"Lu Yuan, what are your plans for the future?"
"With your talent, you can definitely secure a spot in the Inner City."
The principal said enviously.
He had worked hard all his life, scrimping and saving every day.
Solely to get his family a permanent residence permit in the Inner City.
But Lu Yuan, just after graduating, could easily obtain a spot in the Inner City.
Indeed, comparing oneself to others is infuriating!
At the same time.
The principal was also very curious about Lu Yuan's talent.
But he did not ask.
After all, it was a personal matter, and asking rashly would only make Lu Yuan unhappy.
"I plan to stay in the Outer City."
Lu Yuan shook his head, not having much longing for the Inner City.
The Inner City is nice.
But all the benefits and resources have already been divided up completely by the major powers.
For an ordinary simulator like him without a background.
Unless he joins those simulation clans and lets them command him.
Otherwise, trying to carve out a space in the Inner City on his own is almost impossible.
While the Outer City is dangerous.
Lu Yuan, with his current strength, is adequate to handle most anomalies.
Moreover.
He possesses a Tier One Lord Core and holds precious treasures and many secrets, making it even more impossible to join other forces.
"You want to stay?"
The principal was somewhat taken aback and advised earnestly again.
"Better be a head of a chicken than a tail of a phoenix, as the saying goes."
"But the Outer City has been deteriorating year by year, becoming increasingly dangerous. Every capable simulator is desperately trying to enter the Inner City."
"Lu Yuan, you're still young, think it over carefully."
"Principal, I've already thought it through."
Lu Yuan remained unmoved.
Seeing this, the principal said no more.
"After graduation, the Empire will reclaim the free low-rent housing provided to all students."
"Lu Yuan, you haven't chosen a place to stay yet, have you?"
"As the most outstanding graduate of this cohort, this is a small token from the school; we hope you can accept it."
Saying this.
The principal handed a key to Lu Yuan.
This villa is located in the safest city center of the Sixth District.
Though small in size, its location is its advantage.
In a place where every inch of land is as valuable as gold, it is worth at least tens of millions!
Seeing the principal's gesture.
Lu Yuan felt quite emotional.
Ordinary people work themselves to the bone, living in narrow and shabby low-rent housing, fearing one day they can't pay the rent and will be kicked out.
Yet Lu Yuan, having just finished his simulation, did nothing.
And the principal gave him a large flat, fearing he wouldn't accept it!
This is the benefit that strength brings.
Lu Yuan did not refuse and accepted the key directly.
The First Middle School in the Sixth District is, after all, his alma mater.
If anything happens in the future, as long as he can, he'll help within his abilities.
After registering.
Lu Yuan left the administration office amid the enthusiastic farewell of all the teachers.
Watching Lu Yuan's departing figure and the welcoming and respectful smiles on the faces of the principal and all the teachers.
The other students who came to register suddenly fell into chaos.
"If I saw correctly, that person just now should be Lu Yuan, right?"
"Judging by the principal and others' demeanor, it's like welcoming a VIP! Even people from the Public Security Bureau don't get such a reception!"
"Go ask the class teacher; there's definitely something we don't know!"
Some quick-thinking students immediately went to gather information.
But when they learned the full story, everyone froze on the spot.
Especially the term S-level Evaluation.
It was like a bombshell, stirring up an overwhelming wave in the hearts of all the students.
Some were already smug after getting a B-level evaluation, acting as if they owned the world.
What is the concept of S-level Evaluation?
Many people's minds went blank, unable to imagine it.
As for the students in the same class as Lu Yuan.
They were even more shell-shocked, finding it hard to accept the reality.
Because although Lu Yuan had good grades, he was not a native of Jiang City; he was a refugee who fled from Coastal City eight years ago.
Plus, Lu Yuan was somewhat reclusive by nature, always keeping to himself, rarely having friends.
A good number of students in the class were local Jiang City residents.
They had a natural aversion to foreign refugees.
Therefore.
For three years of high school, Lu Yuan was always on the fringes of the social circles.
But what happened now?
Overnight.
This poor boy from the slums suddenly became an elevated figure they had to look up to?
The dramatic contrast left all of Lu Yuan's classmates with mixed emotions.
They felt envy, jealousy, amazement, and reluctance...
But this is the allure of simulation.
What is Heaven-defying Fate Change?
This is Heaven-defying Fate Change!
A commoner becomes an emperor overnight.
A carp leaps over the dragon gate, reaching the sky in a single bound!
...
Jiang City, Sixth District.
Night fell, and the temperature plummeted.
As the last ray of light vanished over the horizon.
The thick, ink-like darkness surged towards this border town like a tide.
A chilling coldness pierced straight to the soul!
Now it's the height of summer graduation season.
Ordinary people could wear short sleeves during the day.
But at night, even in thick down jackets, they shivered from the cold.
Especially in the pitch-black darkness.
A faint wailing sound could be heard.
As if ghosts were wailing in despair, or evil spirits were whispering sinister secrets, with a hint of temptation.
These inescapable whispers echoed clearly in the minds of ordinary people.
Day after day, year after year.
Endlessly.
Under the dual torment of cold and bizarre sounds.
Ordinary people either froze to death on the streets or went mad, dying in insanity.
To live to forty is already a miracle.
"Master, are you going out?"
Wuxin looked at the pitch-black night outside and asked worriedly.
Although she had never lived in the Main World,
just by intuition, she could sense the mystery of this darkness.
"I'm going to get something, the night outside is dangerous, stay home, and don't wander around."
Lu Yuan instructed before stepping out the door.
With a light tap of his toe on the ground, he soared like a hawk, landing steadily on a rooftop over a hundred meters high.
Looking around.
Most of Jiang City was swallowed by darkness.
This darkness was extremely ominous, seeming to devour all light.
Even military-grade searchlights could not penetrate it.
In the pitch-black darkness.
Only the centers of various districts still had a few glimmers of light.
Sparse, like fireflies scattered across the fields.
These were the life fires emitted by simulators igniting their vitality.
Tier One Awakening illuminates tens of meters, like a firefly.
It could barely guard a residential building.
Tier Two Extraordinary illuminates hundreds of meters, like a torch.
It could oversee a street.
Tier Three Morning Star illuminates thousands of meters, like a star.
It could safeguard several large neighborhoods!
As for those stronger than Tier Four, they had long left Jiang City for more prosperous cities.
After all, simulators also consume a lot of spiritual power and vitality when fighting the darkness.
And Jiang City is merely a border town.
Small gains, great risks.
Only a fool would stay here.
As for other low-level simulators, those with any ability and connections were flocking into the Inner City.
Simulators gathered together not only to keep warm.
But also, the Inner City holds the only Lord Core!
In the Inner City area.
It was brightly lit and peaceful.
A Spiritual Track Array emitted a soft glow, like an inverted giant bowl, enveloping an area of ten miles.
People strolled leisurely on the streets, their faces filled with happy smiles.
Along both sides of the street.
There were various food stalls and delicacies.
Children held candied haws, chasing and playing in the streets.
In contrast.
The dark Outer City seemed incredibly desolate.
But it was expected.
After all, the original intention of establishing the Outer City was to provide a continuous supply of resources and talent for the Inner City.
So in the eyes of Inner City people.
The entire Outer City was nothing more than a large factory.
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