Chapter 95

"Director Zhou, how will you cultivate us?" Xu Jingming asked, somewhat puzzled.

"The cultivation in martial arts, and the cultivation in life evolution," Director Zhou smiled at Xu Jingming. "You don't think that setting up the Star Tower in the virtual world, determining the top one and two globally, and setting up various cup competitions in different countries for experts to compete, is just for a game, do you?"

Xu Jingming felt a tightening in his chest.

He had long felt something was off.

The comprehensive guidance from the government ensured that while the citizens worked during the day, they spent most of their other time in the virtual world. If it were just for life evolution, ordinary people could easily achieve life evolution and double their lifespan with a bit of practice.

"This is not just a game," Director Zhou said. "To a certain extent, the virtual world can decide the majority of the future fate of the entire Blue Planet."

"The fate of the Blue Planet?" Xu Jingming felt a tightening in his chest.

Director Zhou looked at Xu Jingming without elaborating, and that gaze made Xu Jingming feel pressured.

"There are some things that are not suitable for public disclosure at the moment," Director Zhou said. "The secrets you have been exposed to, including the cultivation you have received, need to be kept confidential."

"Understood," Xu Jingming nodded.

If the state asked him to keep it confidential, he would naturally do so.

The fate of the Blue Planet?

This made Xu Jingming feel a great deal of pressure. He was just a professional martial artist, and the distance between him and the "fate of the Blue Planet" was vast. Shouldn't such matters be the concern of the state's top officials and scientists?

"Before the virtual world was opened, we selected a few experts based on their past combat records for cultivation," Director Zhou said. "All were ordinary-level cultivation. At that time, we couldn't determine who among the country's over a billion people had the highest talent, so we could only choose from professional combat athletes."

Xu Jingming listened.

"The first batch of cultivated individuals, some became third-rank, and some had combat skills that were highly proficient. They can be considered seeds. This allows a broader population to choose and gives many experts a goal to strive for," Director Zhou said. "The virtual world has been open for over a month, and this time, we are selecting from over a billion people based on your performance over the past month... ultimately, you and Liu Hai have been provisionally selected as the highest level."

"The highest-level cultivation comes at a great cost to the state," Director Zhou looked at Xu Jingming. "A very great cost!"

Xu Jingming listened and said, "Whatever the state needs me to do, I will do my best."

"Evolution techniques have beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels..." Director Zhou said. "There are more levels beyond, far more powerful than you can imagine. For example, the Star Tower has seven levels, and you can't even pass the fourth level yet."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

"The state hopes that your life evolution level will be as high as possible," Director Zhou looked at Xu Jingming. "As for the detailed reasons, I believe that with your talent, you will understand within a year."

"Understood," Xu Jingming nodded.

"We've arrived in Binhai," Director Zhou looked out the window, and indeed, the aircraft had entered the Binhai city area.

Xu Jingming also looked out.

Domestic aircraft are under high-altitude control. It's easy to buy small aircraft, but flying between cities, let alone within the city, is not an easy task.

The aircraft he was on was a large one, and the control was even stricter.

"Phew."

The large aircraft slowly landed on a lawn.

Xu Jingming followed Director Zhou out of the cabin door. Outside was a cluster of buildings, with guards visible in many places, and even more hidden security.

"Whoosh." The door of a building opened, and two guards stood solemnly.

Xu Jingming and Director Zhou walked in together and soon arrived in a lounge.

"Sit here for a while," Director Zhou took out a tablet and handed it to Xu Jingming. "Look at the cultivation materials first, then make a choice, selecting one resource."

Xu Jingming sat in a chair, reached out to take the tablet, and it lit up upon contact.

He lightly tapped the only folder and began to review the cultivation materials.

His expression became serious as he read.

"Sky Python School, Eighth-Rank Spear Technique."

"Sky Python School, Eighth-Rank Shield Technique."

"Experience the virtual world by possessing a legendary expert in the Sky Python School who is skilled in the spear technique."

"Experience the virtual world by possessing a legendary expert in the Sky Python School who is skilled in the shield technique."

The four options made Xu Jingming feel a tightening in his chest. He lightly tapped the four options and reviewed the detailed information.

