Ranking

Dong!

A resonant bell rang out, and the plaza teemed with people.

At its center, an enormous Golden Ranking hovered in midair.

The names listed upon it had gone from Li Huai'an standing alone in unrivaled splendor to a dense mass of entries.

Many had already broken through to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood and begun their second assessment.

"Brother Chen, not bad. You have a strong chance of ranking among the top twenty disciples who complete the tasks."

The gaunt Chu Ming praised him.

Beside him, Chen Ping smiled without speaking, though inwardly he was somewhat pleased with himself.

He looked at the names on the Golden Ranking.

Aside from Li Huai'an, thirteen disciples had been the first to complete ten tasks.

Chen Ping ranked seventeenth. In the half month since breaking through to the Fifth Stage, he had completed seven tasks, far ahead of many others.

"You are doing quite well too. You have already completed five tasks. I fear that within half a month, both of us will be able to complete this assessment." Chen Ping found Chu Ming's name on the Golden Ranking and offered a word of praise.

"Eh? Xu Shan isn't on here."

Chu Ming searched around but failed to find the name he was looking for, leaving him rather puzzled.

As if recalling something, he could not help but sneer.

"I remember that brat made a great show of it when he broke through to the Fifth Stage. Ten days have passed now, yet he has not completed a single task. Could it be that he lacks the ability to complete these tasks?"

"He's here," Chen Ping said. In the distance, a familiar figure was walking over.

"The Golden Ranking was updated today, but he isn't on it. What is he here for?" Chu Ming asked, following Chen Ping's gaze.

"Could he be here to envy us?" he added, wearing an amused smile.

"Brother Xu, long time no see!" As the acquaintance approached, Chen Ping greeted him politely.

Yet Xu Shan merely cast him a sidelong glance before walking straight past him without so much as a second look.

Just because Xu Shan had been ten days or half a month slower when breaking through the Third Stage of Qi and Blood, they had wanted to distance themselves from him.

He, Xu, had no desire to keep company with such snobbish people.

"He certainly has quite a temper." Chu Ming disliked Xu Shan's attitude. Watching his retreating back, he snorted coldly.

"Falling behind is falling behind. No matter how hard he works, all he can do now is look on with envy."

"There are still plenty of tasks." In the distance, Xu Shan's expression remained calm as he looked at the hundred-plus names on the Golden Ranking.

After listening to Bai Jing's advice, he was no longer in such a hurry to take on tasks.

Still, he remained cautious by nature. Every time the Golden Ranking changed, he came to check it, worried that the Mission Hall's tasks might be depleted too quickly and that plans would fail to keep pace with change.

"The number of tasks probably won't decrease too quickly over the next month or so." Xu Shan still found it difficult to suppress his excitement.

Once he reached Perfection of the Five Viscera and completed the Top Ten Tasks with all Grade A Ratings, he would surely cause a sensation as well.

He looked over Chu Ming and Chen Ping's task records and could not help laughing inwardly.

"These two are chasing completion speed, yet both received Grade C Ratings. Of Chen Ping's seven tasks, only one earned a Grade A Rating. Chu Ming does not even have one. Heh."

"Eh?"

Xu Shan also gave a soft cry of surprise. He noticed that certain names which should have appeared on the Golden Ranking were absent.

Previously, he had made friends far and wide, so he knew several of the more formidable geniuses among the assessment disciples.

Yet several geniuses who had left a deep impression on him were not listed on the Golden Ranking.

"Ling Qinghe isn't here either," Xu Shan murmured.

He knew a little about Ling Qinghe. She was one of the rare talented young women in the Dao of Alchemy, yet she too had not made the ranking.

"Could it be that these people think the same way as Brother Bai and are all seeking the Top Ten Tasks?" Xu Shan guessed inwardly.

"That must be it. It is not just me—there are geniuses seeking the Top Ten Tasks too!!" He smiled knowingly, praising Bai Jing in his heart.

He had not been wrong to make Bai Jing his friend!

Then Xu Shan looked toward the very top of the Golden Ranking, where the three characters Li Huai'an shone brilliantly.

