Chapter 423
The leaderboard lasted for at least three minutes before it switched to a catalog of gift box items.
**Intermediate Gift Box**: 50 attribute points, golden tree buds, SS-level skills, the Tomb of the Origin World, pet eggs, fairy wings, oak owl feathers, race talent swaps, 3-star weapons, 3-star accessories...
**Advanced Gift Box**: 5-star weapons (custom-made), golden tree fruits, skill modifications (up to ten characters), SSS-level divine talent skills, clues for upgrading divine talents, 10-star Hai Nian courses (selectable), 200 attribute points, and more...
Yu Xunge felt a strong urge to draw from the boxes.
However, the end of the leaderboard noted that 529 players had drawn the intermediate gift box, while only 2 players had managed to get the advanced one.
In an instant, Yu Xunge's restless heart was crushed.
【End of the first round elimination. We hope everyone continues to work hard and make the food street bigger and stronger.】
【Chapter 550: Divine Game: Nonsense Restaurant 85】
As the leaderboard disappeared, the world returned to normal. But just as it did, Yu Xunge was hit in the eye, losing 21% of her health. She quickly ran away to munch on some bread to recover.
She had previously been relieved that she hadn’t brought out **Midnight Exile** and **Absurd Story**, but now she felt a twinge of regret.
She flew to the top of the food street, keeping an eye out for any impending battles while mentally communicating with her pet, Tu Lan, in the pet space.
Yu Xunge: "Are you awake? Want to come out and play? But don’t come out just yet; listen to me first."
Tu Lan: "I’m awake! Can I go out now?"
After explaining the current game mechanics and situation, Yu Xunge said, "Here’s the deal: even though you can’t use your skills, this is the perfect time for you to practice fighting. You can come out and train on your own, and when you feel like the death penalty is too much to bear, you can come back. How does that sound?"
But Tu Lan asked another question: "Why do you seem so heavy-hearted? You sound a bit sad."
Yu Xunge couldn’t hide her emotions from Tu Lan. She sighed inwardly, unsure of where to start.
It had only been a little over a day since this game began, but to Tu Lan, it felt like just yesterday when she had said goodbye to Yu Xunge in the starting room.
Yet for Yu Xunge, it felt like an eternity.
She had come to realize the terrifying nature of the death penalty mechanism in this divine game, the scrutiny and whims of gods and demons over the players, the struggles after being outsmarted by Song Gui, the twists and turns of her encounters with Rabbit No. 3, and that desperate battle where she had been pushed to the brink...
It felt so long, yet looking back, it had been less than two days.
There would likely be many more such long moments ahead, where she would either fall from the edge or forge herself in the flames of adversity.
B8017913 was her assistant; it didn’t need combat power, as its strength was for her use. It was more of a support role, providing her with information and a skill library.
But what about Tu Lan?
If Tu Lan couldn’t keep up with her, would they become the next Li Zhou and Song Gui?
That shouldn’t happen. She couldn’t afford to keep a dragon, nor would she abandon Tu Lan just because she was weak and couldn’t help her. She just didn’t want to see Tu Lan become a true pet.
The worst kind of pampering is turning a being with limitless potential and outstanding talent into a waste.
Though the divine game was cruel, it also offered immense opportunities.
Yu Xunge’s voice was more serious than ever as she recounted her battle with Rabbit No. 3, then said:
"Tu Lan, I have two paths for you. One is to hide in the pet space whenever I sense danger. You have a long lifespan; you can take your time. You’re a dragon, and you have plenty of time to grow stronger."
"The other path is to join me in the divine game. We might encounter enemies like Dong Hai Sha Leng, face similar situations, where death becomes a luxury, or where death can’t even end the pain and danger... But no matter what, I won’t let you stop participating in the divine game. The pet space can only serve as a temporary refuge from crises; you will have opportunities and suffer just like I do."
Tu Lan asked, "You want me to choose the second path, right?"
Yu Xunge’s voice was firm yet gentle: "Yes, I don’t want you to grow slowly because I can’t afford to wait. Even if I fail and lose everything, I will get back up and run forward again. I can’t stop to wait for you, nor will I let you stop waiting for me."
"If you want to choose the first path, I’ll support you."
"But I would feel very regretful. Those hardships are valuable, Tu Lan. Just like you want to become stronger, you have to wear down your dragon scales against the stone wall. The most unforgettable rewards often come with pain."
