225: Chapter 225 Not enough mining? Let's get the ranked matches started!

Just as the Single Aristocrat avatar frames finished flooding the world channel, things started heating up again over at the Dragon Domain mines.

The first Dragon Domain Mining Competition had ended, and the rewards had all been distributed.

Mining Expert circled the Wanlong City square three times clutching his dragon blood battle axe, while Old Miner couldn't stop grinning as he held his mid-grade dragon crystal.

But the players hadn't had their fill of the fun yet.

The world channel began being spammed early in the morning.

"When is the second Mining Competition?"

"Seven days is too short! My pickaxe just got warmed up and the event is already over?"

"Boss Lin Zhe, we need more!"

"I missed the first one, can you give a newbie a chance?"

"Veteran players know the tunnels; newbies can't even find a rock face when they go in. This isn't fair!"

Outside the five core mines of Wanlong City, players were lined up like long dragons.

Some lifestyle players were squatting by the roadside with their ore baskets, refusing to leave.

Some newbie players were holding up signs.

[Requesting a Newbie Mining Competition!]

[Give newbies a pickaxe dream!]

[I also want to buy orange gear by mining!]

The administrator, Buzzcut Warrior, watched as the crowd grew thicker and thicker, feeling a massive headache coming on.

"Don't block the entrance!"

"The mines are open as usual, just line up and go in!"

But the crowd kept shouting.

"We can mine if we line up, but the competition is gone!"

"Without a leaderboard, there's no passion in mining!"

"I want to see the rankings jumping!"

The news was quickly delivered to Lin Zhe.

High above Wanlong City, Lin Zhe stood outside the Dragon Emperor Palace with a calm expression.

Qing Yu said softly, "Sir, there are many petitions from the players."

"After the first Mining Competition ended, the popularity of the mining area didn't drop; instead, it rose."

"Especially the newbie players—they say they missed the first one and hope for a fair channel."

Lin Zhe glanced at the mining area data.

The five core mines were at full capacity around the clock.

The online duration of lifestyle class players had skyrocketed.

The circulation of dragon crystals was still climbing.

This momentum could not be broken.

He spoke indifferently, "Then make it permanent."

Qing Yu was taken aback. "Permanent?"

Lin Zhe raised his hand.

A pale gold screen of rules unfolded in mid-air.

Mining areas, leaderboards, reward pools, newbie mine permissions—he wrote the rules one by one directly into the Dragon Domain system.

The next second, a server-wide announcement boomed out.

[Server Announcement: The Dragon Domain Monthly Mining Ranked Match is officially live!]

[Event Frequency: Held once a month!]

[Competition Groups: Elite Group, Newbie Group!]

[Elite Group Entry Requirements: Level 30 or above, or historical total mining weight reaches the specified standard!]

[Newbie Group Entry Requirements: Level 30 or below, and have not received top three rewards in a Mining Competition!]

[Elite Group Top Three Rewards: mid-grade dragon crystals, Dragon Race orange weapon fragments, free Dragon Domain dungeon entries!]

[Newbie Group Top Three Rewards: Mining Specialization Buff, limited pickaxe skins, Dragon Crystal fragment bundles!]

[All participating players can receive participation rewards: suppression points, mining area exchange points, basic potion supplies!]

[The Dragon Domain will simultaneously open Newbie Exclusive Mines; veteran players and guild teams are not allowed to enter!]

The announcement faded.

The entire server exploded.

"Monthly matches? Every single month?"

"The Elite Group rewards include orange weapon fragments!"

"The Newbie Group gets a Mining Specialization Buff too? Newbies are taking off!"

"There are even participation rewards. You get points just for mining!"

"Newbie Exclusive Mines are here! No more worrying about veteran miners stealing spots!"

The entrance to the Wanlong City mines immediately reached a boiling point.

The newbie players who had been holding signs just now jumped for joy on the spot.

"I can sign up for the Newbie Group!"

"That pickaxe skin is mine!"

The veteran players nearby also had bloodshot eyes.

"orange weapon fragments... if I save up for a few months, I might be able to craft one!"

"mid-grade dragon crystals are great too!"

"Brothers, let's rush the Elite Group leaderboard!"

Soon, a new blue teleportation gate appeared next to the five core mines.

[Newbie Exclusive Mine]

The rules screen at the entrance flickered.

[Only Newbie Group players may enter]

[Guild teams are prohibited from monopolizing the area]

[Proxy mining, botting, and malicious occupation of ore nodes are prohibited]

[Violators will have their mining area permissions frozen]

A member of a large guild tried to tentatively walk inside.

As soon as he lifted his foot, a red light flashed.

[Does not meet Newbie Group requirements. Entry prohibited.]

The surrounding newbie players instantly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, can't get in, can you!"

"This mine is ours!"

"Boss Lin Zhe is truly just!"

The newbies, carrying the basic pickaxes issued by the system, rushed into the blue portal in groups.

The ore veins inside weren't top-tier, but they were safe, had many nodes, and refreshed stably.

Ten minutes after the first batch of newbies entered, someone mined a low-grade dragon crystal fragment.

"It dropped! I got one too!"

Screenshots immediately flooded the world channel.

The Elite Group side was even more intense.

Mining Expert, Old Miner, and Iron Pickaxe War God had all signed up.

As soon as the leaderboard opened, the numbers began to jump frantically.

[Elite Group Current #1: Mining Expert, Total Weight: 980 catties]

[Elite Group Current #2: Old Miner, Total Weight: 940 catties]

[Newbie Group Current #1: Little Trowel, Total Weight: 120 catties]

The clinking and clanging in the mines merged into a sound like thunder.

lifestyle players were rushing toward the Dragon Domain like crazy.

"Killing monsters isn't for me, but mining is!"

"From now on, I'll make my living through the monthly ranked matches!"

"Switching my lifestyle class to miner, starting today!"

At the official backend, Zhou Ming's eyes widened as he looked at the data curves.

"Mining area activity rose again?"

The technician's voice trembled: "It rose! The five core mines are packed all day, and the newbie mine is full too!"

"Dragon crystal production is up thirty percent compared to yesterday!"

Zhou Ming sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Thirty percent?"

"Yes, and the number of lifestyle players transferring to the Dragon Domain mining area is still rising."

Zhou Ming was silent for two seconds before immediately slapping the table.

"Expand the mining area servers!"

"Max out the inventory for pickaxes, repair coupons, and stamina potions!"

"Don't let the players run out of steam!"

High above Wanlong City, Qing Yu handed the latest data to Lin Zhe.

"Sir, dragon crystal production has risen by thirty percent."

"The Newbie Exclusive Mine is running stably, and the number of complaints has dropped significantly."

"Player satisfaction is also rising."

Lin Zhe nodded indifferently.

"Settle the rankings monthly."

"The rewards will come from the proceeds of the Qing Yan ore veins."

"Don't skimp on the Newbie Group rewards."

Qing Yu bowed her head. "Yes."

In the mines below, the sound of pickaxes grew denser and denser.

Every time the leaderboard refreshed, the world channel exploded along with it.

The popularity of the Dragon Domain did not drop because the celebration ended.

Instead, it was forcibly pushed back up once again by this monthly mining ranked match.