Chapter 298: Five Million Qualifications Released (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

[Challenger Notification (All Channels): The game is about to release a new batch of player qualifications; please check the official website for details.]

Primordial Sacrifice Altar.

Qi Sheng released the latest announcement within the game.

The official website simultaneously launched a 24-hour countdown for the qualification release.

There was no need for external publicity; the Monster World was already the focal point of attention for all races on Earth.

A single announcement in the game was bound to top the headlines of news media across all races.

This included the minor update from some time ago.

Recalling the recruitment methods from the initial startup phase, he had to borrow the name of "Land of Darkness" to deceive newcomers.

Now, acquiring players no longer required his personal involvement; with sufficient Sacrificial Power, a single announcement would turn members of all Earth races into players.

For the resettlement of five million newcomers, he once again chose the region of the Earth-Tremor Continent.

This region was currently embroiled in war and turmoil.

The Virtual Rune Legion, returned to full strength from the Minor World, was engaging the Mechanical Legion once more.

The Virtual Rune Legion possessed a growth system that countered the Mechanical Legion and had developed numerous techniques to infiltrate and control mechanical warriors, giving them an absolute advantage in terms of systems.

On the other side, the Mechanical Legion commanded the Divine Metal Rules and an endless supply of mechanical warriors, holding an absolute advantage in comprehensive strength.

The period of fierce battle between the two sides was precisely the optimal time for player development.

They would not Iron Face a sudden deus ex machina during their growth, resulting in a brutal beating by the Mechanical Legion.

For this round, Qi Sheng chose a scenario at the southern end of the Earth-Tremor Continent as the initial growth location for novice players.

Human Federation, Tianfengcheng.

South District, Slums (formerly the Contamination Quarantine Zone).

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and Ning Shu was still curled up under his blankets, sleeping blissfully.

Just then, the phone ringtone suddenly sounded.

Ning Shu opened his bleary eyes, rolled over, picked up the mobile phone resting beside his pillow, and pressed the answer button:

"Unfilial son, still sleeping? The Monster World is releasing qualifications; get up immediately and prepare to grab one."

His mother's voice came through the phone.

Hearing that the Monster World was releasing qualifications again, Ning Shu's sleepiness vanished instantly, and he became fully awake.

"Mom, I know, you remember to grab one too."

"Hurry up, or it'll be too late."

After hanging up, Ning Shu decisively tapped the Monster World official shortcut icon on his phone's desktop.

Entering the qualification release page, upon seeing the 21-hour countdown, he felt utterly speechless.

"It really is almost too late."

Grumbling internally, he swiftly got up, reached for the medicine bottle on the bedside table, poured out three pills, and swallowed them dry.

These were Gene Repair Pills distributed by the Human Federation, with technology originating from the Moon Eclipse Clan.

In the early years, the Southern District of Tianfengcheng where he lived had been contaminated by alien weapons during the Descent War, causing widespread genetic diseases in the area.

This was one of the reasons his district had been designated as a quarantine zone.

However, with the help of environmental purification technology provided by the Moon Eclipse Clan, the contamination issue could now be effectively contained.

In this era, slums essentially no longer existed.

It was just that new city construction in the quarantine zone had only just begun, and other urban districts retained a stereotypical impression of backwardness regarding this area, habitually calling it the slums.

Regarding genetic diseases, although the environment had improved, issues of inheritance or skip-generation inheritance of genetic diseases still occurred.

He was unfortunate enough to be one of those diagnosed with a genetic disease, requiring regular medication for treatment.

To achieve a complete cure, he would have to travel to the moon and seek help from beings of the Upper Realm.

It was precisely because of this genetic disease issue that his mother had worried herself sick over him since he was a child.

She worked two jobs every day, one of which was a highly dangerous job involving contamination and radiation purification, all to save money for him to go to the Moon Eclipse Clan.

But the speed of saving money was far too slow compared to the cost of treatment.

In this lifetime, he could only hope to obtain a Monster World game qualification soon, then enter the game to earn a fortune and cure his body.

Otherwise, there was a high probability he wouldn't live to see forty.

His mother calling to urge him to actively prepare for grabbing a qualification was also for the sake of his future.

