"Oh my god, this is what you call barbecue! Boss, where did you find such talent?"
"I'm done for, my nose is poisoned—why does this aroma keep drilling into my nostrils?!"
"More please, boss! The monkeys up front snatched it all, and I haven’t even gotten a bite!"
"Exactly! Look at the garbage we’ve been roasting all these years. No wonder the boss still turns up his nose..."
Bai Xiaohei and the Divine Calculator exchanged glances. These guys were full of leaks—literally!
But knowing early meant preparing early. It wasn’t a bad thing; everything was going according to plan. So, without further worry, they dove into the meat-skewer scramble.
Qi Xu’s eyes flickered slightly. He pretended not to hear anything, not wanting anyone else to cough up blood for breaking the rules. Yet, for some reason, he felt like crying. He forced his eyes wide open, refusing to let the tears fall.
At the same time, he studied each person around him intently...
Qi Xu’s breathing grew ragged, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his throat. No wonder everyone had seemed so familiar from the start.
No wonder, in the last round of the game, even though he’d been a lone wolf, he’d kept feeling like these scenes had happened before.
No wonder expired medicine had appeared during [The Princess’s Banquet].
No wonder, atop the ruins, he’d hallucinated himself slicing apart a stitched-up monstrosity.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this survival game had repeated many, many times. Zhu Fu retained memories of each cycle due to his abilities.
The others? Their memories had been wiped clean. Qi Xu only recalled the last round because of the Jade Heart.
What had happened before? What was the mission of Zone 01, District 01?
Qi Xu couldn’t ask. The cost of breaking the rules was unimaginable. He’d have to find the answers himself as the journey continued.
He glanced at the group again. Their eyes were red-rimmed, but they were all desperately changing the subject.
"Whirlwind Big Shot, we beg you—let’s trade something else for your food, okay?"
"Right now, I don’t care about anything else. I just want one bite of that!"
"What’s your teammate’s name? Think he’d be willing to visit us? We’ll cover all expenses! Name your price!"
It took Qi Xu a lot of effort to extricate himself, but he left behind all the delicious food in his backpack.
In exchange, he got 20,000 Vehicle Upgrade Cards...
Worth it? Absolutely! Upgrading to a Level 8 vehicle required 100,000 cards. Qi Xu had been overwhelmed, but now he saw a glimmer of hope.
Plus, with Master Chef’s help—alongside Thorny Treasure and two culinary robots—meals were whipped up in no time. Qi Xu’s backpack and storage were overflowing with gourmet treats.
The folks from Zone 01, District 01 ate with such gusto their eyes practically sparkled.
It was just like when Qi Xu had first tasted Chinese Master Chef’s cooking...
If you didn’t even care about good food in this world, what was the point of living?
S1 Ball had stayed silent until Qi Xu stopped chatting with the group. Then it spoke: "You didn’t actually think you’d hear all that today without my permission, did you? They can’t tell you. But I can."
"Really? As expected of the top-ranked S-tier ball! You’re amazing! But our dear Ball 666 once said that misspeaking leads to pay cuts."
Qi Xu praised first, then questioned, subtly nudging the conversation.
S1 Ball scoffed. "Pfft. Deduct away. Money’s no object."
Qi Xu’s lips twitched. So that’s how obnoxious that line sounded. He’d have to avoid using it in the future.
"Then enlighten me, please."
The contract reappeared before Qi Xu.
Great. Back to square one.
"You think these 'secrets' you’re after are actually secrets? Hardly. They’re insignificant. Set your sights higher! The Survival Highway is a thousand times more complex than you imagine!
I can tell you everything you want to know—but only if you cooperate with me. Together, we’ll conquer the stars and the universe itself!"
S1 Ball was practically vibrating with excitement. Even it had to follow the rules. If Invincible Black Whirlwind hadn’t approached first, it wouldn’t have been able to contact the Chinese server’s most promising contender for the global arena.
This chance couldn’t be wasted. Early preparation was key! Only by nurturing talent now could they compete with those monstrous prodigies overseas. Hopefully, she wasn’t foolish enough to refuse.
But then, Invincible Black Whirlwind said, "Sorry, I can’t sign. I’ve got urgent business in another district."
"Fool! Do you take me for an idiot? Since you’re so ungrateful, I’ll spell it out: my Zone 01 is stacked with powerhouses. Aside from District 01—a special case barred from Survival Highway events—the other 999 districts could crush any district you’re in.
Next cross-zone arena challenge? I’ll make sure your pathetic little district becomes fodder for Zone 01’s elite.
When you lose, you’ll still end up under me—but the terms won’t be this generous. You know how it is. The Survival Highway has tools. Whether it’s enslavement or a lock-on, you won’t escape.
Don’t smirk like this is a joke. I’m livid right now!"
S1 Ball roared these words, but Qi Xu just picked at his ear. If he wanted screeching, his own ball’s voice was far more pleasant.
Calmly, Qi Xu replied, "I’d like to file a report."
S1 Ball froze. "What?"
How did this human player know about reporting?! Was Ball 666 from District 88, Zone 666 out of its mind?! Blabbing secrets like that—did it have a death wish?! Moronic ball!
Unfazed, Qi Xu grinned, though his eyes turned icy. "You’re something else. But bring it on. The server’s top rank belongs to me, not your so-called elites. I live for a challenge.
Frankly, I’ve been bored with weak opponents. Hope you send someone who can actually fight. Wouldn’t want you to lose face when they lose."
S1 Ball tried to backtrack. "No need for hostility. Reconsider my offer. We’re not enemies. If you want to go far, aligning with me is your best move."
Qi Xu cleared his throat, set down his skewer, and stood. Then, loud and clear:
"I hereby submit a game report: I am player Invincible Black Whirlwind. The Manager Ball of Zone 01, District 01 has engaged in malicious threats and targeted harassment. It attempted to disclose core mechanics of Survival as 'rewards' to coerce my gameplay choices, severely undermining fair competition."
"Here, I strongly urge the official team of the 'Survival' game to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, provide a reasonable explanation, and impose strict disciplinary actions on the involved administrators. If the officials fail to resolve this matter properly, I will expose their violations one by one across all game regions to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of players."
...........
