Ranking Battle

Five days later, the Wasteland Mountain trial ended. After the instructors brought all the trainees who had emerged from Wasteland Mountain back to the Training Camp, they routinely returned to Wasteland Mountain to conduct a thorough search, lest any survivors be unable to find their way out.

In the Training Camp dormitory, Ban Zhuang watched Jun Xuehan sitting at the table, staring intently at a clock, and unconsciously moved closer.

"Brother Jun, why is this clock spinning so fast?" Ban Zhuang asked in confusion. On a normal clock, only the second hand moved quickly, but on the clock before Jun Xuehan, the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand were all spinning at breakneck speed.

"Because it's broken." Jun Xuehan raised his eyelids slightly and spoke somewhat speechlessly.

Ban Zhuang's expression stiffened. He gave an awkward smile, suddenly feeling that his question had been stupid. If a clock was spinning that fast, wasn't it obvious that it was broken?

How had he even asked such a question?

"Brother Jun, once the top ten Ranking Battle ends in a couple of days, we'll graduate from the Training Camp. What are your plans then? Will you enter Spirit Academy? If you do, maybe we can keep being roommates." Ban Zhuang asked curiously.

"I don't know. We'll talk about it then." Jun Xuehan ran a hand through his hair and turned his gaze toward the plaza outside.

"Brother Jun, I heard the environment at Spirit Academy is who knows how much better than at the Training Camp. The dormitories aren't nearly as shabby, either. Most importantly, there are lots of beautiful senior and junior sisters at the academy." Ban Zhuang spoke slowly, and a yearning gleam even appeared in his eyes.

"That's all the ambition you have? If you enter Spirit Academy, can't you aim a little higher? Like moving into the girls' dormitory." Yan Feng shot Ban Zhuang a disdainful glance.

The two then began laughing and roughhousing, while Jun Xuehan sat quietly to the side, completely out of place with the current atmosphere.

Time flew by.

Three days later, after the thorough search, all the trainees who had failed to emerge from Wasteland Mountain were brought out by the instructors.

At the same time, His Holiness the Pope of Spirit Hall personally came to the Training Camp to watch its final top ten Ranking Battle.

The Training Camp trainees, already in high spirits, became even more excited upon His Holiness the Pope's arrival. Some were practically exhilarated.

Yet there was one exception. Jun Xuehan remained as calm as ever, with barely any emotional fluctuation.

A Competition Stage had been temporarily erected in the Training Camp plaza. The top ten who had emerged from the Wasteland Mountain trial stood around it, waiting for the final Ranking Battle to begin.

Directly before the Competition Stage was a temporary viewing stand. At its highest point, Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor, propping her head up with one hand as she quietly watched the Competition Stage.

Two middle-aged men stood to Bibi Dong's left and right. On the left was Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, while on the right was Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.

"Jie Kaer, there seem to be rather few outstanding trainees in this batch," Bibi Dong said as she swept her gaze across the trainees below.

"Your Holiness, there were originally five outstanding trainees in the Training Camp. However, during the Wasteland Mountain trial, two failed to pass, and one was left behind in Wasteland Mountain forever. It truly is rather regrettable." Jie Kaer slowly explained the situation at the Training Camp and during the Wasteland Mountain trial.

"Outstanding? Would outstanding trainees fail to even make it out of Wasteland Mountain? Scheming is fine, but if they can't even gauge their opponent's strength before they start scheming, does that count as outstanding?" Bibi Dong chuckled softly, clearly not paying much attention to it.

The Wasteland Mountain trial was not difficult. Anyone with even a little strength could basically pass it. The few outstanding trainees Jie Kaer had mentioned should certainly have had no trouble passing the trial.

Since they had failed, the reason was obvious with only a little thought. They had likely acted to intercept other outstanding trainees in order to secure their own results, only to find themselves too weak and be intercepted in turn.

Jie Kaer smiled awkwardly and sat silently in his seat.

As the Ranking Battle began, the Training Camp trainees stepped onto the Competition Stage one after another to compete.

Among the ten, the only one Jun Xuehan considered even slightly noteworthy was Zong Ming.

But Zong Ming's strength was only about equal to Yan Xing, Yin Bing, and the others. In Wasteland Mountain, Yan Xing, Yin Bing, and Long Qiang together had been no match for Jun Xuehan, much less Zong Ming alone.

Thus, the outcome of the matches was beyond doubt. Jun Xuehan took first place with a perfect record, while Zong Ming ranked second.

After the matches ended, on the wooden board in the most prominent spot in the Training Camp plaza, the names that had originally belonged to the Golden Generation were all pushed back one place, while Jun Xuehan's name stood at the top.

Bibi Dong looked at Jun Xuehan, rose directly from her seat of honor, and walked before him. She asked softly, "Jun Xuehan, are you willing to take me as your master and become my second disciple?"

At Bibi Dong's words, the surrounding trainees all revealed envious looks, yet none dared to speak.

Jun Xuehan bowed slightly in salute and said calmly, "This disciple greets Master."

The corners of Bibi Dong's lips lifted slightly. She swept her gaze around and said, "Those who have graduated from the Training Camp may enter Spirit Academy to continue their studies. Those who have not graduated may remain at the Training Camp to continue training. As for those eliminated from the Training Camp, instructors will later assist you with the necessary procedures."

"Your families are waiting for you at the entrance. Leave the Training Camp in an orderly manner and go home." Bibi Dong spoke loudly, then reached out to help Jun Xuehan up and led him toward the Training Camp's exit.

In a few flashes, Yue Guan and Gui Mei appeared behind Bibi Dong and left the Training Camp at her left and right.

At the Training Camp entrance, many carriages were parked outside, with numerous people standing beside them and waiting for their family's children to emerge from the Training Camp.

Whenever they saw Bibi Dong come out, they would bow in salute.

Bibi Dong led Jun Xuehan directly into the carriage compartment. Yue Guan and Gui Mei sat at the front of the carriage and drove it toward Pope's Palace.

Inside the carriage, Hu Liena looked at Jun Xuehan as he climbed in, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Hello, Junior Brother!"

Jun Xuehan looked at the smile on Hu Liena's face and nodded lightly. "Hello."

Hu Liena blinked, looked at Jun Xuehan's cold demeanor, and could not help pouting. "Shouldn't you call me Senior Sister?"

Jun Xuehan leaned against the carriage and said, "Oh, Senior Sister."