Due to his health issues, he couldn't find work outside; he could only eke out a living on subsistence allowances, waiting for death, making the game his only source of income.

After the Monster World went online, the economies of other games completely collapsed.

Even members of various races without player qualifications generally preferred to watch livestreams and browse posts via the official Monster World channel to learn everything about the Monster World in advance.

Land of Sin, Conquest, and Land of Darkness—these three currently most popular games—could barely find any players left online.

His mother hoped he could earn medical expenses through the Monster World.

This was also the direction his mother was striving in; she would also participate in grabbing game qualifications this time.

His mother had even stated that if she managed to grab a game qualification, she would quit all her jobs and focus entirely on grinding resources in the game.

Actually, his mother had been a gaming addict girl in her youth; the family still kept the game trophy she had won for placing third in a small regional season of "Rampage."

But the returns from gaming were not as high as the earnings from dangerous jobs in reality.

To save money for him, his mother gave up her former dreams, which was a regret in Ning Shu's heart.

Looking back at video records of his mother participating in regional competitions, he felt she was extremely talented; it was a pity she gave birth to an "unfilial son" like him.

He couldn't help with anything and only dragged his mother down.

Getting up and walking to the dining table, he saw a pre-made meal box his mother had bought from outside placed there.

After pressing the heat button, he noticed a note left on the table:

Remember to take your medicine on time, or I'll beat you. Mom is off to work; be good at home.

Seeing the note, Ning Shu smiled knowingly.

In his entire life, he had never actually been beaten by his mother... wait, that's not right, she had tried once, but failed to go through with it.

During a prenatal checkup back then, the test results showed about a 30% probability of genetic disease inheritance risk, suggesting termination.

His mother thought the odds weren't that high, and his father had passed away unexpectedly during that period.

She was determined to keep this child; she went all in.

As a result, she lost the gamble.

In his third year after birth, his genes mutated; translucent scales grew from his fingertips, resembling fish scale debris stuck to the skin.

When his mother gently picked at them with her fingernail, beads of blood seeped from the wound.

The confirmed diagnosis text on the children's hospital gene test report at that time made his mother weep uncontrollably.

In his mother's words at the time, her mindset had collapsed.

The defective genes she carried did not manifest in her, yet they underwent a dominant mutation in her child.

His mother said she had nearly taken him with her back then, but fortunately, they pulled through.

Fortunately, he was born in an era that was bad yet contained good.

The bad part was that the atmosphere of the times was exceptionally oppressive; the crisis of alien descent always loomed over the heads of all living beings.

No one knew when another Descent War, or perhaps an Apocalypse War, might break out.

The good part was that various technologies in this era were advanced, including medical technology.

There were special drugs that could suppress the issues within his body, but he needed to take Gene Repair Pills twice daily; otherwise, there was a risk of sudden death at any moment.

Beep beep!

Heating finished, Ning Shu removed the pre-made food box, tore open the foil, and began to eat heartily.

After eating and drinking his fill, he sat down at his computer desk, opened the official website, and started watching player livestreams.

His favorite to watch was the livestream room of the Liver Emperor Group.

From the initial Canteen Battle to the current brotherhood, unknowingly, he had been following the storyline for over a year.

The atmosphere in the livestream room was also excellent, with the comment section full of various jokes and banter.

The only thing that worried him was the future direction of the Liver Emperor Group.

The current happiness would reach its conclusion after they graduated from the fifth phase of the Training Camp; they were about to step onto the front-line battlefield.

A cliché plot death might occur at this stage.

These alien students in the training camp had developed affection from the Liver Emperor Group, and he, as a "series follower," had also developed feelings for them.

Humanoid Husky Long Gen, Canteen Outstanding Graduate Tong Zi, the sinister-styled Gui Feng, the demonic singer Yu Du... after more than a year of companionship, these NPCs were no longer just data in his eyes.

"Damn, the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel."

Thinking that these brothers of the Liver Emperor Group might die in battle once they reached the front lines gave him a sense of urgency that every day of watching the livestream was one day less.

The only thing he could hope for was for the brothers of the Liver Emperor Group to grow up faster.

