Chapter 67

Unexpectedly.

The one who ran into trouble wasn't Ling Feng, who had to pick the single safe rope out of three, but Zhou Chenhao, who had five ropes to choose from!

At the same time Ling Feng cried out, Zhou Chenhao, with a speed that an ordinary person couldn't possibly react to, timely extended his long arm and grabbed the swing board tied to the other hemp rope. Relying on his powerful finger strength to halt his body's downward momentum, if he had been even 0.1 seconds later, he wouldn't have caught the swing board.

The field instantly fell silent.

Xiao 6 was knocking its wooden fish so loud it was earth-shattering, nearly spitting out code from its mouth: "That scared me to death, scared me to death..."

Ling Feng watched as Zhou Chenhao's other hand immediately followed, grabbing the hemp rope with the agility of climbing a tree and pulling himself up, continuing to climb.

Seeing this, he felt relieved, yet his heart was still pounding with lingering fear, his breathing slightly rushed.

Bai Xuechao raised an eyebrow with great interest.

Should I say, as expected of the manga's male protagonist? To find a loophole in the game's rules under such circumstances.

In fact, Bai Xuechao had thought of this method before.

The game rule stated, "If a system-generated rope is pulled, one side of the player's swing will come loose." The key word here was "come loose."

Bai Xuechao had observed the hemp ropes tied on both sides of the swing. There was a hole in the middle of each side of the swing board, and the hemp rope was passed through this hole and knotted. If it was just one side's knot that came loose, a player with quick enough reflexes could absolutely grab the other side's rope.

There was no need to worry about it being unable to bear the body's weight and coming loose, because under the game's power, this knot was incredibly sturdy and wouldn't loosen at all.

Moreover, it didn't break directly, but came loose, which meant the rope would remain on the scene.

Combining this with another game rule, "If a player falls, they are out of the game," it didn't say, "If a player pulls a system-generated rope, they are out of the game."

This implied that even if someone was unlucky enough to pull the two system ropes, they could exploit the game's loopholes. As long as they grabbed onto the remaining ropes on the field and didn't fall, they could continue the game.

Zhou Chenhao's action happened to give him a validation, proving his theory was feasible.

But this method wasn't very suitable for Bai Xuechao.

When special ability users leveled up, their physical fitness would also be enhanced.

However, the degree of enhancement would vary depending on the dietary type of the special ability user. Carnivorous special ability users had the highest degree of enhancement, followed by Omnivorous special ability users, and finally Herbivorous special ability users. In reality, the difference each time wasn't large, but it accumulated. After a few level-ups, the difference became obvious.

It was just like in the animal world, where carnivorous animals often had stronger limbs and greater strength.

Although Zhou Chenhao was an Omnivorous special ability user, the degree of his physical enhancement when leveling up was officially stamped by both the manga and the forums as being even higher than that of Carnivorous special ability users.

And there were also differences in the physical enhancements among special ability users.

Even within the same dietary type, some might have more enhancement in strength, while others had more in speed.

Zhou Chenhao's five senses, strength, speed, stamina, and explosive power were all very promising. The potential was already beginning to show. In previous chapters, he had even overshadowed the Carnivorous special ability users Xia Xiaoxi and Ling Feng, which was likely a setting given by his "birth mother," Bai Guzi.

What about Bai Xuechao?

Unfortunately, perhaps due to his naturally weak constitution, his enhancements were mostly concentrated in areas like his five senses, speed, and explosive power, with negligible enhancement in strength.

This was like the stat points allocated to a character after leveling up in a game. Most people, even if they didn't have balanced development, wouldn't have too great a disparity.

Bai Xuechao, however, was one of the few whose stat allocation was wildly skewed, and the more he leveled up, the more skewed it became.

He was already a level 8 special ability user. Leveling up to 10 would only grant him two more enhancements. Even if the remaining two were all put into strength, it wouldn't make up for much.

Returning to this method.

