Chapter 287 ·The Sea of Eternal Darkness and the New PK Rules!

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍massive brawl within the Scourge Legion not only sparked a carnival among countless drama lovers, but also made the front pages of numerous news outlets. At the same time, it had also begun affecting various real-world organizations and forces.

For ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍example, the Special Investigation Bureau was currently swamped with work.

Feng ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ying urgently reported, “Director Zhou, after the two major Legions entered full-scale conflict, Crimson Night, Shadow Pavilion, Chivalrous Jianghu, and Heavenly Dragon Dynasty all sent spokespeople to publicly announce on the official forum and social media that they were joining the war.”

When ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍everyone heard the news.

Their ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍expressions immediately turned solemn.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍commanders of Crimson Night, Crimson Night Blade; Shadow Pavilion, Shadow Moon Azure Wolf; Chivalrous Jianghu, Uncle Big Tree; and Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, Huang Tianlong, were all Third-Order experts of at least Level 23.

They had long been under the Special Investigation Bureau's watch.

Every one of them was a newly rising powerhouse outside the top five Legions!

Each possessed an extremely formidable background and was by no means an ordinary individual.

Whether in terms of personal achievements or Legion accomplishments, none of them would necessarily fall behind the top five in the future.

Deputy Director Zhang Wei immediately said, “It seems the conflict between Wings of Freedom and the Hall of War Gods has begun to spread. If this trend continues, it's possible they'll completely fall out and plunge the territory into civil war. Perhaps we should activate the contingency plan immediately.”

The Special Investigation Bureau had long anticipated that the Scourge Legion would eventually erupt into internal warfare.

These Legions fighting each other was not necessarily a bad thing. It might even provide an opportunity for the Immortal Dragon Soul Legion to develop and overtake them.

What the Bureau feared was the conflict spiraling completely out of control. At that point, other players and factions would find it difficult to stay uninvolved, and since players were immortal and could never truly be eliminated, the result would be endless internal attrition.

That would seriously affect the Legion's overall combat strength!

How would they handle future high-difficulty missions?

If the situation dragged down the Legion—or even the territory's overall development—thereby harming the collective interest, or if domestic player factions lost control and allowed foreign player factions to seize the opportunity to rise, these were outcomes the Special Investigation Bureau absolutely did not wish to see!

To prevent such a situation.

The authorities had already prepared a series of contingency plans.

The Special Investigation Bureau would activate different plans depending on the circumstances.

Including, but not limited to, exercising various forms of authority in the real world.

For example, the government could directly intervene under its official identity by summoning and mediating between the members of the two Legions. It could even pass legislation in the real world prohibiting private feuds and killings within the game. At that point, anyone causing trouble in-game could simply be arrested in reality, naturally preventing similar incidents from happening.

Of course.

Unless it was an emergency of the highest order.

The authorities would not resort to coercive measures.

After all, that would amount to directly interfering with the game.

The Special Investigation Bureau truly had no idea how the mysterious force behind the game would react.

Furthermore, even if the authorities personally intervened with compulsory measures, they could currently only restrict Xia Nation players and had no jurisdiction over overseas players. Thus, such extreme methods had inherent limitations.

After some thought, Zhou Zhengming said, “It's not time yet. Let's continue observing.”

Zhang Wei said, “I'm still worried. If we leave this unchecked and the conflict escalates again, it'll become troublesome.”

Zhou Zhengming replied, “Since this conflict began, the territory still hasn't taken any action. There's no way Lord Hang Yu doesn't know the Scourge Legion is fighting among itself, nor would he sit back and watch the situation spiral out of control. Let's first see what attitude the Lord adopts.”

After hearing this.

Zhang Wei and Feng Ying also felt it made sense.

The territory hadn't even intervened yet.

Why should the Special Investigation Bureau panic?

The authorities were merely posing as the game's development team. At most they could bluff—they couldn't truly do anything to the territory. If they acted too much and exposed inconsistencies, players would instead lose their awe toward the official side, and might even uncover the game's secrets prematurely.

The upper echelons of the two major Legions were not fools.

There was no way they didn't understand that internal conflict brought nothing but harm.

Neither side could truly destroy the other. In the end, they would merely wound each other while allowing other factions to reap the benefits.

“I think if I were Ye Limeng or Black Pupil Brother Rui, I would never want to fight such a meaningless, profitless battle that only destroyed unity. Right now, they're simply riding a tiger they can't dismount from, pushed forward by collective emotion.”

Zhou Zhengming paused before continuing, “I believe we should trust the Lord and the territory. The Lord certainly has a way to prevent this conflict from escalating out of control. We simply need to wait until the right moment before stepping in to mediate and provide both sides with a dignified way to back down.”

