The body needed to access the Virtual Lab. What Shou Yan required was a Neural Interface. Understanding the identity binding step related to the Neural Interface could be postponed for now.

Neural Interfaces were not always required to be bound to the user's identity; many Imperial citizens carried more than one, with only one tied to their credentials. Some even deliberately kept their identity proof cards separate from their Neural Interfaces—a common practice within the Empire.

Yang Ying’s Virtual Lab was private. He held the highest clearance, allowing him the choice of whether to mandate identity verification for accessing users. By simply canceling that step, his other avatars could successfully log in using their existing Neural Interfaces.

The afternoon blizzard showed no signs of abating. Above the dark clouds, it seemed there was some existence continuously pouring down endless snow.

Yang Ying returned from the Floating Continent, rose, and left his room. He went downstairs to the courtyard in front of the villa, summoned a robotic servant, and said, "I need to go to the nearby Neural Interface Market. Take me there."

"Understood, Mr. Igor." The robotic servant twisted its body, and in the space of a single breath, it rapidly transformed into a Sky Skimmer motorcycle.

It was a vehicle brimming with futuristic ambiance—sleek, streamlined contours, engines and circuitry glowing softly, and equipped with a force field shield to prevent the rider from being blown away, frozen, or suffocated by the rushing air at high speeds.

Judging by its exterior alone, one would never guess it had been a robot mere seconds earlier.

A year ago, the first time Yang Ying saw a robot transform into a vehicle, he immediately thought of the Transformers. But this wasn't science fiction; this was tangible Imperial technology. Now, having lived in the Empire for a while, he was accustomed to the shape-shifting capabilities of the robotic servants; this was just a minor feat. Imperial technology had brought forth far more unbelievable marvels—those were the truly awe-inspiring things.

He swung a leg over the seat and gripped the handlebars. Placing his feet on the pedals, he commanded, "Take off."

"Affirmative. Please secure yourself." The Sky Skimmer alerted him before abruptly shooting into the sky, accelerating to one hundred meters per second in half a second, streaking away like a meteor. However, Yang Ying felt no sensation of inertia; it was nullified by some internal device.

Advanced Sky Skimmers could also perform spatial jumps, but Yang Ying’s robotic servant lacked this function. After all, the Sky Skimmer form existed merely to provide pickup and drop-off service for the trainees, with its operational range limited to Yongxue City.

After a half-hour of blurring speed, Yang Ying arrived at the Yongxue City Neural Interface Market.

The structure stood about thirty meters tall, resembling an octagonal pyramid externally, spanning six floors. It was situated slightly south of the city center, a mere two hundred meters from the Stargate Plaza, granting it excellent accessibility.

From the air, Yang Ying saw numerous customers entering and exiting the main entrance. Despite the heavy snow falling from the sky, it hadn't dampened their enthusiasm for purchasing Neural Interfaces.

He landed the Sky Skimmer in a nearby parking area and, after dismounting, dismissed it back to the academy. He knew he could summon it back with a communication device in about thirty seconds when needed.

Entering the market, he found the ground floor bustling with activity; business was booming. He had visited this place once before—last time, he had purchased the headpiece-type Neural Interface he was currently using, replacing an older Level Three Superior model. He passed through the ground floor hall without stopping, heading toward the nearby Light Staircase. From the outside, it appeared as a column of light capable of reading brainwaves; one simply stepped into the beam and thought their destination to ascend or descend.

Yang Ying traveled straight up to the sixth floor within the light column. Although the ground floor was the largest area, the truly high-end merchandise wasn't there. The first, second, and third floors sold Neural Interfaces for ordinary citizens. Interfaces required for Level Three users were only available on the sixth floor.

"Hello, how may I assist you?"

Yang Ying stepped out of the Light Staircase and approached a counter. A robot behind it smiled and inquired.

"I'm looking to browse Level Three Peak interfaces," Yang Ying stated. Behind the robot, shelves displayed hundreds of various Neural Interfaces, all requiring at least Level Three usage for operation. The surrounding counters appeared similar.

"The interfaces for Level Three Peak users are in the cabinets to the left. They are all premium products from the Glacier Technology Institute. Would you like me to introduce them to you?" the robot asked attentively. Glacier Technology Institute was renowned in the field of Neural Interface R&D and manufacturing, and since its facility was located in Yongxue City, it had practically monopolized the city's market.

Yang Ying glanced at the cabinets on the left. Two or three dozen interfaces were displayed—headbands, bracelets, rings, badges, buttons—all styled as everyday items.

"Are there any others besides these?" Yang Ying asked after reviewing them.

"Are you dissatisfied?" The robot flicked its wrist, and a tea-coaster-sized holographic projector popped out. The robot placed it on the counter, and a flash of light projected a holographic screen.

