The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle-Chapter 153 - 141: Ranking Battle Begins!

Lounge area of Hall 24.

"Over here," Left Hand beckoned to Su Qi.

Su Qi walked over, glanced at the surrounding people, leaders of the top clubs from before, none of whom had brought companions or were in a public area.

That was normal.

Previously, everyone had gathered and made a high-profile effort to cooperate, deliberately for certain hostile clubs to see.

But now that the ranking battle had officially started, they no longer needed that gimmick, but instead had to go all out to prepare for everything.

"Brother Su, we meet again."

Sword White Clothes took the initiative, greeting him warmly.

Su Qi nodded, looking at the others, "Speaking of which, you guys aren't planning another contentious meeting like last time, are you?"

"That won't be the case..." Left Hand reached out and pulled out a stack of materials. "Right now it's mainly about exchanging information; this is what I've got regarding the so-called Twelve Worlds Competition, you might want to take a look."

Each person received a copy of the information, which Su Qi observed was collected from multiple channels.

"Currently, the competition format is unclear, but it's very likely to be points-based or elimination-based, as it involves all level 20 players across the server—it's a huge number. As for the so-called Twelve Worlds, they are probably divided into twelve regions."

Left Hand softly added, "For specifics, we'll have to wait until two o'clock this afternoon."

That was when the ranking battle would begin.

Left Hand was the first to share information, displaying sincerity.

A few others from the other clubs then also spoke up.

"I also have some intelligence to share, learned from above in the Paradise... The worlds we enter in the competition are highly likely to be linked to various factions."

"?" Someone frowned. "Does that mean we might enter worlds under some kind of sanctuary?"

Many powerful beings commanded respect and strength that could dominate a world, unfazed by corruption.

"Yes, that means we could really be making contact with real factions, maybe even entering worlds under the sanctuary of the Seven Spirit Kings..."

"That's too far for us. Each Spirit King is a terrifyingly powerful existence; at most, we might come into contact with their lower-tier organizations." Someone shook their head, "But it's also a good opportunity to increase our prestige, while being cautious, of course, since hostility and abnormalities are more common."

They were aware of their limitations.

Once they entered these worlds, they would do best not to stir trouble and remain humble—because once inside the Paradise, these factions appeared more frequently, and with many worlds interconnected, nobody wanted to enter an instance only to find their own wanted posters plastered everywhere.

Of course, this was also a way to increase their prestige.

"Wait."

Left Hand suddenly paused, looking at Su Buxian, a bit startled: "I almost forgot... We've discussed so much but haven't explained... Brother Su, you might not be aware of these things, right?"

"Hmm?"

"About the factions, Spirit Kings, the Abyss, etc.... After all, you don't know much about the Paradise."

Su Qi had heard of the Spirit Kings before; Russell had once offered Sky Gold to one... presumably called the Sunset Spirit King.

It seemed the Mixed Fish Piano was also offered up.

"No big deal."

Su Qi paused, "After all, I never prepare when gaming, I just skip over all the different plots and worldviews, and sometimes the unknown might be the most interesting, right?"

"...."

This was a serious ranking battle, the Abyssal Paradise!

It wasn't some run-of-the-mill game you were playing!

The bigshots in the Paradise were all pouring vast resources into it, attitudes from the top powers were very serious and urgent, but it all seemed just 'interesting' to you?

Sword White Clothes silently regarded Su Qi. Having observed him during a previous instance and spent some time together, he believed Su Qi was serious.

"Right."

Finally, Sword White Clothes also produced intelligence about the competition's formidable contestants. "Among the Twelve Regions... if anyone encounters these individuals, please be extra careful."

They were extremely well-prepared for this ranking battle, having gotten hold of the opponents' skills, equipment, and other information from various clues.

Everyone nodded gravely, as the competition was crucial, the situation complex, and the enemies dangerous, so there wasn't much beating around the bush.

The intelligence sharing was more or less complete.

"Wait, have all of you finished talking?"

Everyone was taken aback, looking at Su Qi.

Su Qi spoke softly, "Then let me also share a piece of information."

Hmm?

Many knew that Su Qi was neither a super new talent of any club, nor had any relation with the Paradise, so where was his information from?

"From the data I currently hold."

Su Qi: "This hall has an exceptionally large number of people."

"????"

What kind of information is this... and what does it have to do with your so-called data?

"And at least more than seven sets of eyes have been constantly on us here, though, of course, they shift their gaze as soon as you look at them."

Sword White Clothes paused, his eyebrows knitting slightly, "Are you saying we are being watched?"

Left Hand shook his head, "That's not necessary, this kind of surveillance serves no purpose."

