In Yelanka's estate.
Guan Tong stayed in his room, silently listening to the rules.
"This rule... truly lives up to its name, a death race."
This also confirmed his earlier speculation to Uenoshi; the Sixteenth Rule was indeed related to the Second Ascendant Challenge Tournament.
He just hadn't expected this rule to be so blatant.
Previous rules mostly subtly instigated conflict among humans, but this one laid it bare on the table, a pure zero-sum competition of kill-or-be-killed solely for the sake of ranking rewards.
Furthermore, unlike the Holy Grail Island of the first challenge tournament, judging from this rule, the competition arena is the entire Tianshui Star, and once a "Contestant" dies, it's a real death.
However, this rule has an exit mechanism.
Guan Tong raised his palm, and the challenge tournament invitation appeared in his hand.
As long as this item is discarded or destroyed, it's equivalent to forfeiting. Those who forfeit won't obtain the special title of "Contestant," killing them won't yield points, and naturally, they are considered to have withdrawn from the competition.
But the price to pay for withdrawal is the decay of the Mind Power Upper Limit.
"The rule mentions that those participating in this challenge tournament who possess the 'Contestant' title can see each other's nicknames and points above their heads... just like 'red name' players in a PK game."
This means anyone whose nickname and points you can see above their head is your potential enemy. Even if you don't attack them, they might attack you to seize your points.
This mechanism imposes certain restrictions even on the strong.
Because once a strong individual accumulates too many points, everyone else can see it and might unite to target this person.
"...Under this rule, official authorities in various countries will definitely enforce strict control," Guan Tong thought. "Otherwise, letting Contestants slaughter each other will only further reduce the population, which is detrimental to humanity as a whole."
He pulled up his panel to check this round's Hidden Rule.
[Hidden Rule Sixteen: By Any Means Necessary]
[In this rule, Ascendants in Team Formation mode can still attack each other, killing the other party to seize their points]
[Note: Only those entering the top ten thousand in the points ranking will receive rewards; otherwise, all the struggle is in vain — So when a teammate becomes a stepping stone before your interests, are you willing to be someone who stops at nothing and raises the butcher's knife?]
"Can still kill teammates while in a team? Truly 'by any means necessary'..."
Ever since the Team Formation function appeared, Mind Power attacks between teammates have been ineffective; only cold weapons could cause damage.
Now, under this Hidden Rule, Mind Power attacks will undoubtedly also be effective. This means many established teams, once aware of this information, will inevitably harbor suspicion. Even if they don't intend to do it themselves, they'll be wary of their teammates.
And wariness itself is the beginning of a relationship breakdown...
"Fire Thief..."
Guan Tong sighed.
He wondered if this entity was determined to have humans kill each other until only a handful remained.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knocking sound came from the door.
"Troupe Leader."
Guan Tong went to open the door. Uenoshi and Yelanka were outside.
Yelanka's eyes held a hint of curiosity, clearly due to Uenoshi's form of address for Guan Tong.
She didn't hide this curiosity and, trusting Guan Tong, asked directly, "Teacher, are you the leader of some troupe?"
"Yes, the Trace Origin Travel Troupe. It's an organization I founded myself, aiming to investigate the truth behind the Doomsday Rules and the Fire Thief."
Guan Tong didn't hide it. His organization wasn't some shady, evil organization like the Qingmei Society; there was no harm in mentioning it.
"Trace Origin Travel Troupe... that sounds really good." A flicker of yearning passed over Yelanka's face before disappearing.
"Do you also have a desire to pursue the truth?" Guan Tong asked.
"...The current me probably can't pursue it."
The helplessness in her words was audible even to Uenoshi.
It made sense. Yelanka was now the Administrator of the Xisiya Empire. As the supreme leader of such a major nation, the weight of responsibility on her shoulders was heavier than a mountain. What time would she have to pursue her own ideals?
Guan Tong didn't press further and instead asked, "Yelanka, regarding this new rule, aren't you, as the Administrator, going to issue government decrees?"
"That's why I came to find you, Teacher." Mentioning the rule, Yelanka became very serious. "Teacher, you are one of the world's top Ascendants. This rule is a competition among Ascendants. I wanted to hear your opinion on the way to the meeting."
"Alright, let's go then. Uen, you come too."
"Okay."
Guan Tong had been acting as Yelanka's driver and bodyguard these past few days. Apart from driving her back and forth and resting in the compartment next to her office, he didn't have much other work.
After getting in the car, on the way to the office, Guan Tong said, "The opinion I want to offer regarding this rule might be implemented relatively well in Beixing, but it would be significantly less effective in Xisiya."
"Please explain in detail, Teacher." Sitting in the back seat, Yelanka listened attentively, while Uenoshi beside her also listened silently.
