Chapter 188
Chapter 188
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 188 – How Can Lan Qi Win?
As the surroundings gradually brightened, Lan Qi’s vision filled with the new scene.
He realized he was in a cold iron prison, feeling icy wind sneaking through countless unseen cracks, chilling him to the bone.
Each breath felt like swallowing hail, his lungs freezing with every inhale.
“It’s way too cold…”
Lan Qi’s words came out in visible puffs of breath.
In truth, he had never challenged this artificial Shadow World before—his Shadow World experience was minimal.
Counting his two entrance exams, he had only entered the Shadow World four times in total.
His gaze swept across the rough walls, covered in thick frost. In one corner, a chain connected to the heavy shackle on his wrist clinked against the floor.
The ground had been eroded over time, forming uneven surfaces where dark ice collected in low spots. Whenever wind blew through the bars, the ice and chains clattered against each other.
From the low ceiling hung long icicles formed by the prison’s damp air, ready to pierce the prisoner’s head at any moment.
Thick iron bars formed a full door. Outside, the corridor echoed with wind and endless darkness, carrying the wails of countless trapped souls over thousands of years.
At the same time, Shadow World information appeared before Lan Qi:
Shadow World: Despair’s Bitter Cage
Level: Second Tier
Number of challengers: 2
Welcome to the Shadow World, artificially created and technically supported by the Magical Engineering Institute.
Note: This test is a simulation; normally there is no risk to life in a simulated Shadow World.
Note: Not suitable for challengers with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions.
After death, challengers will be ejected automatically. Voluntary exit is possible but may involve experiencing death and extreme pain, including hunger and severe cold…
Even in an apparently hopeless prison, only those who survive can win.
You have been captured into the seventh floor of an absolute prison that has never had a successful escape. The warden constantly changes methods to break prisoners’ will. Today, you are thrown into the extreme cold punishment chamber.
All magic cards are sealed, and your tier is restricted to Level 2.
In addition to initial supplies, random supplies are provided every half hour.
Objective (Endless Mode): Survive as long as possible and gather as much information as possible about the prison from other prisoners.
Lan Qi calmly read through the Shadow World information.
It matched roughly what he had quickly studied before the duel.
The “Despair’s Bitter Cage” was a well-known Level 2 Shadow World in the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association’s challenge exam database. It was often used for practice: survive two hours in an extremely harsh, freezing prison cell.
Later, the environment was modified by various academies and the Shadow World Management Association.
It became an “Endless Mode,” with randomness added, challenging players to survive as long as possible.
It became a famous record-setting Shadow World challenge.
…
A raindrop fell on the stone steps, soon followed by heavier rainfall. The plaza turned white with mist.
A commotion had occurred earlier at the edge of Jera Memorial Plaza, and another student had collapsed.
However, students from Ikerite Academy quickly contacted the Alchemy Institute’s medical team, who efficiently carried the girl away.
Watching the unconscious girl being taken away, an Yaloran Royal Academy student said:
“Thank you for your help.”
They hadn’t expected Ikerite students to respond so decisively and efficiently to an emergency. The Alchemy Institute medics also acted in an orderly, seamless way.
The Yaloran students were impressed by the speed, teamwork, and execution of the Ikerite students.
“Don’t worry. She probably fainted from anemia; her life isn’t in danger.”
The surrounding students modestly reassured them.
Once the situation was resolved, students’ attention slowly returned to the screens.
From the viewers’ perspective, the camera focused on two adjacent prison cells: Adams on the left, Lan Qi on the right, both behind iron bars, separated by walls, with other prisoners in neighboring cells.
Besides initial supplies, every half hour of survival granted a supply drop—food, water, medicine, textiles, or even fire crystals.
If a supply imbalance occurred, like a shortage of food but surplus fire crystals, prisoners could trade with adjacent cells at walls or bar edges.
Success required predicting the other’s needs and resources. Experienced players knew not to reveal their own shortages. Sometimes they had to pretend to be well-stocked when low, or anticipate future needs when well-stocked, while judging the risk of deceitful trades from near-death prisoners.
Extra supplies could also be traded for information, which would earn bonus points.
“In Endless Mode, temperatures gradually drop. No matter how many supplies you have, survival is limited. The current solo record for Level 2 is 20 hours and 5 minutes.”
At the plaza, senior students explained the Shadow World mechanics to confused juniors.
“Adams’ advantage is his battle-hardened body and experience. Lan Qi’s strengths are harder to exploit here.”“Mainly, I’m sure Lan Qi has never tried this Shadow World. Experience can’t easily compensate for wisdom deficits in multiple rounds.”
Players with high endurance could survive early stages, but real competition lay in stocking up on resources and enduring extreme cold in a battle of willpower.
…
Within the Sage Institute’s area, a small library loft stood. Though not large, it was designed with an air of ancient, noble magical scholarship.
Bookshelves formed elaborate patterns, stretching from floor to ceiling like castle fortifications.
On the loft’s second floor, an independent magical screen flashed in sync with the plaza’s outdoor screen.
In the most prominent spot sat a woman in a black dress.
“Haha, Lan Qi is really playing big this time.”
She laughed mischievously at the screen.
The loft belonged to a powerful Sage Institute team, authorized by the school for exclusive activities.
The team’s nominal leader was Marquis Modan Gasigus, a golden-rank challenger, but the black-dressed fourth-year platinum-rank student was clearly the real decision-maker.
Below, Modan watched the screen, still uneasy. He believed he would be the strongest if the vice president of the third-year student council, Asna, did not participate. Yet, everyone had chosen Lan Qi.
Seeing the Shadow World scene, Modan doubted Lan Qi’s chances.
“Lan Qi’s really playing big. Do you think he’ll lose?”
The black-dressed woman leaned over the railing, smiling mischievously.
Modan fell silent, unable to gauge her mood or intentions—she was somewhat connected to this wager.
She was also one of Dean Loren’s fiancées.
“Do you still think Lan Qi can win, senior?”
After a pause, Modan asked uncertainly.
“I think he’ll lose.”
The woman pressed her cheek, as if praying:
“Lose, lose, Lan Qi. Play Dean Loren even harder!”
Though fond of Dean Loren, she enjoyed seeing him suffer, secretly wishing to toy with him herself one day. Her face flushed with delight at the thought.
Meanwhile, on the wall screen:
Lan Qi and Adams both relied on physical endurance, stockpiling supplies, and preparing for trade with prisoners in neighboring cells.
They were clearly headed for an ultimate contest of willpower.