Research Institute Meeting

"Ascendants, show yourselves. How are we supposed to handle this rule?"

"Just starve for now. If you really can't take it, eat something. The Failure Penalty isn't death anyway."

"Are you giving up upstairs? Mind Power decay is a serious matter. Haven't you noticed how the official and private organizations are scrambling to recruit people like crazy?"

"They only want big shots, they definitely won't look at ordinary people."

"I failed the second rule and already decayed once. If I decay again this time, I'll probably drop into the single digits!"

"Don't overthink it. While food and drinks are free, live one day at a time!"

"The Countermeasure Research Institute updated. The Life Sustaining Tablets from the Food Boxes can be used for this rule."

"Oh???"

"No coins means you can't buy squat!"

"Let's go! If you didn't pass the last rule, you have no coins. Without coins, you can't buy Food Boxes. If you can't buy boxes, you can't pass this rule either. This is a damn vicious cycle!"

"You might still pass without boxes, though. Don't forget Rule One. Many people didn't use Mint Candy and still passed."

"I'm a 300-pound fatty. I can just burn some fat to pass! This is what you call being prepared for danger. I told you all to eat more and store energy."

"Holy crap! You're a god, upstairs!"

"This episode really makes me envy those with Big Stomachs."

The online discussion continued. Just like during the second rule, because there was no pressure of death, the atmosphere wasn't as oppressive and despairing as it was during the first rule.

However, as people discovered how increasingly important Mind Power was, they became even more unwilling to accept the decay of Mind Power after failing a challenge.

This time, the official organization updated the Rule Challenge methods with incredible speed. Less than ten minutes after the rule was released, they updated information stating that Food Boxes could be purchased to aid in passing. It seemed they had conducted experiments immediately.

But even so, many people, having failed the second rule, had no coins and still couldn't afford them.

Fortunately, for these people, the officials released a detailed guide two hours later: how to survive fifteen days on water alone.

Beixing Nation was the fastest in this regard. Within hours of the first Apocalypse Rule outbreak, the Beixing Nation's government had gathered a large number of experts and scholars from all walks of life to research countermeasures.

This guide was a compilation of insights from various doctors, nutritionists, and even some fasting experts.

The guide began by stating its conclusion: if a person is healthy and has no underlying conditions, they can survive fifteen days on water alone.

However, the consequences could be severe. For example, although the person might survive, some organs could experience failure.

It was similar to the Sleep Deprivation from the first rule. Some people persisted, but afterward, they suffered from lingering issues like headaches and neurasthenia.

This current rule was the same. Without the threat of death, how many people with insufficient coins would risk organ failure to endure these fifteen days?

The officials couldn't make this decision for others, so they only provided the guide. Whether to persevere depended on each individual.

After Guan Tong bought four Food Boxes, his mindset became very peaceful.

He knew he would definitely succeed in the challenge, so he was now more focused on continuing to use Mind Power to write on the [Wordless Book] and create coins.

Although he wanted to open another page and write something on the third page, he didn't know what to write for the moment, so he decided to create more coins first.

There was never too much Ascension Coins. Even though the ones he created were Binding Coins, they could still be used in the Terminal store. Perhaps they could buy good items when the store updated next.

Thus, Guan Tong resumed his undisturbed life of writing at home.

Perhaps it was because he hadn't shown himself since the rule began, but all his surviving classmates assumed he was dead.

Fang Qian hadn't sent any new messages after Guan Tong replied, and he didn't know how she was doing.

Of course, for Guan Tong, not being bothered was a good thing. He enjoyed developing himself slowly in solitude, just like how he preferred reading farming novels and playing simulation games.

While Guan Tong was engrossed in writing and creating coins alone, the official organization of Beixing Nation, the Apocalypse Rules Countermeasure Research Office, was holding a meeting in an office.

The head of the research institute was a middle-aged man with short hair and thick eyebrows, and his features were stern, making him look like he came from the military.

In fact, this man named "Gao Liangwei" was a Colonel in the military before becoming the head.

After the Apocalypse Rules descended, the top leadership appointed Gao Liangwei as the head, believing his decisive and meticulous approach could manage the elites from all walks of life and unite them to resist the rules.

"Everyone, the seminar on the third Apocalypse Rule begins now. Please speak in order," said Gao Liangwei from one end of the long table. "Starting with Dr. Zhang on your left."

Dr. Zhang nodded, adjusted his glasses, and said, "As you all know, my research hasn't been on the rules themselves, but on the purpose of the Fire Thief. Now that the third rule is out, I think it's very clear."

"Regardless of what this Fire Thief is, its purpose should be clear. It's to conduct personnel screening on our planet through various extreme methods, ultimately sending the screened individuals to..."

"Participate in the Apocalypse Operation," interrupted a long-haired man from the other side of the table. "Dr. Zhang, I think everyone knew that on the first day. The Fire Thief said so itself."

"Dr. Zhou, didn't I just say to speak in order?" Head Gao Liangwei stared at the long-haired man. "Didn't you hear me?"

Dr. Zhou's expression changed slightly. He quietly said, "My apologies," and fell silent.

"Dr. Zhang, please continue."

"Alright, I'll continue. Indeed, the Fire Thief said when it first descended on the first day that the so-called forty-nine Apocalypse Rules are actually the content of an 'Ascension Test.' Those who pass the test will be selected to participate in the Apocalypse Operation... What I want to say is, if we are determined to build a team of chosen individuals, we must start preparing now and cannot delay."

Gao Liangwei asked, "Dr. Zhang, are you suggesting we start selecting personnel now?"

"Yes, the sooner the better. Because the Apocalypse Rules are constantly updating, it's a process where the strong get stronger. The longer we delay, the more difficult it will be to cultivate specific personnel."

At this point, someone raised their hand to ask a question.

"You," Gao Liangwei gestured.

"I want to ask why we need to cultivate specific personnel. Can't we just select from those who have already passed several rules? For example, the Mind Power Development Academy that will soon open, wouldn't it be better to pick people from there?"

Just as Dr. Zhang was about to speak, Gao Liangwei said, "I will answer this question. Because we need to consider infiltration risks, it's best to choose personnel with a clean background for cultivation."

"Infiltration risks?"