Chapter 1713 - 435: This Cultivation Technique Is Not Right! (Part 2)

Chapter 1713: Chapter 435: This Cultivation Technique Is Not Right! (Part 2)

He went offline immediately, his consciousness detached from the bizarre Monster World, returning to the cold game pod of the real world.

The pod door slowly opened, and he sat up, rubbing his slightly swollen temples.

"Cough cough..." As if suddenly inhaling air full of dust, Xie Yu felt his throat itch and parched, and he couldn’t help but cough violently.

Even though he was mentally prepared, he still felt strong discomfort every time he went offline.

In Monster World, every breath felt like sipping cool sweet spring water. The spiritual energy permeating the air was so dense it turned tangible, nurturing his body like a trickling stream, making him feel entirely comfortable and mentally clear.

But, the air in the real world was full of pollution.

Inhaling into the lungs carried a faint astringency, as if oxygen had become scarce.

More importantly was the rhythm of breathing.

Every time after going offline, breathing felt like it required the mobilization of the whole body’s strength.

This suffocating feeling of falling from the transcendent to the mundane made him feel intense discomfort.

Just then, his cousin’s holographic image projected into the room. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice was hoarse:

"Xiao Yu... Grandma is gone, the funeral is scheduled for tomorrow morning."

Despite being mentally prepared, as grandma had been bedridden for years, Xie Yu still felt a moment of daze upon hearing these words.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at his cousin’s projection and nodded:

"I understand, Sis, I’ll be there on time."

After hanging up the call, Xie Yu sat alone by the game pod, the emptiness of the real world surging like a tide.

Compared to the bustle of Monster World, reality always seemed particularly quiet, even fragile.

He realized the gap between reality and the virtual was escalating as his strength in Monster World increased.

Every offline experience felt like a forced "devolution."

From a transcendent body capable of invoking Heaven and Earth Elements with a wave of a hand, Qi-Blood flowing like rivers, beaten back to a mundane flesh that felt labored even to breathe.

"Perhaps the ultimate destiny for Earth’s creatures will be the virtual world," Xie Yu murmured with lament.

Though he might not live to see that day come.

Yet he believed this would be Earth’s inevitable future trend.

The life of the entire Earth Alliance will be centered around the virtual world, while Earth itself, its resources increasingly scarce and deeply polluted and corroded, will eventually be left to those mechanical creations that need not breathe nor fear radiation and pollution.

Perhaps the genesis of Monster World is the Star Network’s virtual Ark, crafted for all Earth’s creatures.

When the real world’s environment deteriorates to a point no longer suitable for flesh and blood to survive, when blue skies and green waters become mere words in historical archives, the vast Monster World will be the last sanctuary for the continuation of civilized consciousness.

In the years to come, virtual will become the new reality.

The consciousness of billions will reside within a hive of game pods, continuing to live, create, love, and conquer in a realm constructed from data.

Meanwhile, the Earth of the real world will become a "virtual" world maintained by machinery, silently supporting the operation of the virtual world.

From details in Monster World, it can be seen that this has passed beyond what a mere game should exhibit.

He didn’t dwell too much on this future he was destined not to see.

Xie Yu refocused his attention.

He began preparing for tomorrow’s funeral.

The next morning, he wore somber clothing and took a maglev train to the city’s outskirts.

A beautifully landscaped ecological memorial park was located here.

The funeral took place in the park’s farewell hall.

Grandma’s body was not displayed here; it had already returned to the natural cycle in the most environmentally friendly way according to her wishes.

At the center of the hall, a holographic projection device suspended, playing a collection of images from grandma’s life.

There was her radiant smile from her youth, the tender scene of her telling stories while holding him as a child, and her serene silhouette reading by the window in her later years.

Beside the images, messages sent by family and friends attending to show their condolences were displayed.

This era’s farewells had no heavy caskets, nor incense and candles.

Only soothing background music and the quiet conversations and reminisces of family and friends.

As the funeral formally began, grandma’s holographic image appeared in the center of the venue, donned in her favorite pale purple robe, with a peaceful expression.

The image suddenly turned to Xie Yu, smiling and saying:

"Xiao Yu’s here? Why not wear more when going out? Spending too much time in the game pod weakens your constitution, easy to catch a cold when you go out."

This was an interactive system generated using grandma’s voice data and AI technology.

Xie Yu couldn’t help but respond:

"Grandma... I’m doing well now, game pod technology has innovated, it won’t affect the body..."

"Same old, liking explanations, grandma knows what you’ve been busy with these days." The image gently interrupted:

"While alive, grandma watched a lot of your streams, you’re currently researching the history in games... it’s quite good."

His cousin softly supplemented:

"This AI was generated based on grandma’s chat logs, she said if she’s gone one day, she’d still like to talk with everyone."

Family and friends arriving one after another began interacting with the holographic image.

Aunt spoke of last year’s travels with grandma, the image promptly replied:

"That time you insisted I try the new fruit cultivated by the Green Wood Clan. They looked ugly, but tasted not bad."

This drew a knowing smile from everyone.

His cousin mentioned the braised pork grandma made in their childhood, grandma smiled and nodded:

"Talking about this, I wouldn’t feel sleepy, the key to braised pork is to caramelize... if I weren’t already lying down, I’d get up to show you all."