Doomsday Rules Countermeasures Research Office.

After the new rule was announced, Gao Liangwei immediately convened a countermeasures discussion meeting.

"Everyone should have noticed, this rule is somewhat strange."

Right from the start of the meeting, everyone expressed their inner confusion.

"The reward includes a Survival Chest, indicating this is a survival-type rule. But the failure punishment isn't 'None', but 'surviving in a parasitized form'. What does that mean?"

In the past, survival-type rules had a failure punishment of "None", but in reality, the opposite of survival naturally meant death.

But this time was different.

"The key lies in what exactly the parasitized form is? Is the host alive or dead? Does the host still possess self-awareness at that point?"

"I think we don't need to consider that problem. We should control it from the source, simply avoid inhaling the spores."

"Exactly. Can the protective suits used during the previous Fatal Blood Plague rule period be taken out and used again?"

"Spores and viruses are probably not the same. Especially since this rule mentions that this adhesive spore can adhere to all physical entities... Aren't protective masks physical entities too?"

The experts and scholars were discussing when someone brought up: "What I'm more concerned about is the addiction after absorption. The rule specifically mentions that humans can resist this addiction through willpower. This means even if spores are inhaled, as long as the resistance will is strong, it won't lead to rule failure."

"How could it be as easy as it sounds? The addictiveness of these spores must be very strong. And humans can't even easily quit alcohol and nicotine after getting addicted..."

"That's right. Moreover, the reward for this rule is 1000 Ascension Coins, enough to see the difficulty is not low. Once addicted, it's probably very hard to resist." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Judging by the addictive nature and the failure punishment so far, if resistance fails, humans will become spore parasitized forms. I wonder where the boundary lies? Is it only after inhaling a certain amount of spores that one completely loses control?"

"It's impossible to know without conducting experiments."

Then someone asked curiously: "Didn't any of you notice the Fire Thief's note? These spores are actually a bestseller in the universe. Why is that? This thing should be harmful to intelligent beings, right?"

"Probably because of the addictiveness. It's the same principle as drugs. Drugs are so harmful, yet aren't they bestsellers in some countries with chaotic management?"

"Don't forget the note also includes the word 'once', indicating these spores are no longer bestsellers now. This point needs everyone's attention."

People analyzed the rule content word by word, but based on the current intelligence, it was still difficult to make accurate and detailed judgments.

However, the meeting participants unanimously agreed that prevention was more important than treatment.

Therefore, the proposed countermeasure suggestion would partially reuse the regulations from the [Fatal Blood Plague] rule period, requiring everyone to stay in sealed rooms and not go out unless necessary.

Additionally, the large stockpile of protective equipment reserved earlier would be delivered to each person by the official transportation department.

As for more suggestions, observation and experimentation were still needed.

Observe what changes exactly occur in humans who inhale the spores, and what form this so-called parasitism takes.

Experiment whether, with current human medical standards, methods like drugs can be used to forcibly control the special addiction of those who inhaled spores.

Also, wait for the Administrator of Ascendant Home to see if this mysterious person, who has always had channels to obtain hidden rule intelligence, would publicly release or sell intelligence this time.

...

This rule is really strange.

After listening to the rule, Guan Tong felt that from the rule content to the Fire Thief's note, everything was somewhat inexplicable.

Especially the note.

"A bestseller in the universe... This seems to indicate that multiple intelligent civilizations indeed exist in the universe, and there even seems to be a concept of a 'universe market'."

Although this point was practically an open secret since the appearance of the Kimos Star Chronicle, now the Fire Thief directly mentioning it in the note might represent that rules involving alien creatures and civilizations will become more and more frequent in the future.

As for whether this is good or bad for humanity, it's uncertain.

"The failure punishment isn't direct death, but surviving in a parasitized form... This should still count as death, right?"

Guan Tong couldn't help but think of a plant from his Earth hometown, dodder.

This is a plant without its own roots that can twine around and parasitize other plants. It obtains nutrients by sucking the sap of the host, causing the host plant to suffer nutritional deficiency, reduced yield, and death.

