As Xu Yuan disappeared into the teleportation area, the live broadcast screens activated once again.
The players were stunned to see that the contestant representing the Cube Man Guild was none other than Steve himself!
Xu Yuan's participation immediately ignited their enthusiasm.
"Wait—what?! The Cube Man Guild just lost their king and got eliminated in the second game?!"
"I guess they're trying to keep their first-place position steady!"
"I've always wondered how Steve plays—today I can finally learn from him!"
"Don't overhype Steve too much—he just started playing this game. He might not be that strong."
"Honestly, this game seems to rely a lot on luck. It's not very predictable."
The crowd eagerly anticipated the outcome of this match.
Most players believed that this game was more about face-to-face combat, but in reality, it was all about skillful operation.
Once Xu Yuan entered the game, his goal was clear: to "stroke the tree." (T/N:???)
He approached a nearby tree, break it with his bare hands, then immediately crafted a crrafting table and crafted a wooden pickaxe.
With the pickaxe in hand, Xu Yuan didn't rush but instead began searching for a nearby natural mine.
After about two minutes of wandering, he discovered a small mining cave. On his way there, he had already slaughtered two chickens and a sheep, ensuring he had enough food—if not for survival, then at least to avoid starvation during the game.
Most players didn't bother to look for food—they simply focused on fighting. But Xu Yuan was different. He knew that to win, he had to do more than just fight; he had to prepare meticulously.
His strategy was straightforward: gather resources, craft tools, and set traps—all aimed at controlling the battlefield.
Inside the mine, Xu Yuan first dug up stones and coal, then crafted a stone pickaxe, a stone sword, and torches.
Players watching this were puzzled.
"What is Boss Steve doing in the mine?"
"Maybe he's looking for magma or trying to lure monsters?"
"It's daytime—no monsters around. Maybe he's trying to attract monsters himself?"
The viewers speculated wildly, imagining many ways Xu Yuan could meet his demise—falling from heights, being ambushed by monsters, or other hazards.
Meanwhile, the Long Teng guild persisted with their strategy—digging deeper pits. This time, they improved upon past mistakes, digging even deeper trenches, convinced that a deeper pit would prevent opponents from escaping or surviving the fall.
Back in the mine, Xu Yuan soon struck iron ore. Without hesitation, he mined three pieces and smelted them in a furnace.
He then crafted iron ingots, which he used to produce iron bucket.
After completing these preparations, Xu Yuan quickly surfaced and located a water source. He filled a bucket with water—an essential tool to survive falling from great heights.
He understood that Long Teng would likely adopt a "fall from height" tactic again. To counter this, the first priority was to land safely on water after the switch.
Four minutes had passed. Only one minute remained before the switch.
Xu Yuan looked around, pondering how to ensure his own demise—if that was the plan.
Seeing nothing suitable, he dug some soil blocks and began stacking them, mimicking Ken's earlier tactic.
He had countless methods in mind to outwit his opponent, but time was limited. He chose the simplest approach: pile high and hope for the best.
He was certain that after the switch, he would land in a dangerous spot, guaranteeing his death.
The spectators watched with a mix of disappointment.
They had hoped Xu Yuan would surprise everyone with innovative tactics—perhaps using traps or clever tricks. Instead, he resorted to the same method as Ken.
"Thought Steve had some new tricks, but it's just the same old stacking," one player muttered.
"I told you not to overhype him—he's not so different from others," another added.
"The leader always has some tricks up his sleeve, but in the end, it's still just piling blocks," someone else said.
As the countdown reached zero, the players on both sides swapped positions.
On the Dragon Teng side, the fall was inevitable— the player died instantly.
Xu Yuan, however, timed his descent perfectly. At the last second, he placed the water bucket, landing safely and suffering no damage—completely unscathed.
The scene exploded with shock and confusion.
"What?! How is Steve still full of health?!"
"Did he pour water on the ground at the last second?"
Many players had missed what Xu Yuan had done in the split second before landing.
Some who saw clearly felt chills run down their spines.
"Unbelievable… He actually poured water to protect himself during the fall!"
"It's genius—no wonder he went into the mine to craft barrels and buckets. That's how this game is really played!"
The crowd's understanding deepened: survival depended not just on luck or brute force, but on quick thinking and precise execution.
Xu Yuan's tactics had once again demonstrated the importance of preparation, timing, and clever use of resources.
The game's complexity was far greater than simple face-to-face combat—it was a battle of operation, patience, and adaptability.