Chapter 1 First Rule of the Apocalypse
Yunhua No. 3 Middle School, Senior 3 (2) Classroom.
Class meeting.
The homeroom teacher stood on the podium and said passionately, "There are less than three months until the college entrance examination. Everyone must persevere to the end and fight hard!"
"The college entrance examination is the fairest rule and the greatest opportunity to change your destiny! If you don't fight hard now, it will be too late to regret it later!"
The fairest rule?
In the back row by the window, a boy with tousled hair looked indifferent.
As someone who had been through it all, Guan Tong knew that there was no such thing as the fairest rule in this world.
The world before he transmigrated was like this, and the world after he transmigrated was also like this.
However, Guan Tong was very satisfied with his transmigration.
On Earth, he was just an ordinary office worker, doing a job he didn't like, and his body was in a sub-healthy state.
After transmigrating to this planet called "Tianshui Star", he actually returned to the age of eighteen.
Putting aside everything else, just having this young and energetic body again was enough.
As for what the future holds...
Guan Tong looked out the window, and his eyes suddenly changed.
——What is that?
Irregular black spots suddenly appeared in the sky, like drops of ink falling onto a sky-blue canvas.
These spots seemed "alive," moving and combining strangely, quickly forming four large, pulsating characters:
[Test Begins]
[Test Begins]
These four words simultaneously resonated in the minds of everyone in the world, in different languages.
Even the homeroom teacher, who was speaking, paused, a look of confusion on his face. The students exchanged bewildered glances.
"Just now…"
someone tried to say, but the voice in their minds hadn't finished.
[Welcome all Homo sapiens to the "Ascension Project" test]
[I am the tester for this test: Fire Stealer]
[Scope of this test: All Homo sapiens on Tianshui Star]
[Test Content: Forty-nine rules of the apocalypse]
[Test Objective: Those who pass the test will learn the truth of the test and participate in the apocalyptic action]
"You all heard that, didn't you?!"
a student shouted in terror, standing up.
"I heard it! It's like someone's talking in my head!"
"Holy crap! What's going on?"
"Forty-nine apocalyptic rules? The Ascension Plan? Apocalyptic Operation?"
"That voice sounds like a robot!"
Guan Tong also heard the voice in his head.
However, he wasn't too surprised.
He had already experienced "transmigration." It wouldn't be surprising if something else happened.
At this moment, the voice in his head sounded again.
[Personal terminal function is activated. You can silently view it at any time.]
[First apocalyptic rule has been issued.]
[Apocalyptic rule one: Sleep deprivation]
[Rule content: From the date of the rule's issuance, you cannot enter a state of sleep in any form within 72 hours.]
[Survival reward: 100 Ascension Coins, Mental Power]
[Failure penalty: Once you enter a state of sleep within the rule's effective time, you will never be able to wake up again.]
[Note: It is known that some Homo sapiens on Tianshui Star have remained awake for 297 consecutive hours. 72 hours is far from the limit. Please try your best to pass.]
After the voice in his head, which called itself "The Fire Stealer," stopped, the entire class erupted in chaos.
No one knew what was going on, not even the homeroom teacher, who stood frozen on the podium, at a loss.
"Look!"
someone shouted, looking out the window at the sky. Everyone looked up.
There hung a huge red countdown clock in the sky, the numbers constantly changing.
71:59:22
71:59:21
71:59:20
Everyone stared blankly at the countdown, when suddenly a loud shout came from the back of the classroom.
"Ugh! What's all that noise about?!"
Everyone was startled and looked over.
The one who shouted was a burly boy with a buzz cut; judging from his sleepy appearance, he had clearly been sleeping.
The boy's name was Xu Beipeng, and he consistently ranked last in his class. Because of his strong physique and volatile temper, teachers rarely dared to discipline him, turning a blind eye to his sleeping in class.
"What test... rules... so annoying." Xu Beipeng rubbed his ears, thinking the voice in his head was just a dream, mumbled a few words, and then lay back down on his desk to continue sleeping.
Everyone in the class looked surprised.
"He, why is he sleeping?"
"That guy called the Fire Thief said..."
"The first rule of the apocalypse is that you can't fall asleep for 72 hours! Is that for real?!"
Guan Tong looked at Xu Beipeng, frowning slightly.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Xu Beipeng fell asleep extremely quickly, snoring loudly within seconds of lying down.
Seeing this, the classmates all breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's okay, it seems that rule isn't true..."
Before the words were finished, Xu Beipeng's snoring suddenly stopped.
