Opening the Doors
From the moment Chen Ling appeared in front of Jian Changsheng in the posture of a referee, Jian Changsheng smelled a hint of conspiracy.
He understood Chen Ling too well. Once this black-bellied guy started to disguise himself, he would definitely do something big... But even if he racked his brains, he wouldn't have thought that Chen Ling would actually play so wildly this time!
A participant actually put on the skin of a referee, putting on an act here...
The key point was, the others actually believed it!!
Moreover, Jian Changsheng couldn't figure it out, how did this guy successfully disguise himself as a referee? Where was the original Referee 06? Did those higher-ups responsible for hosting this struggle not notice anything abnormal?!
The corners of Jian Changsheng's mouth twitched crazily. Apart from his shock, looking at these participants being kept in the dark, he also somewhat wanted to laugh...
Looking from afar, his expression looked as if he was having a spasm, incomparably stiff.
Chen Ling's gaze swept over the crowded rotunda, feeling the number of people was about enough. He then stood still in the center and spoke slowly:
These few words instantly made the impatient crowd return to their senses simultaneously, successively looking at the figure draped in the fluorescent robe. As the fingertips in Chen Ling's sleeve flicked the central control panel, a roaring sound of mechanical operation sounded from beneath everyone's feet!
Rumble—!!
In the hollow deep shaft in the center of the rotunda, an exhibition stand rapidly rose, freezing in front of everyone's eyes amidst a roar!
The crowd looked fixedly, only to see a dark and shiny sphere currently treasured in a glass display cabinet, emitting a hazy roughness under the bright projector light overhead... It looked simple and mysterious.
"This, is the [Privilege] you all are seeking."
At the same time, Chen Ling's voice sounded again, "Whoever ultimately obtains the [Privilege] will be able to designate a descent location for the [Heaven-Reaching Star Position] when the final three-hour countdown begins... What it means, I shouldn't need to say more."
The crowd gasped, their gazes towards the Stone Ball turning straight!
Designating a descent location for the [Heaven-Reaching Star Position] meant being able to obtain a tremendous first-mover advantage in the final stage. It could almost be said to be reserving a seat in advance. Its temptation to them naturally went without saying.
"That is the [Privilege]?" Sun Bumian was somewhat surprised, "It seems quite useful..."
"[Privilege] my ass."
Jian Changsheng silently rolled his eyes at the side, muttering softly,
"If that is really the [Privilege], I'll cut my own head off and let him kick it as a ball. Can't I guess what idea that guy is plotting?"
Sun Bumian: ...
Before the crowd could take two more looks, Chen Ling flicked the disc once again. The exhibition stand carrying the Stone Ball crashed into the underground, disappearing into the deepest part of the "Dark Palace".
"There is only one [Privilege]." Chen Ling said indifferently,
"There are six doors behind me. From now on, you can choose a door to enter on your own. They all lead to the bottommost layer of this 'Dark Palace', which is where the [Privilege] is located...
But behind the doors are filled with various levels. The levels behind some doors are relatively simple, while some are as difficult as ascending the heavens. What kind of test each person encounters depends on your own fate.
Whoever rushes out from behind their respective doors the fastest and arrives at the deepest part of the 'Dark Palace', will be the first to pocket the [Privilege]."
Hearing Chen Ling's description, everyone's breathing instantly became heavy. Even the Fourth Order or even weaker participants who originally didn't have much confidence and just wanted to watch the fun, their eyes began to gleam brilliantly!
Seeing the changes in everyone's expressions, Chen Ling knew the time was ripe. He calmly flicked his sleeve, and the six pitch-black large doors behind him roared open!
"Now, you can set off."
The instant Chen Ling's voice fell, those powerhouses who had long been unable to hold back whistled out, respectively disappearing into the six arched doors. The other participants, deeply afraid of being left behind, also swarmed past Chen Ling.
The high-spirited participants surged layer by layer past the fluorescent robe like a tide, while Chen Ling calmly stood in place, like a towering and unmoving reef, quietly watching the turbulent waves.
Then that Beggar was seen stopping his footsteps before the six doors, specifically doing finger divination for a long time, and finally deep bewilderment emerged in his eyes...
He looked at the six doors again in disbelief. After scratching his head, he still gritted his teeth, randomly chose a door and rushed in, disappearing without a trace.
"You aren't going anywhere?" Sun Bumian looked at the calm and composed Jian Changsheng beside him.
"Not going anywhere." Jian Changsheng spoke firmly. "These six doors, taking any of them is certain death. Only standing in place is the safest!"
A few seconds later, the originally incredibly lively rotunda instantly became incomparably deserted.
Chen Ling looked at those six arched doors that were pitch-black as an abyss, a faint smile curling up on the corners of his mouth...
Jian Changsheng guessed right. For these six doors, there fundamentally was no distinction between simple and difficult. The mechanisms behind every door had been adjusted by Chen Ling to "Hell" difficulty. The reason why he said that was merely to stimulate the gambling nature of these participants... Their strengths varied, and they themselves were also clear that if they really fought, they definitely wouldn't be a match for those Fifth-Tier geniuses.
But if the levels behind the doors were different, then it would be hard to say... What if one's luck was good and drew a simple one, while those big shots had bad luck and were delayed by difficult levels?
Why couldn't the lucky chosen one be oneself??
If one could get the [Privilege], gain an absolute advantage in the final stage, and in case one truly obtained the [Heaven-Reaching Star Position], then it would be Defying Fate!
Chen Ling utilized their psychology and deceived almost everyone inside... with only two exceptions.
Chen Ling looked back, only to see Jian Changsheng grinning and looking at him, arms crossed in front of his chest, putting on an appearance of having seen through everything.
"Good on you, Hearts! I knew you definitely..."
Bang—!!
Jian Changsheng had confidently spoken halfway, when the floor beneath his feet suddenly opened to both sides. His whole person rapidly plummeted amidst catching off guard, and his terrified screams gradually drifted further away.
As the fingertips in Chen Ling's sleeve flicked the central control panel again, the opened floor quickly closed. Everything was as if nothing had happened, incredibly calm.
Sun Bumian: ?????
Sun Bumian was dumbfounded. Little Jian, who was still calm and composed at the side just a moment ago, disappeared in the blink of an eye... That terrified scream accompanied by curses seemed to still echo by his ears.
What the hell?!!
Aren't we teammates of the same generation?!!
Chen Ling glanced at the place where Jian Changsheng was originally standing and coldly snorted.
Chen Ling had never been a magnanimous person. He still bore in his heart the grudge of Jian Changsheng tricking the Qiankun Twins into chasing him down. Now that this kid had entered the "Dark Palace", he naturally couldn't let go of this opportunity for revenge...
Of course, he wouldn't really kill Jian Changsheng, just let him suffer a bit, and incidentally have some sense of participation.
After Jian Changsheng disappeared, the entire rotunda was left with only Chen Ling and Sun Bumian...
Chen Ling walked slowly towards him.