Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Have You Ever Gone Fishing? (Third Update)
The release of the player rankings undoubtedly greatly stimulated ninety percent of the players. This was especially true for Flourishing Flowers and the members of Cloud Lament.
Among the Top Ten, Junlin and his team occupied five spots. This was understandable, since they each possessed two Ultimate Techniques. Even the fact that Junlin wasn’t the Top Player only caused slight surprise.
Of the remaining five positions, Cloud Lament’s players occupied only three: Flourishing Flowers himself was third, Hero Xu Xian was eighth, and Daytime Alms was ninth. The other two spots were taken by Second Test Players. Yes, Second Test Players! Specifically, these were I, Xuanqing, in sixth place, and Iron-blooded War Hero in tenth.
Everyone could understand Iron-blooded War Hero climbing up the ranks. After all, he had obtained the Ultimate Technique created by Abbess, Don’t Love Me. An Ultimate Technique created by a player was far stronger than those from the Contribution Hall—a fact beyond any doubt. However, no one had anticipated that I, Xuanqing, would reach the sixth spot.
Even among the Top 100 rankings, Second Test Players occupied the majority. Even Flourishing Flowers was shocked. How could so many Second Test Players become such high-power players when they’d had no initial advantage?
Even Junlin and his team were surprised when they saw the ranking list. It seemed the Second Test Players were on a ferocious rise.
Neighbor Six analyzed, "They must have pooled Contribution Points to forcibly boost Xuanqing’s power. Otherwise, it’s hard to explain."
Several others nodded in agreement. Indeed, if they pooled Contribution Points, they could stack up a player’s combat power.
But this stacking seemed a bit too intense! Were all two hundred-plus members of the Second Legion so selflessly generous?
The First Test Players were deeply shocked by the Second Test Players. However, the Second Test Players themselves knew very well that Ultimate Techniques, apart from pooled Contribution Points, were the key to their rapid rise in power. With the Contribution Points they had gathered, they went straight to the Contribution Hall. There, they exchanged them for two Ultimate Techniques: the Nine Yang True Scripture and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. The enhancement from these two Ultimate Techniques resulted in a qualitative breakthrough in their power.
Quite a few Second Test Players had been among those causing a stir during the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure event. Starting with two Ultimate Techniques was something anyone would envy. Furthermore, with the support of four wealthy Lords like Half-Leaf, it was easy to push I, Xuanqing, up the rankings. Their faction had the backing of these four wealthy Lords. Against such combined support, even Flourishing Flowers and Junlin were at a slight disadvantage.
"My goodness, are the Second Test Players all pumped up or something?"
"Charging up so fiercely? I wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t for the rankings."
"What in the world is going on with these Second Test Players? They’ve actually made it into the Top Ten! How many Contribution Points do they even have?"
"Easy there, easy there. We Second Test Players are very low-key," a Second Test Player quipped.
In the face of the First Test Players’ shock, the Second Test Players couldn’t be more thrilled. They had been feeling frustrated for so long and could finally vent their pent-up frustration.
As players were discussing the rankings, Xu Nian walked ahead, thinking about other matters. Blood Demoness casually strolled alongside, her eyes occasionally glancing over at Shen Rongyin.
"Are you planning to take her with you?"
Blood Demoness’s question interrupted Xu Nian’s thoughts. To Xu Nian, Shen Rongyin’s decision to stay was highly unusual, and he understood the principle that such anomalies often indicated underlying trouble.
"Have you ever gone fishing?" Xu Nian chuckled.
Fishing? The Blood Demoness was startled for a moment, then suddenly looked at Xu Nian, whispering, "You mean she..."
She didn’t finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear. Xu Nian kept Shen Rongyin around because he knew the woman was a problem; he wanted to use her to fish for bigger prey. There had to be someone behind Shen Rongyin, directing her to get close to Xu Nian. Otherwise, how could a woman with no martial arts skills stay by herself inside the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure? She had even taken the initiative to follow Xu Nian. No matter how one looked at it, this posed a significant problem.
But precisely because of this, Xu Nian was not in a hurry to kill her. He wasn’t a good person. Why else would he keep a problematic woman around, if not to invite trouble for himself? Once the big fish was caught, Shen Rongyin would have no more use. Some problems were best dealt with at the source.
"The Shen Family?" the Blood Demoness asked softly.
Xu Nian shook his head. "Not necessarily the Shen Family. It could also be the Imperial Palace, or even National Master Li Baiyang."
Regardless of who was behind it, Xu Nian now had reasons not to kill Shen Rongyin. The woman could make whatever fuss she wanted; it didn’t matter to him. Once the matter of the Historical Text was clarified, Shen Rongyin would lose most of her value. Whether such a useless person lived or died made no difference to Xu Nian.
"Do you mean this is the Ninth Prince’s arrangement?" The Blood Demoness sounded puzzled. "That’s not right. She previously said she would be the future Empress Dowager, and Ninth Prince Luo Chenjun doesn’t have that kind of ability."
"Ninth might not have that ability, but that doesn’t mean Eighth Brother doesn’t." Xu Nian shook his head. Now I’m curious as to how Eighth Brother came to be favored.
The affairs of the Imperial Family were beyond the Blood Demoness’s capability to obtain much information on. This was also true for the matter concerning Xu Nian; to date, she hadn’t found evidence proving the Ninth Prince was behind it.
"What’s your plan?" The Blood Demoness stared at Xu Nian and asked.
"Capital City!" Xu Nian declared solemnly. "Since all these problems have presented themselves, it’s time for my disciples to take a trip to the Capital City."
The matter of the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure could be considered closed. Now, Xu Nian needed to go to the Capital City to figure things out, whether it concerned the Historical Text or why Luo Qingbei was favored.
However, if I were to go to the Capital City, I would have to use my identity as the Seventh Prince. That would likely cause many people to lose sleep. When I fell from grace, many chose to distance themselves from me. Now that I’m returning, wouldn’t those people be living in fear?
The Blood Demoness frowned and inquired, "You’re going to the Capital City?"
"I must," Xu Nian explained. "Don’t you want to know the secrets of the Historical Text?"
Li Baiyang, the only one who could decipher the Historical Text, was currently in the Capital City. To complete the Task assigned by the System, Xu Nian would have to visit the Capital City and seek this National Master’s expertise for the deciphering.
The conflict over the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure had caused severe internal strife among the Jianghu people. The Nine Heavens Alliance suffered the most significant losses; they hadn’t even gotten inside, and the only ones left alive were Cui Shengshu and his two children. Those at odds with the Nine Heavens Alliance would likely seize this opportunity.
For now, matters of the Jianghu could wait. Once the affairs in the Capital City were settled, it wouldn’t be too late to deal with the Jianghu...