73: polar regions

When the Virtual Network announced the hidden stage.

Dragon Country, Imperial Capital.

Council Building.

"Is everything arranged?"

Chairman Xia Zhou lightly tapped the desk with his finger.

Jiang Mobai nodded slightly.

"It's arranged."

"And the person has already arrived in Magic City."

He watched Xia Zhou, who was looking at the list on the table, his eyes glinting.

"Simon Shaw."

"It seems that fellow, Thor, really can't sit still anymore."

Xia Zhou closed the list, his gaze profound.

"It's not just Thor."

"Adolf also has a hand in this."

A cold sneer crossed Jiang Mobai's lips.

"It seems the last Blue Star Council meeting really made them lose face."

"Two pesky bugs who have always been suppressed by you, Big Brother."

"They thought sending that kid would guarantee their victory over us."

"They could never have imagined that Wu Ze, who should have been killed by Dark Cultists more than two years ago, not only survived but has also been secretly cultivated by us."

"They want to crush the pride of our golden generation."

"They are destined to return empty-handed and suffer heavy losses instead."

Xia Zhou smiled, not responding.

"What about that little fellow?"

Upon hearing this, the coldness on Jiang Mobai's face vanished, replaced by a smile.

"Magic City Black Ice has already gone."

"When he comes out of the virtual pod later, he'll just have to stay put in his villa."

Xia Zhou nodded.

"Given that kid's temper, it really does take such a big show to keep him in check."

He pondered for a moment.

"This is also a good thing."

"Cultivate is not easy, and undercurrents are everywhere."

"Letting him experience the complex situation of Blue Star more will allow him to always maintain a martial dao heart that bravely pushes forward."

Just as Jiang Mobai was about to say something.

A knock came from the door.

A middle-aged man walked in, his face solemn.

"Chairman."

"The Intermediate kings road has a hidden stage, and the Extreme North Smart Brain has new data and some fluctuations."

Jiang Mobai's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hidden stage?"

"Is it Lin Yan?"

"Didn't you just say he finished?"

The middle-aged man immediately turned around.

"Chairman Mobai."

"It's him."

"It just happened."

Then he looked at Xia Zhou again.

"Chairman."

"USA, European Union Country, and Grizzly Bear Country have also received the news."

"Thor, Adolf, and Bard should all be heading to the Polar Region."

Xia Zhou did not hesitate, standing up directly.

"Mobai."

"You handle the rest."

"I'm going over there."

Jiang Mobai immediately nodded.

"Alright."

He also understood the importance of the Extreme North Smart Brain... "Hidden stage?"

Everyone looked at the large screen that appeared in the center of the venue and sat back down in their seats.

"What is this?"

"Lin Yan triggered a hidden stage in the Virtual Network?"

"Probably."

"No one has ever cleared the Intermediate kings road before."

"I never expected there to be a hidden stage."

Hidden stage?

Lin Yan glanced at the screen in front of him, intending to directly click 'No'.

"Ding."

"Host is advised to choose 'Yes'."

The System, which rarely spoke on its own, suddenly spoke.

Lin Yan's hand paused, and he asked in a deep voice.

"Reason."

Whatever hidden stage or reward it was.

Going up again would at most be Fifth Stage Seven-fold, Eight-fold, or even Nine-fold. Not to mention his current combat power, which at its peak was Fifth Stage Seven-fold, who knew how long it would take to fight.

He just wanted to quickly select his rewards and leave the Virtual Network now.

Whether in his previous life or this life, he rarely owed anyone favors.

Since they were coming for him, he would not back down.

Although he knew very well in his heart that Dragon Country was doing this for his own good.

The System was silent for a moment.

"Given the Host's current situation, and being in the virtual Realm."

"You can experience an extreme state in combat in advance."

Hmm?

Lin Yan's expression shifted slightly.

"Experience in advance, extreme state?"

The System's emotionless voice came.

"The extreme state puts an enormous burden on the body."

"If used at the original life level, the body will instantly explode."

"It is an ability to completely activate the Host's Physique and Double Pupils after a life leap."

So that's what it meant.

Then... Lin Yan's eyes lit up.

"Giving me a cheat in advance?"

System: ???

Lin Yan didn't mind the System's silence and directly changed his finger's direction to click 'Yes'.

With a cheat, it's easy.

It's probably just a matter of a few more seconds.

His fingertip created ripples on the giant screen.

"Selection successful."

Three more difficulty options appeared.

Lin Yan quickly scanned them.

Dominating the Stars, Overlooking the Star River, Traversing the Realm.

What kind of difficulty options are these?

He raised an eyebrow.

They sound like titles.

Stars, Star River, Realm... Lin Yan's eyes flickered.

He seemed to have grasped something.

The young man raised his hand and tapped on the four large characters, "Traversing the Realm."

Dong—!

A resonant clang, like a great bell.

"Selection successful."

"Clearing the area of non-essential personnel."

The personnel from various countries in the spectator seats all around the massive venue hadn't even reacted.

Swish... Swish swish swish—!

All of them instantly vanished from their seats.

Across Blue Star, in various countries and different places.

Numerous figures sprang up from their virtual pods with a whoosh, immediately scanning their surroundings and muttering in confusion.

"What's going on?"

"I... was forcibly kicked out of the Virtual Network?"

"What did Flame King choose in the end?"

"What did that Lin Yan from Dragon Country do?"

"No spectating allowed?"

...Blue Star's Far North.

A streak of light cut through the sky.

Xia Zhou glanced at the heavily guarded, sci-fi base below, and his figure shot downwards.

"Chairman, Chairman."

Amidst numerous greetings.

He arrived at a giant control room filled with instruments, walking directly towards the group of people of various skin colors gathered in front.

"What's the situation?"

The crowd immediately turned their heads.

One of the Dragon Country elders had a solemn expression.

"Chairman."

"The Virtual Network Smart Brain has lost control."

"Not only were all the people in the venue kicked offline in an instant."

"Even we can't capture what's happening inside the venue right now."

Xia Zhou was silent for a moment.

"Will that kid be alright?"

The elder immediately replied.

"He should be fine."

"From what we can see now, it should just be that little fellow activating one of its specific programs."

"But because it's too high-end, we simply cannot access it."

"Perhaps only after he finishes and comes out will we know the exact situation."

Xia Zhou pondered slightly.

"Keep a close eye on it."

"If anything happens, report it to me immediately."

At this moment.

The control room door opened again.

Three figures walked in simultaneously.

Their gazes immediately fell upon Xia Zhou, who was conspicuously dressed in green.

One of them, a burly, middle-aged tough guy, laughed heartily and stepped forward a few paces.

"Chairman Xia Zhou."

"You still arrived faster."

Xia Zhou turned, a smile on his face.

"Chairman Bard, hello."

Then he casually glanced at the other two and continued chatting with Bard.