I Can Replicate Martial Arts

Unconsciously, his mindset had already shifted to that of Zhao Rui’s subordinate.

Big Head watched the two of them eat with a cheerful grin, not saying a word. It was as if he were admiring a pair of interesting dolls, in no rush at all.

Only after they finished their meal did he get up, hopping down from the massive bench. "Let’s go," he said. "I’ll take you to your quarters. Tomorrow—oh, no, I can’t wait. I’ll match you two with suitable opponents tonight."

As Big Head spoke, his tongue involuntarily flicked out to lick his lips.

The blue tongue was exceptionally conspicuous.

"What are the rules?"

Zhao Rui asked with a frown.

"There are no rules. Your victories are the rungs of your own ladder. As you climb the path to freedom, you will gain unexpected honor and power."

Big Head waddled forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone present as he let out a cackle.

His laugh was as grating as a screech owl’s cry.

Soon, the three of them left the massive, technologically advanced, yet nauseating dining hall.

They arrived in front of an even more magnificent and colossal structure.

The rooms here were all mobile, capable of folding space to accommodate one’s body size.

In other words, the living space within was far larger than the square module it appeared to be from the outside.

"Good luck to you both!"

Big Head watched the two enter their respective quarters, a satisfied smile touching his lips. Then, he flickered and vanished from outside the door.

As he disappeared, the door in front of Zhao Rui also vanished abruptly.

Zhao Rui reached out to touch the spot. The original metal object was gone, replaced by some kind of spatial-isolation barrier.

After probing it a couple of times and feeling no physical medium, Zhao Rui turned to survey his new quarters.

It was a vast space, at least a kilometer across, complete with mountains, water, plants, and a single circular house.

As he walked to the entrance, the house opened automatically. The temperature inside could be adjusted at will, and even the bedding he wanted could be configured to his own specifications.

Everything inside could be simulated and created via an intelligent control system.

It was just like playing a base-building game.

"If you feel lonely, you can also replicate a biological entity identical to yourself. Please input the biological information."

The robotic voice controlling the space chimed in with a friendly tone.

"Not necessary!"

Zhao Rui refused flatly. The entire time, his body had been covered by the thick Armor of the Oran people, with True Qi circulating covertly around him.

This prevented any contact that could capture his biological data.

He had even cleansed the food he ate with Energy beforehand.

"Enjoy your rest. You may call me at any time if you require assistance."

The robot’s voice was quite gentle, and it communicated via Divine Soul Transmission.

This method was faster and more convenient than electromagnetic signal transmission.

Zhao Rui sat down cross-legged and began to silently accumulate his strength.

There was no sun or moon in the house, no sense of time’s passage. He didn’t know how long had gone by.

It might have only been two or three hours.

The door opened abruptly, and a shapely woman who looked to be of the same race as the white-robed man walked in.

"220033, the system has matched you with an opponent. Please come with me."

The race of the white-robed man wasn’t much different from Blue Star people; besides a few facial differences, they were otherwise identical.

At least, they looked the same on the outside.

The female’s body was much the same, with everything where it should be.

Zhao Rui ceased his cultivation and rose, following her without a word.

The woman gave him a seductive smile, then turned and led him out of the house. They stepped onto a conveyor belt that carried them slowly through space, arriving at a massive region several thousand kilometers away.

This was the very same region of empty space where he and the white-robed man had first appeared.

It turned out they had stumbled right into the dueling grounds here.

The starry expanse was now completely different from when Zhao Rui and his companion had first arrived.

Now, innumerable celestial bodies were emitting light, surrounded by a barrier resembling a Dyson sphere that enclosed the entire region.

The area was immense, as vast as the distance between Blue Star and Jupiter.

’What level of technological prowess would be needed to complete such a colossal project?’

The light from the celestial bodies reflected off the Dyson-like sphere, forming countless transparent light sources that illuminated the entire region as if it were day.

’I wonder how many people are watching a duel in an arena this massive.’

Just as Zhao Rui was thinking this, a deafening roar like a tsunami erupted from all directions.

This wasn’t Divine Soul Transmission. It was a real, physical sound, the kind that propagates through a medium.