"Here are all the Neural Interfaces currently in stock at this store." He indicated the display. "And these are all models intended for Level Three Peak users." The robot manipulated the holographic screen a few times, finally isolating about one hundred and twenty models, nearly overflowing the entire counter space.

Yang Ying scanned them and noticed that over forty models were specifically designed for females. The remaining eighty-odd were either designed for males, gender-neutral, limited editions, collector's editions, or standard versions.

"Expand this one. This model appears to represent a category. Are there others in this line?" Yang Ying pointed to an interface labeled "Glacier Hundred Sights Commemorative Medallion" and addressed the robot.

"You are correct. The Glacier Hundred Sights Commemorative Medallions were created by the Glacier Technology Institute to honor the hundred wonders of this planet, encompassing both natural landscapes, such as the famous Great Glacier River, and cultural landmarks, like the Glacier Central Academy, located not far from here. There are a total of one hundred medallions, each representing a different spectacle," the robot explained.

"Let me see a physical sample of one. Hmm... give me the one for Glacier Central Academy." Yang Ying requested.

"Certainly." The robot stated. It closed the holographic screen and sent a message via its internal communicator. Shortly after, another robot arrived at the counter carrying a cubic metal box and set it down before turning away.

The counter robot's optical sensors brightened, and it shot a green beam toward a receiver located at the corner of the box. With a faint click, the box automatically opened and unfolded.

It turned out the box contained five stacked layers, each layer holding two drawers that opened outward, left and right, unfolding into a stepped configuration. One staircase of five drawers on the left, and another five on the right.

Each drawer held ten medallions, approximately five centimeters in diameter. The material appeared to be Galactic Stone—a pitch-black background dotted with shimmering silver specks.

"Observe, they are all housed in Galactic Stone casings. We invited top master sculptors to engrave all one hundred beautiful scenes upon them. This one here is for Glacier Central Academy," the robot introduced, selecting a medallion from the topmost drawer and handing it to Yang Ying for inspection.

Yang Ying accepted it and examined it closely. The front center of the medallion was inlaid with a transparent gemstone, sparkling like a diamond, beautifully framed by surrounding carvings. Turning it over, the reverse side bore the sculpted image of Glacier Central Academy.

Frankly, the carving was minute; it barely filled his palm, yet the academy's strong scholarly atmosphere seemed contained within it. Looking at this medallion was like visualizing the several square kilometers occupied by Glacier Central Academy.

To capture the essence of an entire academy in such a small piece suggested the sculptor possessed extraordinary skill, at least a Spiritual Force cultivation of Level Three.

"These are fine pieces," Yang Ying nodded. "I'll take all one hundred of them."

His objective for this trip was to purchase ninety-nine Neural Interfaces, any model suitable for Level Three Peak would suffice, and Yang Ying was indifferent to specific styles. However, since a complete set was available, it could resolve the issue in one go, and he preferred buying the set to somewhat reduce the attention drawn to himself.

"Are you certain?" A question mark appeared on the robot's head—a literal projection of the punctuation mark used in Imperial Common to make its interaction more expressive.

"I am certain. This set of medallions is excellent. I’ve wanted to buy them for a long time," Yang Ying affirmed. "How much?"

"Very well. The complete set of Glacier Hundred Sights Commemorative Medallions totals sixty million Imperial Credits." The robot's eyes shone brightly; this major sale clearly delighted it. It extended its right hand, a small emerald embedded in its palm.

Yang Ying nodded. Sixty million credits meant six hundred thousand per medallion. That was significantly cheaper than his headpiece, which cost a full 1.5 million credits—equivalent to two and a half medallions.

Furthermore, he had bought his first Neural Interface on Red Cloud Star from a store belonging to this same chain. He had attained a Senior Membership status there, granting a ten percent discount, which should still apply.

A blue light shot into the robot's palm. The robot closed its hand and announced, "You are a Senior Member of our store and are entitled to a ten percent discount. The total charge of sixty million credits, after discount, comes to fifty-four million. Payment received. As your single transaction exceeds ten million credits, you are automatically upgraded to Super Member status, granting an immediate twenty percent discount on future purchases. Moreover, should you require it, our store offers door-to-door service."

Yang Ying noticed that upon completing this transaction, he seemed to have become the focal point on this floor. There weren't many other customers, perhaps twenty or so, but they were all Level Three experts, with three reaching the Peak level. The transaction completed at the counter couldn't be hidden from them.

Yang Ying wished to avoid scrutiny. He returned the Glacier Central Academy Medallion to its place. The robot retracted the drawer mechanism back into the square metal box and tapped the central axis, causing a handle to pop out.

"Welcome back anytime," the robot said.

Yang Ying, carrying the metal box, vanished into the light column of the Light Staircase. The other customers, seeing him leave, paid little mind, assuming they had merely encountered a wealthy collector indulging a hobby, and returned their attention to the items they were considering.