Chapter Forty-Six: The Tower of Trials

At noon the next day, Luo Yuan and Luo Feng enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, and to Luo Yuan's surprise, he found many Chinese dishes here, which greatly whetted his appetite.

Yang Hui walked in, glanced at the table in the living room with a smile, and said, "Not bad, your appetites are impressive. Luo Feng, are you ready? Let's head to the Ninefold Tower. Luo Yuan, you come along too—I’ll show you around and help you get familiar with the environment."

Each floor of the Ninefold Tower was about six meters high, and its length and width exceeded 150 meters, making it a colossal structure. From the outside, the tower looked classical, but its interior was thoroughly modern, with floors made of tough alloy. The sounds of explosions and shouts echoed easily, and Luo Yuan felt pleased—his attribute collection had nearly pushed his Ninefold Thunder Blade to the fourth level.

"Let’s go, to the ninth floor," said Yang Hui, as he, Luo Yuan, and Luo Feng entered the elevator.

The elevator ascended swiftly.

Ding!

The doors opened, revealing the highest floor of the Ninefold Tower. The ninth floor was a vast hall, scattered with mats where young men and women sat chatting, some in English, some in French, and others in Mandarin. As Luo Yuan and Luo Feng entered, many people looked their way.

Luo Yuan swept the room with his mental sense, noting that the trainees were all young and at least junior warlord level, each radiating sharp energy.

"Luo Yuan, I’m taking Luo Feng for the B-level trial. Why don’t you stay here and get to know some of the trainees?" Yang Hui said gently.

"Uh, could I come along and observe?" Luo Yuan asked.

"Well, all right," Yang Hui agreed.

Led by the war god Yang Hui, the two proceeded to the hall’s far end, where a corridor flanked by large rooms awaited them. Soon, they reached the innermost room, which was not large and somewhat dim.

Click!

The lights came on.

Inside were just two sofas, each bearing a dark blue helmet.

"These helmets were painstakingly made by our scientists, modeled after the consciousness sensors found in the ancient ruins’ virtual space devices," Yang Hui explained, pointing at the helmets. "We've only managed to replicate these basic sensors. As for the virtual space’s mainframe, it’s still that ancient machine sleeping deep underground."

Luo Feng stared blankly at the helmet. "Virtual space?"

"Yes. Once you wear it, your consciousness enters a virtual space with 100% realism—indistinguishable from the real world," Yang Hui said. "Once inside, you’ll enter the Trial Tower and face the B-level test!"

Luo Yuan watched silently as Yang Hui instructed Luo Feng in how to use the helmet. After a while, Yang Hui removed it.

"Luo Feng is undergoing the B-level trial now. Let me show you some other places," Yang Hui said to Luo Yuan.

"Could I try the helmet?" Luo Yuan asked shyly, pointing at the helmet in Yang Hui’s hand.

"Normally, that wouldn’t be possible. Let me ask for permission," Yang Hui replied, taking out his phone and stepping aside to consult someone.

After a few minutes, Yang Hui returned and said solemnly, "Your request has been approved. April is your first month in the training camp, so you’re granted a privilege—a chance to take the Trial Tower assessment. This is a special exception, authorized from above. However, only one person can enter the Trial Tower at a time, so you’ll have to wait for Luo Feng to finish."

"Understood," Luo Yuan nodded. For an alien, this helmet was just a virtual game headset, but on Earth it was a highly prized item. With so many trainees, only those with top rankings could use it.

About twenty minutes later, Luo Feng cleared the B-level trial, and Yang Hui encouraged him with a smile.

Luo Yuan lay back on the sofa and donned the helmet, his consciousness sinking in.

"Amazing—so this is virtual space?" Luo Yuan looked around. The sky here was a cosmic starfield, endless night with countless stars casting a dreamlike glow over the silver earth. He stomped down; the ground felt like alloy.

He surveyed the surroundings; there was only one structure, a towering building three or four hundred meters away, soaring into the clouds. The tower was encircled by carvings of various beasts, wrapping around its body. With the naked eye, he could discern seven floors.

Luo Yuan sensed his virtual body—surprisingly, it lacked mental force. Its attributes were: normal punch force 10,000 kilograms, speed 150 meters per second, nerve reaction speed—superior for a junior warlord. From Yang Hui’s earlier explanation, it seemed everyone entered with these stats.

Luo Yuan walked to a black stone pillar to the left of the Trial Tower’s main entrance. On it, carvings appeared:

Name: Luo Yuan
Gender: Male
Status: Official Elite Training Camp Trainee
Trial Tower Level: 1

Suddenly—

"Trainee Luo Yuan, please select your battle suit, weapon, and trial level. Enter the Trial Tower within one minute after selection!" An electronic voice echoed through the virtual space.

Luo Yuan quickly chose his equipment and selected the hardest C-level trial on the first floor.

Whoosh!

As if space had shifted, Luo Yuan was transported to a vast grassland.

"Trainee Luo Yuan," the electronic voice resonated across the grassland, "C-level trial: within fifty minutes, kill two hundred wild oxen. Of these, 190 are junior beast generals and 10 are mid-level beast generals. Good luck! Since it’s your first time in the Trial Tower, you have five minutes to prepare."

Five minutes passed swiftly.

"C-level trial, begin!" The electronic voice thundered through the grassland as, a hundred meters ahead, mighty ox-like beasts nearly three meters tall appeared. Famous for their herd behavior—wild oxen! Their long hair, curved sharp horns, and blood-red eyes.

"Moo~"

With a roar that echoed across the grassland, 190 junior beast generals and 10 mid-level beast generals charged at Luo Yuan, eyes blazing red, nostrils steaming, hooves pounding the earth.

"Heh, little oxen, Grandpa’s here to play with you!"

Luo Yuan grinned, displaying his perfect-level movement technique, and unleashed the third-level peak of the Ninefold Thunder Blade at the wild oxen. His power level now approached 3.5, and with the simulation’s physical stats, he could exert a high-level warlord’s strength. Blood sprayed from the necks of the wild oxen; none could so much as scratch him.

Time ticked by as Luo Yuan enjoyed himself immensely on the first floor of the Trial Tower. Even the mid-level beast generals were bewildered by his flawless movements, their tragic cries and the spray of blood fueling his excitement.