No strange things are allowed to evolve!

Page 146

Aside from the unwashed dishes in the kitchen and the already pungent garbage, by the time he had finally hung all the clothes from the washing machine on the hangers, it was time to enter the incubator.

It was already 11:45 PM. Across the country, apart from young people about to start their nightlife, many people had already fallen asleep.

But the forum of the Tongzhou Association was exceptionally lively.

As the opening date of the incubator mentioned by the new manager approaches, some people have already begun to speculate about the outcome of this competition.

Yes, they called this group strategy event to seize Cataclysmic items a competition.

Because everyone here knows that, regardless of the incubator, there is only one of the most core and precious rewards. If someone has already taken it, then even if other teams enter the incubator at the same time, but are in different parallel incubators and have also conquered the incubator, even if they are only a second later, they will not be able to obtain the core reward.

Furthermore, even if members of the same team successfully complete the mission, only the person who made the greatest contribution and received the highest score is eligible to receive it.

So, while it may seem like a competition between teams, it's actually a competition between teammates as well.

Therefore, the standard for judgment is very simple—whoever can obtain the Cataclysmic item is the winner in this competition.

As a result, some people actually set up gambling dens and became bookmakers.

One manager, known as "Nine Losses in Ten Bets," somehow managed to obtain the names of all the people about to enter the incubator.

He put each name in the post and posted it on the forum.

Among them are many young talents whose names are familiar to these advanced evolvers who have reached level twelve or above and undergone a second sublimation.

Upon seeing these names, the evolvers on the forum were even more excited than when they first learned of the existence of Cataclysmic items.

Even they are not immune to the common desire to watch high-level games, where masters clash and geniuses clash.

What's more, many of them are their juniors, which makes them even more excited.

If one's juniors surpass the juniors of others here, wouldn't that mean one has surpassed the others here as well?

If my junior ultimately wins, although I can't explicitly state my relationship with him on the forum, I will at least feel a sense of accomplishment and be secretly pleased for quite some time.

Therefore, anyone who sends their younger generation into this incubator inevitably gets involved in this gamble, placing anonymous bets.

At the same time, there were also many who didn't send their younger generation in, but wanted to take this opportunity to make a quick buck, so they placed their bets based on their understanding and knowledge of the current generation of young evolvers.

Therefore, the names on the list quickly changed positions in the order due to differences in betting and odds.

As time ticked by and the start of the incubation period drew closer, the order of names gradually stabilized.

Several individuals stood out, with their betting rates leading by an almost precipitous margin.

The one in first place is named "Yellow Crane Tower," a level six evolver who has not yet ascended.

Even among these old folks who didn't care much about low-level evolvers, many had heard of this person's name from different places and knew that he possessed a calamity-level spiritual root and was a monster of extraordinary talent.

He was leading by an almost uncontrollable margin.

The second and third are respectively called "The Charm of Calligraphy and Ink" and "Finding Crabs".

The two have similar support rates and are neck and neck, both belonging to the T1 category.

Further down the spectrum, there are significant differences, with support rates divided into different tiers.

Apart from a few slightly outstanding ones who garnered some support, the rest basically lost their fame, and their support rates were not significantly different.

Because they are all almost zero.

Looking at the post, the director of the Bureau of Unification, sitting in his office, showed a slight displeasure.

He squinted and stared at the ID "Nine out of ten bets lose" for a long time. In his eyes, these four words were gradually turning into "divine strategy".

"I just asked you to help me confirm everyone who would be entering that incubator, but I didn't expect you to use it to start another gamble. You really have a big addiction."

He shook his head and didn't pursue the matter.

Although I was entrusted with this task, the list was originally obtained by someone else, and it is their freedom to use it as they see fit.

He glanced at the last word on the list, "Spicy Li is not allowed," as if he had a sudden realization.

"So he really went there for the Boundless Sands after all..."

"Who exactly is this person, and why is he helping Jiang Shu...?"

......

【Hatching Ground: Lone Smoke in the Desert】

[Type: Multiple (Death)]

Number of evolved beings in this round: 4

[Difficulty: Catastrophe]

[Introduction:]

In this desert dwell beings known as the "Sand Demons," who create desolation, erase oases, and leave their mark on countless "worlds."

[You—a special passenger—will travel with a companion who inherits the will to "slay demons," aboard the Zodiac Train across the desert, following the path once trodden by a certain "Sand Demon."]

You will explore new civilizations, make new friends, and embark on new adventures amidst countless bizarre deserts and oases. All your questions will be answered in the yellow sands.

