Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Level Rankings (Eastern Region):
1. Zhouyou Shijie, Class: Flame Demon Lord, Level 31
2. Rule by Inaction, Class: Eternal Imperial Guard, Level 25
3. Submit and Perish, Class: Dragon Soul Mage, Level 24
4. Bawang, Class: Swordsman, Level 24
5. Die Beneath the Peonies, Class: Bloodthirst Assassin, Level 23
6. Gaibang Laoda, Class: Knight, Level 22
7. Black-and-White, Class: Summoner, Level 21
…
The gap in levels spoke for itself.
“Second place is only six levels behind me?” Zhou Ming was genuinely surprised.
Given the advantages he’d gained at the start, anyone who could stay that close behind him had to have some serious cards up their sleeve.
Then again, the Eastern Region was packed with talented players. He couldn’t possibly be the only one to stumble across an incredible opportunity. It made sense when he thought about it.
Next, he opened the ranking he cared about most: the Talent Rankings.
He wanted to see just what caliber of Talents the top players currently possessed.
Talent Rankings (Eastern Region):
1. Eighteen This Year, SS-Rank Talent: Summon God
2. Bawang, Swordsman, SS-Rank Talent: Fearless
3. Gaibang Laoda, S-Rank Talent: Harmony
4. Final Arrangements, S-Rank Talent: Miracle Hands
5. Tingfeng Xiyu, S-Rank Talent: Extreme Shadow
…
Some of those Talents sounded formidable from their names alone.
For the first time, Zhou Ming felt a faint pressure settling over him.
Qingshui Town was ultimately too small to hold many true experts. The genuinely powerful players were scattered across the various regions. Once secondary cities were unlocked, however, they would inevitably begin running into one another.
After returning to Qingshui Town, Zhou Ming asked, “Qianying, what rank of Talent do you think I can get right now?”
The Talent Trial grew harder as a participant’s level rose, so waiting longer provided no advantage. Qianying had also advised him to activate it only when he had reached the peak of his current stage.
He believed that time had come.
Between the advantages granted by the Trial of the Seven Sins and the stats and skills he’d gained after his Infamy broke one thousand, he was unquestionably at the peak of the Level 30 stage.
“A small chance of S-Rank, but most likely SS-Rank,” Qianying replied solemnly. “Equipment bonuses are disabled inside the Talent Trial, and you can’t use any items or potions.”
“…”
Zhou Ming fell silent.
An SS-Rank Talent would already be incredible, enough to put him among the top three on the Talent Rankings.
“What about SSS-Rank?” he asked, still unwilling to give up.
It wasn’t that he was insatiably greedy.
He was sure that even the two players who already possessed SS-Rank Talents wished theirs were stronger. If he could take one more step, wonderful. If not, he would accept the result without complaint.
“…It’s extremely difficult.”
Qianying tried to soften the blow. “I’m not saying this to discourage you. SSS-Rank Talents are simply far too rare. Take me, for example. At my peak, even four or five god-tier experts working together might not have been my match, but my Talent was only SS-Rank.”
“Oh?”
Zhou Ming’s interest was piqued. “What’s your Talent?”
“Secret!” Qianying refused without hesitation.
“Must be pretty powerful…”
Naturally, Zhou Ming respected her privacy. He settled for something else. “One last question. When you were at my current stage, which of us was stronger?”
“I’m not sure either,” Qianying said softly. “Would you like to find out? I can try fighting you at the same level.”
“Ding!”
[Divine Ember Queen · Qianying wishes to spar with you. Accept?]
“No!”
Zhou Ming hurriedly declined. “On second thought, forget it…”
Fists and blades had no eyes.
He had no desire to hurt their relationship.
After glancing through the other rankings and finding nothing else worth his attention, he closed the panels.
*Grrrgle…*
His stomach chose that moment to howl in protest.
He had skipped lunch entirely during the Damage Challenge and was now starving.
Zhou Ming brought up the system panel and selected Log Out.
Food first. He could begin the Talent Trial afterward.
…
After removing his gaming helmet, Zhou Ming ordered takeout, then logged onto the forums as usual.
Sure enough, the newly opened rankings had already sparked a frenzy of discussion.
“No wonder Zhouyou Shijie is so busted. That weapon in his hand is Radiant-grade!”
“Forget the weapon. He almost swept the entire Equipment Rankings by himself!”
“So what? Equipment gets replaced sooner or later. I don’t see his name anywhere on the Talent Rankings!”
“Serves him right. He can’t get the best of everything, can he?”
…
A huge portion of the discussion revolved around Zhou Ming.
Videos of his two consecutive major battles had been reposted all over the internet. Combined with the bounty on his head, they had thrust him straight into the spotlight.
“I haven’t even activated mine yet. It’d be strange if you *could* see me on the Talent Rankings!” Zhou Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, though he couldn’t deny feeling some pressure.
Enemies now surrounded him on every side.
Talent was a crucial component of combat strength. If his Talent ended up being low rank, there would be no shortage of people eager to revel in his misfortune.
The later stages of the Trial of the Seven Sins would also become even harder to clear.
*Ding-dong!*
The doorbell rang.
Zhou Ming opened the door, accepted a fragrant order of fried rice noodles from the delivery driver, and dug in with gusto.
Once he had eaten his fill, he logged back in and resumed his campaign.
Whoosh!
White light scattered as Zhou Ming reappeared on a street in Qingshui Town. Players still hurried to and fro all around him, busy with quests.
As more mid- and lower-tier players completed their class advancements, the town had grown increasingly lively.
*Beep, beep!*
He had barely returned when a message arrived in his friends list. To his surprise, it was from Gaibang Laoer.
“Git gud!”
The message came with a screenshot.
10. Gaibang Laoer, S-Rank Talent: Last Stand
It was clearly his place on the Talent Rankings. The guy had sent it over just to show off.
Seriously?
Now even small fry like him thought they could flex in Zhou Ming’s face?
Zhou Ming laughed and replied at once, “Looking to cooperate with me again?”
“…”
Gaibang Laoer didn’t answer for a long time.
Zhou Ming muted all friend and system messages, then shut off his phone in the real world as well, making absolutely certain no one could disturb him. Only then did he open his panel.
“Ding!”
[Activate your Talent? Note: Activating your Talent will begin the Talent Trial.]
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming confirmed his choice.
The next instant, he vanished from where he stood.
His surroundings shifted violently, and Zhou Ming found himself in a pure white space that seemed to stretch on forever.
…
At the heart of the Abyss stood a towering, majestic castle. Black fog boiled around it, malevolent energy coiled through the air, and what seemed like an endless tide of demonic power surged within, filling the place with terror.
This was the Abyss’s most absolute forbidden ground, a gathering place for demons. Even the gods of the Light Faction regarded it with deep dread and rarely spoke of it.
Inside one of the castle’s rooms, Abyssal Sword Demon · Cangxuan seemed to sense something. His eyes snapped open.
“The wager has begun!” he murmured.
Zhouyou Shijie had displayed admirable courage by offending both the Dark Faction and the Light Faction at once.
But courage did not equal strength, much less guarantee a future.
Cangxuan intended to see exactly what rank of Talent the man would obtain, and what effects it would possess.
…