Let the bullets fly a little longer!

Zhang Wei and Feng Ying continued monitoring the battle reports.

Since the game still lacked a livestream function, the Special Investigation Bureau had no better observation channels. Their intelligence-gathering methods were no different from countless cloud players—frantically pressing F5 on the forums.

“How's the battle?”

“The latest reports show the duel appears to have reached a stalemate!”

“What happened?”

“Both Wings of Freedom and the Hall of War Gods called in reinforcements. Their strength is now almost evenly matched, and the battlefield happens to be next to Xinye City's resurrection point, causing many players to revive and immediately rejoin the battle.”

“What?”

“If this continues.”

“Then it'll never end!”

“......”

Ye Limeng and Black Pupil Brother Rui had not wanted to drag things out.

They had hoped to decide victory through a single decisive battle.

Reality proved it wasn't that simple. Once people got carried away, not everyone cared about sportsmanship.

After all, players could resurrect quickly. There would always be someone dissatisfied with their previous performance who wanted another round. As a result, the fighting became endless, leaving both sides feeling trapped with no way to withdraw.

“Should we have Team Leader Wang coordinate with Divine Feather Palace and Ragnarök to mediate?”

“Will that work? Both sides are completely fired up now. Outside forces probably won't be able to intervene!”

“Forget Divine Feather Palace. As for an overseas faction like Ragnarök, they'd probably love to see our player factions descend into civil war. We'd be lucky if they didn't fan the flames.”

“Then what do we do?”

The leaders of every Special Investigation Bureau team looked troubled.

Everyone who had become a team leader was either an elite transferred from various government departments or a towering figure in the scientific community. Every one of them possessed extraordinary rank and status.

Never in their lives had they imagined they would rack their brains over a war taking place inside a game!

Of course, they also clearly understood what this so-called game truly represented, which was precisely why they had to ensure the situation did not spiral out of control. Yet as the situation worsened, they still had no good solution.

At that moment.

Good news appeared on the forum.

“Breaking news!”

“The territory has finally taken action!”

“Azure Dragon Guards Zhang San and Li Si have appeared on the battlefield!”

“What?”

“Third Brother and Fourth Brother both showed up!”

“It looks like things have gone too far this time. Even Lord Hang Yu probably couldn't stand watching anymore!”

“Brother Zu! Stop! The place is surrounded by Azure Dragon Guards!”

Players might ignore the prestige of other factions, but they absolutely dared not ignore these two NPCs. Not only because Zhang San and Li Si now possessed the strength of first-rate commanders, but also because the two of them were the Lord's most trusted personal guards.

As expected.

The Azure Dragon Guards.

Brought the Lord's orders.

Forcibly stopping the Scourge Legion from continuing the bloodshed.

“Latest announcement!”

“The Starsea Arena is officially online!”

“The territory is officially launching the PK Arena system!”

“By Lord Hang Yu's order, starting today, large-scale private battles between Legions are prohibited in principle.”

“From now on, players with disputes may apply for duels in the Arena. A series of restrictions will also be imposed on malicious player-versus-player killing.”

“Whoa!”

“The Arena is finally online?”

“It even looks like they've introduced a red-name system for player killing!”

“This update feels incredibly substantial!”

“Hahaha! We've been waiting for the Arena for ages. Looks like the conflict between the two major Legions wasn't entirely meaningless. Did it actually accelerate the territory's update schedule?”

“......”

One explosive piece of news after another flooded the forum before being reposted by major influencers and self-media outlets, once again sparking widespread discussion among countless netizens.

Everyone in the Special Investigation Bureau breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected, the Lord's words carried the most authority. He didn't even need to appear personally. Simply sending two personal guards to deliver a message was enough for the players to obediently stop fighting. It showed just how overwhelming Lord Hang Yu's influence among players had become.

Zhou Zhengming had guessed correctly.

The territory was never going to sit idly by.

Not only had it introduced new territorial regulations.

It had also launched the long-awaited Arena feature!

Feng Ying immediately gathered information regarding the Arena and the new territorial rules.

“Two Starsea Arenas have appeared in the northeastern corner of Luoshui Main City. Together, they can support up to one thousand Arena Spaces simultaneously. Players who die inside Arena Spaces accumulate only one-tenth of the normal fatigue.”

“Each player also receives ten daily death penalty exemptions.”

“In other words, dying during Arena matches does not consume Abyss Essence.”

“Furthermore, players earn Arena Points during Arena battles. Arena Points can be exchanged for Abyss Essence rewards, territorial items, Contribution Coins, Contribution Points, and more.”