"The best self-preservation might seem to be discarding the invitation to forfeit, but doing so leads to rule failure and Upper Limit decay. Therefore, I believe the best outcome is to have all Ascendants keep their invitations but strictly prohibit them from killing each other for points."
Hearing this, Yelanka slightly frowned.
She understood why Guan Tong said this opinion could be well implemented in Beixing but would be less effective in Xisiya.
The reason was that Beixing had a large number of officially built and operational shelters, where people lived and were easier to manage. After everyone in a shelter becomes a "Contestant," anyone who dares to kill indiscriminately to seize points would immediately face severe official sanctions.
In other words, Beixing could rely on its powerful social control to suppress Ascendants, making them afraid to kill each other for points.
However, the official departments in Xisiya don't have such strong control over the Ascendants in this country. Encouraging all Ascendants not to forfeit would inevitably lead to incidents of malicious killing.
And...
Yelanka thought of something and asked, "Wouldn't a complete ban also provoke resistance? Some Ascendants confident in their strength would definitely kill other Ascendants to seize points for the top ten thousand rewards... How should that be handled?"
"I have an idea," Uenoshi suddenly said.
"What idea?"
"Have the authorities designate a specific venue for Ascendants who want to compete for points rankings to fight. Like the authorities setting up an arena; only fighting in this arena is legal. Any killing outside the arena is treated as murder."
Once Uenoshi voiced her idea, both Guan Tong and Yelanka fell silent for a moment.
At first glance, this idea seemed somewhat absurd. The authorities designating a legal "killing field"? Is that really something the authorities could do?
But upon careful thought, it was indeed an effective way to reduce private killings.
Want to take someone else's points to compete for ranking? Fine! But you must go to the designated arena to fight! Sign a liability waiver before the fight; if you lose, don't complain — you insisted on coming.
But kill outside the arena? No! Anyone caught is dealt with as a serious murder crime. This way, the overall order can be maintained, preventing a situation where low-level Ascendants live in constant fear.
"Uen's idea has some merit."
After the silence, it was Guan Tong who spoke first.
"A blanket prohibition won't work; it's better to open a breach, letting those Ascendants who are confident in themselves and willing to bear the risk of defeat compete."
"..."
Yelanka pondered, unsure of the consequences if they actually did this. As the Administrator, she had to consider things as comprehensively as possible.
Even after arriving at the office building, she hadn't made a decision: "I'll take your opinions to the meeting, see what everyone says."
She then went to participate in the meeting with various official departments and think tanks, while Guan Tong and Uenoshi waited in the room next to the conference room. To protect Yelanka's safety, Guan Tong usually didn't stay too far from her.
"Half an hour has passed," Guan Tong checked the time. "In another two and a half hours, anyone who hasn't discarded their invitation will become a Contestant. Uen, will you discard yours?"
"No," Uenoshi answered without hesitation. "I don't want my Mind Power to decay."
"Me neither," Guan Tong said.
Uenoshi asked, "With the Troupe Leader's strength, achieving a high ranking shouldn't be difficult. Do you plan to go for it?"
"Perhaps. It's just..."
Guan Tong sighed. Competing for ranking meant having to kill other Contestants, yet he wasn't a person who enjoyed killing.
"If you don't want to kill innocents indiscriminately, you can go to the designated arena. After all, those who go there are already prepared to kill and be killed."
Guan Tong gave a bitter smile. "Uen, do you think I enjoy killing?"
"...No. I just think it's a pity that with the Troupe Leader's strength, not going for the high-ranking rewards would be a waste."
Guan Tong shook his head.
He had taken first place from others before, but that was different from killing. Moreover, he always felt a nameless anger towards this kind of rule.
Clearly knowing the Fire Thief is manipulating people to kill each other, yet people, to obtain rewards and avoid punishment, have no choice but to act according to the cruel rules set by the Fire Thief... This unavoidable fact made him deeply uncomfortable.
"Are you angry?"
Seeing Guan Tong pursing his lips, his eyes slightly cold, Uenoshi thought it was because of her words.
"It has nothing to do with you, Uen. I despise the Fire Thief."
Uenoshi fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "...I sometimes think, the appearance of the Fire Thief shattered countless people's lives. Those who survived are only doing so because of the animal instinct to survive, without much other meaning."
Hearing this, Guan Tong looked at the emptiness in Uenoshi's eyes, knowing her nihilistic sentiment was surfacing again.
"Life doesn't need meaning; meaning needs life. Just like the truth — its reason for existence is to be uncovered by us one day."
Hearing this, something stirred in Uenoshi's heart, and a faint light appeared in her eyes. "Meaning needs life... I understand, Troupe Leader."
"I've decided, Uen," Guan Tong said. "For this rule, I will become a Contestant, but I won't actively kill others to seize points. However, if anyone foolish enough provokes us, I won't show any mercy either."
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