Chapter 303: Competition Among Group Members, Competing for the Highest Honor — You're Awesome!
"Please note, this preliminary elimination will be divided into 100 world zones for collective teleportation."
"After being transmitted to your respective assigned world zones, please take the time to check the equipment within…"
An electronically synthesized voice, devoid of emotion, echoed across the entire continent-sized staging area.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the chat group simultaneously applied for a set of standard-issue equipment.
A Second-Order Origin Force battle suit, a shield, an Origin Force battle saber, and a Sky-Piercing Shuttle…
[Inorin's Note: The 'Sky-Piercing Shuttle' (Dun Tian Suo) is a standard Spirit Reader (telepath) weapon in the Swallowed Star universe, consisting of multiple small blades controlled via telekinesis.]
Realistically, this basic equipment didn't offer them much assistance. Their own divine weapons and armors were infinitely superior.
However, this was still a unique feature of the Swallowed Star Universe.
The people in the group were very curious and wanted to experience it. This was like a game. Thus, they all simulated a set of equipment through the virtual universe!
"Collective teleportation will begin. Please prepare yourselves!"
Amidst the ocean-like crowd, the members of the group exchanged final, competitive glances.
Then, in an instant, the figures of hundreds of billions of people on the massive continent all dissolved into light and disappeared.
At that very same moment, all across the virtual universe, this scene was being broadcast.
In the separate, pocket-dimension worlds opened up by the virtual universe's systems, countless figures appeared simultaneously.
As the grandest event for all of humanity, every eye was watching. From the high and mighty, immortal 'Undying' beings to ordinary citizens who had just gained access to the universe network...
Everyone was paying attention to this grand, universe-spanning event.
...
First World Zone.
Lin Dong's vision blurred into a kaleidoscope of data streams. After a few seconds, it gradually cleared.
He found himself standing in an ordinary, dusty living room.
"So this is the First World Zone?"
Lin Dong looked at his armguard, which now displayed an information device from the Universe Virtual Company.
Participant: Lin Dong (Black Dragon Mountain Empire)
Points: 0
Ranking: None
Current World Zone: First World Zone
Time: The elimination will last for 30 days. After the preliminary round, the winners will be determined by the final ranking.
Rules: Kill one opponent to gain one point. Upon killing an opponent, you also gain half of that opponent's total points. The more experts killed, the more points gained.
Additional Rule: If a deceased participant has sufficiently high points, they will lose half of their points upon death. If their remaining points still rank them among the top 100,000 of their world zone, they will still be selected.
A large amount of information was displayed on the device. There was also a detailed, real-time ranking list, currently empty...
And some basic geographical information about the First World Zone!
Lin Dong walked to the balcony and looked out. This was a bustling, modern city, with massive skyscrapers towering into the clouds.
But the entire city was dead. Utterly silent.
"A battle royale... This is interesting."
A smile appeared on Lin Dong's lips. He didn't hesitate for a second. He broke through the apartment door and charged out.
He hadn't forgotten the group's bet.
This wasn't just about qualifying. This was about the highest honor for a man: the title of "You're Awesome."
No matter what, Lin Dong had to compete for it.
In a normal competition, with their real bodies, his combat power was likely the weakest among the monsters in the group. It would be difficult to compete.
But now, it was different.
Everyone was standardized to a Ninth-Order Stellar level body.
[Inorin's Note: 'Stellar level' (Star level) is a foundational rank in Swallowed Star. A Rank 9 (Ninth-Order) is the peak of this level, just before breaking through to the 'Universe level'.]
This meant the other people in the group couldn't fully utilize the overwhelming strength of their own cultivation systems.
Although their Divine Abilities and techniques might not be greatly affected, their raw power was capped.
However, he, Lin Dong, still had a significant advantage.
How long had the others been cultivating the Devouring the Starry Sky cultivation system?
How long had he been cultivating the Immortal Cultivation system of Devouring the Starry Sky?
[Inorin's Note: This implies Lin Dong has either been in the Swallowed Star world longer or has been studying its unique energy system (a blend of genetic energy and spiritual force) through the lens of his own 'Immortal Cultivation' Dao, giving him a unique insight.]
Lin Dong was confident.
In terms of pure control over this Ninth-Order Stellar body, he would definitely surpass the others.
He might just have a chance to win this!
He kicked open the building's main entrance, the heavy, alloy-cast door deforming and flying off its hinges.
Boom!
