Chapter 304: The Collapse of Other Contestants
"Brother Xiao… you bastard!"
Shi Jian looked at the ranking on the screen of his wrist, smiling helplessly.
[Contestant: Xiao Yan]
[Score: 1,254,533]
[Rank: 1]
The preliminary round had only just begun. The starting bell had barely rung, and Xiao Yan had already accumulated over 1.2 million points.
This meant he had eliminated at least several million people, assuming some had zero points.
This efficiency.
It was a bit terrifying.
With such data, Xiao Yan had clearly not used conventional methods.
Shi Jian could roughly guess what methods Xiao Yan had used.
That kid must have set the mountains on fire.
"It seems first place is out of reach…"
Shi Jian didn't have much confidence in competing with Xiao Yan, as his current body was only a virtual Star Level 9.
[Inorin's Note: In the Swallowed Star universe, cultivation is divided into levels. 'Star Level 9' is the peak of this stage, right before the 'Universe Level'.]
It was not his original body.
Many of his true, world-breaking methods could not be displayed.
Shi Jian also had some unconventional methods.
For example, formations.
He planned to set up a peerless killing Formation in this world zone. He would find several key energy nodes as the Formation eyes.
When the grand Formation was activated, it would encompass the entire world, killing all other contestants in one fell swoop.
At that time, he would gain a massive amount of points.
Others, earning points through conventional, barbaric killing methods, certainly couldn't compare to his elegant, large-scale approach.
However, it was clear that everyone in the group had their own insane, unconventional methods.
...
It would take time for him to complete the Formation setup.
By the time he finished setting up the Formation and initiated his "world slaughter"...
Xiao Yan would probably have already achieved his "world destruction" feat.
Xiao Yan had destroyed his world.
He had also destroyed his.
But his points would definitely not be as high as Xiao Yan's.
Just as the clever Lin Dong had thought.
Those with only one point would lose all their points.
But those with more than one point.
Would only lose half their points.
By the time his Formation was set up, it was estimated that more than half of the people in his zone would have been eliminated by others.
These people's points would have gone through second, third, and fourth hands.
By the time they reached his hands, they would have been diluted countless times.
How could the points he obtained then compare to Xiao Yan's?
Xiao Yan started with a bang.
All the points he obtained were first-hand, fresh from the source.
Couldn't compare.
Absolutely couldn't compare.
Shi Jian sighed. It seemed he could only contend for second place.
...
"Sixth place?!"
Meng Qi also looked at the ranking on the score list with a bit of speechlessness.
To be honest, after entering the world zone, Meng Qi felt incredibly good.
A brand new body, though only virtual, was something Meng Qi adored.
With a brand new body, he could completely start from scratch and cultivate it.
He could develop this body in whatever direction he desired.
Wasn't that awesome?
This was especially true after his "main account" was ruined.
A perfectly good "Sword Cultivator" account, destined for elegance and grace, was cultivated by him into a "brute"!
[Inorin's Note: Meng Qi's main body in The Sage Who Transcended Samsara is the 'Overlord's Body' (Bawang), one of the most physically powerful and dominant physiques, excelling in head-on, brutal combat.]
Meng Qi felt a pang of heartache just thinking about it.
The key was that his main account couldn't be reset.
All his skill points were invested in "defense" and "strength."
He wanted to learn elegant, ethereal sword techniques.
But his body became as solid and sharp as the sword itself.
He wanted to learn profound Spells and Divine Abilities.
But his body became an invincible, impervious-to-all-magic physique.
Any skill that came into his hands, no matter how elegant, would somehow skew towards "SMASH!" or "BLOCK!"
Meng Qi even felt his main body was cursed.
Now, in this virtual universe, controlling another completely different, clean body—Meng Qi swore he would live a proper life!
Meng Qi stepped on his Sky-escape Shuttle, swiftly traversing the Void Realm!
"Being a Psychic is not bad either! Flying in mid-air on Psychic weapons, controlling weapons for long-range attacks!"
[Inorin's Note: A 'Psychic' (Jingshen Nianshi), or Spirit Reader, is one of the main cultivation paths in Swallowed Star, using mental power to control weapons and energies.]
