Playing the Pig, Only to Become One

"So you're stuck on the sixteenth wave too?" the round-faced boy pressed.

Zhao Wuji did not deny it, but simply nodded slightly.

Several students from the Provincial No. 1 High School immediately showed expressions of "I knew it," and comforted them, saying, "It's okay, everyone's stuck on the sixteenth wave. This wave of the boss is obviously designed to trap people. Look at Lin Qingyin's side, she probably won't get past the sixteenth wave either."

"Yes, everyone's stuck on the sixteenth wave. In the end, it all comes down to who can deal the most damage. Brother Zhao, your Nine Nether Sword Master has high damage, so you'll definitely deal the most damage."

Zhao Wuji didn't speak, but simply turned his head slightly towards the rankings, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He waited.

Once the leaderboard refreshes and everyone sees his name at the top, then casually remark, "I was lucky enough to kill the first boss."

He had even planned out his expression... three parts calm, three parts humble, and four parts impassive.

A few minutes later, the second round of the assessment officially ended.

The emotionless voice rang out again in the sky above the square.

"Second stage assessment complete. Rankings are being updated."

Everyone looked up, their eyes fixed on the giant leaderboard in the center of the square.

The names scrolled rapidly across the light screen, then suddenly froze.

First place: Su Mu, Rongcheng No. 1 High School. Second round score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

Second place: Lin Qingyin. Provincial Capital No. 1 High School. Second round score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

Third place: Zhao Wuji. Provincial Capital No. 1 High School. Second stage score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

Fourth place: Zhou Zekai. Provincial Capital No. 1 High School. Second round score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

Fifth place: Chen Zixuan. Provincial Capital No. 2 High School. Second round score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

Sixth place: Ye Qingxue, Rongcheng No. 1 High School. Second round score: Hidden. Total score: Hidden.

7th Place: Wang Muyuan. Provincial Capital No. 1 High School. Second Round Score: Hidden. Total Score: Hidden.

The square fell silent for a moment.

Then it exploded.

"First Su Mu again? That Su Mu from Rongcheng No. 1 High School?"

"Lin Qingyin is second? Zhao Wuji is third?"

"Wait, isn't Lin Qingyin the Heavenly Sound Zither Maiden? A support-type core card, how did she get second place in the second stage?"

"Zhao Wuji's Nine Nether Sword Master is a well-known monster-slaying machine. It's one thing that he ranked second in the first level, but he actually ranked third when fighting the boss in the second level?"

Among the crowd from the Provincial No. 1 High School, Zhao Wuji stared at the ranking list, his expression frozen.

Third place.

He killed the first boss of the sixteenth wave, yet he only ranked third.

He accepted that Su Mu came in first. Su Mu was first in the first round, so it wouldn't be too surprising if he took first place in the second. But Lin Qingyin?

Lin Qingyin's Heavenly Sound Zither Maiden is a support-type core card, specializing in buffs, healing, and crowd control, but her monster-clearing efficiency is far inferior to that of his Nine Nether Sword Master.

Why is she ranked ahead of me?

Zhao Wuji's face darkened.

Just then, the round-faced boy next to him leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Old Zhao, how much health did you take off the boss in the sixteenth wave? That way we can figure out how far Su Mu has gotten."

Zhao Wuji opened his mouth.

The phrase he had prepared, "I was lucky enough to kill one," was stuck in his throat; he couldn't bring himself to say it.

What does it mean to say this now?

He came in third place, behind Su Mu and Lin Qingyin.

He said he killed a boss, but what about Lin Qingyin and Su Mu?

But is he better than him? No matter how he answers, he'll just be someone else's stepping stone.

He can't keep up the act anymore.

He tried to play dumb to outsmart others, and now he's really become the fool.

"No... not many," Zhao Wuji mumbled, his face ashen, as if he'd swallowed a live fly.

The round-faced boy, oblivious to his expression, continued talking to himself, "How many waves did Lin Qingyin actually attack? How can a support-type core card like her be ranked second?"

Just then, a low murmur arose from the other side of the crowd. The voice was not loud, but it quickly spread.

Lin Qingyin said she killed two bosses.

Two? Two from the sixteenth wave?

"Yes, she said that in the sixteenth wave, there were five bosses. She fought with all her might and killed two of them, but she couldn't defeat the remaining three."

"Two... and one support-type core card, to kill two of the sixteenth wave bosses?"

All eyes turned to the girl standing quietly at the edge of the crowd from the Provincial No. 1 High School.

Lin Qingyin wore a light blue dress, was slender, and had delicate features. She held a guqin in her arms. Her expression was calm, as if she didn't think she had done anything remarkable.

Then, someone realized what was happening.

"Wait, Lin Qingyin killed two, but what about Su Mu?"

"Su Mu ranked first, it's impossible for him to only kill one, right?"

"At least two. Maybe more."

"Hiss..."

A collective gasp filled the square.

Everyone's gaze turned to the number one name on the leaderboard, and their expressions completely changed.

Su Mu, Rongcheng No. 1 High School. First place in the first level, first place in the second level. Moreover, his score in the second level was higher than Lin Qingyin's, who had defeated two of the sixteenth wave BOSSes.

What does that mean?

This means he killed at least two, and possibly three, four, or even more.

A candidate from the small town of Rongcheng defeated at least two of the sixteenth wave bosses in the second stage.

The SSS-level awakened individuals from the Provincial No. 1 High School exchanged glances, their arrogance completely vanishing.

"Rongcheng No. 1 High School... when did such a monster emerge?"

"I don't know. But his name is in first place, he's advanced two rounds."

Standing in the crowd, listening to the surrounding chatter and looking at the glaring name on the leaderboard, Zhao Wuji felt like a clown.

He killed one, thinking he could easily take first place. But Lin Qingyin killed two. Su Mu was even stronger than Lin Qingyin.

He came in third.

He pretended to be a pig, but now he really looks like one.

Zhao Wuji took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions.

There's a third hurdle. He told himself. There's still a chance for the third hurdle.

I just don't know what the third test will be about.