Leaving the real world, Tong Yang returned to the First World, the location still being the slums.
To allow the First World's Tong Yang and Tong Yang to reasonably swap identities and return to their respective positions, Xue Wei and the others spent several consecutive days negotiating with the armed militants in the slums, staying for half a day each time.
When Tong Yang found Bai Sining and the others' base, Mi Qi threw himself into her arms, tears welling in his eyes.
"Sister Tong Yang, you're finally back... sob..."
Tong Yang disgustedly pushed against his forehead, her face cold. "How revolting."
Mi Qi immediately cried even harder. "How can you say that! None of you Tong Yangs are any good!"
Tong Yang couldn't be bothered to deal with him. She stepped past him into the room. The First World's Tong Yang was sprawled casually on a chair, with Xue Wei and Bai Sining on either side—one serving tea, the other feeding her fruit—attending to her like she was royalty.
"You're back." The First World's Tong Yang lazily raised her eyes and smiled.
Xue Wei and Bai Sining simultaneously shot her a resentful look; it seemed they had been thoroughly tormented these past few days.
Tong Yang frowned. "Don't use my identity to do such things."
The First World's Tong Yang was unperturbed and asked, "What's the result?"
Tong Yang said, "I agree to your terms, but during this period you cannot interfere with anything I do, and you must keep the promises you made to me."
Based on Tong Yang's understanding of herself, once she promised something, she would absolutely never go back on her word. She wasn't worried about that point.
The First World's Tong Yang's eyes darkened a few shades, and she narrowed them mischievously. "I know what you want to do. If you can manage it, I don't mind."
"Good then."
Tong Yang wasn't sure how much she knew, but having her commitment was enough.
The First World's Tong Yang stood up, walked over to Tong Yang, extended her right hand, and raised an eyebrow. "Pleasure doing business?"
Tong Yang shook her hand. "Pleasure doing business."
The First World's Tong Yang stretched with a yawn, sounding listless. "Have Xue Wei relay any questions. I'm bored to death. I'm leaving."
The other three collectively breathed a sigh of relief. This formidable presence was finally leaving.
After spending a few days with the First World's Tong Yang, even Tong Yang seemed amiable and kind in their eyes.
"Mhm." Tong Yang didn't pay it much mind, simply acknowledging.
The First World's Tong Yang walked out of the room yawning, her footsteps echoing softly in the underground passageway before disappearing after a few steps.
Tong Yang looked at the three and asked, "What's the explanation for the United Government?"
Xue Wei said, "The truth. The Second World is causing trouble."
Tong Yang nodded. A few seconds later, her probing gaze landed on Xue Wei.
"Now that there's time, let's have a chat about your... situation."
Bai Sining and Mi Qi instinctively positioned themselves behind Tong Yang, united in their hostility as they stared at Xue Wei.
The latter let out a helpless sigh. "What situation could I possibly have? I'm just an unremarkably handsome guy."
Mi Qi made a disgusted face. "Shut up, you!"
Tong Yang said, "I hope your answers will satisfy me."
...
Not long after, Tong Yang and Xue Wei piloted an aircraft back to the civilian district.
No longer worried about her identity being exposed, Tong Yang had far fewer concerns.
Around the same time, the typically elusive "Forerunner" officer—The Slayer—who spent most of her time in the Second World, appeared at the United Government and would participate in all its affairs thereafter.
It was said she always wore a white cat-face mask, and almost no one had seen her true appearance.
Simultaneously, the first round of "Forerunner" selection was set to begin in May 2026. Tong Yang focused entirely on the upcoming selection, no longer inquiring about the plan's progress.
During her final contact with the people in the "Melon-Eating" group chat, she learned their timeline was in February 2027. The time flow differential was now less than a year.
Moreover, because Tong Yang was in the First World, the parallel worlds had turned their full attention there. This gave the real-world national governments time to make comprehensive deployments. Coupled with the presence of Yan Qing in the parallel world, a fragile peace was barely maintained.
In mid-May 2026, the first round of selection officially began.
Over two thousand new recruits participated, with twenty percent being eliminated.
Each selection round was spaced a week apart. After the first round, they returned to the training base.
The training intensity in the First World was far more brutal than in the real world, possibly related to magnetic field energy. Even though Tong Yang consistently came out on top in both training and selection, she still found it strenuous.
