Black Dragon Ranking

Jiangnan Pavilion, Training Camp.

Basement.

Zhou Hao had long placed the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room here. After returning from Mist Island, he focused on cultivating with Wood Essence Crystals.

As long as the Beast Emperor remained alive, he could not enter the Meteorite Star Ship to sign in.

And Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9 was probably not yet open. Even if he went searching through the South American Amazon Region, he would not find it.

So he could only keep waiting.

Boom.

The pure life energy within the Wood Essence Crystal was quickly absorbed by his body's ravenous cells, continuously strengthening his genetic makeup.

His physical fitness, already at the High-level War God level, once again surged toward its limit.

Compared to Spirits of Grass and Wood, the body absorbed Wood Essence Crystals far more efficiently. Some warriors who had reached the High-level War God level could use Wood Essence Crystals to break through to the Planetary level, with an extremely high success rate.

After consecutive sign-ins, Zhou Hao's Warrior Talent had long reached the initial level of Mental Power Talent. Coupled with the boost from the Gravity Room, his absorption efficiency was dozens of times greater than that of other warriors.

In just an hour or two,

he could clearly feel his physical fitness improving.

Only after his cells had reached saturation did he stop cultivating.

"At this rate, my physical fitness should break through to the Planetary level in less than a month!" Zhou Hao's little face remained calm. Although a Planetary Level Warrior could not compare to a Mental Power Master, it was still the Planetary level. It would greatly improve his overall strength. Most obviously, his burst speed would increase significantly.

"I've already waited several months. I don't mind waiting a few more!" He remained very patient. In any case, the Meteorite Star Ship was not going anywhere.

Thus, in the days that followed,

he only went to Mist Island to sign in once every other day. He did not care about rewards such as Spirits of Grass and Wood or Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Wood Hearts, but Wood Essence Crystals were still very precious. However, Warrior Talent and Mental Master Talent were equally important, so he could only alternate between signing in at Limit Martial Hall headquarters and Mist Island.

In the blink of an eye, April 1 arrived.

Since Zhou Ying'er had ranked 183rd at the end of last month, on the odd-numbered days in April, she had to enter the city designated by the training camp with the other students to hunt monsters, earn points, and compete for a higher Black Dragon Ranking.

"Sis, there are many Low-level General monsters in City No. 1001, and Mid-level Beast Generals are everywhere too. You must be careful once you enter. Do your best, but don't worry about your results. Even if you rank last, you can still enjoy the same resources and benefits as me," Zhou Hao earnestly reminded her.

Zhou Ying'er patted her chest. "Don't worry. Your sister isn't weak. Besides, I'm wearing an SS-class Combat Suit, so there's no danger at all. Fighting Beast General-level monsters in the Wilderness Zone is the best way to temper my blade techniques and movement techniques. I've studied under Teacher Xia for more than ten days now. I have to put it to the test myself!"

Zhou Hao said helplessly, "All right, but you have to promise me that you absolutely won't take risks."

"Fine."

As Zhou Ying'er left,

Xia Jing appeared beside Zhou Hao at some point. "Your sister's talent may be average, but she truly works hard. She also has a competitive personality, so don't worry. Let her make her own way."

Zhou Hao froze and looked up at Xia Jing.

"You can't take care of her for the rest of her life," Xia Jing said with a smile.

"Teacher Xia, I don't understand all that lofty reasoning." Zhou Hao curled his lips, turned around, and returned to Jiangnan Pavilion. Then, after concealing himself, he immediately caught up with Zhou Ying'er.

After a day of fighting,

Zhou Hao could indeed see that Zhou Ying'er had improved greatly compared to when she had been in the Wilderness Zone of Jiangnan Base City. Moreover, the Spirits of Grass and Wood from the past ten-plus days had taken effect. Her physical fitness had now reached the Beginner General level.

"Teacher Xia does have some skill." Zhou Hao floated in midair and watched Zhou Ying'er cleanly kill a Beginner General monster. He nodded to himself. The difference between being taught by a War God-level teacher and figuring things out alone was enormous.

Though he was very strong, if he had to teach Zhou Ying'er himself at this stage, the results might not be as good as Xia Jing's.

After secretly following her for a full day,

no blind fool came to trouble Zhou Ying'er, which reassured Zhou Hao considerably. A little after six in the evening, he returned to the training camp and then paid a visit to the Nine-story Tower.

A little after eleven that night,

Zhou Ying'er dragged her exhausted body back to the training camp. As soon as she returned, she hurried to check the Black Dragon Ranking. Compared to March, she had risen by one place.

Zhou Hao walked over to Zhou Ying'er and smiled. "Sis, how does it feel to surpass me?"

He had not gone hunting monsters yet, so he was naturally at the bottom of the rankings.

"It feels great. Even my genius little brother is beneath me." Zhou Ying'er lifted her little face, immensely proud. "Come on, I'm treating today. I'll make sure you eat your fill."

The next day, April 2,

it was Zhou Hao's turn to go out and hunt monsters on an even-numbered day.

Quite a few students from the Elite Training Camp were secretly watching. Though it was only the second day of the month, they all wanted to know just how high a freakish genius like Zhou Hao could climb in his first attempt at the rankings!

Zhou Ying'er knew Zhou Hao was formidable, but she was still worried. In her eyes, this was her younger brother's first time going into the wilderness to fight monsters.

"Xiao Hao, your blade techniques are strong, and your movement techniques aren't bad either. But fighting monsters in real life is different from fighting in the Trial Tower. Remember not to show off. Your safety comes first."

Xia Jing, beside her, also hurriedly advised, "Your sister is right. Don't be careless."

Zhou Hao waved casually. "Sis, Teacher Xia, relax. The strongest monsters in all of City No. 1001 are only Low-level Lords. As long as I don't provoke them, I'll basically be fine."

As he spoke, he turned and followed the other students.

Looking at Zhou Hao's small retreating figure, Xia Jing could not help sighing. "I've never seen a monstrous genius like your brother. He grasps blade techniques the moment they're explained, and his movement techniques and Nine Heavens Thunder Blade have surpassed most students. When it comes to comprehension, he truly is a freak."

Hearing Teacher Xia praise him, Zhou Ying'er was very happy. She could not help asking, "Teacher Xia, how high do you think my brother can climb?"

"Hard to say. He'll definitely make it into the top hundred, but the top fifty is basically impossible. His Trial Tower level is still a little low." Xia Jing shook his head.

Zhou Ying'er nodded gently. She thought so too. Black Dragon Ranking points were calculated by multiplying the battle achievement points earned from killing monsters by Combat Power amplitude. Every student in the top fifty had a Combat Power amplitude above six, and all of them had physical fitness at the High-level General level.

Her younger brother had just arrived. Making it into the top hundred would already be excellent.

In fact, many training camp teachers and students also felt that Zhou Hao could only reach the top hundred.

Time passed bit by bit.

It was not until a little after eleven at night that students began returning one after another.

The Black Dragon Ranking points determined each person's resource allocation, so every student hunted as many monsters as possible. Very few returned early.

Seeing many students from the odd-numbered day gathered around the Black Dragon Sculpture, the returning students ignored their exhaustion and hurried over.

"Up another spot!"

"Zhou Hao's efficiency at killing monsters tonight is insane!"

"Yeah, it's only been twenty minutes since eleven, and this little guy has already surpassed more than ten students!"

"Zhou Hao's ranking didn't change at all this morning. That means he rested the entire morning."

Hearing the discussion from the students gathered in layer after layer, those who had just returned from the hunting zone—including Zhu Xuan, who had ranked fourth last month, and Chang Zicheng, who had ranked tenth—quickly squeezed their way in.