise sage, but he actually knew nothing!

Bu Wentian continued, "I heard that the higher you place, the better the benefits you receive."

Sun Xiaowu raised a hand. "Elder, I heard you mention the Milky Way several times during your description. May I ask if you were one of the strongest hunters of the Milky Way?"

This time, Bu Wentian didn't reply mysteriously. He nodded directly.

Sun Xiaowu asked, "How did you come to possess all this technology that the Milky Way doesn't possess?"

Bu Wentian sighed again. "You'll learn once you reach the fifth realm. It's a cruel reality, but you need to face it head-on."

Sun Xiaowu asked, "Elder, you keep mentioning the fifth realm—but won't you tell us where it is, what it's like, and your role in it?"

Bu Wentian shook his head. "You'll learn about everything once you reach the fifth realm."

Sun Xiaowu guessed. "Does that mean you were a major figure there, Elder?"

Bu Wentian smiled mysteriously. "You'll learn about everything once you reach the fifth realm."

No matter how the hunters asked about it, Bu Wentian's answer was always that they would learn everything upon their ascension. In the end, the hunters gave up asking for more information.

Sun Xiaowu pointed at the apparatuses. "Why would these supposedly miraculous apparatuses look like silver coffins? You can tell us that much, can't you?"

Bu Wentian shrugged. "This was all I could order. What other choice do I have?"

He had... ordered these apparatuses?

Bu Wentian shrugged. "There are more than ten days left before the Cup. Zhang Lie's another matter, but the rest of you aren't strong enough. You'll need special training."

"Training? How?" Sun Xiaowu asked.

Bu Wentian replied, "I have a few devices left in the trial chamber, which I can calibrate to generate all sorts of strong enemies to fight against you. You can even fight against your own selves to check on your deficiencies."

Sun Mengmeng asked, "You even had a cultivation program, Elder?"

Bu Wentian sighed. "This is part of my tale of woe. I had once dreamt of helping produce a hunter of legends, but... well, I won't keep going. It only ends in tragedy, anyway. At any rate, the equipment is here and functional for your training. You're still a little weaker than I had hoped for, but you all show talent and promise. Ten days' worth of focused training will be able to increase your strength by quite a bit."

Sun Mengmeng raised her hand. "Elder, we're more than willing to cooperate, but could we get some time to rest? I'm a bit tired after all that fighting for the final trial, especially against our captain's eidolon."

The other members of Team Zenith nodded.

Bu Wentian recalled their matches. "That's true. It wouldn't be appropriate to continue high-intensity training after this much fighting. Let me prepare some rooms for you all, as well as food. Do you have any dietary preferences?"

Sun Xiaowu rolled his eyes. "Elder, do you think all of us who have fought tooth and nail to ascend to the fourth realm all the way from the first would have anything we wouldn't eat?"

If fourth-realm hunters shared anything in common, it was that they were all gluttons who would eat anything.

Yang Ze rubbed his stomach. "Anything that doesn't taste too bad would be great."

Bu Wentian replied, "Some peak-grade lifeform meat, then. I have plenty of stock, and it's high in nutritious value and excellent in replenishing stamina."

He vanished in a flash of light.

Sun Mengmeng asked, "Captain, what do you think of Elder Bu Wentian?"

Zhang Lie frowned. "I've been observing him all this time, and he seems reliable for the moment."

Sun Xiaowu seemed surprised. "Do you think he might harm us?"

Yang Ze laughed. "There are all sorts of oddities about him, don't you think? He claims to be a Milky Way hunter, but possesses all manner of technology that the Milky Way doesn't possess. We've also never heard of his name, and he answers every question with the same refrain: we'll find out when we reach the fifth realm. We might be able to trust this man for now, but not fully and not for good."

Zhang Lie nodded. "Yang Ze said exactly what I wanted to."

Li Feng asked, "And what about this Galactic Rising Stars Cup?"

Zhang Lie's eyes shone with confidence and dominance. "Let's try to participate and get first place."

Seeing how confident Zhang Lie was, the members of Team Zenith naturally calmed down and smiled.

"Well, if you say so, Captain, let's participate and all get into the top ten."

With a flash of light, Bu Wentian appeared before them. "Your rooms are ready, and I've placed the rewards you requested in your individual rooms."

Bu Wentian brought them to an upscale building.