So that when they reached the battlefield, they could protect these good brothers.

But thinking that there were Soul Return Clan Half-God Realm experts fighting on the battlefield, he felt that the current efforts of the Liver Emperor Group were simply insufficient to defy heaven and change fate.

Time was too tight.

With too many thoughts, he always tended to think of the worst outcomes.

Even watching such a joyful Liver Emperor Group livestream was nearly giving him depression.

At this moment, seeing the livestream footage where the players of the Liver Emperor Group were resting in the camp, he immediately sent a danmu comment, urging:

"Ban Ban Zhuan, are you worthy of your name? Get up and strive hard!"

But this comment was drowned out the next second by an endless flood of others, failing to stir even a small ripple in the live stream.

The emotions churning in Ning Shu's heart gradually dissipated as he watched the stream; the lively scenes within made him chuckle from time to time.

Occasionally, he would also glance at the time displayed in the bottom right corner.

With only 18 hours remaining until the qualification distribution, he decided to review the novice guides on the forum once more.

He had already memorized much of the content, but it was necessary to reinforce it one more time.

Although the probability of securing a qualification was low, what if he succeeded? In that case, he would need to seize every moment.

Leaving the Novice Village early meant gaining a head start.

Leaving the Novice Village late meant seeing only the figures of other players, forcing one to constantly explore outward.

And most likely, all one would see were other players.

Therefore, the novice guide was immensely important, allowing him to grasp the initiative in advance.

Regrettably, most players preparing to snatch qualifications already possessed these guides, making it difficult to gain an early advantage.

Time approached noon.

Ning Shu stood up and went to the kitchen to begin working.

Due to his physical condition, he could not apply for any real-world job nor offer any help to his mother.

The only thing he could do was bring her a meal every day at noon.

In truth, his mother enjoyed excellent treatment at her workplace, with free meals provided, annual free physical examinations, and various medical services.

But this was his way of expressing his feelings.

Toward his mother, he always carried a sense of guilt in his heart.

Every ounce of effort she had devoted to him was etched in his memory.

Since he was a child, his mother had shouldered everything alone.

While other children had fathers to back them up and complete families for shelter, he had only his mother's slender silhouette.

She worked busily at her unit during the day, and upon returning home at night, she still had to care for his daily life; even when he fell ill, she would stay awake all night by his bedside.

Before giving birth to him, she had been an internet-addicted girl who knew nothing, yet she stubbornly endured the heavy pressure brought by his birth and raised him to adulthood.

Every time he saw the heartache and helplessness in his mother's eyes, he wished he had never existed.

At least then, she would not have to struggle and toil for him anymore.

Yet his mother had never complained once, always saying with a smile:

"As long as you are well, Mom is satisfied. Once your illness is cured, give Mom a big grandson, and our family can form a squad in the game to sweep across all directions."

Precisely because of this, even if it was just delivering a meal every noon, he wanted to persist.

Even though the food at his mother's workplace was excellent, and even though she always said:

"Don't trouble yourself."

He still insisted on doing it stubbornly.

This was the only way he could repay her.

Arriving before the refrigerator, he began to work.

Inside the fridge were ingredients prepared the previous night: delicious green peppers cultivated by the Green Wood Clan, chicken breast, several plump shiitake mushrooms, and a small handful of emerald-green celery.

Ning Shu's movements while preparing lunch were not fast, but very steady.

The chicken breast was cut into uniform thin strips, marinated with cooking wine, light soy sauce, and starch, then set aside.

The green peppers were deseeded and cut into thin strips, the shiitake mushrooms sliced, and the celery cut diagonally into small sections.

After heating the wok, he poured in a little oil, fried minced garlic until fragrant, slid in the chicken strips to stir-fry until they changed color, then added the vegetables for a quick stir-fry over high heat, finally drizzling a spoonful of "Sea Crystal" imported from Fishery Port City to enhance the flavor.

He had originally intended to buy cheap seafood exported from Fishery Port City, but recalling that ocean pollution had become quite severe recently, he dismissed the idea.

The aroma soon filled the entire kitchen; he curled the corners of his mouth and looked down at the plate.

