6: Chapter 6: The Exploration Continues

CCTV's star host, Xiao Sa, received a notice to interrupt the broadcast with a news flash. Looking at the information in the folder, his eyes widened. If not for the official seal of the superior department, Xiao Sa would have absolutely thought it was a prankish joke.

"Dear citizens, we have received a notice from higher authorities to interrupt with a news bulletin."

"We are releasing some information regarding China's Chosen One, Daoist Ye, as well as the Immortal Cultivation Techniques that everyone is concerned about."

"Daoist Ye's real name is Ye Qingxuan. He is a Disciple of the Shangqing Sect, taken in as an apprentice by the Shangqing Sect Leader since childhood and raised under his guidance. His strength is formidable."

"According to reliable sources, Daoist Ye's power allows him to head-on resist an entire army group's siege. Therefore, as for the completion rate of tasks in the National Destiny Space, everyone can rest assured and put their trust in Daoist Ye."

"As for the Immortal Cultivation Techniques everyone is inquiring about, they do exist. However, Seniors from the cultivation world have informed us that these techniques are currently unsuitable for public release, as cultivation requires Aptitude—those with the necessary Aptitude are one in ten thousand."

"Furthermore, guidance from a Master is required; otherwise, cultivating blindly could cause self-harm. In addition, the current Spiritual Qi is insufficient to support widespread cultivation. Please wait patiently and trust in our country."

"They really exist?! Cultivation Techniques require Aptitude? Novels truly didn't deceive me! God bless, Three Pure Ancestral Masters bless, Tathagata Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva bless me to have cultivation Aptitude!"

"Upvoting the top comment! Since CCTV stated it, it's definitely true. It must be related to the repair of dragon veins and the revival of Spiritual Qi mentioned in the National Destiny Space. When the time comes, everyone will Cultivate! I'm really looking forward to it."

"Did the two above skip reading? Didn't you hear CCTV say that people with cultivation Aptitude are one in ten thousand? How are you so sure you're that one in ten thousand?"

"Don't force me to slap you while I'm happy! Can't a guy even dream? What if I am that one in ten thousand?"

"Exactly! Our country has such a huge population; even if it's one in ten thousand, that still makes 140,000 people! Maybe I'm one of them!"

"Upvoting the top comment. Immortal cultivation is the most romantic dream for the Chinese people."

"'In the morning I roam the North Sea, by evening Cangwu; a green snake in my sleeve gives me bold courage. Thrice drunk in Yueyang, unrecognized by all, I sing aloud as I fly over Dongting Lake.' Ah, immortal cultivation..."

"Upvoting the top comment +10086."

——— National Destiny Dividing Line ———

Ye Qingxuan put away the Medicinal Pills and looked at the snake meat, snake skin, and snake bones before him.

"The snake meat can be roasted. Although I have already achieved inedia, the flesh and blood of a Vicious Beast close to Foundation Establishment strength should enhance my Physical Body. I can also bring some back for Master and my Senior and Junior Brothers to taste."

"As for the snake bones and skin? Mmm, why not collect some more Materials and refine a human emperor banner? 'If you don't work hard in cultivation, we'll end up as brothers inside the human emperor banner'? Sounds good, let's do it."

"And I remember the National Destiny Space prompt mentioned a Tier 4 Vicious Beast? A Vicious Beast near Foundation Establishment level is Tier 4? How is it categorized? What's the highest tier? Better play it safe."

—— Bullet Comments Shield ——

"human emperor banner? What kind of Magic Treasure is that? Sounds really awesome?"

"'If you don't work hard in cultivation, we'll end up as brothers inside the human emperor banner'... Why does that sound kind of weird?"

"Go check out the foreigners! They're saying we cheated, while their Chosen Ones are dead and their tasks are about to fail!"

"Such a good thing? I'm going to take a look!"

"Let me join in! Let me join in!"

The one whose task failed was Australia.

Right after the National Destiny Space announced China's successful acquisition of the reward, the entire world erupted, condemning China for cheating. However, they were shut down by the all-powerful netizens. Frustrated, all the foreigners held their breath, determined to claim a reward—and then tragedy struck.

Australia's representative was a special forces soldier who had full support from his country, wearing combat gear and equipped with heavy firepower, including two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, commonly known as RPGs.

With their Chosen One carrying such heavy firepower, the Australian citizens were full of confidence.

Australia's Chosen One encountered that same giant snake.

"The Chinese cheated, just waving a hand to kill the monster. Our warrior brought such powerful firearms—how could he fail the task? Let them see the power of technology!"

"Ah yes, yes, yes."

"Ah yes, yes, yes."

Chinese netizens sarcastically mocked Australia while waiting to watch them get slapped in the face, convinced that single-soldier weaponry couldn't possibly kill that giant snake.

"Although China cheated to get a reward, as for this second reward, our Australia will take it since we have RPGs."

"Yes, with RPGs, we can definitely blow those monsters to pieces."

"This second reward is ours."

For a moment, the Australian public carried themselves with arrogant excitement.

Soon, Australia's Chosen One encountered the giant snake, and the battle began.

The battle ended...