At this moment, the classmates saw Guan Tong, who was sitting in the back row by the window, suddenly stand up and walk towards Xu Beipeng.
Guan Tong walked straight to Xu Beipeng and nudged him, saying, "Xu Beipeng, wake up."
Xu Beipeng remained motionless and silent, showing no signs of waking.
The students around him couldn't sit still any longer and hurriedly got up to move away.
"Slap!"
Guan Tong suddenly slapped Xu Beipeng hard across the face.
"Wake up!"
Still no response.
Guan Tong put his finger in front of Xu Beipeng's nostrils, withdrew it after a few seconds, and shook his head under the gaze of the entire class: "He's not breathing."
"Ah!!!"
The more timid boys and girls in the class screamed.
The homeroom teacher panicked and hurriedly pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance, saying as he dialed, "Everyone, sit down and don't panic... Guan Tong, where are you going?!" Guan Tong
had already reached the classroom door and, without turning around, replied, "Going home. It's about to get chaotic outside."
"You..."
"I want to go home too!"
"Me too!"
With Guan Tong leading the way, the other students rushed out of the classroom.
The entire school was quickly engulfed in chaos. Students in every class were in a frenzy, and the bicycle sheds were overflowing with people scrambling to retrieve their bikes.
Guan Tong, having left earlier, was already outside the school gates.
This glimpse revealed the whole picture; even the closed-off high school campus was in chaos, let alone the outside world.
The streets were filled with people running frantically, car horns blaring, and accidents were frequent.
An emergency notice was playing on the large screen hanging in the square, with a well-known host from Beixing Kingdom solemnly repeating:
"In the face of this sudden emergency, please remain calm and orderly enter safe indoor areas to await the latest official announcement."
"In the face of this sudden emergency, please remain calm and orderly enter..."
Not only the large screen in the square, but everyone's mobile phones also received emergency notices from their mobile operators. The content was identical to the broadcast, urging people not to panic and to wait for official announcements.
Guan Tong stood on the street, looking at the text messages on her phone, thinking that it seemed many people had died in this short time. Otherwise, the authorities would never have acted so swiftly.
He thought, "In many countries on the other side of the planet, it's nighttime now, and most people are asleep. Even if someone is awakened by the voice of the Fire Thief like Xu Beipeng, most will probably just think they're dreaming and turn over to go back to sleep, like Xu Beipeng... How many people will die?"
"In China, hospitals and similar places are probably the hardest hit."
People who are sleeping normally might be awakened by the voice of the Fire Thief in their minds and have a chance of survival. But how will those patients in hospitals who are unconscious due to illness or undergoing surgery and anesthesia "wake up"?
The authorities must have received a flood of death reports from hospitals in various cities, which is why they dared not delay and issued a nationwide announcement immediately.
Guan Tong thought of this, and many others must have thought of it too.
For example...
Guan Tong looked at a supermarket not far away, where seven or eight young men were arguing at the entrance.
"I was here first! Get out of the way!"
"Who the hell cares about first come, first served! Boss, give me all the energy drinks in the store, like Good Cow and Jianbao, I'm buying them all! Oh, and coffee too!"
"Why are you buying so much by yourself?!"
"I'm rich! What's it to you?"
"Fuck you!"
"Hey, let's talk this out, don't fight!"
Chapter 2 Hidden Rule 1
71:05:33
Guan Tong glanced at the countdown in the sky, carrying a large bag of food as he entered the building's entrance hallway.
He didn't try to compete with others for coffee, black tea, or other energy drinks. Firstly, they were hard to get, and secondly, he didn't think those things were indispensable.
Just as the "notes" in the rule stated, not sleeping for 72 hours wasn't absolutely impossible. With determination and the immense pressure of the threat of death, many people should be able to pass.
Guan Tong returned home, went to his study, and turned on his computer. The internet was flooded with news about the apocalyptic rules.
Not only in Beixing Country, but also in other countries around the world, there were large numbers of deaths.
Especially in countries where the time zone was in the middle of the night, the death rate was extremely high, and some areas were even close to being out of contact.
Officials in various countries immediately issued nationwide announcements, reminding citizens not to sleep during the rule's time.
And online, the matter was being discussed heatedly, with all sorts of opinions.
Some believe the fire-stealer is an alien, some believe it's a super artificial intelligence, and others believe it's God incarnate coming to destroy the world…
"Buzz."
The phone on the table vibrated. Guan Tong picked it up and saw it was the latest official announcement from the carrier.
