[First Place: Zhang Zhixian, Cultivation: Qi Martial Ninth Level, Area: Area 1] [Second Place: Gu You, Cultivation: Qi Martial Eighth Level, Area: Area 5] [Third Place: Huang Tianyu, Cultivation: Qi Martial Eighth Level, Area: Area 8] [...] [Sixty-Third Place: Xu Qingqing, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 8] [Ninety-First Place: Meng Shijun, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 8] [...]
Zhang Zhixian remained firmly at the top of the Rankings Board, suppressing both the second-ranked contender and Huang Tianyu, the prince of Wind Country, until they could not raise their heads.
Yang Chen was truly curious about what kind of person Zhang Zhixian was, to be able to overpower a prince of a nation. But Zhang Zhixian was a disciple from Area 1, at least a hundred li away from him, so the chance of them ever meeting was practically zero.
Just as he was studying the Rankings Board, cries of surprise rang out from the people gathered around Xu Qingqing.
Yang Chen immediately looked toward Xu Qingqing's ranking:
[Fifty-Fourth Place: Xu Qingqing, Cultivation: Qi Martial Sixth Level, Area: Area 8]
"Qi Martial Sixth Level!"
Yang Chen secretly marveled. Xu Qingqing's ranking had not been high at first, yet after more than two months, she had still maintained her meteoric momentum. She was nearly in the top fifty already.
He focused for a moment, then left without looking back. He was not yet confident of making the list, nor did he need the Rankings Board to test his cultivation. There were still more than ten days left this month, and his chances of getting on the board were great.
Xu Qingqing, surrounded by the crowd, seemed to sense something. She looked toward the direction Yang Chen had left and vaguely caught sight of a familiar figure fading farther and farther away.
The next day, Yang Chen bought some Fierce Beast Meat early in the morning and left. Zhu Xi's matter had merely been an interlude; his life remained peaceful, with every day spent either cultivating or pondering the art of brewing wine.
Before he knew it, another seven days had passed.
Inside the wooden cabin, Yang Chen sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes seemingly unfocused as they stared ahead:
[Realm: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Punching Force: 6847 kilograms]
A full half month had passed since his last breakthrough. Yang Chen's strength had improved by leaps and bounds once more, and as his cultivation rose, the strength gained from each session of cultivation also increased slightly.
At this rate, breaking through to the Qi Martial Sixth Level in another half month would be no problem at all.
"It's time to try climbing the Rankings Board."
Just as Yang Chen was hurrying toward the residential area, Wang Feng appeared at Wang Kui's home.
He carelessly found a place to sit, then said with a beaming smile, "Big Brother called me here. Could it be that you have some good news to tell me?"
Knowing his second brother's temperament, Wang Kui spoke bluntly. "Zhou Han came looking for me just now. He wants to arrange for his younger brother to come over to the spirit fields. Once it's done, he's willing to offer thirty spirit crystals. Tell me what you think."
"Who does this Zhou think he's looking down on? He wants us brothers to offend someone over a mere thirty spirit crystals? Did he make any other promises?"
Wang Feng understood very well what Wang Kui meant. Such matters were common, but they were also jobs that offended people. It was never worth offending a disciple with considerable potential for a mere thirty spirit crystals, unless there was some other reward.
"Besides the spirit crystals, once it's done, he'll allow you to move about on the mining mountain."
Wang Feng's eyes lit up. "Is that true?"
The mining mountain was not his territory. He had long wanted to get involved there, but Zhou Han had always refused, and he did not want to rashly go over and make an enemy of him.
"If I can open up a foothold on the mining mountain, all my cultivation resources will be settled. Big Brother, there's no reason for us to refuse this. Let's agree to it!"
Wang Kui gave him a flat look. "Don't be happy too soon. He specifically wants to replace Yang Chen. That is why I called you here."
Upon hearing Yang Chen's name, Wang Feng immediately became torn between gain and loss. Wang Kui could not help but feel slightly surprised. His younger brother was a shrewd merchant; when profit was involved, personal dignity was worth less than dirt. Yet now, he was hesitating because of Yang Chen.
