Chapter Forty-Seven: The Martial Artist’s Spatial Stone

Yang Fan instructed Zack to purchase a comprehensive bestiary on the spot, then had a group of soldiers escort him to the refugee hall. He ordered a team to make copies of the bestiary, demanding that it be processed overnight, and then returned to his room.

Inside, the two-meter-tall Zack frowned as he regarded Yang Fan before asking, “Did you reach your current strength solely by taking enhancement drugs?”

Yang Fan was momentarily taken aback but nodded. As someone from another world and a second-tier Silver-level knight, Zack far surpassed him in every aspect, so Yang Fan saw no need to hide the truth.

“So that’s it. I noticed your muscles, reflexes, and strength are all formidable, but when I looked at your hands and the way you move, there was none of the presence of a true warrior. You should be careful. Relying solely on brute strength and the system won’t make you a true powerhouse. You lack the awareness that comes from real training. If you depend entirely on the system, it will do you more harm than good.”

Zack flopped onto the plush sofa, gazing carelessly at the lavishly decorated room as he spoke.

His words sent Yang Fan into deep thought. Zack was absolutely right; he hadn’t really focused on training. He’d relied completely on the stats and basic combat techniques the system provided. In truth, beyond his raw strength, he had nothing to call his own.

“So what should I do?” Yang Fan asked Zack. After all, he’d only returned a month ago, not a year, and though he had adapted to the apocalypse, he was still inexperienced in many things.

“If it were anyone else, there wouldn’t be much to do. But you’ve been granted the system by the gods. All you need is to find a System Merchant and purchase a Martial Artist’s Space Stone. Using it will transport you to a virtual world filled with various challenges. You’ll have to overcome them one by one on your own, and failure brings heavy penalties. But succeed, and your combat awareness and skills will improve greatly.”

Zack stretched lazily on the sofa as he spoke.

“A System Merchant—that’s the same as an Apocalypse Merchant, right? How much does this so-called Martial Artist’s Space Stone cost?” Yang Fan asked eagerly. He wished he could buy one right now and use it at once, so he’d have the means to protect himself in the days ahead.

“I’m not sure. Your system isn’t fully developed yet; it’s still in its infancy. I don’t know. Anyway, I’m going to rest now,” Zack replied, soon snoring on the sofa. The sleeping Liu Xue had not attracted Zack’s attention at all—not because she wasn’t beautiful, but because Zack’s tastes were simply different. After seeing her earlier, he hadn’t had a single improper thought.

Yang Fan agreed with Zack’s assessment: the apocalypse system was far from complete—really just a rudimentary start. On the tenth day after the disaster, the system would undergo an evolution, and after the appearance of the Insectoids, it would see further improvements.

For instance, when Mutant Beasts appeared, the system would introduce health points and damage stats, as well as a forum feature, allowing players in the same city to post and communicate—a kind of virtual platform.

So Yang Fan believed most of what Zack had said.

Without wasting any more time, Yang Fan interrupted Liu Qiaoqiao, who was still training, and asked her to check on the Martial Artist’s Space Stone. He hadn’t looked into it before.

Soon, Liu Qiaoqiao shared the information she found:

Beginner Martial Artist’s Space Stone: Special item. Expands one day into ten days. Allows you to choose different training modes to master various combat techniques. Requires profession level 1–3. Price: 500 Apocalypse Coins.

Intermediate Martial Artist’s Space Stone: Special item. Expands one day into twenty days. Allows you to choose different training modes to master various combat techniques. Requires profession level 4–6. Price: 1,000 Apocalypse Coins.

Advanced Martial Artist’s Space Stone: Special item. Expands one day into thirty days. Allows you to choose different training modes to master various combat techniques. Requires profession level 7–9. Price: 3,000 Apocalypse Coins.

A thousand Apocalypse Coins—Liu Qiaoqiao had barely that much left, and if she spent it, it would be gone. But the bestiary they bought from Zack could be copied a thousand times and sold for fifty coins each; they’d sell out instantly. So Yang Fan wasn’t concerned about money.

He promptly had Liu Qiaoqiao buy one and transfer it to him.

When he held it in his hand, the so-called Martial Artist’s Space Stone was a dark, egg-shaped stone. Yang Fan wanted to ask Zack how to use it, but Zack was already snoring away, and Yang Fan was too embarrassed to disturb him.

He sat for a while holding the stone, then thought of a method to try—dripping blood on it.

Most contracts and certain equipment could be bound this way. Of course, such binding wasn’t lifelong, but it did increase compatibility.

With his current skin, ordinary blades couldn’t cut him, so he drew Azir’s greatsword. The Lightning Edge’s aura was too intense and might disturb others, so he chose the greatsword. Under the glint of its sharp blade, Yang Fan sliced his fingertip.

Crimson blood seeped into the dark Martial Artist’s Space Stone…

In an instant, the stone flared with dazzling light, and Yang Fan felt himself pulled into a peculiar space.

This space was utterly dark, save for a single blue virtual information panel before him, displaying:

[Martial Mastery] [Combat Mastery] [Melee Weapon Mastery] [Firearm Mastery] [Reconnaissance Mastery] [Intelligence Mastery]

Six options…

“What is this?” Yang Fan muttered. As he spoke, a mechanical female voice responded.

“Hello. Welcome to the Martial Artist’s Virtual World. You now need to choose which area to strengthen. You may select only one, and as you are an intermediate-level martial artist, twenty days of training will bring you just up to the minimum standard.”

“Uh… Could you explain in detail?” Yang Fan steadied his mind and answered…

(Thanks to Brother Flying Rabbit for the reward of Qidian Coins)