The Awakening Hall was located in the school gymnasium, which had been converted into a temporary command center.

Dozens of holographic screens floated in mid-air, displaying real-time awakening data from across the country, Nightmare World map hotspots, and trending channels from major streaming platforms.

When Lin Feng followed the group into the hall, he was shocked by the scene before him.

The screens on the right were divided into dozens of small windows, broadcasting live feeds from various territories in the Nightmare World.

Standing beneath the screens were three figures in black military uniforms—commissioners from the Rongcheng Nightmare Affairs Bureau.

Lin Feng saw footage of a village-level territory; outside the crude wooden walls, over a dozen militia members in coarse cloth clothing were thrusting spears at lunging wolf-like monsters.

The bullet chat scrolled frantically: "On the left! There's a gap on the left!" "Where's the Lord? What is the Lord doing!"

"Quiet!"

Chen Weiguo's voice spread throughout the hall via the public address system, drowning out all the whispering.

"My name is Chen Weiguo, a special envoy from the Rongcheng War Zone Nightmare Administration Bureau."

His gaze swept across the thirty-odd newly Awakened students below the stage. "First of all, congratulations. Becoming one in a hundred thousand means you have the chance to change your personal destiny and even influence the national fortune."

Sparse applause rang out from below the stage, but it quickly died down.

"But I must also tell you—" Chen Weiguo paused, his eyes scanning the thirty-odd young and nervous faces. "This is an opportunity, but even more so, it is a responsibility."

With a wave of his hand, the image on the central holographic screen switched.

A set of blood-red data popped up:

【In the past year, the mortality rate for Daxia's newly Awakened during wilderness exploration: 37%】

【Average survival time: Within the first month】

The sound of people gasping for air echoed throughout the hall. Some girls covered their mouths, while some boys instinctively sat up straighter.

"The Nightmare World is not a game." Chen Weiguo's voice grew even deeper. "The sense of pain there is 100% real. Although death won't take your life on Blue Star, it will permanently strip you of your qualification to enter the Nightmare World. More importantly..."

He brought up another set of images: a recording of a village-level territory being overrun.

The wooden walls collapsed with a bang under the onslaught of a tide of Skeleton Soldiers. The Lord opened his mouth as if to scream, but was submerged by white bones the next second.

In the upper right corner of the screen, the projection of the daxia national destiny cauldron vibrated slightly. Another small crack appeared on the cauldron's body, though it quickly faded away.

"Every time a territory is lost, the National Fortune Cauldron is damaged.

"And when all of a nation's territories are destroyed..." Chen Weiguo didn't finish, but everyone knew the consequences. Within seventy-two hours, the entire country would "digitally dissipate" from Blue Star.

"Now, I will give you four rules that you must remember." Chen Weiguo held up a finger.

"First: When a newcomer enters the Nightmare World for the first time, the system will prioritize teleporting you to a territory with ancestral ties.

"If there are none, there is a 50% chance you will enter one of our country's four city-level territories, a 40% chance of entering a county or town-level territory, and only a 10% chance of appearing directly in a village-level territory—or worse, the wilderness."

He placed special emphasis on the word "wilderness."

A commotion broke out below the stage. Teachers had taught in class that the survival rate for those appearing directly in the wilderness was less than 1%.

Without the protection of city walls or the support of companions, a newly Awakened, unarmed newcomer would only be able to run when faced with even the lowest-level nightmare creature—if they could even get away.

"Second." Chen Weiguo held up a second finger. "The Village Establishment Order is extremely rare. It only has a one-in-a-million chance of dropping from killing a 'Nightmare Legion'.

"I know what many of you are thinking right now—'What if I get lucky?' 'Maybe I can become a Lord'."

He gave a low snort. "Give up your fantasies. In the past thirty years, among over three million Awakened in Daxia, fewer than thirty thousand have successfully obtained a Village Establishment Order.

"Even if you obtain a Village Establishment Order, most are overrun by the Nightmare Tide during the village-level territory stage.

"Keep your feet on the ground. First, be a good cog in the existing Daxia territories and survive. Then you can think about other things."

Lin Feng's breath hitched slightly.

A one-in-a-million chance... but his talent could designate drops.

Once every thirty days.

If he could find a Nightmare Legion and had the ability to kill even a single soldier among them, then theoretically, he would have a 100% chance of obtaining a Village Establishment Order.

This thought made his heart race, but he immediately forced himself to calm down.

Chen Weiguo was right; he had to survive first. A newcomer facing a Nightmare Legion alone? That was no different from suicide.

