Then, even after the stirring music concluded, not a single person had walked through the entrance.

In the silent live broadcast room, Di Ting's smile had frozen in place. For some reason, a GURGLE GURGLE sound started echoing in everyone's ears.

Fortunately, just as Di Ting was about to completely lose hope, the entrance door was finally pushed open.

A soft footstep sounded.

Under the spotlight, a gentle, smiling face appeared before everyone. Not only Huai Shi but even Di Ting was stunned, their eyes wide with an astonishment that seemed to ask, Why is it you?!

As if returning from a long journey, the woman carried a huge backpack, wore a sun hat, and held a hiking stick, looking travel-worn.

Yet her smile was bright and clear.

Looking around, she couldn't help but appear a bit astonished. "Eh? Is this being broadcast live? Did I come at a bad time?"

So you do realize that!

With a stiff smile, Di Ting widened his eyes, his gaze clearly asking, Why are you here? The newcomer looked back, her eyes widening too, her expression conveying, It's a long story.

Then Di Ting shot her another look: I freaking knew she disappeared again! But wasn't she just backstage? Where on earth did she go? The newcomer returned a glance that said, Pulled away for an urgent task. I'm filling in.

The two communicated with glances.

As if.

It was completely like talking at cross-purposes.

In the end, within just a few exchanged glances, the two reached a consensus: although they didn't know what had happened, they decided to just go with it.

After exchanging so many glances, Di Ting's eye corners began to twitch, making him look askew.

After clearing his throat, he said to the audience, "Let me introduce our on-site guest, Miss Bai... cough cough, Miss Bai Ze. Miss Bai Ze, please greet the audience."

"Hello, everyone."

Bai Ze sat rather reservedly in the chair and waved to the audience, her voice gentle. After taking off her sun hat, her black hair cascaded down like flowing water, actually spreading all the way to the floor, winding like a stream.

Her smile was radiant.

This is Bai Ze, whose combat power is above Fu Canlight?

Huai Shi frowned in confusion. She doesn't look like someone who can fight at all!

Rather, she looks completely incapable of fighting!

Her relaxed posture, her tired appearance... even looking at her Source Fluctuation, it seems to be at a fairly ordinary Fifth Stage level—no, even below the general standard for Fifth Stage...

But soon, he noticed the unusual reaction of the live audience on the screen.

When they heard that Bai Ze was replacing the White Emperor's Son as the commentator, the audience was collectively astonished.

One group, after the realization hit them, suddenly slumped in their chairs with disappointed sighs. Another group, after a moment's pause, suddenly grew excited, their cheers becoming even louder.

Awesome!

Even though we can't see the young miss, a cute and pretty 'big sister' is good too!

Then, both groups glanced at each other, their disdainful looks so intense they seemed about to shoot sparks, as if they were looking at arch-nemeses.

However, inexplicably, the tension dissipated instantly, and both sides' eyes softened simultaneously.

They reached an understanding.

Ah, there's nothing wrong with being a lolicon; it's just some childhood trauma... That's right, and there's nothing wrong with being into older women either; it's just a lack of maternal love...

Bizarre thoughts suddenly arose in their minds, settling disputes and spreading peace.

It was like an illusion.

When Bai Ze sat in the chair, the originally restless event site instantly calmed down, as if endowed with wisdom and patience, their spirits serene.

Everyone seemed to have an epiphany, sharing knowing smiles, in perfect harmony.

Except for Di Ting.

Di Ting's face was turning green. He frantically threw looks at Bai Ze, signaling her to quickly retract her Miracle Imprint. Otherwise, with this lovey-dovey atmosphere, the competition wouldn't be able to continue!

What's the point of fighting then?

Friendship first, competition second. They could just add each other on WeChat, become friends, and call it a day.

Bai Ze also seemed to realize something was amiss. She flashed an awkward smile and tapped her hiking stick... In an instant, the tranquility was gone.

Those lolicons are definitely nuts... Every single one of them should be shot... And what are those idiots shouting 'Big sisters are the best!' thinking? If they're so starved for maternal love, they should go back to kindergarten...

The peace was fleeting. At that moment, conflict escalated like oil on fire, and everyone's eyes, bloodshot, seemed to spew flames.

Under Di Ting's long hair, his ears twitched. Beneath the table, his hands were frantically gesturing at Bai Ze.

Okay, okay, this is enough. We're hosting a competition, not trying to get the audience to start killing each other...

It wasn't just on-site. Even in the branch venues, swords were drawn and bows were tense.

The suppression by dozens of steel Giant Geese seemed, for a moment, somewhat unable to quell that strange and gloomy atmosphere, as everyone glared at each other, sharpening their knives.

Huai Shi gasped. He no longer dared to underestimate any Fifth Stage Sublimator.

If not for the Book of Fate in his hand, allowing him to check records at any time, he wouldn't even have noticed such an abrupt transformation in the arena. Everything seemed to unfold naturally, without any anomalies, as if by its own accord.