Once both system-upgraded ropes were pulled, the player could only rely on brute force to hold onto the rope and hang in mid-air to avoid being eliminated.

Assuming an ordinary adult male could hang with both arms for one minute, Zhou Chenhao could easily hang for half an hour. Ling Feng could probably last for twenty-five minutes. Bai Xuechao could last for five minutes at most. Although better than an ordinary person, it was a far cry from Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng.

This meant that if Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng discovered this method, they might be able to forcefully hang on and continue the game, lasting until the very end.

But Bai Xuechao wasn't worried at all.

So what if they could hang on to "extend their lives" and continue the game?

As long as he could keep answering questions correctly and win the game coins, them just hanging there would be nothing more than hanging decorations.

With this method discovered, the one who needed to worry more was Gong Ting. He couldn't beat Bai Xuechao and Ling Feng in answering questions, and he wasn't faster than Zhou Chenhao at snatching questions he knew.

Bai Xuechao had already seen from the Journey to the West question that Gong Ting knew the answer, but his reaction speed was not as fast as Zhou Chenhao's. If they encountered a question that both he and Zhou Chenhao knew, the one who snatched it would most likely be Zhou Chenhao.

Sure enough, as Zhou Chenhao nimbly and quickly climbed up the hemp rope and stood firmly on the edge of the swing board where the knot was tied, Gong Ting grew restless.

"System!" Gong Ting said, pointing at Zhou Chenhao, "He's breaking the rules like this, isn't he? He should have fallen and been eliminated."

A pulsating line appeared on the big screen, and after a moment, words were displayed.

【The game does not have any rules related to this. A vote is now being initiated. The City Lord, Player A, and Player C all gain voting rights.】

【Is it permissible for a player to hold onto the swing's rope with their own strength to temporarily avoid falling?】

Gong Ting, perhaps having thought of the possibility of a vote, showed no dissatisfaction with the system initiating one. Instead, he immediately voted: "Not allowed!"

He still had seven ropes, five of which were safe. If Zhou Chenhao fell now, and Ling Feng's ropes were all dangerous system-generated ones, as long as Dongfang Bubai answered one question correctly, Ling Feng would have to follow, and his mission would be complete.

Ling Feng also followed suit and voted: "Allowed."

Bai Xuechao's vote was incredibly crucial.

Ling Feng stared intently at Bai Xuechao. When Bai Xuechao looked at him, a trace of pleading appeared in his eyes. Although Bai Xuechao's attitude towards them had been friendly enough, he didn't dare to bet on the extent of that friendliness, fearing that the other party might choose "not allowed" on a whim for the sake of excitement.

At this moment, Ling Feng even pessimistically thought that if Zhou Chenhao fell, given Zhou Chenhao's physical fitness, he should be able to hold on for a while. He would try his best to end the game quickly.

Bai Xuechao was being looked at by Ling Feng's gorgeous, gem-like azure eyes. Anyone looked at by such a pair of eyes with such an earnest gaze would can't help but soften.

However, Bai Xuechao was not a normal person. The thought of teasing the other party arose in his mind.

He curled up one corner of his mouth, revealing a somewhat malicious, mischievous smile.

Ling Feng was taken aback for a moment, his eyes widening slightly. As if realizing something, a hint of hard-to-detect panic appeared in his eyes, but he was trying his best to maintain his composure.

"I choose—" Bai Xuechao deliberately drew out the syllable, not finishing his sentence for a long time.

Gong Ting became anxious and shouted, "Dongfang Bubai! What are you hesitating for! Of course you should choose not allowed!"

Xiao 6 also started shouting in Bai Xuechao's head, but it didn't dare to ask Bai Xuechao to do anything. It could only flame Gong Ting from afar: "What are you rushing for! Rushing him to his death! The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is! What business is it of yours what my Host chooses! Who do you think you are!"

Zhou Chenhao suddenly said: "Vote for whatever you want to vote for."

Ling Feng looked at Zhou Chenhao with an indescribable expression, as if asking: Are you looking for death?

