Newcomers who have just come out of the race will definitely love it here.
The town is about the size of a small town along a third or fourth-class highway.
Many cars parked on the side of the road represent a house, which is a unique feature of this challenging world.
It stretches all the way ahead, with no end in sight.
However, to determine whether a city is prosperous or not, one must look at the number of buildings.
Building infrastructure in a challenging world is actually a thankless task, since the interior space of a car is large enough to accommodate many people living there at the same time.
Even so, humanity's desire to own land and acquire real estate has not diminished.
Ultimately, once basic survival is secured, people will be willing to buy property in a city.
We'll see.
If someone were to develop a romantic relationship with another person in their car and constantly bring their partner to their own car, the driver would be unhappy.
Therefore, at least love hotels and similar buildings are considered a necessity.
Even though I haven't seen what Supply Point 3 looked like when it was intact, looking from Supply Point 6, there are far more two- or three-story buildings than Supply Point 3.
In the middle of the road, continuing forward, Mu Zhong explained to the curious Liu Chengzhi: "Vehicles that are temporarily parked must go to the parking lot and pay the parking fee."
These cars on the roadside are different; they are vehicles owned by people who own cars, so they are entitled to park on the road.
On Earth, people who buy apartments are called homeowners. The same applies to the Challenge World. Owning property in the city makes you one of the city's owners, so they are required to keep the lights on all night. You can imagine, this is part of the property management fees they pay.
Lights can dispel darkness; without dark areas, wandering monsters won't spawn, which is also a way to protect yourself.
"It's like huddling together for warmth."
Liu Chengzhi kept looking out, and when he said this, there was no derogatory meaning in his tone, and his eyes were very clear. He genuinely approved of this way of life of mutual support and assistance.
The car drove forward for a short while, and then headlights came from the opposite direction. As the distance between the two cars closed, the oncoming car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.
Then the car door opened, and several people hurriedly got out.
A tall, muscular figure appeared within the area illuminated by Wei Huan's car headlights.
"It's Captain Zhao!"
Just two days ago, the male captain who fought alongside us against the monster siege was a Tier 3 soldier.
He was accompanied by Xiaochun, the baby-faced spirit companion.
"Who do we have here? Captain Wei! Lieutenant Mu! And Xiao Liu, hello there!" As soon as they met, Captain Zhao let out a hearty laugh and opened his arms to greet Wei Huan, who had also gotten out of the car. "That day's experience is unforgettable. I've thought about you guys more often than I've thought about my wife these past two days."
"I thought it would be a while before we could see each other again, but I didn't expect you to come so soon." Captain Zhao hugged Wei Huan. "Come on, let's get in my car and I'll give you a good welcome."
Wei Huan did not refuse, and the three of them got into Zhao's car. After drinking a cup of tea, he said, "We are going to the third-class highway. We will set off at dawn."
"So fast?" Captain Zhao said in surprise, "Yesterday at noon, the first batch of new talents who passed the assessment passed through the illusion wall. I heard that many of them agreed to stay at Base No. 3 to help with the reconstruction before returning."
Wei Huan nodded; of course he knew that.
In the chat room now
The number of participants has increased to more than 2,500. In addition to the challengers who have returned to challenge the world after the crisis has subsided, there are seventy or eighty newcomers who have passed the first-class highway test.
After the new players in District 1006 arrived at Supply Point 3, they all started speaking in the district channel.
[Following in Boss Wei's footsteps and hearing his legendary stories has been such a fantastic experience!]
[I'm still struggling to survive, while Boss Wei has already started saving the city. Holy crap, isn't the gap huge?]
[I've done some quick calculations, and I know that Boss Wei is no ordinary man; he'll rise to prominence when the time is right!]
In other areas, people are openly and secretly fighting each other, scheming against each other with sarcastic remarks, and occasionally they even curse each other in the chat room because of some disputes.
But in Zone 1006, there's only one style in the chat rooms: all sorts of flattering their boss, Wei.
It's not that the challengers became selfless, nor that everyone became naive.