Tu Lan didn’t immediately comply as she used to; she asked another question: "If I can’t keep up with you, will you abandon me like Song Gui abandoned Li Zhou?"
Yu Xunge replied, "I won’t. But if you can’t keep up with me, the dangers I face may force me to let you leave temporarily. That’s protection, but it can also be seen as a form of abandonment cloaked in warmth."
In that moment, she couldn’t help but think of Li Zhou and Song Gui. Would they be like that?
In her mind, she heard Tu Lan’s choice: "I choose the second path."
Tu Lan thought to herself that she believed she wouldn’t become Li Zhou, and Yu Xunge wasn’t Song Gui.
As long as she didn’t betray Yu Xunge, perhaps she would always be liked by her. But she didn’t want to be a cat in the backyard...
She could still recall the awe in Yu Xunge’s eyes when they first met, and later, the scenes of them designing various game battles in the villa.
Even though Yu Xunge would tease her when she was casting her big moves, during real fights, her gaze was focused, sharp, and filled with fighting spirit. It was the look of someone who respected strength.
But she knew that Yu Xunge hadn’t looked at her with such eyes for a long time. She had encountered more and more towering mountains and seen a broader world.
Her eyes were filled with sweets, blades, gems, and sharks...
She had long forgotten about the dragon at home...
That damned strong-willed goose!!!
Tu Lan roared, "I choose the second path! I want to fight!"
Yu Xunge nodded in relief, feeling that her words hadn’t been in vain: "Come out then; you can talk freely now. Your black household status has been silenced."
She was a black household, and her pet was in the same state, as evidenced by B8017913’s status.
As soon as Tu Lan emerged, her massive form collided with several players, and she began throwing punches and kicks at the nearby air.
As the owner, Yu Xunge could see the outline of her pet, just as she could see herself, her form fluid, every movement sending out faint ripples.
Watching Tu Lan flap her wings and kick her legs, even biting at the air, Yu Xunge felt a mix of emotions, her lips pressed tightly together, her heart heavy.
Though she was surprised by Tu Lan’s sudden emergence, it didn’t stop B8017913 from speaking up: "Yeah, I could see that’s how you felt when you were fighting."
Yu Xunge replied, "That’s pretty good, actually."
B8017913 said, "If your defense were as tough as your words, I wouldn’t have to worry about your safety."
Yu Xunge shot back, "If your words were as few as the remaining parts you have, I’d definitely be much brighter."
Though she could still banter with B8017913, Yu Xunge could already imagine the terrifying scene the gods were witnessing...
Those morally bankrupt, smoke-blowing guys were definitely not seeing a stealth version.
Gods are so unprincipled!!
She wanted to see it too... She had already imagined the scene of Feng Tang and Wu Ren dancing face to face.
Please, just stop fighting already~!
Yu Xunge was laughing when suddenly, a hammer flew in from nowhere and hit her in the lower back, sending her flying forward like a bracket, her health dropping by 30% in an instant.
Damn! It had to be Song Gui!
She had already noticed that this owl emperor was throwing hammers around in the air!!! The kind that spun and flew everywhere!
【Chapter 551: Divine Game: Nonsense Restaurant 55】
From 8 to 9 o'clock, Yu Xunge and Tu Lan were fighting in the air, occasionally sneaking up on players in the food street.
Every few steps in the food street, there was a towering red light beam, about the thickness of a can of cola.
Players often rushed to pick up job icons, likely those who had started their culinary adventures as black households. If they didn’t get a job soon, they would be sent to the dark food street by 9 o'clock.
Or perhaps they were players who couldn’t protect themselves in the black household circle. The death rate here was also high, as they could be taken down by weapons and area attacks from who knows where, making it better to gamble on a surprise egg.
Once these players picked up the job icons, some were killed.
At first, these players cooperated; as long as the incoming players weren’t too much stronger than them, they would open their arms and let others take them down. After all, becoming a black household immediately would refresh their black household time, right?
But soon, players began sharing information in the battlefield chat channel.
【Dong Hai·Jing Man】: I have good news for everyone. If you pick up a job icon and don’t go to the restaurant to get hired, you won’t be considered successfully hired. You’ll still be a black household, and even if you die, your black household time won’t reset.
【Mai Mang·Xie Xie】: Are you in the dark food street?
【Dong Hai·Jing Man】: I’m waiting for you all to come keep me company in the dark food street.
Clearly, this was someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble.
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