Lin Dong flew straight into the open air, a very risky and arrogant move.
This was a free-for-all elimination. He had exposed his location right at the start, making himself a beacon.
However, Lin Dong had the confidence for it.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Almost immediately, many roaring sounds echoed from various corners of the silent city.
Clearly, some people had already encountered each other and engaged in battle.
However, they were all being sneaky about it, hiding in buildings, stalking through alleys. No one dared to be as bold as Lin Dong, flying directly into the sky to become a target for all!
...
"Idiot. Does he really think he can do whatever he wants just because he has some strength?"
"Now everyone is a Ninth-Order Stellar. Who is nobler than whom? What a fool."
Some people, hiding in the skyscrapers, looked at Lin Dong with disdainful smiles, marking him as their first easy kill.
Some powerful individuals also disliked Lin Dong's arrogance and wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate him.
However, Lin Dong didn't care about these hidden rats. His gaze turned cold.
The Sky-Piercing Shuttle hovering beside him instantly shot out a series of blinding saber lights.
The streaks of saber light danced like deadly butterflies in the steel jungle.
A sweep of saber light, guided by his powerful spiritual force, cut across the necks of many people hiding in the nearby windows.
Those who had just looked at Lin Dong with disdain suddenly had their eyes filled with disbelief.
They opened their mouths in astonishment, wanting to say something...
But the weapons in their hands fell powerlessly to the ground, and their bodies collapsed with them, turning into motes of light as they were eliminated.
In a single instant, hundreds of people were eliminated.
While controlling the Sky-Piercing Shuttle to fly and continuously harvest the lives of one peer after another, Lin Dong pondered to himself.
"It's the early stage now. Killing one person only gives one point. But when there are more people in the late stage, everyone who survives will have a large number of points. Killing one person then will be more useful than killing hundreds now…"
He paused, his mind re-reading the rules.
"Wait... no."
"I have now grasped some Origin Law of Gold, and my Domain has reached the sixth level. The Sky-Piercing Shuttle already contains a hint of Law profundity…"
[Inorin's Note: 'Origin Law' (Comprehension of fundamental universe laws) and 'Domain' (a field of suppression based on Law comprehension) are key power metrics in Swallowed Star.]
"I have a great advantage. I should be able to compete with the people in the group, right?"
"After clearing out the people here, I'll first familiarize myself with the moves of the Yan Shen Blade, and then go on a killing spree… As the saying goes, to do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools…"
Lin Dong occupied the tallest skyscraper, and then, using this building as the center, he began to continuously spread his spiritual force outwards.
...
"Great Desolate Suppressing Heaven Finger!"
[Inorin's Note: 'Great Desolate Suppressing Heaven Finger' (Da Huang Yin Tian Zhi) is a powerful martial art from Lin Dong's home world, Wu Dong Qian Kun.]
Lin Dong flipped his palm, and a giant, ancient handprint appeared in the sky above the city. The handprint rapidly expanded against the wind, then descended fiercely from the sky with a violent, world-ending pressure.
BOOM!
An entire city block was flattened.
"Azure Sky Dragon Transformation Art!"
[Inorin's Note: 'Azure Sky Dragon Transformation Art' (Qing Tian Hua Long Jue) is another of Lin Dong's signature skills, transforming his arm with the power of the Green Dragon.]
Lin Dong's figure then flashed out. A brilliant blue light wriggled on his arm, which instantly swelled and transformed into an incomparably huge, scale-covered Azure Dragon arm.
He struck out with another palm.
A terrifying fluctuation spread out, and dense cracks diffused outwards, flattening countless surrounding buildings.
"This 'Genetic Origin Force' is indeed not as smooth to use as my Yuan Power!"
Lin Dong stood amidst a pile of ruins, sighing.
He still hadn't fully mastered this virtual body.
Although the Stellar-level cultivation could power the Azure Sky Dragon Transformation Art and the Great Desolate Suppressing Heaven Finger, it was still a bit awkward to use.
"I'll adapt to this body while fighting."
"What a pity… there's no one strong enough to fight!"
Watching his points continuously rise, a fierce glint flashed in Lin Dong's eyes.
His first thought had been to familiarize himself with this body, striving to unleash stronger combat power, and then go eliminate people.
However, after seeing the point rules, the clever Lin Dong discovered a "blind spot."
Killing people in the early stage only yields one point per person.
Whereas killing people in the late stage can earn hundreds or even thousands of points per person, because those survivors are all experts who have eliminated countless others.
