Translator-Rhapsodite
Editor-Yui, Proofreader-Woojoo
The [Ancient City State] differed from the highly modernized [Rust City] with its complete infrastructure.
It differed not only in terms of wealth and the vast wealth disparity, as seen in [Paper Gold], but also in comparison to the dreamy [Squirrel Town] and the agriculture-oriented [Home Island].
It was the most distinctive among the five safety points.
It was the most iron-blooded hardcore and impartial.
T/N is a Chinese word whose pinyin is tiě xuè, which means having a strong will and an unyielding spirit.
The most attractive building in [Ancient City State] was the Colosseum called “Doushou”.
Outside the arena stood a colossal bronze statue featuring a warrior mounted on a bronze horse, donning a pith helmet. The cape behind them gracefully spread out as they soar, with a corner of the cape flowing into a corner of the circular arena. At the end, it extended into a torch platform. The flames of battle burning continuously, symbolizing the bravery of these warriors. It’s like a medal bestowed upon them by the rigors of war.
On the giant sword it wields, there was an inscription:
“Victory is truth. Truth is eternal.”
As they walked between the long entrance passages lined with ten-bronze spears and halberds, the sound of footsteps echoed clearly in the corridor.
The icy rust smell of cold weapons continuously stimulating the nerves.
Li Yinhang felt a bit uneasy as if she had truly stepped into the ancient Roman Colosseum.
Moreover, at the junction of light and shadow on the other side of the spear, a beast’s shadow occasionally appeared.
The deep roar of the animals grazed Li Yinhang’s scalp like a blunt weapon.
Trembling, Li Yinhang whispered, “… Is it real? Are there wild beasts?”
“There are indeed beast sounds in the original game of ‘Gravity’, but it’s just ordinary scene design and atmosphere enhancement.” Jiang Fang chuckled, “That’s not necessarily the case now.”
Li Yinhang became even more timid.
Nan Zhou didn’t say anything, but forcefully woke up the dozing Nanji Star from the storage compartment.
The drowsy Nanji Star, who was placed on the ground in a daze, was now in a bad mood. As soon as it heard the strange howls behind the fence, it became furious. Its body, not even the size of half a fist, bent like a walnut, and with its front paws digging into the ground, it angrily barked at the unknown darkness, “Woof!”
In an instant, there was silence and no sign of any animals.
Li Yinhang was stunned, and she clapped lightly.
The little tail of the nanji Star proudly curled up and climbed up Nan Zhou’s pants, humming and whining playfully.
But before it could jump onto the thigh, Jiang Fang picked it up and placed it directly on Nan Zhou’s shoulder.
Nanji Star jumped onto Li Yinhang’s shoulder again and proudly circled her neck.
After experiencing a few intense hours of scares, Li Yinhang suddenly felt that Nanji Star was even more reliable than some human players.
She tentatively touched its furry head.
The little guy was also afraid that Li Yinhang would dislike it. When she suddenly touched it, she was pleasantly surprised. It cupped its face with its little paw, lay down on the ground, and its head drooped from her collarbone, with its dark eyes staring straight at her.
Li Yinhang’s heart melted.
She gently touched Nanji Star’s head and carefully tucked it into her storage compartment.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Since Yi Shuige had already revealed his identity, Jiang Fang stopped pretending as well.
He laid his cards on the table.
Jiang Fang candidly explained based on his experience playing “Universal Gravity” and informed them of the purpose of this pool of water: “This place is called the ‘Golden Testing Pool.’ Every player who officially enters the ‘Colosseum’ must enter the pool once. It was designed in this style to match the architectural theme.”
Nan Zhou, “So we just need to go in, right?”
Saying that, he took off his shoes and socks, and stepped into the water.
Jiang Fang stood at the edge of the pool and continued his explanation, “If you step into it, the system will use this medium to detect the items you possess and various skills you have, and conduct a simple rating and estimation, making it easier to record data and information.”
Nan Zhou took two steps in place and noticed that the water surface remained calm without any changes.
Jiang Fang, “The first time entering will be a bit slower. Once you’ve entered, there will be relevant information and records of your performance–”
Before he could finish speaking, ripples and changes appeared on the water’s surface.