Whether it was the peaceful serenity or the tense agitation, it all seemed as it should be. It left people not even knowing how to resist.

As the countdown hit its final second, the awkward chatter between the host and the guest finally drew to an end. The two exchanged glances, and Di Ting was the first to lift his eyes to the camera, beaming a joyous smile.

"Time is passing minute by minute, friends! Firecrackers sound off the old year, peach talismans by the thou—wait a second! Damn it, change the teleprompter for me! This is the one for New Year's! Right, that one."

After clearing his throat without any embarrassment, he said, "Anyway, as the hour strikes, on behalf of the organizing committee, I officially declare—the Nineteenth Asian Newcomer Competition has officially begun!"

At that moment, Huai Shi heard a ROAR from overhead.

The ground shook violently beneath his feet.

The strange sensation, like just being in an elevator, resurfaced, causing him great alarm. Instinctively, he gripped the armrests of his chair.

Subsequently, he saw the pale sky and earth shake abruptly.

The dome, originally radiating pure white light, actually opened up, revealing the surging dark clouds overhead and the deep rumbling of thunder from afar.

Under the pitch-black canopy of the sky, the immense sound of tides rose and fell.

Thick water vapor and splashing droplets converged into a viscous fog, seeping down from the gradually opening Sky Dome. Everyone felt their faces grow damp. Huai Shi saw dew quickly condensing on his Helmet's visor.

Thunder streaked across the gloomy Sky Dome above. A deafening ROAR.

A torrential downpour formed in an instant, cascading towards the mortal world. Yet, not a drop fell on Huai Shi. In his astonishment, he discovered the rain was actually defying the sky, rising upwards. It flew out from the endless tide, disappearing into the dark clouds and lightning.

The hurricane howled, unleashing a ROAR.

The Sky Dome finally opened completely to both sides, and Huai Shi at last caught a glimpse of where he was.

In this inverted rain, they were on a massive cargo ship, sitting in chairs welded to the deck, as quiet as cargo stowed in the hold.

Surging tides and waves constantly emerged. They playfully toyed with the enormous cargo ship as if it were a plaything, easily swaying it, tossing it, lifting it high, and then letting it fall again. The ship shattered the oncoming tidal waves as it thundered forward.

In the darkness of the torrential downpour, a distant, echoing drone arose.

Then, a deafening ship's horn BLASTED.

The ship's horns and searchlights tore through the curtain of rain and mist, revealing other cargo ships also braving the winds and waves in this endless ocean.

The Sublimators from other branch venues looked around at each other's presence in bewilderment through the rain.

Only Huai Shi gasped, looked up, and gazed at the gradually dissipating clouds above his head.

Damn, it can't be...

As he murmured, the rain's washing and shaking finally tore a massive rift in the Thunder and dark clouds overhead. The rift stretched from one point to another, seemingly spanning thousands of miles.

It revealed the appearance of the 'sky.'

No, that should be the real earth...

Surrounded by darkness, Huai Shi saw it—a vast, silent city... It was as if submerged in the Sea, with darkness like a tide ravaging its faint, blurry silhouette.

The entire city was like a whale carcass rotting in the Sea, rising and falling in the invisible tide of darkness, exuding an aura of decay and eeriness.

At this moment, how could Huai Shi not understand? He was already within the Borderlands.

To be precise, he was situated on that brutal Sea, suspended high above all the Asian Borders. Under the protection of Giant Goose Company's colossal vessel, they were forging ahead through wind and wave, gradually approaching the city 'beneath their feet.'

A thrill of excitement flowed from the Mountain Ghost's Stigma, allowing Huai Shi to feel the anticipation and yearning of the Miracle within him, as well as a deep Resonance with the darkness emanating from that city.

Without needing any verbal cues, he already knew that this was likely the arena prepared for this Newcomer Competition.

It was far removed from the Current Circumstances, its protections, and the Starlight of the Border.

An undeniable Hell.

The moment the live broadcast cameras showed the city's silhouette, all the spectators in the distinguished seats were briefly stunned. Then, up front, the representative from Yingzhou Deer Hall—that elegant and elderly Court Official—his face suddenly turned ashen.

"Protest! Protest!"

He rose indignantly, roaring at the young man representing Social Security, "I demand to see Lord Xuan Niao, immediately!"

The young man known as Older Cousin turned back, an eyebrow raised with a peculiar expression. "Lord Xuan Niao is currently inspecting the Ji Xia project. If you request a meeting, it can be relayed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"How absurd!"

The elderly Court Official's eyes widened as he glared at him. "We lodge a severe protest against Dongxia's actions! We will absolutely not permit such interference with our country's territory and sovereignty!"

For a moment, everyone who understood the situation wore ambiguous smiles. They didn't get involved in the conflict between Social Security and Deer's Sing Hall, instead looking on as if watching a play.

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