Magic Farm 115

Chapter 115: To Our First Official Meeting

[ Cockroach Flavor Is Strange: Server-wide event? What does that mean? All regions, all players participate together? ]

[ Grind King: Sounds like some kind of speed competition show. Is it going to be like Temple Run, with a bunch of monsters chasing you from behind, and if you get caught you die? That kind of carnival? ]

[ Be a Good Person: Is everyone joining? Any big shots want to analyze this for us? ]

[ My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven’s: Haha, a server-wide event—does that mean we can finally meet? @ILoveSurvivalGame, you better pray we don’t run into each other during the event. ]

[ Grumpy Old Bro: The former number one is yapping again. Not even a month and you’ve fallen off, not to mention third place, you can’t even hold onto fourth after the Swallow event, and you still have the nerve to bark here. ]

The Zone 01 Survival Squad was also talking about the event:

[ Serenity Leads to Distance: Sounds like some kind of competition. Are you all joining? ]

[ Old Civil Engineer: I’m leaning toward joining. Survival Game specifically said the next three days are “Safe Days,” and this event is labeled a “holiday event.” I don’t think it’ll be anything grim or bloody. That’s just my personal opinion, though—take it for what it’s worth, and decide for yourselves. ]

[ Need a Little Money to Save Me: @ILoveSurvivalGame, boss, what do you think? ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: I’ve already signed up. ]

[ Need a Little Money to Save Me: Then I’m in too! ]

[ Don’t Dare Open My Eyes: Count me in as well. ]

[ Old Civil Engineer: In that case, Teacher, shall we join too? Who knows, maybe we really can meet each other in the event? ]

[ Serenity Leads to Distance: Haha, sure. ]

Qi Yu was reading the group chat when his friends list flashed.

[ Shenben Wuxiang: Did you guys get a new event too? ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: Speed Carnival. The system says it’s a server-wide event, so it should be the same for everyone, right? ]

[ Shenben Wuxiang: Ours is the same. I’m really curious—what kind of event is it? Racing? Parkour? ]

Qi Yu knew what racing was, but parkour?

He blinked, but didn’t ask.

[ Shenben Wuxiang: Are you joining? ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: Mm. ]

[ Shenben Wuxiang: I wonder if this server-wide event will be like the resource zone, with all participating players dropped into the same place? ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: If we end up in the same area, I’ll try to recognize you. ]

[ Shenben Wuxiang: Are you going to wear that mysterious and flashy mage robe again tomorrow? ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: I will. ]

[ Shenben Wuxiang: Then I’ll definitely spot you first. You have no idea how eye-catching you look in that outfit. ]

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: Then let’s hope we meet like in the resource zone, and you recognize me. ]

After a day spent slaying Magma Dragons, they only chatted briefly before Shenben Wuxiang went to rest.

Qi Yu glanced at his backpack.

Aside from an unopened silver chest, he still had a drop of “Essence of Ice and Snow.”

The info said it was edible.

But he didn’t know what would happen after consuming it. The past few days, he’d been too busy with the Swallow event, and had thought to try it during the three Safe Days, but now there was this holiday event.

He’d just wait until after the event to try it.

[ Silver Chest detected. Open now? ]

“Open.”

A burst of dazzling purple light flashed from the chest.

Qi Yu realized he really was getting a bit spoiled: for a moment, he actually felt disappointed it wasn’t golden light.

[ Obtained Epic-quality equipment: “Elayne’s Crown.” ]

[ Elayne’s Crown: One of Fairy Queen Elayne’s most treasured possessions, lost by accident. Equipment effect: +150 HP. When attacked, automatically triggers a life shield. ]

A coronet adorned with flowers and gems, sparkling even without any light shining on it.

Beautiful. Qi Yu instinctively wanted to equip it.

[ Equip failed. ]

[ Elayne’s Crown is a fairy race-bound item. Other races cannot use it. ]

“……”

Qi Yu stared at that line for a full three seconds in disbelief.

Survival Game, aren’t I your good friend?

You actually let me open an epic item I can’t use?

Is this really fair?

Of course, the Survival Panel never answered players’ questions.

Qi Yu was disappointed for a while, but soon perked up again: even if he couldn’t use it, it was still an epic-quality item.

Next month, whether he sold it to the Borg Chamber of Commerce or to Duoju, it should fetch a very good price.

That night, some people agonized over whether to sign up, tossing and turning.

Some, having decided to join, took advantage of the Safe Days to rest up early and recharge.

Others, not planning to participate, idled away in the regional channel.

Qi Yu spent the night sitting beneath the Tree of Life, cultivating instead of sleeping.

The next morning, at eight o’clock.