This was his mother's favorite dish: refreshing without being greasy, and perfect with rice.

The stir-fried dish was carefully packed into an insulated lunch box, and he ladled out a bowl of yam and pork rib soup simmered that morning; the broth was clear and bright, with a few goji berries still floating on top.

Finally, he shaped two rice balls and pressed them into the corner of the bento box.

His mother sometimes forgot to eat when busy; having rice balls in hand allowed her to take a few bites anytime.

Everything tidied up, he picked up the lunch box and pushed open the door.

The noon sunlight was somewhat blinding; he squinted and walked toward the ride-hailing station.

Along the streets, the newly paved asphalt roads gleamed with a dark luster; the street trees had just been planted, their trunks still wrapped in wooden support frames, their tender green leaves swaying in the wind.

Further ahead, several brand-new glass curtain-wall skyscrapers rose abruptly from the ground, reflecting the glaring sunlight like huge mirrors, illuminating this city in the midst of transformation.

Yet behind this glossy brilliance, vast shadows of the old remained unremoved.

Scattered along the roadside were old tin shacks, their walls generally stamped with the character "Demolish"; some had already been torn into pieces, with twisted color-steel plates piled by the road, exposing rust-covered skeletons.

The roar of excavators came from not far away, accompanied by the clash of steel and concrete; atop an unfinished high-rise, construction robots could be seen bustling amidst flying dust.

The street corner vendors remained lively; fruit carts were piled high with seasonal fruits and vegetables imported from the Green Wood Clan, while the female boss shouted her wares and deftly weighed goods for customers.

Not far away, steam billowed from the bamboo steamers at a breakfast stall; freshly steamed buns were quickly packed into plastic bags and handed to hurried passersby.

Several students in school uniforms ran past him laughing, their backpacks bouncing up and down on their backs.

Compared to the outside world, the quarantine zone where he lived clearly possessed more of the warmth of daily life.

He had been to the outside world three times.

Everywhere there were robots and various 3D neon billboards; many restaurants even employed robot chefs. To say the food wasn't good would be incorrect; the delicacies made by robots tasted superb.

But it always felt like it lacked a bit of that human warmth, perhaps that was just his psychological effect.

Walking slowly along the sidewalk, he passed a square under construction; the hoarding displayed a rendering labeled "New City Center," while on the other side of the hoarding lay nothing but a skeleton of steel and concrete, with a crane rotating slowly to hoist another bundle of steel bars high up.

Amidst the clamor of old and new alternating, this city was growing at a speed visible to the naked eye; every time he went out, he saw a different scene.

After the quarantine was completely lifted, it was foreseeable that in the near future, the former dilapidation would become a thing of the past.

By then, the ancient warmth of daily life preserved in this city would also dissipate with the progress of the times.

Without overthinking, he arrived at the ride-hailing station and pressed the "Call" button on the pillar.

Before long, a free autonomous vehicle drove up from the distance and stopped in front of the station.

This was one of the welfare benefits provided by the Human Federation to residents of the quarantine zone, allowing them to use the city's configured autonomous vehicles for free at various stations.

After the car door opened automatically, Ning Shu entered the back seat and input his mother's workplace address into the screen map located behind the driver's seat.

Immediately, the car door closed automatically, and a synthesized electronic voice sounded:

"Destination confirmed, proceeding to target location."

The vehicle gradually accelerated; Ning Shu sat inside watching the scenery outside the window, lost in thought.

He had once stumbled upon a post in the Monster World forum.

The title was "The Gears of the Era: The Evolution from Agrarian Civilization to the Virtual Epoch."

The poster had analyzed in detail the turning points of each historical stage within the post.

For instance, the spice trade of the Age of Discovery, the steam engine of the Industrial Revolution, the internet wave of the twentieth century... and in the last few paragraphs of bolded text, the author asserted unequivocally: In today's era, the new opportunity capable of swallowing all hot money and ambition is "Monster World."

Within the Earth Alliance, many races were laying out plans for the future of Monster World.

Recently, he had also seen much news about certain players exchanging Sacrificial Power for cash and buying houses outright in the city.

Housing prices were already cheap, so this seemed nothing remarkable.