The key point is that Boss Wei not only reformed discipline, but also gave too much.
In short, the style of the chat room in Zone 1006 is very strange. Anyone who sees it will wonder, is this a harmonious place or the infamous Challenge World?
After the newcomers gradually left the competition stage, the chat room became much livelier, and the national channel was also more active than usual.
The elderly in 1006 district chatted with the newlyweds about Wei Huan and the important things he did as soon as he arrived in the public area.
It doesn't matter whether there are any disgruntled people among those who are speaking out; they're just holding back anyway. After all, if they're so capable, why don't they fight off the monster siege themselves and save over a hundred people?
The people on the bus were certainly aware of these discussions.
Apart from Liu Chengzhi, who was beaming with pride and excitement, the other two behaved normally, going about their business as usual, and talking about the third-class highway during their meal.
So when he specifically mentioned the newcomers, and seeing that Wei Huan and Mu Zhong's expressions were indifferent, Captain Zhao said, "That's right. The improvement that Class I highways can give you is too small. Class III highways are where you should go. At most, with your strength, you can probably be promoted to Class IV in a year."
Team Leader Zhao was unaware that they were about to go there to exchange supplies, and that they could probably upgrade to level four vehicles in just one or two days, let alone six months.
However, Captain Zhao kindly reminded everyone and explained what he knew about the situation that followed.
"...After passing through the Class III highway from here, you will directly enter the public area, but you will also be automatically registered to participate in the next Class III stage challenge."
At that time, vehicles that have not completed the Level 3 challenge nationwide may encounter both veterans and newcomers. Don't underestimate those veterans who have accumulated three to five years of experience on Level 1 highways; they are quite capable.
In addition, the third-level highway is hilly, and many passes are besieged by monster lords with their territories, which greatly increases the difficulty. You must be very careful.
The monster lord at the end of the stage is very powerful, usually a fourth-tier lord. My suggestion is that you team up and cooperate. This will not only make it easier for you to pass the stage, but you'll also have more challengers to complete the test with.
After saying that, Captain Zhao slapped his forehead: "I almost died back then. If it weren't for the big shot leading me, I would definitely be stuck there forever."
In my opinion, the leadership role is even more important in Category 3 stages. It's a pity that some strong riders are afraid of trouble and also afraid that leading others will drag them down, which is why our Category 3 stages are so difficult.
A large number of challengers were backed up before the stage.
If it weren't for the official biannual concentrated challenge, the number of challengers remaining on the first-class highway would probably be ten or a hundred times greater than it is now.
After saying that, Captain Zhao smiled憨厚ly, but everyone present understood what he meant.
Hopefully, Wei Huan and the others won't rush to leave. At least announce a challenge timeline, and bring as many groups as you can.
When challenges arise, some choose to remain unscathed, some bravely forge ahead, and some transform into giants, leading their compatriots—whom they may never have even met—through thick and thin.
It's not a matter of who's right and who's wrong.
But if everyone is a lone wolf who only cares about themselves, it would be very difficult for humanity to survive in such an apocalyptic world.
Mutual support is not just talk; it must be upheld by the capable, with leaders at the forefront.
Of course, those who "bring their families along" are definitely not as carefree as "lone wolves," and "lone wolves" might even laugh at their stupidity.
But in this world, there is a group of people who are willing to make sacrifices for strangers.
Otherwise, where would these oasis supply points come from, allowing you to sleep peacefully on nights of challenging the world? And where would you experience the Legion's convoys shouting through the ruins at dawn, "Stay close to me, don't fall behind!" when you are besieged by monsters!
Mu Zhong most agreed with Zhao's words. He was a typical legion captain who understood early on what it meant to protect and what it meant to have a mission.
But this time he shook his head regretfully and said, "We have a more important task and must enter the third-class highway tomorrow."
Team Leader Zhao's expression changed slightly.
The only things more important than leading people through the third-class highway are rescuing people from fire and water, and the things further ahead.
When the world is in turmoil, if there's anything that comes above all else...