Logically speaking, killing people in the late stage yields higher returns. Higher efficiency.
However, the clever Lin Dong noticed the other rule.
After eliminating someone in the late stage, you can only obtain half of the points on that person.
Lin Dong pondered. "Then... wouldn't I be losing out?"
Originally, if he killed 1000 people himself, he could directly gain 1000 points.
If someone else killed those 1000 people first, and then he went to kill that person... he would only earn 500 points.
A middleman was earning half the difference!
And if that middleman was killed halfway, his points would be resold. By that time, from the original 1000 kills, Lin Dong might only get 250 points!
Could Lin Dong tolerate this? Absolutely not.
So, Lin Dong immediately decided to act. He wanted to eliminate everyone right from the start.
Refuse second-hand, third-hand, and fourth-hand dealers from earning the price difference!
"The others in the group definitely won't think of this point. This bet... I'm definitely winning it!"
The clever Lin Dong was very confident. He threw out another Great Desolate Suppressing Heaven Finger, instantly eliminating a large group of people cowering in a building.
He activated his unstoppable mowing mode.
His fingers were almost twitching from the effort!
...
World Zone 74.
"Heaven helps me! Indeed, I, Xiao Yan, am the true protagonist!"
Xiao Yan was delighted, looking at his competition venue.
Out of 100 world zones, each generated a different scene. Different worlds had different backgrounds.
Steel cities. Grassland deserts. Endless oceans. There were so many maps.
And the area Xiao Yan was currently in was a dense, endless forest. The trees here were not ordinary trees.
They were a kind of spiritual wood.
Xiao Yan had just studied this spiritual wood. It was oily, dry, and very easy to ignite.
"Arson... straight to victory."
A smile appeared on Xiao Yan's lips. He lightly tapped his fingertip, and a small, black flame appeared on his finger.
This body was virtual, and unlike his true body, it didn't have so many 'Strange Flames.' It didn't even have a natural fire affinity.
But it didn't matter.
Xiao Yan had already walked very, very far on the Dao of Fire.
It didn't matter if he didn't have fire in his hand.
It was enough that he had fire in his heart.
The fire he summoned now was a very unique kind of fire, one he had been developing.
It was the human body's Yin Fire.
This was a fire technique he created based on Taoist lightning techniques.
In lightning techniques, there was the concept of Yin and Yang Five Thunder.
[Inorin's Note: The 'Yin and Yang Five Thunder' (Yin Yang Wu Lei) is a concept from Taoist cultivation, where lightning has different properties. Yang Thunder is righteous and destructive, while Yin Thunder is insidious and soul-corrupting.]
The attribute of Yang Five Thunder was fire, governing the heart and lungs. Its characteristics were fierce, upright, and resolute.
The attribute of Yin Five Thunder was water, governing the liver and kidneys. Its characteristics were strange, unpredictable, bone-sucking, marrow-draining, heart-weakening, and will-corrupting.
Based on this principle, Xiao Yan created Yang Fire and Yin Fire.
This was Yin Fire.
Yin Fire, like Yin Five Thunder, had the effect of bone-sucking, marrow-draining, heart-weakening, and will-corrupting.
More importantly, Yin Fire ignited upon contact, spreading like a maggot attached to bone—difficult to remove and almost impossible to extinguish.
Yin Fire was most suitable here.
With the help of these highly flammable spiritual woods, in just a few moments, the entire world would turn into a sea of Yin Fire.
Xiao Yan's progress during this recent period was not only reflected in his realm.
He had already taken a more profound step on the path of integrating the power of Strange Flames into himself.
Strange Fire... Strange Fire...
Becoming stronger by relying on Strange Flames was a broad and promising path.
Especially with the existence of the chat group. How many flames were there in the myriad worlds? There were always stronger fires among the strong.
As long as he continuously absorbed Strange Flames, Xiao Yan could continuously become stronger. This path was incredibly comfortable.
However, Xiao Yan had always been thinking: If one day, all the Strange Flames in the myriad worlds were absorbed by him, then how would he become stronger?
Although by that time, he would definitely be terrifyingly strong. But people are never satisfied.
Xiao Yan didn't know how strong he would be when the Strange Flames of the myriad worlds no longer affected him.
But he knew, no matter how strong he was at that time, he would still want to become stronger.
Therefore, Xiao Yan had always been searching for the answer.
Now, he had vaguely found it.
