Just a swarm of rats wasn't much of a threat.

  Though these rats were sizeable, individually they might defeat an ordinary adult, but even firearms from five hundred years ago could handle low-level monsters.

  Xia Li directly projected plasma grenades from his phase ring. After several grenades detonated, the rat swarm scattered and actually fled.

  This gave Xia Li an anticlimactic feeling.

  "Running already?"

  "That's it?"

  [Monster-class creatures possess considerable intelligence and typically won't fight to the death, having some crisis avoidance instincts.]

  [Higher-level monsters have intelligence no weaker than humans.]

  Heaven Chip explained why the rat swarm fled. Monsters were animals that had developed spiritual intelligence and could cultivate—however smart they were before, becoming monsters only made them smarter.

  "So the monsters near the safe zone should all be weak ones, deliberately left to train newcomers."

  "However..."

  "Some people specialize in killing newcomers."

  Xia Li released his divine thought at full power, directly forming an energy field like a shockwave that burst outward.

  In reality, this was like a gentle breeze passing—no lethality to speak of. But over a dozen red dots immediately appeared in Xia Li's vision.

  This technique simulated bat echolocation for detection—enabling instant wide-area scanning, though the weakness was being unable to hide it, allowing targets to notice immediately.

  But so what!

  Let them notice.

  Xia Li pulled out the Starfire Sniper Rifle, summoned his Ethereal Spirit Dharma Body to generate bullets, and began rapid-fire sniping.

  These newcomer-camping bastards were weak—barely any at mid-Qi Refining.

  Though thinking about it, anyone with real ability wouldn't stoop to camping newcomers so shamelessly.

  Unfortunately for them, this newcomer wasn't very new. Others tried hunting monsters at early-Qi Refining to earn spirit stones.

  He'd come at mid-Foundation Establishment, fully armed with nearly a hundred kills under his belt.

  How could true newcomers compare? All these attackers' combined wealth might not be enough to buy his Starfire Sniper Rifle.

  So from the moment Xia Li opened fire, this battle was destined to be a one-sided sweep.

  After thirteen shots.

  All attackers were dead. Xia Li couldn't even be bothered to collect their belongings worth maybe two or three spirit stones each.

  Xia Li continued forward.

  Over ten minutes later...

  The sound of a blade cutting through air suddenly came from behind Xia Li.

  "Finally willing to come out?"

  Xia Li immediately turned around, a blade appearing instantly in his hand.

  The blade for killing humans—Yagyu Ichimonji!

  Intelligent Technique—Blade Sheathing!

  Under the coordination of Heaven Chip and muscle memory, Xia Li assumed his stance in an extremely short time.

  The attacker could no longer retract his blade.

  In the instant the blade was about to hit Xia Li, Xia Li drew his blade, using the blade spine to catch the opponent's edge while slightly turning his body.

  The opponent's body lost balance and lurched forward!

  Xia Li raised his blade and slashed down in one motion. The opponent's leaning neck met the blade's edge perfectly.

  A quick blade cuts flesh and shaves bone—not even a sound escaped.

  The attacker fell dead. His head dropped and rolled as Xia Li's Heaven Chip immediately scanned the target's Heaven Chip.

  [Wanted individual found: Otani Matsu]

  [Identity confirmed. Bounty of fifty spirit stones has been issued.]

  "He who hunts hunters shall himself be hunted."

  Xia Li flicked blood from the blade, resheathed it, and departed. These were Corporate Union's rules.

  Bankrupts came to the Tax-Free Zone to plunder others while also becoming part of the plundered—behind the scenes, who knows how many had opened betting pools.

  Tax-Free Zone?

  Just a game arena.

  Poor humans, weak monsters—nothing worth staying for.

  Xia Li directly rode the wind into low-altitude flight, unwilling to waste more time. He headed straight for the true danger zone—his main goal was hunting demons, with little interest in humans or monsters.

  But mid-flight...

  Missiles suddenly launched at him from the ground. Xia Li activated his G-stance shield to tank the impacts and landed awkwardly, immediately taking cover in the nearest building.

  [You have a voice message. Read it?]

