Stepping into the Virtual Realm

"Sister Ziyan, turn on two machines for us!"

"Me too! I want to use one!"

"And me as well!"

The students eagerly crowded around the counter, clamoring for their turn.

Yao Ziyan calmly accepted their spirit crystals, and soon the excited students rushed to their chosen seats, eagerly donning their helmets.

Ying Wuji, having silently finished his instant noodles, placed his payment on the counter and chose a quiet corner for himself.

Xia Yuan, observing the scene, decided to hold back for now and see what they were all so enthusiastic about.

As he watched the students put on their helmets, Xia Yuan's brow furrowed in thought.

"Could these strange devices be some sort of special spirit weapons?" he wondered. "But why don't they emit even the faintest aura?"

Yao Ziyan, noticing Xia Yuan's puzzled expression, didn't intervene. After all, there were no rules against observing others in Origin Mall.

Suppressing his growing curiosity, Xia Yuan kept watching. Soon, the monitors in front of each student lit up, showing vivid images of the students themselves within the virtual environments.

The sight startled Xia Yuan.

"Are they actually experiencing everything shown in those images?" he thought, a wave of disbelief washing over him.

Turning toward Yao Ziyan, Xia Yuan hesitated before speaking. "Excuse me..."

Before he could finish, Yao Ziyan smiled warmly and said, "I'm the clerk here, Yao Ziyan. You're curious about the VR devices, aren't you?"

"VR devices?" Xia Yuan repeated, realizing she must be referring to the strange machines.

"Yes," Yao Ziyan replied. "These devices allow users to enter a virtual space. It's like stepping into an entirely new world where they can hunt monsters, compete with others, or just explore."

Xia Yuan was stunned. "A small device like this... can create an entirely new world?"

Yao Ziyan nodded. "That's right."

After a moment of silence, Xia Yuan asked hesitantly, "Can I try one as well?"

"Of course," Yao Ziyan said with a nod. "However, since it's your first time, you'll need to create an account. It costs one hundred spirit crystals to set it up."

"Create an account?" Xia Yuan repeated, puzzled by the unfamiliar term. Still, after everything he'd seen, he wasn't surprised anymore.

One hundred spirit crystals were nothing to someone of Xia Yuan's status, so he handed over the payment without hesitation.

"Each person is limited to three hours of use per day," Yao Ziyan explained. "The fee is ten spirit crystals per hour. As for any games inside, you'll find detailed instructions available once you're in."

With the payment made, Xia Yuan settled into a seat, placed the helmet on his head, and prepared himself for the unknown.

The moment he put on the helmet, the world around him disappeared, and he found himself in a pure white space.

"This…" Xia Yuan gasped.

He looked down at himself and realized his body felt entirely different—weak and ordinary. It was as if all his cultivation had vanished. Alarmed, he quickly focused his senses and confirmed that his real body, along with his Pathseeker cultivation, was intact in the outside world. Only then did he relax.

Suddenly, a calm, mechanical voice echoed in the space:

"A new user has been detected. Would you like to create an account?"

"Yes, create an account," Xia Yuan replied, recalling Yao Ziyan's earlier instructions.

"Account creation successful. Enjoy your experience."

The voice faded, and Xia Yuan finally had a moment to take in his surroundings.

The space was utterly pristine, with nothing but white as far as the eye could see. Floating before him were two icons, one resembling kitchen utensils and the other a small tower.

"So this is the virtual space?" Xia Yuan murmured. He raised his hand and stared at it, marveling at how real it felt.

"It's just like reality…" he muttered. He flexed his fingers, feeling no stiffness or delay in his movements. It was as if this body were his own, completely natural.

When he focused, it was as though his real body back in the shop ceased to exist entirely.

Xia Yuan couldn't help but sigh in awe. "What kind of power or technology could create something like this?"

He turned his gaze toward the floating icons, his curiosity pulling him deeper into this extraordinary experience.