“Arena battles can also be livestreamed on the official website!”

“The territory has also introduced an item called the ‘Duel Covenant.’”

“Certain conflicts involving interests or disagreements between players and Legions can now be resolved through wagered duels by signing this covenant, with the agreement protected by the territory.”

“......”

Once the information about the Starsea Arena was announced.

Everyone immediately realized just how important this facility was to both the Scourge Legion and the players.

This wasn't merely the addition of an extremely important gameplay feature.

It also provided an excellent method for resolving disputes, disagreements, and even conflicts over interests.

If similar conflicts arose in the future.

Players could simply settle them through duels inside the Arena.

“Not only that, the territory has also announced an entire series of new regulations concerning malicious PK!”

Feng Ying continued, “Effective immediately, malicious player killing in wilderness areas outside the territory will generate Crime Points according to the circumstances. The higher a player's Crime Points, the greater the death penalty they suffer. Once Crime Points reach one thousand, the player enters Wanted status.”

“That sounds rather similar to the red-name PK systems from classic online games.”

“However, judging from the new rules, while the territory doesn't encourage malicious player killing, it also doesn't completely oppose wilderness PvP.”

“First, Crime Point generation is dynamic. High-level players who maliciously kill low-level players or civilian NPCs receive a large amount of Crime Points. Meanwhile, killing players of similar strength results in far fewer Crime Points. Open and fair PvP may even generate no Crime Points at all.”

“In addition, Crime Points gradually decrease over time, and they can also be removed using special items or by completing special missions.”

“......”

Judging from the new rules, although the territory imposed certain restrictions on malicious PK, it had not completely banned players from fighting each other in the wilderness. Clearly, it intended for the Scourge Legion to retain a certain degree of wildness.

“Excellent!”

Zhou Zhengming finally relaxed completely.

He said, “With a public, fair dueling platform like the Starsea Arena, along with restrictions and punishment mechanisms for malicious killing, even if the Scourge Legion experiences internal conflicts in the future, they're unlikely to escalate to today's scale.”

Zhang Wei also said, “This matter has finally come to an end!”

With the Arena and the new PK regulations introduced.

The stability of the Scourge Legion would increase tremendously.

Even if they continued competing in the future, unless there was truly an irreconcilable blood feud, they would most likely remain in a state of competing without completely breaking apart—maintaining rivalry without tearing relationships beyond repair or spiraling out of control.

As for this conflict between the Hall of War Gods and Wings of Freedom?

Since the Lord himself had issued the order.

They certainly would not continue fighting.

At this moment, the Special Investigation Bureau stepped in under its official identity, inviting the leaders or representatives of both sides for peace talks, providing them with a dignified opportunity to back down. It seemed likely that the matter would soon be concluded.

This incident also made one thing abundantly clear.

Not only was the territory growing stronger day by day.

Its rules and institutions.

Were likewise continuously improving as it developed.

…………

At this moment.

Luoshui Main City.

Inside the Core Hall.

Hang Yu was also observing the reactions from every side.

This disturbance within the Scourge Legion.

Should finally be drawing to a temporary close.

After Azure Dragon Guards Zhang San and Li Si personally intervened to mediate, Ye Limeng and Black Pupil Brother Rui both called a halt to the conflict.

Government authorities had also sent invitations to the leaders of both Legions, apparently preparing to intervene personally under the identity of the “official” game operators to mediate and encourage reconciliation.

Neither Legion Commander had truly wanted to fight in the first place.

Now that a graceful way out had been provided, neither had any reason to refuse.

Even the members of both Legions who had disliked each other no longer wanted to arrange fights in the wilderness.

Because losing Abyss Essence upon death.

Was simply too costly.

It only caused their levels to fall and their strength to weaken!

Compared to that.

Wasn't the Arena far better?

After all, PvP in the Arena offered at least three major advantages!

First, dying inside the Arena did not cost any Abyss Essence.

Second, players who created duel rooms earned Arena Points, which could be exchanged for Abyss Essence, Contribution Points, and various items and resources. In other words, not only would there be no internal attrition, but participants would actually become stronger.

Finally, the Arena included a wagering system. Under territorial supervision, Legions—and even individual players—could resolve certain disputes and disagreements through officially recognized duels.

Besides that.

Tens of millions of cloud players.

Were celebrating wildly.

Because Arena duels could now be livestreamed publicly on the official forum.

To countless cloud players and scholars of the Arcane, this was undoubtedly an enormous benefit, while every major Legion also sensed tremendous commercial opportunities.

No matter how one looked at it.