The controlled Psychic weapons—a swarm of small, golden daggers—easily reaped the lives of one person after another.
Meng Qi's heart was filled with joy.
What a delightful prospect!
He calmly flew in the Void Realm, his Psychic weapons transforming into golden butterflies fluttering around him.
Like the scythe of death, gently cutting through others' lives.
Elegant!
Too elegant!
This is the elegance I desire!
Meng Qi was overjoyed.
"Now, let's add special effects to the weapons…"
With a thought, Meng Qi began to comprehend the Laws of the Domain.
He had previously exchanged notes with Luo Feng and seen how Luo Feng applied a Domain to his Psychic weapons.
Those Psychic weapons glowed with golden light, like a golden legend.
It was incredibly beautiful.
In a few dozen days, Meng Qi had already comprehended some Laws.
"Comprehending the Domain, today is the day!"
After seeing Xiao Yan's exaggerated score, Meng Qi gave up the idea of competing for first place and instead prepared to show off properly.
He wanted to experience the joy of cultivation.
He wanted to cultivate this body.
Into a proper Psychic!
"Domain Gate, open!"
Meng Qi finally comprehended the Domain...
"Law of Gold... Gold Domain? Within the Domain... an invincible golden body?"
Meng Qi's smile froze.
"Is this right? Doesn't the Law of Gold represent sharpness? Why does it become 'hardness' with me?!"
[Inorin's Note: The Law of Gold in Swallowed Star is indeed primarily about sharpness and cutting. Meng Qi's innate 'Overlord' attribute is so strong it's twisting the very Laws of a new universe into a defensive one.]
...
"Great Five Elements Technique!"
"Five Emperors Canopy!"
"Divine Thunder, aid me…"
In another world zone, Fang Han hung high above the Nine Heavens. Vast, five-colored thunderclouds centered on him, continuously spreading outwards.
Fang Han's body was filled with various nascent Domains.
Gold Domain.
Wood Domain.
Water Domain.
Fire Domain.
Earth Domain.
Each Domain was comprehended to an extremely high level.
The cultivation of the Great Five Elements Technique was very special.
[Inorin's Note: The Great Five Elements Technique (Da Wu Xing Shu) is one of Fang Han's 3,000 Great Daos from Eternal Life, a foundational and powerful ability.]
It not only required comprehension but also the accumulation of various rare, material resources.
Fang Han's current body was virtual and had not cultivated the Great Five Elements Technique, so it couldn't unleash much of its power.
Under normal circumstances, the Five Emperors Canopy could not be used.
However.
The Laws of the Swallowed Star world were too special.
Especially the Five Elements Laws.
The Five Elements Laws of the Eternal Life world were incredibly aloof. You had to throw mountains of money and resources at them, and only then would they condescendingly glance at you once or twice.
The Five Elements Laws of Swallowed Star were different.
As you passed by their door, they would wave at you:
"Little brother."
"Come play a bit~"
...
The rules of the two worlds were different, and Fang Han easily comprehended the Five Elements Laws.
After comprehending the Five Elements Laws...
He used the Five Elements Domain to activate the Great Five Elements Technique!
He used the Five Elements Domain to manifest his Five Emperors Canopy.
To be precise, it was a Domain Canopy!
The Domain Canopy spread out, a massive, five-colored cloud layer extending for thousands of miles.
Wherever the canopy passed, it covered the sky and obscured the sun, enveloping all things.
Wherever there was a trace of a human (contestant) presence.
Heavenly thunder would fall, eliminating the enemy.
Wherever Fang Han's thunderclouds passed, no one survived.
The contestants in his zone didn't even know what was happening.
Seeing the sky covered in dark, churning clouds.
They thought it was a simulated weather scene by the Virtual Universe Company.
They just assumed it was normal weather.
As a result.
The next moment, they were struck by five bolts of colored thunder, hit by lightning, and turned to ash.
Fang Han, with the Domain Canopy above his head, continuously moved back and forth through the world.
The Domain Canopy above his head was like a divine eraser.
