2: Chapter 2 Hidden Rule: Sound Pressure Coverage

[Hidden Rule: Sound Pressure Coverage: At the moment a sound is triggered and death is imminent, if a louder sound can be produced within a five-meter radius, it can grant immunity from death and negate the attack.]

Gu Changming stared at those words, his heart beating a few beats faster.

After a period of exploration, everyone could generally understand those supplementary rules. For example, the phone notification sound just now complied with the second supplementary rule—it was not produced by the person themselves—which was why the students with phones weren't wiped out.

But this... hidden rule, he had never seen it on the System Panel before.

Was it a change brought about by rebirth? Or some other reason?

At this moment, only a few scattered people remained in the classroom.

Gu Changming simply stopped walking and continued reading.

Next, Gu Changming's gaze was drawn to the new information below.

[Hidden Rating Grades:]

[D-grade: Survivor, survive for more than 72 hours and complete the first Assessment.]

[C-grade: Self-Saver, successfully complete at least 1 "Sound Pressure Coverage."]

[B-grade: Observer, successfully complete at least 3 "Sound Pressure Coverage."]

[A-grade: breaker, successfully complete at least 5 "Sound Pressure Coverage."]

[S-grade: Lucky One, successfully complete at least 10 "Sound Pressure Coverage."]

Seeing this, Gu Changming's eyes flickered.

He remembered that in his previous life, his choice had been the same as most people: hiding at home and quietly enduring the seventy-two hours.

The rating grade he received then seemed to be this "Survivor," earning him one hundred points.

But later, he seemed to have heard someone mention that someone had obtained two hundred points in the first Assessment, gaining an early advantage.

Looking at it now, it was likely that someone had accidentally triggered a hidden rule and obtained a higher rating.

He remained calm and followed the sparse flow of people out of the school gate.

The streets were unnervingly quiet. Vehicles were stopped, pedestrians were in a hurry, and everyone kept their mouths tightly shut, their eyes wary like a flock of startled birds.

Gu Changming walked steadily, just like them.

He didn't live far away, just in an old residential area near the school, and he lived alone.

He was an orphan, and this house was the only property his parents had left behind when they were alive.

Walking to the familiar apartment building, he pulled out his keys.

The key was inserted into the lock, making a soft "click" as it turned.

His movements paused as he remembered the first supplementary rule—sounds not produced by the body must not exceed sixty decibels.

Then Gu Changming shook his head; such details could probably be noticed by anyone who calmed down and observed carefully. It was just that everyone was currently gripped by fear, and few could settle their minds to think.

He pushed the door open, entered the house, and gently closed the door behind him.

The house was silent, and the furniture and layout gave him a sense of familiarity.

Gu Changming still kept his mouth tightly shut and went straight into the kitchen, skillfully boiling water to cook noodles.

The boiling water bubbled, and the noodles slowly softened in the pot.

He stood before the stove, his gaze calm.

Logically, he shouldn't be so composed right now, even going as far as making noodles.

However, having experienced too much life and death, this first Assessment was no longer a major concern in his eyes.

Since things had come to this, he might as well eat first.

He waited quietly for the noodles to cook; the only sounds in the room were the soft bubbling of the water and his own slow, gentle breathing.

The noodles tumbled in the boiling water as white steam rose and swirled.

Gu Changming looked at the pot, his thoughts drifting.

He was wondering whether to post the hidden rules online. Perhaps it could save many lives.

But as soon as the thought emerged, he suppressed it.

At this stage, the government's response was still extremely fast and efficient.

If he posted the rules and they were verified as effective, his identity would surely be discovered.

When the time came and those in power came knocking to ask how he knew this hidden information, he wouldn't be able to explain it at all.

Even if he made up some nonsense about discovering it by chance, he would still be noticed.

He didn't want to be noticed so early. Entering the official radar too soon, before having enough strength, carried risks that far outweighed the benefits for him.

Moreover, this Assessment wasn't particularly difficult; aside from a few individual cases, like the one in his class with a cold and cough, most people should be able to pass this Assessment safely.

There was also a crucial point: Gu Changming didn't know how he had been reborn.

Exposing a hidden rule once might be fine, but if it happened multiple times, would the "beings" who devised the Civilization Advancement Assessment notice him?

He had finally obtained this chance to start over, and his ultimate goal was to reverse the annihilation of human civilization.

If he died because of exposure before that final Assessment arrived, then everything would be in vain.

Only by surviving is there hope.

Amidst his chaotic thoughts, the noodles in the pot overcooked slightly, and the boiling water splashed a few drops with a "poof," scalding the back of his hand.

The slight sting brought him back to his senses.

Without a word, he used a slotted spoon to scoop out the noodles, then conveniently added a few stalks of green vegetables and some sliced lean meat into the pot.

A moment later, he walked out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of simple noodle soup.

The living room remained silent. He carefully controlled his movements, trying his best not to make any slurping or chewing sounds while eating.

At the same time, his mind didn't stop, repeatedly pondering that hidden rule of [Sound Pressure Coverage].

He had to find an opportunity to test it.

First, to verify if this hidden rule was effective.

Second, he wanted to obtain more points; if he could get more points at the very beginning and gain an advantage, it would be immensely beneficial for his future development.

Having made up his mind, Gu Changming no longer hesitated. He planned to wait until the dead of night to go out and test it.

There were basically no people outside at night, and with the dim visibility, it was perfect for an attempt that couldn't be discovered by others.

He sat cross-legged on the sofa, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

Sleeping was absolutely out of the question. He couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't talk in his sleep or make some noise while turning over.

In contrast, resting with eyes closed was safer; it could both restore energy and maintain silence.

Time slowly slipped away in the silence.

As the night deepened, it was pitch black outside the window, while the surrounding buildings were brightly lit. Everyone seemed to know they couldn't fall asleep at this moment, lest they accidentally made a sound.

Gu Changming opened his eyes, his gaze clear. Evidently, meditation was effective for restoring one's spirit.

He stood up noiselessly, gently opened the door again, and walked out.

The voice-activated lights in the hallway didn't turn on. Using the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he walked to the elevator entrance.

No one was visible in the residential area, and even the security booth that was usually manned was empty.

He didn't linger and walked straight out of the residential area's main gate.

Making a noise within the residential area would definitely attract attention, so it was better to go somewhere further away, as far from the residential zones as possible.

The streets were empty and deathly silent, with only the streetlights casting a dim yellow glow.

Without stopping, Gu Changming relied on his memory to walk toward a small nearby park used by residents for exercise.

By the faint light, Gu Changming walked over to a set of horizontal bars.

After taking a look, he found a wooden stick about the length of an arm off to the side.