35: Ranking anomaly

"That's heart-wrenching, man."

"Brother Qing is still the most impressive, making it into the top 50. Wei Lan is also amazing, getting into the top 60."

"Exactly. The Upper Academy rankings are full of Level 5s or Level 4 'Techniques'. For Brother Qing to squeeze in is incredible!"

Indeed.

On the Upper Academy rankings, Xiao Weiqing's Level 3 'Technique' was too conspicuous. Like the Level 5 'Physique' in first place, it surprised everyone.

Furthermore, through the rankings, everyone from Anqiu City learned for the first time that Wei Lan's Extraordinary Talent was 'Spirit', and it was Level 5.

No wonder Jiang Peng was so attentive to Wei Lan; I heard they're relatives.

At that moment.

Qin Sheng said, "I just got some bad news. I don't know if it's true or not."

Li Fangnan: "What news?"

"Someone's spreading word that out of the 100 spots for the Upper Academy this year, aside from the Trainees from the Prefecture City, the other 32 cities can only have 30 people enter the Upper Academy."

"And 600 people will enter the Middle Academy."

As soon as Qin Sheng said this, the group chat instantly exploded.

"Who's talking so big? Is Luo Jiang Academy run by his family?"

"Exactly. We catch Dragon Fish and earn points based on our own abilities. Is it possible they're going to resort to robbery?"

Zhu Dong said, "Sigh, they don't dare to steal Dragon Fish, but they do dare to cause trouble. You should know that force isn't banned on the Dragon Fish Platform. This afternoon, people from at least five cities got into fights with those from the Prefecture City."

"Fuck! Are they really that thuggish?"

"There's nothing we can do. In terms of strength, all of us from the outer cities combined can't beat them, and we don't have the advantage in numbers either. Not to mention we're all fighting our own battles."

Qin Sheng said, "I just tallied our current points situation for Anqiu City. Xiao Weiqing and Wei Lan are on the Upper Academy rankings."

"Zhu Dong, Zhang Dawei, and I... 11 people in total are on the Middle Academy rankings."

"Isn't that pretty good?"

Zhu Dong said, "It's not just 'pretty good'; it's too good. It's over the top."

Our Anqiu City is just a fringe city of Luo Jiang Prefecture, maybe even the fringe of Great Xia. We only have 52 people in total. How can we have such good results?"

"That's not right. Based on the population ratio, out of nearly ten thousand Trainees, we have 52 people, and 11 of us made it into the top 2,000. That seems normal, doesn't it?"

Zhu Dong: "Normal my ass. In the past, for the academy division ratios, the Prefecture City would take at least 70% or even 80% of the spots in the Upper Academy and Middle Academy. The rest would go to us out-of-town Trainees."

"Not to mention we have two people on the Upper Academy list."

"Ah? Is that so?"

"When you put it that way, we do seem a bit impressive."

Li Fangnan said, "You're focusing on the wrong thing. What Qin Sheng and Zhu Dong mean is that we might be targeted in the coming days, especially Xiao Weiqing. That crowd from the Prefecture City won't allow Xiao Weiqing to stay on the Upper Academy rankings. That would be no different from slapping their faces."

"Right. If Xiao Weiqing enters the Upper Academy, others will think that the vast Prefecture City is full of incompetents for letting someone with a Level 3 Extraordinary Talent enter the Upper Academy."

"But Brother Qing's points are already over 800. He might even exceed 1,000 tomorrow. The Upper Academy should be basically guaranteed, right?"

Zhu Dong: "What if Xiao Weiqing doesn't catch a single Dragon Fish for the next three days?"

"How is that possible? Brother Qing is so strong; how could he go a day without a catch?"

"Wait, do you mean someone is going to mess with Brother Qing?"

Qin Sheng: "Ninety-nine percent likely."

"Xiao Weiqing, why don't you come to the Dragon Fish Platform near us tomorrow so we can look out for each other? We've allied with three other cities, so we'll have more confidence with more people."