The world was a piece of paper.
Wherever the eraser passed, all lines (contestants) were erased!
The unsuspecting native people in this world looked at the dark clouds covering the distant land and occasionally exclaimed:
"This world simulated by the Virtual Universe Company is so realistic!"
"It even rains!"
...
Fang Han collected points while keeping an eye on the rankings.
"Xiao Yan!"
"This guy…"
Fang Han smiled, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
It seemed that in this round of their confrontation.
Xiao Yan was going to win.
It was hard to say when it came to true combat power, but when it came to the efficiency of acquiring points in this specific scenario...
They really couldn't compare to Xiao Yan.
"I wonder if there's a chance to fight this time?"
Compared to the bet.
Fang Han actually looked forward to a life-and-death duel with the people in the group.
Especially in this virtual world.
When the few people in the group first joined, their strengths weren't that far apart.
But now, the difference had widened significantly.
They usually had some exchanges, but they were all superficial.
Speaking of which, among the people in the group, it seemed there had never been a formal "PK."
Among group members, the strength gap was a bit too large, so "PK" wasn't fun!
But this time was an opportunity to fight.
A virtual world.
Everyone was using a virtually created Star Level 9 body.
It was equivalent to everyone starting new accounts.
Their main accounts had varying equipment and Ranks, so PK was boring.
But these new accounts…
"Hehehe…"
Fang Han smiled, his battle intent rising.
"Xiao Yan, right? For now, I'll admit you're powerful…"
...
Among the few, the one with the most ordinary methods was actually the powerful Yang Qi.
Most of his strength came from the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength.
[Inorin's Note: Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength (Shenxiang Zhenyu Jin) is Yang Qi's (from Sheng Wang/Sage Monarch) core technique, granting him the power of countless particles (elephants) in his body.]
Now, switching cultivation systems.
Controlling this Star Level 9 body, his strength experienced the greatest weakening in history!
Many methods within the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength could not be used.
After all, those skills were "bound skills"!
They were exclusive skills to his main "God-Engineered" account.
And his main account was a hidden profession.
Now, having changed professions to a basic "Star Level 9 Warrior."
Many skills couldn't be used.
Of course, besides these bound skills, Yang Qi also had some other very strong skills, but his methods were not very prominent for mass clearing.
Therefore, he did not immediately go to eliminate others.
Instead, he began to familiarize himself with his new body!
"Genetic Prime Energy."
[Inorin's Note: The correct term in Swallowed Star is 'Genetic Energy'.]
"It's the development of genetic power."
"This has some similarities to the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength."
After all, the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength was about developing the energy of human cells, awakening the particles within them.
Yang Qi was trying to use the methods of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength to develop the genetic power within this body.
This was a unique power.
He called it: Divine Elephant Genetic Prime Energy.
It was of the same origin as the Divine Elephant Embryo, yet somewhat different.
...
"Without the assistance of a Martial Soul, fighting really feels a bit... unaccustomed!"
[Inorin's Note: This is Lin Feng, the protagonist of Peerless Martial God (PMG). His primary power comes from his 'Martial Souls', which are spiritual manifestations of his abilities, but they are suppressed in this virtual world.]
"But this sci-fi world is awesome… virtual technology has actually reached such a level!"
Lin Feng strolled leisurely across a plateau. The three-foot Green Edge (Qing Feng sword) in his hand subtly moved, and Sword Qi soared.
Instantly, countless people in the distance were cut down.
"The Sword Domain seems to be under some special suppression; in this world—the Dao of the Sword is not prominent!"
"However, the Law of Fire and the Law of Gold are countless times more active than in my world…"
Lin Feng secretly pondered in his heart.
In his world, most Laws were also relatively easy to comprehend.
He had comprehended Sword Intent and cultivated the Sword Domain.
Besides the Sword Domain, he also comprehended the Fire Domain.
Now, having arrived in the Swallowed Star world and changed bodies, his Sword Domain could not be used at all.
It was as if such a thing simply didn't exist in this world.
However, his Fire Domain could be used normally.