Guan Tong remembered seeing news before that when farmers in rural areas had conflicts, some, for revenge, would secretly sprinkle a bunch of dodder seeds on their rival's crops.

If this special alien spore also survives by absorbing nutrients from the human host, eventually causing human death, then wouldn't everyone have a strong will to resist? Who would be willing to die as fertilizer?

How did this damn thing become a bestseller in the universe?

"Something feels off... Let's check the hidden rule first."

Unable to figure it out, Guan Tong simply opened the panel to check the hidden rule.

[Hidden Rule Fourteen: Dosage Control]

[Hidden Rule Content: The alien spores in this rule possess the special ability to deeply develop bodily functions and improve psychological state. Utilizing them within the boundary range is a way for intelligent biological individuals to rapidly become stronger.]

[Note: Discussing toxicity without considering dosage is not rigorous. Achieving the balance therein is the mark of a wise being.]

"...So that's it."

After reading the hidden rule, Guan Tong suddenly understood.

These spores can strengthen the organism itself and also improve psychological state... This is practically like a fusion version of "enhancement injections" and "psychological sedatives" from movies!

With such powerful functionality, no wonder these spores could become a universe bestseller.

However, this thing gave Guan Tong a feeling somewhat similar to morphine.

Used for strong pain relief after surgery or during severe pain, it's beneficial. But once overused and the body becomes addicted, the benefits immediately turn into harm, enough to drag a person from heaven into hell.

Can't discuss toxicity without considering dosage... This note really isn't wrong.

"Such a hidden rule..."

Guan Tong frowned, momentarily hesitating whether to make it public.

If made public, what if many people become overconfident, thinking they can control the balance well, and actively seek to inhale spores to become stronger?

Just like many gamblers, when they start playing, they swear they definitely won't get addicted, that they can control themselves, but later, eight out of ten lose control.

And the addictiveness of these spores must be more severe than ordinary gambling or drugs!

Choosing to make it public, wouldn't it harm many people?

But if not made public...

Like some previous rules, sooner or later, no, definitely very soon, someone will inhale the spores and then feel their body and mind strengthened.

After the news spreads, might people, in a moment of excitement, cast aside the consequences of the rule failure punishment and rush to inhale them to become stronger?

After hesitating for a moment, Guan Tong made a decision.

"It still needs to be made public. The authorities need to be made aware of the danger and seriously warn the public... But unfortunately, the hidden rule still doesn't mention what exactly it means for humans to survive in a parasitized form once addiction leads to loss of control."

Would humans turn into monsters? Or would there be other changes...

Guan Tong sighed softly.

He knew he didn't need to think too much, because with humanity being such a large collective, no matter how much prevention is done, someone will definitely inhale the spores and become completely addicted and lose control very soon.

When that happens, the changes occurring in that person will naturally become a research case, publicly announced by the authorities.

...Then, coming back to myself, what is my own coping strategy for this rule?

Guan Tong wondered, should he, like during the Blood Plague rule, stay inside the shelter with the door closed for a whole month?

The Book Page Shelter possesses absolutely sealed characteristics. Since it could block viruses back then, there's no reason it couldn't block alien spores now.

Doing this would undoubtedly be an absolutely risk-averse approach.

Moreover, he wasn't interested in using the spores to become stronger. He was already strong himself, steadily improving every day. Why take the risk to gamble on not getting addicted?

This was the same logic as when he didn't eat that piece of [Demon Monster Flesh]. He didn't want to pay a completely uncontrollable price just for some enhancement.

"Better to play it safe."

Guan Tong decided not to leave the shelter during the rule period unless absolutely necessary. Although he was also curious about how the alien spores made people stronger, once he thought of the risks, his curiosity quickly dissipated.

However, because of this, some of his original plans also needed modification. The plan to go to Bandzhen to look for an opportunity to find Yamata no Orochi would have to be delayed a bit.

It's just that this rule gave Guan Tong a bad feeling. He had a premonition that this month would probably see unexpected complications and couldn't be passed as smoothly as last time.