The implementation of the Starsea Arena.

Would have far-reaching effects upon the territory.

…………

Hang Yu summarized his gains.

This round of conflict had generated more than one hundred million additional Abyss Essence for the territory.

Although this was not an especially large amount by Hang Yu's standards, it was enough to allow several elite Azure Dragon Guards to cultivate the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear and Nine Nether Demonic Flame cultivation arts!

At present.

Within the territory.

There were five hundred Azure Dragon Guards.

To cultivate this elite core force.

Hang Yu spared neither effort nor resources.

They represented the most important combat strength beneath Hero units.

The Azure Dragon Guards were divided into three tiers: Founding Dragon Guards, Elite Dragon Guards, and Standard Dragon Guards.

The cultivation standards for the eight Founding Dragon Guards had no upper limit. Everything depended upon the territory's available resources and future development.

The plan for the Elite Dragon Guards was to produce one hundred of them. Besides equipment superior even to the Scourge Legion's finest, their goal was to master two cultivation arts, ensuring that their future strength would reach at least the level of first-rate commanders.

As for the remaining Standard Dragon Guards, although their equipment would be slightly inferior to that of the Elite Dragon Guards, it would still surpass that of virtually all players. Each would be equipped with at least one cultivation art, guaranteeing strength equivalent to second- or third-rate commanders.

With the territory's current resources.

Maintaining five hundred Azure Dragon Guards.

Was already the limit.

Now that Hang Yu had opened the Arena, future daily Abyss Essence income would increase dramatically. Even without major territorial wars, the amount generated every day would exceed what could be spent.

In the long run.

The Abyss Essence reservoir represented by five hundred Azure Dragon Guards would likely become too small.

“The number of players keeps increasing, and Abyss Essence income continues to rise. It's time to expand the Azure Dragon Guards as well.”

After giving it some thought, Hang Yu directly activated the territory's recruitment system.

And recruited another five hundred Azure Dragon Guard recruits!

This way.

The Abyss Essence reservoir doubled in size.

Allowing it to absorb the surplus Abyss Essence that would accumulate over the coming period.

In this way.

The territory's Abyss Essence production and consumption could always remain balanced.

In truth.

From a numerical standpoint.

One thousand Azure Dragon Guards were still not many.

After all, within the next ten days, the Scourge Legion would exceed thirty thousand players, approaching a massive force of forty thousand.

Theoretically speaking.

Supporting one Azure Dragon Guard for every ten Scourge Legion players posed no problem at all.

If the territory possessed forty thousand players, then a reasonable Azure Dragon Guard force should number around four thousand. Only then could they better manage the players and fully guarantee Hang Yu's absolute rule and control over the territory.

However.

The Azure Dragon Guards could not be cultivated overnight.

Although the Scourge Legion's numbers grew rapidly, most of them were still recruits. These low-level newcomers could not yet generate much Abyss Essence. They still required time to grow.

The cultivation cost of an Azure Dragon Guard.

Was extremely high.

From Level 1 to Level 30.

The Abyss Essence cost alone.

Reached 2,508,642 points.

Those 2.5 million points.

Represented only the most basic expense.

According to Hang Yu's standards for an ordinary Azure Dragon Guard, besides crafting a full set of top-tier equipment and consuming attribute-enhancing medicine, each also needed to master at least one Blue cultivation art. Even by conservative estimates, that required at least another five million Abyss Essence.

The calculation was obvious.

A qualified Level 30 Azure Dragon Guard.

Cost 7.5 million Abyss Essence.

Additionally.

Each required between six thousand and ten thousand portions of Third-Order Material Essence to strengthen their equipment.

That did not even include Forging Crystals, gemstones, attribute medicine, and other related expenses.

Under such circumstances.

Creating one hundred qualified Azure Dragon Guards would theoretically require at least 750 million Abyss Essence.

And that was only at Level 30. Once Hang Yu advanced to the Fourth Order, the entire Azure Dragon Guard Legion would require another full round of upgrades, pushing the total investment even higher.

Every Azure Dragon Guard.

Was a high-end combat unit built upon mountains of resources.

Yet the value they directly produced.

Was not particularly high.

They primarily existed as a stabilizing force.

For this reason, Hang Yu had never expanded the Azure Dragon Guards aggressively. The territory's Abyss Essence would always first be devoted to Hero units such as Dian Wei and Jia Xu, followed by the Scourge Legion, the Black Tiger Guards, and the territory's civilians.

Only when production exceeded demand.

Would the surplus flow into the Azure Dragon Guard reservoir.

Now that the Azure Dragon Guards had expanded to one thousand.

