Chapter 135: Rules

[Call for Entries Requirements]
Category: All Categories!
For this "Qi You Theater" call for entries, all new works deemed suitable for the brand's positioning are eligible to apply. The operations managers will uphold the highest standards, selecting only the best to sign and shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I apply for "Qi You Theater"?
A: You may choose to submit your work directly to the operations manager or click the link below to submit.
Q: Are there benefits for other participating works?
A: All works participating in the call for entries will have their base diligence bonus doubled.
...

Yin Jian finished reading all the details of the open call. He raised an eyebrow.
"I only need to produce a playable demo."
This was something he hadn't expected.
"In that case, I should produce the early-stage storyline myself."
Communicating with other designers now would be troublesome; after all, he didn't know many. Furthermore, he wanted to ensure the game's tutorial was cohesive.

With this thought in mind, Yin Jian scrolled down to look at the current number of applicants.
[546,000 people have already applied]
"Hiss—so many?"
Yin Jian couldn't help but gasp. The call for entries had been live for less than an hour, and over half a million people had already signed up. This number was truly absurd.
According to information he had received from Yu Jia, the slots for this competition had likely already been internally decided. In other words, most of these participants were merely there to make up the numbers. However, with so many people, a few standouts were bound to emerge and secure a spot.

"I get the feeling Qi You is just harvesting leeks."
As Yin Jian watched the applicant count tick up every second, this thought involuntarily crossed his mind. After all, creating a virtual game required purchasing assets from the Qi You Game Assistant...
"Ahem."
Yin Jian coughed twice, feeling as though he had uncovered something extraordinary. "No wonder Qi You didn't set any participation restrictions. So that’s their game."

Even though 99.9% of the participants stood no chance of signing a contract, Yin Jian could still feel the intensity of the competition. After all, there was only one spot for adaptation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that people would fight tooth and nail for it.
"But fortunately, I still have a month. That’s plenty of time to prepare."
Yin Jian exhaled. What followed would be a hard battle against an invisible enemy. You never know how many opponents you have, nor do you know their true strength.

All you can do is demonstrate your capabilities to the fullest. This would be a war without smoke.
With this in mind, Yin Jian closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was filled only with absolute focus and calm. He set a timer to ensure he wouldn't get too absorbed in game development and lose track of time, then quickly opened the game creation backend of the Game Assistant and began his work.

[Please name your game]
[Game "Infinity" successfully named]
[Please begin your game development journey]
...

An unknown galaxy.
All kinds of warships shuttled between meteorites and planets. Every spaceship traveling here had its energy shield set to maximum capacity, because here, you could face hundreds of sneak attacks at any moment. This was a chaotic battlefield.
It was also the most famous space-conquest-style "Reality Game" in the Huaxia star sector: "Fall of the Stars."

On a massive observation platform, a middle-aged man wearing a blue space-grade bodysuit sat in a circular lounge chair. He watched the inner reaches of the galaxy, where brilliant flowers of light bloomed from time to time. The glass in his hand swayed constantly, the expensive pale green liquid inside sloshing with the motion.

Song Jianlin, the owner of "Fall of the Stars."
Decisive in his actions. He was once the boss of a mid-sized company, but he had used his limited capital to fight his way to a position of power in the world of reality games. He stared at the starry sky, which felt as if it were within arm's reach. His gaze never left that expanse, as if it were the most beautiful painting in the world to him.

Until...
"Knock, knock, knock."
Three crisp knocks sounded from outside the room. Hearing the sound, Song Jianlin stopped shaking his glass and downed the pale green liquid in one gulp.
"Come in."
His voice carried the authority of a superior, and... loneliness?

Hearing his voice, a woman with an upright posture walked in. Her legs were seamless, her thighs rounded and straight, and her slender waist carried an unimaginable weight. Her exquisite face held a hint of innocence and professional competence, but more than anything, it possessed a charm that could pull any man into the abyss.
"Boss, it is confirmed that Qi You intends to undergo a transformation."

Gong Yunshi’s voice was intoxicating; hearing it felt like a feather brushing against one’s ear. But in response, Song Jianlin’s expression didn't change in the slightest. He seemed to be lost in thought, or perhaps just zoning out.
Gong Yunshi dared not move without instructions. She knew her boss's personality. Time seemed to slow down, and fine beads of sweat began to seep from her forehead.

"The cake doesn't need another person to share it."
After saying this, Song Jianlin closed his eyes. Gong Yunshi immediately understood what he meant. Without another word, she retreated. As she stepped out of the room, she closed the door behind her.
"Hoo..."
Only after doing all this did she exhale. When she recovered from the tension, she realized her undergarments were completely soaked. Her body felt sticky and uncomfortable.

However, she ignored this and hurried toward the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although Song Jianlin hadn't spelled it out, as his assistant, she knew his thoughts perfectly well.
"If we don't want Qi You's reality game to launch... the only way is to have the diplomatic department communicate with the reality game regulatory bureau."
The review process for reality games was not as lax as it was for virtual games. It could be described as extremely strict. Therefore, as long as they gave the Huaxia Reality Game Regulatory Bureau a heads-up to raise the review standards for Qi You's game, they could ensure the project was dead on arrival.

As for how to negotiate to make the regulatory bureau raise their standards—that was not something to be spoken of. The interests involved were simply too vast.
...

In the apartment.
Yin Jian sat in front of his computer, frowning. He had built the framework of the game, but he was stuck on producing the first tutorial storyline.
"What kind of storyline would be best for the first one?"
"Just doing one won't work. According to the rules of the competition, I need at least three."
"But if I do three..."