"Big Brother, if it were anyone else, I'd agree without a word. But Yang Chen is somewhat special. Over the past few months, he has already spent more than a hundred spirit crystals with me."
It was not that Wang Feng had any deep friendship with Yang Chen. Rather, over the past few months, Yang Chen had brought him a net profit of at least five spirit crystals.
Five spirit crystals might not seem like much, but among all the customers he had, there were pitifully few who could provide the same value as Yang Chen.
Yang Chen was among the top five little gods of wealth in his hands.
Wang Kui smiled. "In that case, I'll reject Zhou Han and have him choose someone else."
"However, since Yang Chen has such a substantial foundation, the losses this matter brings to you and me must be compensated for somewhat. Have him offer fifteen spirit crystals."
Wang Feng felt that made sense. No matter what, Yang Chen had at least kept his spirit field patrol assignment. If he were truly assigned to the mining mountain, his cultivation speed would be greatly reduced.
He rose and left. The moment he stepped outside, he took out the Sound Transmission Bamboo and contacted Yang Chen.
On the other side, Yang Chen had just returned to the residential area when he received Wang Feng's message, saying that he wished to discuss something with him after the meal.
This was the first time Wang Feng had taken the initiative to contact him in months. Yang Chen did not think much of it, put away the Sound Transmission Bamboo, and headed to the square.
At that moment, quite a few people in the square were testing their strength. Many did not hope to make the Rankings Board, but being able to verify their own cultivation through it was still an excellent thing.
Yang Chen looked toward the Rankings Board and thought, The changes on the board are much smaller than before now.
Compared to the first two months after the Rankings Board appeared, its changes had grown fewer and fewer this month. Only a very small number of people had changed places, while most of those on the board had seen no change in cultivation.
His gaze swept toward the bottom of the Rankings Board:
[Ninety-Fifth Place: Zhu Wu, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 9] [Ninety-Sixth Place: He Changfeng, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 2] [...] [One Hundredth Place: Yan Hai, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 10] [...]
Every one of them was at the Qi Martial Fifth Level. He had also noticed several of these names the last time he returned. Some had stayed on the board for over twenty days, while the last-ranked one had emerged only recently.
That gave him confidence. He parted the crowd and walked toward the Punching Force Testing Stele.
"Huh, he's here? That saves me the trouble of waiting."
Just as Yang Chen walked toward the Testing Stele, Wang Feng happened to arrive.
He came here quite often. While he could not say he had memorized every name on the Rankings Board by heart, he knew that Yang Chen had never appeared on it.
Sometimes, he found it strange. Yang Chen spent so many spirit crystals, clearly indicating that he had some sort of backing, yet more than two months had passed and he had never made the Rankings Board. This forced Wang Feng to question Yang Chen's talent—or whether the cultivation resources Yang Chen bought had not been used on himself at all.
In short, although Yang Chen was an important customer of his, after these two months, Wang Feng's evaluation of him was not high.
Otherwise, after hearing the news earlier, he would not have hesitated. If Yang Chen had been on the Rankings Board like Xu Qingqing and the others, he would have rejected the matter outright without a second thought. Why would he have listened to his elder brother and demanded fifteen spirit crystals from Yang Chen to preserve his position?
Just as Wang Feng was considering whether to step forward and lay everything on the table, surprised voices came from the Rankings Board. "Quick, look! The board has changed!"
Everyone turned toward the Rankings Board in unison and saw a completely new name appear near the bottom.
[Ninety-Ninth Place: Yang Chen, Cultivation: Qi Martial Fifth Level, Area: Area 8]
"I've never seen this name before. Could he be a senior brother who just made the board?"
"The Rankings Board has been stabilizing lately. I didn't expect someone to rise against the tide and make it today."
"He directly entered at ninety-ninth place. This senior brother is impressive!"
"..."
If you can't find a book by its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!
Before you continue