Heavenly Ranking

Chapter 134 Ranking
A training base located 60 kilometers outside Chiyang City.

This place was originally a military outpost on the verge of being abandoned, but now it has gathered thousands of martial artists and spiritual practitioners from all over Chuzhou.

More than 10,000 elite military personnel cleared the surrounding area to ensure that there were no unauthorized persons within a ten-kilometer radius of the training base.

Once the Celestial Ranking is activated, it will guide everyone to the Trial Grounds through the emergence of mist.

No one knows whether the emergence of the fog will lead to new changes besides evacuating people.

If powerful monsters were to emerge from the fog, placing the activation point within Chiyang City would inevitably cause a massive disaster.

Therefore, although there are only two hundred or so people in the entire Chu Prefecture who have signed up for the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, in order to prevent the disaster brought by the fog, the Spiritual Ability Association, the Martial Arts Association, and the military have urgently mobilized thousands of martial artists and spiritual ability users.

Even if they were to encounter another siege like the one in Blue Moon City, these people would have the ability to handle it.

……

As soon as Ji Fuyou arrived outside the base, he was led to a rest area.

Here, Liu Zhixuan, Guan Yue, Liu Yiren, Xiao Hanxue, Yang Kaitai, Fang Qiyun, and others were chatting idly.

Among them, Liu Zhixuan and several other staff members of the Spiritual Ability Association and Martial Arts Association did not register for the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament.

Of the dozen or so people in the arena, only eight, including Xiao Hanxue, were actually participating in the competition.

Upon seeing Ji Fuyou approach, Fang Qiyun immediately came to greet him.

"Fuyou, have you taken care of things at home?"

"Ah."

Ji Fuyou nodded.

The other people in the rest area also greeted him with smiles.

"Mr. Ji has arrived."

"Haha, I wonder what kind of trial this is. If we can travel together, I hope to fight alongside Mr. Ji again."

"I heard that Mr. Ji has already obtained the Senior Martial Artist Certificate? Congratulations!"

Guan Yue, Yang Kaitai, Liu Yiren, and others spoke up one after another.

Ji Fuyou nodded to the others and greeted them one by one.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, he asked, "Are all the people from Chuzhou who are going to the Trial Grounds to compete for the 108 spots here?"

"Eggs should not be put in the same cage."

Fang Qiyun said, “We have 81 participants at this training base, 76 at another training base 80 kilometers away, and 84 at a training base 140 kilometers away. Splitting the personnel may disperse our strength, but it can also prevent us from being wiped out if we are caught in a dangerous situation as soon as we enter the trial grounds.”

241 people.

This number is slightly lower than seasonal floaters had anticipated.

After all, with a population of 6343 million in the entire Chu Prefecture, only 241 people participated, which is a huge disparity.

The Celestial Ranking is related to the star-devouring monster that will appear three years and eight months from now, and how much importance the higher-ups attach to it...

It's clearly still lacking.

"These are the 14 plans we've discussed over the past few days, which anticipate various special situations we might encounter when entering the Trial Grounds. Take a look when you have time."

Fang Qiyun handed him a copy of the document.

Ji Fuyou glanced at it.

Among the 14 plans, there were team action plans as well as individual action plans.

It even predicted how to save oneself and deal with risks if everyone was assigned to different locations and faced different elimination methods.

"Our two associations have also prepared some food and emergency supplies for you, which are placed in your backpacks for rest."

Liu Zhixuan, who was standing to the side, said with a smile: "Everyone has a spot. We are waiting for you to represent our Chuzhou Spiritual Ability Association and Martial Arts Association, to secure a place, and to bring glory to our Chuzhou."

Ji Fuyou nodded.

He glanced at the people in the room.

Over the past month, everyone's strength seems to have increased.

The forces behind them are doing everything they can to make up for their shortcomings.

Of course, whether they can ultimately secure a place on the Heavenly Ranking depends on what exactly the so-called "trial" is.

At this moment, two figures, chatting and laughing, headed straight in this direction accompanied by several people.

Upon seeing these people, Liu Zhixuan, along with Liu Yiren, Yang Kaitai, and Xiao Hanxue who were chatting, all stood up at the same time.

Ji Fuyou glanced at the group and felt that some of them looked familiar.

They quickly realized that the two leaders were none other than Wu Sheng, the president of the Chuzhou Martial Arts Association, and Hong Tianwen, who was known as the number one spiritual expert in the Chuzhou military.

Chuzhou has been a hometown of martial arts since ancient times. While martial arts in other states have become a talent show, many martial arts masters still adhere to the tradition.

This Wu Sheng is the strongest among the three major schools of martial arts, the Dragon Tiger School.

He was once hailed as the most outstanding martial arts prodigy of modern times in the Dragon Tiger School.

Twenty-two years ago, I was a martial arts master who was invincible throughout the south.

He was a grandmaster who, even in an era of decline in martial arts, still achieved great mastery of internal energy transformation and touched upon the profound mysteries of internal energy cultivation.

In the new era, his talent was able to be displayed, and he was one of the earliest martial arts pioneers to become a master. Even when facing Wu Rendi, the current president of the Martial Arts Association, who is known as the Northern Gun God, he was only weaker in terms of attribute values.

In terms of martial arts skill, he is not inferior.

Upon seeing the group, Wu Sheng ended his conversation with Hong Tianwen, quickly stepped forward, and greeted them warmly: "These gentlemen must be some of the most outstanding and brilliant young talents in Chuzhou."