Nan Zhou followed his gaze and looked down.
A line of words appeared on the water’s surface.
“Detection failed. Please enter again.”
Li Yinhang, “……”
—— How should I put it…
As expected of you.
Nan Zhou achieved multiple values of the “????” achievement, successfully confusing the “Golden Testing Pool” as well.
Nan Zhou looked at Jiang Fang, pointed to the water surface, and quietly complained, “It is targeting me.”
Jiang Fang smiled and said, “You’re special.”
As he spoke, he also took off his shoes, stepped into the water, and held onto Nan Zhou’s waist as he lifted him out of the water.
The water that dripped from his toes and ankles formed small ripples in the “Golden Testing Pool.”
Nan Zhou held Jiang Fang’s shoulders, a little confused.
Soon after the patterns on the water’s surface disappeared, Jiang Fang placed him back into the pool for retesting.
While waiting for the results, Jiang Fang continued explaining the rules to them.
“There are four types of competitions in Doushou.”
“The first one is the regular team match. The system will automatically match us with teams of the same number, and we will engage in team battles in specific locations such as forests and western-style houses with certain shelter and terrain characteristics.
“The second one is the regular solo match. It’s a 1v1 battle in the central Doushou, and you can use any item.”
“For these two types of matches, players have to wager a portion of their points and items before the match. The closer the value of the wagered items, the more likely they will be matched.”
“The winner takes the items and points, while the loser leaves with nothing.”
As Jiang Fang mentioned this, he glanced down and noticed that Nan Zhou’s information failed to load again.
He followed the same procedure, lifting the beautiful daffodil from the water and gently planting it back.
“Third, the Roman Noble Game.”
“This is a unique format, similar to a boxing match, where other players can spectate. Spectators must place bets using points and items before the match.”
“Unlike other gambling games where you bet on the ‘winner’, in spectator matches, you bet on the ‘loser’.”
“They have to raise the stakes on players who they don’t support.”
“The person who has the stakes raised on them will have an additional layer of restrictions added once their chips reach a certain amount. For example, they may be prohibited from using teleportation items or attacking weapons.”
If the contestant you bet on loses, then you win. You can retrieve all the items you wagered and, based on your ‘contribution value’, divide half of the points and items bet by the opposing side. The more you bet, the greater your chance of winning advanced items.
“If the contestant you bet on wins, you won’t get anything in return. Half of your points and items will go to the opposing side, while the other half will go to the contestant you bet on. The winning contestant will have the first pick of the top 3 strongest-ranked items.”
This kind of competition has high participation and rich rewards, but it also carries great risks. It’s no wonder they call it the “Roman Noble Game.” Just like ancient nobles, they would watch from the sidelines with a smile, betting their jewelry and treasures, allowing slaves vs slaves, and slaves vs wild beasts to fight each other. It was quite vivid.
“Fourth, is an unrestricted brawl. This type of competition is unique, with no level restrictions or player limits. It throws teams with a total of 99 people into the same scene for a chaotic battle. The people who survive in the end will win in their respective groups.”
While they were talking, Nan Zhou was once again lifted by Jiang Fang.
He had gotten used to it and asked while leaning on Jiang Fang’s shoulder, “Can the people who die in the competition be revived?”
Jiang Fang replied, “From my observations, in normal team and individual matches, they can be revived. However, in the Roman Noble Game, the losing side doesn’t receive any recovery services for injuries, disabilities, or even death. In the unrestricted brawl, only the champion who emerges victorious can revive their dead teammates, while others cannot.”
Nan Zhou silently kept these rules in mind and asked, “In regular solo and team matches, there should be a lot of people participating. Why aren’t there many players in [Ancient City State]?”
The situation here was different from the instances; you can be revived even if you die.
It would be better to earn points here than to struggle in instances.
In theory, it should be very popular here.
Jiang Fang smiled and shook his head, “First, intense forms of combat like this are not what most people enjoy unless it’s necessary.”
“Second, this system has been modified and upgraded. It’s different from the original ‘Universal Gravity’.”