Many similar cases existed in early games as well.

But what was terrifying was that many players had spent Sacrificial Power to travel to Moon Eclipse City for life-extension surgery.

The cost of life-extension surgery was extremely high, originally having no connection whatsoever with ordinary people.

Yet there were ordinary people in reality who, through this game called Monster World, managed to defy heaven and change their fate.

Regarding this distribution of qualifications for Monster World, he felt both anticipation and worry in his heart.

He had actively participated in the previous several qualification distributions but had never drawn a qualification; perhaps this time would be no exception.

Amidst his wandering thoughts, the vehicle slowly stopped at the station, and the electronic voice mechanically announced the stop name.

"Purification Center has arrived; passengers please disembark and check your belongings."

Ning Shu stepped out of the autonomous vehicle carrying the lunch box, greeted by a pungent smell of disinfectant.

Looking up, a massive gray-white architectural complex stood before his eyes; atop the towering walls coiled electrified barbed wire, and at the entrance hung a metal plaque reading "Zone Seven Pollutant Purification Center."

Through the barbed wire, he could see staff in protective suits directing several trucks loaded with black shipping containers to adjust their positions inside; the containers bore prominent radiation symbols and yellow warning strips indicating high-risk pollutants.

This place was like a silent fortress, swallowing pollutants transported from every district of the city, and even from other cities.

Mutated plant samples, soil with excessive radiation, contaminated animal remains... these were all scars left behind by the war of alien invasion.

As usual, Ning Shu approached the access control point and shouted to the security guard standing inside:

"Uncle An, I'm bringing lunch for my mom."

Since outsiders were not allowed entry into the Purification Center, he would always turn back after delivering the food here.

Uncle An, standing inside, nodded, skillfully slid open the protective glass of the small window, and gestured for him to place the lunch box inside.

Just as Ning Shu handed it over, he noticed that today, instead of closing the window immediately as usual, the other party looked at him with something left unsaid.

"Xiao Shu," Uncle An's voice suddenly dropped low:

"Your mother encountered a slight incident in Zone 3 just now and has been urgently sent to the Medical Center; strictly speaking, I shouldn't have informed you of this news in advance..."

Before Uncle An could finish, Ning Shu's fingers suddenly tightened fiercely on the window frame:

"What happened to my mom?"

"I don't know the specific details; reportedly, while processing a batch of newly arrived water samples, her protective suit suddenly triggered an alarm, after which she was sent to the Medical Center for examination; they suspect the protective suit was penetrated by contaminated water sources..."

Without waiting for Uncle An to finish, he turned and sprinted away madly, while a muffled shout came from behind him:

"In the medical center of Zone B2."

Arriving at the station, Ning Shu repeatedly pressed the "Call" button.

A minute later, a white hover-vehicle emblazoned with the "Tianfengcheng Emblem" slid silently into the station; the doors opened automatically, and a blast of cold air hit his Iron Face.

He practically fell into the seat, and once the doors closed, his trembling fingers typed the destination into the screen.

The hover-vehicle accelerated out, the scenery outside blurring past.

The gray building complex of the Purification Center was soon left behind, replaced by the ruins of demolished quarantine walls and warning lights flashing incessantly along the route.

The intercom inside the vehicle mechanically repeated:

"Detected excessive passenger heart rate; please remain calm. Estimated travel time: 17 minutes... A medical kit is installed inside; if needed, please press..."

But Ning Shu could not calm down at all.

He gripped the strap of the backpack that had originally held the food box until his knuckles turned white.

His mother was his entire world; he could not imagine how he would survive if she were gone.

The hover-vehicle gradually slowed, stopping in front of a pure white building.

Ning Shu rushed into the lobby, where under the glaring fluorescent lights, medical staff in white coats hurried back and forth.

He grabbed the nearest woman wearing a nurse's uniform, his voice trembling:

"I'm looking for Ning Qing, sent from the Purification Center. Where is she?"

Facing his inquiry, the nurse did not ask many questions; she nodded in understanding, then raised the watch on her right arm to quickly query the terminal information before looking at him and saying:

"Third floor, Isolated Emergency Zone."

