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"Hm, Xie Yue's ranking really dropped hard," Bi Ji remarked as she studied the list. "At this point, even Spirit Hall's name is being dragged down with him."
"The Yu Family brothers are impressive," she continued. "Right now, only Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan hold two spots in the top twenty."
"To be precise, only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly does," Ye Leng Leng corrected calmly. "Gao Feng joined Spirit Hall later."
Bi Ji nodded, then pointed at the rest of the rankings. "They only benefited from early access to resources. But resources alone can't sustain talent forever. Look—the Clear Sky Sect has no one, and Ning Rongrong is about to fall out. The future direction of the Upper Three Sects is already becoming clear."
"Not necessarily," Li Rong said, pulling up Tang San's recent match records. "His growth rate has been frightening lately. He clearly had a major breakthrough during the last event."
"His rank is already twenty-seventh. Entering the top twenty is only a matter of time. Ning Rongrong, on the other hand…" He paused. "She's in danger."
"Really?" Dugu Yan frowned. "Wasn't she once in the top ten?"
She still vividly remembered Ning Rongrong standing confidently among the geniuses not long ago. Seeing her decline so quickly felt unreal.
Inside the arena, Ning Rongrong's expression was grim.
Her movement technique flared to life, fingers snapping out repeatedly. Each burst of finger force could pierce refined iron with ease—if it landed.
But Dai Cheng's breakthrough during the event had drastically boosted his speed and perception. Ning Rongrong was already struggling to keep pace.
She switched to long-range Xiao Feng Finger attacks, trying to restrain and pull him into her rhythm, only to discover that his eyesight was terrifyingly sharp. Every strike was read, predicted, and avoided.
That realization ignited her fury.
Damn it—everyone has improved this much?!
Since the event ended, her record in the Genius Arena had been miserable. Not only could she still not defeat those above her, she was now losing to opponents she used to suppress with ease.
Meng Yiran. Feng Xiaotian. Feng Xin. Shui Bing'er. Jade Heavenheart.
One loss after another sent her plummeting to sixteenth place. If she lost this match, she would drop out of the top twenty entirely.
Ning Rongrong clenched her teeth.
I won't accept this.
Abandoning long-range tactics, she activated the Four Symbols Step to its limit and charged straight at Dai Cheng. Her right fist drew back, spirit power surging.
Soaring Dragon Divine Fist—fully unleashed.
Dai Cheng showed no fear. He neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, he stepped forward as well, gathering spirit power into his right hand. The same third-grade secret technique bloomed, dragon-shaped fist energy condensing around his arm.
Ning Rongrong roared and threw her punch.
Dragon Returning to the Sea!
Two identical techniques collided. Spirit power exploded outward in a violent surge.
Dai Cheng slid back several steps before stabilizing himself.
Ning Rongrong's right arm shattered.
Half her body was torn apart, barely connected.
Dai Cheng wins.
Their rankings swapped instantly. Dai Cheng rose to nineteenth.
Ning Rongrong fell to twenty-second.
Swish.
Her figure reappeared in her private room.
Ning Fengzhi and the others, still connected via video call, needed no explanation. The result was written on her face.
"You've relaxed," Ning Fengzhi said after a long silence. "Your technique proficiency improved, but your overall strength stagnated."
"The real issue," Chen Xin added, "is that during the event, you avoided close combat. You lacked the insight that comes from fighting at the edge of life and death."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head, unable to refute them.
"Old Sword," Gu Rong tried to ease the tension, "she still has time."
"It won't be easy," Ning Fengzhi replied gravely. "Gao Feng and Huo Wu have completely mastered Flame Manipulation. Meng Yiran, Feng Xin, Feng Xiaotian—all of them are at great mastery or close to it."
"Monsters…" Gu Rong sighed.
"Starting today," Ning Fengzhi said firmly, "Rongrong, you will complete at least fifty matchmaking battles per day."
"Spirit power cultivation can slow down temporarily. With the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the gap won't widen too much. But your mastery of techniques must deepen."
"This isn't only for the Talent Ranking," he added quietly. "It's also for Boss Li's judgment."
"I understand, Father," Ning Rongrong replied softly.
"She lost badly," Ye Leng Leng said, shaken. "Just one month of slack, and the gap already widened this much."
Dugu Yan turned to Bi Ji. "Where do you think Dai Cheng will end up?"
Bi Ji analyzed calmly. "Third-grade neutral Pure Origin Technique. High comprehension of mental cultivation. His fist technique and movement are well-rounded."
She concluded, "He belongs in the top twenty."
"Top fifteen," Li Rong corrected. "His perception and reaction speed suggest special training. He lacks only accumulation for the top ten."
Dugu Yan suddenly remembered something. "What rewards are you preparing for the top twenty?"
"Points," Li Rong replied casually.
"That's it?" she pressed.
"Everyone gets one Essence Pill," he said. "Ten percent cultivation boost, effective below Spirit Saint, lasting ten days."
Bi Ji shook her head. "Next month will be brutal."
"Without competition, there's no progress," Li Rong said. "Lying flat ruins futures."
He switched to another match.
Arena Room 983 — Feng Xin vs. Qian Renxue.
Golden radiance enveloped Qian Renxue as her Seraphim Spirit manifested. Six wings spread, lifting her into the air. Sacred pressure filled the arena.
Feng Xin, by contrast, appeared plain. A slender sword in hand, no aura leaking, no spirit rings visible.
Qian Renxue's brows furrowed. Such restraint meant mastery beyond her own.
She struck first.
Steel clashed.
Feng Xin instantly sensed the suppressive nature of her light spirit power. Head-on exchanges favored her.
So he shifted.
Sword following the wind, attacks flowing unpredictably, targeting weak points. Qian Renxue was forced back step by step.
She activated her Angelic Domain.
Feng Xin's movements slowed.
Light condensed into a defensive barrier.
His sword struck—ripples only.
A feint. A clone.
The real blade emerged from behind, piercing the barrier's weak point—
Blocked.
Qian Renxue laughed softly.
Her hidden defensive secret technique flared, and with one decisive strike, Feng Xin was torn apart.
Qian Renxue wins.
Arena Room 601 — Bai Chenxiang vs. Ning Rongrong.
Speed against speed.
Wind blades clashed with finger force in an exhausting exchange. As the battle dragged on, Ning Rongrong's slower speed betrayed her.
One mistake.
Bai Chenxiang seized the opening.
Feather Blade Slash!
Ning Rongrong countered hastily—
Too late.
She was pinned.
Bai Chenxiang wins.
When the final battles concluded, the Talent Ranking was locked in and projected across the Training Ground plaza for all to see.
Final Rankings (Top 20):
Gao Feng — Spirit HallHuo Wu — Blazing AcademyQian Renxue — Spirit HallFeng Xiaotian — Divine Wind AcademyZhu Zhuqing — Netherworld Duke's MansionJade Heavenheart — Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon ClanMeng Yiran — Dragon Snake FamilyShui Bing'er — Heavenly Water AcademyWang Wangyuan — Sea Spirit AcademyYang Xian — Breaking ClanFeng Xin — Wind Sword SectDai Cheng — White Tiger SectYu Heng — Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon ClanLiu Yanhu — Star Luo Imperial GuardsChen Yong — Flame Radiance AcademyBai Chenxiang — Speed ClanHu Xixiang — Purple Star AcademyYao Zi — Plant AcademyXie Bing — Auckland AcademyLi Wumo — Azure Radiance Academy
This list would remain displayed for a full month.
It was an honor—and a pressure—that none of them could afford to ignore.
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