[Urgent Notice: Attention all citizens! The voice in your minds is real! The apocalyptic rules have been confirmed to be in effect. Please do not fall asleep for the next 72 hours!
Regarding how to stay awake for an extended period, we offer the following suggestions:
1. Avoid being alone as much as possible! Being in a room with others and engaging in conversation is one of the best ways to stay awake. You can also monitor each other and remind each other if you notice any signs of drowsiness or confusion!
2. Keep your environment noisy. When tired, use various devices to play music or other sounds at high volume.
3. You can consume some caffeinated energy drinks, but be careful not to overdo it.
4. Reduce energy expenditure and avoid excessive exercise. You can reduce your food intake; hunger can effectively combat drowsiness.]
5. Ensure your surroundings are well-lit and stay away from sofas and soft beds to avoid unconsciously falling asleep due to excessive comfort.
Finally, please do not give up, do not despair, and persevere for 72 hours!
Guan Tong largely agreed with the suggestions listed in the message.
After all, with such a sudden and massive global disaster without warning, even the authorities couldn't immediately find a perfect solution.
Moreover, the official actions of the Northern Star Kingdom were relatively swift.
Guan Tong saw online that large-scale riots had broken out in urban areas of some countries. If not controlled in time, the secondary disasters caused by the riots might be no less destructive than the damage caused by the "rules" themselves.
"Please return home as soon as possible and do not linger outdoors."
Outside the window, a patrol car equipped with a loudspeaker began to announce.
Guan Tong looked out. On the streets, some uniformed police officers were already patrolling to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the chaos to loot, vandalize, and commit crimes.
In any case, this supernatural disaster had already occurred.
The cruel reality of a large number of deaths worldwide was before them, and anyone who did not want to die from the power of the rules had to abide by them.
Guan Tong recalled the words of the "Fire Stealer" and silently recited "Personal Terminal" in his mind.
A semi-transparent virtual panel immediately appeared.
Looking at this panel, Guan Tong felt as if he had become a game character.
The text on the virtual panel listed his personal information:
[Name: Guan Tong]
[Nickname: Function Not Activated] (This function will be activated after the first apocalyptic rule takes effect)
[Title: None]
[Mental Power: None]
[Ascension Coins: 0]
[Overall Bio-Information Evaluation: Inferior]
...
After reviewing his personal panel, Guan Tong checked the rewards for the first apocalyptic rule again.
[Survival Reward: 100 Ascension Coins, Mental Power]
"If this is a game, Ascension Coins are like the currency in the game. Then what is 'Mental Power'? Is it something like a skill?"
Guan Tong didn't understand. He would probably only know after he successfully survived the rule's time limit.
"Even in death, love will prevail!"
"Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump! Boom boom boom!"
Some noises began to come from the walls. Guan Tong guessed that his upstairs and downstairs neighbors had already begun to follow the official advice, turning all their home media players and stereos up to the maximum volume, playing all kinds of upbeat songs and dance music to stay awake. Guan Tong
thought to himself, "Isn't it a bit early to play this now?"
It was still morning, when most people were full of energy. If they started relying on external forces to stay awake now, what would they do when they were really tired at night?
With nothing to do, Guan Tong simply reviewed the details of the apocalypse rules again through his personal terminal.
[Test Content: Forty-Nine Apocalyptic Rules]
[Test Objective: Those who pass the test can participate in apocalyptic operations and win a chance to survive]
"It seems there are forty-nine apocalyptic rules in total. Only the first one has been released, and how many people have already died? After the forty-nine rules, how many people will be left in the world?"
"No, that's not right. I can't be prejudiced. Not every rule is so demanding, and not every failure is punishable by death."
"'Those who pass the test can participate in apocalyptic operations and win a chance to survive.' What are apocalyptic operations? Just from the name, it's definitely not a good thing..."
Guan Tong continued reading.
[Apocalyptic Rule One: Sleep Deprivation]
[Rule Details: From the date of the rule's release, one cannot enter a state of sleep in any form for 72 hours.]
This first rule suddenly changed under his gaze.
Just like the four large, pulsating "Test Begins" words he saw in the sky outside the classroom window,
this rule also began to pulsate slowly in his eyes.
Those pulsating "color particles" gradually reorganized into other words.
Soon, the first line of reorganized text was formed.
[Hidden Rule One]
Guan Tong jumped up from his chair and rubbed his eyes hard.
He opened them again; the words were still there.