That is the "evolutionary war" with the Dark Beasts, and the loser will inevitably be wiped out.
"So..." Captain Zhao wanted to confirm.
Mu Zhong smiled but remained silent.
Team Leader Zhao then realized that this was a secret and that he shouldn't be the one to know it.
Then, Captain Zhao changed the subject, turned on the in-car projection screen, checked the date, and said, "The next Tier 3 assessment is in three days. After you register tomorrow, you won't have much time to prepare. Tier 3 highways are currently the most suitable maps for human survival, so no special terrain maps are needed."
However, I suggest that you prepare equipment and supplies specifically for insects, and it would be best if there was a person on the vehicle who could treat mosquito bites and poisoning.
In addition, as far as I know, two veterans who have been on the first-level highway for five years will be participating in this challenge. They are typical lone wolves, driven by profit and ruthless. Their drivers are named Peng Zheng and Qi Jialu.
Peng Zheng is the leader of a mercenary organization. He is very successful in District 37 and even the authorities can't handle him.
And there's Qi Jialu, who lives in the next-door 1008 district..."
...
1008 District
"Boom!"
A tiny spark appeared in the darkness, flew towards the end of the darkness, and landed on the ground, exploding into a large patch of sand.
In the scorched earth, you could see the monster, blown to pieces, briefly gasping for breath before quickly passing away.
Then, amidst the explosion, a car sped out in a panic and rushed into the light ahead.
Not far ahead, there was a blue light shield, constantly shimmering with enchanting light.
The changing blue light kept the sandstorm at bay, and one could vaguely see the large green area in the middle, as well as vehicles.
The car slowed down and stopped politely the moment it saw the light shield. Only when it saw another car approaching from inside did it drive in slowly and harmlessly.
The light shield fell behind me, and all was quiet ahead.
Looking out, this oasis supply point, the closest to Highway 3, has no walls, only cars parked in the oasis.
They huddled together, sheltering from the sandstorm inside the protective shield. In the center of the circle, supporting the Level 4 protective shield, was a bright red sports car.
The Level 4 protective shield was activated to its maximum, creating a safe zone within a 1-kilometer radius centered on the sports car.
Hundreds of cars drove into the protective enclosure, and each car had to pay a hefty parking fee using points immediately.
This car was no exception; just as they were about to pay 5 points as usual, a man's voice came from the car blocking their way: "25 points."
"Wow, how come it's so tall?"
"You lured the monster back, and now we're the ones who have to deal with it? What do you say? If you're not happy about it, go ask Sister Lu."
Even in the car, he hunched over when Lu Jie was mentioned.
The newcomer dared not approach Sister Lu and reluctantly paid 25 points before being allowed to pass.
The officers on duty let the person pass, but the person sitting in the car was not as cold as he appeared.
Inside the driver's cab of the Class A vehicle, two fully armed men had smoked countless cigarettes; the ashtray was overflowing.
The driver, who was also the commander, sat in the driver's seat and said with a gloomy expression, "Only 25 points to exchange for a life and they're still not satisfied. After we leave in a couple of days, these people won't even have a place to die."
"That's right, 1008 is coming to an end, the newcomers are going to be sad."
"It's not that bad. If we leave, the Legion can come in and take over. It might even be better that way."
"Tsk tsk tsk." The person in the passenger seat exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Tell me, we were perfectly fine on the primary highway, why did we have to go onto the tertiary highway?"
"Didn't Sister Lu say that we've already made it onto a Class V highway, and now we're moving towards a Class III highway?"
"I know, I just mean, isn't staying on the highway just fine?"
"Sister Lu didn't force you. If you want to stay, you can get off the bus."
"Tsk, that's no fun, bro..."
The car that had just entered the protective enclosure drove all the way in, but was stopped halfway through.
"What are you doing? That's where Sister Lu is. Just find somewhere to park!"
The visitor was rudely chased away and didn't dare to say another word.
