Virtual Life

In the blink of an eye,

half a month had passed.

During this time, the Nine Realms Alliance underwent tremendous changes once again.

The cultivation levels of all devoted Daoist couples soared rapidly, with those like Elder Zhen and Xiong Tian, who had successfully pursued love, even breaking through to the Dao Mirror realm.

Beyond that, several previously obscure dual-cultivation sects within the Nine Realms suddenly rose to prominence.

This abrupt shift left Elder Zhen and the others both exhilarated and uneasy—basking in the intoxicating sweetness of love while their cultivation surged, yet also unsettled by the inexplicable phenomenon.

News of these events quickly spread among the elite circles of every region.

"An entire region has turned into a land of romance and passion, with all dual-cultivating couples experiencing soaring cultivation levels—what kind of sage could be behind this?"

"This seems rather bizarre!"

"Indeed. We expected a sage of literature, swordsmanship, or blades, but never..."

"Regardless, such profound alterations to the laws of heaven and earth must be tied to a sage."

"Exactly. Let’s head to the Nine Realms Alliance to investigate and determine which sage has awakened—and which Dao they embody!"

Once the news spread, experts from all regions flocked to the Nine Realms Alliance.

The upheaval was so great that even the usually bustling Yun Lake stood deserted.

For a time,

the Nine Realms Alliance became a gathering place for the realm’s most formidable figures.

Amidst the chaos in the Nine Realms Alliance, Yi Feng and Piaomiao Hong had already arrived in the Heavenly Domain.

Before coming here, Yi Feng had imagined the Heavenly Domain as a place of ethereal immortal energy, a paradise he longed to see.

Yet upon arrival, he discovered it was nothing but a land of ruthless, treacherous waters.

This was no continent, but an endless ocean.

Scattered across the sea were sparse islands.

With a dense population and limited land, every island became a fiercely contested territory.

Some islands changed hands daily, embroiled in perpetual warfare.

Small islands were occupied by minor factions, while larger ones were held by powerful forces. To survive on an island, one either had to join the ruling faction or pay tribute to its overlord.

Despite the fierce competition for land, the scarce space could never accommodate the overflowing population.

Thus, the ocean was teeming with ships of all sizes.

Similarly, minor factions operated small vessels, while major powers commanded massive ships.

Some clans even lived entirely aboard their ships.

A single misstep could spell annihilation—wiped out without a trace.

These ships were also strictly ranked,

distinguished by the color of their flags: white, green, blue, purple, and red...

White flags marked the lowest rank, while red flags were reserved only for the Heavenly Domain’s top-tier factions.

"This is the Teleportation Island, a neutral territory housing the Heavenly Domain’s inter-regional teleportation arrays," Piaomiao Hong explained to Yi Feng. "It’s jointly managed by the Heavenly Domain’s major powers, and violence is strictly forbidden here. Anyone who breaks this rule faces annihilation by the combined might of these factions."

"Of course, don’t even think about starting trouble," Piaomiao Hong added, noticing Yi Feng’s restless energy. "While you would be besieged, none of the guards here can actually breach your defenses."

"But wouldn’t their factions still come after me?" Yi Feng asked.

"You’re overestimating things," Piaomiao Hong chuckled. "Do you really think these major powers would wage an endless war over a minor rule against someone of your strength?"

"Rules like these exist to control the weak. True powerhouses don’t abide by such trivialities."

"In fact, if you were to display your strength here, those factions wouldn’t lift a finger against you—they’d probably bend over backward to recruit you!"

"Fair enough," Yi Feng conceded awkwardly, lowering the forty-meter greatsword he’d been subtly gripping.

"Most people come to Teleportation Island not just for teleportation, but for trade," Piaomiao Hong continued. "Teleportation costs a fortune, so only the wealthy can afford it. Those who do often bring back rare goods from other regions, turning the island into one of the Heavenly Domain’s largest markets."

"You’ll find grand auction houses, exclusive trading halls, and underground black markets here."

"Beyond the factions, the Heavenly Domain also has the Linglong Pavilion—the most influential force of all."

"To be precise, the Linglong Pavilion stands above all other factions. Its influence spans not just the Heavenly Domain, but every major region of the Yunxing world."

"And the marvel that drives the Heavenly Domain—no, the entire Yunxing world—mad? That too comes from the Linglong Pavilion."

"You mean that ‘mystical place’ you mentioned earlier?" Yi Feng tilted his head.

"To be exact, it’s not a physical location, but a virtual space created through transcendent means."

"And this space is called... Virtual Life."

"Virtual Life?!" Yi Feng’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

That name was way too familiar—there’d been a game by the same name in his past life!

"Entering Virtual Life is simple. Just pay a fee at the Linglong Pavilion to create your character, and you can roam freely within it."

"In Virtual Life, people can chat, trade, and battle without restrictions."

"If you die there, all your possessions and progress vanish. In other words, your character is erased from Virtual Life."

"To re-enter, you’d have to pay the Linglong Pavilion again and start from scratch."

"Because of this, someone who thrives in Virtual Life might be a nobody in reality, yet a powerhouse in the virtual world."

"Oh, and in Virtual Life, you can interact with people from across the Yunxing world."

"But beware of scams. That adorable, all-powerful dual-cultivation partner of yours might just be a stinky, bearded man in reality..."

"Of course, some get lucky—finding their soulmate in Virtual Life and bringing the relationship into the real world. There’s even a term for it you’ve probably never heard: meet-up."

Piaomiao Hong laid out every detail meticulously.

But the more Yi Feng listened, the more his mind reeled.

This was literally just a video game.

This so-called "world" was a digital world!

And "stinky bearded man"? "Meet-up"?

He knew all about that.

Hell, he knew it too well.

Damn.

The creator of this "Virtual Life"... was probably another Earthling, wasn’t he?