Su Qi spoke calmly, "They are monitoring the time you leave; just by estimating when you will enter the competition, they inform people above, and have potentially bribed hundreds or thousands of players to match with you and then either act in their script or secretly sabotage you."

Everyone's expression darkened, "Such underhanded tactics?"

Left Hand, however, was surprised, "Su Buxian... how do you know all this so clearly?"

Su Qi muttered to himself, "I have to mention that a month ago, while playing the game, someone actually accused me of cheating. They created over fifty accounts just to target me, acting and feeding kills."

"That's too much, what happened next?"

"Then, both of our accounts got banned."

"??? You really were cheating!"

Su Qi remained calm and composed.

"That's rude."

Can this [?] [!] ability, appearing in an ordinary online game, really be called cheating?

It's called triggering an Easter egg!

Can you blame him?

Fortunately, Abyssal Paradise is genuinely fair and open, unlike other games that might wrongly ban him.

Sword White Clothes coughed and said, "Anyway, everyone should be aware of this and try to stagger the times."

Gradually, everyone's expressions grew solemn and serious.

Then they began to disperse.

They still had to continue communicating with the upper echelons, securing their prepared trump cards.

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This time.

The undercurrents in the dark were about to turn into raging waves in the open.

Inside the Paradise.

Many upper echelons were watching everything intently with deep gazes.

"It's starting..."

"Just like those few internal tests..."

"Although the rules have been constantly changing over the years, and this time is not as brutal as before, but..."

"This session is the most extensive, the most intense, with the most resources poured in, and a large number of super rookies making a grand slaughter!"

Someone cackled,

"I wonder who will be able to enter that place that countless people covet and rush towards!"

Time passed by the minute and second.

And all players had entered the game early, quietly waiting in their Personal Space, with the number of people increasing.

The online count probably reached its peak today. Fortunately, Abyssal Paradise had no server crashes, otherwise, with so many people... other games would have crashed by now.

Su Qi also returned to his Personal Space.

He checked the friend list; Night Guard... was still in the instance. Lately, this guy was unreachable in real life and there were no messages from him in the game, and even though the competition was about to start, he was still in the instance.

"That's not right, maybe... his access was masked by some authority in the Paradise..." Su Qi remembered Night Guard's background, he had been indeed mysterious lately, with his last message saying, 'Brother Su, I'm going to do something big, wait for my return.'

He wouldn't be going for a sex-change operation, would he?

Then, at that moment.

It struck two o'clock.

The clock's chime resonated in every player's Personal Space! And the sound was coming from outside the room!

"Ding!"

Su Qi looked outside the room.

In the Black Fog, it was as though an Ancient Bell echoed back, eerie and ancient! Vibrating everyone's minds!

Almost at the same time.

Su Qi... and countless other players also saw a flickering message box appear in front of them.

[Dear players, the Twelve Worlds competition has officially begun.]

[All players above level 20 are eligible to participate, and the competition will be divided into twelve different regions, where players will likely encounter a series of universes, worlds, backgrounds, and forces.]

[During the competition period, all other matchmaking channels will be closed.]

[The rewards for this competition are Potential Reward/Sequence Reward/Destiny Reward/Ultimate, and specific methods to boost rankings will be explained after players enter the instance.]

Su Qi paused slightly.

There was one last sentence, written in a different colored ink, twisted and squiggly, like a bug crawling or some kind of curse.

Although it was just seen with the eyes, it felt like it was whispering in the ear, chuckling, and as if giving a warning.

[New players, you seem... a bit too foolish and weak.]

Starting with an insult?

And why does this tone sound like the one who sent me the Paradise Invitation?

[...like a sailor who has not yet sailed out, has not yet stepped on the path to the future... being complacent, having not witnessed the true grandeur of waves... thinking you understand the face of the world.]

[It's really laughable...]

It was indeed laughing, like a throat glued together chuckling, like a cold mockery, growing louder and more eerie, making all players' scalps tingle, a chill entering from the back and spreading through the body,

"It feels like being heart-wrenchingly, desperately unique," Su Qi commented on the laughter.

The laughter gradually ceased, but it still echoed in all players' ears like tinnitus, followed by its raspy voice continuing to resonate oddly.

[And now! Before this grand ship of the Paradise sets sail... no matter how madly you fight, how fiercely you slaughter, how hard you try! Don't forget... this is just a beginning, a chance to witness the true meaning of life, the opportunity to acquire the pen to carve out oneself, the destiny... the undetermined gears are still quietly turning...]

[Lastly]

The script turned blood red, like flowing blood, slowly revealing a sentence everyone had seen before, but now seeing it made their hair stand on end.

[Welcome, players, to Abyssal Paradise]