The old man in the car said to the boy in the passenger seat, "See that car? That's Sister Lu's car. I'll introduce you to Sister Lu when it's light. With her protection, I'll feel at ease as you challenge the world."
After a pause, the old man said, "It's impossible to keep Lu Jie's departure a secret. Many people want to go with her, while others just want to stay. You're young; you need to forge ahead to have a future. Don't end up like me, dying old here. After I send you in, I'll go back to Blue Star. When you've finished your struggles and come back, I'll cook you a hot meal."
The young man's eyes were red.
She nodded and said, "Grandpa, I know, I will try my best."
Then, the young man recalled Sister Lu's charming and sexy appearance, and his heart began to pound again.
I heard that Sister Lu likes young people like them, if...
"Qingqiang has been arrested?"
The red sports car has an unexpectedly large space; the first floor alone is spacious enough to play a proper 5v5 basketball game.
The vast space features a unique ecosystem where trees and flowers are planted in the rooms, and various small rooms with different uses are built to allow you to enjoy life while also seeing traces of high technology throughout.
This is the interior of a Tier 4 vehicle: the ground siege engine.
The woman who came downstairs was wearing a long black dress, with her slightly curly hair cascading lazily down her back. The all-black outfit made her skin appear excessively pale.
Her appearance was extremely striking, with bright, clear eyes, a delicate nose, and naturally rosy, heart-shaped lips.
With her voluptuous body curves, she practically filled the entire space with the sensual charm of a mature woman.
Even the roses blooming in the garden were not as beautiful and dazzling as her.
Her voice was slightly languid and hoarse, and even though she only said a few words casually, it seemed to travel very far.
Then, seven or eight young men, each with a different appearance but all in their prime and with their own unique characteristics, walked out from the garden, the room, and the driver's seat.
The man leaning against the door frame of the driver's seat was tall, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, and long, straight legs. He looked like a typical domineering CEO from a female-oriented novel, with an unapproachable aura and overly sharp eyes.
But when he looked at the woman, his eyes were filled with tenderness, and he replied, "Yes, I've been arrested for two days. I heard that I'm going to be tried in a military court."
"Okay then." But the woman's brows relaxed instead. "His profession is deadly. When he goes crazy, no one can control him. He might just kill himself one day."
The woman walked up to the man, avoided his outstretched hand, and instead took a cup of warm milk from a plate held by another man before entering the driver's seat.
At the same time, he said, "But he was arrested while on a mission for me. You can have someone find him a good lawyer on Earth. As for the time... lock him up for a month or two. Once he loses his status as a challenger, that will be fine."
The woman ignored the two men behind her who were openly arguing, and continued, "The legion is coming over today. We need to make a proper handover with them. Otherwise, if a bunch of people die right after I leave, how many days of vegetarianism would I have to eat to make up for it?"
"Sister Lu is kind; we will definitely make a good handover."
"What does their accident have to do with Sister Lu? If you're incompetent, why did you come here as a challenger? Why don't you go back to Blue Star Peace? Whose fault is it that you're greedy?"
Once in the driver's seat, Sister Lu nestled there like a cat, her bare feet peeking out from behind the seat, revealing a perfectly shaped ankle.
There was a moment of silence behind her, and the gazes were so intense they could ignite her feet.
Sister Lu raised her eyebrows slightly, watching the countdown on the projected screen tick closer and closer to six in the morning.
"Did you find the information on those two people that I asked you to investigate yesterday? Let me see it."
"Yes, we found it. Please wait a moment."
Then, three photos popped up on the projection screen in front of Sister Lu.
The man on the left is a large, burly man, a rare sight of obesity in the world, whose appearance could barely be described as auspicious.
The man on the right has delicate features and handsome face, like a boy who stepped out of a comic book. Even in the photo, the corners of his eyes have a slight curve, full of smiles.
The emerald necklace on his left earlobe was eye-catching and made his already soft features appear even more feminine.
However, the documents on the side detailed: Captain of the National Defense Intelligence Department of the Northeast Army Corps, with both legs amputated.
...This kind of person has nothing to do with being effeminate.
