Three days flew by amid the insane grinding frenzy at the Origin Internet Cafe.
When the first ray of morning sunlight shone onto South Back Street in Heaven Dou City on the fourth day, the cafe hall was no longer filled with its usual clamor.
"Time's up! Everyone, forcibly disconnect your neural links."
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin supported each other, their fingers still twitching uncontrollably.
For three days, they had become emotionless money-farming machines. To scrape together enough euros for Ning Rongrong's top-tier gear, they had collected tens of thousands of pounds of cyber-trash in Night City!
"Rongrong... your father and Sword Grandpa... did our best..." With enormous dark circles under his eyes, Ning Fengzhi weakly handed Ning Rongrong a chip loaded with euros. "Go on. Win the championship and bring that tracking hidden weapon back to the sect..."
"Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Sword Grandpa!"
Ning Rongrong took the chip, her delicate little face brimming with a big spender's cocky confidence. "Just watch from the stands! Today, I'm going to crush everyone with firepower and money!"
On the other side, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, walked out as well.
The dozen or so captains of the Heaven Dou Imperial Knights behind her were so exhausted that they collapsed straight onto the floor, foaming at the mouth.
Yet a sharp, icy gleam flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. Her lavish array of legendary Cyberware was ready for action.
Zhu Zhuqing stood silently in a corner, clenching her fists as she felt the Falcon Sandevistan inside her virtual character—the piece of gear she had poured everything into acquiring. Fighting spirit blazed in her feline eyes.
Dugu Bo and his granddaughter Dugu Yan were practically rubbing their hands in anticipation, like two peerless ferocious beasts about to be released from their cages.
"Ahem. May I have all contestants' attention?"
At some point, Lin Ye had changed into a black suit. Holding a microphone, he stood at the front of the bar counter.
"The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived! The first Origin Internet Cafe Night City Mercenary Grand Prix officially begins now!"
Bzzzz!!!
As Lin Ye's words rang out, a dazzling blue light suddenly erupted from the spacious clearing in the middle of the cafe hall!
The system's power intervened. The smooth marble floor vanished instantly, revealing a lifelike "virtual arena," fifty meters long and fifty meters wide, enclosed beneath a holographic energy dome!
The arena's terrain was none other than Night City's most famous landmark—the helipad atop Arasaka Tower!
"This Grand Prix will feature a live holographic broadcast! Nonparticipating family members and armchair gamers can purchase VIP spectator tickets for ten gold soul coins each and enjoy an immersive experience from the stands."
The moment Lin Ye finished speaking, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin paid for tickets without hesitation. Even Tang San and Dai Mubai, seated on plastic stools in the corner, did the same.
When they put on the holographic spectator glasses supplied by the system, they felt as though they had been transported to the edge of Arasaka Tower. Howling winds filled their ears, Night City's neon lights gleamed in the distance, and a bottomless drop lay beneath their feet!
"Wh-what terrifying spatial simulation!" Tang San glanced down from the stands and recoiled two steps in fright. "It's practically like creating a real world!"
"Let the draw for the first elimination match begin!"
The enormous holographic screen overhead cycled frantically before two portraits finally stopped in its center.
On the left: the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—Ning Rongrong!
On the right: the honored guest of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family—Dugu Bo!
"What?! Rongrong is facing Poison Douluo in the very first match?!" Ning Fengzhi's face drained of color, and he instinctively tried to rush into the arena. "How is she supposed to fight him?! Rongrong is only a support-type soul master!"
"Calm down, Sect Master Ning! There's no soul power here." With an enigmatic smile, Lin Ye held Ning Fengzhi back. "Besides, all the money you earned collecting trash these past three days is sitting on your daughter right now."
Two flashes of white light appeared in the center of the holographic arena, and Ning Rongrong's and Dugu Bo's game characters materialized at opposite ends of Arasaka Tower's helipad.
"Hahahaha! Little Rongrong, your luck is rotten! You've run into me in the very first match!"
Dugu Bo threw back his head and laughed wildly. Although he wore the weathered face of an old swordsman in the game, his overbearing swagger as a Titled Douluo had not diminished in the slightest.
"I may not have had as many people helping me collect trash these past three days, but with my own solid skills, I still saved enough to buy this superb Thermal Katana!"
Dugu Bo flicked his right hand sharply, and a polymer katana sprang out, its crimson blade radiating terrifying heat!
Even the air warped slightly in the intense heat!
"Enough talk! You green old geezer, today I'll show you what real saturation fire looks like!"
Ning Rongrong refused to back down.
She snapped her fingers arrogantly, and her black leather jacket opened.
