Each of them had a copy of the rules, printed on A4 paper, placed before them.
Rule 5: The plot will strive to be fair to every adventurer.
"Think about it," the old man in the Zhongshan suit chuckled. "In the personal terminal, there's the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' to watch. Adventurers know the plot and how to avoid it."
If they know the danger and deliberately avoid it, doesn't that significantly reduce the adventurer's risk factor?
But!
Rule 5 claims to strive for fairness.
The question arises!
Is the risk factor the same for being in an inland African region as it is for being in Antarctica at minus 60 degrees Celsius?
To ensure fairness, the more dangerous the region, the higher the points awarded.
This, is the essence of Rule 5!
"So that's how it is!" Chief Director One nodded, then his thoughts shifted. "We're all inferring based on the results after the fact. What about Qin Feng?"
How did Qin Feng know in advance?
Could he foresee the future?
...
The top ten teams have been announced.
For those not in the top ten, their personal terminals will also indicate their country's ranking.
"72nd place?" an adventurer from Kimchi Country boasted proudly. "Even though there are no rewards, it's still much better than Sakura Country. They were wiped out in the plot, and the disaster struck!"
"Exactly! Sakura Country deserved their bad luck!"
Both being sons of the White Eagle Country, the two nations have always been hostile towards each other.
Teams ranked 11th to 50th will not receive national rewards.
Countries ranked below 50th will experience the 'The Day After Tomorrow' plot.
"What?!"
The adventurers from Kimchi Country were dumbfounded.
And not just them.
Over 140 countries collapsed upon hearing the news.
They all thought that disaster would only strike if the adventurers were wiped out.
Turns out...
Being ranked below 50th means misfortune, just delayed.
The legendary reckoning.
On Blue Star.
Countless countries descended into panic.
Tsunamis!
Tornadoes!
Cold snaps!
Instantly struck over a hundred countries.
In Great Xia Country, there was song and dance.
...
Announcing the top ten individual rankings.
Global individual first place, Qin Feng with 990 points.
Global individual second place, Qian Tong with 578 points.
Global individual third place, Xiao Ruoruo with 554 points.
Global individual fourth place, Bird Grandpa with 500 points.
"Holy crap!"
An uproar of exclamations erupted from the safe zones of the Doomsday Star and the live streams of various countries on Blue Star.
Qin Feng, first place!
So far ahead of the second place!
The most outrageous thing is that the Divine Punishment team swept the top three individual spots.
They only had four members in total...
No!
Sun Haikun is dead, leaving only three.
Insane!
Completely insane!
The viewers in the live streams didn't have the analytical skills for this.
They couldn't understand how a murderer, a lunatic, could achieve global double first place.
Team first.
Individual first.
Crucially, with a significant lead over the second place!
"..."
Xiao Ruoruo covered her mouth, looking at Qin Feng in disbelief.
Why is this happening?
But!
The facts were before her, undeniable.
He, was the strongest in the world!
Even she and Qian Tong had only achieved top three because they were following him, a complete win by association!
As she was still in shock, a sudden change occurred.
A warm current permeated her body, and her physical attributes noticeably strengthened.
Strength!
Hearing!
Sight!
Smell!
Name: Xiao Ruoruo
Affiliated Team: Divine Punishment
Physique Attribute Bonus: 1.5x - Individual Ranking Reward
Ability: Plant Manipulation - Individual Ranking Reward
This is?
She was stunned.
And it wasn't just her.
Qin Feng and Qian Tong also received physique attribute bonuses.
"Caw caw..."
Suddenly!
The penguin, held by Qin Feng, let out a pained cry.
"Fourth place... Bird Grandpa? What kind of a ridiculous name is that?"
Someone was murmuring.
Xiao Ruoruo's heart tightened.
She looked at the penguin in surprise.
Half an hour ago.
Qin Feng had said he was naming the penguin - Bird Grandpa!
Qin Feng put the penguin down.
"My God! That penguin..."
"Everyone, look quickly! The penguin is getting bigger!"
Indeed!
The penguin, which was 50 centimeters long, rapidly expanded like an inflating balloon, visible to the naked eye.
In a blink of an eye, it grew to 80 centimeters!
"Caw caw..."
The penguin let out two more calls, then nudged its head against Qin Feng's leg, rubbing against him affectionately.
Its previously naive eyes now held a spark of intelligence.
"Around its neck... is a personal terminal!"
"So, it's Bird Grandpa?!"
"Rule 8 stated that personal terminals can be inherited, so... that's Sun Haikun's terminal!"
When the personal terminal was bound to the penguin's neck.
It was recognized as an adventurer.
Recognized as a member of the Divine Punishment team!
...
Blue Star.
The Great Xia live stream was completely erupting.
- 'Qin Feng killed Sun Haikun and put the terminal on the penguin, did he know this beforehand?'
- 'No! Rule 8 hadn't been announced then, he couldn't have foreseen it!'
- 'The top four individuals are all from the Divine Punishment team? Too strong!'
- 'Did the penguin mutate?'
Meanwhile.
Netizens from enemy countries infiltrated the Great Xia live stream.
Upon seeing the discussions in the comments, they turned and brought the news back to their own countries.
Soon.
All countries learned one thing: personal terminals are not only usable by adventurers, but also by creatures on the Doomsday Star.
Moreover, it's not limited to humans.
...
Name: Qian Tong
Affiliated Team: Divine Punishment
Physique Attribute Bonus: 2x - Individual Ranking Reward
Ability: Summoning (Dark) - Individual Ranking Reward
"Captain!"
Qian Tong was even more excited than Xiao Ruoruo. "I got a reward! What is this Summoning, and why is there a bracket behind it..."
"I know, congratulations."
Qin Feng walked over.
A smile on his face.
This was the first time he had smiled at a teammate.
Before this, he had only smiled at the penguin.
"Captain, thank..."
*Pfft!*
Blood splattered.
Qian Tong dumbfoundedly looked down, seeing the dagger plunged into his left chest. "You..."
"Did you really think I wouldn't hold you accountable for attempting to insult Xiao Ruoruo?"
He twisted the dagger forcefully.
Under the terrifying force, his heart was instantly shredded. "One thing, you and Sun Haikun were wrong – only the two of you are unimportant."
How could Xiao Ruoruo be unimportant?
In his previous life, she was known as the Goddess of Life!
One of the final surviving powerhouses.
Otherwise.
How could Qin Feng have publicly killed Li Dajun to snatch her away?
"You..."
Qian Tong's life force ebbed away.
The dagger was pulled out.
He slumped to the ground, instantly lifeless.
The scene fell into dead silence.
He killed again!
This madman actually killed again!
And he killed his own teammate, who was ranked second in the world – was he insane?!
...
Blue Star.
The Great Xia live stream.
Following Qin Feng's double first place in both team and individual rankings, hundreds of millions of foreign netizens flooded in.
If not for the fact that more than half of the world's countries were experiencing the 'The Day After Tomorrow' plot, there would have been even more foreign viewers.
- 'OMG! The first place from Great Xia killed the second place!'
- 'He's a lunatic indeed!'
- 'Haha! Great Xia loves internal conflict!'
It wasn't just foreign netizens mocking.
Domestic netizens were equally enraged.
Previously, although Qin Feng had killed people and his behavior was extremely strange, many considered him mentally ill.
But!
His overwhelming victory in both team and individual rankings had clearly shifted the netizens' attitudes.
He had brought immense benefits to the country.
He had become a hero of Great Xia.
But now...
As expected!
He was still a ruthless killer!