Ning Shu took the stairs two at a time, pushing open the glass door to the isolation zone on the third floor.

Just as he prepared to advance, a doctor wearing a protective Iron Face mask, standing in the corridor, blocked his path:

"This is an isolation zone; entry is prohibited. Family members must keep their distance."

"How is my mother?" Ning Shu asked, gasping for breath.

"Who is your mother?"

"Ning Qing, sent from the Purification Center."

After a moment of silence, the doctor nodded and said:

"You are Ms. Xie's family member, correct? The contaminants she was exposed to are highly corrosive and have already invaded her circulatory system. We are attempting to stabilize her vital signs, but whether we can clear the contamination remains unknown. We will notify you immediately if there are any new developments."

"Doctor, you must save my mother."

"Rest assured, we will do our utmost."

Walking out of the isolation zone, Ning Shu sat on a plastic chair in the corridor, unconsciously picking at the edge of the seat; he didn't even notice tiny debris embedding itself under his fingernails.

The smell of disinfectant mixed with the hum of operating medical equipment made the entire space feel exceptionally oppressive.

The digital clock on the wall ticked away numbers, each second feeling stretched out.

He stared at the glaring red light above the emergency room door, his mind buzzing.

At this moment, he wished more than anything that he could return to yesterday, stop his mother from going to work, and prevent this tragedy.

Three hours passed quickly; Ning Shu's back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Finally, the emergency room door slid open, and the doctor walked out, removing his Iron Face mask to reveal a Iron Face etched with exhaustion.

Ning Shu jumped to his feet, his legs numb from sitting so long that he nearly stumbled and fell:

"Doctor, how is my mother?"

The doctor looked at him and said in a hoarse voice:

"Her condition is temporarily stable, but we have detected that the contaminants are still slowly spreading; conventional methods cannot contain it... She can only be transferred to the special medical pods in Moon Eclipse City; this is her only chance."

The doctor handed over an electronic medical record; the data curves on the screen were alarming, with all of his mother's physiological indicators marked in dangerous red.

At the bottom was a line of bold text: Recommendation: Transfer to Moon Eclipse City for emergency treatment within 20 days.

"Do you... have arrangements for the transfer?" Ning Shu's voice was dry; he felt darkness closing in before his eyes.

He knew all too well what being transferred to Moon Eclipse City meant.

The unit where his mother worked enjoyed full medical coverage; any medical expenses could be reimbursed.

Since the accident occurred at the Purification Center, even the expenses for traveling to Moon Eclipse City could be reimbursed by the Human Federation.

But there was a prerequisite: he needed the qualification to go to Moon Eclipse City.

One of the reasons the Moon Eclipse Clan was called beings of the Upper Realm was that Moon Eclipse City was not a place anyone could simply go to.

There were fixed quotas every year, which basically never increased.

Even during the most severely polluted stages on Earth, the quota for Moon Eclipse City remained fixed at a certain number.

To go, one had to make a reservation in advance, wait for notification, and only then be informed of the scheduled time to depart for Moon Eclipse City.

His mother only had 20 days; how was it possible to obtain medical qualification from the Moon Eclipse Clan within those 20 days?

Let alone if the management of Tianfengcheng intervened; even if the management of the Human Federation stepped in, it would be very difficult to obtain extra quotas.

Facing his inquiry, the doctor looked apologetic:

"We have already urgently sent a medical application to the Moon Eclipse Clan... but as you know, the Moon Eclipse Clan basically never approves applications for extra qualifications, unless your mother made outstanding contributions to the Earth Alliance... Sigh."

Speaking to the end, the doctor could not help but sigh:

"There are still 20 days; we will do our best during this period..."

Ning Shu did not continue listening to what the doctor said afterward.

Standing in place, his ears buzzed.

Twenty days; only 20 days.

He could tell that the doctor's words about doing their best were merely comfort.

The doctor had explicitly stated earlier that his mother's condition was beyond the capability of Tianfengcheng's medical equipment to treat.

This proved that his mother must be sent to Moon Eclipse City as soon as possible.

But the problem now was that his mother's condition left no time to wait for reservation notifications, nor was there any channel to bypass the reservation and go directly.