The second round of selection began in early June, which Tong Yang passed without question.
The third round was the stage where Chu Shiyu from World A had been eliminated. Compared to the first two rounds, it was noticeably more difficult.
According to Xue Wei, successfully passing the third round would grant an opportunity to go to the affluent district.
Although Tong Yang found it challenging, passing the selection wasn't particularly difficult for her.
In late July, before the fourth round of selection began, the training base gave the seven hundred who had passed the third round a two-day holiday to relax properly.
When Tong Yang woke up, her dorm room was already empty. All the new recruits who had shared her dorm had been eliminated in the first three rounds.
Watching the sunlight streaming in through the window, Tong Yang felt a rare moment of disorientation.
She dug out her phone from the locker. Having not been turned on for so long, it had long since run out of battery and shut down.
Tong Yang plugged it in to charge and went out to wash up and have breakfast.
By the time she returned, the phone had charged enough to power on.
During this period, Tong Yang hadn't contacted anyone. With no more worries holding her back, she had poured all her energy into the selection.
Opening her phone, a screen full of messages gradually popped up, mostly greetings. Tong Yang replied briefly to a few, then called Tong Le.
Tong Le was about to start middle school and had been busy attending a summer camp.
They didn't chat long before Tong Le was called away for a class, and they hung up.
During this time, Zhou Jingyun had sent her a message.
In May, Ji Jia'en had been attacked at a hotel. Fortunately, thanks to her warning and Detective Lin's covert surveillance of Ji Jia'en, the police officers deployed at the hotel arrived in time when the incident occurred. Ji Jia'en suffered some shock but was not injured.
Afterwards, to thank Tong Yang, Ji Jia'en transferred several million into her bank account.
Tong Yang transferred half of that amount to the members of the "Melon-Eating" group chat. This was their pre-agreed fifty-fifty split of rewards. For any incident involving the group chat, Tong Yang would give them half the payment.
[(Hands clasped in prayer) Thank you, Sister Tong!]
[Sob... a struggling new graduate who can't find a job and was about to starve. Thank you, Sister Tong, for saving my life!]
[Ahhhhh so much money so much money!]
[What's this called? This is called choice outweighing effort!]
[Hehehe...]
[Sister Tong, we'll be able to meet before long! When we do, I'm definitely going to kowtow to you!]
[Me too!]
The timeline for the "Melon-Eating" group chat members differed from Tong Yang's.
Since discovering the parallel worlds, Tong Yang had experienced over two years, but the time flow for the group chat members was almost three times slower. Their timeline had only progressed nine months.
The time flow differential between the two spaces was nearly threefold, meaning Tong Yang would likely catch up to them around June 2027.
For the group chat members, that was only a little over two months away. For Tong Yang, she had less than nine months left.
Learning Is For Making Money: [It might be a bit later.]
The time she had agreed upon with Tong Yang from the First World was early 2028. Only then would everything be settled, and if she was still alive, could she return to the real world.
Little Pink Flower: "Morning or night, it doesn't matter!"
"Wow wow wow! Lele!"
"@Little Pink Flower What's going on with you! You only show up when Sister Tong appears"
"Then we'll get to see Lele too, right? Even if it's just a mini-version of Lele"
"@Little Pink Flower I want to see the 2036 version of Lele (twiddles fingers)"
Little Pink Flower: "Sister, do you want to see?"
"Studying is for Making Money transferred 20,000 to Little Pink Flower"
Studying is for Making Money: "Let me see"
"Holy crap! Sister, sister, do you want to see me!"
"Me, me! I'm cheap! I only want two thousand!"
"Damn, 20,000 for one photo of Lele, that's a steal!"
"My sister is truly spending a fortune for a beauty"
Two minutes later, Little Pink Flower posted a video.
In the footage, the 2036 version of Tong Le was sitting somewhere very high. The wind tousled his hair, revealing two sharp canine teeth as he shouted, "Hello, brothers and sisters! I'm the 2036 version of Tong Le. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone."
He looked at the camera, eyes curved into crescents, "Sister, you gave me too much!"
Then, the video abruptly ended.
"!!!"
"Holy shit!!!"
"You grow up to be this handsome???"
