Chapter 133: First Foray into the Sea of Brain-Machine Beasts

The "Godfather of the Contemporary Martial Arts World."

This title was something Zhang Chu both loved and loathed. Now, all of Binzhou knew he was a genius who had given wings to the development of martial artists. Even before his spirit-refining liquid was manufactured, pre-orders had already been opened.

The trouble was, ever since he became the "contemporary godfather," his address at Xisha Garden had been exposed. Even the route he took to the Martial Arts Academy had been dug up. Now, all the dual-power warriors and various officials living in Xisha Garden were scrambling to curry favor with him, turning his doorstep into a marketplace. Even Binzhou University had released a statement, naming Zhang Chu the most outstanding student in the school’s three-hundred-year history and bestowing upon him the honorary title of Lifetime Chancellor.

Fame brings trouble. To find some peace and quiet, Zhang Chu had been staying at the reception quarters of the Armaments Division during this period. By day, he hunted star beasts in the Special Combat Hunting Grounds, and by night, he squeezed in time to coach the Armaments Division’s warriors in combat techniques.

Now, Zhang Chu had the credentials to do so. Aside from Liu Tianhe, who looked at him with visible disdain, everyone else treated him with extreme reverence.

"System, pull up the personal information panel."

That night, after returning to the reception quarters, Zhang Chu called up the system.

Name: Zhang Chu
Level: 7
Martial Power: 800,000 / 1,500,000
Spiritual Power: 802,000 / 1,500,000

With the 7,000 martial power pills and 7,000 spirit-focusing pills he had obtained from the safe house, his martial power and spiritual power values were nearing 800,000. Coupled with his frantic hunting at the Armaments Division over the past few days, he was finally halfway to breaking through to 8-star.

"My Vajra Armor-Piercing Body has also reached the 7-star level. It seems I’ll have to work overtime at night; it would be a waste not to take advantage of the Armaments Division's martial skills library."

Zhang Chu made his training plan for the coming days and fell fast asleep. Early to bed and early to rise makes a body strong.

However, he was unaware that at the entrance of Xisha Garden, a ragged-looking man and woman were arguing with the security guards. "Are you blind? We are Zhang Chu's uncle and aunt! How dare you stop us!"

"Take a look at yourselves—you dare to impersonate the relatives of Professor Zhang Chu? If you don't leave now, don't blame us for being impolite!"

The guards exchanged glances, wearing mocking smiles. They didn't believe for a second that Zhang Chu, the "Light of Binzhou," would have such shabby relatives. More importantly, these two were arrogant and unreasonable.

Seeing two martial artist guards surround them, Zhang Erhe was frightened and quickly shielded his wife. "You bunch of gatekeeping dogs, just you wait. Once that brat Zhang Chu comes out, I'll make sure you pay for this!"

"Erhe, what do we do now?" Wang Cuihua asked, worried, as they were blocked outside the gate.

"Let's find a cheap hostel for now. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Martial Arts Research Institute to block him. I don't believe that ungrateful wretch Zhang Chu dares to disown us!"

...

The next day, Zhang Chu woke up naturally. He went to the Armaments Division’s training grounds to serve as an instructor, overseeing the training of the martial generals for two hours before heading out in his car. However, he wasn't going to the Martial Arts Research Institute; he was going to the Martial Arts Management Bureau.

Upon arriving at the Bureau, he navigated familiar paths to Fan Tianlei’s office. Aside from him, there were quite a few others present: Bureau Chief Chen Tianxiang, Zhang Daoyi, Zhang Xueying, Huang Lili, and Liu Tianhe.

"I wondered why I didn't see you earlier; so you came to the Bureau," Zhang Chu said with a smile, glancing at Liu Tianhe. He hadn't seen Liu during the morning training.

Liu Tianhe’s expression was grim. Since Zhang Chu had become the "Light of Binzhou" and was appointed Deputy Director of the Armaments Division—not to mention his status as an instructor—his rank was now half a grade higher than his own.

"Alright, give Tianhe some face, kid. He is your partner for this mission, after all," Zhang Daoyi said.

