Wu Feng took off the simulation helmet, rubbing his slightly throbbing temples. The experience just now could be considered the final spree before the official Lord career began.
The simulation game he had just played was a virtual game launched by the Lord Alliance 40 years ago with 99% fidelity, mainly designed to improve the abilities of prospective Lords.
Individuals aged 15 and above could enter the simulation game to simulate the process of becoming a Lord and gain experience in managing a Territory in advance.
Of course, quite a few 'adults' were also addicted to this virtual game, experiencing what it felt like to be a Lord within it.
After turning 18, citizens could enter the Abyss through the Lord Crystal and officially become Abyss Lords.
Since Blue Star fell into the Endless Abyss Layer 700 a hundred years ago, the Rules have been this way: anyone over 18 can experience what it is like to be an Abyss Lord.
Collecting resources, recruiting followers, fighting against the endless stream of Calamity Alien Races, and protecting the Blue Star world from Erosion.
Becoming an Abyss Lord is a far more significant opportunity for advancement than the College Entrance Examination a hundred years ago. If one manages their Territory well, they can achieve a status above thousands, perhaps even becoming a Great Lord!
If the Territory is destroyed, they can only return to the Safe Zone and become a Commoner serving the Lords.
Thinking of this, the young man looked at the setting Sun outside the window; the long, 18-hour night was about to begin.
Wu Feng remembered reading in historical records that before Blue Star fell into the Endless Abyss a hundred years ago, they used a 24-hour system, and a night only lasted 10 to 12 hours.
Now, due to the extension of the day-night cycle, it has become a 42-hour system, with the night lasting over 18 hours—a long night that truly kills the desire to sleep.
"Wu Feng, the Abyss Layer 799 opens tomorrow morning. Are you nervous? You performed very well in the simulation game; you definitely won't have any problems."
The person on duty at the simulation room was Wu Feng's old teacher, Brother Hua. Seeing that Wu Feng had finished today's simulation session, he came over to cheer him up.
Of course, Brother Hua's full name was Liu Qihua, but his approachable personality made him seem like a friend to the students, so everyone preferred calling him Brother Hua.
Perhaps the reason they got along so well was that Brother Hua's favorite phrase was, "You are the best class of students I have ever taught!"
Wu Feng looked at the concerned Brother Hua and smiled confidently: "Brother Hua, don't worry. Isn't tomorrow just like the College Entrance Examination a hundred years ago? As long as I perform normally, there won't be any issues!"
For a hundred years, a new layer of the Endless Abyss has been added annually. Tomorrow is the day Layer 799 opens. According to the Rules, Novice Lords entering the Endless Abyss for the first time will have a seven-day Golden Novice Period.
During these seven days, only Novice Lords entering the Abyss for the first time can operate in the new layer; other Resurrected Lords must wait until the seven days pass before they can enter.
This is the 'College Entrance Examination' for Novice Lords who just turned 18—or rather, it's even more important than the College Entrance Examination!
One of the crucial variables upon Advent into a New Abyss is that Lords will randomly obtain a Lord Talent.
Wu Feng felt that even if he drew a low-level Lord Talent, he should be able to slowly open up the situation, as long as it wasn't a disastrous opening hand where a Demon Lair blocked the entrance.
Wu Feng, feigning composure, was still a youth after all. He didn't know what kind of opening he would face tomorrow. Even simulating it countless times in the simulation game couldn't prepare one for the randomness of the Abyss Advent.
Perhaps it was truly as Brother Hua said: life is unpredictable, like intestines wrapped around each other?
Brother Hua sensed the student's inner turmoil and grinned, patting Wu Feng's shoulder: "Xiao Feng, you are just too cautious. Look at that guy Zhu Biyu; he didn't even come for the last day of simulation, just sleeping soundly at home."
"He's even boasting that he'll sleep for a full forty-two hours and then get a Godly Opening Hand!"
Wu Feng shook his head: "Old Zhu's math is still that bad. How will he calculate damage output then? But he is indeed optimistic. I just need to avoid a disastrous opening."
With Brother Hua distracting him, Wu Feng stopped dwelling on it. He was fully prepared, so all he needed to do was give it his all in one determined effort!
"Oh, right. This arrived at the school this morning via express delivery. Your simulation ID is 【Three-Foot Green Edge】, correct? This package is for you."
Brother Hua suddenly produced a package, and the sender's name written on it was 【Thousand Mountains Evening Snow】.
Seeing this name, Wu Feng's mind conjured the image of that stunning young girl who liked to hold her head high with pride like a swan. What had this girl sent him?
Wu Feng, looking puzzled, opened the package right in front of Brother Hua. Inside were 10 Resource Crystals of Excellent Quality, commonly known as Green Crystals among Lords.
"Ten Green Crystals? Then Xiao Feng, you have your starting resources! What a generous friend!" Brother Hua was quite astonished upon seeing these Resource Crystals.