"Okay."

Xiao Weiqing didn't refuse. There was no need to show off at a time like this; there was strength in numbers.

After a brief discussion, Xiao Weiqing stopped browsing the group chat and seized the time to Cultivate. Increasing his strength was the only way.

Tonight's goal: fill 1/3 of the shenque acupoint with Spiritual Qi and refine the Qi Fire to 250 strands... The fifth day of the assessment.

The weather was even more oppressive and sultry, as if it were about to rain.

The atmosphere today was clearly off.

When the people from Anqiu City boarded the aircraft, they clearly felt that everyone was strictly divided, huddling together by city, unlike the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere of previous days.

Dragon Fish Platform.

Today, Xiao Weiqing, Wei Lan, and Zhang Dawei didn't go to their usual spot but stayed with the group from Anqiu City.

However, they didn't join the main group; Xiao Weiqing remained alone. Otherwise, if Xiao Weiqing joined in, the others wouldn't have anything to play for.

Qin Sheng said in the group chat: "Everyone's coordination is getting more and more proficient. Keep it up and earn enough points as quickly as possible."

"Xiao Weiqing, you guys be careful. If anything happens, give us a shout, and I'll bring people over immediately."

Xiao Weiqing: "Okay, you guys be careful too."

Time passed.

Whether it was because he changed locations or for some other reason, Xiao Weiqing didn't catch a single Dragon Fish for two hours.

"Brother Qing, something's wrong."

"How so?"

Zhang Dawei said, "Quick, look at the rankings."

Hearing this, Xiao Weiqing opened his Wristband and looked at the Upper Academy rankings.

"What's going on?"

Xiao Weiqing's rank had already dropped to 73rd. Logically, even if he hadn't gained any points this morning, it shouldn't be like this. To be overtaken by so many people at once—you have to realize that when yesterday ended, he was still 46th, and very few people had 600 points.

"Da Wei, what's your rank now?"

"1002."

"What?"

"Weren't you 509th yesterday?"

Zhang Dawei's expression was grave. "Brother Qing, I've been overtaken by a lot of people from the Prefecture City."

Hearing this.

Xiao Weiqing looked at the Upper Academy rankings again. Sure enough, everyone who had overtaken him was from the Prefecture City.

"Brother Qing, look, the one at 69th!" Zhang Dawei cried out.

"I see it." Xiao Weiqing narrowed his eyes.

The person ranked 69th was a Trainee from Yidu City named Zhao Lei, with a Level 5 'Skill' Extraordinary Talent. He had 868 points. At this moment, his row on the rankings had turned gray.

Obviously, his points would no longer increase.

"Brother Qing, did this person withdraw from the assessment?"

"He was likely forced to withdraw."

Zhang Dawei was stunned, seemingly unable to understand. "Is it... necessary for them to do this?"

"Da Wei! Calm down. Just focus on catching Dragon Fish."

On the Middle Academy rankings, the points of many Prefecture City Trainees were constantly rising, with some even climbing a hundred or two hundred places. This phenomenon was clearly abnormal.

Nearly ten thousand people were participating in the academy division assessment, and the rankings changed every moment.

But shifts of one or two hundred places only happened in the range beyond 3,000 or even 5,000. How could it be like this within the top 1,000? Moreover, it was multiple people in a row, all from the Prefecture City. Xiao Weiqing wouldn't believe it for a second if someone said there wasn't something fishy going on.

Xiao Weiqing opened his Wristband and sent a message to the group.

"Stop penning the Dragon Fish. Get them ashore as quickly as possible. The points leaderboard is too bizarre."

Qin Sheng: "How could this be?"

"What's wrong? I wasn't paying attention."

Qin Sheng said, "I've already fallen out of the top 1,500. People are constantly overtaking me."

"Huh? Qin Sheng, I remember you were 800th yesterday, weren't you?"