"Third: It is recommended that low-level Awakened enter the Nightmare World for the first time within twenty-four hours. The method of entry is simple; just say the words 'Connect Nightmare'.

"Pay attention to the time flow. Three days in the Nightmare World equals one day on Blue Star.

"After you enter, your body on Blue Star will enter a 'Phase Blur' state, making you immune to all damage. However, please still choose a safe location before entering."

Chen Weiguo pulled up a diagram: a young man lying on a bedroom bed, his body becoming semi-transparent as a fly flew right through his chest.

"So, as long as you ensure the environment is safe—like locking doors and windows, staying away from roads, and not being near a kitchen stove—you can connect with peace of mind."

Just as he finished speaking, a voice suddenly rang out from the back row, filled with the desperate bravado of someone burning their bridges:

"Then I'll go first! My internet at home is slow, I'm afraid I'll lag and won't be able to get in!"

Before everyone could react, Liu Dayong from Class 9, Grade 3—nicknamed "Lightning Hand" and also known as "Brother Dayong," famous for being the first in line at the cafeteria—suddenly closed his eyes, sat cross-legged on the spot, pressed his palms together, and shouted:

"Connect Nightmare!"

Buzz!

A faint light flashed.

Liu Dayong, along with his clothes, sneakers, and the second-hand smartwatch on his wrist, instantly became semi-transparent.

The air froze for three seconds.

"He actually went in?!"

"Holy crap! That works?!"

On the holographic screen, in a corner of some village-level territory, a newcomer in gray cloth clothes was looking around blankly—it was Liu Dayong. He looked down at himself, touched his face, and suddenly shouted into the void:

"Hey! Can you hear me? I've arrived! There are chickens here! Live ones! Can I catch them?!"

His voice was converted into subtitles via the Dream Net live broadcast.

The entire audience burst into laughter.

Lin Feng couldn't help but facepalm, complaining internally:

"If this guy had ended up in the wilderness, he'd probably have rushed up to a wolf to try and reason with it in the first second."

Meanwhile, on the podium, Chen Weiguo's face turned from red to green, then from green to black. He pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his voice through his teeth:

"...For the 327th time: Before entering for the first time, please at least listen to all the rules."

He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth into the communicator: "Rongcheng East District village-level territory 'Willow Village,' a reckless kid just dropped in there. Keep a close eye on him, don't let him stew the Lord's chickens!"

The students below were doubling over with laughter; even Su Yurou covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"..." Chen Weiguo rubbed his temples, his face full of black lines. "Last rule."

He held up a fourth finger, his tone softening slightly. "From today onwards, you no longer need to come to school for classes.

"Even if you die in the Nightmare World and lose your qualification in the future, the state will guarantee your admission to a second-tier university. This is the protection the country provides to every Awakened."

This time, a genuine cheer finally erupted from below the stage.

"Great!"

"No more college entrance exams!"

"Even if we die, we still get to go to university!"

Chen Weiguo waited for the cheers to gradually subside before continuing:

"But this doesn't mean you can be slack. The knowledge, experience, and combat power in the Nightmare World are what truly determine your future. Now—"

He raised his hand and checked his watch. "9:40. I'll give you twenty minutes for questions, then everyone goes home to prepare for your first entry. Remember, within twenty-four hours."

A hand went up immediately. It was Su Yurou.

"If we are teleported to an unfamiliar territory, how can we quickly gain trust and resources?"

"Show your value." Chen Weiguo was concise. "Literacy, arithmetic, handiwork, combat—any skill will do.

"The most popular newcomers are always those who can get to work immediately.

"Remember, every territory must deal with a Nightmare Tide every month. No one will support idlers."

The questions continued for over ten minutes. Someone asked how real the pain of death actually was, someone asked if they could bring real-world items in, and someone asked how to contact their family.

Lin Feng never raised his hand. He silently noted all the useful information while repeatedly thinking about his cheat in his mind.

Eye of Probability... one designated drop per month...

If he used this ability to obtain a Village Establishment Order, he would need to satisfy several conditions:

First, find a Nightmare Legion; second, have the ability to kill at least one unit among them; third, survive until the moment he uses the ability.

It was too difficult. At least for a newcomer, it was almost impossible.

So, what should the first opportunity be used for?

"Time's up." Chen Weiguo interrupted everyone's thoughts. "Now, dismissed. Be safe on your way home, choose a safe location, and then make your first entry. I wish you... a safe return."

He spoke the last sentence very softly, but every word weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.