The man had a mountain of deliveries to make.
He had no time to worry about Jing Yuan.
To him, this laid-back young man was just another denominator in 1.4 billion…
Jing Yuan hefted the emergency kit.
That odd feeling in his gut only grew.
It was late at night, but after that announcement, sleep was gone.
He slumped against the headboard and began scrolling his phone.
As expected, every platform was flooded with Forbidden Zone chatter.
[Nervous!
Who will be Dragon Nation’s Trailblazer?
A 1-in-1.4-billion chance—what if it’s a child or an elder?!]
[Experts say the “Forbidden Zone” may involve extraterrestrial civilization.]
[Have you received your emergency kit?
Learn how to use it with us!]
[Crisis or opportunity?
A creator’s take on Dragon Nation’s future…]
[Top ten wilderness survival tips…]
Scrolling made him drowsy again.
Jing Yuan drifted off.
Ordinary people might lie awake, anxious over the Zone.
He didn’t.
He still ate when he should and slept when he should.
He’d already crossed once.
If he got picked, it’d just be a second trip.
That night,
Blue Star did not sleep.
Over two hundred nations moved to respond.
In some Western countries without gun bans, citizens were even “encouraged” to “check out” their local gun shops for gear—government would foot the bill after.
That night, the sound of “freedom” rang across the West…
The tension lasted into the next day.
When the mysterious voice sounded again, the world’s nations believed even more firmly.
[Warning!!]
[One hour until the Zone opens.]
[Global livestream now online!]
[Every nation’s networks will display their Trailblazer’s live feed.
We uphold fairness, impartiality, and transparency.]
[Zone opening in: 00:59:59]
Guided by the message, floods of viewers poured into the streams.
Traffic spiked, platforms crashed.
The government intervened in time—took over the national Zone stream and added servers, stabilizing the situation.
Half an hour later, as Jing Yuan waited in the stream for the Zone to open, that familiar voice sounded in his ear— but unlike before, only he could hear it.
[Congratulations.
You have been chosen as Dragon Nation’s Trailblazer.]
[You will represent Dragon Nation in the Forbidden Zone.]
[You have thirty minutes to prepare.
You may carry items not exceeding your body weight.]
[Transfer begins in thirty minutes.
Make ready…]
Jing Yuan smiled wryly.
“Thought so…”
His suspicion had become reality.
He wondered if his system had borrowed a bit of a certain Diviner’s ability.
As for prep…
With the Arbiter-General’s power, he had little to prepare.
Even without unlocking the “Divine Lord,” 13% progress gave him a strength far beyond ordinary.
He turned his eyes back to the phone.
Since the Zone wasn’t open yet, the stream was still black.
Even so, the barrage of scrolling comments was endless…
[Front row for history!]
[Open the gate!]
[Hurry hurry hurry!
I am Hurry King!!]
[I know you’re in a rush, but don’t rush—let me rush first (munching popcorn)]
After a moment’s thought, Jing Yuan typed.
He topped up a hundred to pin the message…
[Jing-Yuan-yuan: Family, I’ve been chosen as the Trailblazer.
Watch me bring glory to Dragon Nation!
罒ω罒]
At once, the tone of the chat shifted…
[For real?]
[Go, Jing-Yuan-yuan!
Show the world our strength!]
[Got your gear ready?
Only thirty minutes—move!
(urgent)]
For everyone who believed, someone didn’t…
[Liar!]
[Lol, if that clown is the Trailblazer, I’ll become a JP-server “Gunslinger” main and stream it live!]
[You’d sooner believe that guy is the Trailblazer than believe I’m the First Emperor?
DM me 50 and I’ll make you a general!
(winky)]
Jing Yuan smirked.
The pinned message would be a little keepsake before the Zone.
Painful as the hundred was, who knew when he’d be back?
Money could wait…
But when more pinned messages popped up—people copying the idea to advertise—he just about lost it…
[Tap my avatar for a giveaway—split 648 cash!]
[Buying peripherals?
Shop XX Store—XX Store…]
[Parents not home, feeling lonely—tap my avatar…]
Jing Yuan: “…”
Thankfully the authorities noticed and shut down the pin feature before the viewers went feral.
Thirty minutes flashed by.
With the countdown in his ear, Jing Yuan took a long breath and tied his white hair back with a red cord.
He scooped up the emergency kit.
And, beneath a column of golden light, faded from sight…
At the same time, the livestream picture changed.
Three familiar faces appeared in the control room.
“Hello everyone, I’m Xiao Sa, invited as your host for the Forbidden Zone broadcast.”
“I’m Bingbing.
I’ll be hosting alongside Xiao Sa.”
“Heh, I’m Bureau Chief—well, retired now.
An honor to be your first guest.”
The three introductions set off a wave of excitement.
“It’s Bingbing, my queen!
(mad cheering)”
“Chief!
Long time no see!”
“Battle-Psych Ops, assemble!”
But attention quickly snapped back to the feed.
An endless expanse of ice and snow filled the screen—an isolated icefield somewhere…
Snow poured down.
Blinding white as far as the eye could see.
Brutal conditions, plain as day.
The camera zoomed.
A young figure appeared.
He wore only a thin layer.
His long white hair was tied back with a red cord.
His sideburns and fringe stood up like he’d never bother with a barber…
The lazy set of his face made people wonder if that hair was long simply because he couldn’t be bothered to cut it…
“Hoo—”
“So this is the ‘Forbidden Zone’?”
Jing Yuan glanced around.
In the extreme cold, even his breath smoked.
Though it didn’t bother him, lingering here wouldn’t be wise.
[Welcome, Trailblazers, to the Forbidden Zone.]
[You will have a 12-hour “Novice Protection Period.”]
[During this time, death carries no penalty and does not affect your nation.]
[After the protection ends, death is death.
There is no revival.
Your nation will suffer an irreversible National Fate penalty.]
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