Torchlight
On the old platform, this slow-moving light and shadow immediately attracted the attention of the few people.
That person was wearing a fluorescent robe, incredibly conspicuous under the illumination of the Kerosene Lamp. Like a glowing light bulb, the two white numbers "17" were written on the chest and back, and a work badge was hung on the chest.
"I am the resident referee for this trial, number 17." That person's gaze swept across the crowd. He took out a few forms from his chest, held a pen in the other hand, and spoke again, "Are you all here to participate in the trial? Report your names."
"Lin Yan."
"Jian Wubing."
"..."
After everyone reported their names, the referee matched the names and black-and-white photos on the forms with them one by one. The backgrounds of those photos were all at the office. It looked like they were secretly taken when they submitted their application forms to prevent the applicants and actual participants from not matching, triggering a substitute cheating behavior.
After confirming the identities of the few people, the referee nodded slightly:
"Initial location?"
"In order to prevent participants from grouping up in advance and affecting the fairness and impartiality of the competition, we will set up the initial locations for everyone. Some organization members with official backgrounds will also be deliberately separated." The referee spoke calmly. "At the same time, during this competition, it is forbidden for more than three people to travel together. Once discovered, the first time will be a warning, and the second offense will directly cancel the qualification."
Hearing this, Chen Ling sighed in his heart that the Five Great Realms were really serious this time. Not only did they not give their own official organizations any preferential treatment, but they deliberately weakened their advantages, leaving the opportunities to civilians... Standing on the standpoint of humanity, they thirsted for fresh blood too much.
"This competition will last for a total of 48 hours, during which you can use any method to reduce the number of people participating in the competition.
In addition, we have hidden a 'Dark Palace' within the Old District. Inside it hides a 'Privilege'. This 'Privilege' will be related to the final competition for the [Heaven-Reaching Star Position], bringing a tremendous advantage to its possessor.
When entering the final three-hour countdown, seven Starlight Thrones will rise from seven locations in the Old District. When the countdown ends, the seven people sitting on the Starlight Thrones will become candidates for the [Heaven-Reaching Star Position]."
The referee used the most concise language to directly summarize the requirements of this competition, and then asked calmly:
"Did you all understand?"
"Understood."
"Now, you can take your Kerosene Lamps and set off."
The referee marked the initial positions of the crowd on a map. After they each noted it down, they carried their Kerosene Lamps from the back of the station and scattered into the dark Old District.
Jian Changsheng carried a Kerosene Lamp and walked side by side with Chen Ling in the abandoned city. The hazy starlight seemed to sprinkle a faint white frost on the road. At the end of the distant street, the faint light of other Kerosene Lamps could also be seen walking silently like fireflies.
"Not gonna lie, they actually set this up with quite the atmosphere." In the darkness, Jian Changsheng seemed somewhat excited. "If I can get that whatever [Heaven-Reaching Star Position], I can also change my luck... From now on, completely say bye-bye to this fucked-up life."
"Then good luck."
"... Why are you so cold?"
"In The Script, generally people who say this kind of line don't live past three episodes."
"..." Jian Changsheng gnashed his teeth. "No, you don't have the slightest interest in this Star Position?"
"A little, but not much." Chen Ling smiled slightly. "Compared to the result of seizing it, I am more willing to enjoy the process... This kind of Stage gathering all Divine Path geniuses is a rare encounter in a century."
"What a pervert."
Jian Changsheng rolled his eyes. Walking to a Crossroads with Chen Ling, he stopped.
"My initial position is over here, what about you?"
"In the opposite direction of you."
"Alright, let's split up then." Jian Changsheng was just about to leave when he suddenly seemed to remember something. "By the way, if you encounter that bitch 6 of Diamonds, remember to teach him a good lesson for me!"
"..."
Chen Ling didn't answer, just waved his hand, and then walked straight into the darkness.
For some unknown reason, the organizers seemed to think he and Jian Changsheng were companions, specifically setting their initial locations very far apart. Chen Ling walked for a full twenty minutes before arriving at his own location.
It was an abandoned residential building, about seven stories in total. From the outside, it looked like an old residential community from before the Great Cataclysm, except that the facade was already extremely dilapidated... Seeing this scene, Chen Ling felt like he was in an apocalyptic disaster movie.
The light of the Kerosene Lamp spread across the dilapidated stairs. Chen Ling walked up step by step. After reaching the roof, he looked out into the distance...
Within his field of vision, he saw the halos of two Kerosene Lamps. One was in the residential building opposite him, and the other was on the street not far away.
After Chen Ling appeared, the Kerosene Lamp on the street was directly extinguished. It should be that that person sensed two competitors around, felt it was somewhat dangerous, so he directly extinguished his own light source and completely hid into the darkness, avoiding being killed and eliminated right at the beginning.
On the other hand, looking at the building opposite Chen Ling, the Kerosene Lamp was still bright. It seemed that person was somewhat confident in his own strength.
Seeing this scene, Chen Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The strong reveal their fangs, while the weak hide in the darkness... Although it's the most rational approach, it's a bit too conventional."
Everyone wanted to survive to the end to compete for those seven positions, so at the very beginning, they would all be relatively conservative... But Chen Ling was different. What he wanted was not the final result, but to earn enough Expectation Value in a short period of time.
Currently, his Audience Expectation Value was still stuck at 51%, but to safely regenerate and restore his arm, he needed at least 70% or more Expectation Value...
After all, with only one arm, it was very difficult to survive to the end in this arena full of monsters and geniuses.
A glimmer flashed in Chen Ling's narrowed eyes,
The palm holding the Kerosene Lamp abruptly clenched. Strands of electricity wandered over it. The next moment, a surging flame directly blew the Kerosene Lamp to pieces!
Bang—!!
A crisp explosive sound rang out,
A scorching and bright pillar of fire directly shot into the sky from Chen Ling's position, like a Torch Dragon dancing under the night sky, instantly attracting the attention of all participants within a radius of more than ten kilometers!
At the same time, the participant in the building opposite Chen Ling, seeing that extremely arrogant fireworks shooting into the sky, his mouth involuntarily opened wide... A 'seeing a ghost' expression!
When everyone else was thinking about extinguishing their flames, or Play It Safe, this fierce man opposite him actually directly led the flame into the sky!
[Audience Expectation Value +3]
[Current Expectation Value: 54%]