Chapter Twenty-Seven: Virtual Pod No. 1

Inside the guest lounge of the spaceship Jett, Tang Yi sat at the head of the table, surrounded by Lu Changsheng, Li Xianyun, Ling Ren, Hua Fengxian, and a dozen others. They were deep in discussion about how to break into the Andromeda galaxy.

“Tang, we’ll need your help again this time. Do you have any clever plans? What kind of cooperation would you require from us? Are there any specific conditions? Please, make your requests freely—we’ll do our best to meet them,” Lu Changsheng, who knew Tang Yi’s temperament quite well, spoke on behalf of the group.

“Lu, there’s no need for such courtesy. You could say I’m resolving troubles for a price. It’s a fair transaction. There’s nothing about helping or not helping. As for cooperation, that’s essential. My requirements are simple: I want those currently following me to continue accompanying me on this journey. Of course, that’s the pleasant way to say it; harshly speaking, they’ll be wandering with me. Just that. I’d appreciate it if you could help explain this to the various sects and clans. Other than that, there’s not much else. Oh, and one more thing—I hope the cultivator communities of the Solar System and Pegasus Galaxy will continue to sit together and discuss matters as we are today. It benefits both sides, doesn’t it?”

“Absolutely, Tang. Both sides want to use this event to ease tensions. I believe that soon—perhaps when you return from your travels—we’ll see a grand alliance between us. It’s possible, isn’t it, Lu?” Ling Ren winked at Lu Changsheng.

“Yes, yes, that’s exactly it. That’s our shared wish,” Lu Changsheng agreed.

“Well, good. Now let’s talk about the specifics of our attack…” Tang Yi began outlining the plan to the assembled group.

...

A few days later, Tang Yi and his companions boarded the spaceship and departed from the Horse Tail Star, heading toward Andromeda. Along the way, they placed signal relay stations at regular intervals. After more than ten days of continual hyperspace jumps, they finally arrived at the Andromeda galaxy.

“Tang, look! Ghost things—so many of them!” Hua Shaojie adjusted the screen to show the planet’s surface, revealing countless ghost creatures swarming around the ancient teleportation array.

“Tsk, making a fuss over nothing. Such numbers scare you?” Bai Dongfang seized the opportunity to mock Hua Shaojie.

“Bai Dongfang, I’ve tolerated you long enough. Don’t think I’m afraid just because your cultivation is a little higher. Come on, let’s settle this today—see who’s tougher!” Hua Shaojie, incensed, challenged Bai Dongfang.

“Bring it on. Who’s scared? Where do you want to fight?” Bai Dongfang retorted.

“Great, a fight to watch! Let’s go to the simulation chamber; you can have as much space as you want there,” someone said gleefully, eager for chaos.

“Jett, teleport both of them to Simulation Chamber One,” Tang Yi said with a mischievous grin to Bai Dongfang and Hua Shaojie. The two shivered at Tang Yi’s smile, suspecting some devious plan. Their intuition proved right. After they were sent to Chamber One, Tang Yi instructed Jett, “Activate Simulation Program Seventy-Seven, and disable the safety protocols. Heh heh…”

“No way, Tang! You’re turning on the Hell environment and disabling safety? Are you trying to kill them?” Lu Zhengyang exclaimed.

“Relax, I don’t want them dead. They still have plenty to do. Jett, activate the high-risk life protection system. Heh heh, let’s see if they dare mess with me again, ha ha…” Tang Yi laughed craftily.

“Tang, your smile is so sly! Why is that?” Hua Ruoxue, seeing Tang Yi’s expression, asked.

“Heh heh, this isn’t sly—real cunning comes later! Come on, let’s go watch a live performance,” Tang Yi said, wrapping his arm around Hua Ruoxue’s shoulders as they headed to the entertainment hall.

Li Zhan, Zhang Sanfeng, Zhang Cuishan, Lu Zhengyang, and others exchanged glances, immediately calling everyone not present to tell them there was a show to watch. Soon, everyone on the ship except Bai Dongfang and Hua Shaojie gathered in the entertainment hall’s screening room. On the big screen, the live feed from Chamber One showed Bai Dongfang and Hua Shaojie’s predicament.

“What the hell is this place?” Bai Dongfang cursed as he surveyed his surroundings.

“Heavens! Tang, you’re brutal—throwing us into Hell. We can barely survive, let alone fight!” Hua Shaojie shouted at the sky.

All around were erupting volcanoes, rivers of lava flowing everywhere. Meteors streaked across the sky, crashing to the ground. Though Hua Shaojie and Bai Dongfang had powerful energy shields from their rings, the relentless onslaught wore them down, their shields wavering dangerously. They dodged falling meteors, avoided the lava beneath their feet, and endured constant tremors.

“Tang, isn’t this a bit too cruel?” Hua Ruoxue said, unable to bear it.

“Tang, can’t you forgive Shaojie just this once? They’ve been punished enough!” Gu Zhenzhen pleaded, seeing Hua Shaojie so battered on screen.

“Yeah, yeah!” Li Zhan chimed in.

“Tang, you’ve done well—this way, those two won’t keep bickering and disturbing everyone’s peace,” Zhang Sanfeng supported Tang Yi’s actions.

“Senior, I agree, but isn’t this too harsh? Tang, a small punishment is enough. Young people are bound to act impulsively sometimes,” Zhang Cuishan advised.

“Right, right! Tang, a little lesson is fine. Just look at them now—worse than street beggars. Let’s call it quits,” Lu Zhengyang pleaded. Liu Mingde and Guo Ziping were about to speak when Tang Yi waved his hand and said, “Jett, switch the scene to Program One Hundred and Four.”

The environment in Chamber One immediately transformed, becoming the ancient battlefield at Horse Tail Star’s teleportation array, with ghost creatures swarming everywhere.

“Help! Tang, you’re ruthless!” Hua Shaojie and Bai Dongfang ran for their lives.

“Tang…” Gu Zhenzhen started to speak, but Tang Yi cut her off: “Anyone who pleads for them again will see their punishment doubled!”

...

Within minutes, Bai Dongfang’s energy shield failed, and he was pierced by ghost creatures, fainting on the spot. Hua Shaojie soon followed. The simulation ended abruptly, and the two slowly revived on the smooth virtual floor, hearing Tang Yi’s voice in their ears.

“Well? How does it feel—does it seem like you’ve died once already?”