Seeing Miao Wanwan's expression, Chen Yuanyang quickly asked, "Sister Wanwan, do you know this top expert? What family does he belong to? The Li surname isn't common among our local aristocrats."
Miao Wanwan shook her head. "We ended up in the same squad, so I know him."
She didn't mention that he was from a humble background, unsure of how Chen Yuanyang, the direct granddaughter of a mid-tier aristocratic family, would react. She knew Chen Yuanyang's willingness to associate with her wasn't because she was Ding Xu's cousin but because she was the fiancée of the genius Ding Xu. Otherwise, Chen Yuanyang might not have been so friendly.
"Same squad? So he's from Base 31 or 21?" Chen Yuanyang tilted her head, smiling innocently, "Sister Wanwan, you must introduce this newcomer king to me when you get the chance."
...
Sixteen hours in, many participants sought safe places to rest. Li Yi headed to the outskirts of Base 11, to the treetop shelters. Having lived in Base 31 for six years, no one knew the tree shelter area better than him. Though it was virtual reality, the tree shelters were designed to modify Mars's ecosystem, provide outer defenses for the base, and create living areas for the underprivileged, making the environment quite familiar.
While others feared ambushes from rival teams, Li Yi was already sound asleep. The AI of the Qingguo Fairy livestream would tactfully cut off the feed during private activities, redirecting viewers' attention.
Since defeating Lin Qin's team, Li Yi hadn't encountered another large group. Though his points continued to rise steadily, the increase wasn't as significant as when he had taken down Lin Qin's team.
"In this virtual reality, dreaming is risky, so I'll use meditation as an alternative to rest," Li Yi thought. He had mastered basic meditation over time, primarily using it to clear his mind and rest quickly. Other uses hadn't been developed yet, but it was perfect for the current situation. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, sitting in a concealed tree shelter, his presence gradually fading.
...
As the virtual world plunged into darkness, silence enveloped everything. Before the electronic display board at Base 11, a group gathered to observe the rankings.
"Tan Jiantong, that pauper who refused our squad last time, his name was Li Yi, right?"
"Yes, Boss Liang."
"Reports indicate that of the top ten, Li Yi is the only solo player. It seems he indeed had the courage and credentials to refuse my offer."
Liang Xing looked at Tan Jiantong, smiling subtly, "Tan Jiantong, sorry for almost turning you into a fool."
Though Tan Jiantong felt uneasy, he maintained a calm facade, saying, "My mistake, Boss Liang. If I had brought him into your team, the top ten would have been within easy reach."
Liang Xing appeared to be a gentle-speaking young man with a refined appearance. However, Tan Jiantong, having interacted with Liang Xing several times, knew he was a cunning individual with a genetic activation rate not inferior to his brother's.
Incidentally, Liang Xing's cousin was the current second-ranked Liang Shaocong. Liang Xing's team had initially gained some points with a few members before retreating to rest and prepare for the hunt.
Now, it was their time to strike.
"Let's start with the tenth-ranked player and, before the night ends, take down Li Yi to claim the top spot," Liang Xing instructed.
"Understood, Boss Liang."
...
Though many had logged off from the livestream, a group continued watching, seeing it as a deep-space celebration.
"Wow, a team with two strong players in tenth and eighth place was wiped out, and most of the points went to one person."
"How did he precisely locate his targets? Did anyone see what he did before?"
"Liang Xing, this guy seems impressive. His genetic technique appears to be well-developed."
"He's from the Liang family's collateral line, but his demonstrated strength and genetic technique seem superior to Liang Shaocong's."
"Amazing, the comeback of a collateral descendant. This year's rookie battle is thrilling, first with Li Yi, now Liang Xing."
"Liang Shaocong isn't necessarily inferior to Liang Xing. Remember, Liang Shaocong hasn't gone all out yet."
"In half an hour, the fourth position changed hands."
"Liang Xing is now third!"
As night wore on, Liang Xing consistently located and ambushed targets, swiftly climbing to third place, just three points behind Liang Shaocong.
Viewers watched intently as Liang Xing's team headed to the tree shelter area where Li Yi was hiding.
Would the top three contenders clash again?
...
Li Yi continued to meditate, his first time doing so for over four hours since awakening his talent six years ago. He typically spent nights absorbing memory fragments or physically training to embody these memories. Now, he discovered he could meditate longer, feeling a newfound lightness in his "soul."
Though this "soul" was a sensation rather than a tangible entity, the long-term absorption of parallel memory fragments made this perception real to him.
After a while, Li Yi opened his eyes, sensing the changes within.
"It seems I've been using the wrong approach. Alternating between meditation and memory absorption is the most effective way to improve."
Without precise testing equipment, Li Yi felt his mind was significantly sharper.
"If I had continued absorbing fragments without balance, my 'soul' might have overloaded and collapsed."
Li Yi was grateful for this virtual reality experience. Without it, he might not have realized the benefits of long-term meditation for lightening the "soul's" burden.
Suddenly, the handmade alarm bell he had set up sounded.
"An intruder?"
Li Yi leaped up, agile as a monkey, climbing to the treetop to observe the perimeter under the faint starlight.