Bai Xuechao raised an eyebrow and also looked at Zhou Chenhao.

Zhou Chenhao's feet, clad in black Martin boots, were on the swing board. Because there was only one rope, it was difficult to maintain balance, and he was swaying slightly in mid-air. Seeing Bai Xuechao look over, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. He looked completely calm, and it was unknown if he had some ace up his sleeve.

Bai Xuechao's goal wasn't to kill Zhou Chenhao. He didn't keep them in suspense any longer and said: "Allowed."

Ling Feng let out a long sigh of relief and cast a rather grateful glance at Bai Xuechao. If Bai Xuechao had a favorability system, he would now see Ling Feng's favorability towards him soaring.

But even without a favorability system, Bai Xuechao could guess it.

After all, this was the purpose of his teasing Ling Feng.

First, make Ling Feng unsure if he would choose to help them. When Ling Feng's expectations were at their lowest, he would then fulfill them. Suppress first, then raise, making Ling Feng even more grateful to him.

【Rule added: Players may use their own strength to hold onto the swing's rope to avoid falling.】

Gong Ting's eyes widened. From his expression, it was clear he really wanted to curse, but he held it in, shouting, "If you had chosen not allowed, the game would have been over by now!"

"I just love to see him hanging there," Bai Xuechao tilted his head. "Isn't that okay?"

Hearing this, Zhou Chenhao held the hemp rope with one hand and scratched his hair with the other, letting out a dry laugh: "Haha...? What kind of fetish is this? But thanks anyway."

"Tsk." Although Gong Ting was displeased, he could only continue the game.

【Question 11: In "One Thousand and ●ne Nights," what nationality is A●ddin?】

【A. A-Country】

【B. Xia Country】

Both Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng were stunned when they saw this question. Neither of them read fairy tales.

But Ling Feng thought, a name like A●ddin, which clearly sounded foreign, yet appeared in such a question, must require reverse thinking to choose the opposite answer.

"B," Ling Feng said.

Gong Ting's voice sounded almost at the same time as his: "A!"

Unfortunately, Ling Feng was half a beat too slow, so Gong Ting was considered to have snatched this question.

Bai Xuechao didn't read fairy tales either, but he happened to know this piece of trivia. He just didn't try to answer, intending to deliberately let Ling Feng have a question to control the scores.

Who knew that Gong Ting would come out and answer.

【Incorrect Answer】

【The City Lord must pull off one rope within 10 seconds.】

After answering, Gong Ting knew he was likely wrong. He didn't even know what "One Thousand and ●ne Nights" was. In his haste to snatch the question, he had blurted out a random guess without thinking. His mouth had moved faster than his brain. He had snatched the question, but he had clearly heard Ling Feng choose the other answer, and then he figured out for himself that Ling Feng's choice was the right one.

As expected, he was wrong.

Whatever, he had seven ropes anyway.

Thinking this, Gong Ting chose one almost without hesitation and pulled it down.

As a result, under his incredulous gaze, the big screen turned red.

How could he be so unlucky?!

The hemp rope on Gong Ting's left side suddenly came loose. He immediately copied Zhou Chenhao's earlier action, successfully grabbing the fallen swing board on his right with the physical fitness of a special ability user, and began to climb up.

He couldn't help but be glad that the system had added that rule earlier.

But just then, Zhou Chenhao suddenly started to swing, heading towards Gong Ting's direction.

The hemp ropes holding the swings were actually very long, about two meters, and the straight-line distance between two adjacent players was about four meters.

Zhou Chenhao grabbed the hemp rope and crouched down, using the crooks of his knees to hook onto the horizontal edge of the swing board where the knot was tied, hanging his body upside down. When the swing reached its closest point to Gong Ting, he stretched out his long arms—

And gave Gong Ting a pull.

His height and arm length were more than enough to cover the one-meter-plus distance.

He pulled Gong Ting down with one tug.

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