Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 37 The Fast Ends
The news that the number of boxes in the store was limited triggered a buying frenzy among Ascended players.

Some of them, which are not needed for the time being, I even bought one or two to keep as storage.

This is partly due to anxiety.

What happens if the boxes sell out? Will the store restock? If they're permanently removed from the shelves, what if the Firebringers issue similar "no-eating" rules again?
Driven by this anxiety and fear, the food boxes sold out incredibly quickly. Three hours later, only six million remained in the store, averaging over a million sold per hour!
Such a frenzy prompted the Research Center for Countermeasures to the Rules of the Apocalypse to issue a statement on its official account.

The research lab published a paper recommending that those who have sublimated adopt a "buy-as-you-go" approach to food boxes. They should avoid purchasing them out of excessive fear or a herd mentality.

This will not only waste hard-earned Ascension Coins, but may also prevent Ascensionists who truly need them from buying them later. We hope that Ascensionists can remain rational and think calmly.

Since the Institute for Research on Countermeasures to the Rules of the Apocalypse was established under the official leadership of the Northern Star Kingdom, any statements or suggestions it issues are essentially equivalent to official calls to action.

Ultimately, how an Ascendant spends their Ascendant Coins is their own business. The official team can only offer suggestions; they have neither the reason nor the ability to make mandatory requirements.

By evening, only three million food boxes remained.

Guan Tong didn't pay much attention to this point and went to bed early to reduce energy consumption.

He had bought a total of four food boxes, and had used three of them by now, but he didn't plan to use the last one.

So for the remaining time the rule was in effect, he began to live a minimum-energy lifestyle.

Staying indoors, doing nothing, thinking little, and sleeping when there's nothing to do.

During this period, only Xu Xiaotian came to see him once, asking if he wanted to go to the Public Security Bureau to make a statement, because the Public Security Bureau had not contacted him.

Guan Tong told him to make his own decision.

After considering it, Xu Xiaotian decided that it was better to avoid trouble. Since the Public Security Bureau wasn't looking for him, he didn't want to go out.

The terrifying experience of being kidnapped has left him with considerable psychological trauma, which is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.

The final period of this rule's effectiveness passed quietly as Guan Tong did nothing.

At 9:5 AM on May 29th, the effective period of the third apocalyptic rule officially ended.

The voice of the fire-stealer arrived once again, precisely as expected.

The rule period has ended.

Congratulations on passing the test of the third rule of the apocalypse!

[Reward has been sent to your storage box]

More products have been added to the Shenghua Store and can be viewed on your personal device.

The fourth apocalyptic rule will be released in three days.

Guan Tong opened her eyes, sat up in bed, picked up a carton of milk from the bedside table, and started drinking.

Having not eaten for several days, he is undoubtedly very hungry. However, immediately indulging in a large meal of meat and rich food could potentially harm his health.

So he prepared high-energy foods such as milk and chocolate in advance and placed them on his bedside table so he could have something to eat after the event.

"New rules will be released in three days? The interval between the two rules this time is surprisingly short."

Guan Tong drank her milk through a straw while pondering the information given by the fire-stealer.

He recalled that the second rule was not issued until fifteen days after the first rule was implemented.

Thirty days, or a full month, after the second rule was implemented, the third rule was not issued.

It seems that the interval between the release of the next rule does not necessarily increase with the adoption of a new one. This previously speculated pattern has now been definitively broken by the fire-stealers.

"Personal terminal".

Guan Tong silently recited the name in her mind, and the terminal interface appeared before her eyes. 【Name: Guan Tong】

Nickname: Shadow

Title: Lawkeeper

[Mental Power: 119]

[Ascended Coins: 190]

Overall Bioinformatics Evaluation: Excellent

There were few changes to his personal information. During the third rule period, he didn't "create coins" much, so his Ascension Coins remained fixed at 40. With this reward of 150, his total reached 190.

The only thing worth noting is the maximum mental strength of 119 points.

After the second rule is completed, Guan Tong's maximum mental strength is 114 points.

Then, a third rule was issued one month later. One month has 30 days, plus the 15-day effective period for the third rule, which is 45 days.

In 45 days, his mental strength limit increased by a full 5 points, averaging 1 point every 9 days.

This speed is much faster than before. Guan Tong remembered that before, even if he completely drained his mental energy every day, it would still take him more than ten days to increase his upper limit by 1 point.

However, during this period, he did not "squeeze" his mental energy as hard. In fact, in the last few days of the rule's effective period, he did not use any mental energy at all in order to reduce the consumption of physical energy.

Nevertheless, the average number of days it takes to raise the upper limit is shorter than before. This suggests that if the pressure continues at a frantic pace as before, the average number of days it takes to raise the upper limit might be reduced even further.

In extreme cases, it might be possible to increase the maximum mental power by 1 point in 7 or 8 days!

"It's very likely that the effects of that bottle of [Gene Optimization Essence] are gradually taking hold."

Guan Tong thought to herself, "As expected of a precious item from a [Glory-level Treasure Chest]. It seems it's not just a one-off deal, but something that will optimize the body over time after consumption."

He opened his storage box, which contained an unused [Basic Food Box - Bronze Level] and a [Wordless Book], as well as a ticket with a black background and the image of the burning Goblet of Fire.

[Invitation to the First Ascended Challenge]: Ascended individuals holding this invitation may participate in the First Ascended Challenge, which will begin after the end of the fifth apocalyptic rule.

With a thought, Guan Tong summoned the invitation into his hand, which felt like gold foil.

These are the special items besides Ascension Coins that were included in the success rewards when the third rule was previously issued.

"Judging from the description, this 'First Ascended Challenge' will begin after the fifth apocalyptic rule is completed... I wonder what kind of challenge it will be?"

In a one-on-one real-person PK, Guan Tong felt that she had a slight advantage.

After all, he can summon shadows to fight for him, so it can be considered a two-on-one fight.

Guan Tong had not received any combat training, so his fighting skills were basically nonexistent.

If there's a chance, it might be good to hire a professional fighting master for training.

Guan Tong had thought about this question before. She believed that becoming stronger herself could also make her shadow stronger. If she could find an excellent and dedicated martial arts instructor, there would be no harm in learning from him.

However, he doesn't insist on it. His main focus right now is on raising the limit of his mental power and dealing with the challenges brought about by the rules of the apocalypse.

With a wave of his right hand, the invitation was returned to the storage box.

Guan Tong then opened the upgraded store function on the terminal to check the newly listed products after the new rules were implemented.

He now has a "huge sum" of 190 Ascension Coins, and if any good new items are released, he can certainly spend them.

　The main character's profile card has been updated. Dear readers, please feel free to give it a like when you have time. Thank you!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)