"Twenty-three Grade A Ratings!" Seeing the number of tasks Li Huai'an had completed and his entirely Grade A Ratings, Xu Shan could not help sucking in a cold breath.

Beyond a True Person, there was always someone greater.

Of course, he would not compare himself to Li Huai'an. So long as he surpassed people like Chen Ping, he would be satisfied.

It was early morning.

In the small courtyard before the thatched cottage, Bai Jing sat cross-legged as the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide was continuously absorbed by the Talent Tree, becoming nourishment for its growth.

"Once I become an official disciple of Shangqing Mountain, I should be able to learn true methods of cultivation. Then I will be able to absorb Spiritual Tide much faster."

That was what he thought.

The Talent Tree was growing far too slowly now. Even to this day, it had yet to sprout a fourth branch.

The only comforting thing was that he had raised his cultivation.

Through steady daily cultivation, Bai Jing had reached the Fourth Stage of Qi and Blood several days ago!

"It is just that more than half the time has already passed. I fear I cannot seek Grade A Ratings for the tasks as Xu Shan did." He gave a faint sigh.

Completing an assessment task awarded five Ascension Coins. If the rating was Grade A, an additional ten would be awarded.

Unfortunately, all he could do was gaze at it and sigh.

Then Bai Jing rose and returned to his room to continue cultivating.

Half a month later.

At this point, two months remained before the assessment ended.

"These two or three hundred people must be among the better assessment disciples this time." Bai Jing stood before the Golden Ranking, looking at the names upon it.

Everyone listed above had completed the assessment ahead of time.

Among thirty thousand assessment disciples, there were not many who could break through to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood within just a few months. That was perfectly normal and within expectations.

It was not enough to simply work hard. Talent was of crucial importance.

Disciples like him were the majority.

This also showed from another angle that this was not yet the fiercest stage of the competition. When he was close to breaking through, the true competition would begin.

"Come on, Brother Bai. Let's eat." At Bai Jing's side, Xu Shan spoke.

In the dining hall.

Xu Shan approached the table with a plate of Spiritual Meat, his face full of smiles.

"Brother Xu, you have Ascension Coins again?" Bai Jing asked in surprise.

"I spent all the travel money for riding the Immortal Boat before, so I borrowed some more."

"..."

Bai Jing abruptly looked up, staring at him.

"You reached perfection?"

Xu Shan picked up a piece of meat and ate it, then smiled faintly and nodded solemnly.

"Has your strength improved greatly?"

Xu Shan looked around, then leaned closer and answered in a low voice.

"Brother Bai, your idea was right. After reaching Perfection of the Five Viscera, my strength increased by several times at the very least. Now I am very confident I can get Grade A Ratings for every task."

"That is good, then." Bai Jing nodded without showing much emotion.

Yet Xu Shan tightly clasped his hand and said excitedly.

"To have made a friend like you is a blessing for me, Xu Shan!"

"Brother Xu, you flatter me too much. Besides, I have been the one eating your Spiritual Meat for free all this time. The blessed one should be me," Bai Jing hurriedly said.

"No, I should be thanking you for your advice."

"Forget it, let's stop being so polite and eat." Seeing Xu Shan's sincere expression, Bai Jing could hardly bear it and quickly put an end to the subject.

"Speaking of which, I need to focus on doing tasks from now on. I fear I will not have time to eat and drink tea with you, Brother Bai." Xu Shan placed most of the Spiritual Meat from his plate onto Bai Jing's.

"Just focus on your tasks. I am not a child who needs someone to keep him company while eating." Bai Jing shook his head.

"That is not how it works. Every meeting is one meeting less." Xu Shan sighed.

"What do you mean?" Bai Jing looked at him suspiciously.

"Nothing." Xu Shan smiled and was unwilling to say more.

That only made Bai Jing more puzzled. But his mind turned quickly, and he suddenly looked at his friend, who had lowered his head to eat, and guessed inwardly.

Could this guy think I will not be able to pass this assessment?