So, are you ready to begin this demon-slaying journey?

【...】

[Mission Objective 1: Successfully slay a Sand Demon]

[Mission Objective Two: To be activated]

......

An endless expanse of yellow sand.

As the fierce wind howled and sandstorms swept across the sky, the whole world became blurred, and even the sky was completely obscured. Only a few rays of light shining through the sandstorms proved that there was a distinction between day and night.

woo-

Suddenly, a loud and melodious horn sounded, slightly tearing a hole in this deathly silent world where only the sound of wind could be heard.

A giant steel dragon travels across the desert.

Thick black smoke billowed from above the dragon's head, standing out like a conspicuous beacon in the desert.

It was a massive steam train, heavily armored, as if guarding against some presence in the desert...

The perspective gradually shifts from the air to inside the train.

Jiang Shu finally woke up in a bed.

At this moment, he was lying in a suite in one of the train carriages.

Jiang Shu found it somewhat novel.

Wow! There's even an opening animation?

However, this novelty was quickly worn off.

Jiang Shu realized that the current situation seemed rather tricky.

Unlike any previous incubator, this time the ability values, items, and skills were not sealed.

Moreover, judging from the first mission objective, this seems to be an incubator for exciting combat.

"Slaying a sand demon..."

Jiang Shu sat cross-legged on the bed:

What is a Sand Demon?

Just as he was wondering what was going on, he suddenly noticed a sticky note on the bedside table—

Today is my first day on the Zodiac Train as a Demon Slayer. I need to rest early so I can be the first Demon Slayer to be in position tomorrow!

"Demon Slayer..."

Jiang Shu put down the note after thinking for a moment.

"So, I'm a demon slayer now, and I have to sign in?"

Thinking this, Jiang Shu jumped off the bed.

He put on his brand-new boots, slipped the leather jacket from the hanger over his shoulders, and then pushed open the door.

Outside the room was a narrow passageway, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Every two or three meters along the passageway, there is a sealed glass window that cannot be opened.

The glass is very thick, and there are iron railings both inside and out.

This appears to be some kind of observation window.

Not long after Jiang Shu pushed open the door, two more doors next to it were pushed open.

The two people came out of their respective rooms.

One of them was the Snow King.

The other person was a handsome man.

Upon seeing Xue Wang, Fu Yi immediately asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Just as Xue Wang was about to ask Jiang Shu if she was alright, she heard the other person ask about her situation first, and she immediately felt a little dissatisfied.

If we were to ask Jiang Shu now whether he was alright, wouldn't that seem like we were just being gossipy?

Thinking of this, she immediately pouted and then forced a smile: "Yeah, I'm fine."

"That's good."

The man nodded, then looked at Jiang Shu:

"You must be the hot teacher. My little sister often mentions you. She was taken care of by you during the disaster-level incubator last time."

Upon hearing this, the Snow King finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"What do you mean by frequently mentioning him? We only exchanged contact information not long ago. I just introduced my friend to you before we formed a team. Can you please not make it sound like we're in constant contact?"

"Sorry." With that, the man laughed heartily, completely unconcerned about Xue Wang's sabotage, and then casually extended his hand to Jiang Shu: "Hello, my name is Huang Helou."

"Hello." Jiang Shu nodded calmly and extended her hand to shake the other person's: "My name is Furongwang."

Huang Helou was taken aback: "Didn't you call yourself 'Hot Teacher'?"

"I'm called Furongwang now."

Huang Helou's eyelids twitched slightly as he explained, "This is the Huang Helou of the old friend who bid farewell to Yangzhou in the third month of spring, amidst the fireworks."

Jiang Shu pursed her lips: "I'm the one who goes on blind dates every year, and every year they fail, and every year I lose money on Furongwang cigarettes."

"Hiss..." Huang Helou withdrew his hand and frowned.

Jiang Shu simply watched him calmly.

Snow King stood between the two, looking left and right.

Finally, Huang Helou was the first to turn his gaze away and look at Xue Wang: "Your friend has quite the smoking habit, huh?"

"Nonsense," Jiang Shu retorted. "Smoking addiction doesn't even exist. Before I quit smoking, I smoked every day and never got addicted."

"..." Huang Helou smiled: "I see, then you are indeed very restrained."

Then, he casually glanced at the last remaining room.

"Where is the other person?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu and Xue Wang also looked towards the last door.

After waiting for a while, the person inside still hadn't come out.

Snow King couldn't resist going up and knocking on the door.

Is anyone home?