This wasn't a hallucination!
The color particles continued to condense into words.
[Hidden Rule One: Stealing Clarity]
[Hidden Rule Details: After the first apocalyptic rule is issued, using violence to put others to sleep will grant you a "Clarity Peppermint." Using this item will keep you absolutely conscious for 3 hours.]
[Note: To increase your own chances of survival, would you choose to rob others of their right to live?]
"I can see hidden rules...?"
Guan Tong rushed to his study, looking surprised and suspicious, and turned on his computer.
He tried searching for keywords, but the results were all irrelevant.
It was clear that no one online had mentioned hidden rules, which likely meant that only he could see this rule.
This should have been a cause for celebration.
However, the content of this hidden rule, and the behavioral tendencies it induced, made Guan Tong anything but happy...
Chapter 3 Guan Tong's Choice
"By using violence to put others to sleep, you can obtain a 'wake-up mint'..."
"Using this item, you can remain absolutely awake for 3 hours..."
Guan Tong frowned and paced back and forth in the living room.
"If this hidden rule is real and applies to everyone, then someone will definitely discover its existence very quickly."
"With billions of people worldwide, there are all sorts of things happening at the same time. When the apocalyptic rule is announced, countless people will be fighting. If someone knocks another person unconscious and immediately receives a 'wake-up peppermint,' they'll quickly realize it's a hidden rule."
"To maintain their advantage, those who know about the hidden rule will likely choose to keep it a secret. But because the triggering conditions aren't too stringent, it will eventually be exposed and spread… Soon, a large number of people will know about this hidden rule. What will the consequences be? Mass chaos?" "
No, that's not right… If we consider it from a national perspective, after confirming the authenticity of this hidden rule, to avoid chaos, the ruling powers will definitely choose to block the news, prohibit people from going out, and might even temporarily shut down the internet to prevent people from fighting each other."
"So, if you want to profit from this hidden rule, the best approach is to knock out as many people as possible before the news spreads and people are prohibited from going out, obtain enough 'wake-up peppermints,' and then lock yourself in your house, relying on these peppermints to get through the seventy-two hours."
"This kind of thing…"
Guan Tong shook his head; he didn't intend to do it.
Knowing that someone would die after falling into a coma, he considered this no different from intentional murder.
And it wouldn't just be killing one person.
Once he started, he couldn't stop.
Because one "wake-up mint" only maintained wakefulness for 3 hours, while the "sleep deprivation" rule lasted for 72 hours.
That meant that to guarantee a 100% survival rate, he would need to eat one every three hours, requiring a total of 24 mints. Even if he halved that, he would still need 12, equivalent to taking 12 lives.
"To increase your own chances of survival, would you choose to take away the right to live of others?"
The note in this hidden rule clearly explained the essence of the matter.
Guan Tong's choice was "no."
"Ring ring."
The phone rang at this moment, not a phone call, but a voice call notification unique to social media apps.
Guan Tong glanced at the call; it was initiated from their classmates' group chat. Somewhat surprised, he answered, "Fang Qian?"
A female voice, filled with unease, came from the phone: "Guan Tong, are you home? Are you alone?"
Fang Qian was Guan Tong's classmate, a pretty girl with thin-rimmed glasses, an excellent student who had never fallen out of the top three in her grade.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"Guan Tong, I… my parents are both at a research institute in another city. Transportation is suspended everywhere now, so they can't come back. I'm all alone at home. The official advice says it's best not to be alone for the next 72 hours, and staying in touch with others is one of the best ways to stay alert… So, I thought of you, because of you…"
Guan Tong understood.
His classmates all knew he was an orphan, so it was normal for him to be home alone.
Fang Qian's parents, on the other hand, were renowned scientists. They frequently traveled to various academies of sciences, a fact also known to their classmates.
Given this sudden emergency and her parents' inability to return, it wasn't surprising that she would think of Guan Tong out of fear.
"Do you want to get through these 72 hours with me?" Guan Tong asked directly.
"Um...is that okay?"
"Sure. Come to my house now, I'll send you the address."
"Great! Thank you, Guan Tong."
"No problem. Having someone to talk to helps me stay awake."
"Okay… I'll be right there!"
Guan Tong hung up the phone and sent her home address to Fang Qian.
About half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Guan Tong checked through the peephole and, confirming it was Fang Qian, opened the door to let her in.
"Guan Tong, sorry to bother you…"
Fang Qian, still wearing her white and blue striped school uniform, walked into the room carrying two bags, looking at Guan Tong somewhat awkwardly.