"How dare you! Are you doubting Sister Tong's family genes?"
"Ahhh little brother, I'm yours!"
"Little brother, ever considered cosplay?"
...
Little Pink Flower: "..."
Studying is for Making Money: "They're crazy, don't bother with them"
Little Pink Flower: "I know, sister"
Tong Yang reopened the video and saved it.
Having not taken a vacation in a long time, Tong Yang slept half the day in her dorm. In the evening, she rode her bike to the neighboring middle school. Yang Miao hadn't started summer break yet and was still in supplementary classes.
There were no evening self-study sessions during supplementary classes, so Tong Yang took her back to their home in the city, returning to school the next day.
After the two-day break ended, the instructors at the training base gathered everyone on the field that morning to make an announcement.
"The fourth round of the Vanguard selection will be held in the affluent district. Those eliminated in the fourth round can stay to work in the affluent district if they gain the appreciation of the wealthy."
"Those eliminated in the fifth round and above will permanently obtain affluent district identification and be assigned to work for various families."
"Successfully passing the sixth round of testing and becoming a 'Vanguard' allows one to bring three family members to also obtain affluent district identification. The Unified Government will transfer some assets to your name free of charge."
In the First World, affluent district identification was the ultimate symbol of authority.
People from the slums could enter the commoner district through tests and proving their worth. However, for commoner district residents to enter the affluent district, the only path was to participate in the "Vanguard" selection and persist until at least the fourth round.
Yet becoming a "Vanguard" was entirely different from the commoner district tests. First of all, even becoming a new recruit and entering training was a peak most ordinary people could never reach, let alone passing the many rounds of selection.
But the fourth round would be held in the affluent district!
As long as they performed outstandingly in the fourth round and gained the appreciation of the wealthy, they could stay in the affluent district even if eliminated!
Elimination in the fifth or sixth round meant directly obtaining affluent district status. Passing the sixth round even granted them assets. This was truly a chance for a meteoric rise!
Everyone in the First World knew that the affluent district possessed eighty percent of the Earth's resources. They had the right to enjoy priority access to all the planet's resources.
"Excellent!"
"Finally made it!"
The new recruits were thrilled. This was their only chance to defy fate, and now it was just within reach!
Xue Wei said, "I know you're excited, but don't celebrate too soon. The upcoming selection is exceptionally brutal. Last year, fewer than a hundred passed the fourth round, only seventy passed the fifth, and only two passed the sixth round to become 'Vanguards'."
Those who had successfully passed the third round weren't discouraged by his words. They tacitly believed that one of the two who would pass the sixth round and become a "Vanguard" would be one of them.
The training base arranged vehicles to transport them to the affluent district.
Nighttime. The vehicle traveled along a quiet road.
A gentle pitter-patter of rain tapped against the glass. Distant lights made the raindrops look multicolored.
Within the rain and mist, a city of towering buildings and dazzling lights appeared not far away.
The sky was illuminated by neon lights, resembling a city that never slept.
Headlights flickered in the rain. Small aircraft flew at low altitudes, patrolling the streets in an orderly manner like patrol officers.
This was a city straight out of the future.
"It's only past eight, why isn't there a single car on the streets?"
Someone in the vehicle asked in confusion.
Xue Wei said, "They don't use this road."
Tong Yang looked at the sci-fi movie-like buildings outside the window, a heavy stone pressing on her heart.
The things she had seen in the commoner district already seemed beyond belief. She never imagined the affluent district would feel as if it existed in a different dimension from the other two places.
On the road they traveled, they hadn't seen a single person. Even upon arriving here, they weren't taking the same paths as the wealthy, so the scenery they saw was naturally different.
The driver took a small path, bringing them to the back of a circular building.
They entered the circular building one after another. Everything they saw along the way could be described as breathtaking.
Doors that change shape at will, murals that move freely, magnesium lights that adapt to natural light... Even a seemingly ordinary button that fell to the ground could transform into a miniature car and swiftly disappear from sight.
Stopping outside a room, Xue Wei said, "Rest for the night. I'll take you into the fourth round selection tomorrow at ten in the morning."
Entering the room, rows of white hibernation pods lay neatly inside.
Xue Wei said, "The hibernation pod will adjust you to your optimal state. Rest well."
