52: A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act.

Looking at the Hidden Dragon Stele where the rankings were announced, murmurs of discussion broke out once again among the crowd.

"Who on earth is this Wu Xuangu? The rankings were just released, and he's already ranked first?"

"It's no big deal. If he's still first after seven days, then I'll truly admire him!"

"Forget seven days. According to the practice of previous years, the rankings on the hidden dragon ranking will undergo a major reshuffle in just three days!"

"Yeah, only then will the rankings on the hidden dragon ranking truly carry any weight!"

"Holy crap, is it really that mysterious?"

"Damn it, I finally managed to get into the top thirty; I don't want to be knocked down so easily. I'm going back to Cultivate right now!"

"With my strength at Beast General Rank Seven Star, I'm actually ranked outside the top four hundred? I refuse to accept this! I don't believe those ranked above me are necessarily stronger!"

In the few minutes since the hidden dragon ranking was announced...

Many New Students had already begun challenging those ranked higher than themselves.

After all, the higher one's rank on the hidden dragon ranking, the more generous the rewards.

Under these circumstances, naturally, everyone hoped their rank would be as high as possible.

Moreover, everyone only has one challenge opportunity per day. Excluding the chance for a cross-rank challenge, one can only challenge those within twenty ranks of themselves.

In other words, Lin Yuan is currently ranked 312th. If he wants to reach the top of the hidden dragon ranking, it would take at least sixteen days.

Fortunately, the weekly cross-rank challenge opportunity could help him significantly shorten this time.

Lin Yuan could already imagine how explosive Wang Jinze's intelligence business would become after the hidden dragon ranking was released.

After all, if one could obtain relevant information about an opponent before challenging them, the win rate would surely increase drastically!

There was no doubt that Wang Jinze would make a fortune from this opportunity!

However, to be honest, Lin Yuan was still a bit unclear about the significance of Wang Jinze doing these things.

Although the intelligence business was indeed very profitable...

The problem was... as the son of Modu Beast University's principal, Wang Ting, Wang Jinze shouldn't be short of money at all, right?

Furthermore, as the principal, Wang Ting definitely knew what Wang Jinze was doing in the school.

Since he knew but didn't stop it, it proved that he tacitly allowed Wang Jinze's behavior.

Consequently, even Lin Yuan couldn't quite guess what Wang Ting was thinking.

Fortunately, there was no need for him to think about it.

Listening to the noisy discussions of the New Students around him, Lin Yuan immediately chose to turn and leave, walking toward the direction of the cultivation rooms.

The release of the hidden dragon ranking did indeed make him look forward to it.

But Lin Yuan also knew that even if he wanted to rush to a higher rank on the hidden dragon ranking, there was no rush.

To compete—naturally, he had to compete.

However, he also had to pay attention to strategy and methods.

For Lin Yuan, now was not the best time.

Because this was the period when the hidden dragon ranking positions were most chaotic.

It would take at least a week or even half a month for everyone's rank to match their strength!

During this time, Lin Yuan did not plan to sprint for a higher ranking.

Competing to the death with others at this time to climb over them might be high-spirited, but it would also attract many disgruntled challengers and much unnecessary trouble.

You have to give some to get some; by giving up the struggle for the rankings during this period, he could avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.

In the matter of Cultivation, one thing is more important than working hard, and that is being able to withstand the solitude.

Many New Students would risk their lives to challenge those stronger than them just to fight for a spot on the hidden dragon ranking!

But they often couldn't withstand the solitude to concentrate on Cultivation; they were too easily distracted by the outside world, especially during this period when the hidden dragon ranking had just been released.

Lin Yuan, however, could do it, even though with his strength, he could easily break into the top hundred or even the top fifty of the hidden dragon ranking.

But he was able to suppress this impulse in his heart, cast aside these distracting thoughts, and continue to concentrate on Cultivation.

As Lin Yuan walked toward the Training Hall without looking back...

He didn't notice that Wang Jinze's gaze had been fixed on him.

Just then, Zhao Ming, who was nearby, also sensed Wang Jinze's abnormality. He followed the direction of the latter's gaze and soon saw Lin Yuan.

After a few seconds of being stunned, Zhao Ming couldn't help but speak up: "My goodness, could Lin Yuan be going to the Training Hall to Cultivate again?"