The moment the sky brightened, the Survival Panel announcement rang out:

[ Server-wide Announcement: Registration for the holiday event “Speed Carnival” is now closed. ]

[ This “Speed Carnival” is a fun competition. All participants will receive a “Holiday Surprise Blind Box.” Top finishers will receive holiday gift boxes according to their ranking. There is no penalty for being eliminated. Have fun! ]

[ Note: This event will be livestreamed. Non-participants can watch their region’s competitors from their shelters. ]

[ 10-minute countdown to the event. Players may withdraw before the countdown ends, with no penalty except loss of eligibility. Non-withdrawn players are considered to have agreed to livestream. ]

……

[ Damn, no penalty for elimination? Just for joining you get a blind box? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have worried so much. What a huge miss! ]

[ System! Can’t you give me a chance, please let me sign up now! ]

[ Livestream, huh? So my performance might be seen by everyone in my region? Will my ID be exposed? Will my appearance, class, and skills all be revealed? Maybe I should withdraw after all? ]

[ I’m a total noob. I was a little disappointed I didn’t sign up when I saw the blind box reward, but now there’s a livestream. Good thing I swapped for some food blind boxes during the Swallow event—time to enjoy snacks and watch the show! ]

Ten minutes to go.

The regional channel was more lively than ever, with everyone—whether signed up or not—feeling involved.

Maybe it was the “no penalty for elimination” rule, but for the first time, many people truly saw this as “fun,” and their interest was piqued.

Zone 01 Survival Squad:

[ Need a Little Money to Save Me: I was thinking, should we all wear some sort of little marker, just in case we end up together? That way we can recognize each other. ]

[ Don’t Dare Open My Eyes: Yeah, it shouldn’t be too obvious, but it needs to be unique. How about wearing a grass-woven ring on our index finger? ]

[ Need a Little Money to Save Me: 1. ]

[ Old Civil Engineer: 1. ]

[ Serenity Leads to Distance: 1. ]

Qi Yu quietly used magic to grow a little vine, winding it around his left index finger to form a small ring.

Then, following their lead, he typed:

[ ILoveSurvivalGame: 1. ]

Event countdown: 1 minute.

He’d packed plenty of supplies in his backpack and pulled up the hood of his Guardian Mage Robe.

Countdown: 30 seconds.

Qi Yu checked himself over, remembered the event would be livestreamed to players, and removed the Mage Association badge, tucking it away.

The Survival Panel popped up:

[ Event countdown: 10 seconds. All registered players, please prepare for teleportation. 5, 4, 3, 2… ]

A white light enveloped Qi Yu.

The sensation of teleportation was much like having his consciousness pulled into a spiritual space.

A moment later, he came to his senses and found himself standing in a vast plaza.

The plaza’s floor was a patchwork of pink, blue, and yellow, with colorful streamers forming flags overhead, and round, chubby plushies and fluffy dolls everywhere.

Beams of white light appeared one after another across the plaza.

Maybe because the game had announced there would be a regional livestream, but from what Qi Yu could see, everyone showing up was dressed decently.

He stayed put, silent, observing quietly.

Some more outgoing types immediately called out, “Anyone here from Region 108?”

At the same time—

All players who hadn’t signed up had their Survival Panel pop up a screen, which could be enlarged for convenience.

On the right side of the screen were rows of numbers; clicking each brought up a different scene.

[ Wow, I can’t even scroll to the bottom—there are nearly twenty thousand options. Did that many people from our region sign up? ]

[ Damn, I can’t search by ID. The game boss must have signed up, right? Which one is he? I want to watch the game boss! ]

[ My finger is sore from scrolling. I keep seeing people with farm tools or “farmer” elements, but I did spot someone in a mysterious cloak—looks pretty cool. ]

More and more people filled the plaza, most looking perfectly normal.

But not all: Qi Yu noticed someone with dark gold eyes and faintly glowing blue scales beneath them.

He couldn’t help but look twice, and perhaps his gaze was too obvious, because the person shot him a cold glance.

Since the system had said it was a fun event, Qi Yu hadn’t bothered to hide his presence. But with his current stats, for the other person to notice so quickly, their senses must be extraordinary.

Someone approached.

Qi Yu turned calmly.

The newcomer stopped three steps away, smiling at him. “So, does this count as me recognizing you first?”

He was dressed in a dark robe that looked easy to move in, the kind martial artists in this world wore, accentuating a trim waist and long legs.

His skin seemed a bit tanner, and his smiling, fox-like eyes were even brighter than Qi Yu remembered.

That fleeting glimpse in the resource zone—the vague features in Qi Yu’s mind now grew clear.

Liar, he thought, you’ve just gotten a tan, you’re not a pale pretty boy anymore.

When he didn’t answer, Shan Xingyu’s confident smile faded, the excitement and anticipation in his eyes dimming.

“That can’t be,” Qi Yu heard him mutter, “I couldn’t have mistaken that outfit.”

Now it was Qi Yu’s turn to smile.

“Shenben Wuxiang.” He kept his voice low, so only the two of them could hear.

He saw Shenben Wuxiang’s eyes light up again at his words.

He stepped closer. “See? I knew I couldn’t be wrong.”

He opened his arms. “To our first official meeting—come on, brother, give me a hug!”

Qi Yu hesitated a moment, then raised his arms, imitating him, and wrapped them lightly around his shoulders, giving a gentle pat.