144: Chapter 144 First Test of the Battle Power Tower

The exterior of the building was simple yet imposing; looking at it from afar, it exuded an aura of high technology.

Upon entering the building, Lin Yun couldn't help but be stunned.

The lobby was crowded with students wearing the same freshman uniforms as them, all of whom were Second-Rank Martial Artists.

A rough count revealed there were over a hundred people.

This number seemed significant, but Lin Yun thought about it further.

The total population of Tianshui Prefecture was a full 1.3 billion, with Tianshui City alone accounting for 700 million.

The number of wealthy people and children of influential families was countless.

Most of those who could reach a Breakthrough to the Second-Rank during their freshman stage came from extraordinary backgrounds with abundant resources.

Thinking about it this way, a hundred or so people was not surprising at all.

"Brother Lin Yun, do you think there are a lot of people?" Qiao Shiyu noticed his surprise, leaned in close to him, and whispered.

"Let me tell you, just our university's affiliated high school graduates thousands of students every year."

"And those who can enter the affiliated high school are either gifted with extraordinary talent or are the children of wealthy and influential families."

"Ordinary people, even if they have talent, cannot get in without money or connections."

She paused for a moment and continued to explain:

"Don't underestimate the affiliated high school; that is a place where you can directly use university resources."

"For example, the Nine-Story Cultivation Tower, the Combat Technique Analysis Hall, the realistic virtual pods..."

"And there is professional guidance from mentors, which is much better than ordinary high schools outside. Many people break their heads trying to get in."

Lin Yun nodded, understanding in his heart.

No wonder these freshmen could Breakthrough to the Second-Rank at the start of the school year.

With such resource support, plus the backing of their Family, a Breakthrough was naturally much easier than for ordinary people.

And for Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu, their current cultivation levels were inseparable from the full support of their Family, as well as their own diligent Cultivation.

The middle-aged teacher clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.

"Students, welcome to the Virtual Training Building."

"This building is where the school specifically houses high-end virtual pods."

"It is also the main place for you to challenge the Trial Tower and the Combat Power Tower in the future to improve your actual combat ability."

He swept his gaze across the room and introduced in detail:

"The school regulations state that every month, as long as a student's strength reaches the Second-Rank, they have two free opportunities to use the virtual pods."

"One time is for challenging the Trial Tower, and one time is for challenging the Combat Power Tower. The challenge results will be directly recorded in the freshman leaderboard rankings."

"As for those who want to use the virtual pods more for actual combat sparring and polishing Combat Techniques, that will require spending credits."

"You can check the specific credit exchange rules on the campus terminal."

Hearing this, a trace of excitement rose in Lin Yun's eyes.

This would be his first time using a high-end virtual pod!

And it was the kind that could simulate reality one hundred percent!

Although the Tianyun Martial Arts Hall had them, the virtual pods there required membership to use.

Even though he was a friend of Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu, he couldn't get a membership.

So he had never been able to experience this kind of top-tier virtual pod.

He had previously thought about buying one himself, but after checking the price, he was immediately discouraged.

A high-end virtual pod was outrageously expensive.

With his current net worth, even if he didn't eat or drink, he would have to save for several years to be able to afford one.

Now that he could use it for free, it was undoubtedly a great thing for him.

Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu looked at each other and saw excitement in each other's eyes.

Although they had experienced virtual pods at the Tianyun Martial Arts Hall.

The school's high-end virtual pods had a higher degree of realism.

The opponents were more flexible, and the difficulty of challenging the two towers was more realistic.

They could use this opportunity to improve their scores and compete for a spot on the freshman leaderboard.

After the middle-aged teacher finished explaining the usage methods, challenge rules, and precautions for the virtual pods in detail.

He let the students find their own virtual pods to start their first challenge.

Lin Yun couldn't wait to grab Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu to find three side-by-side virtual pods.

"Brother Lin Yun, which tower do you plan to challenge first?" Qiao Shiyu asked curiously before lying down in the virtual pod.

Lin Yun replied with a smile:

"I plan to challenge the Combat Power Tower first."

"The Combat Power Tower replicates the real body one hundred percent; it's a good chance to familiarize myself with the combat feel of the virtual world and experience the realism of the high-end virtual pod."

Bai Lulu nodded:

"Then I will also challenge the Combat Power Tower first. This time, I must have a higher score than you!"

"Dream on! We'll see whose results are better later!" Qiao Shiyu retorted unconvinced.

The two exchanged a few more words before each lying down in their respective virtual pods.

Lin Yun also took a deep breath and lay into the middle virtual pod.

The hatch of the virtual pod closed slowly, and a gentle energy enveloped his body.

His consciousness gradually became blurred, then quickly returned to normal.

As if in an instant, he entered the virtual world.

Opening his eyes, Lin Yun found himself in an empty white space.

There were no other challengers around, nor any unnecessary scenery.

Only two towers towering into the clouds stood in front — the Trial Tower and the Combat Power Tower.

Unlike the virtual world of the Tianyun Martial Arts Hall, the challenges here were independent.

There would not be a situation where multiple challengers were in the same space, which allowed one to focus more on the challenge.

Lin Yun moved his hands and feet, stretching his body.

Surprise immediately welled up in his eyes — it was too realistic!

Whether it was the touch of the body, the circulation of Qi and blood, or the exertion of muscles.

Everything was exactly the same as in the real world.

Even the sensation of airflow when breathing was clearly distinguishable, even more perfect than he had imagined.

"As expected of a high-end virtual pod, it lives up to its reputation."

Lin Yun exclaimed in his heart, no longer hesitating, locked his gaze on the Combat Power Tower to the right, and walked over.

He planned to start with the Combat Power Tower to familiarize himself with the combat rhythm of the virtual world.

After all, the physical conditions in the Combat Power Tower were the same as in reality, which allowed him to better feel the subtle differences between virtual combat and real combat.

Arriving at the entrance of the Combat Power Tower, a virtual prompt sounded slowly:

【Challenger Lin Yun, Second-Stage Perfection cultivation level, do you want to start the Combat Power Tower challenge?】

【Challenge Rules: A total of seven floors. Clearing each floor earns 1 point. If not cleared, the score is determined based on the number of kills. The final total score is recorded in the freshman leaderboard.】

"Start challenge." Lin Yun said in a deep voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, the gate of the Combat Power Tower slowly opened, and a sharp aura of a Yao Beast rushed towards him.

Lin Yun stepped into the first floor, the gate closed instantly, and the virtual prompt sounded again:

【Combat Power Tower first floor, challenge begins.】

【Yao Beast: First-Stage Perfection Black Wind Wolf, Quantity: 20.】

As the prompt ended, twenty Black Wind Wolves with robust bodies and jet-black fur rushed over from all directions.

Their fangs were bared, their eyes were fierce, and they emitted low growls from their mouths, carrying a rich aura of ferocity.