Same scene, same monster, no difference at all—the only difference was the person performing the task.

The Australian public was filled with confidence that their Chosen One would complete the task, smiles gracing their faces. But as soon as the battle began, their smiles froze—that Chosen One first used an automatic rifle.

Unfortunately, hitting the giant snake only produced sparks, not even counting as a tickle. What's worse, after the bullets bounced off, the giant snake was completely unaffected—

—except it grew even angrier. Australia's Chosen One immediately discarded the rifle and switched to the RPG. But while that weapon had immense power, aiming, firing, and reloading were all very slow.

Facing a Vicious Beast like the Flood Dragon Snake, which possessed only devouring instincts, time was life. Before he could even aim, the Flood Dragon Snake raised its head, dropped from the sky, and swallowed him whole in one bite.

"Task failed."

"Do you wish to resurrect the Chosen One?"

...

"Time is up. The majority of citizens in this country voted against resurrecting the Chosen One. Task failed. Initiating National Destiny punishment."

"Australia's National Destiny is reduced by 10%, all citizens' Physique is reduced by 10%, and national resources are reduced by 10%."

A grand voice echoed in the minds of everyone across the globe. The next instant, Australian citizens discovered that their bodies rapidly weakened, as if they had fought for three days and three nights—their entire bodies felt limp, sore, and powerless, while elderly people who were already in poor health dropped dead directly.

Then, the punishment of reduced National Destiny arrived right after. The country's total resources silently decreased by 10%, accompanied by earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis.

People across the globe silently watched Australia's tragic fate. China felt fortunate—grateful that their country possessed deep heritage and an immensely powerful cultivator like Ye Qingxuan. If China's Chosen One had been an ordinary person like Australia's, given China's vast population, their end would likely have been far worse.

Weak nations began using their once-a-week communication opportunity to warn their Chosen Ones not to attack Vicious Beasts, but rather to lay low and survive three days. Getting just one reward was enough; small nations couldn't afford such destruction.

"Holy crap, guys, I'm numb. Australia is so tragic right now."

"I also watched an overseas student's livestream. Crops, livestock, and seafood are either dead or withered. Australia suffered massive losses, and those overseas students are crying to come back home."

"Australia's population wasn't large to begin with, just over 20 million, and at least hundreds of thousands died this time! In the past, this would be a world-shaking tragedy, but now everyone globally is fearing for themselves except us. Praise Daoist Ye! Daoist Ye is my god!! (voice cracking)"

"Praise +1."

"+10086."

"I, Unicom, refuse to submit! (Angry face)"

Chinese meme-loving netizens engaged in bullet-comment banter, while foreigners outside of Australia gloated.

In a special office on Zijin Mountain, that red phone rang once again.

"Chief, over a hundred thousand people have applied for emigration. Should we still approve them?"

Secretary Song's voice was full of heaviness and anger, internally cursing, 'A bunch of damn foreign lapdogs.'

Yet the old man's voice remained steady: "Approve them. However, pass down the word: emigrating is allowed, but they will never be permitted to return."

This time, the secretary did not try to persuade him further, simply accepting the order.

"Wait a moment," the old man asked. "Is there anything Daoist Yuanxin needs our help with?"

After Australia's task failed, the third country's task quickly began.

However, whether due to lack of preparation or because the Flood Dragon Snake was too powerful, not a single country managed a flawless completion. They assumed that by avoiding the ore vein and keeping away from the Flood Dragon Snake, they could lie low and survive for three days.

Because that ore vein was the Flood Dragon Snake's lair. However, the Flood Dragon Snake needed to eat, and a distance of dozens of kilometers was just a short trip for a 30-meter-long Flood Dragon Snake. In a single encounter, the Chosen One from the Park Nation was swallowed whole.

Immediately after, the Park Nation followed in Australia's footsteps.

The Chosen One from South Korea was a Taekwondo black belt Master named Park Buchen. This little Korean ran stealthily for two and a half hours, lasting slightly longer, but ultimately met the same fate of being swallowed.

South Korea's already modest population suffered another blow. Those chaebols scrambled to emigrate to China, but unfortunately, they were dreaming—the Chinese government rejected them outright. However, Chinese otaku expressed willingness to accept natural, unedited South Korean girls under 16, only to be shut down by other netizens: "Ptooey, shameless!"

Only Japan's ninja, Mekawa Naiku, managed to scrape off a scale from the Flood Dragon Snake before getting swallowed as well. However, Japan was ruthless enough to sacrifice 5% of their National Destiny to resurrect Mekawa Naiku, allowing him to lay low and try to secure a baseline task reward.

The United States' super gene warrior relied on physical traits far beyond ordinary humans to forcibly outrun the Flood Dragon Snake, surviving even though he didn't secure a reward.

The vampire girl Alice from Britain made a choice similar to the United States', relying on her physical traits to forcibly outrun the Flood Dragon Snake.

Regardless, the foreign casualties were none of Ye Qingxuan's concern. Having dispatched the Flood Dragon Snake and obtained the first-kill reward, he continued forward, using his Spiritual Sense as before to probe in all directions.