And it was incredibly active.
He had comprehended the Fire Domain here for over ten days.
It was equivalent to several months of cultivation in his own world.
"Xiao Yan, that guy, is a newcomer!"
Looking at the score ranking, Lin Feng sighed.
It was his first time participating in a group member activity.
He still wanted to compete with the group members.
But Xiao Yan, this "newcomer" to the group, was like he had cheats enabled.
He was a Sword Cultivator, but no matter how sharp his Sword Qi was...
Under the circumstances where everyone was at Star Level 9...
He couldn't destroy the entire world with one sword!
"I wonder if that guy used fire attacks or other methods?"
"Even if it was fire attacks, the efficiency shouldn't be this high, right?"
Lin Feng had cultivated fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques and comprehended the Fire Domain, so he was an expert in using fire.
His environment was also suitable for setting mountains on fire.
However, his fire could hardly wipe out all enemies.
His fire, within the range of his Fire Domain, could kill everything.
But outside his Fire Domain, it was difficult to pose a great threat to others.
If Xiao Yan also used fire attacks, at his rate of gaining points, could it be that his Domain spread across the entire world?
Or perhaps the fire he used was extraordinary?
But everyone was using virtual bodies, so where did his extraordinary fire come from?
After much thought, Lin Feng still couldn't figure it out.
Shaking his head, he earned points while pondering the Law of Gold.
First place was out of the question.
Let's see if he could contend for second!
...
"Is Brother Xiao Yan that amazing?"
Shi Hao also looked at the score ranking in confusion.
Having experienced the Immortal Ancient elimination round, he was also very familiar with this kind of competition.
[Inorin's Note: The 'Immortal Ancient' was a secret realm in Perfect World where Shi Hao competed against geniuses from many realms, similar to this competition.]
He thought similarly to Luo Feng.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
He thought of familiarizing himself with his body first, getting stronger.
Then going to earn points.
After all, that was his routine in Immortal Ancient.
Cultivate in seclusion, come out, seize treasure.
Cultivate in seclusion, come out, seize treasure…
As a result, he was still familiarizing himself with his body, and Xiao Yan had already become a god.
"Let's see if I can contend for second place!"
Shi Hao sighed, no longer thinking about familiarizing himself with his body.
Familiarizing oneself while fighting was the same.
First place was out of reach.
He had to contend for second place, right?
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm coming!"
Shi Hao cracked his knuckles and his figure blurred, activating his crazy mowing mode.
...
Above each world zone, there were transparent membranes.
Inside the membranes, in comfortable spectator areas, there were many outside spectators.
Most of the spectator areas were normal.
The spectators watched the exciting battles, thrilled by the displays of genius.
But in the spectator areas for the zones containing Shi Jian and the others, countless people were dumbfounded.
"Holy cow! What's going on with this person in Zone 1004? Is that a weather effect? Wait... it's moving! It's a thundercloud... it just erased a 10,000-man alliance!"
"Look at Zone 0722! A mountain just turned into a formation! A formation! Who uses planet-sized formations in the Star Level preliminaries?!"
"And Zone 0001! What's wrong with the feed? The screen is just... fire. It's been on fire for ten minutes. The score... my god, the score is broken."
"This isn't a competition, it's a complete massacre…"
"Thousands of people died in a few sentences? Slaughter, this is a complete slaughter…"
The people outside were dumbfounded.
...
The people inside the competition also gradually realized that something was wrong.
The wind howled.
A bloody aura permeated the air!
"There's something filthy in this zone! Holy cow, have you ever seen a finger as big as a mountain? Hundreds of us experts were about to form an alliance, and a small mountain-sized finger just... pressed down. It instantly crushed everyone. If I hadn't comprehended the Earth Domain and quickly escaped deep underground, I would probably be dead already…"
"What's going on with this virtual world? Why are there natural disaster environments? That special thunder zone keeps moving, and as soon as anyone steps into it, they get killed by lightning…"
In various world zones, countless contestants were dumbfounded:
"There's something filthy!"
"The game is bugged! There are cheaters!"
"Don't come over here…"
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