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  Heaven Chip alerted him to a new message.

  "Read it."

  [Ding dong! Congratulations, Mr. Xia Li from the Democratic Government! You've been fortunate enough to become a participant in this Newcomer Challenge! This is an exciting event!]

  [For the next two hours, your location will be broadcast throughout the entire Tax-Free Zone!]

  [If the paupers kill you, their debts will be cleared and they'll receive a grand prize of over ten thousand spirit stones!]

  [Your goal is to survive two hours. Win, and the grand prize is yours!]

  [You might think the challenge is somewhat unfair, but that's what makes it exciting! Work hard to become tonight's star!]

  [Oh, and... please don't try leaving the Tax-Free Zone, or something terrible will happen.]

  The voice message ended there.

  But soon another voice message arrived. Xia Li chose to read it as well.

  [Xia Li, it's me, Liu Sheng Qianzao.]

  [Congratulations! I didn't expect you'd be selected. Though this event is Upper City's twisted entertainment, it's also a shortcut to fame. It randomly selects participants periodically.]

  [I was originally looking for ways to push you into the spotlight. Looks like someone noticed you early—most likely Jin Xiutai. Nice work!]

  [And... make it look good. I bet on you winning!]

  Liu Sheng Qianzao's message ended there. The light rain also intensified into heavy rain at that moment.

  Many drones flew down from the sky, locking onto and filming Xia Li's position. The drones even activated spotlights, exposing Xia Li directly under the glare.

  Seeing this, Xia Li lowered his head and inexplicably laughed twice.

  He didn't know why—he just suddenly found it funny. Had he become an actor in others' eyes?

  He killed only for self-preservation. He never enjoyed killing, and certainly never viewed it as entertainment for himself or others.

  Xia Li could imagine countless people watching him through the drones' cameras right now.

  Fame? Performing murder, becoming that laughable star? Being assigned value by corporations who presumed to know best?

  Someone might be placing bets right now. Perhaps some potbellied man was holding a bankrupt slave girl, drinking fine wine while excitedly watching him.

  Xia Li messaged Liu Sheng Qianzao.

  [Liu Sheng Qianzao, don't contact me again. I don't want to cooperate with you anymore.]

  [I'll track down Jin Xiutai myself.]

  [You're no different from them.]

  Message sent, Xia Li directly blocked Liu Sheng Qianzao. As expected of someone from the corporations—he was now very disappointed.

  Different paths, no common purpose!

  Liu Sheng Qianzao had zero sympathy for the bankrupt, viewing them as assets for entertaining others, taking pride in entertaining people herself.

  She'd actually congratulated him, thinking this meaningless killing show was a shortcut!

  It seemed her tragic experiences hadn't made her sympathetic—instead, under these rules, she'd further lost her humanity!

  Xia Li drew his blade, then gripped it in reverse!

  He would strike with the blade spine, edge facing himself—only wound, not kill. He wanted no deaths tonight, staging the most boring finale.

  For whom do we dance tonight?

  Tonight, I fight for myself!

  The drones hovering in the air began broadcasting:

  "Oh my, our contestant has gone crazy! He's actually holding the blade backwards!"

  "Looks like tonight will birth a new Democratic Government joke."

  "Let's see whether the paupers will appreciate his kindness!"

  The broadcast echoed through the rainy night.

  The Tax-Free Zone's bankrupts grew even more excited hearing this—it meant they could pursue Xia Li more boldly, without worrying about dying.

  What a heaven-sent opportunity!!

  "Nobility is the noble's epitaph; baseness is the base's passport."

  "I declare... let the games begin!"

  "Tonight's event is specially sponsored by Silver Star Group, presented by Yagyu Military Industries... wait, another sponsor!"

  "Tonight's special award presenter is..."

  "Lingguang Tech!"

  "Special award conditions: Clear without killing anyone."

  Lingguang Tech—the autonomous corporation led by Lingguang City's municipal government, representing the Democratic Government in a sense.

  This was the Democratic Government affirming Xia Li.

  Even in the cannibalistic Corporate Union, the noble should be rewarded.