Chapter 79: Chapter 78: Frenzied Market Apocalypse Rules Strategy Research Room.
"After the Rule ended, all the remaining Living Dead died automatically," a researcher reported.
"We should cremate their bodies as soon as possible." Someone sighed. "I can’t believe the Fire Thief used corpses in its Rule. It’s completely deranged."
"The Fire Thief’s inhuman nature was laid bare from the very first Rule. We must never mistake it for something that has emotions."
"But the casualties from this Rule weren’t too high. Although many people failed to complete the challenge... at least they survived."
Gao Liangwei listened to the discussion, then turned to Dr. Zhang. "How did the Official Squads perform?"
Dr. Zhang said, "Out of the five squads, Squads One, Two, and Four completed their mission and eliminated the ’Screamer’ in their respective areas. Squad Three and Squad Five failed."
"Two squads failed their mission?" Gao Liangwei frowned. This fell short of his expectations. "What was the reason?"
"Squad Five was on the verge of success, but the ’Screamer’ suddenly summoned a large number of Living Dead to besiege them. It escaped in the chaos, and they haven’t been able to locate it since."
"The reason Squad Three failed their mission is..." Dr. Zhang paused. "According to their report, they were too late. The ’Screamer’ in their designated area had already been eliminated by independent Ascenders."
Gao Liangwei asked in surprise, "Independent powerhouses?"
"Yes. There were two of them. One is Shi Jingyi, a guest lecturer at the Psychic Power Development Academy. The other’s identity is currently unknown, but they are suspected to have a connection to Shi Jingyi."
After hearing this, Gao Liangwei’s expression darkened.
Dr. Zhang said, "There are actually quite a few powerful independent Ascenders. A situation like this isn’t entirely unexpected."
"Are you saying it’s reasonable that Squad Three, with support from local armed forces and having locked onto the target’s location immediately, was still less efficient than some independent powerhouses?"
"..."
"Dr. Zhang, we spent enormous resources creating these five squads, not for them to fail."
"I understand. I will strengthen their management and training."
Gao Liangwei pondered for a moment before saying, "Give Squad Three and Squad Five one more chance. If they team up for the Ascender Challenge in a month and still fail to achieve satisfactory results, it will prove they are no longer worthy of priority cultivation."
Dr. Zhang’s expression grew stern. He nodded. "Understood."
...
Guan Tong opened the Sublimation Store. The first thing that caught his eye wasn’t a new item, but the very first item ever listed, the [Basic Weapon Crate: Bronze Level], which now showed a "quantity remaining" display underneath it.
’Looks like quite a few people bought weapon crates during this Rule.’
It wasn’t particularly surprising. He had seen while browsing online that many people were buying these crates just so they could use an item related to Psychic Power to kill Living Dead, thereby earning extra Sublimation Coins.
The cold weapon most of them chose was the "long spear." There were many videos about it online—at some Gathering Point, people would barricade a doorway with junk and then use their chosen long spears to stab at the heads of the Living Dead through the cracks.
This was undoubtedly a relatively safe way to kill enemies.
Guan Tong, of course, had no intention of buying one. With Silver Hunter in hand, he had no need for such a basic cold weapon.
He selected "Sort by Listing Date" and checked the new items that had been added after this Rule. There were two in total.
[Multi-functional Lock Opener]: Can be used to open various types of basic locks. Single-use item.
[Price: 30 Sublimation Coins]
...
[Small Reconnaissance Drone]: When used, scans a 100-meter radius and locates human targets. Single-use item.
[Price: 80 Sublimation Coins]
...
’A Lock Opener and a drone?’
After looking at the two new items, Guan Tong found them a bit strange.
He felt they weren’t released for the upcoming sixth Rule, but rather as new items for the Ascender Challenge.
Especially the [Small Reconnaissance Drone]; it could only be used to scan for humans, which most likely meant it was intended for player-versus-player combat.
Guan Tong didn’t buy them right away. He closed the store and opened the market, wanting to see if there were any items he wanted.
But as soon as he opened it, he found that the prices of all items had skyrocketed!
Guan Tong glanced at a few items. Their effects were mediocre, yet their prices were in the high hundreds of Sublimation Coins.
Items with slightly better effects were priced at over a thousand.
He even saw an item priced at over ten thousand.
[Universal Medicine]: When consumed, removes all current negative statuses and fully restores stamina and Psychic Power.
[Price]: 15,000 Sublimation Coins
’...The effect of this Universal Medicine is amazing, but this price... ’
Guan Tong quickly understood what was happening.
It was related to the fifth Rule.
The major organizations, and even the officials, must have acquired a massive amount of bonus Sublimation Coins from the fifth Rule.
The people in charge of distribution would have pooled these Sublimation Coins, giving them terrifying purchasing power.