“Director Zhou, how will you cultivate us?” Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

“Cultivation in martial arts, cultivation in life evolution,” Director Zhou said, smiling as he looked at Xu Jingming. “You don’t think that setting up the Starry Sky Tower in the virtual world, determining the world's first and second place, and countries also setting up cup competitions for experts to compete in, is just for a game, do you?”

Xu Jingming’s heart tightened.

He had long felt that something was amiss.

The official, comprehensive guidance was such that people all over the world were spending most of their time in the virtual world, while ensuring their work during the day. If it were only for life evolution, ordinary people could easily achieve life evolution and double their lifespan with a little practice.

“This isn’t just a game,” Director Zhou said. “To some extent, the future destiny of the entire Blue Star depends largely on this virtual world.”

“Blue Star’s destiny?” Xu Jingming’s heart tightened.

Director Zhou looked at Xu Jingming without elaborating, but that look made Xu Jingming feel pressure.

“Some things are not suitable for public disclosure at the moment,” Director Zhou said. “Some of the secrets you've come into contact with, including the fact that you are being cultivated, also need to be kept confidential.”

“Understood,” Xu Jingming nodded.

He would naturally keep confidential what the country wanted him to keep confidential.

Blue Star's destiny?

This put a lot of pressure on Xu Jingming. He was just a professional martial arts athlete, a hundred and eight thousand *li* away from the ‘destiny of Blue Star.’ Wasn't this something that the national leaders and scientists should be concerned about?

“Before the virtual world was opened, we selected a small number of experts for cultivation based on past combat results,” Director Zhou said. “It was all ordinary-level cultivation because at that time, we couldn't determine who among the billion-plus people in the country had the highest talent. We could only choose from professional combat athletes.”

Xu Jingming listened.

“Some of the first batch to be cultivated have reached the third level, and some have combat skills that are high enough. They can be considered seeds. It also allows the broader population to have a choice, giving many experts a goal to strive for,” Director Zhou said. “The virtual world has been open for more than a month. This time, the selection is being conducted among a billion-plus people, based on your performance over the past month... Ultimately, you and Liu Hai have been tentatively designated for the highest level.”

“The highest level of cultivation comes at a great cost to the country,” Director Zhou said, looking at Xu Jingming. “A very high cost!”

Xu Jingming listened and said, “If there’s anything the country needs me to do, I will do my best.”

“Evolution methods have initial, intermediate, and advanced stages…” Director Zhou said. “There are layers upon layers behind that, far more powerful than you can imagine. For example, the Starry Sky Tower has seven levels, and you can’t even pass the fourth level right now.”

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

“The country hopes that your life evolution level will be as high as possible,” Director Zhou said, looking at Xu Jingming. “As for the detailed reasons, I think that with your talent, you will understand within a year.”

“Yes,” Xu Jingming nodded.

“We’re arriving at Bin Hai,” Director Zhou said, looking out the window. The flyer had indeed entered the Bin Hai city area.

Xu Jingming also looked out.

In the country, flyers were under high-altitude control. It was easy to buy some small flyers, but it wasn’t easy to fly freely between cities, or even within the city.

The one he was on was a large flyer, so control was even stricter.

"Whoosh."

The large flyer slowly descended and landed on a lawn.

Xu Jingming followed Director Zhou out of the cabin. Outside was a complex of buildings, with guards visible in many places, and even more hidden security.

"Swish." The door of a building opened, and two guards stood solemnly.

Xu Jingming and Director Zhou walked into it together and soon arrived in a lounge.

“Sit here for a while.” Director Zhou took out a panel from the side and handed it to Xu Jingming. “Take a look at the cultivation information first, and then make a choice. Choose one of the resources.”

Xu Jingming sat down in a chair, reached out and took the panel. The panel lit up when he touched it.

He lightly tapped the only folder, and Xu Jingming began to review the cultivation information.

His expression turned solemn as he read.

“Heavenly Python School, eighth-order spearmanship.”

“Heavenly Python School, eighth-order shield technique.”

“In the virtual world, possess a legendary expert from the Heavenly Python School who is skilled in spearmanship and experience it once.”

“In the virtual world, possess a legendary expert from the Heavenly Python School who is skilled in shield techniques and experience it once.”

The four choices made Xu Jingming’s heart clench. He gently clicked on the four options and reviewed the detailed information.

