Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.
Beside a garbage heap near Heaven Dou City's gates, a long-legged gray-haired figure who looked utterly out of place carefully rummaged through a trash can.
A pair of clear, curious orange-gold eyes spun around as she stared straight into the bin.
Behind the gray-haired girl, a pink, rabbit-like little spirit with fluffy long ears and a bushy tail was desperately tugging at her shoulder.
The pink spirit's eyes narrowed into curved arcs, one shaped like a greater-than sign and the other like a less-than sign. Her little arms and legs were stretched taut, and she was clearly using every bit of strength she had.
She kept making soft, plaintive little cries. "Mimi..."
She looked so exasperated that she seemed ready to drag the girl rummaging through trash in full view of everyone into a crack in the ground and hide her there, lest anyone see and bring shame upon them.
Passersby stopped and pointed at the gray-haired girl from a distance, each one putting on a self-righteous air, as though they stood on the moral high ground.
"How can people still be picking through trash no one wants these days?"
"Ew! She's so pretty and delicate. Why would she do something so filthy and disgusting? She must be some sort of loose woman."
"Hey, I know that gray-haired girl! She wanders all over the city every day, digging through trash cans for things!"
"I even saw her in Sunset Forest, gnawing on Spirit Rings that had formed after Soul Beasts died!"
"That's not all! A few days ago, I saw her climb onto someone's roof, do a backflip, and shout, 'I am Aeon of The Hunt! Bring me my wheelchair!'"
"She's definitely a lunatic! She even shaved my perfectly good cat bald, right down to a monk's pate!"
"Exactly! Last time I was carrying a box home, that crazy woman suddenly jumped out and challenged me. She said that if she won, the treasure chest I was holding would be hers! Who'd want to compete with her?"
Hearing that the gray-haired girl was a raving lunatic who liked to steal things, the passersby scattered like startled snakes, backing away three steps for fear of getting caught up in trouble.
"Boss Dai! Th-that trash picker again! Heh... what a small world. Damn it!"
Just then, a group of people came through the city gate.
The short, stout red-haired boy in the group spotted the gray-haired girl at once. His eyes bulged with rage as he ground out the words through clenched teeth.
He was none other than Ma Hongjun of the Shrek Seven Devils. His favorite pastime was sneaking off to places of ill repute to vent his Evil Fire.
A few days earlier, he had happened upon the gray-haired girl. Her face, with its commanding older-sister aura and adorable, clueless charm, had instantly set his Evil Fire raging.
Blinded by lust, Ma Hongjun had immediately tried to approach the beautiful young woman and force himself on her.
The result was only to be expected. The gray-haired girl had beaten him black and blue, leaving him in a miserable state.
She had even robbed him of every last coin he had!
"Fatty? You know this trash picker?"
"But seriously, this girl's a real beauty. That little pink fluffball beside her is pretty interesting, too. Could it be an External Beast Martial Soul like Grandmaster's?"
Oscar edged closer, his peach-blossom eyes wide as he leered at the gray-haired girl.
"Hmph! I'm already a bona fide Four-Ring Soul Ancestor! Just you wait, little beauty!"
Ma Hongjun snorted and stuck out his chest as he made his threat.
As for the embarrassing incident where his lust had gotten the better of him and the beautiful girl had beaten him with a bat, he'd rather die than tell anyone.
After all, that was nothing like being thrown out of a brothel and then having those spoiled young masters trample him and humiliate him over his looks.
"Ugh... you boys have nothing but filthy thoughts in your heads. You're absolutely disgusting."
Ning Rongrong furrowed her willow brows. One scornful glance at Ma Hongjun and Oscar was enough for her to see right through their little schemes.
"Mimi... Mimi..."
The gray-haired girl reluctantly put the lid back on the trash can, and Mimi immediately floated over to her side.
With both fluffy little hands on her hips, Mimi chattered at her indignantly, just like a young elder scolding a junior.
The gray-haired girl scratched the back of her head and blinked in confusion.
"Mimi, why are you stuttering again?"
That's right. The strange girl with gray hair was none other than Stelle, the protagonist of Honkai Star Rail.
After finishing her adventures in Amphoreus, she had opened her eyes and somehow found herself transported to this unfamiliar world.
The gray-haired girl had already guessed that her current situation was probably exactly like the one Little March had encountered in Amphoreus.
March 7th had arrived in Amphoreus ahead of time, and she, in turn, had probably reached the Astral Express's next stop ahead of schedule.
The difference was that silly March 7th had spent ninety-four days in Amphoreus before belatedly realizing she had become a ghost.
As for her, the gray-haired girl, she had known where she stood from the very first day. All she had to do was wait patiently for Uncle Welt and the others to arrive.
With nothing else to do, the gray-haired girl had simply wandered all over the place, learning the locations of every trash can in Heaven Dou City by heart.
The gray-haired girl lifted her head and gazed at the cloudless sky, wondering when her companions would show up.
Suddenly, a dazzling golden light streaked across the sky without warning.
The golden light spread at astonishing speed, like lightning before one could cover one's ears. In the blink of an eye, it had become a vast screen that blotted out the sky.
Row after row of forceful golden characters slowly appeared upon it.
