Chapter 2813: Talent, You Either Have It or You Don't
The two of them moved to a quiet tea room, featuring a spacious corridor, a small courtyard, and a picturesque little lake beyond the courtyard. Accompanied by the slightly cool evening breeze, both the space and time became leisurely and pleasant.
After instructing the serving staff not to disturb them again, Lan Fangzhi carefully disassembled the hyperdimensional device in front of Xu Huo. "Disassembly" here meant splitting the ring in two—one half held a small curved chip, while the other contained a tiny activation mechanism.
Lan Fangzhi handled the chip with extreme caution, but casually set aside the activation component.
"If this were a finished hyperdimensional device, the chip and activation mechanism would be fully embedded and inseparable, and the device's state would be very stable," he said. "Precisely because the Lan family's activation technology isn't mature enough, we've never been able to fully integrate this chip."
As he spoke, his left hand remained beside the chip without moving away, while his eyes were fixed on Xu Huo. He proactively explained, "It's not that I'm afraid you'll snatch it, but many players have no concept of hyperdimensional space power and don't understand how terrifying it is."
Xu Huo nodded and naturally refrained from touching it. After all, this was unstable hyperdimensional space power. The last time he had come into contact with it in complete ignorance, he had been lucky to survive. He certainly wouldn't take that risk again.
However, observing it up close, he still marveled at the height of human intelligence. Such a tiny chip could actually condense and produce hyperdimensional space power.
"The foundation of such devices should be special ores, right?" Xu Huo said. "The most unique ore I've heard of is the Primordial Stone. Primordial Stones with temporal-spatial power are also one of the key materials for crafting time-space items. But among players, there has never been any information circulating about the raw materials for hyperdimensional devices."
Lan Fangzhi smiled. "Not just post-B-level wormhole points—many A-level wormhole points haven't heard of it either."
"You should know that some wormhole points don't have tickets. Those wormhole points are the true core of the game. Although they are classified as A-level wormhole points, no one knows exactly how many there are or what they're like. Occasionally, there are legends, but they're half-true and half-false, making it hard to determine the specifics."
"This hyperdimensional device's chip was obtained by accident, but I suspect it's likely a defective product that leaked from certain wormhole points."
He paused and added, "But the first Lan family member to obtain this chip died under it, so the origin can't be traced."
"Thank you for your help this time. Retrieving this chip—whether we shelve it or continue researching it—at least it won't fall into the hands of a district like 022 and become a murder weapon."
Xu Huo didn't press about the three blue-robed men. It was obvious they were part of an internal family power struggle.
"Can you safely take this hyperdimensional device back?" he asked. "Logically, something so important shouldn't be easy to lose."
Lan Fangzhi's brow furrowed with some worry. "The device was indeed lost for a reason. But now that it's in my hands, whether I send it back or destroy it is up to me."
"What channels can players use to purchase hyperdimensional devices?" Xu Huo asked. "Although the chip comes from ticketless wormhole points, I imagine many A-level wormhole points have ready-made hyperdimensional devices."
"This generally requires the district government to negotiate with the Game Government," Lan Fangzhi said. "Districts that can arm themselves with hyperdimensional devices are usually directly controlled by the Game Government. The Game Government Base replaces the district government in governing the entire district. Other districts wishing to purchase hyperdimensional devices must be reviewed by the Game Government."
"For individuals, aside from stealing, it's basically impossible to obtain hyperdimensional devices through normal channels."
"Moreover, the vast majority of districts can't buy hyperdimensional devices at all."
Xu Huo nodded. That was understandable. After all, he had passed through many wormhole points and districts, and none of them had used hyperdimensional devices to intimidate anyone. When 022 had negotiated with him, they had been so arrogant, yet all they had was an unstable, semi-finished product that could only serve as a restrictive tool. Clearly, management was strict.
"Maybe stealing really is the only option," he said, almost as if talking to himself.
Upon hearing this, Lan Fangzhi proactively said, "It's best not to."
"The most common use of hyperdimensional devices is to borrow space power, and on a very small scale. For example, in firearms, since the user is an uncontrollable person, the lethality is minimized."
"For devices like this, as long as the lethality is limited, they can be defended against with items."
"Moreover, in districts where law enforcement is equipped with such hyperdimensional devices in large quantities, the weapons usually have district authentication. They can only be used under that district's signal drive. If you put them in the luggage compartment and take them out of that district, they become useless."
"Only chip-type hyperdimensional devices like this semi-finished product can be transferred, but such devices are rare and cannot be supplied in large quantities."
He then looked at Xu Huo. "In reality, you are already among the best in the entire game. There's no need to obsess over hyperdimensional power."
Xu Huo took a sip of tea, feeling the breeze brushing past his fingertips. "Hyperdimensional space power can interfere with time power."
Lan Fangzhi understood immediately and said somewhat tactfully, "Even super players who have undergone time evolution wouldn't dare claim to be the number one in the game." Why must you be so insistent on this?
"Are there many time evolvers in A-level wormhole points?" Xu Huo changed the subject.
"I'm not sure about ticketless wormhole points, but there aren't many A-level wormhole points that can be reached with a ticket," Lan Fangzhi said. "Although A-level wormhole points have years of accumulation and advanced technology, talent is something you either have or you don't."
Xu Huo smiled. "I've heard that ordinary super players don't dare to act recklessly in A-level wormhole points. It shows that districts that evolved first hold an absolute advantage."
Otherwise, all super players would flock to A-level wormhole points. After all, in terms of resources and power, where could compare to A-level wormhole points?
Lan Fangzhi didn't refute this, clearly agreeing with the point. But after a moment's thought, he said, "A-level wormhole points are similar to wormhole points of other levels. Eventually, other wormhole points will evolve to the level of today's A-level wormhole points."
"The hallmark of a mature wormhole point is the degree of restraint it imposes on players."
"In some A-level wormhole points, players are far less free than those in later-developed wormhole points."
When technology can fully cover player evolution, players have to behave themselves.
However, he also mentioned some benefits. For example, the welfare in such wormhole points would make people in other districts feel like everyone was a millionaire. Not only that, the superior environmental conditions and specially formulated nutritious meals for players could maximize comfort for those experiencing degradation or retired players. This was absolutely impossible in other districts, and much of it was provided for free by the Game Government Base.
Additionally, in such A-level wormhole points, the rate of player degradation, as well as the timing and severity of degradation, were much better than in other wormhole points.
Moreover, districts under such wormhole points rarely experienced player wars.
Therefore, A-level wormhole points remained a desirable and livable paradise for many players.
After listening to him for a while, Xu Huo then asked about the "Old Holy Sword Society" and the attack on District 022.