Chapter 159
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Chapter 159: Title
Everything proceeded with methodical precision.
Upon the Battleground, Jiang Nan studied the sand table displaying a three-dimensional aerial projection of the entire arena. The bird’s-eye perspective revealed its staggering scale—a Miniature Continent meticulously crafted for Combat Competitions rather than natural ecosystems.
Had he known better, he’d have thrown himself into a river rather than provoke celestial forces. Instead of divine retribution, his outburst had summoned a self-proclaimed spirit of the Battleground. Jiang Nan’s lips twisted wryly at the memory.
The little girl had clearly ensnared him in her scheme.
Champion? Co-organizer? The titles reeked of trouble. Without Zhongxia’s governmental backing, this mission would’ve been impossible. More infuriating still—modifying the Battleground’s terrain required points!
With his points in the negative, despair washed over Jiang Nan. How could they extend more credit? The daily interest rate of 0.01% compounded his misery. He swallowed his complaints—voicing them before that elusive little girl remained unthinkable.
Twenty minutes before activation.
Rotors thrummed as helicopters converged on the shrouded Battleground. Jiang Nan’s communicator buzzed with the Special Bureau’s signal.
"Enter through the cloud cover," he instructed, eyeing the holographic bird at his feet—a point-generated avatar of his system indistinguishable from reality. "The mists won’t hinder you."
Disconnecting, he addressed the creature: "Da Huang, initiate teleportation to the airfield."
As Champion, spatial manipulation became his privilege. The little yellow bird’s ruffled feathers seemed to pulse with barely restrained irritation.
Reality blurred. Jiang Nan materialized at the Battleground’s periphery—an "airport" purchased through thousands of borrowed points.
The Special Bureau’s delegation combined Division 2 operatives with propaganda specialists. Deputy Chief Zhou Si of Information Section 2—substituting for occupied colleague Liang An—nodded at the pilot. "Proceed."
Machines plunged into swirling vapors. Temporal perception warped; the transition felt simultaneously eternal and instantaneous.
Abrupt stillness.
Pilots gaped at immobilized controls. Through cabin windows stretched sleek tarmacs and glass terminals—a metropolis’ airport conjured from nothingness.
Zhou Si consulted her chronometer. Fifteen minutes remained. "Disembark," she ordered.
The team descended into artificial daylight. Their attention snapped to an approaching figure—youthful, T-shirt-clad, bearing a canary-hued companion on his shoulder.
Zhou Si’s analytical gaze compared the newcomer to Jiang Nan’s dossier. Identification confirmed.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang," Zhou Si stepped forward with poised friendliness, extending her hand. "I’m Zhou Si, deputy director of Information Section 2 at the Special Bureau. I’ll be overseeing all live stream operations for the Battleground."
"Pleasure to meet you," Jiang Nan replied, his handshake slightly tense as an ordinary person unaccustomed to interacting with high-ranking officials.
Zhou Si opened her mouth to inquire about the obscured Battleground details – the surrounding areas were veiled in swirling mist except their immediate clearing – when Jiang Nan abruptly withdrew his hand. "We’re pressed for time. Could we commence immediately?"
After a brief pause, Zhou Si smoothly transitioned, "Certainly." She turned to the professional woman adjusting camera equipment behind them. "Han, status check?"
"Feed’s live and stable via satellite uplink, Chief Zhou," confirmed Han Wei, microphone in hand as she monitored the equipment.
Zhou Si gestured between them, "Our media liaison Han Wei from the publicity department."
The reporter suddenly frowned at her monitor. "This footage overlay – where did these angles come from?"
"My configuration," Jiang Nan interjected. "The Heavenly Law Battleground’s embedded cameras will capture events, then relay through your broadcast systems."
The Special Bureau’s official portal already featured a prominent Battleground livestream banner, with affiliated networks amplifying the announcement. Virtual crowds had been gathering in the stream since dawn.
"Consider this main feed under my editorial control," Jiang Nan proposed with diplomatic caution, "though you’re welcome to launch supplementary broadcasts." His compensation offer hung unspoken – acknowledgment of commandeering their network infrastructure.
Zhou Si’s response exemplified her executive poise. "Perfectly acceptable," she smiled, radiating approachable authority. "Might we schedule a debrief regarding today’s…"
"After the event," Jiang Nan preempted gently, having anticipated this negotiation when first contacting the Bureau.
"Understood."
*
As the Battleground’s countdown hit zero, participants worldwide vanished mid-action –
– including Division 6’s laboratory team analyzing the phenomenon: "Teleportation signature detected, but formations-free… registering minor spatial fluctuations."
Similar scenes unfolded globally, though international outrage soon eclipsed scientific curiosity – Zhongxia’s exclusive broadcast privileges sparked diplomatic protests until competing nations refocused on scrutinizing the shared feed.
…
The central arena emerged like a colossal chessboard, its perimeter plaza materializing crowds of human and nonhuman spectators. Camera drones swooped across the gathering, lenses capturing curious faces and alien visages alike.
The teleportation appeared random, and many discovered themselves flanked by non-human entities alongside language barriers.
The Special Bureau in Zhongxia’s official site had advised Battleground arrivals to seek their personnel when uncertain.
Bureau operatives stood easily identifiable in black suits with narrow lapels, their wrists adorned with watch-like devices.
"Gods, an actual elf? More radiant than any photograph!"
"Are these tiny beasts spirit creatures?"
"Ma! I’m literally seeing ghosts here!"
"This arena’s enormous."
"Someone’s already on the combat platform? How’d they get up?"
"Pardon, where might the Special Bureau police be?"
"So this is the Battleground? Are we all fighting eventually?"
"That giant’s literally flaming! Look at the fire!"
"A walking tree? Since when do oaks stroll?"
"Holy hell! Winged thing at three o’clock – avian humanoid?"
"Dragon Lord! Way hotter than the livestream!!!"
"Zhongxia’s extraordinary individuals assemble here."
"Kingdom of England’s adepts to the east."
"America’s heroes – rally point northwest!"
Amidst the churning crowd, Jiang Nan maintained stone-faced composure on the dais. These spectators didn’t know about the live broadcast, but he did – one misstep meant eternal memes.
Above the central platform levitated an ornate chair where Ye Linlang observed incognito, her form veiled by rule power to prevent another visibility mishap.
She surveyed the teeming masses below. Though teleportation had scattered some, clusters remained intact. The spectacle of thousands marshaling like schoolchildren during morning exercises drew a delighted smirk – pure chaos, pure entertainment.
Her creations mingled below: Leng Xingwen, Ghost in Red, fey nobility, infernal lords, even the Fallen Angel. Yet most were Blue Star natives elevated through Spiritual Energy’s Awakening.
Cleansing Abyssal-tainted world fragments required these organically evolved beings. Had her artificial creations sufficed, she’d never have unleashed Spiritual Energy globally.
Her gaze shifted to projections from secret realms – indistinguishable from true flesh. Zhongxia’s legal web intrigued her, its structure echoing her own designs. Post-crisis, perhaps she’d catalyze Blue Star’s next epoch…
Every Battleground participant boasted at least Tier Two prowess. Initial disorder gave way to factional alignment – even the most anti-establishment adepts now clung to familiar hierarchies in this alien arena.