Items and objects within the Safe Zone could be brought into the Territory using Lord Crystals. This batch of new-generation Lords Wu Feng belonged to, entering the New Abyss, could bring these items in as a 'Newbie Gift Pack'.
Some students from well-off families would have their parents prepare 'Newbie Gift Packs' for them, but these 10 Resource Crystals Wu Feng received were actually sent by a friend.
"That girl, Mu Xue, although I knew her family was well-off, I didn't expect her to be such a rich woman. Is it too late for me to start Living off a woman now..."
Wu Feng was also very surprised. 【Thousand Mountains Evening Snow】 had never mentioned sending him these things. Seeing a note attached, Wu Feng picked it up to read.
"【Three-Foot Green Edge】, don't misunderstand, this is not your 'dowry.' We have cooperated for so long, and I think you are very Excellent."
"Consider these Resource Crystals my investment in you. I hope that if we meet in the actual Abyss Layer 799, we can continue our Cooperation. — Your Tree Hole Big Sister."
The handwriting was delicate and fine, yet firm beneath the softness, matching the image Wu Feng held of 【Thousand Mountains Evening Snow】 in his mind. Truly, the writing reflected the person.
Wu Feng recalled gifting his Territory in the simulation game to 【Thousand Mountains Evening Snow】 without any warning, only for 【Thousand Mountains Evening Snow】 to prepare such a 'grand gift' for him without notice beforehand. Could this be telepathy?
Since it was someone else's goodwill, and he had reciprocated with something of his own, Wu Feng accepted the Resource Crystals without hesitation.
They would all be useful once he entered the Abyss tomorrow morning.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot about the matter your Senior Female Student entrusted me with. Here is a Green Tower Defense Summon Card; it's something your Sister Su Mu asked me to give you."
"You and Su Mu, you are the two students I am most satisfied with!"
Brother Hua chuckled and pulled out another card, this one with a Green border, also an Excellent Quality Lord item.
Wu Feng took the card and a slip of paper. On it was a message from Su Mu, who was three grades above him: "A small gift for the Junior Schoolmate who worked hard helping me for two years. I hope it helps you pass the final test of the seven-day Novice Period."
"Senior Sister is currently striving for the Hegemon Position and doesn't have many resources to spare for you, so I hope you don't mind."
Su Mu's handwriting was much more three-dimensional; her characters even gave a feeling of penetrating the paper. This made Wu Feng involuntarily think of Su Mu, who always wore a Military Uniform; even when leaving him a note, she never let her guard down.
"Brother Hua, please convey my thanks to Sister Su Mu for me. I should be the one thanking her; I learned quite a bit from her over the past two years, which is why I've been doing so well in the simulation game."
Wu Feng genuinely felt this way. Su Mu was an Excellent graduate from the academy, and within half a year, due to her outstanding performance, she became a Dragon Country Quota Lord—the equivalent of the status known as a government employee a hundred years ago.
Su Mu grew very quickly by leveraging official power, but she also frequently had to complete tasks assigned by the authorities.
So, she asked Brother Hua to help her find a few excellent junior schoolmates to assist, which could also count as Lord practice. Wu Feng volunteered at that time and became one of Su Mu's assistants. Although he couldn't enter the Abyss Layer 796 where Su Mu was, he could still help with other matters.
It was by studying Su Mu that Wu Feng rapidly rose in the simulation game starting from that time, even gaining an unofficial status with the authorities.
Brother Hua smiled and patted Wu Feng's shoulder: "Young man, I will pass on your message. I won't give you any resources; the gift I give you is all my knowledge and experience. I wish you great success in your endeavors!"
It was time to say goodbye. Wu Feng waved to Brother Hua: "Brother Hua, school is over, and I should leave too. See you again in seven days!"
After hastily bidding farewell to Brother Hua, Wu Feng boarded an air-car. This form of public transport could take him across most of the city home in just half an hour.
He heard that public transport a hundred years ago was called the subway or bus. This air-car is said to be five times the speed of the subway, yet Wu Feng still found it slow. He wondered how people a hundred years ago tolerated that snail-like speed.
Speaking of which, 2035 in the Blue Star calendar, a hundred years ago, Blue Star's technology wasn't as advanced as it is now. The Hegemony Era immediately following the fall into the Endless Abyss was incredibly chaotic and brutal.
After 12 years of fierce fighting, the Hundred Races that fell together only managed to clear the first 10 layers of the Endless Abyss and established the current Safe Zone on Layer 700 Abyss.
The safe and stable living environment they enjoy now was built on the foundation laid by the Strong Experts of the Hegemony Era.
As Wu Feng looked up at the massive Abyss Gate towering over the city, his heart suddenly skipped a beat as he recalled the scene in the simulation game where the Abyss Demon God descended across the Abyss Gate.
If the Abyss Demon God on Layer 761 could descend in reverse to Layer 762, what about the entity on Layer 699? This Safe Zone built upon the foundation of Layer 700...
Is it truly safe?