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墨書 Inktalez
Remember this for a second: the seat is just an identity, not a representation of strength. As long as one is a member of the alliance, they can apply for a seat. For example, the Eastern Continent has five available spots, but if only four people apply, then the seat will be given to a more proactive continent for the next four years. Generally, there are many applicants because each seat comes with a monthly stipend of one hundred thousand, which is essentially free money if there's nothing else to do.
Three days after receiving the official letter, tickets for the airship to Nordo City were delivered by a designated person. The airship was scheduled to depart on May 20th in the early morning and was expected to arrive at Hero City by noon on the 26th. Along with the tickets, there was also an introduction to the airship, featuring luxurious rooms, swimming pools, and other amenities that were not much different from those of a five-star hotel.
While everyone admired the airship's introduction, Cui Ming's attention was focused on the ticket numbers, which ranged from 26 to 30. Excluding the five seats from the Eastern Continent that would all be taken by applicants meeting up on the airship, it indicated that there would be at least four teams aboard. Cui Ming's observation immediately captured everyone's interest.
Beiyue said, "In previous years, assessments were held every two years, usually involving eight to ten teams. If my junior brother's speculation is correct, it means that at least four teams have emerged from the Eastern Continent. By proportion, this year's assessment could involve more than twenty teams."
Li Qing shook his head. "That's not quite right. Participating in the Assessment Match from the Eastern Continent is like stepping into a big pitfall. The number of practitioners in the Eastern Continent isn't significantly less than that of both the Eastern and Western Continents. However, the Eastern Continent is too harmonious; many practitioners have their own interests and hobbies."
Mi Xiaonan chimed in, "Exactly! My friend Mi Big Head hardly trains or cultivates; he spends his days pondering various inventive ideas. Two months ago when we contacted each other, he mentioned he was researching wireless communication technology so that phones could be carried around easily. The people of the Eastern Continent are quite different from those of the Western Continent."
Li Qing nodded in agreement. "That's true. The traditional culture of the Western Continent emphasizes strength. For instance, if you're out shopping with your girlfriend and someone harasses you, people from the Eastern Continent typically choose to call for help when they can't compete physically. In contrast, in the Western Continent, if you don't step up and confront the thug first, even the police won't sympathize with you. You can lose but you can't back down."
Ding Ze, who had traveled through all three continents, remarked, "The Eastern Continent is a typical crisis-conscious society with the highest population density and living costs. White-collar workers in the Eastern Continent generally work no more than forty hours a week and enjoy half a year off. Meanwhile, in Twilight City as a representative of the Eastern Continent, white-collar workers often work over sixty hours a week with hardly any vacation time because taking time off could mean being replaced; competition is fierce. Young people work during the day and recharge at night, leading to widespread late marriages."
Li Qing added, "In past assessments, both the Western and Eastern Continents had pass rates reaching 30%, while that of the Eastern Continent was merely 12% or even lower. Since applications can only be submitted every five years, this has led to what we call 'the five-year phenomenon' in the Eastern Continent. This year happens to be such a year; hence it's not surprising that there are many applicants."
Although practitioners differ from ordinary people, cultural influences transcend species. The concept of strength among practitioners in the Western Continent is very pronounced; they often engage in sparring after just a few exchanges during assessments. In contrast, assessment teams from the Eastern Continent rarely pay attention to external matters; they focus on their training while observing teams that may benefit them without concerning themselves with unrelated issues. The Eastern Continent has its unique style; aboard an airship, people gather primarily to drink and chat before throwing parties where those with shared interests mingle together. There are even personal photography exhibitions and art shows. A joke goes that two practitioners from the Eastern Continent can waste an entire afternoon over tea under the pretense of enjoying life.
Li Qing said, "It's not that the practitioners from the Eastern Continent are inferior. Everyone knows that practical experience can be trained, and strength is determined by various factors accumulated over time. It's not just about training in the Six Elements to see results. Junior Brother, you are an exception; you first need to complete your basic training and familiarize yourself with your abilities in practical situations. Knowing yourself is crucial. That said, practitioners from the Eastern Continent are significantly weaker in confrontations compared to those from the Western Continent and Eastern Continent, and that's a fact."
Cui Ming understood; it was like playing a fighting game where the Eastern Continent typically faced NPCs. In contrast, the Western Continent and Eastern Continent engaged in direct confrontations between players. While practitioners from the Eastern Continent might know various techniques, they would still be at a disadvantage when it came to human-to-human combat.
Cui Ming remarked, "It seems that the five of us don't share the common flaws of the Eastern Continent."
Ding Ze lazily smiled, "Cui Ming, aside from Beiyue, who is a proper person from Dawn City, the four of us all have the common flaws of the Eastern Continent. I'm lazy; I avoid physical effort whenever I can think my way out of something. What about Li Qing? He loves food and subscribes to a culinary magazine. Every time he returns to Dawn City, he has to indulge in a feast. As for you, Cui Ming, you enjoy studying military strategies and their application in real life, like how to scheme against Zhao Wei. The process may be perfect, but let's not talk about the unfortunate outcome. And Mi Xiaonan? She's been cooped up on Sakura Island for too long; she can binge-watch hundreds of episodes of soap operas all night and even writes letters to friends discussing the plots. It makes me want to spit blood that you actually have friends who reply."
Mi Xiaonan sadly replied, "Her letter wasn't about discussing plots; it was to break off our friendship."
Ding Ze asked in surprise, "Was it because you were too obsessed?"
"No, it was because I spoiled the plot," Mi Xiaonan said as she slapped her forehead. "It's genuinely good; trust me! If you all sit down and watch an episode, you'll be hooked by the story."
Cui Ming laughed and asked, "When you're watching TV, do you feel angry when the bad guys succeed and the good guys suffer? Do you wish you could jump in and help the good guys?"
Mi Xiaonan exclaimed in delight, "Yes! Cui Ming, we really are kindred spirits!"
Cui Ming patted Mi Xiaonan's head and said, "I had those thoughts when I was ten; it's normal. In two or three years, you'll realize it's meaningless. I remember a villain using a needle on the female lead; she was in so much pain."
"Exactly!" Mi Xiaonan nodded repeatedly. "It made me so angry I couldn't sleep."
Cui Ming continued, "If you think about it differently, it's just a few pricks with a needle—equivalent to stitching without anesthesia. The pain is actually quite limited. The villains are poorly written; if they truly wanted to harm her, they wouldn't just injure her—they'd kill her instead. Why don't they kill her? Because once she's dead, there's no story left to tell. After thinking it over like this, I realized it's all the fault of the screenwriters."
Beiyue silently observed from the side, realizing that each region nurtures its own people. The typical inhabitants of the Eastern Continent were seriously studying the Assessment Match, discussing probabilities and such, but soon they strayed off-topic and began chatting casually. What was frustrating was that they were unaware of how important their original topic had been. Even more infuriating was that someone like Li Qing, fully aware of their digression, eagerly participated in the discussion, believing that Cui Ming's views were too extreme. Ding Ze thought it was a script written with the audience in mind. Mi Xiaonan strongly refuted this to avoid being seen as a child.
Then Li Qing mentioned being hungry, Ding Ze lay down, Cui Ming went to prepare food, and Mi Xiaonan helped out...
Hey, we were discussing the Assessment Match! What about team leader assignments? They completely ignored their own roles!
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