"Just purely one-on-one? Is there anything like a team battle?"
"Not yet. The competition this time is divided into two parts: mecha battle, and soul master battle. These are all individual matches. This is a competition for the entire Federation, so the competition will be carried out according to the zone division, followed by the finals. It's said that any soul master capable of entering the finals will be rewarded generously. Those who are ranked the first sixteen will receive lucrative rewards. The finals' champion will receive all the resources necessary to forge a red mecha or some heavenly-refined metal for a set of four-word battle armor. This is simply unbelievable!"
"Star Dou Battle Network?" Tang Wulin could not help appearing astonished as he looked at the information sent by Blood One.
It was the latest technology developed by the Federation. One could enter the Star Dou Battle Network to take part in simulated battles through a peripheral device known as the 'Star Dou Cabin'.
The simulated environment seemed similar to the Spirit Pagoda's spirit ascension platform, but there was no restriction on the number of people participating as with the spirit ascension platform. However, it did not have the spirit ascension effect, so it did not clash with the Spirit Pagoda's objective.
The biggest advantage of this technology was that it allowed all soul masters and mecha masters to battle and compete against one another on the same platform.
The entire Battle Network had just been developed recently and it is said that it would be upgraded frequently in the future.
Blood One assigned Tang Wulin the mission to participate in the Battle Network Competition this time. His mission was to be one of the top three finalists.
Tang Wulin's lips twitched once. Initially, he thought that he would be able to complete the mission even if it was a difficult one. Yet, his confidence dropped as he learned more about the Star Dou Battle Network.
The restriction was that one must be below the Title Douluo rank. In other words, all eight-ring, Soul Douluo-ranked powerhouses were allowed to participate too. Also, one must be below a three-word battle armor master. However, there was no lack of Soul Douluo and Soul Sage powerhouses with two-word battle armors. They could even rival the Hyper Douluos with their accumulated powers.
It would be a great battle of the entire continent. Tang Wulin did not have absolute confidence that he was invincible to those below the Title Douluo rank despite his natural endowments!
The reason which motivated Blood One to engage Tang Wulin in the Battle Network was very simple. He wished to elevate Tang Wulin's combat abilities by making Tang Wulin confront different powerhouses constantly to forge a stronger character.
Tang Wulin would readily agree but felt the goal was set a little too high. In any case, Tang Wulin had the confidence to be one of the sixty-four finalists.
Final three… he would give it his best shot.
The lack of confidence did not mean that he lost the will to fight as he had always been the person whose courage mounted as the battle progressed.
The Star Dou Cabin had already been moved to his living quarters. Tang Wulin was not staying in his previous quarters anymore but the dormitory at the Blood God Battalion.
The Blood God Battalion's supernumerary personnel lived on a level above the rotunda. His living conditions had not improved much as his quarters were only equipped with the basic amenities except that the room was slightly larger. However, the room was now occupied with the Star Dou Cabin.
The object occupied eight square meters of floor space. It looked like a larger version of a coffin but with a complicated setup. It should be quite costly to build.
The army did not accept appointments for the use of the Star Dou Cabin. So, whoever wanted to use it had to queue up for it. Every day the cabin was crowded with a long queue of people waiting to use it. Hence, Long Yuxue had never brought Tang Wulin to the cabin before.
Tang Wulin was excited when he saw a Star Dou Cabin of his own in his living quarters. A Star Dou Cabin for his exclusive use on the very day this latest piece of technology was launched. It was definitely a luxury.
The sign-up process had already begun, so he should try it out then. The division competition would commence two days later, so he would need to register before the division competition began. Later, he could familiarize himself with the simulated world.
Tang Wulin pressed a button to turn on the Star Dou Cabin. He then got into the cabin.
The internal structure of the cabin was exceedingly complicated. At least, it was much more complicated than the spirit ascension platform he was in before.
Tang Wulin did not feel suffocated or claustrophobic when the cabin door closed. All kinds of metal wires were hitched and stuck on his body. One after another, the metal hoops tightened and locked onto his body. It was meant to prevent the energy leaking when he was engaged in the Star Dou Battle Network's battles.
The whole process took about five minutes before all the docking was completed. Tang Wulin felt as if he was an experimental subject.