The next day, ten o'clock.
Everyone, in high spirits, was led to the center of the circular building.
It was a massive open-air platform. Audience seating surrounded it on all sides, with several LED screens on both sides.
The fourth-round selection will be held here and will take the form of arena-style matches. As you can see, in two hours spectators from the affluent district will be admitted to watch the entire selection process. Next, I will announce the rules for the fourth round.
First, the fourth round will be conducted in a one-on-one arena format, using a single-elimination system. Before entering the affluent district, you will already have received your identification number. The live audience can randomly select two sets of numbers within the assigned number range for a head-to-head match.
Second, the arena competition has two elimination rules. First, when a clear winner emerges in a PK, the live audience can bid to purchase the losing party, causing their elimination. The eliminated person will also become the auctioneer's property and remain in the affluent district. Second, when a clear winner emerges in a PK, if the losing party's injury assessment reaches eighty percent, they are eliminated.
Tong Yang frowned deeply. Let's not even talk about the first elimination method. The second method requires an injury assessment of eighty percent? That's practically beating someone half to death before they're eliminated?
She knew both the First World and the Parallel World were messed up, but she hadn't realized they were equally sick.
The rules for the fourth round of selection seemed entirely designed for the amusement of the wealthy, treating the participants as commodities. Buying the right to eliminate the loser, making them the property of the auction winner—it was utterly disgusting.
"Instructor, is voluntary elimination not allowed?"
Xue Wei replied, "It is allowed if the injury assessment exceeds eighty percent. However, those eliminated this way will be repatriated to the civilian zone after the game ends."
"What?"
"They actually get sent back to the civilian zone?"
Xue Wei continued, "Third, if the difference in injury assessment between the two parties reaches forty percent or more—for example, one at ten percent and the other at fifty percent—the party with the lower percentage will face elimination by the audience. If no audience member is willing to bid for your elimination right, and your injury assessment exceeds eighty percent, you can choose to eliminate yourself or continue the match."
"If you choose to continue, and no one bids for your elimination right midway, you can only opt for voluntary elimination once your injury assessment reaches ninety percent. If your injury assessment exceeds ninety percent and you still choose to persevere, and during that time, no one bids for your elimination right, then only death counts as voluntary elimination."
"I must remind you, in previous years, some audience members deliberately waited until the injury level reached over ninety percent before bidding for the elimination right. I hope you can make the right choice."
Tong Yang clenched her teeth. Deliberately waiting until the injury assessment is over ninety percent to bid? Isn't that like dangling a bone in front of them, deliberately stringing them along?
Persisting even after injuries exceed ninety percent, where only death counts as voluntary elimination.
That means, some people cling to hope, persisting until their injuries reach ninety percent. If no one in the audience bids for their elimination right, only death ends the match.
These bastards from the First World are no better than those from the Parallel World.
Or perhaps, the people sitting in the audience today originally come from both worlds.
Xue Wei went on, "Of course, if no one initiates an auction, I suggest you opt for voluntary elimination immediately after your injury assessment reaches eighty percent."
After explaining the rules, the area they were in slowly descended, entering an underground space.
Everyone discussed the fourth round of selection, strategizing on how to win the audience's favor so they could remain in the affluent zone even after losing.
Tong Yang walked over to an electronic screen in the underground space and sat down, not participating in the discussions.
She realized something: Xue Wei hadn't mentioned when the selection would end. The arena format, with the audience choosing at random, seemed to have no other restrictions. Therefore, those who won in the arena could very likely participate repeatedly, multiple times.
Otherwise, this round would only eliminate half the participants.
Time ticked by. The electronic screen randomly refreshed their numbers, unrelated to rankings from previous rounds. Tong Yang was number 101.
People gradually filled the audience seats. Over an hour later, a woman's voice came over the broadcast, explaining the rules to the live audience.
Once the injury assessment difference reached forty percent, they simply needed to press the button on the right side of their seats to gain auction rights. If there was no competition, they could purchase the eliminated participant at the starting price based on the comprehensive ranking from the first three rounds. If there was a bidding war, the highest bidder would win.
The host whipped up the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the electronic screen in the underground space displayed a live feed of the audience seating and the arena.
