Youth Ranking

After returning to the academy, Zhang Zhenpeng immediately had someone stew the Thousand Year Whale Rubber.

As he put it, something this good had to be eaten fresh. If it sat around too long, its medicinal effects would fade.

After a full eight hours of simmering over low heat, a pot of fragrant Whale Rubber Soup was finally brought to the table.

Wang Zhi sat down and looked at the bowl before him. The soup was crystal clear and shimmered faintly. He took a deep breath.

The fragrance filled his nose, and he immediately felt more alert.

He picked up a spoon and ate it one mouthful at a time.

When he had finished, he felt warmth spreading through his abdomen. It flowed from his stomach into every part of his body.

He got up and returned to his Exclusive Personal Dormitory. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he began meditating to absorb the medicinal effects of the Thousand Year Whale Rubber.

His body stayed hot throughout the night.

He could feel the warmth nourishing his muscles, bones, and meridians, making them more resilient.

Second Day Early Morning, sunlight streamed through the window, and Wang Zhi slowly opened his eyes.

He raised his hand and clenched his fist.

The sensation was completely different from before.

He felt stronger, more solid, as though his body had been reshaped.

His Soul Power had also increased.

He had gone from Level 21 to Level 23.

And he faintly sensed that he was cultivating faster, too.

The effects of the Thousand Year Whale Rubber truly lived up to its reputation.

A few days later, Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou came looking for him.

"Xiao Zhi! The Red Jade Shrimp is here!"

"The Dean wants us to go over!"

Zhou Tian'er excitedly grabbed him and pulled him outside.

The three of them arrived at Zhang Zhenpeng's office. The Red Jade Shrimp had already been prepared and set out on a plate.

The shrimp wasn't very big, only about as thick as an adult's arm. But its whole body was a beautiful red, as if it had been carved from red jade, and it gave off a faint fragrance.

The three of them shared it.

Wang Zhi ate a few bites of shrimp, and immediately felt a warm current of energy flowing through him.

It was different from the nourishment of the Whale Rubber. This was a purer power, flowing straight into his flesh and blood.

After eating, he could clearly feel that his physical strength had improved another step.

The Red Jade Shrimp really was a fine ingredient.

Time flowed by like water.

Half a year later.

A piece of news swept across the entire Federation.

The Continent Wind and Cloud Ranking was about to be updated.

What was the Continent Wind and Cloud Ranking?

It was a Soul Master ranking established by the Spirit Pagoda.

Its purpose was to promote the development of the Soul Master World and encourage Soul Masters to improve themselves.

The ranking was divided into several tiers.

The main list was called the Douluo Continent Wind and Cloud Ranking.

It had a hundred places, recording the one hundred most powerful Battle Armor Masters.

It was the ultimate symbol of strength and status. Everyone who made the list was a powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of the continent.

There were also several important sub-rankings, each devoted to a different field: forging, Mecha Design, Mecha Production, Mecha Repair...

They ranked the top Masters in the Four Great Sub-professions.

The list that drew the most attention from young Soul Masters and the various factions, however, was the Youth Ranking.

To qualify, candidates had to be under eighteen. They were assessed on various factors, including their Martial Soul talent, current strength, Soul Power Level, achievements in their sub-professions, and combat performance...

In the end, thirty people were chosen for the list.

Anyone who made it onto the list and survived would almost certainly become a powerhouse on the Continent Wind and Cloud Ranking in the future.

That was why every update to the Youth Ranking caused a sensation throughout the Federation.

Every faction kept a close eye on the names. Those young prodigies would become targets of fierce recruitment.

The Youth Ranking was exactly what Wang Zhi had set his sights on.

Of course, making the list could attract the attention of evil factions and organizations, bringing unwanted trouble.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Anyone who made it onto the Youth Ranking would receive resource rewards from the Spirit Pagoda.

Those resources were crucial to his cultivation going forward.

So when the Spirit Pagoda announced that it would hold the Youth Ranking Competition outside Shrek City, in front of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, he decided to go without hesitation.

"You're going to take part in the Youth Ranking Competition?"

Zhang Zhenpeng looked at Wang Zhi, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

Wang Zhi nodded.

"Yes, Dean."

Zhang Zhenpeng fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Do you know what taking part in this competition means?"

"I do."

Wang Zhi's voice was calm.

"If I win, I'll get resources, but certain factions might set their sights on me."

"If I lose, I get nothing."

"Then why go?"

"I have to."

Wang Zhi raised his head, his gaze unwavering.

"I need those resources."

Zhang Zhenpeng looked at him for a long while, then sighed.

"Very well. Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you."

He stood and patted Wang Zhi on the shoulder.

"Go, and be careful."

"With your strength, getting a place shouldn't be difficult."

Wang Zhi nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Dean."

Before long, Zhou Tian'er also heard that Wang Zhi was going to take part in the Youth Ranking Competition.

"Xiao Zhi!"

"Are you really going?"

Zhou Tian'er sat across from him, worry filling her big emerald-green eyes.

Wang Zhi nodded.

"Mm. I've already decided."

"But..."

Zhou Tian'er bit her lip.

"It's outside Shrek City."

"What if that Wu Changkong..."

She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.

After returning to the academy, Zhang Zhenpeng had made a point of looking into Wu Changkong's background.

That was how they learned Wu Changkong's identity.

He was an Inner Court student of Shrek Academy.

And Wang Zhi was going straight into their territory.

Wang Zhi smiled.

"Don't worry, Tian'er Jie."

"The Youth Ranking Competition is hosted by the Spirit Pagoda. Who would dare cause trouble at an event like that?"

Zhou Tian'er was about to say more, but Zhou Hanyou gently tugged at her sleeve.

"Let him go."

Zhou Hanyou rarely spoke. Her voice was still cool, but there was a hint of approval in it.

"He needs a bigger stage."

Zhou Tian'er looked from her sister to Wang Zhi, then finally sighed.

"Then you have to be careful."

"If you can't win, concede. Don't push yourself."

"I will, Tian'er Jie."

Wang Zhi replied with a smile.

Three days later.

Wang Zhi boarded a Soul Tool Train bound for Shrek City, traveling alone.

The scenery outside the window flashed past...

He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, memories from the past six months surfacing in his mind.

Zhou Tian'er's endless chatter, Zhou Hanyou's cool silence, and Zhang Zhenpeng's earnest hopes.

And That Day...

The slash that had crossed an endless sea of stars.

He knew there were beings standing behind him.

But he couldn't rely on them forever.

He had to become stronger.

Truly stronger.

Strong enough to control his own fate...

Strong enough that no one could take advantage of him because he lacked strength!