Lu Jie's gaze shifted.
The man in the middle, unlike the warm figures on the left and right, couldn't hide the aggressiveness in his eyes even with his glasses on.
His taut lips didn't indicate a love of smiling; his high, straight nose and narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes made him seem like a sharp blade, keeping people at arm's length.
The excessively cold aura was only slightly distorted by the butterfly-shaped ear clip on the left ear, making it appear even more... sharp and ruthless.
"These glasses..." Sister Lu gently sipped her drink from the glass, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "If only we could take them off..."
...
The daytime, which challenges the world, always arrives so swiftly and decisively. At six o'clock sharp, the sky immediately brightens, and the high temperature envelops the earth, giving people no chance to breathe.
The daytime temperature in the desert has reached 60°C, and only challengers who have advanced to Sequence One can barely survive here.
Wei Huan and his group have already set off on their journey.
Now there are three people left in the car.
The reason they had to go to the supply point while on their way was to hand over Xu Qingqiang and the other two.
Since Wei Huan and his team needed to complete the stage challenge on the third-level highway, it was inconvenient to keep someone in the car.
Supply point number six has four level-three vehicles, which is enough to keep Xu Qingqiang under guard.
The only pity is that Xu Qingqiang did not regain consciousness until the handover was completed, having been in a coma for two days.
Wei Huan was still somewhat concerned about the green light that Xu Qingqiang's eyes emitted in his final moments before he fell into a coma.
It was clearly through consuming the dead that he also absorbed their netherworld power.
At that moment, he felt Xu Qingqiang's emotions as if he were facing his own summoned creature.
Is it possible that...?
Now is not the time to explore the truth.
They had to go to the third-class highway to trade the "Morfidi scales" to the front.
This isn't material for a Tier 5 vehicle, but rather core advancement material for Farmer Sequence 5: Martial Master.
Hopefully, with a Tier 5 professional, they can help Commander Mu complete the upgrade of a Tier 5 vehicle as soon as possible, which might change his inevitable fate.
The fourth-tier materials obtained in exchange were also useful to Wei Huan.
He could get to the front lines much faster, and he didn't mind being trained by the legion.
In fact, given his abilities, the problem he should be worried about is not finding someone to mentor him, but rather who he should choose.
In short, once his car enters a Class 3 highway, it is automatically registered to participate in the nearest Class 3 track survival test.
This is a challenging highway battle of national scale.
Captain Zhao has already told him everything he knows.
Whether it was Wei Huan's experience from his previous life or the information Mu Zhong gathered through the legion, they could all confirm that this challenge was not so simple.
Competing against veterans who have accumulated strength over many years, especially in a national competition, those powerful veteran challengers are more than capable of crushing a genius newcomer into the mud.
For example, Peng Zheng and Qi Jialu, whom Captain Zhao specifically mentioned, were strong individuals who had stayed on the first-class highway for five or six years, upgraded their vehicles to the fourth level, and achieved the fourth level of personal strength.
At this level, it's almost certain that the location of the golden treasure chests on this challenge road will be determined.
Even Wei Huan's prized points ranking might not be able to surpass theirs.
Of course, since he had already participated, Wei Huan also wanted to compete for the golden treasure chest.
This is also why Wei Huan ultimately accepted Commander Mu's offer to trade with him for a value far exceeding that of a single Tier 5 resource.
Commander Mu wanted to train him, and he chose to accept, solely to become stronger.
Looking towards the end of the highway, Wei Huan gathered his scattered thoughts and focused his gaze.
Like the end of a highway, a black and white checkered finish line stands out abruptly in the desert.
Above the archway, the national flag fluttered in the wind.
The first-class highway has come to an end.
They are about to embark on their next challenge.
Wei Huan suddenly turned his head and looked at Mu Zhong in the passenger seat.
Mu Zhong also looked at him.
Their eyes met, burning with ideals and beliefs, as well as threads of entanglement and longing.
Wei Huan suddenly felt very happy; another destination had been reached together by him and Mu Zhong!