With their motivation gone, they found it impossible to quiet their minds for Meditation.
Qin Dahai and Wang Ming were prime examples.
However, for them, while regrets were inevitable, they didn’t feel much bitterness or resentment.
Because they all knew in their hearts that their lives had been worth it.
They had witnessed Qin Feng grow, step by step, from a youth on the brink of ruin into a peerless prodigy whom even they now had to look up to.
Their own lives had also been turned upside down by Qin Feng’s rise.
...
Qin Feng, Dragon Jade, Nissan, and Ning Jing stood quietly, waiting.
As time went on, the number of people entering this waiting space reached a staggering level.
The initial, sparse crowd of a few thousand had long since been drowned by the endless tide of people that poured in after them.
As far as the eye could see, the entire plain was filled with Sixth-level Martial Artists of all shapes and sizes, each exuding a powerful aura.
More and more people arrived.
The entire space felt like a giant container being constantly filled with water—crowded and oppressive!
The air was thick with the suffocating calm that comes before a storm.
Everyone’s nerves were stretched taut.
For they knew that when this space could hold no more, the unprecedented, bloody free-for-all involving billions of geniuses would officially begin.
Time lost all meaning in this oppressive Virtual Space, a place of endless waiting.
One day, two days, three days...
Qin Feng and the others had long since forgotten exactly how much time had passed.
All they knew was that the endless plain beneath their feet was now completely filled by a sea of people.
The once-sparse figures had now coalesced into a dense, impenetrable jungle of bodies.
Billions of Sixth-level Martial Artists from countless star systems and civilizations stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a terrifying scene that could make anyone with claustrophobia suffocate on the spot.
Eventually, the space itself seemed to reach its limit.
Peering through the gaps in the crowd, Qin Feng could see that far beyond the plain, the monotonous, dark-red earth gave way to the silhouettes of complex terrains: rolling mountain ranges, vast deserts, and turbulent oceans.
Clearly, the battlefield for the main event was far more vast and complex than they had initially imagined.
At last, the majestic yet cold, synthesized voice echoed through every corner of the world!
"All contestants, listen up."
"The main event will begin in one hour. Please make your final preparations."
"This region is the entire active area for the main event. A high-intensity Spiritual Barrier marks its borders. Do not attempt to cross the boundary. Violators will be immediately disqualified."
"When the one-hour countdown ends, all contestants will be randomly teleported to a corner of the main arena."
"The detailed rules for the main event will now be announced."
At this, everyone held their breath, focusing with utmost concentration.
"The rules for the main event are as follows:"
"First: Wearing or equipping any form of ’power armor’ is forbidden. The use of Spiritual Weapons and recovery Potions is also prohibited. Melee weapons are restricted to Level 6 Alloy Weapons."
"Second: During the competition, anyone defeated once, regardless of the method, will be immediately disqualified by the system and teleported out."
"Third: The competition will continue until the number of remaining contestants is reduced to one hundred thousand."
"Note: If a contestant is defeated by multiple contestants working together, they will still be considered ’defeated once’ and immediately disqualified."
"Note: Resource packs will spawn randomly within the arena. Contestants may place them in their Subspace Storage Unit. However, if a contestant is defeated, any resource packs they have acquired will be dropped. Furthermore, contestants who acquire a resource pack will be marked on the map."
This final, supplementary rule was like a bombshell dropped into a placid lake, instantly causing a subtle shift in every contestant’s gaze.
Everyone present was a battle-hardened prodigy who had risen above countless competitors. There wasn’t a single simple-minded fool among them.
The moment this rule was announced, everyone immediately understood its deeper implications.
"It allows for alliances... which also means we can be ganged up on."
Ning Jing, who had been silent until now, was the first to speak. His voice was as calm as ever, but his words came slightly faster than usual, a clear sign that his mind was racing.
"This rule is a huge advantage for us, since we’re from the same school and already know each other well.
It means we can officially team up, form a squad, and stick together."
"At the same time, it also means that ’hiding’ and ’lying low’ will be two of the most important tactics in this competition."
Ning Jing’s gaze swept over the endless sea of people as he continued his analysis. "Look, the arena is enormous, and they’ve deliberately included a ’random teleportation’ mechanic. This shows the organizers don’t want us engaging in large-scale, head-on battles right from the start.
If the four of us are lucky enough to find each other after the teleportation, our first priority must be to team up immediately and find a concealed location to hide."