[Heavenly Ranking: The Top Ten Young Geniuses of Douluo!]
[With the Spirit Master Tournament about to begin, all Spirit Masters aged twenty-five and under are eligible for the ranking!]
[Ranking criteria: The younger one's age and the greater one's combat strength and talent, the higher one's position!]
[Those who make the ranking will receive generous rewards!]
"W-what is that?"
The gray-haired girl lifted her head. Her clear, innocent eyes were filled with confusion, and her tiny face was covered in bewilderment.
"Mimi... Mimi..."
Mimi raised her head, too, staring at the Sky Screen and letting out a puzzled cry.
The golden light radiating from the Sky Screen seemed almost tangible, dyeing the entire sky a dazzling gold.
The words on it were so clear that every living thing in every corner of Douluo Continent could see them.
At the same time, a voice ancient and far-reaching, as though it came from beyond the heavens, resounded across every inch of Douluo Continent.
"A ranking of Douluo's top ten young geniuses, with rewards, too?"
The entire continent erupted in an uproar.
After all, the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies was about to begin.
The outstanding young talents already making a name for themselves were a favorite topic of conversation for the common folk.
Some championed the ice beauty Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy, praising her unmatched beauty, brilliant mind, and peerless strength!
Others cheered for Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy, a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, lauding his Self-Created Soul Skill and his boundless talent and prospects.
Countless more held the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall in the highest regard, believing them to be the finest among the younger generation.
Everyone had their own opinion, and no one could reach a consensus.
Ultimately, it was because ordinary people knew far too little about Spirit Masters and could only make wild guesses based on scraps of hearsay.
Everyone gazed up at the golden Sky Screen, shaken to the core. Such a scene that reached from heaven to earth could only be a divine miracle!
The common folk fell to their knees and kowtowed in worship. At the same time, they eagerly hoped the young talent they supported would make the ranking.
"The Genius Ranking? Heh, every student at Shrek Academy is a Little Monster, chosen from one in ten thousand!
"Now, all of them except Xiao Wu have broken through the forty-level threshold and become Soul Ancestors!
"To wield such strength at their age, this ranking is practically a showcase made just for Shrek Academy! Hahaha..."
Flender pushed up his glasses. His long, shoehorn-shaped face brimmed with smug certainty, and his pride practically spilled from his words.
Yu Xiaogang was also looking up at the Sky Screen, but his gaze drifted involuntarily to his direct disciple, Tang San, his eyes full of hope.
The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall certainly had extraordinary talent and formidable strength.
But no matter how gifted they were, even Hu Liena—the Innate Full Soul Power genius whom Bibi Dong had taken as her personal disciple—had been a year older than Tang San when she advanced to Soul Ancestor.
And she had neither Tang San's proud four-ring Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring nor his extraordinarily powerful External Soul Bone.
Yu Xiaogang's lips curved slightly upward, and he couldn't help but straighten the back he had kept hunched for so long. He was utterly certain:
The first place on this ranking could belong to none other than my disciple, Tang San!
When that happened, even if Tang San didn't take part in the Spirit Master Tournament, he would still be able to prove to the world that his Martial Soul Theory wasn't mere armchair talk!
And that he wasn't a good-for-nothing!!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi gazed at the Sky Screen with a grave expression. He turned to Sword Douluo beside him, who had tried to attack the Sky Screen to no avail, and asked in a low voice:
"Uncle Jian, how did it go?"
Sword Douluo slowly shook his head, his brow heavy with concern.
"This Sky Screen is unfathomably mysterious, beyond the understanding of ordinary people like us. I gave it everything I had, yet I couldn't stir even the slightest ripple."
"With such a startling commotion, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can't be the only one testing it."
Ning Fengzhi let out a soft sigh, then changed the subject, a flash of light in his eyes.
"Since the Sky Screen is still hanging intact in the heavens, even the old monsters of Spirit Hall must be powerless against it."
He paused, his voice brimming with pride.
"Rongrong's Martial Soul evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda long ago, and she must have obtained her fourth Spirit Ring by now. With her talent, she's sure to have a place on this Genius Ranking!"
Spirit Hall, Pope's Palace!
Holding a Scepter, Bibi Dong stood proudly in the middle of the hall. She gazed coldly at the Sky Screen in the heavens, then slowly swept her eyes across the members of the Golden Generation standing below.
Only when her gaze fell on Hu Liena did her frozen face soften at last, a hint of expectation flickering in her eyes.
But she soon furrowed her brows and pondered to herself:
Twenty-five and under... That mongrel from the Angel Family...
Spirit Hall, Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu stood with his hands clasped behind his back beneath the vast, towering Angel Statue. Clad in white as pure as snow, he radiated majesty without needing to show anger.
He gazed at the Sky Screen and declared in a voice that rang like a hammer striking stone:
"Xiao Xue is twenty-four this year. She's only one step away from breaking through to Soul Emperor and advancing to Soul Saint. Who else could take first place on this ranking?"
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Clan leader Yu Yuanzhen's laughter thundered through the clouds, trembling through the entire clan:
"Hahaha! The Genius Ranking! The Twin Stars of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are bound to make the ranking and shine brilliantly!! Wu hahahaha..."
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