"Barrier deactivation countdown: 30... 29..."
The mechanical countdown prompt echoed in Xu Jingming's ears.
"Such good luck? I'm going on in the first round?"
Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. "But that's fine too. The sooner I secure a spot, the sooner I can relax."
He swept his gaze around.
Beneath his feet lay scorching yellow sand, while rolling dunes stretched into the distance.
The air was filled with dryness, and even breathing carried a burning sensation.
Within his field of vision, he could see the figures of hundreds, even thousands, of contestants.
That made sense. The area was only 100 square kilometers.
With over a hundred thousand contestants, it was easy to run into others.
He then tried to move.
But he discovered that an invisible barrier had confined him within a circular area roughly one meter in diameter.
"Looks like I won't be able to move freely until the countdown ends."
After confirming this, Xu Jingming immediately began examining his condition.
His consciousness sank into his body, where surging power churned like a volcano.
His more than seven billion Blood Qi and Mental Strength were perfectly synchronized with reality, without the slightest weakening.
"Crackle~~"
With a thought, a dazzling golden sphere of lightning appeared in Xu Jingming's right palm.
As lightning flickered across it, the power of Laws faintly flowed within.
"Both the Lightning Law and Destruction Domain are fine. I'm in perfect condition."
Xu Jingming nodded in satisfaction.
All contestants' attributes had been kept at the same level during the preliminaries.
Although it was meant to ensure fairness, it was a disguised form of weakening for him.
This was his full strength now. Even the Purple Nightmare Demonic Body could be unleashed instantly with a thought.
"According to the intelligence provided by the Star Torch