At that moment.
A vast voice echoed from above the small world, instantly spreading throughout and reaching every Host's ears: "Host Victor Xuanyuan has been killed by Host Tyson Tie. Tyson Tie gains one-tenth of Victor Xuanyuan's cultivation, as well as three divine abilities!"
"Host Paul Zhou has been killed by Host Harold Liao. Harold Liao gains one-tenth of Paul Zhou's cultivation, as well as three divine abilities!"
"Host Drake Niu has been killed by Host Mindy Zhang. Mindy Zhang gains one-tenth of Drake Niu's cultivation, as well as three divine abilities!"
"It's started!"
Hearing these three announcements, Ian Song thought to himself: he hadn't killed Victor Xuanyuan before precisely because he was worried something like this would happen. Now that someone else has killed Victor and the others, those three Hosts have gained considerable benefits—but they've also become everyone's targets.
"So what should we do now?" Mona Meng asked Ian.
Ian pondered aloud, "Tyson Tie, Harold Liao, and Mindy Zhang have each gained one-tenth of the cultivation and three divine abilities from the Hosts they killed. Their strength will definitely increase a lot. I'm sure they also realize they've become everyone's targets, so if they want to avoid being killed, their only option is to hunt other Hosts like mad. In that process, they might get killed themselves, and then new Hosts will gain the rewards. If this keeps up, almost every Host will go blood-crazed. By then, the hundred winners will be a joke—after all, who doesn't want to be the sole survivor?"
Hearing Ian's analysis, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"Then what should we do?"
Mona asked again.
"The best way is to find a place to hide and let them fight it out!" Ian said.
"What if there are more than a hundred people left at the end? The ones who fight will definitely earn more points. If we just hide and do nothing, our points won't be enough and we'll be eliminated!"
Another Host asked worriedly.
Ian nodded, "That's definitely possible. But if we join the melee, we might get killed outright. So, it's up to everyone to choose for themselves!"
Every Host has their own thoughts and wisdom. A few words can't sway them.
In the end, eleven Hosts decided to join the melee. They felt that hiding was just waiting to die and relied too much on luck. They didn't want to leave their future up to chance—they wanted to fight for their own destiny.
The remaining thirteen Hosts said they were willing to hide.
Ian and Mona, however, did not state their choice.
One Host from the melee group tried to persuade Ian: "Brother Ian, you're strong. Why not join us? If the twelve of us work together, we'll definitely survive!"
Maybe they don't intend to kill us now, but if they go blood-crazed, things could change.
The group sped tens of thousands of li to an icefield, where Xavier took out the treasure and opened a small world. Everyone entered.
On the way, they witnessed several fierce battles, and five more Hosts were killed by others.
The small world Xavier created was about ten thousand square meters. Everyone sat and rested.
Mona came to Ian's side and sat down beside him.
"Why do you trust me so much?" Ian asked, looking at Mona.
Mona replied via sound transmission: "I have a special divine ability called the Eye of the Future. So I know that I face a deadly calamity in the future."
In a Trial World, I sensed something when I saw Lynn Ning being hunted, so I saved her. Then I used the Eye of the Future again and saw my calamity had subtly shifted, so I concluded Lynn would help me in the future. But when I met you, I felt the same resonance, so I used the Eye again and saw a figure very much like you saving me in that calamity!
Ian wasn't surprised by such a divine ability. Suddenly, he had an idea and asked via sound transmission, "Since you can see the future, can you see the outcome of the Immortal Kingdom War?"
Mona smiled wryly and shook her head, "The Eye of the Future can only be used three times. I used it once when I first got it, the second time when I met Lynn Ning, and the third time when I met you. Since you save me in the future, following you now can't be wrong!"
Ian smiled, "No one can say what the future holds—after all, the future doesn't exist yet!"
Whatever! Since you say you'll save me in the future, you definitely won't harm me now!
Mona smiled nonchalantly.
Over the next few days—
Ian and his group stayed hidden inside the small world.
From time to time, announcements of Host deaths echoed.
Of the three earliest killers—Tyson Tie, Harold Liao, and Mindy Zhang—Tyson and Harold have already been killed. Mindy Zhang, though, is still alive and has killed six more!
During these days, the number of dead Hosts has already reached over two hundred.
After all, every Host carries Substitute Life Talismans. To truly kill one, you have to exhaust all their talismans.
A month later—
The rate of Host deaths kept accelerating. Of the more than eight thousand Hosts, over half are now dead—just over three thousand remain.
Among them—
A Host named Gavin Jiang earned the title Kill King.
So far, Gavin Jiang has killed thirty-six Hosts with terrifying skill.
Hearing Gavin Jiang's name triggered Ian's memories. It seemed that in a Trial World, they never met directly but had indirect clashes, and Ian made many Hosts submit to him.
Second place was held by Mindy Zhang, who has killed thirty-three Hosts—just three fewer than Gavin.
Third place was held by Henry He, who has killed exactly thirty Hosts.
At that moment—
The vast voice sounded again. Hearing it, everyone in the small world—including Ian—went pale.