75: Are you trying to trick me out of my points again?

Late at night.

Inside the ladder system.

On the rankings, that name was clearly visible, as real as it could be.

At this moment.

Tens of thousands of eyes were fixed on that name.

18th place, Xiao Weiqing.

If it were an ordinary Level 5 Extraordinary Talent, no one would care this much, because if it wasn't you, it would be him; there's always someone in 18th place.

However.

Unfortunately, the person ranked 18th had a Level 3 Extraordinary Talent.

"Just who is this Xiao Weiqing?"

"Supposedly, he came from an orphanage."

"Nothing to say, just that people really are different."

"Just one word: awesome!"

"This is a big deal now. Probably the entire Daxia Supernatural University will know the name Xiao Weiqing."

"Brothers, I can already imagine tomorrow's class; the instructor will use Xiao Weiqing as the 'other people's child' to lecture us." A Level 4 passed by.

"I feel for you. Luckily, I only have a Level 3 Extraordinary Talent. There are plenty of people better than me, one Xiao Weiqing doesn't make a difference."

"..."

Wei Lan hadn't left the ladder system either. She was browsing the forums and occasionally checking Xiao Weiqing's ranking.

She had personally witnessed Xiao Weiqing's rank rise from outside the top 100 to 60th, 40th, 29th... and finally freezing at 18th.

Thinking of this, Wei Lan hurriedly exited the ladder system.

She wanted to tell Jiang Peng this news.

"Cousin, I have something to tell you."

As soon as Jiang Peng picked up the call, he heard Wei Lan's impatient voice.

"It's 'Cousin' when you need something, and 'Jiang Peng' when you don't. Wei Lan, you're really pragmatic."

"That's not true..." Wei Lan said sheepishly.

"Hmph, speak then. What is it? But let's get this straight first: I don't have any points."

Wei Lan said, "It's about Brother Qing."

"I knew it. Wei Lan, if you could care about me half as much as you care about Xiao Weiqing, I could die happy even if I were far from home."

"Cousin, don't die yet. Let me finish."

Jiang Peng: "Get lost!"

Jiang Peng angrily hung up the call.

"Ring... ring~"

The Wristband rang again.

"Wei Lan, just spit it out!"

"Cousin, don't be angry. This news is absolutely explosive. Don't you want to hear it?"

"Tsk, what could happen with a bunch of fresh recruits like you who just entered the academy?"

Wei Lan cleared her throat twice. "Then listen well: Brother Qing has reached 18th on the ladder."

"18th?"

Jiang Peng was silent; he felt his intelligence was being insulted.

Every grade has its own ladder system.

He knew Xiao Weiqing's strength; he was very strong, having defeated Qin Tian before.

But after all, he had only just had his Awakening not long ago. And now...

Xiao Weiqing's Extraordinary Talent was only Level 3, and everyone had already been awakened for more than half a month now.

Those with Level 5 Extraordinary Talents had already started exerting themselves. It would be good enough if Xiao Weiqing didn't fall behind.

18th?

180th, he might actually believe.

"Then congratulations. It's late; your cousin is going to sleep."

"Cousin, you think I'm lying to you? I'm telling the truth." Wei Lan got a bit anxious hearing Jiang Peng's dismissive tone.

"Isn't it? Are you trying to trick me into investing in Xiao Weiqing again?"

"Wei Lan, let me tell you, I already gave Xiao Weiqing 3,000 points because I listened to your nonsense last time. Don't take sides against your own family; I'm your brother."

"My points didn't just blow in with the wind."

Wei Lan said softly, "It's true, Cousin. When have I ever lied to you about Brother Qing's matters?"

Jiang Peng was stunned.

That was true.

Could it be this girl really wasn't lying to him?

"Wait a moment."

Jiang Peng hung up the call again.

This time, Wei Lan wasn't in a hurry; she knew Jiang Peng had gone to verify it.

Jiang Peng quickly headed out.

The Villa area he was in wasn't much different from the first year Upper Academy; it also had an Attic used for Cultivate.

It was called Changsheng Pavilion. Except for the different name, its structure and layout were identical to the Ziwei Pavilion.

Jiang Peng lay down in the virtual pod and entered the ladder system. His ladder ranking was 59th.

"Gossip King, let me ask you something. Is there someone named Xiao Weiqing in the top twenty of this year's first year ladder rankings?"

"Wait a sec."

Ten seconds later.

"See for yourself."

Jiang Peng glanced at the screenshot sent by Gossip King.

"Holy crap? It's real."

On the first year ladder rankings, 18th place was indeed Xiao Weiqing.

Gossip King: "This Xiao Weiqing from your academy is pretty awesome. With a Level 3 True Art, he actually made it into the top 20 of the ladder. Are this year's first year Trainees this strong?"

"By the way, Jiang Peng, do you know him?"

Jiang Peng: "Of course. I'm the one who recruited him."

"He's my brother-in-law. How about it? He's got my style, right?"

"Brother-in-law? Didn't you run away from home? Where did a brother-in-law come from?"

"Screw you! I ran away from home, I didn't sever ties with my family. What's wrong with having a sister?"

"Is that so? Then tell your brother-in-law to keep it up. He should grab as many points as possible while everyone's Dantian hasn't opened yet. Otherwise, in two or three months, once they enter the Dantian Realm, those Trainees with companion weapons will be formidable."

"In this year's batch of Trainees, there are over ten people with companion weapons, plus eleven with Level 6 Extraordinary Talents. I reckon it'll be hard for your brother-in-law to even stay in the top 50."

Gossip King's words were not without merit.

Once people with companion weapons open their Dantian, they can soon use the Dantian to nourish their weapons, gradually bringing out the power that a companion weapon should have.

Jiang Peng verified what Wei Lan said and didn't stay long in the ladder system.

After returning to the Villa.

He called Wei Lan.

"Xiao Weiqing is indeed impressive. He's given me quite a surprise. Tell him to keep up the good work."

"I didn't lie to you, did I?" Wei Lan replied.

"Speak, what do you want this time? Same as before, I don't have any points."

Wei Lan: "Cousin, is that the kind of person I am in your heart? Sad.jpg."

Jiang Peng: "Yes. Both you and Xiao Weiqing are. The incident at the coffee shop is still vivid in my mind."

"If there's something, say it quickly. If not, I'm hanging up."

Wei Lan: "Don't, Cousin."

"It's... it's... next month my parents are coming to pick me up, but I don't want to go back. Cousin, could you help talk to them for me?"

Jiang Peng was silent for a moment and replied:

"Wei Lan, you should know that I can't stop them. If I had entered the Fifth Realm, it might be different; at least my words would carry some weight. But right now, I don't have that status."

"Although I also really hope you can stay, I can't do it. And ultimately, your surname is Wei and mine is Jiang. Taking you and running away last time already made things very difficult for my Aunt and Uncle."

"If they didn't dote on you, would you have been able to stay out for this long?"

Jiang Peng continued: "I know what you mean. Although Xiao Weiqing has great potential and talent, it's far from enough. Without a Second Awakening, it's all for naught."

"Back then, those siblings of yours from the Wei Family, which one of them wasn't exceptionally brilliant? In the end, didn't they all fade into mediocrity?"

"Right now, Xiao Weiqing can only make my Aunt and Uncle's eyes light up, but it's only a momentary spark. Do you understand?"

Wei Lan: "Oh."

"Alright, Cultivate hard. If you're strong enough, you can do whatever you want and be with whoever you want."

"Yeah, I understand."

Disconnected the communication with Wei Lan.

Jiang Peng left a message for Xiao Weiqing: "Come find me tomorrow."