"It's alright, make yourself at home," Guan Tong said.
"Um… I brought some food. Oh, and this."
Fang Qian took out a packet of coffee powder from the bag; there were still a dozen or so packets left.
"I used to brew a packet with water and drink it when I stayed up late doing practice tests. I didn't expect it to come in handy now,"
Guan Tong said. "School's evening self-study ends around 9 pm, and you're still staying up late doing practice tests at home. No wonder your grades are so good."
Fang Qian pushed up her glasses a little shyly, then sat down in the living room with Guan Tong.
Seeing that Guan Tong hadn't turned on the TV or played any music, she asked with a hint of curiosity.
"It's not necessary right now," Guan Tong explained. "Like the coffee you brought, it doesn't create energy out of thin air; its essence is still overdrawing your body. If you drink it now when you're not tired, you won't be able to use it when you're really exhausted, because you'll have already overdrawn your energy."
Fang Qian suddenly realized, "I see. Hmm, that makes sense. It's the same with listening to music. If you play it so loudly when you're not tired, the effect will be much worse when you're tired and sleepy."
"Yeah."
After a few simple words, the two had nothing more to talk about.
The two weren't very close to begin with; they hadn't exchanged more than a hundred words in their three years of high school.
Guan Tong picked up a book to read, while Fang Qian kept scrolling through her phone with some unease, occasionally glancing at Guan Tong out of the corner of her eye.
He was so calm…
The information online and the chat in the class group were all exploding, but Guan Tong didn't seem to care at all, and was even focused on reading. It was really…
Fang Qian thought that the reason she thought of Guan Tong, found his social media account in the class group for a voice call, and even mustered up the courage to come to his house was because of Guan Tong's behavior before he left school.
He had slapped Xu Beipeng in class to confirm the latter was dead, and he had been the first to leave school against the homeroom teacher's orders… all of this made her inexplicably feel safe around Guan Tong.
After more than an hour of silence, Fang Qian bit her lip and took the initiative to start a conversation with Guan Tong, who was reading a book, about information she had seen online.
"Guan Tong, do you know? A lot of people online are asking to go to the hospital."
"Go to the hospital?" Guan Tong looked up at her.
"Hmm," Fang Qian said, "It seems some medical students said that you can stay conscious by taking medication or getting injections containing stimulants… Do you think that's really feasible?"
"Maybe. But even if you could get through it that way, not everyone could use it. These medications or injections are definitely limited; they can't be supplied to everyone."
"Yeah. Ah…" Fang Qian said, then looked at something on her phone and exclaimed incredulously, "There's actually someone thanking the Firebringers!"
Guan Tong guessed, "Probably someone who wanted to commit suicide."
Fang Qian looked at Guan Tong in surprise and nodded: "Yes, the person who posted said they had cancer before and suffered from the pain. They thought about leaving the world several times but didn't have the courage. Now, they can leave this world peacefully and painlessly just by sleeping… so they are very grateful to the Firebringers for bringing these apocalyptic rules."
Chapter 4: The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea, Each Displaying Their Unique Abilities
. Online, a post titled "Thank You, Fire-Burner, for Letting Me Leave in Peace" is gaining immense popularity.
"These past few years battling cancer have drained my family's savings, burdening them and causing me immense pain. Several times I considered jumping out of the window to end it all, but I didn't have the courage… Now, I can simply sleep it off and end it all peacefully, which is the best outcome for me. Thank you to the fire-bringer and the arrival of the apocalyptic rules, thank you."
The post already has tens of thousands of replies. Some curse, some sympathize, and some even imitate the author's actions.
"Go ahead and die if you want! What are you thanking the Firebringer for? That's a monster who's killed countless people!"
"The poster's thoughts deserve suffering."
"Have you thought about what will happen to the other healthy people who were originally healthy if you're free?"
"Sigh... Rest in peace, poster."
"Please understand. The poster's thoughts only represent himself, not everyone."
"Poster, I wonder if you're still around? I want to say that my choice is the same as yours. I'm a severe depression sufferer, and I didn't have the courage to end it all... But now it's so convenient to end it all with a good night's sleep. I plan to have a good dinner tonight, tidy up my room, curl up in bed and watch a movie I like, and when I'm sleepy, I'll close my eyes and go to sleep, to properly say goodbye to this world."
"If everyone thought like you, and ended it all with a good night's sleep, then humanity would be completely wiped out."