His vision was pitch black. Meanwhile, an electronic voice was heard saying, "Star Dou Cabin's preparation is completed. Access to Star Dou Battle Network. Allow or deny?"
The electronic voice sounded unpleasant and mechanical to the ears. Tang Wulin answered, "Allow."
His entire body shook once as he felt intense current radiating through his entire body. It felt like his entire person was electrocuted. No wonder ordinary people were not allowed to use the Star Dou Cabin. Just the process of being scanned with soul energy would result in irreversible damage to an ordinary person without adequate physical quality.
In his heart, he was complaining, but he felt dizzy in the next moment. The darkness before his eyes had already turned bright and clear when he regained consciousness once again.
He did not feel like he had entered another world as he did in the spirit ascension platform before. All sorts of data began to appear before his eyes.
"The body scan is complete. Access to Star Dou Battle Network is successful. Please state your purpose and the Battle Network will process accordingly."
"I would like to sign up for the Federal Star Dou Battle Network Challenge."'It doesn't feel like it's that high-tech a product anyway!' Tang Wulin thought to himself.
"Sure. Begin the process of registration immediately. What is your name?"
Tang Wulin hesitated for a moment before he gave his real name. Blood One had reminded him that the reason he was sent to the Blood God Army was to ensure that he need not worry about revealing his identity. He was absolutely safe here and that no one would come for him. Apart from the Blood God Army itself and the Federation's high-ranking officials, no one knew the Blood God Army's exact location and also the Blood God Army's remote status.
The most powerful part of the Star Dou Battle Network was its tight security. The internal information was stored in the battle network's control center only. All human soul masters participating in the battle network would follow a ranking system. The ranking could only be elevated after the outcome of a battle. However, no one was allowed to access or investigate the participants' information at will. Even the federal parliament was not given access unless approved by the entire committee. This prevented those people with ulterior motives from using the battle network to investigate others.
The system asked a series of questions in order to register Tang Wulin.
"You can choose a nickname for yourself. Your nickname will be displayed during the competition."
Tang Wulin considered for a moment before he spoke, "Golden Dragon King, ok?"
"Golden Dragon King, ok? Please confirm."
Tang Wulin was speechless. "Golden Dragon King!"
"Golden Dragon King? Please confirm."
"Confirm."
"I'm sorry. The nickname you chose is already taken," the electronic voice was heard once again.
If Tang Wulin could see his own face now, he would see frustration written all over his face at present. What was happening?
"Please choose a new nickname."
"Little Tang." Tang Wulin simply made up a name.
"Little Tang? Please confirm."
"Confirm. Nickname is successfully created. Tang Wulin, nicknamed Little Tang, soul power rank-50. Special physical quality suspected to be dragon-type bloodline. Physical strength exceeds conventional standards. Determined to be gifted as a natural endowment-type soul master. Admission registration is completed. Please state your choice in participating in the Federal Star Dou Challenge."
"Yes," said Tang Wulin. He felt shocked in his heart. After being frustrated over the process of choosing a nickname for himself, he discovered something odd.
There was something different as compared to his earlier experiences when he was at the Spirit Pagoda's spirit ascension platform or even the other simulated worlds. It was the lack of interaction. However, at present, the electronic voice was interacting with him! It was like the entire Star Dou Battle Network was communicating with him.
'What does this mean?' Tang Wulin finally understood the advanced technology that was beyond its time. It was not the simulation system but its use of artificial intelligence.
The Federation's technology was already so advanced that they used artificial intelligence in its simulation system now. Although the system appeared to be rather crude and could be considered low-end even when compared to the spirit ascension platform, its standards far exceeded the spirit ascension platform after artificial intelligence was built into the system.
It was not that difficult to set up and upgrade the internal system but the artificial intelligence installed was something new and innovative! The electronic voice that sounded mechanical ought to be the beta version of artificial intelligence. It was also mankind's first experience in using artificial intelligence, so it was meaningful indeed.
The competition this time was not so much about soul masters experiencing a brand new technology but testing the application of artificial intelligence in the soul masters' battles. With the gradual improvement of artificial intelligence, it would lead to a quantum leap for mankind's technology.