A partner? Zhang Chu only knew that Fan Tianlei had called him to the Bureau for something important. "It seems the closed beta for the Brain-Machine Beast Sea is about to start."

"The servers for the Brain-Machine Beast Sea will go live in an hour. Let me explain the specific rules."

This was a project that even the Martial God Academy was paying close attention to. Chen Tianxiang personally explained the critical points. Of course, he first explained why the four of them were chosen: the reason was simple. Zhang Chu and Zhang Xueying had dealt with demi-humans and had experience, while Huang Lili and Liu Tianhe were newcomers. This would allow the data from this brain-machine game to evolve through different layers using big data algorithms, automatically generating scenarios with a high degree of realism to facilitate future market promotion.

However, everyone knew that apart from Zhang Chu, the other three represented the Martial Arts Management Bureau, the Martial Arts Research Institute, and the Armaments Division respectively. All three parties had representatives.

Chen Tianxiang emphasized that when the "Brain-Machine Beast Sea" launched for the first time, it would be in automatic mode. In other words, the four of them had no choice in the scenarios that appeared, nor did they have the option to form teams—it was entirely random. The forms and appearances of the demi-humans they encountered would be related to the subconscious of the testers entering the server.

In short, once the key was turned, it was all up to their own imagination.

After a simple briefing, the group went to the testing center in the basement of the Bureau. This place, once the most secretive research center, had now become the largest game service center.

In particular, the 1,000-square-meter electronic screen in front of them could show the combat scenes inside the Brain-Machine Beast Sea in real-time. Twelve highly skilled martial artists with technical expertise stood by, ready.

The four sat in chairs in front of a massive electronic-pulse Profound Steel console.

"Teacher Chu, see you in the Beast Sea," Zhang Xueying said, blinking at Zhang Chu.

"Wait for me, Sister Xueying."

Soon, the four were fitted with brain-machine headsets. As the electronic-pulse Profound Steel behind them extended restraint cables to secure them in their seats, Chen Tianxiang personally pressed the switch. "I now announce the first opening of the Brain-Machine Beast Sea. The four beta testers, please relax. Entering for the first time may affect your spiritual fluctuations, and you may experience brief dizziness."

Zhang Chu wasn't nervous at all; in fact, he found it interesting. Once connected to the brain-machine, one couldn't die, but all sensory nerves would be identical to reality. He was very curious to see what the demi-humans in the Beast Sea would look like.

"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"

*Hum...*

As the countdown ended, Zhang Chu felt a buzz in his brain and a wave of dizziness, as if he had fallen into an endless abyss.

"Congratulations to Mr. Zhang Chu for entering the Brain-Machine Beast Sea. 24 hours remain until departure."

Soon, the server's voice prompted Zhang Chu to open his eyes. He scanned his surroundings. It was a beach near a vast ocean. He stood on the sand, feeling everything with startling realism—he could even feel the damp saltiness of the sea breeze. "The fidelity of the Brain-Machine Beast Sea is quite high. I just wonder where Sister Xueying is."

*Rumble!*

Just as Zhang Chu was excitedly looking around, several three-meter-high swirling water columns appeared on the calm Golden Coast.

Then, three figures emerged from the water columns, their backs adorned with terrifying, giant crab claws.

Demi-humans!

Watching the three demi-humans approaching from the mist, Zhang Chu quickly drew his Crimson Flame Sword and braced himself. But he was soon left dumbfounded. "What the hell!"

At that moment, in the Bureau’s server hall, Chen Tianxiang, Fan Tianlei, and the others were watching the 1,000-square-meter screen. It was currently broadcasting Zhang Chu's perspective.

"What the...!"

As the three figures fused with sea crabs became clear on screen, Fan Tianlei nearly died of shock on the spot. "What on earth is that kid Zhang Chu thinking about all day? Why are the demi-humans modeled after me?!"

The kicker was that one of them was a female demi-human, and seeing an old man like Fan Tianlei wearing a tube top was absolutely eyesore-inducing.