“The Ten Great Evolution Methods represent different directions of evolution,” Xu Jingming read in the introduction. “The most suitable spearmanship and shield techniques are also different for each evolution direction.”

"Ruins discovered on Firefly Star? Has alien civilization developed to this point?" Xu Jingming couldn't help but look at Director Zhou.

“I said, with your talent, you will know everything within a year,” Director Zhou said. “Right now, your life evolution level is not high enough.”

Xu Jingming nodded and continued to look at the detailed information.

…

Mingyue City, at Xu Jingming’s home, Xu Hong and his wife had both come over.

“Uncle and Auntie, look at this.” Li Miaomiao pointed to the large flyer captured by the villa's surveillance cameras, as well as the scene of Director Zhou personally picking up Xu Jingming.

Xu Hong was dumbfounded.

“Such a large flyer, directly entering the city? Countless cameras in the city have long discovered it. The city management system didn’t stop it, so it’s obviously legal,” Xu’s mother said. “Moreover, such large flyers aren’t publicly sold. It was also Old Mr. Zhou who came to pick him up personally. This is really a bit shocking.”

Logically speaking, if that Director Zhou wanted to meet someone, he could just summon them.

To pick him up personally?

What great honor!

“No matter what, we’ll cooperate with the country,” Xu’s mother said.

Xu Hong nodded.

Li Miaomiao looked in the direction of Bin Hai, wondering what Jingming was experiencing now.

******

“I’ve decided.” Xu Jingming had read for more than half an hour, and he had finished reading all the information. He had made a decision in his heart without any confusion.

“The country has paid a huge price for this cultivation of yours,” Director Zhou said to Xu Jingming. “You don’t have to be too anxious. You can think more about it. Think it through completely, and once you don’t regret it, then make a choice.”

“I won’t regret it,” Xu Jingming said.

“Which one do you choose?” Director Zhou asked.

“Possess a legendary expert from the Heavenly Python School who is skilled in spearmanship,” Xu Jingming said.

Director Zhou got up. “Follow me.”

Xu Jingming got up and followed Director Zhou out of the small hall, walking along the corridor, passing through one place after another.

"Kaka kaka." A dark golden alloy door that was eighty centimeters thick slowly opened, and Xu Jingming and Director Zhou walked into it together. Xu Jingming only felt that the scene in front of him was becoming more and more sci-fi.

The corridors were all smooth alloy and had stripes on them.

There were guards stationed at some of the forks in the corridor.

"Di."

Arriving at a door, three beams of light scanned Director Zhou and Xu Jingming successively. With Xu Jingming’s physical acuity, he could even feel invisible waves scanning his body, making him feel slightly numb.

The door finally opened, and Director Zhou led Xu Jingming inside. The door closed automatically.

“This is…” Xu Jingming saw a huge, floating sphere. The sphere was more than ten meters in diameter, and at this moment, a door automatically opened in the sphere, with steps extending down.

“Go in,” Director Zhou said with a smile.

“Okay.” Xu Jingming didn’t hesitate. Although he was a little apprehensive, he still stepped onto the steps and entered the door. The sphere retracted the steps and completely sealed itself.

Inside the sealed sphere.

Xu Jingming looked around alone in confusion. The inside of the sphere was still extremely smooth. At this moment, light lit up on the smooth inner wall, enveloping Xu Jingming.

“Do you want to connect to the virtual world?” A voice sounded in Xu Jingming’s mind.

“Connect,” Xu Jingming said. He was still a little confused. He usually just put on a virtual helmet at home to enter the virtual world, but here it was such a big deal?

Whoosh.

His consciousness rapidly sank, much like wearing a virtual helmet, and directly entered the virtual world.

In a void, he appeared alone.

“Hello, Xu Jingming.” A beautiful woman appeared, looking at Xu Jingming with a smile. “According to the country's arrangement, you have chosen to… possess a legendary expert from the Heavenly Python School who is skilled in spearmanship. Please experience it carefully and seize this precious opportunity.”

Xu Jingming nodded.

“Blue Star civilization, applying to connect to the virtual world network.”

“Applying to learn.”

“Applying to possess ‘Xuan.’”

“Purchase price…”

“Payment successful.”

The sounds he heard made Xu Jingming’s heart surge with monstrous waves.

“Start possession.”

As the voice sounded.

Boom!

Xu Jingming’s consciousness entered a vast world.