No... there was one special channel.

Ning Shu suddenly remembered a post that had once topped the headlines on the Monster World Forum.

This post was published by "A Lan," the president of the Jinbishang Society.

In the post, he stated that Moon Eclipse City had opened channels for applying for extra medical treatment via Sacrificial Power, as well as prioritizing the purchase of the Moon Eclipse Clan's latest technological products through Sacrificial Power.

Qualified players could contact Moon Eclipse Clan members of the Jinbishang Society through the Monster World channel to connect directly, bypassing the reservation to go to Moon Eclipse City.

Thinking of this, he abruptly pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the countdown still running on the screen.

Nine hours remained until the rush registration for qualifications.

He still had 20 days.

Monster World might be the only hope for his mother to survive.

Although earning the cost to go to Moon Eclipse City within 20 days would be extremely difficult,

it was not impossible.

From a tourist's perspective, he had witnessed many examples of players becoming suddenly wealthy in Monster World due to fortuitous encounters.

But the prerequisite for all this was that he could obtain the game qualification for Monster World.

An hour later, Ning Shu burst through his front door, his backpack crashing heavily onto the floor.

Ignoring the mess, he went straight to the computer, where the countdown numbers on the screen jumped glaringly.

7 hours, 29 minutes, 23 seconds.

He stared fixedly at the constantly decreasing numbers, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk, the rhythm growing faster and faster.

The sky outside gradually darkened; the sunset's afterglow shone through the glass, casting a red glow on his profile, yet he remained completely unaware.

As time passed, every minute and every second seemed infinitely stretched.

Images of his mother's pale Iron Face on the hospital bed, and the doctor's words about the mandatory transfer to Moon Eclipse City within 20 days... this information spun wildly in his mind like a revolving lantern.

He suddenly grabbed the water cup sitting on the desk and gulped a mouthful.

The cold water slid down his throat but could not extinguish the burning anxiety in his chest.

During this time, he refreshed the page countless times.

Even though he knew this action was meaningless and would not increase the probability of winning the lottery,

he still wanted to do it, just to alleviate the anxiety in his heart.

On the forum, players had already begun discussing the probability of obtaining qualifications during this release of quotas, and how many members of the various races within the Earth Alliance would participate in the lottery.

This information heightened his anxiety; every comment felt like a needle pricking his nerves.

Time reached the final hour.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Ning Shu's forehead; his T-shirt was soaked through, sticking to his skin.

This final hour was the hardest to endure; he began repeatedly checking the network connection and turning on his mobile hotspot as a backup.

The blue light of the screen reflected his bloodshot eyes.

When the countdown reached the final minute, his fingers hovered above the mouse, trembling slightly.

The "Apply for Qualification" button on the page was still gray, but it could light up at any moment.

His breath caught involuntarily; the only sound in his ears was his own violent heartbeat.

When the countdown hit zero, Ning Shu's fingers slammed down at nearly the speed of a phantom.

Immediately, an information box popped up on the page.

[Participated in this Monster World qualification lottery draw. Remaining draw time: 4 minutes 59 seconds.]

Seeing the notification, Ning Shu's fingernails dug deeply into his palms, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the progress bar slowly creeping forward.

Beads of sweat rolled down his chin and dripped onto the keyboard.

Finally, the countdown reached zero.

The screen suddenly erupted in brilliant golden light effects.

[Congratulations on obtaining player qualification for Monster World. Please enter the game within 24 hours to activate your account (already bound).]

Ning Shu sprang up from his chair, his knee slamming hard against the corner of the desk, yet he felt no pain.

He opened his mouth to shout, but only broken gasps emerged; only then did he realize his teeth had been chattering uncontrollably.

He stumbled toward the bathroom, scooped up cold water, and slapped it fiercely onto his Iron Face.

In the mirror, his eyes were bloodshot, water dripping from his chin, looking like a drowning man who had finally grabbed a piece of driftwood.

"I got it... I finally got it!"

Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes; he knew there was hope for his mother now.

Wiping the tears from his Iron Face, he took a deep breath:

"Mom, wait for me."

(End of Chapter)