The instant Ning Rongrong drew her weapon, Tang San and Dai Mubai nearly had their eyes pop out of their heads in the stands!
Not only was Ning Rongrong holding a legendary Kang Tao Zhuo-Type Smart Assault Rifle, but two outrageously large miniature missile launchers sprang directly from her shoulders!
And that was not all. A faint golden glow flickered across her limbs, clearly indicating that the highest-grade armor had been implanted beneath her skin!
She was armed to the teeth, every inch of her radiating the extravagant declaration: "I'm rich!"
"Th-that's Ning Rongrong's hidden weapon now?!"
Tang San stared fixedly at the futuristic assault rifle, his mouth going dry. Beside that gun, his Godly Zhuge Crossbow seemed like nothing more than a stick for stoking a fire!
"Begin!"
Lin Ye gave the command.
Whoosh!
Dugu Bo showed no sporting courtesy whatsoever, giving Ning Rongrong no time to react!
His combat instincts as a Titled Douluo told him that closing the distance was his only option against heavy firepower!
He drove off the ground, the reinforced tendons in his legs unleashing terrifying thrust.
He became a red afterimage, skimming almost flush with the ground as he charged toward Ning Rongrong along a bizarre S-shaped path!
"So fast! That burst of speed is easily on par with a top-tier agility-type Soul Emperor!" Chen Xin sucked in a sharp breath in the stands.
"Bring it on!"
Yet Ning Rongrong merely gave a disdainful sneer.
Without even bothering to aim, she pulled the trigger!
Ratatatatatat!!!
Dazzling blue muzzle flashes flickered atop Arasaka Tower!
At that moment, the terrifying power of a legendary smart rifle was laid bare.
The bullets did not travel in straight lines. After leaving the barrel, they curved strangely in midair, like a swarm of bees pouring out of a hive!
Hundreds of miniature smart homing rounds traced countless hopeless arcs of death through the air. Like an impenetrable metal net, they sealed off every possible avenue of escape and converged on Dugu Bo from all directions!
"That's impossible!!!" Tang San completely lost his composure in the stands, clutching his head with both hands. "Even if they can automatically track targets in midair, how can they have such an absurdly high rate of fire?! That defies every principle of hidden weapons!"
Inside the arena, Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted at the overwhelming barrage of homing bullets.
"Little girl, do you think having money means you can do whatever you want?!"
Under the crushing pressure of life and death, Dugu Bo let out a furious howl like a lone wolf!
"Sandevistan... activate!!!"
Bzzzz!!!
A strange wave of pale blue energy erupted from Dugu Bo's spine and swept across the entire arena!
Before everyone's stunned eyes, the dense barrage of homing bullets Ning Rongrong had fired instantly slowed to less than a tenth of its original speed!
Like deadly raindrops suspended in midair, they crept slowly toward Dugu Bo.
Amid this incredible "frozen time," Dugu Bo moved at a speed beyond comprehension!
"That's... a time domain?!"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin shuddered all over. At the sight, even his rock-solid sword heart began to tremble!
A mortal without soul power had used a piece of metal implanted in his body to achieve a domain that controlled time—something beyond even a Titled Douluo's reach?!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Wielding his crimson Thermal Katana, Dugu Bo weaved perilously through the dense rain of bullets.
The scorching blade sliced through the air, cleaving several smart bullets blocking his path cleanly in two!
"Little girl, I've broken through your firepower!"
With a mere two-second burst of Sandevistan, Dugu Bo had already fought his way right in front of Ning Rongrong!
He leaped high, bringing his Thermal Katana down viciously toward Ning Rongrong's head with terrifying heat and the crushing force of a mountain!
"Rongrong!"
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin cried out in despair from the stands.
Facing the lethal strike just inches away, Ning Rongrong did not panic. A sly smile curled her lips.
"Oh, really? Then go ahead and try."
Without dodging, Ning Rongrong raised her left arm straight into the Thermal Katana's path—a blade hot enough to melt steel!
Clang!!!
A deafening clash of metal, loud enough to rupture eardrums, thundered across the top of Arasaka Tower!
Sparks flew everywhere!
As everyone stared as though they had seen a ghost, Dugu Bo's killing blow was stopped cold by Ning Rongrong's slender arm!
The surface of her arm peeled away, revealing dazzling golden metal bones beneath!
"Legendary Cyberware—Gorilla Arms!" Ning Rongrong laughed arrogantly. "Sorry, you green old geezer. Not only is my firepower stronger than yours, but my fists are tougher than your blade!"
The next second, Ning Rongrong pressed the smart rifle in her right hand directly beneath Dugu Bo's chin as he stood frozen in shock.
Bang!
Before you continue