"That Firebringer
is a real jerk! Can't those who want to die just die, and let those of us who want to live live?!" "Anyway, I will absolutely not admit defeat! I will fight the Firebringer to the death!"
The Firebringer and the rules it brought undoubtedly gave many pessimistic and world-weary people a peaceful, painless way to say goodbye to the world.
However, the majority of respondents were against it, and such pessimistic posts were not numerous.
The majority of online discussions revolved around how to survive the 72 hours. Many of these posts had hundreds of thousands of replies, demonstrating a diverse range of approaches.
One post, titled "Playing games with friends, Mom won't scold me for staying up all night playing games anymore," garnered over 100,000 replies.
"Brothers, how are you planning to get through these 72 hours? I'm planning to play games with my roommates for 72 hours straight, until the end of time!"
Most of the replies below echoed this sentiment.
"I'm planning to play games to get through the day, just like you. But I'm playing single-player, aiming to complete a major title. I was always too busy with work to play before, but this time I have the time. I just don't know if I can survive to finish it."
"Just playing games isn't enough. I'm planning to play and have a heated argument with someone for 72 hours straight, the pressure will be immense! Anyone want to join? Leave a comment to sign up!"
"I recommend a game to you guys, *Civilization*. A cup of tea, a pack of cigarettes, and a game of
*Civilization* can last a whole day. Maybe after 72 hours, you'll still feel like you haven't had enough and want another round." Another post by an ID called "吾本良人" also received over 100,000 replies. The post was titled "The Simplest Way to Stay Sober, Men Only, Women Keep Out."
This post quickly saw its reply count skyrocket, surpassing 10,000 replies faster than a rocket.
"OP, you're defying the heavens! Such a serious topic of life and death, and you're offering guidance?"
"Billion-Eye Frames: OP is definitely a genius, you're under pressure."
"The root of all problems is related to pressure, and the solution to all problems is guidance."
"I understand! My esteemed mentor, please accept my bow!"
"Tested and working! Thank you for sharing your secret!"
"I'm impressed, so many people are praising you? Anyone with a little experience knows you're tired afterward, right?"
"+1 to the above, a bunch of newbies in this thread don't know anything. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I rely on guidance, and I fall asleep quickly afterward. Doing what OP does is suicide."
Not long after the post was published, the OP added more comments in the replies.
I am a Good Person: "I apologize, I didn't explain things clearly in the main post, which led to some misunderstandings among my followers. As long as you control yourself and avoid 'excessive output,' you can maintain a clear mind. As for how to control it, my advice is to avoid using external aids such as videos, audio, pictures, or text during guidance. Purely natural, organic guidance."
"??????"
"OP, you're amazing!"
"So the secret lies in natural, organic guidance! I've finally understood!"
...
Fang Qian was too embarrassed to share these strange ideas with Guan Tong.
However, she soon came across a post on the leaderboard that caught her eye.
"Guan Tong, do you know Wenren Yizhi?"
The name "Wenren Yizhi" was unique and left a deep impression after just one encounter.
Guan Tong thought for a moment and said, "I think I saw it in the news. Isn't she the world Go champion who started playing Go at the age of 3 and broke the record for the youngest person to win the championship last year?"
"Yes!" Fang Qian showed Guan Tong the post on her phone, "Look, she launched a 72-hour Go challenge!"
"Really?"
Guan Tong was also a little surprised. After reading the post, she realized it was true. The post, titled
"Breaking News! Genius Go champion Wenren Yizhi has launched a 72-hour Go challenge on her only social media account. The matches will be broadcast live, and many professional Go players have already signed up!"
was filled with comments expressing admiration from netizens.
"72 hours of consecutive Go matches? That's suicidal!"
"Isn't Go incredibly mentally taxing...? Playing for 72 hours straight, even a champion couldn't handle that, right?"
"Is this some kind of martyrdom?!"
"Get lost, don't jinx it, Sister Yizhi will definitely pull through!"
"As expected of the great Wenren! I'm going to her livestream to watch the whole 72 hours!"
"This is really outrageous... If Wenren Yizhi can really livestream herself playing Go for 72 hours straight, she'll be the undisputed God of Go from now on."
After reading a few comments, Guan Tong noticed Fang Qian's excited expression and asked her, "Do you really like Wenren Yizhi?"
"Yes! I really admire her focused attitude towards Go, and I've always used her story to inspire myself. But I'm also a little worried... Playing Go is so tiring, and to play for so long, is it really possible?"