"The Ten Evolution Techniques represent different evolutionary directions," Xu Jingming read the introduction. "Each evolutionary direction has the most suitable spear and shield techniques."

"Is the alien civilization that developed to this extent discovered on the Fluorescent Mars?" Xu Jingming couldn't help but look at Director Zhou.

"I told you, with your talent, you will know everything within a year," Director Zhou said. "Your current life evolution level is not sufficient."

Xu Jingming nodded and continued to read the detailed information.

...

In Mingyue City, at Xu Jingming's home, Xu Hong and his wife had both rushed over.

"Uncle, Aunt, look," Li Miaomiao pointed to the surveillance footage of the large aircraft appearing and Director Zhou personally picking up Xu Jingming.

Xu Hong was stunned.

"Such a large aircraft, directly entering the city? The countless cameras in the city have already detected it, and the city management system didn't stop it, which means it's legal," Xu's mother said. "And this kind of large aircraft is not publicly sold, and it was Director Zhou himself who came to pick him up."

"Back when Jingming was still on the national team," Xu Hong said. "The state would call meetings and have Jingming take transportation to the meeting location. Now, a large aircraft comes to pick him up at home, and it's Director Zhou himself. This really scares me."

In theory, Director Zhou, with his status, could simply summon anyone.

To come in person?

What a huge honor!

"Whatever the case, we should cooperate with the state," Xu's mother said.

Xu Hong nodded.

Li Miaomiao looked in the direction of Binhai, wondering what Jingming was experiencing now.

******

"I've made my decision," Xu Jingming said after half an hour, having read all the materials and made up his mind without any confusion.

"The state has also paid a huge price for your cultivation this time," Director Zhou looked at Xu Jingming. "You don't have to rush. Think it over thoroughly, and once you're sure and won't regret it, then make your choice."

"I won't regret it," Xu Jingming said.

"Which one do you choose?" Director Zhou asked.

"Experience the virtual world by possessing a legendary expert in the Sky Python School who is skilled in the spear technique," Xu Jingming said.

Director Zhou stood up: "Follow me."

Xu Jingming stood up and followed Director Zhou out of the lounge, walking down the corridor, passing through various areas.

"Click, click, click." A dark golden alloy door, about eighty centimeters thick, slowly opened, and Xu Jingming and Director Zhou walked in, feeling the scene become increasingly sci-fi.

The corridor was smooth with alloy walls and had various patterns.

At some intersections in the corridor, guards were stationed.

"Beep."

At a door, three beams of light scanned Director Zhou and Xu Jingming in succession. With Xu Jingming's keen senses, he felt invisible waves scan his body, causing a slight tingling sensation.

The door finally opened, and Director Zhou led Xu Jingming in, the door closing automatically behind them.

"This is..." Xu Jingming saw a huge floating sphere, over ten meters in diameter. The sphere automatically opened a door, and a staircase extended downward.

"Go in," Director Zhou smiled.

"Okay," Xu Jingming didn't hesitate, though he was a bit nervous, and stepped onto the staircase, entering the sphere. The sphere retracted the staircase and sealed completely.

Inside the sealed sphere.

Xu Jingming looked around, slightly puzzled. The interior of the sphere was still smooth, and now the smooth inner walls lit up, enveloping Xu Jingming in light.

"Would you like to connect to the virtual world?" a voice echoed in Xu Jingming's mind.

"Connect," Xu Jingming said, still a bit puzzled. He could enter the virtual world by wearing a virtual helmet at home, so why was there such a big fuss here?

Whoosh.

His consciousness quickly sank, similar to wearing a virtual helmet, and he directly entered the virtual world.

In a void, he appeared alone.

"Hello, Xu Jingming," a beautiful woman appeared, smiling at Xu Jingming. "According to the state's arrangement, you have chosen to possess a legendary expert in the Sky Python School who is skilled in the spear technique. Please experience it carefully and make the most of this precious opportunity."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Blue Planet civilization, requesting access to the virtual world network."

"Requesting learning."

"Requesting possession of 'Xuan'."

"Purchase price..."

"Payment successful."

The sounds in his ears made Xu Jingming's heart surge with a tidal wave of emotions.

"Begin possession."

As the voice echoed,

Boom!

Xu Jingming's consciousness entered a vast world.