"President."

Liu Zhixuan also stood up and took the initiative to introduce them: "They are..."

"I know."

Wu Sheng's gaze immediately fell on Xiao Hanxue: "Xiao Hanxue, the daughter of the Xiao family, a woman who is no less capable than any man. It is said that you went to Zhenwu Mountain for the past two weeks and secluded yourself to cultivate diligently. I'm afraid you have already grasped the mysteries of Gang Jin, right? In addition, there's that red physique source crystal that the Xiao family spent a sky-high price of 18 billion to purchase... Your current martial arts attainment can already be called that of a quasi-master." His eyes were full of encouragement: "I look forward to the day when you become a master and take over the heavy responsibility on our shoulders."

"President Wu, you flatter me. I still have a lot to learn from you."

Xiao Hanxue, who is usually outspoken and straightforward, was also humble and polite at this moment.

Apparently...

Her so-called straightforward personality depends on the type of person she's dealing with.

"Haha, I have high hopes for you, and I'm waiting for the moment when you bring glory to our Chu State."

As Wu Sheng spoke, he turned his gaze to Yang Kaitai: "Brother Yang's son is a prodigy. Your lineage has a worthy successor. Now that you have completed the crystallization of spiritual power, why didn't you take the exam for a senior professional title?"

"Uncle Wu."

Yang Kaitai performed a junior's greeting and said, "On the one hand, time is a bit tight, and on the other hand, my mental strength is not yet 25. I feel that it would be disrespectful to Chairman Hong and other senior mental ability holders if I were to take the senior exam at this time."

"What's this?"

Hong Tianwen smiled and said, "Aren't more than half of the senior professional titles awarded after completing the Spiritual Power Crystallization stage at the 20th level of the Spiritual Realm?"

"I don't think this senior-level title is qualified to be ranked alongside Chairman Hong, who participated in the formulation of the first version of the professional title standard for spiritual talents."

Yang Kaitai told the truth.

Upon hearing this, Ji Fuyou glanced at Hong Tianwen with some surprise.

There are several versions of the professional title assessment for spiritual practitioners and martial artists.

The initial version of the professional title assessment for those with spiritual abilities was found online.

A spirit level of 25 is required to reach the advanced level.

After all, compared to martial artists who might rely on skills, secret techniques, or martial arts realms to allow someone with weaker stats to turn the tables, mental abilities...

It relies almost entirely on numerical values.

In particular, the transformation from spiritual power to divine consciousness at the age of 25, and the application of these two powers, cannot be surpassed by any secret techniques currently available to people.

"The purpose of professional titles is to enable people to accurately assess themselves through assessments. If most people cannot pass, how can such a standard be used as a standard?"

Hong Tianwen replied with a smile.

"It seems you have high aspirations, Yang Kaitai. You insist on waiting until you've completed 25 quarters of an hour of mental exertion before applying for the Advanced Mental Ability Certificate? Haha, I'll be waiting for that day!"

Wu Sheng also laughed.

Yang Kaitai nodded.

After greeting Yang Kaitai and Xiao Hanxue, he turned his gaze to Ji Fuyou.

The order in which he greeted people clearly shows who he thinks is most likely to make the list.

Seasonal Floating...

It has clearly become the third most important person in his heart.

"Ji Fuyou, I'll just call you by your name. You've brought us the biggest surprise in the entire Chuzhou this year. You're truly a man of few words, but when you do speak, you're amazing."

"President Wu, you flatter me."

Ji Fuyou responded.

He looked at this renowned master-level martial artist, but his heart was not stirred by much emotion.

In terms of status and position, this Chairman Wu is actually no less than the vice-chairmen of the Spiritual Ability Association.

Not long ago, he had just obtained his associate senior professional title. When he learned that he could be received by the vice president of the association, he was overjoyed but also felt extremely apprehensive.

At that time, compared to the vice president of the association, he was worlds apart.

but now……

When he emerged from the Crimson Gold Mine with unwavering will and burning faith, and realized that even without the aid of the "dream," he was still qualified to become a strongman, that feeling had already faded.

He would appreciate the president's recognition, but would no longer feel anxious.

This kind of inner and outer charm radiates...

This surprised Wu Sheng somewhat.

Even Hong Tianwen glanced at him sideways.

They could tell that Ji Fuyou's confidence was not the kind that comes from being blindly arrogant after achieving a little success, and looking down on everyone, including them, his "seniors".

But...

A true strong person has confidence in all their achievements.

A profound heritage that has been refined through trials and tribulations.

This kind of temperament wouldn't be surprising if it were found in established martial arts masters, but it appeared in Ji Fuyou...

Wu Sheng's gaze towards him changed slightly: "I'm telling the truth. I'm quite familiar with Xiao Hanxue and Yang Kaitai, but you... have truly surprised us. Moreover, I believe that the surprises and delights you bring will continue."

He treated Ji Fuyou with more respect than he had when he was a junior: "I'm waiting for the day when you, like Xiao Hanxue and Yang Kaitai, ascend to the Heavenly Ranking."

"I'll try."

Ji Fuyou nodded slightly.

Wu Sheng nodded.

Next, together with Hong Tianwen, they offered a few words of encouragement to Liu Yiren, Fang Qiyun, and the other participants.

Those who can get into Xiao Hanxue and Yang Kaitai's circle are basically the best among those with associate senior professional titles, and are expected to become full senior professionals.

Before they knew what the trials would be, they all had a chance to be listed.

(End of this chapter)