"This sounds exhausting to us, but it might not be that tiring for her," Guan Tong said.
"Just like when people are immersed in something they love, they don't feel the passage of time. I think that's what Go is for her... If we don't let her play Go, she might not be able to stay up for so long."
"That makes sense!" Fang Qian's eyes widened. "Then we should do something like that too!"
"Yeah. What do you like to do?"
"I..." Fang Qian thought for a moment, "I really like watching TV dramas! Especially detective and suspense dramas. Last summer, one day I think I watched a whole twenty-plus episodes of a crime drama straight from morning till night!"
"Oh, I see. Then I'll turn on the TV and find a drama of that type to watch."
Fang Qian quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need now, I'm not sleepy yet, I'll watch it tonight. Guan Tong, what do you like to do?"
"I'll read books, read novels."
Guan Tong remembered when she was most obsessed with novels, she would read for a whole day and night, which was undoubtedly one way to fight off sleepiness.
"Buzz!"
"Ding-dong!"
At this moment, both of their phones made a notification sound, another message released by the official.
[Urgent Notice: From now on, going out is prohibited. Please stay in safe indoor locations, maintain a peaceful state of mind with those in the same room, and avoid arguing or fighting due to emotional agitation.]
Guan Tong's eyes flickered slightly upon seeing this notice, as if he had thought of something.
He immediately searched online for the keywords "apocalyptic rules" + "sobering mint," but the results were simply "no results." There wasn't even any interfering information; it was purely "no results."
Guan Tong felt a chill run down his spine... It seemed that the hidden rule was real, and the official departments had already discovered its existence and immediately implemented a news blackout on the internet.
Chapter 5 People are the Foundation of Everything
"It's forbidden to go out..."
Fang Qian read the notice and thought to herself that she was glad she left early. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to come to Guan Tong's place by the time the notice was released.
The thought of spending 72 hours alone at home was terrifying.
Fang Qian then looked at Guan Tong and saw him frowning. She asked curiously, "Guan Tong, what's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
Guan Tong naturally wouldn't reveal the hidden rules.
He wouldn't use such selfish rules himself, nor would he spread them.
"Fang Qian, are you hungry? It's almost lunchtime."
"Ah..."
Fang Qian glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already noon without her realizing it.
Guan Tong's mention of it made her realize she was actually a little hungry, as she usually ate lunch around this time.
"A little… but doesn't the official advice say that maintaining a feeling of hunger helps keep you alert?"
"Then just eat until you're about 50-60% full," Guan Tong said. "Maintaining a feeling of hunger doesn't mean not eating. Otherwise, what if you don't fall asleep from exhaustion but instead faint from low blood sugar? Wouldn't that be counterproductive?"
Fang Qian smiled. "That's true. Shall I cook?"
"You cook dinner. I'll cook lunch."
Guan Tong said and went into the kitchen. Fang Qian's phone suddenly rang.
"Beep beep beep, beep beep beep."
Someone was making a video call. Fang Qian glanced at it and answered immediately. Two familiar faces appeared on the screen.
"Dad, Mom."
"Qianqian, how are you? Are you alright?" Fang Qian's mother was very worried. "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad really can't go back…"
"It's okay, Mom, I'm fine."
"Qianqian, where are you?" Fang Qian's father realized from the background wall behind his daughter that they weren't at home and immediately asked.
"Dad, I… I'm at a classmate's house right now. He's alone too. The official advice says that being with others helps you stay alert, so I came to find him…"
"Your classmate is alone at home too? That's good." Fang Qian's father nodded. "You did the right thing, Qianqian."
"Mom and Dad, how are things over there?"
"We're at the research institute. The official departments have gathered researchers from various industries to discuss research on the rules of the apocalypse and how to deal with it. We're going to a meeting soon… Qianqian, you have to stay awake, okay!"
"Okay, Dad. You and Mom have to hold on too…"
After the call ended, Fang Qian's eyes were red.
She didn't know if she and her parents could make it through the next 72 hours, but even if she worried, there was nothing she could do. She could only take care of herself.
However, her parents said on the phone that the official departments had gathered researchers from various industries to begin researching the rules of the apocalypse, which gave Fang Qian some hope.
If many scientists and scholars could work together to understand what the rules of the apocalypse were and what the Firebringers were, then perhaps everyone could be saved…
Not long after, Guan Tong prepared a simple lunch.
Two dishes were served: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried eggplant with green peppers. Each person had a small bowl of rice.