"This guy is like a heartless Cultivation machine. On such an important day as the release of the hidden dragon ranking, he actually just took one look and went back to Cultivate."

"It's really hard to imagine... is he not planning to move his rank up a bit?"

However, Wang Jinze, who was beside him, did not answer.

Because Lin Yuan had once stated to him that he intended to compete for the top spot on the hidden dragon ranking!

And the reason he hadn't made any move was simply because... he disdained competing at a time like this!

A gentleman hides his instrument in his person and waits for the right time to act!

He wanted to wait until the rankings on the hidden dragon ranking were mostly stable before stepping in to seize the crown of the top spot!

Thinking of this, Wang Jinze couldn't help but shudder.

If that were truly the case, then this guy was simply too calm and confident... After arriving at the Training Hall.

Lin Yuan directly opened an Elementary cultivation room for himself.

Then, he entered the cultivation room and immediately took out several beast spirit pills from his Silver Badge.

These beast spirit pills were exactly what Zhao Shanhe had delivered to him yesterday.

Lin Yuan's remaining 1.2 million had been exchanged for a total of twenty-four beast spirit pills.

Although the cost was not small, if the beast spirit pills really had the effect he imagined, then no matter how high the cost, it would be worth it.

Lin Yuan found an open space, sat cross-legged, tossed a beast spirit pill into his mouth, and began to concentrate on digesting its medicinal power.

Before long, the first beast spirit pill was completely absorbed by Lin Yuan.

At the same time, the System's notification sound rang in his ear.

"Ding, congratulations on successfully devouring a beast spirit pill. Gained: Talent +1!"

A single beast spirit pill's effect might not be that obvious.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan didn't hesitate at all and tossed several more beast spirit pills into his mouth in one go.

In an instant, the vast and majestic medicinal power erupted within his body like a volcanic eruption!

Like waves of floodwater, it swept frantically toward his entire body!

If any other Beast Soul Master swallowed so many beast spirit pills at once, they would have likely been bloated to death by such an enormous medicinal power!

But Lin Yuan relied entirely on having the System; no matter how massive the medicinal power, as long as he gave himself enough time, he would definitely be able to absorb it completely!

Time passed minute by minute.

Every so often, the System's notification would ring in Lin Yuan's ear.

"Ding, congratulations on successfully devouring a beast spirit pill. Gained: Talent +1!"

"Ding, congratulations on successfully devouring a beast spirit pill. Gained: Talent +1!"

"Ding, congratulations on successfully devouring a beast spirit pill..."

He didn't know how many hours had passed; Lin Yuan only remembered that a total of nine System notifications had sounded in his ear.

This meant that the medicinal power of nine beast spirit pills had been completely absorbed by him.

Counting the one he absorbed right after entering the cultivation room, that made ten beast spirit pills!

After gaining a ten-point Talent bonus, Lin Yuan could clearly feel that the speed at which he absorbed energy from the outside world had indeed increased by a notch!

At this moment, the energy supply in the Elementary cultivation room was even starting to fall behind his absorption speed.

Lin Yuan didn't even need to do anything; his body was like a Taotie, constantly absorbing energy from the outside.

To the point that an energy vacuum had formed around him.

Of course, for Lin Yuan, this was not the most important thing.

He only wanted to know if, after his Talent was improved, the speed at which he absorbed inferior beast soul crystals would also increase.

Before this, it was merely Lin Yuan's speculation.

But now, he finally had the chance to verify this speculation.

Lin Yuan took a deep breath, took out an inferior beast soul crystal from his Silver Badge, held it in his hand, closed his eyes, and silently calculated the time while absorbing the nuclear radiation contained within.

"Ding, congratulations on successfully absorbing nuclear radiation. Gained: 1000 evolution points!"

When the System notification sounded...

Lin Yuan also opened his eyes.

And at this moment, his eyes were full of pleasant surprise.

Seven minutes!

This time, it only took him seven minutes to absorb the energy within this inferior beast soul crystal!

Compared to the previous ten minutes, the time required to absorb an inferior beast soul crystal had been shortened by a full three minutes!

And this also proved that Lin Yuan's previous speculation was indeed correct!

Taking beast spirit pills could indeed increase the speed at which he absorbed inferior beast soul crystals!