A vast curtain of light suddenly ripped open above the virtual secret realm, and the projection of the Star Lord, dressed in a black robe with gold trim, slowly descended. His imposing presence was as tangible as a physical presence, and his piercing gaze swept across the hundred or so disciples below, as if to see through each one's soul. The entire space fell silent at his arrival.
"Welcome everyone to the Virtual Secret Realm Trial." The Star Lord's voice was deep but penetrating, resonating in everyone's ears. "This is your opportunity to hone yourselves and break through your limits. It is also a stage for the competition of strength between sects."
He raised his hand and waved it in the air. A curtain of light unfolded beside him, clearly outlining the rules of the secret realm:
"Hunting spirit beasts earns points. The higher the level of the spirit beast, the more points you get. Golden Core-level spirit beasts earn the highest points, followed by Foundation Establishment, and Qi Training the lowest. PVP doesn't increase points, but after death, there's a fifteen-breath cooldown before resurrection. The person with the highest individual points will receive a reward from me personally, and the sect with the highest total points will receive a generous reward."
The Star Lord's gaze swept over the crowd once more, as if exerting invisible pressure on each of them. After a pause, his voice took on a chilling tone, "Remember, this isn't a joke; it's a test for cultivators and technology. Show us your strength."
After saying this, the Star Lord's projection slowly dissipated, but his pressure still enveloped the scene for a long time.
The disciples began to whisper to each other. The Baixing Sect disciples were already rubbing their hands in anticipation, their eyes ablaze with fighting spirit. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Lingxiao Sect was somewhat subdued, with many people falling silent.
The trial officially began, and everyone was transported to the entrance of the secret realm. A vast mountain forest appeared before them, and the silhouettes of spirit beasts could be vaguely seen amidst the swirling clouds and mist. The roars of spirit beasts echoed one after another, filled with unknown dangers and temptations. From the distant mountains, the shadows of Jindan-level spirit beasts occasionally flashed, their domineering aura making one's heart flutter.
Shen Tianshu strode to the front of the crowd and said in a stern tone, "My fellow disciples, this is just a virtual scene. Although the mecha is wonderful, it is ultimately just an external object. The foundation of our Lingxiao Sect cultivators lies in our own cultivation, not relying on those cold machines."
Han Li immediately agreed: "Brother Shen is right! Using a mecha is simply an insult to one's own cultivation. Everyone obey orders, we will rely on our strength to hunt down spirit beasts and spread the prestige of our Lingxiao Sect!"
Many disciples nodded in agreement and stood behind Shen Tianshu. However, some disciples showed hesitation.
Lu Qingli frowned and stepped forward to say, "Junior Brother Shen, the rules of this trial do not prohibit the use of mechas. Since this is a virtual secret realm, why can't we use mechas to assist in hunting spirit beasts? Isn't the rational use of resources part of cultivation?"
Shen Tianshu sneered, his tone filled with disdain: "Senior Sister Lu, as a fourth-generation disciple, you are so obsessed with external things, which is disappointing. Could it be that you plan to follow in the footsteps of that Ye Tiandi?"
Lu Qingli remained unmoved and calmly retorted, "The core of cultivation is certainly important, but the mecha is part of the resource. Proper use does not mean abandoning cultivation. Did the Star Lord establish the virtual secret realm just to make us stick to the old ways?"
Shen Tianshu's face was gloomy, but he was unwilling to argue anymore. He just snorted coldly, "Since you insist on doing this, then do as you please. But if the people you bring with you have problems, don't expect me to help you!"
Chu Yang, listening to this, felt drowsy. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and mutter, "You talk so much, but when you're in real danger, don't you run faster than anyone else?" He jumped directly into his guerrilla mecha, the humming sound of it starting up being particularly piercing. "Boss, take your time arguing. I'm going to test out my mecha first!"
Xiang Fan looked at the two arguing parties, then at Lu Qingli. After a moment's silence, he quietly boarded the old basic mecha, appearing to be extremely low-key. Beside him were three or four other disciples choosing mechas, and they stood cautiously behind Lu Qingli.
Shen Tianshu's eyes were cold, he snorted coldly, waved his hand and left with the large army, "Let's go! Don't worry about these misguided people!"
Lu Qingli watched Shen Tianshu leave with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He turned and said to the few disciples behind him, "Let's take another route. Remember, follow the instructions for all actions and don't leave the team without permission."
The two teams of disciples parted ways from then on. The monks led by Shen Tianshu and Han Li took the safer route through the mountains and forests, while Lu Qingli led the mecha team and chose a more complex but potentially more rewarding trial path. The competition and danger within the virtual secret realm had just begun.
Shen Tianshu, leading the Lingxiao Sect's mecha-free squad, cautiously entered the ancient forest deep within the virtual secret realm. The trees towered, the light dim, and only a few cold rays of light occasionally shone through the leaves. He clutched his spirit sword, raised his head, and shouted, "Everyone, concentrate your firepower. Don't panic if you encounter spirit beasts. Our Lingxiao Sect is powerful enough to sweep away everything!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of Foundation Establishment-level virtual spirit beasts suddenly burst out from the bushes. They resembled tigers, their eyes glowing crimson, their claws gleaming with runic brilliance, and they lunged at him with a ferocious aura. One spirit beast leaped at Han Li, and Han Li hastily swung his sword to meet it, only to be forced back three steps beneath the beast's claws, his face pale.
Shen Tianshu shouted angrily, "Hold your ground! Divide the forces according to the battle formation!" The disciples hurriedly formed a spiritual formation, attempting to encircle the spirit beasts. However, these spirit beasts were clearly not pushovers. They coordinated their attacks, shattering the formation and creating a dangerous situation.
Elsewhere, the mecha squad led by Lu Qingli appeared well-organized. Chu Yang excitedly piloted his guerrilla mecha, cheering, "A swift dodge! A triple thrust! This feels so good!" His mecha darted through the trees, nimbly harassing the spirit beasts and throwing them into disarray.
Xiang Fan, piloting a basic-level mecha, carefully scouted the perimeter. He scanned the area with a psychic detector and whispered, "There's unusual psychic fluctuations on the right side. There might be an ambush." Lu Qingli nodded and replied calmly, "Xiang Fan, you'll be responsible for reconnaissance and positioning. Everyone else, follow your instructions and cooperate!"
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