Next, we will randomly select a member of the audience to choose the numbers of the participants for the upcoming arena match.
The large screen scrolled rapidly before stopping on a woman with deep red hair.
The woman looked toward the camera, boldly blowing a kiss, and said, "Today, nine and six are my lucky numbers. I choose contestant number nine and contestant number sixty-six."
"Excellent! This stunningly beautiful lady has chosen contestants number nine and number sixty-six. Now, please let the two contestants prepare."
Contestants nine and sixty-six walked to the designated area, standing between two machines. A beam of white light scanned their entire bodies, and a voice announced: "Body data of contestant number nine recorded."
"Body data of contestant number sixty-six recorded."
The machines slowly lifted them. A circular opening appeared in the ceiling above, transporting them both to the arena.
At the same time, large screens on both sides of the audience displayed the injury percentages for both contestants: 0%.
The arena match is about to begin! Which contestant will emerge victorious? Let's wait and see!
"Contestant number nine takes the initiative to attack! Wow! What sharp moves!"
"He blocked it! Contestant number sixty-six actually blocked it!"
"Contestant number sixty-six counterattacks! A hit!"
Contestant sixty-six was clearly more skilled than contestant nine. The latter was forced to retreat step by step, his face quickly turning bruised and swollen, blood flowing from his nose.
Tong Yang looked at contestant nine's injury percentage. Several minutes had passed; he was beaten black and blue, with a bloody nose, yet the injury percentage was only 1%.
"Our contestant number sixty-six appears to have sharp movements, but unfortunately, he hasn't inflicted much damage on contestant number nine... Contestant nine has tackled number sixty-six to the ground!"
"Contestant number nine has broken his opponent's arm! Contestant sixty-six's injury assessment suddenly jumps to 3%!"
"Keep it up! Keep it up!"
Tong Yang frowned. A broken arm bone, and the injury value is only 3%? What exactly does it take to reach eighty percent?
"Contestant sixty-six counterattacks! Success!"
Contestant sixty-six seemed to gain insight from the increase in injury assessment. It wasn't just about inflicting damage to raise the value; it required causing significant trauma.
Contestant sixty-six reset his own arm, but the value on the screen didn't decrease because of it.
The only silver lining was that the injury value wouldn't decrease.
"What is contestant sixty-six doing? He's grabbed his opponent's arm, oh my god!"
A clear "crack" sound echoed in the room. Contestant sixty-six completely dislocated the other's shoulder and forcefully wrenched it backward.
"Ah!!"
After a scream, contestant nine's injury value skyrocketed to 10%.
Contestant sixty-six pressed his advantage, dislocating contestant nine's other arm and both legs. The injury value reached 29%.
This still wasn't enough. There needed to be at least a forty percent difference before the audience could bid for contestant nine's elimination right.
However, Contestant Nine collapsed, sprawled on the ground like a dead fish, completely unable to resist.
"Contestant sixty-six seems to have victory in his grasp. Let's see what he does next!"
To increase his opponent's injury value, contestant sixty-six had no choice but to inflict various injuries on him. Although contestant nine continuously wailed in agony, the injury value increased at a painfully slow rate.
Under this torment, contestant nine's consciousness grew hazy, hovering on the brink of death.
Contestant sixty-six, sweating profusely, watched the climbing value. They were still three percent short of the forty percent difference.
The host kept cheering him on. Contestant Sixty-Six gritted his teeth and drew the short blade he carried with him.
"Using weapons in the ring is not against the rules!" the host reminded.
Sixty-Six bent down, thrust the knife into Contestant Nine's shoulder, and dragged it downward with force. Blood splattered across the stage. He glanced at the electronic screen—Nine's injury value had increased by two percent.
He had no choice but to continue, splitting a bloody line down the arm. Flesh instantly burst open to both sides.
"Injury assessment at 45%!!!"
"The injury differential between the two contestants has exceeded forty percent! Interested audience members may now choose to bid!"
"Any takers? Any takers?"
The crowd watched the spectacle on the stage with keen interest, as if appreciating an elegant musical, without making a move.
"Ah!" the host sighed.
"Unfortunately, no one is willing to bid for Nine's elimination right."
Though her words said so, her tone carried no trace of regret—instead, it was brimming with excitement.
"The match continues!!!"