Nan Zhou had already noticed this in Jiang Fang’s explanation, “Because it’s not level-restricted?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Fang said, “In the current ‘Universal Gravity,’ your abilities are not related to your level. So, not only do you need to work hard, but you also need enough long-term good luck to match with opponents who are not so powerful to thrive here.”
“In this way, there is more uncertainty and it becomes more interesting.”
“In contrast, they would rather go to Douzhuan Casino to throw dice.”
Jiang Fang paused slightly, his voice filled with some regret, “Actually, the probability of winning here is much higher than in that golden cage.”
Jiang Fang’s explanation and clarification came to an end as Nan Zhou’s data was finally successfully read by the “Golden Testing Pool.”
Jiang Fang picked up his shoes and socks, politely saying, “You can ask me anytime if you have any questions in the future.”
Nan Zhou stared at Jiang Fang without blinking.
Jiang Fang stood in front of Nan Zhou and smiled, asking, “Do you have any other questions, Professor Nan?”
Nan Zhou said, “…You seem to know a lot about this place. Mr. Yi also mentioned that you have played this game.”
“Is this the secret you didn’t want to tell me?” Nan Zhou approached Jiang Fang, “Mr. Apple Tree?”
Jiang Fang hesitated for a moment.
He did not deny it.
Nan Zhou noticed Jiang Fang’s ears visibly turning red before him.
He liked the way Jiang Fang looked.
So, he leaned in gently and kissed Jiang Fang’s earlobe.
Nan Zhou obediently said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Apple. I’m Nan Zhou.”
Li Yinhang sat next to them, peacefully soaking her feet, as quiet as a chicken.
……
The data of all three individuals has been completely read by the “Golden Testing Pool”.
A welcome message popped up on the panel in front of all three individuals: “Welcome to the [Ancient City State] Colosseum!”
When anyone entered the Colosseum, a message saying [“xx has entered the [Ancient City State] Colosseum]!” would be automatically broadcasted on the World Channel.
When this notification popped up, it felt like a big bucket of cold water was poured into the boiling hot oil of the World Channel.
All those who were determined to win, seeing this monster that everyone thought was surrounded like an iron wall casually strolling to another safe spot as if taking a leisurely walk, felt like they were all rounded up and slapped in the face out of nowhere.
“How did he manage to run out?”
“What is the [Paper Gold City] gatekeeper even doing?”
The team guarding the entrance to the [Ancient City State] from [Paper Gold City] naturally refused to admit their mistake.
“Don’t fucking accuse others! We checked every single person who passed by, and he left through another teleportation point!”
“Don’t shift the blame! Most likely, he ran away from your area! Otherwise, people at other safe spots would have noticed them!”
“Anyway, it’s not our problem with the teleportation point we’re watching. No one is guarding the teleportation points at other safe spots? Taking extra precautions? They’re all idiots, right?”
“You talk so lightly, why don’t you go and watch the gates somewhere else?!”
The World Channel started a hesitant blame game.
Although the scolding was intense, they didn’t have a stance.
People who weren’t involved wouldn’t meddle, and those who were involved would all vie for a share of the credit.
As long as there was one less person in your team, you would lose one combat strength.
Making them willingly guard a certain teleportation point as logistics, doing the hard work for no reward, eagerly hoping that Nan Zhou might appear, this was not an easy job.
They were not completely helpless. The Colosseum in [Ancient City State] was the perfect place for “Cube Boat” now.
After all, the Colosseum provided mandatory protection for players who enter.
Once Nan Zhou entered there, they would have to fight against him in team matches or even solo matches, and could no longer freely use crowd tactics for outflanking.
But people have been sealed in [Paper Gold City] so they had lost interest in [Ancient City State] and were focused on surrounding Nan Zhou.
……Who could have imagined that the three of them would be able to break through the heavy guarding?
The World Channel had turned into a mess.
However, despite the arguments, a large number of players who were originally gathered in [Paper Gold City] surged towards [Ancient City State] like a tide.
thanks for the chapter
Finally caught up!
This really is an amazing story: it’s got mystery, top tier humor and a great main cp! Not to mention how disturbing it can be at times, which I absolutely LOVE
Honestly, thank you sm for this wonderful translation and keep up the good work!
Nan Zhou kissed Jiang Fang’s very red earlobe!!!! 😳😏