As the cheers rolled in, enormous grandstands, stretching as far as the eye could see, suddenly materialized on all sides.

These seats were filled with beings of every imaginable shape and form. Some were as tall as mountains, others as small as specks of dust, but without exception, each occupied its own seat.

A quick scan revealed a crowd numbering in the hundreds of millions, or even billions—perhaps more.

An audience of this size made every competition ever held on Blue Star pale in comparison.

They weren’t even in the same league.

The woman led Zhao Rui into the center of the arena with a smile. A beam of light instantly shot down, and Zhao Rui’s image was magnified thousands of times over.

It was projected into the void of space.

"Let’s welcome our newcomer, number 3567! A new lifeform with the body of the Bright Race People, yet distinctly different. Oh, heavens, how long has it been since we’ve discovered such a hidden species?"

Big Head appeared abruptly in the sky, his enormous head adorned with a colorful floral wreath, looking utterly absurd.

"ROAR!"

The thunderous roars rose and fell in waves.

"So, will you choose him? How far do you think he’ll go?"

Big Head glanced at Zhao Rui and continued to work up the crowd.

Zhao Rui watched it all with ice-cold eyes.

"And let’s welcome his opponent, number 1180, a super-soldier from Glans Star! He once slew the ferocious Bloodfiend of Duomengli! His power is formidable..."

As the announcement ended, an alien creature with a body resembling a Xenomorph slowly emerged from a conveyor belt on the opposite side.

The creature had a long tail and stood on two feet, but it lacked the massive, cumbersome head of a Xenomorph that would hinder its agility.

Its entire body was more slender and symmetrical, rippling with muscle rather than covered in the chitinous armor of a Xenomorph.

"The match is about to begin! Place your bets! The victor will attain supreme glory and brilliance!"

Big Head announced cheerfully as his figure floated upward, soon disappearing from the dueling space.

Just then, the entire space began to change. An indescribable wave of energy surged from all directions toward Zhao Rui and the Glans Star person.

A strange, mystical sound echoed in Zhao Rui’s mind, part whisper, part temptation. It was a feeling he knew all too well.

’A Celestial Demon!’

’Heavenly Demon Illusory Sound!’

’They’re actually using Heavenly Demon Illusory Sound.’

As a seasoned master who had achieved Great Success in the Heavenly Demon Illusionary Sound Technique and could even command Celestial Demons out of thin air, this level of Illusory Sound was no threat to him at all.

Still, Zhao Rui was quite surprised. He had expected some special kind of incitement.

He never imagined it would be the power of a Celestial Demon, acting directly on the Divine Soul.

’Could it be that the power of a Celestial Demon is considered a high-level power in the universe?’

Zhao Rui effortlessly suppressed the Celestial Demon’s bewitching influence and feigned a look of agitation.

The spectators instantly grew excited.

"HUFF... HUFF..."

The Glans Star person opposite him was panting heavily, its eyes, already glowing blue, grew even brighter.

Its entire body trembled.

"KILL!"

A moment later, the Glans Star person charged at Zhao Rui as if possessed.

Zhao Rui mirrored its actions, charging forward as well.

The two instantly clashed in the void.

The Glans Star person was enormous, standing twenty to thirty meters tall. Its muscles were powerful, and the swing of its sharp claws created ripples in space.

When Zhao Rui clashed with it, he found its strength to be immense.

’Discovered replicable Cultivation Technique: Blue Shield Three-Star Slash! Replicate?’

’Replicate!’

Zhao Rui’s heart leaped with joy. ’I can’t believe a creature that looks like a Xenomorph actually has a Cultivation Technique I can replicate!’

’He’d planned for this, but he thought he’d need to encounter a race with a civilized heritage like the Oran Star people, one that could produce Divine Power, before he’d get the chance to replicate anything.’

’I never expected to find a replicable Cultivation Technique in the very first match.’

’But then again, it makes sense. Any creature that ends up here can’t be simple.’

A fire ignited in Zhao Rui’s heart.

’This isn’t a dueling ground, it’s a skill-gifting-center!’