The Abyss Essence reservoir had doubled in capacity.

Enough to sustain things for quite some time.

Harvesting Abyss Essence from players was absolutely necessary, and the secret to efficiently harvesting these leeks lay in maintaining balance—the players could be neither too strong nor too weak.

At present.

The top players of the Scourge Legion had more or less reached the desired level.

The current problem.

Was that there were simply too many recruits.

Their levels were far too low!

It was necessary to apply more fertilizer—to nurture these new leeks, helping them level up as quickly as possible. Only then could he harvest more leeks, producing more Abyss Essence to cultivate additional Azure Dragon Guards—and create even more of them.

Just as Hang Yu was considering.

How to efficiently and reasonably fertilize these new leeks.

He suddenly felt the territorial core tremble.

At the same time, a notification from the Will of the Stars echoed in his mind.

【Ding! You have received a communication request from the Land of the Stars. Accept? Yes/No!】

Hang Yu was slightly surprised.

Another being.

Was contacting him through the Stars.

Without even guessing, there was a ninety-percent chance it was Principal Long!

Without hesitation, Hang Yu immediately accepted the communication. A projection appeared before him—it was none other than Principal Long, the Primordial Nether Dragon, though it was most likely merely the projection of one of her avatars.

“Greetings, Principal Long!”

Hang Yu politely greeted her at once.

“You've suddenly contacted your student. May I ask what instructions you have?”

Principal Long said, “The theme of this Rising Star Lord Tournament has already been decided. Every participating Lord's territory will receive temporary teleportation access to the Sea of Eternal Darkness, where they will undergo a survival trial lasting no more than half a Starsea Week. You should make preparations in advance.”

Just as expected.

She had come to remind him about the tournament.

Counting the days.

The Starsea Lord Tournament.

Would begin in approximately two days.

“What? The legendary Sea of Eternal Darkness?”

Hang Yu revealed a stunned expression.

Of course he knew what the Sea of Eternal Darkness was.

The so-called Sea of Eternal Darkness was not truly an ocean.

It was the graveyard of worlds.

It was an enormous cemetery formed from the shattered remains of completely destroyed Abyssal planes.

And an extremely dangerous place.

Principal Long said, “Even I do not lightly set foot within the Sea of Eternal Darkness. The danger there far exceeds imagination... Although the sea region anchored by the Will of the Stars will certainly be relatively safe, I still advise you to remain as cautious as possible and never overestimate yourself. If you encounter the offspring of Evil Gods or Fourth-Order Lords, your priority should be preserving your own life.”

No matter how outstanding Hang Yu was.

He was still ultimately.

Only a Human Lord.

The margin for error available to Human Lords.

Was simply too small.

If he sacrificed an army painstakingly cultivated at tremendous cost merely for a single event, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

The Lord Tournament.

Was not a Lord War.

Such events were meant to be approached according to one's capabilities.

Hang Yu had already achieved first place in the qualifying tournament.

Principal Long was thoroughly satisfied.

As for Hang Yu himself, that achievement alone was enough to earn him considerable fame in Sacred Azure City.

“Thank you for the reminder, Principal Long!”

Hang Yu immediately replied, “Please rest assured. Your student treasures his life greatly and will never act recklessly!”

Principal Long then introduced Hang Yu to various aspects of the Sea of Eternal Darkness.

These were things.

That could never be learned at the Lord Academy.

And they would be of tremendous help during the upcoming tournament.

After finishing her explanations.

Principal Long ended the communication.

“In two days, the territory will open teleportation access to the Sea of Eternal Darkness. Although it's an extremely dangerous place, it also contains tremendous opportunities!”

According to Principal Long.

The tournament would last.

No longer than half a Starsea Week.

Converted into more familiar terms.

That meant no more than about fifteen days.

Hang Yu remained confident in his own strength.

And the Scourge Legion feared neither casualties nor danger.

The only troublesome issue.

Was that in no more than five days.

The territory would begin its third map expansion.

In other words.

The Lord Tournament and the map expansion.

Would overlap.

This might divide the territory's military strength and attention.

If the newly opened Abyssal Nightmare proved especially dangerous.

The territory would be forced to focus its efforts on defense.

In that case.

The forces available for the Lord Tournament.

Would naturally be reduced.

Although it posed something of a challenge.

It didn't seem like a major problem.

Hang Yu still possessed unused Starsea Merit.

If the situation truly became dire.

He could simply exchange it for a single use of Starsea Protection.

In return for seven days during which no Lord War could be triggered.

Nor could outside forces invade.

Given the Scourge Legion's growth rate.

And the territory's development speed.

That would be more than enough.

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