The power of Strange Flames might have an end. But human power... the power of comprehension, the Dao itself... is endless.
This 'Yin Fire' was his first step—creating fire from nothing, from a concept.
...
"Let me see what this world's Dao of Fire is all about!"
Xiao Yan spread his arms. Countless streams of Yin Fire, like black, viscous liquid, flowed from his body and began to continuously spread outwards.
Fire, fire, great fire.
The black flames instantly engulfed the surroundings with Xiao Yan at the center.
Normal fire being called a "sea of fire" was often a metaphor.
But Xiao Yan's was a true sea of fire.
Yin Fire was murky and dark. Though it was fire, when it burned, it spread like a black, viscous liquid, flowing across the forest floor.
Wherever the Yin Fire passed, not a blade of grass grew, and everything was ignited.
The Yin Fire was like rainwater on the ground during a downpour, seeping into every corner, every burrow, every treetop.
"Ah!!!"
"What the hell is this black liquid?!"
"It burns! So hot! Damn it, this is fire! Which immoral person set the mountain on fire?"
Screams continuously came from within the forest, getting closer and then abruptly stopping.
Undoubtedly, these people were all burned to death by Xiao Yan's Yin Fire.
Watching his points continuously rise on his armguard, a smile slowly appeared on Xiao Yan's lips.
What's most important when doing things? Efficiency!
With his Yin Fire burning, the entire world zone would soon turn into an ocean of Yin Fire.
He could just lie there and take a nap.
And a continuous stream of points would come flowing in.
...
World Zone 45.
In a modern city, Li Changshou was lying in an old-fashioned rocking chair on the top floor of a skyscraper, looking leisurely and content.
[Inorin's Note: Li Changshou's core characteristic is "lying flat" (tang ping), meaning he avoids all unnecessary risks, exerts minimum effort, and seeks a quiet, safe life.]
Through the skyscraper's panoramic glass, he quietly observed the surrounding scenery.
At this moment, the city seemed to have experienced an apocalypse straight from a novel.
There were shattered glass, dried bloodstains, and corpses everywhere—a very realistic scene of doomsday.
To ensure realism, the Universe Virtual Company had a rule: after a participant's virtual body was killed, the "corpse" would still remain for a time.
In various corners of the city, some people were still fighting.
"Oh, these two are quite strong."
Taking a leisurely sip of virtual tea, Li Changshou looked out through the skyscraper's glass.
At this moment, two experts were battling fiercely in the high sky right outside the skyscraper where he was located.
Those who could fight so openly and boldly in the high sky, their strength was obviously considerable.
Otherwise, fighting in the high sky under the current circumstances would be no different from being a target.
These two were going back and forth outside the skyscraper, having a great time fighting, unleashing dazzling attacks.
And they were only separated from Li Changshou by a single pane of glass.
Li Changshou could clearly see them, their gritted teeth, their desperate moves.
But they had no idea of Li Changshou's existence.
Even when fighting, they were clearly right next to the skyscraper, sometimes crashing against the air meters from the glass.
But they intentionally or unintentionally avoided damaging this specific skyscraper.
This was clearly Li Changshou's doing. He had set up a simple concealment and diversion formation to make himself invisible here.
"Their strength is good. These two will likely have a lot of points if they last until the late stage. I'll make a small mark on them."
While watching the vivid "movie" in front of him, Li Changshou made a small, invisible spiritual mark on these two.
He was different from the others in the group.
Although he was also somewhat unable to resist the temptation of "You're Awesome"...
However, he knew deeply that everyone in the group was a beast.
If he really wanted to compete with them for that title, he would have to risk his life and go all out.
And he might not even win.
If going all out gave him a 100% certainty of winning, Li Changshou would naturally not mind competing.
But if going all out still left him with less than a 50% chance of winning… then there was no need to compete. It was too risky.
So, he happily lay flat.
He was just wandering around, watching a live battle royale as if it were a big movie.
Cough cough.
And incidentally, marking some strong individuals.
He was waiting for them to "fatten themselves up" with points before he reaped the harvest in the final days.
Saving time and effort!
He wasn't competing... but that was only for the group's "You're Awesome" bet.
He still wanted to compete for the actual qualification to comprehend the Origin Universe.
"Today is a good day, everything I wish for can come true!"
Li Changshou hummed a cheerful, old-fashioned song, leisurely rocking while watching the people outside fight and die.
He mused, "The people in the group are greatly restricted... but I am not."
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