Shen Congwu smiled wryly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"How could I not know that? But these kids are incredibly difficult to manage. I've tried many methods, but nothing worked."
Ling Qingxue smiled.
"Principal Shen, are you afraid of embarrassing yourself?"
Shen Congwu paused slightly, then shook his head.
"What is there to be afraid of? That old codger Zhang Tiancheng and I have been poaching students from other schools every year; we've already lost face long ago."
"Then, let's challenge Nanhua Middle School!"
Shen Congwu gasped. "That old bastard Zhang Tiancheng will probably kill me!"
Ling Qingxue shook her head, her expression resolute.
"The overall strength of students from Nanhua Middle School is higher than that of Lingtian Middle School. In a match between students of the same grade, Nanhua Middle School has a greater chance of winning, so Principal Zhang will gain more prestige, while you will lose reputation!
However, if you slightly adjust the resource allocation plan and set aside some of it to reward those who win the challenge, then even more people will participate in the challenge, thus improving their fighting skills and strength."
"Furthermore, to obtain additional resources, opponents must be of equal or higher rank. The resources obtained from challenging someone of a higher rank should be doubled!"
Shen Congwu's eyes lit up.
"Good idea! What's a little embarrassment! Yutang, you should spread the word about this plan today and let those kids practice a bit!"
Lin Yutang nodded with a smile. "Okay, I'll take care of it this afternoon. I'll take Qingxue to her dormitory first. She's been standing here for ages."
Shen Congwu was also a little embarrassed. She'd just arrived at school and was already being blocked at the gate…
After that, they headed to the dormitory.
Shen Congwu had arranged a spacious teacher's dormitory for her, with all the necessary furniture. Moreover, there were traces of simple decoration. It should have been completed a few days ago.
Since Ling Qingxue was only staying for three months, there was no need for her to stay in the student dormitory; the teacher's dormitory was much better.
Lin Yutang handed her the key.
"The principal said that you have the right to learn all the cultivation techniques and martial arts of Lingtian Middle School. In addition, the school will provide you with one high-grade spiritual herb every week, and you can also enter the secret places and the Spirit Gathering Room at will. If you need anything else, just let me know."
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Shen Congwu's arrangements.
The high-grade spiritual herb alone was worth over a million each week, nearly twenty million over three months, not even counting other resources.
This treatment was far superior to that of Linjiang Middle School.
"Teacher Lin, can I use the Virtual Heavenly Mirror here?"
"Of course, the Virtual Heavenly Mirror is standard equipment at our school. Everyone can use it."
As he spoke, Lin Yutang handed her a communicator-like device. "This is an auxiliary device of the Virtual Heavenly Mirror for this area. You only need to channel your mental energy to connect to the main unit. It saves you the trouble of running around every day."
Ling Qingxue smiled as she held the Virtual Heavenly Mirror device.
"Thank you, Teacher Lin."
"Haha, no need to thank me, it's just my duty. You rest first, and contact me anytime if you need anything."
After Lin Yutang left, Wu Liang finally lay down on the sofa contentedly.
"Being rich is great, huh? This sofa is even made of magical beast skin! But what is this Virtual Heavenly Mirror? Can you eat it?"
Ling Qingxue shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"The Virtual Heavenly Mirror is a special spiritual artifact. You can connect to it with your mental energy and fight with others in a virtual space. It's used for the upcoming national martial arts exam. You need to get used to it beforehand."
Wu Liang immediately became interested.
"Isn't this just real-life VR? That sounds fun! I want to play now!"
In his former world, VR was merely a virtual form; he couldn't actually touch the other person.
With this Virtual Heavenly Mirror, he could fight, meaning there was a physical form in the virtual world—that was really interesting!
If he could bring it back to his original world, wouldn't he be a technological unicorn*?!
Ling Qingxue was somewhat helpless, but she decided to take him in to try it out.
The Virtual Heavenly Mirror only needed to connect with her mental power, and through the Heavenly Mandate contract, Wu Liang could also enter the virtual space.
A flash of white light appeared.
When their consciousness returned, both of them were already in the virtual space.
Wu Liang looked at his body; it was exactly the same as in the real world.
Not only that, even his physical attributes, bloodline talent, and skills were present.
This virtual space was almost a 100% simulation of him!
"Amazing! This thing is so cool!"
Ling Qingxue smiled. "It was created using the power of an Imperial Level Beast, involving dream rules. Only those who reach the Imperial Rank can master this power."
Wu Liang marveled. His body was virtual, but the tactile sensations were almost perfectly replicated.
With this item, long-distance relationships wouldn't be an issue anymore.
Wu Liang looked at the two doors ahead. "Where do these doors lead?"
"This Virtual Heavenly Mirror is for honing combat skills, but it differs from the martial arts exam. The left door randomly finds opponents. Their rank is the same as ours by default, but can be adjusted. The right door precisely finds a specific person and challenges them!"
"I get it, random matchmaking and 1v1 duels, right? I'm a nine-year veteran player."
Wu Liang immediately dragged Ling Qingxue to the matchmaking area, wanting to try a real-person match here.
Kicking open the left door, Wu Liang rushed inside.
Upon entering, a matchmaking pop-up appeared, allowing adjustment of the opponent's level, strength, gender, and range—making the match very enjoyable.
"Qingxue, hurry up! Give me any opponent around the Third Rank early-stage, let me test my skills!"
Ling Qingxue tapped the panel, and soon a figure appeared opposite them.
It was a boy riding a Silver Moon Wolf, a Third Level early-stage Physical Cultivator, his expression disdainful.
"Did they change the matchmaking system? How come I was matched with a Second Rank mid-stage noob who hasn't even fought a single match?" Yan Tao said, puzzled.
Wu Liang's size suddenly increased, radiating a terrifying ferocity.
He slowly walked towards Yan Tao, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Tsk tsk, look at the accuracy! That aura and pressure, it's almost 100% realistic!"
Yan Tao's face darkened. "What's going on? Are we going to fight or not?!"
Wu Liang showed some displeasure, slapping him away, then grabbed the Silver Moon Wolf to examine it, even weighing it in his hand.
"It can sense weight, and even express emotions. I wonder how far its physical perception reaches."
Wu Liang stretched out his paw and poked the Silver Moon Wolf's belly. A shrill wolf howl immediately echoed across the battlefield.
Ling Qingxue rubbed her forehead. "Stop playing around. Even though this is virtual, everything here is 100% simulated, including pain. You'll traumatize it."
Wu Liang chuckled awkwardly, then dispatched the Silver Moon Wolf with a single paw, sending it flying.
"Little Silver!"
Yan Tao cried out in fury. "You bastard, you ambushed us and bullied my Little Silver!"
With that, a long spear of blood energy materialized in his palm.
"Heavenly Flame Meteor Fall! I'll annihilate you in one strike!"
The spear soared into the sky, then transformed into a meteorite and crashed down upon Wu Liang.
Wu Liang watched with interest, then slapped it out.
The meteorite instantly turned to ashes and vanished.
"Fancy."
Wu Liang commented, then slapped him away again.