"Guan Tong, I didn't expect your cooking to be so good," Fang Qian said after a few bites. "Much better than mine."
"Really? Then we can eat more after we get through the rule-based time."
"Okay! By the way, my parents just called. They said they've received an official notice to gather professionals from various industries to study countermeasures against the apocalyptic rules."
Guan Tong asked, "Do your parents think it will be effective?"
"They didn't say," Fang Qian shook her head. "I hope so… that fire-bringer mentioned forty-nine apocalyptic rules! If every single one is this difficult, humanity will be in too much trouble."
"Yes."
The two chatted as they ate lunch. Around 1 p.m., they glanced at the countdown timer in the sky outside the window.
67:52:49.
Although only four hours had passed since the countdown began, fatigue was already creeping in.
As the saying goes, spring brings drowsiness, autumn brings fatigue, and summer brings lethargy; it was April, the peak of spring drowsiness. Moreover, most high school students had a habit of taking a nap at noon, usually to recover their energy after a morning of intense classes.
Undoubtedly, this habit had now become a source of danger.
Fang Qian and Guan Tong decided to watch two episodes of a fast-paced TV series to prolong their usual one-hour lunch break.
Guan Tong turned on the TV, and Fang Qian suggested using a video app on their phones to cast it, as it had a richer selection of content.
"Wait a minute, I need to get a membership first," Fang Qian said.
Guan Tong guessed, "Do we really need a membership? I guess most platforms are free now."
"Ah…wait, it really is!"
Fang Qian opened the app and found that all the content was free to watch, without even needing to log in!
"This must be something the government did, right?" Fang Qian asked in surprise. "I saw someone in our class group saying that many games that used to cost money can now be downloaded for free."
"It must be the government that instructed the content providers to do this," Guan Tong said. "Think about it, what's the use of money at a time like this? Right now, what governments in various countries want most is for more people to survive... After all, people are fundamental; without enough people, everything becomes meaningless."
"I see... So everything that can help people pass the time has been made free."
Fang Qian sighed, "Guan Tong, do you think those billionaires now all wish they could exchange money for time? If a hundred million could buy an hour, they probably wouldn't hesitate!"
Exchanging money for time...
Fang Qian's casual remark stirred something in Guan Tong's heart.
"Clarity Peppermints," items that can keep people awake, could they be traded?
...
In the chairman's office of the Jule Company building, in front of a large floor-to-ceiling window,
Liu Yuqiang, with a rugged face and graying temples, stood by the window, looking down at the city.
As a large-scale conglomerate spanning multiple sectors and tracks of "eating, drinking, and entertainment," Jule is one of the most well-known national enterprises in Beixing Kingdom, boasting immense financial strength.
Liu Yuqiang, the chairman of Jule Group, is one of the "billionaires" Fang Qian mentioned.
His favorite feature in this office is the huge floor-to-ceiling window in front of him. Whenever he stands by the window, overlooking most of the city, a sense of pride and control wells up within him.
But now everything has changed.
Liu Yuqiang looks up at the huge red countdown in the sky, its movements unpredictable and independent.
Looking at it, a deep sense of defeat rises within Liu Yuqiang.
He can look down upon the city, but he himself is also "looked down upon" by the countdown.
This countdown, and the "fire-bringer" behind it, are the truly supreme beings, looking down upon everything. They
could even be described as "gods."
Liu Yuqiang, known for his daring and relentless work ethic, once went two days without food and slept with his phone glued to him, setting an alarm every hour to check for client messages.
This workaholic style not only allowed him to build the Jule business empire before he even turned fifty, but also earned him the title of "Iron Man Entrepreneur" in the business world, a title that other entrepreneurs always expressed their sincere admiration for. Yet,
even this "Iron Man," Liu Yuqiang, now gazing at the countdown in the sky, felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
Had all his hard work, his painstaking efforts to build a successful business, and his plans to expand further in the commercial world, been thwarted by this ultimate black swan event?
Liu Yuqiang clenched his fists in resentment. Suddenly, he heard a short, sharp buzzing sound—from his phone, which sat on the table.
This phone was for personal use, not business; very few people knew the number. Moreover, the two short, one long vibration was the exclusive notification sound of a special software within a small circle.
Liu Yuqiang walked to the table, picked up his phone, and glanced at it. His pupils contracted instantly, and he held his breath.
The message was short, but astonishing.
"I'm telling you all a clever way to pass the first rule of the apocalypse. Note: This method is top secret! Never reveal it to anyone other than your immediate family!"