Chapter 792: Torch Fire

On the old platform, a figure slowly emerged, immediately catching the attention of several people.

The person was wearing a fluorescent robe, highly conspicuous under the illumination of the kerosene lamp, resembling a glowing light bulb. On their chest and back, the number "17" was written in white, and a work ID card hung from their chest.

"I am the resident referee for this trial, Number 17." The person's gaze swept over everyone. They took out several forms from their pocket, holding a pen in the other hand, and spoke again, "Are you all here for the trial? Please state your names."

"Lin Yan."

"Jian Wubing."

After everyone stated their names, the referee matched the names and black-and-white photos on the forms to each person. The backgrounds of the photos were all in the office, seemingly taken discreetly when they submitted their registration forms, to prevent discrepancies between applicants and actual participants and to deter proxy cheating.

After confirming their identities, the referee nodded slightly:

"There are one hour and twenty-five minutes until the competition officially begins. Next, I will assign each of you an initial location, which you will need to walk to. When the fireworks launch at midnight, the competition will be considered started."

"Initial locations?"

"To prevent participants from forming groups early and affecting the fairness and impartiality of the competition, we will set initial locations for everyone. Members of organizations with official backgrounds will also be deliberately separated," the referee calmly stated. "Additionally, during this competition, it is forbidden for more than three people to travel together. The first offense will result in a warning; a repeat offense will lead to immediate disqualification."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling mused that the Five Great Domains were indeed serious this time. Not only did they not grant any special privileges to their own official organizations, but they deliberately weakened their advantages, leaving opportunities for private individuals. From humanity's perspective, they were desperate for new blood.

"This competition will last for 48 hours. During this time, you may use any method to reduce the number of participants.

"Additionally, we have hidden a 'Dark Palace' within the old district, containing a 'privilege.' This 'privilege' will be linked to the final struggle for the Heavenly Star Position and will grant its possessor a significant advantage.

"Once the final three-hour countdown begins, seven Star Thrones will rise in different locations within the old district. When the countdown ends, the seven individuals seated on these Star Thrones will become candidates for the Heavenly Star Position."

The referee summarized the competition requirements concisely, then calmly asked:

"Is everything clear?"

"Yes."

"Now, you may take your kerosene lamps and depart."

The referee marked the initial locations of everyone present on a map. After noting their respective spots, they each picked up a kerosene lamp from behind the station and dispersed into the dark old district.

Jian Changsheng, carrying his kerosene lamp, walked alongside Chen Ling through the abandoned city. The faint starlight seemed to sprinkle a light frost over the roads. In the distance, at the end of the streets, other kerosene lamps flickered like fireflies, moving silently.

"To be fair, this is quite atmospheric," Jian Changsheng said, seemingly excited in the darkness. "If I can get that Heavenly Star Position, my luck will finally turn. From now on, I can say goodbye to this rotten life for good."

"Then good luck to you."

"...Why are you so aloof?"

"In scripts, characters who say lines like that usually don't survive past three episodes."

"..." Jian Changsheng gritted his teeth. "No, seriously, aren't you even a little interested in this Star Position?"

"A little, but not much," Chen Ling smiled slightly. "Rather than the outcome of obtaining it, I'm more interested in enjoying the process. A stage that gathers all the geniuses of the divine path is truly a once-in-a-century opportunity."

"You're such a weirdo."

Jian Changsheng rolled his eyes and stopped when he and Chen Ling reached a crossroads.

"My initial location is this way. What about yours?"

"In the opposite direction from yours."

"Alright, then let's split up." Just as Jian Changsheng was about to leave, he suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh, by the way, if you run into that jerk, Diamond 6, remember to give him a good beating for me!"

Chen Ling didn't reply, simply waved his hand, and walked straight into the darkness.

For some reason, the organizers seemed to think he and Jian Changsheng were companions, specifically setting their initial locations far apart. Chen Ling walked for a full twenty minutes before reaching his designated spot.

It was an abandoned residential building, approximately seven stories high. From the outside, it looked like an old apartment complex from before the Great Cataclysm, but its facade was now dilapidated. Seeing this, Chen Ling felt as though he was in a post-apocalyptic disaster movie.

The kerosene lamp's glow illuminated the worn stairs. Chen Ling walked up step by step, and after reaching the rooftop, he gazed out at the surroundings.

Within his line of sight, he saw two glows from kerosene lamps: one in the residential building opposite him, and another on a nearby street.

After Chen Ling appeared, the kerosene lamp on the street immediately extinguished. The person must have sensed two competitors nearby and felt it was dangerous, so they put out their light source to completely disappear into the darkness, avoiding early elimination.

In contrast, the kerosene lamp in the building opposite Chen Ling remained bright, indicating that the person likely had some confidence in their own abilities.

Seeing this, Chen Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The strong reveal their fangs, while the weak hide in the darkness... While this is the most logical approach, it's a bit too conventional."

Everyone wanted to survive until the end to contend for those seven positions, so they would be relatively conservative at the beginning. But Chen Ling was different. What he wanted was not the final outcome, but to earn enough 'Anticipation Value' in a short amount of time.

Currently, his audience's 'Anticipation Value' was stuck at 51. However, to safely regenerate and recover his arm, he would need at least 70 'Anticipation Value'.

After all, it would be difficult to survive to the end in an arena filled with prodigies and geniuses with only one arm.

A flicker of light passed through Chen Ling's narrowed eyes.

The hand holding the kerosene lamp suddenly clenched, threads of electric light coursing over it. The next moment, a surging ball of flame directly shattered the kerosene lamp!

Bang—!!

A crisp explosion echoed.

A scorching and vivid pillar of fire shot skyward directly from Chen Ling's position, like a fiery dragon dancing under the night sky, instantly drawing the attention of all participants within a radius of several tens of kilometers!

Meanwhile, in the building opposite Chen Ling, the participant saw the incredibly brazen pillar of fire shooting into the sky, their mouth involuntarily agape, as if they had seen a ghost!

While everyone else was thinking of extinguishing their flames or playing it safe, this formidable person opposite them actually sent a pillar of fire directly into the sky!

Audience Anticipation Value: 3Current Anticipation Value: 54